Dukane Ias, LLC

Alexander Savitski

Grzegorz Zdzislaw Bugaj

Leo Klinstein

Robert Edward Aldaz

Hardik Shailesh Pathak

Kenneth Andrew Holt

Paul H Cathcart

Device and method for laser welding around a circumference of a workpiece. A fixed, non-movable unitary optical reflector has a pair of optical reflecting surface portions on a first side surface and a second side surface, respectively, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A workpiece is fixed in an assembly having the reflector. During setup, the vertical distance is adjusted between the reflector and workpiece along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof without any adjustment of the reflecting surfaces. The first and second side surfaces define a curve that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. Once setup has been completed, a laser beam is directed so that it moves along the optical reflector to thereby produce a 360 degree circumferential weld around the workpiece. Another assembly is provided to change the laser beam direction multiple times to irradiate a circumference of a fixed workpiece from a fixed laser source.

Systems and methods for laser-welding a workpiece with a laser beam that reaches inaccessible areas of the workpiece using multiple reflecting parts

A method for optimizing a welding process to produce a weld joint having a predetermined strength includes measuring a plurality of melt layer thicknesses of weld joints for a plurality of sample assemblies formed by the welding process, measuring a plurality failure loads of weld joints for the plurality of sample assemblies, each of the measured plurality of failures loads being associated with one of the measured plurality of melt layer thicknesses, selecting a first failure load from the plurality of measured failure loads responsive to determining that the first failure load corresponds to a predetermined weld strength, and selecting a first melt layer thickness from the plurality of measured melt layer thicknesses that is associated with the selected first measured failure load.

Methods for determining a melt layer thickness associated with a predetermined weld strength based on a correlation therebetween

A laser welding system for joining first and second thermoplastic workpieces, and including a clamp, an actuator, and a laser source. The clamp includes first and second clamping structures positioned together to engage opposite sides of the workpieces when they adjoin each other. The first clamping structure has a non-flat or irregular surface, facing the first workpiece. The actuator causes the clamping structures to press the first and second workpieces together. The laser source applies laser radiation having a wavelength of 2 microns toward the workpieces to be joined, while they are pressed together by the clamp, to melt irradiated portions of the workpieces to one another. The first clamping structure transmits substantially all of the energy of the laser radiation through the material. The first workpiece has a non-flat or irregular surface facing the first clamping structure, which substantially conforms with the surface of the first clamping structure.

Laser welding system and method using machined clamping tool

A laser welding system is directed to simultaneously joining respective layers of a first bag and a second bag. The system includes a first film layer adjacent to a second film layer for forming the first bag, and a third film layer adjacent to a fourth film layer for forming the second bag, each layer of the plurality of film layers being made of a thermoplastic material that absorbs laser radiation having a wavelength of about 2 microns. A non-absorbing carrier film layer is positioned between the second film layer and the third film layer, the non-absorbing carrier film layer being made of a material that transmits substantially all energy of the laser radiation. A laser source applies the laser radiation toward portions of the plurality of film layers to be joined, forming the first bag generally simultaneously with the second bag.

System and method for simultaneous welding of plastic bags using a carrier film

A laser welding method and system for joining portions of first and second workpieces of thermoplastic material that is partially permeable to a laser beam but absorbs radiation from the laser beam. The first and second workpieces, which are made of material that absorbs radiation from a laser beam, are clamped together. A mask is placed on a first surface of the first workpiece, the first surface being opposite the surface engaging the second workpiece. The mask is impermeable to a laser beam and forms a slot for passing a laser beam to the portion of the first surface of the upper workpiece exposed by the slot, so that heating and melting of the material of the workpieces is limited to the width of the slot. A laser beam is directed onto the slot and moved in a manner to illuminate the slot to melt and join the workpieces.

Laser welding system and method using cooling mask to control the width of the weld

Device and method for laser welding around a circumference of a workpiece. A fixed, non-movable unitary optical reflector is provided, which has a pair of optical reflecting surface portions on a first side surface and a second side surface, respectively, arranged at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A workpiece is positioned and fixed in an assembly that includes the unitary optical reflector. During setup, the vertical distance is adjusted between the unitary optical reflector and the workpiece along an axis that is transverse to a longitudinal axis of the workpiece without any adjustment of the reflecting surfaces, which remain fixed during setup. The first and second side surfaces define a curve that is transverse to the longitudinal axis. Once setup has been completed, a laser beam is directed so that it moves along the optical reflector to thereby produce a 360 degree circumferential weld around the workpiece.

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Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

Alexander Savitski