Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for effecting discontinuous patterned ultrasonic bonding of laminae which apparatus includes an anvil having a discontinuous pattern surface corporately defined by outwardly facing areas of a multiplicity of discrete pattern protuberances and which areas have a common elevation, an ultrasonic bonding transducer having a tip which is configured and disposed to contact said pattern surface along a predetermined line-of-contact, means for biasing said transducer tip towards the pattern surface, means for moving the pattern surface of the anvil relative to said transducer tip to so define a machine direction that said line-of-contact extends transverse the machine direction and so that pattern bonding of the laminae is effected as the laminae are forwarded in the machine direction while fixedly associated with the discontinuous pattern surface, the improvement wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are so configured and disposed in said machine direction that cobblestoning of said transducer tip relative to the pattern surface is obviated and so that every imaginary line which extends transverse said anvil at the common elevation of said outwardly facing areas touches some portion of said discontinuous pattern surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
In an apparatus for effecting discontinuous patterned ultrasonic bonding of laminae which apparatus includes an anvil having a discontinuous pattern surface corporately defined by outwardly facing areas of a multiplicity of discrete pattern protuberances and which areas have a common elevation, an ultrasonic bonding transducer having a tip which is configured and disposed to contact said pattern surface along a predetermined line-of-contact, means for biasing said transducer tip towards the pattern surface, means for moving the pattern surface of the anvil relative to said transducer tip to so define a machine direction that said line-of-contact extends transverse the machine direction and so that pattern bonding of the laminae is effected as the laminae are forwarded in the machine direction while fixedly associated with the discontinuous pattern surface, the improvement wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are so configured and disposed in said machine direction that cobblestoning of said transducer tip relative to the pattern surface is obviated and so that every imaginary line which extends transverse said anvil at the common elevation of said outwardly facing areas touches some portion of said discontinuous pattern surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are so configured and disposed in said machine direction that said outwardly facing areas have a continuity of overlap in said machine direction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are also so configured and disposed transverse said anvil that their machine-direction-tracks cyclically sweep the entirety of the line-of-contact portion of said transducer tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are so configured and disposed transverse said anvil that wear of said transducer tip is substantially evenly distributed along the entire line-of-contact portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
185 words
In an apparatus for effecting discontinuous patterned ultrasonic bonding of laminae which apparatus includes an anvil having a discontinuous pattern surface corporately defined by outwardly facing areas of a multiplicity of discrete pattern protuberances and which areas have a common elevation, an ultrasonic bonding transducer having a tip which is configured and disposed to contact said pattern surface along a predetermined line-of-contact, means for biasing said transducer tip towards the pattern surface, means for moving the patterned surface of the anvil relative to said transducer tip to so define a machine direction that said line-of-contact extends transverse the machine direction and pattern bonding of the laminae is effected as the laminae are forwarded in the machine direction while fixedly associated with the discontinuous pattern surface, the improvement wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are so configured that none of said areas has a cross machine dimension as great as the cross machine dimension of said discontinuous pattern surface and so that all of said areas are so disposed transverse said anvil that their machine-direction-tracks cyclically sweep the entirety of the line-of-contact portion of said transducer tip.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
185 words
In an apparatus for effecting discontinuous patterned ultrasonic bonding of laminae which apparatus includes an anvil having a discontinuous pattern surface corporately defined by outwardly facing areas of a multiplicity of discrete pattern protuberances and which areas have a common elevation, an ultrasonic bonding transducer having a tip which is configured and disposed to contact said pattern surface along a predetermined line-of-contact, means for biasing said transducer tip towards the pattern surface, means for moving the patterned surface of the anvil relative to said transducer tip to so define a machine direction that said line-of-contact extends transverse the machine direction and pattern bonding of the laminae is effected as the laminae are forwarded in the machine direction while fixedly associated with the discontinuous pattern surface, the improvement wherein said discrete pattern protuberances are so configured that none of said areas has a cross machine dimension as great as the cross machine dimension of said discontinuous pattern surface and so that all of said areas are so disposed transverse said anvil that their machine-direction-tracks cyclically sweep the entirety of the line-of-contact portion of said transducer tip.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said discrete pattern elements are so configured and disposed transverse said anvil that wear of said transducer tip is substantially evenly distributed along the entire line-of-contact portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 wherein said anvil is a cylinder which is rotatably mounted on an axis of rotation so that said machine direction extends circumferentially about said anvil, and so that said transverse direction extends parallel to said axis of rotation, and all of said outwardly facing areas lie in the surface of an imaginary right circular cylinder having its axis coextensive with said axis of rotation.