Patent ID: 7879178
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: B29C,B29L

Abstract:
1. A method of producing hollow plastic components in which two subcomponents are injection molded and are thereafter brought together to be joined by a plastic weld, the method comprising: molding two subcomponents using a multi-component injection molding technique, each of the two subcomponents having two joining portions each made from a different material having different melting temperatures, at least one of the two joining portions of each of the two subcomponents including part of a bellows that are configured to mate with one another along seams that lie across corrugations of the bellows; placing a heating element in contact with the joining portions of the two subcomponents; simultaneously melting the two joining portions of the two subcomponents, that are initially below the melting temperatures of each material, by heating the two joining portions of the two subcomponents to the melting temperatures prescribed for each of the materials of the two joining portions, the melting occurring at the joining portions of each of the two subcomponents, including the seams of the parts of the bellows; bringing the joining portions of the two subcomponents together; and applying a pressure between the joining portions of the two subcomponents.