Patent GB-1080135-A (GB)
Title: Friction welding method and apparatus
IPC: B29C51/22
Filed: 1964-08-14
Abstract: 1,080,135. Seaming non-metallic sheet material. BROWN MACHINE CO., OF MICHIGAN Inc. Aug. 14, 1964 [Aug. 23, 1963], No. 33219/64. Heading B5K. [Also in Division B8] Two independent heat fusible parts are friction welded together, e.g. a lid 51 to a filled container C, by rotating one part 51 relative to the other part C and then engaging the parts so that the friction heat generated by relative rotation frictionally welds the parts 51, C together, a suction holding force being applied to one part 51 to hold it when the parts 51, C are engaged. Friction welding apparatus comprises supporting plates 6, 7, Figs. 2 (not shown), and 4, secured to a rotatable shaft 3 and having radially extending supporting arms 8, 9, respectively, Fig. 1. Rings 10, 12 are fixed to lie radially outwardly of the arms 8, 9 and carry cams 11, 13, respectively. An upper carrier 14 is mounted on each arm 8 and comprises a cylinder 15 in which a shaft 16 secured to a block 17 is mounted by bearings 21 for vertical movement therein. The block 17 is reciprocated by a stub shaft 18 carrying a roller 19 riding in a groove 20 in the cam 11. A rotatable head 22 is journalled on the shaft 16 by bearings 23 and carries an article engaging member 24 having a dish-shaped recess 25 with a central opening 26 therein. The head 22 and the member 24 are rotated by a pulley 27 engaging a driven belt 28, Fig. 4. A rod 52 extends through a bore 53 in the shaft 16 to provide an annular passage 60 and terminates in a ball valve 57. A lower carrier 34 is mounted on each arm 9 and comprises a shaft 35 supporting a disc 38 which receives the container C. A sleeve 39 is slidable by bearings 40 on the shaft 35 and carries a holding member 41 formed with ribs 45 to grip flutes 44 on the lower portion 42 of the container C. The carrier 34 is reciprocated by a stub shaft 46 carrying a roller 47 riding in a groove 48 in the cam 13. The container may be made of polyethylene or polystyrene and may comprise two parts 42, 49 friction welded together as described in Specification 1,062,861. In operation, the filled container C with the lid 51 placed loosely thereon is positioned on the disc 38. As the carriers 14, 34 are rotated by the shaft 3 and before the pulley 27 is engaged by the belt 28, the cam 11 causes the shaft 16 to move downwardly so that the lower end of the rod 52 engages an imperforate portion of the lid 51 and arrests further lowering of the rod 52, thereby unseating the ball valve 57 to allow suction to be applied to the passage 60 through control apparatus described in the Specification, Fig. 5 (not shown). The lid 51 is thus held by suction against the member 24. The member 41 moves upwardly to grip the container portion 42. The cam 11 moves the block 17 upwardly to separate the lid 51 from the container C. As the shaft 3 continues to rotate the pulley 27 engages the belt 28 which rotates the head 22. After disengagement of the pulley 27 from the belt 28, the cam 11 lowers the carrier 14 with the head 22 spinning freely so that the lid 51 contacts the container C and heat is generated by friction. Rotation of the head 22 ceases when the lid and container have become welded together. The cams 11, 13 move the carriers 14, 34 upwardly and downwardly, respectively, the weight of the filled container breaking the suction grip of the member 24 on the lid 51. The rod 52 falls and seats the valve 57 to cut off suction from the passage 60. In an alternative embodiment, Fig. 8, the head 22 is replaced by a rotatable head 86 journalled by bearings 87 on the shaft 16. An article engaging assembly 88 comprises three connected annular members 89, 90, 91. In use, an actuating stem 108 is moved upwardly by the lid 51 (not shown) against the bias of a compression spring 112 to permit communication between chambers 95, 97. Suction generated by a pump (not shown) is applied to the lid 51 through the bore 53, slots 94, passages 96, the chambers 95, 97 and passages 99.