US3883369A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Battery assembly machine
Assignee: General Battery Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A sealing machine and method for uniting a thermoplastic battery case and cover is disclosed. The machine utilizes banks of infrared heat lamps interposed between the opposed surfaces of the battery case and the cover suspended above, thus producing heat softened, tacky surfaces on the case and cover. The covers to be assembled are held by a vacuum actuated platen which is raised, suspended and lowered automatically by programmed means including air cylinders. A carousel rotates a battery supporting surface as well as the air cylinders and platens, with successive stations being provided for loading, raising of the cover, infra-red heating, lowering of the cover and application of pressure, and unloading of the assembled battery.
Inventors
- 👤 John P Badger
- 👤 William H Strater
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:39
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/78; B29C65/80; B29C65/7858; B29C65/7879; B29C65/7882; B29C65/7885; B29C65/02; B29C65/14; B29C65/1429; B29C65/1432; B29C65/1464; B29C65/1467; B29C65/18; B29C65/20; B29C65/2053; B29C65/2061; B29C65/7841; B29C65/7847; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/12; B29C66/124; B29C66/1244; B29C66/12445; B29C66/13; B29C66/131; B29C66/1312; B29C66/50; B29C66/51; B29C66/54; B29C66/542; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/82; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; H; H01; H01M; H01M50/00; H01M50/10; H01M50/147; H01M50/166; H01M50/171; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0822; B29C65/1403; B29C65/1412; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/712; B29L2031/7146; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49108
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for heat sealing together a battery case and cover of a thermoplastic material, comprising, in combination, means for positioning a cover a predetermined distance above the upper surfaces of a battery case and for holding it in such position in alignment with and parallel to the opposed upper surfaces of said case, means for applying radiant heat to the spaced apart opposed surfaces of said cover and case until said surfaces become tacky, including means for adjusting the relative distances of the heat applying means from the cover and case, and means for joining and clamping together said case and cover for a predetermined period until said tacky surfaces become welded together.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
An apparatus for heat sealing together a battery case and cover of a thermoplastic material, comprising, in combination, means for positioning a cover a predetermined distance above the upper surfaces of a battery case and for holding it in such position in alignment with and parallel to the opposed upper surfaces of said case, means for applying radiant heat to the spaced apart opposed surfaces of said cover and case until said surfaces become tacky, including means for adjusting the relative distances of the heat applying means from the cover and case, and means for joining and clamping together said case and cover for a predetermined period until said tacky surfaces become welded together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioning and holding means comprises a vacuum operated gripping platen positioned above said cover and having means responsive to said indexing means for raising and holding said platen in an elevated position above said case.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said positioning and holding means and said joining and clamping means comprise a vacuum operated gripping platen positioned above said cover and having means for raising said platen, holding said platen in an elevated position, lowering said platen to a position just above said battery case, and exerting a downward force on said platen to clamp together with battery cover and case.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3 which further includes cooling means within said gripping platen for accelerating the bonding between said battery cover and case.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said cooling means comprises a member within said gripping platen having a serpentine passageway therethrough in communication with a source of fluid coolant.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus oF claim 1 wherein said radiant heat applying means comprises an array of infra-red quartz heating lamps, and means for interposing said heating source between said battery case and elevated cover.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for heat sealing a multicell partitioned thermoplastic battery case to a thermoplastic battery cover, comprising the steps of: positioning the cover in aligned, spaced parallel relation to upper surfaces of cell partitions and the periphery of the case; inserting between the case and the cover a radiant heating source; adjusting the relative distances of the radiant heating source from the case and the cover such that a substantially equal degree of heat absorption takes place in the case and the cover; energizing said heating source for a predetermined time period; removing said heating source from between the case and cover; uniting the case and cover with the cover in engagement with the upper surfaces of the case; and applying a clamping force biasing the cover and the case together and maintaining said force for a predetermined time period to assure a secure thermoplastic bond.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for heat sealing a multicell partitioned thermoplastic battery case to a thermoplastic battery cover, comprising the steps of: positioning the cover in aligned, spaced parallel relation to upper surfaces of cell partitions and the periphery of the case; inserting between the case and the cover a radiant heating source; adjusting the relative distances of the radiant heating source from the case and the cover such that a substantially equal degree of heat absorption takes place in the case and the cover; energizing said heating source for a predetermined time period; removing said heating source from between the case and cover; uniting the case and cover with the cover in engagement with the upper surfaces of the case; and applying a clamping force biasing the cover and the case together and maintaining said force for a predetermined time period to assure a secure thermoplastic bond.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 7 which further includes serially indexing the battery case and cover from a first working station to a last working station during said steps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 which further includes the step of cooling the united case and cover to accelerate the thermoplastic bonding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 7 wherein said positioning, uniting, and clamping steps are accomplished by contacting the loosely fitted battery cover with a gripping platen exerting an upward vacuum force and raising said platen to position the cover above the case; lowering said platen to unite said cover and case; and exerting a downward force on said platen for a predetermined time period.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for heat sealing together a battery case and cover of a thermoplastic material, comprising, in combination: a support base having means for aligning thereon a battery case and battery cover loosely fitted on the case; a vacuum operated gripping platen positioned above the battery cover and having a plurality of spaced vacuum openings dispersed throughout a portion of the area of its lower face, said vacuum openings being connected to a source of vacuum, and a gasket member positioned over said lower face portion and having openings therethrough corresponding to such of the vacuum openings positioned above the particular size battery cover to be processed; means connected to the support base for elevating the platen from a position of engagement with the cover wherein the cover is loosely fitted upon the case to a position wherein the cover is held a predetermined distance above the upper edges of the case, for lowering the platen to its former position, and for applying a downward clamping force on the platen to clamp together said battery cover and case; and means connected to the support base for interposing a radiant heat source between the battery case and cover when the battery cover is in its upper position to soften said thermoplastic material to a tacky condition prior to the downward movement of the platen.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
223 words
An apparatus for heat sealing together a battery case and cover of a thermoplastic material, comprising, in combination: a support base having means for aligning thereon a battery case and battery cover loosely fitted on the case; a vacuum operated gripping platen positioned above the battery cover and having a plurality of spaced vacuum openings dispersed throughout a portion of the area of its lower face, said vacuum openings being connected to a source of vacuum, and a gasket member positioned over said lower face portion and having openings therethrough corresponding to such of the vacuum openings positioned above the particular size battery cover to be processed; means connected to the support base for elevating the platen from a position of engagement with the cover wherein the cover is loosely fitted upon the case to a position wherein the cover is held a predetermined distance above the upper edges of the case, for lowering the platen to its former position, and for applying a downward clamping force on the platen to clamp together said battery cover and case; and means connected to the support base for interposing a radiant heat source between the battery case and cover when the battery cover is in its upper position to soften said thermoplastic material to a tacky condition prior to the downward movement of the platen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for heating sealing together a battery case and cover of thermoplastic materil, comprising, in combination, a plurality of movable work stations mounted on a movable support, each station having means for receiving a battery case with a loosely fitted cover, a vacuum operated gripping platen connected to the support and positioned above the battery case and cover for engagement with the cover, fluid-actuated means for sequentially raising, holding, lowering and exerting a downward force on the platen and vacuum-retained cover as said work stations advance, and means for interposing a source of radiant heat between the case and cover when the cover is in a raised position, until the corresponding surfaces of the case and cover become tacky, said last-named means including means for adjusting the vertical position of the radiant heat source such that the distance of the source from each of the case and cover is in accordance with the heat-absorptive qualities of the case and cover, respectively, to provide for substantially equal degrees of tackiness on the corresponding case and cover surfaces for a given heating time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
181 words
Apparatus for heating sealing together a battery case and cover of thermoplastic materil, comprising, in combination, a plurality of movable work stations mounted on a movable support, each station having means for receiving a battery case with a loosely fitted cover, a vacuum operated gripping platen connected to the support and positioned above the battery case and cover for engagement with the cover, fluid-actuated means for sequentially raising, holding, lowering and exerting a downward force on the platen and vacuum-retained cover as said work stations advance, and means for interposing a source of radiant heat between the case and cover when the cover is in a raised position, until the corresponding surfaces of the case and cover become tacky, said last-named means including means for adjusting the vertical position of the radiant heat source such that the distance of the source from each of the case and cover is in accordance with the heat-absorptive qualities of the case and cover, respectively, to provide for substantially equal degrees of tackiness on the corresponding case and cover surfaces for a given heating time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |