Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6471801?dq=5,072,412
Timestamp: 2017-05-26 06:26:19
Document Index: 19987420

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 2']

Patent US6471801 - Method and apparatus for assembling parts - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA method and an apparatus for fixing a part and a part support for mounting the part by use of adhesive via an intermediate member are disclosed. The adhesive is implemented by photocuring adhesive while the intermediate member is formed of a material transparent for light. The intermediate member is...http://www.google.com/patents/US6471801?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6471801 - Method and apparatus for assembling partsAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS6471801 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 09/756,785Publication dateOct 29, 2002Filing dateJan 10, 2001Priority dateJan 27, 1998Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS6224709, US6503358, US6544376, US6726806, US7427332, US20010011577, US20010011578, US20010054479, US20040154724Publication number09756785, 756785, US 6471801 B2, US 6471801B2, US-B2-6471801, US6471801 B2, US6471801B2InventorsHiroshi Takemoto, Shinobu Kanatani, Yoshihiro Morii, Shigeru FujitaOriginal AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (7), Non-Patent Citations (7), Referenced by (15), Classifications (14), Legal Events (3) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetMethod and apparatus for assembling parts
US 6471801 B2Abstract
FIGS. 16A-16C show a condition wherein the part 2, part support 3 and intermediate member 4 are assembled in a preselected position free from positional errors. As shown, in the accurate conditions cured adhesive P has a preselected thickness t1 between the part 2 and the intermediate member 4 and has a preselected thickness t2 between the part support 3 and the intermediate member 4. Also, the adhesive P occupies a preselected area of L1×L2 between the part 2 and the intermediate member 4 and occupies a preselected area of L3×L4 between the part support 3 and the intermediate member 4. FIGS. 17A and 17B show a specific condition wherein the part 2 and part support 3 and the intermediate member 4 assembled together are dislocated relative to each other. As shown, the adhesive fails to have the above correct dimensions t1, t2, L1×L2 and L3×L4.
As shown in FIG. 19, the pressing means for pressing the intermediate member 4 against the part 2 and part support 3 is implemented by a single pin 10. The pin 10 is movable toward and away from the intermediate member 4 at such an angle that it exerts substantially the same components of a force on the first and second interfaces 4 a and 4 b. As a result, the adhesive P applied to the interfaces 4 a and 4 b is spread between the part 2 and part support 3 and the intermediate member 4, as illustrated. Consequently, the area of the adhesive on each of the interfaces 4 a and 4 b increases, increasing the adhesion strength between the associated structural elements. In addition, the thickness and configuration of the adhesive P are substantially uniformed.
As shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, the pressing means is implemented by a first air nozzle 14 and a second air nozzle 15. The air nozzles 14 and 15 blow air toward the intermediate member 4 in the direction substantially perpendicular to the second interface 4 b and the direction substantially perpendicular to the first interface 4 a, respectively. The air nozzles 14 and 15 are capable of pressing the two surfaces 4 b and 4 a independently of each other and therefore spreading the adhesive P independently of each other without damaging the intermediate member 4. It follows that even when the amount or the kind of the adhesive to be applied to one surface i s changed, the structural elements can be evenly assembled without any positional deviation after the curing of the adhesive P.
FIG. 23A shows a plurality of (two in this example) first pins 17 a and 17 b while FIG. 24B shows a plurality of (two in this example) second pins 78 a and 18 b. The first pins 17 a and 17 b and second pins 18 a and 18 b constitute the pressing means for pressing the intermediate member against the part 2 and part support 3, Specifically, the pins 17 a and 17 b are movable back and forth in the direction substantially perpendicular to the first interface 4 a of the intermediate member 4. The pins 18 a and 18 b are movable back and forth in the direction substantially perpendicular to the second interface 4 b of the intermediate member 4. In this configuration, the pressures of the pins 17 a and 17 b to act on the surface 4 a do not concentrate, but are scattered. This is also true with the pressures of the pins 18 a and 18 b to act on the surface 4 a. This prevents the intermediate member 4 from tilting and further uniforms the thickness of the adhesive P on each of the interfaces 4 a and 4 b. EXAMPLE 7
As shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, Example 7 is similar to Example 4 (FIGS. 21A and 21B) except that air nozzles 14 and 15 have flared nozzle holes 14 a and 15 a, respectively. The flared nozzle holes 14 a and 15 a eject air onto substantially the entire first and second surfaces 4 a and 4 b, respectively. If desired, the flared air nozzle holes 14 a and 15 b each may be replaced with a plurality of nozzle holes. In this configuration, air from the air nozzle 14 and air from the air nozzle 15 are substantially evenly sent to the interfaces 48 and 4 b, respectively. This prevents the intermediate member 4 from tilting and further uniforms the thickness of the adhesive P on each of the interfaces 4 a and 4 b. The adhesive is not always applied to each of the surfaces 4 a and 4 b to a preselected thickness over a preselected area although it may fad in a preselected amount, as stated earlier. Specifically, the adhesive for adhering the part 2 and intermediate member 4 and the part support 3 and intermediate member 4 should preferably spread to a certain degree due to its own weight when applied to the surfaces 4 a and 4 b and thereby form layers of substantially uniform thickness. For this reason, such adhesive should preferably have relatively high fluidity, i.e., relatively low viscosity.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3400847 *Apr 21, 1967Sep 10, 1968Admiral CorpCabinet support memberUS5426573 *Mar 23, 1993Jun 20, 1995Jenkins; SopheniaCasket lid recessed light unitUS5785793May 30, 1997Jul 28, 1998Ushiodenki Kabushiki KaishaProcess and device for bonding discs to one anotherUS5840147Jun 7, 1995Nov 24, 1998Edison Welding InstitutePlastic joining methodUS5904795Aug 13, 1996May 18, 1999Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.Disc bonding method and device thereforUS6000784Mar 10, 1998Dec 14, 1999Ricoh Company, Ltd.Structure and method for mounting an ink jet headJPH0789185A Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/236,575, filed Jan. 26, 1999, allowed, Docket No. 0557-4578-3.2U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/400,202, Unknown, Per Client.3U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/605,053, filed Jun. 28, 2000, pending, Docket No. 193124US3 DIV.4U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/635,259, filed Aug. 9, 2000, pending, Docket No. 194684US3 DIV.5U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/756,786, filed Jan. 10, 2001, pending, Docket No. 200794US3 DIV.6U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/777,847, filed Feb. 7, 2001, pending, Docket No. 202198US3 DIV.7U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/834,973, filed Apr. 16, 2001, pending, Docket No. 206038US3 DIV.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS6627015 *Sep 17, 1999Sep 30, 2003Ricoh Company, Ltd.Structure and method for mounting an ink jet headUS6842596Mar 6, 2003Jan 11, 2005Ricoh Company, LimitedRecycling apparatus, recycling method, and recycled productUS7010248Jun 16, 2003Mar 7, 2006Ricoh Company, LimitedToner recycling method and toner recycling systemUS7020534May 28, 2004Mar 28, 2006Ricoh Company, Ltd.Recycling methodUS7113317Sep 22, 2003Sep 26, 2006Ricoh Company, Ltd.Polygon mirror scanner having an easily replaceable bearingUS7427332Feb 4, 2004Sep 23, 2008Ricoh Company, Ltd.Method and apparatus for assembling partsUS8974871 *Aug 5, 2014Mar 10, 2015Fu Ding Electronical Technology (Jiashan) Co., Ltd.Ultra-violet curing machineUS20030215260 *Mar 6, 2003Nov 20, 2003Yoshihiro MoriiRecycling apparatus, recycling method, and recycled productUS20030236345 *Apr 22, 2003Dec 25, 2003Yoshihiro MoriiBinder for granulation molding of powder particles and granulated moldingsUS20040005167 *Jun 16, 2003Jan 8, 2004Yoshihiro MoriiToner recycling method and toner recycling systemUS20040057093 *Sep 22, 2003Mar 25, 2004Fumikata AndohPolygon mirror scanner having an easily replaceable bearingUS20040154724 *Feb 4, 2004Aug 12, 2004Hiroshi TakemotoMethod and apparatus for assembling partsUS20040250398 *Mar 9, 2004Dec 16, 2004Yoshihiro MoriiRecycling method and recycling system for the recycling methodUS20050015181 *May 28, 2004Jan 20, 2005Yoshihiro MoriiRecycling methodUS20150041677 *Aug 5, 2014Feb 12, 2015Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.Ultra-violet curing machine* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification156/60, 248/205.4, 156/304.3International ClassificationB29C35/08, C09J5/00Cooperative ClassificationB29C65/4845, Y10T156/10, B29L2031/767, B29C2035/0827, C09J5/00, B29C65/1406, B29C65/1464, B29C65/1435European ClassificationC09J5/00Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 7, 2006FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 21, 2010FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Apr 28, 2014FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services