US 12,409,610 B2
Apparatus and method for ultrasonic welding
Takashi Arima, Osaka (JP); and Masato Hiroyasu, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to ZUIKO CORPORATION, Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 18/033,594
Filed by ZUIKO CORPORATION, Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Oct. 12, 2021, PCT No. PCT/JP2021/037664
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 25, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/102317, PCT Pub. Date May 19, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-189438 (JP), filed on Nov. 13, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0398747 A1, Dec. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 65/08 (2006.01); A61F 13/15 (2006.01); A61F 13/496 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/48 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 65/08 (2013.01) [A61F 13/15739 (2013.01); B29C 66/8322 (2013.01); B29C 66/83411 (2013.01); B29C 66/951 (2013.01); A61F 2013/15869 (2013.01); B29L 2031/4878 (2013.01)] 4 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An ultrasonic welding method of welding a web by means of an ultrasonic welding device, the ultrasonic welding device comprising:
a conveying drum that conveys the web along an outer circumferential surface while rotating;
at least one horn that is arranged on one of an inner side and an outer side in a radial direction of the conveying drum relative to the outer circumferential surface, the horn rotating together with the conveying drum; and
at least one anvil that is arranged on another one of the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction of the conveying drum relative to the outer circumferential surface, the anvil rotating together with the conveying drum; the ultrasonic welding method comprising:
a step of conveying the web by the conveying drum;
a step of reciprocating the anvil in an axis direction of the conveying drum as the conveying drum rotates so as to hold the web between the anvil and the horn in an outward path and a return path of the anvil;
a step of vibrating the horn to apply ultrasonic energy to the web sandwiched between the anvil and the horn; and
a step of controlling vibration of the horn via an ultrasonic wave generator of the ultrasonic welding device so as to apply ultrasonic energy to the web in one of the outward path and the return path and not to apply ultrasonic energy to the web in another one of the outward path and the return path,
wherein in the step of reciprocating the anvil, the anvil moves so as to overrun beyond a welding area where the web should be welded and the horn is not vibrated in the overrun area,
wherein in the step of reciprocating the anvil, the anvil moves at a constant velocity when the anvil moves the welding area and starts to decelerate when the anvil has passed the welding area, and
wherein the anvil reciprocates so that an average moving velocity of the anvil in the one of the outward path and the return path in which ultrasonic energy is applied is smaller than an average moving velocity of the anvil in the other one of the outward path and the return path.