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:
Jun. 20, 1995
Filed:
Dec. 29, 1993
Babak Sayyadi, Bothell, WA (US);
Dennis W Fritz, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Edwin E Thompson, Tigard, OR (US);
Gregory E Jansen, Hillsboro, OR (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
An automated applicator (120) for forming a welded identification sleeve (34) around an elongate object, such as a conductor (16), includes a base (124, 146, 148) defining a receiving surface (186) for receiving the conductor. A reversible line-feed printer (18) for feeding a weldable material strip (24) is positioned adjacent the receiving surface of the base. The printer is capable of selective operation in an advance mode to advance the leading end portion (22) of the material strip toward a first end of the base and transversely past the conductor, and a reverse mode in which the material strip is retracted away from the first end of the base. The applicator includes a guide member (151) mounted on the base and positionable adjacent the receiving surface for guiding the lead portion of the material strip, when advanced by the printer, around the elongate object. When so advanced, the leading end portion of the material strip overlaps the material strip in order to wrap the conductor. The applicator further includes a vacuum line (244) and grip assembly (246) mounted on the base for gripping the wrapped lead portion of the material strip during operation of the printer in the reverse mode to tighten the wrapped material strip around the conductor. An ultrasonic welder (33) mounted on the base welds the wrapped lead portion of the material strip to the material strip, thereby forming the tubular sleeve around the elongate object. A cutting blade (52) mounted on the base cuts the tubular sleeve from the material strip.