公开(公告)号：US12162094B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-10

申请号：US17209475

申请日：2021-03-23

Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Inventor： Erik Miller ,  Brian Atkinson ,  Kevin Pagano

IPC: B23K26/70

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an enclosure providing a sealed environment. The enclosure employs movable paneling that seals an area for a laser welding cell, while allowing access for an operator to load a workpiece in and unload the workpiece from a welding cell. Barriers are arranged on the enclosure, such that in a closed configuration activation of a pneumatic tube forces the barriers to extend toward a rotated paneling, such that the edges of the enclosure contact or overlap with the edges of the paneling to result in a light-tight seal. Presence of the fluid increases the pressure in the tube such that an external boundary of the tube expands, forcing the barrier toward the edges of the paneling, thereby closing the gap and providing a light-tight enclosure.

公开(公告)号：US20210299794A1

公开(公告)日：2021-09-30

申请号：US17209475

申请日：2021-03-23

Applicant: Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Inventor： Erik Miller ,  Brian Atkinson ,  Kevin Pagano

IPC: B23K26/70

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for an enclosure providing a sealed environment. The enclosure employs movable paneling that seals an area for a laser welding cell, while allowing access for an operator to load a workpiece in and unload the workpiece from a welding cell. Barriers are arranged on the enclosure, such that in a closed configuration activation of a pneumatic tube forces the barriers to extend toward a rotated paneling, such that the edges of the enclosure contact or overlap with the edges of the paneling to result in a light-tight seal. Presence of the fluid increases the pressure in the tube such that an external boundary of the tube expands, forcing the barrier toward the edges of the paneling, thereby closing the gap and providing a light-tight enclosure.