Patent ID: 8735787
Filing Date: 2014-05-27
Classification: B25J,B29C,B29L,B60K

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for welding a plastic component to an aperture of a plastic body, the apparatus comprising: a frame element; a first heating head mounted to said frame element for heating the component; a gripper for gripping the component and for mounting the component to the body's aperture; said gripper further including a collision monitor to detect inadvertent collision between the component and at least one of said first heating head and the body; a heater arm having a second heating head mounted thereto for heating the body's aperture; and an actuator for mounting both said heater arm and said gripper to said frame element for alternating between a heating position wherein i) ia) said gripper is generally aligned with said first heating head for abutting the component therewith following relative movement towards each other, while ib) said second heating head is positioned for heating the body's aperture, and a work position wherein ii) said gripper is generally aligned with said body's aperture for mounting the component to the body's aperture for welding therewith; said gripper being mounted to said actuator via an arm cylinder; said arm cylinder being configured for applying a predetermined force between said first heating head and said component during heating thereof by said heating head and between said component and said body's aperture during welding thereof; said collision monitor being in the form of a linear encoder mounted to said arm cylinder; the arm cylinder absorbing the inadvertent collision.