Eastman-Kodak Company

Wallace S Stewart

Gary Edward Merz

Dale C Marshall

Danny L Greisch

Harold Moore

James W Morsch

An ultrasonic apparatus and method for forming individual pillowed chips of light lock material are provided. An ultrasonic horn and ultrasonic anvil are used to form pillows in a composite web of light lock material. The pillowed web material is then notched and cut to produce individual chips of light lock material. Each individual chip has one pillowed edge and one non-pillowed, notched edge. The pillowing and notching facilitate placement of the individual chips of light lock material into a film cartridge.

Ultrasonic method for forming individual pillowed chips of light lock

The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for cutting small pieces of fabric by means of an ultrasonic horn and a hollow open centered cutting anvil. The cutting operation includes a pick mechanism incorporating two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position before, during, and after the cutting operation. The pick head mechanism is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces, referred to as chips, in a subsequent assembly operation performed by the pick head. The assembly operation relates to attachment of small pieces of fabric by means of two miniature ultrasonic horns. The horns are combined with a pick and place mechanism which incorporates two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position during the manufacturing process. This pick and place head, when attached to a robotic arm, is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces repeatedly in a thermoplastic cartridge.

Method for cutting and placing individual chips of light lock material

An ultrasonic apparatus and method for placing individual pillowed chips of light lock material in a cartridge are provided. A vacuum plate mounted on a pivotable arm picks up a chip and releases it into a cartridge. The cartridge has a recessed area into which the pillowed edge of the chip fits. Once positioned with the cartridge, utilizing a tuck plate, the chip is sealed in place using an ultrasonic horn.

Ultrasonic apparatus and method for placing individual chips of light

Webs (12, 14) to be spliced are provided with end edges (24, 26) which are positioned with an overlap (38), covered by a metal buffer strip (60) and joined by application of ultrasonic energy (54, 62, 64).

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Penfield, NY, United States of America

Wallace S Stewart