The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 2024
Filed:
Mar. 23, 2021
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Erik Miller, Appleton, WI (US);
Brian Atkinson, Darlington, SC (US);
Kevin Pagano, Algonquin, IL (US);
Illinois Tool Works Inc., Glenview, IL (US);
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for an enclosure providing a sealed environment. The enclosure employs movable paneling that seals an area for a laser welding cell, while allowing access for an operator to load a workpiece in and unload the workpiece from a welding cell. Barriers are arranged on the enclosure, such that in a closed configuration activation of a pneumatic tube forces the barriers to extend toward a rotated paneling, such that the edges of the enclosure contact or overlap with the edges of the paneling to result in a light-tight seal. Presence of the fluid increases the pressure in the tube such that an external boundary of the tube expands, forcing the barrier toward the edges of the paneling, thereby closing the gap and providing a light-tight enclosure.