US3901749A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for forming an endless ribbon
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
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Filing: 1974-08-27
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-08-27
Abstract
Abstract Ultrasonic energy is utilized for cutting and for simultaneously bonding or welding the ends of an ink ribbon so as to form an endless loop of predetermined length. The bond or weld in the loop is then pressed into a single layer thickness which is adaptable for printing therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard E H Howells
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 20:08
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/08; B29C65/74; B29C65/743; B29C65/7443; B29C65/78; B29C65/7841; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/03; B29C66/032; B29C66/0324; B29C66/03241; B29C66/03242; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/114; B29C66/1142; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/432; B29C66/4322; B29C66/4324; B29C66/49; B29C66/70; B29C66/73; B29C66/739; B29C66/7392; B29C66/73921; B29C66/80; B29C66/81; B29C66/814; B29C66/8141; B29C66/81411; B29C66/81421; B29C66/81422; B29C66/13; B29C66/133; B29C66/71; B29C66/812; B29C66/8126; B29C66/81264; B29C66/8145; B29C66/81463; B29C66/83; B29C66/832; B29C66/8322; B29L; B29L2007/00; B29L2007/007; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/709; B29L2031/767; B29L2031/7674; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1054; Y10T156/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A METHOD OF BONDING TOGETHER TWO ELEMENTS OF SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. SUPERIMPOSING ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS UPON THE OTHER, B. SUBJECTING A ZONE ON SAID SUPERIMPOSED ELEMENTS TO COMPRESSION AND ULTRASONIC VIBRATION TO BOND SAID ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE AREA OF THE ZONE AND ALSO TO PROVIDE A CUTTING ACTION, SEPERATING THE BONDED ELEMENTS INTO JOINED PAIRS, C. SELECTING ONE OF SAID JOINED PAIRS AND SPREADING THE JOINED ELEMENTS OF SAID SELECTED PAIR, AND D. SUBJECTING THE BONDED ZONE OF SAID SELECTED PAIR OF ELEMENTS TO FURTHER COMPRESSION AND ULTRASONIC VIBRATION TO FLATTEN THE BONDED ZONE TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME THICKNESS AS THE ELEMENTS.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A METHOD OF BONDING TOGETHER TWO ELEMENTS OF SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. SUPERIMPOSING ONE OF SAID ELEMENTS UPON THE OTHER, B. SUBJECTING A ZONE ON SAID SUPERIMPOSED ELEMENTS TO COMPRESSION AND ULTRASONIC VIBRATION TO BOND SAID ELEMENTS TOGETHER IN THE AREA OF THE ZONE AND ALSO TO PROVIDE A CUTTING ACTION, SEPERATING THE BONDED ELEMENTS INTO JOINED PAIRS, C. SELECTING ONE OF SAID JOINED PAIRS AND SPREADING THE JOINED ELEMENTS OF SAID SELECTED PAIR, AND D. SUBJECTING THE BONDED ZONE OF SAID SELECTED PAIR OF ELEMENTS TO FURTHER COMPRESSION AND ULTRASONIC VIBRATION TO FLATTEN THE BONDED ZONE TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME THICKNESS AS THE ELEMENTS.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which the ultrasonic vibration is at a rate of approximately 20,000 cycles per second.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 in which step (D) is accomplished by use of a rigid element placed between the joined elements at the bonded zone and the means for applying ultrasonic vibration to said zone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 in which the rigid element is a thin metal shim.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 in which a first tool having a first configuration is used for applying ultrasonic vibration to the elements for the bonding and cutting operation of step (B) and a second tool having a second configuration is used for applying ultrasonic vibration to the elements for the flattening operation of step (D).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 5 in which said first tool is made from material of high hardness and presents a relatively small surface to the sheet-like material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 in which said second tool is provided with a slight bevel parallel to the line of bonding, and presents a relativEly large surface to the sheet-like material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 in which the elements being bonded together are portions of an ink ribbon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 in which the bond is substantially perpendicular to the length of the ribbon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 in which the bond is at an angle of approximately 45* with respect to the length of the ribbon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 in which the ink ribbon is in the form of an endless loop.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 in which the ink ribbon is made of thermoplastic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 in which the thermoplastic material is nylon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 12 in which the thermoplastic material is polyolefin.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for bonding together two elements of sheet-like material comprising, in combination, first ultrasonic means including a cutting and welding tool, and operable to perform a cutting and welding operation on two superimposed elements of said sheet-like material; second ultrasonic means including a weld-flattening tool, and operable to perform a weld-flattening operation on a weld joining two elements of said sheet-like material; and a table having retaining means to retain two elements of sheet-like material in superimposed relation on a surface thereof, said table being movable between a first position in which the two superimposed elements are positioned in operative relation to said first ultrasonic means for cutting and welding of said two elements, and a second position in which the two welded elements are positioned in operative relation to said second ultrasonic means for flattening of the weld produced by the first ultrasonic means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
Apparatus for bonding together two elements of sheet-like material comprising, in combination, first ultrasonic means including a cutting and welding tool, and operable to perform a cutting and welding operation on two superimposed elements of said sheet-like material; second ultrasonic means including a weld-flattening tool, and operable to perform a weld-flattening operation on a weld joining two elements of said sheet-like material; and a table having retaining means to retain two elements of sheet-like material in superimposed relation on a surface thereof, said table being movable between a first position in which the two superimposed elements are positioned in operative relation to said first ultrasonic means for cutting and welding of said two elements, and a second position in which the two welded elements are positioned in operative relation to said second ultrasonic means for flattening of the weld produced by the first ultrasonic means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the first and second ultrasonic means are positioned with respect to the table so that the weld line is parallel to the direction of movement of the table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 16 in which the retaining means on said table retains the two superimposed elements in aligned relationship in a direction perpendicular to the direction of table movement, so that the weld line is perpendicular to the long dimension of the welded elements.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
59 words
The apparatus of claim 16 in which the retaining means on said table retains the two superimposed elements at an angle of 90* with respect to each other and 45* with respect to the direction of table movement so that the weld line is at an angle of 45* with respect to the long dimension of the welded elements.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the retaining means comprises spring-loaded clamps.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the cutting and welding tool of the first ultrasonic means is made from material of high hardness and presents a relatively small surface to the sheet-like material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the weld-flattening tool of the second ultrasonic means is provided with a slight bevel parallel to the weld line, and presents a relatively large surface to the sheet-like material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the second ultrasonic means includes a rigid element placed between the weld-flattening tool and the joined elements of sheet-like material for the flattening operation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 21 in which the rigid element is a thin metal shim.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the first and second ultrasonic means operate at a frequency of approximately 20,000 cycles per second.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 in which the first and second ultrasonic means are biased to compress the two superimposed elements during the operations thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2440664A
Cited
US3574037A
Cited
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 |