US3901429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for compliant bonding
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-01-17
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-01-17
Abstract
Abstract A compliant bonder has a single heated tip which is raised and lowered along a bonding axis. The tip is surrounded by a turret which indexes successive portions of a continuous compliant member across the bonding axis. The turret is provided with a series of holes through a rim portion thereof. In order to index the compliant member, after a bond is completed, the turret is lowered to disengage the bonding tip from the hole in the turret. The turret is then rotated to bring the next successive one of the holes onto the bonding axis. Next, the turret is raised to re-engage the tip with the newly positioned hole. Just prior to and during bonding, the tip is forced to project out through one of the holes that is aligned with the bonding axis. A portion of the compliant member is stretched across the hole in the turret. Thus, the tip engages with the compliant member. The heated bonding tip is prevented from pre-heating the compliant member except immediately prior to and during a bonding operation. Thus, the desirable flow characteristics of the member are retained.
Inventors
- 👤 John Albert Boyer
- 👤 David Paul Ludwig
- 👤 Friedrich Zwickel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:30
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10P; H10P72/00; H10P72/04; H10P72/0446; B; B23; B23K; B23K20/00; B23K20/02; B23K20/023; B23K20/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for compliantly bonding an article to a substrate, which comprises: means, including an opening in such means, (a) for effecting non-slipping rolling contact with a compliant member, (b) for positioning at least a portion of the compliant member over the opening and (c) for moving the opening and said portion of the compliant member onto the bonding axis in proximity to, but not in contact with, the heatable bonding tip; and means, coupled to the bonding tip, for passing the bonding tip through the opening and for engaging the portion of the compliant member on said axis with the bonding tip to bond the article to the substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for compliantly bonding an article to a substrate, which comprises: means, including an opening in such means, (a) for effecting non-slipping rolling contact with a compliant member, (b) for positioning at least a portion of the compliant member over the opening and (c) for moving the opening and said portion of the compliant member onto the bonding axis in proximity to, but not in contact with, the heatable bonding tip; and means, coupled to the bonding tip, for passing the bonding tip through the opening and for engaging the portion of the compliant member on said axis with the bonding tip to bond the article to the substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for compliant bonding first articles to second articles, which comprises: a heatable bonding tip adapted to move along a bonding axis; means, including a member having at least one opening in such member, (a) for effecting non-slipping rolling contact with a compliant strip and (b) for moving the opening in the member, a portion of the compliant strip and one of the first articles onto the bonding axis in proximity to, but not in contact with, said heatable bonding tip; and means, coupled to the bonding tip, (a) for passing the bonding tip through the opening of the member and (b) for engaging the bonding tip with said aligned portion of the compliant strip, said engagement being for a limited period of time and being prior to contact of said aligned first article to one of the second articles for bonding, said period being limited to a time insufficient to permit the engaged portion of the compliant strip to become heated to the temperature of the bonding tip, whereby the strip retains desirable strength characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
176 words
Apparatus for compliant bonding first articles to second articles, which comprises: a heatable bonding tip adapted to move along a bonding axis; means, including a member having at least one opening in such member, (a) for effecting non-slipping rolling contact with a compliant strip and (b) for moving the opening in the member, a portion of the compliant strip and one of the first articles onto the bonding axis in proximity to, but not in contact with, said heatable bonding tip; and means, coupled to the bonding tip, (a) for passing the bonding tip through the opening of the member and (b) for engaging the bonding tip with said aligned portion of the compliant strip, said engagement being for a limited period of time and being prior to contact of said aligned first article to one of the second articles for bonding, said period being limited to a time insufficient to permit the engaged portion of the compliant strip to become heated to the temperature of the bonding tip, whereby the strip retains desirable strength characteristics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the period of time during which the heatable tip is engaged with the compliant member immediately prior to bonding is less than 0.2 second.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for compliantly bonding a first article to a second article, which comprises: a heatable bonding tip; supply means for an indeterminate length of compliant bonding material; and indexing means for placing successive desired portions of the compliant bonding material from the supply means and in alignment with the heatable bonding tip, said indexing means including a turret adapted to accommodate a portion of the compliant bonding material on an outer surface of the turret, said turret surrounding the heatable bonding tip and having a rim portion with a plurality of apertures formed therein, said apertures being large enough to permit an end portion of the bonding tip to extend therethrough, and said turret also being movable with respect to sAid bonding tip so that the tip can be placed, when desired, in one of the apertures close to the compliant bonding material, and so that the tip can be removed from the aperture to permit the turret to rotatably index the compliant bonding material after each bonding operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for compliantly bonding a first article to a second article, which comprises: a heatable bonding tip; supply means for an indeterminate length of compliant bonding material; and indexing means for placing successive desired portions of the compliant bonding material from the supply means and in alignment with the heatable bonding tip, said indexing means including a turret adapted to accommodate a portion of the compliant bonding material on an outer surface of the turret, said turret surrounding the heatable bonding tip and having a rim portion with a plurality of apertures formed therein, said apertures being large enough to permit an end portion of the bonding tip to extend therethrough, and said turret also being movable with respect to sAid bonding tip so that the tip can be placed, when desired, in one of the apertures close to the compliant bonding material, and so that the tip can be removed from the aperture to permit the turret to rotatably index the compliant bonding material after each bonding operation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
A decoupling compliant bonding head, which comprises: a heatable bonding tip adapted to move along a bonding axis; a turret surrounding the bonding tip and having a rim with apertures extending therethrough; means for engaging a compliant member against the outer surface of the rim; means, coupled to the turret, for indexing and laterally moving it to permit the heatable tip to be inserted into successive ones of the apertures; means for selectively maintaining a gap between the insertable bonding tip and the compliant member engaged on the outer surface of the rim of the turret so that a desired portion of the compliant member can be accurately aligned to the bonding axis without being subjected to the adverse effects of being directly heated by the bonding tip, thereby preserving the desired flow characteristics of the compliant member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
138 words
A decoupling compliant bonding head, which comprises: a heatable bonding tip adapted to move along a bonding axis; a turret surrounding the bonding tip and having a rim with apertures extending therethrough; means for engaging a compliant member against the outer surface of the rim; means, coupled to the turret, for indexing and laterally moving it to permit the heatable tip to be inserted into successive ones of the apertures; means for selectively maintaining a gap between the insertable bonding tip and the compliant member engaged on the outer surface of the rim of the turret so that a desired portion of the compliant member can be accurately aligned to the bonding axis without being subjected to the adverse effects of being directly heated by the bonding tip, thereby preserving the desired flow characteristics of the compliant member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gap maintained between the bonding tip and the compliant member is at least 0.002 inch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the bonding tip is heated to a temperature of about 400*C, but the temperature of the compliant member does not exceed 250*C immediately prior to bonding.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gap between the tip and the compliant member is maintained until 0.2 second prior to the compliant member being contacted to a workpiece.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for compliantly bonding an article to a substrate, wherein a bonding tip is movable along a bonding axis, wherein means are provided for heating the bonding tip, and wherein a compliant member is indexably positioned between the bonding tip and the substrate, which comprises: a curvilinear member having both a first surface and an opposed second convex surface and having at least one aperture extending through such surfaces, the bonding tip being positioned adjacent to and spaced from the first surface; means for engaging the compliant member with the convex surface of the curvilinear member; means, coupled to the curvilinear member, for moving it to locate the aperture on the bonding axis; means for positioning the substrate adjacent to and spaced from the aperture; means for positioning the article between aperture and the substrate and spaced from aperture; and means, coupled to the bonding tip, for moving it through the aperture to engage the compliant member and then to force the compliant member against the article to bond it to the substrate.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
174 words
An apparatus for compliantly bonding an article to a substrate, wherein a bonding tip is movable along a bonding axis, wherein means are provided for heating the bonding tip, and wherein a compliant member is indexably positioned between the bonding tip and the substrate, which comprises: a curvilinear member having both a first surface and an opposed second convex surface and having at least one aperture extending through such surfaces, the bonding tip being positioned adjacent to and spaced from the first surface; means for engaging the compliant member with the convex surface of the curvilinear member; means, coupled to the curvilinear member, for moving it to locate the aperture on the bonding axis; means for positioning the substrate adjacent to and spaced from the aperture; means for positioning the article between aperture and the substrate and spaced from aperture; and means, coupled to the bonding tip, for moving it through the aperture to engage the compliant member and then to force the compliant member against the article to bond it to the substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the curvilinear member is a drum-like element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |