Patent ID: 6911108
Filing Date: 2005-06-28
Classification: B29C,B29K

Abstract:
1. A photon welding apparatus for welding a work piece comprising a first component of transparent or transmissive plastic and a second component of absorbing plastic, comprising: a non-coherent photon source; a light pipe optically coupled to the photon source at one end to receive photons from the photon source and adapted to deliver the photons to its other end that is configured with a mask to allow the photons to exit the other end through an unmasked area to strike the workpiece in forming a weld between the components, the mask being a reflective coating on areas or the other end of the light pipe configured not to contact with the work piece; means for applying compressive force to the work piece during welding and a short time thereafter; and means for maintaining alignment of the light pipe, the first component and the second component during welding.