HERRMANN ULTRASCHALLTECHNIK GMBH & CO. KG

A sonotrode and a method for reshaping a connecting element to form a closing head of a rivet. The sonotrode includes a cavity for forming the closing head, the sonotrode defines a longitudinal axis, the cavity provides a contact surface including two opposing side surface sections and at least two ridges protruding from each of the opposing side surface sections in an alternating manner. The method includes providing a connecting element defining a normal axis and two opposing side faces, providing a sonotrode, wherein the longitudinal axis of the sonotrode is aligned with the normal axis of the connecting element, moving the sonotrode and the connecting element towards each other, thereby initially bringing the ridges in contact with the side faces, applying an ultrasonic vibration via the sonotrode to the connecting element, thereby initially softening or melting the material of the connecting element in the region of initial contact.

A sonotrode for reshaping a connecting element to form a closing head of a rivet including a cavity at least partially having the negative shape of the closing head to be formed, wherein the cavity provides a contact surface designed to come in contact with the connecting element during reshaping, wherein the sonotrode defines a longitudinal axis (l), and wherein the contact surface in a cross section in at least one first plane parallel to the longitudinal axis (l) includes a first contour with a convex shaped outer section, so that a line connecting two points within the convex shaped outer section extends through the sonotrode and not through the cavity. A system including a sonotrode and a connecting element and to a method of reshaping a connecting element.

An apparatus and a method for intermittently processing a material. For this purpose, the apparatus has a tool with a sealing surface and a counter-tool with a counter-sealing surface, wherein the material is guided through a gap formed between the sealing surface and the counter-sealing surface in a feed direction during operation of the apparatus. In order to enable intermittent processing of the material, according to the invention the tool and/or the counter-tool is rotatable or pivotable about an axis such that a processing section of the sealing surface or of the counter-sealing surface can be arranged temporarily opposite the material, such that the material, when the processing section is arranged opposite the material, can be processed with the tool and, when the processing section is not arranged opposite the material, the material cannot be processed with the tool.

An apparatus for producing a gatherable material, wherein the material consists of at least two material web sections and one thread positioned between the material web sections, wherein the apparatus has a tool with a sealing surface and a counter-tool with a counter-sealing surface, wherein the tool and the counter-tool are arranged relative to one another such that the material web sections and the thread are guided through a gap formed by the tool and counter-tool, wherein the tool and/or the counter-tool has a groove for receiving the thread, wherein the groove is orientated in a feed direction divides the sealing or counter-sealing surface into partial sealing surfaces, and has a groove base and two side walls, wherein the side walls connect the groove base to the partial sealing surfaces, and at least one of the partial sealing surfaces has a flank which slopes down towards the groove base.

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic welding installation ( 1 ) with an ultrasonic oscillating unit which comprises a sonotrode ( 2 ) and a converter ( 3 ), wherein the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the converter ( 3 ) are arranged one after the other along a longitudinal axis, optionally with the interposition of an amplitude transformer, and the ultrasonic oscillating unit can be caused to resonate with an ultrasonic oscillation with a wavelength λ in the direction of the longitudinal axis, and with a counterpart tool ( 11 ), wherein the sonotrode ( 2 ) comprises a sealing surface ( 12; 13 ) and the longitudinal axis extends parallel to the sealing surface ( 12, 13 ) or forms an angle of less than 90° therewith, wherein the counterpart tool ( 11 ) comprises a counterpart tool sealing surface ( 16 ) which faces the sealing surface ( 12, 13 ) of the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the counterpart tool ( 11 ) being movable relative to each other in a processing direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, whereby the distance between the sealing surface ( 12, 13 ) of the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the counterpart tool sealing surface ( 16 ) can be adjusted. In order to specify an ultrasonic welding installation which at least reduces the described disadvantages, it is proposed according to the invention that the ultrasonic oscillating unit or the counterpart tool is held by a rotary holder which can be rotated about a rotation axis which extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, wherein the rotation axis is arranged in such a way that the distance between the sealing surface ( 12, 13 ) of the sonotrode ( 2 ) and the counterpart tool sealing surface ( 16 ) can be adjusted by rotating the rotary holder.

A system for generating acoustic ultrasonic vibration, with a generator for generating an alternating voltage (U) with a frequency f and converter for converting the alternating voltage into acoustic ultrasonic vibration, with a control device, which captures the vibration amplitude (A ist ) of the ultrasonic vibration and compares said vibration amplitude with a desired vibration amplitude (A soll ) and changes a manipulated variable with the goal of bringing the captured vibration amplitude (A ist ) closer to the desired vibration amplitude (A soll ). The generator has a frequency control module with a frequency control input. The frequency control module defines, in accordance with a signal present at the frequency control input, the frequency (f) of the alternating voltage (U) to be generated. A control apparatus converts an input signal into a manipulated signal, the desired vibration amplitude (A soll ) provided as the input signal, and the manipulated signal connected to the frequency control input.

The present invention relates to a processing element for processing a material, such as, e.g. a sonotrode or an anvil, having a substantially cylindrical or cylinder-segment-shaped carrier surface which is intended to come into contact with the material during processing, the processing element being provided to be rotated about its longitudinal axis during processing, so that the carrier surface moves in a circumferential direction and rolls on the material to be processed, wherein at least one structural element is arranged on the carrier surface, which structural element protrudes in a radial direction beyond the carrier surface, wherein the structural element has a top surface which is intended to come into contact with the material to be processed. In order to provide a processing element enabling reliable welding at a higher feed rate, it is proposed according to the invention that the top surface comprises a base section and at least one recess section having a smaller distance from the longitudinal axis than the base section, wherein in a sectional view perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, the base section and the recess section are arranged next to one another.

An ultrasonic vibration element which vibrates with a longitudinal ultrasonic vibration, the vibration unit is bounded in the longitudinal direction by a rear face and a front face, the front face is either intended to come into contact with a further vibration element or is designed as a sealing surface or adjoins a sealing surface which comes into contact with a material to be processed, wherein a circumferential lateral surface is provided, which connects the rear surface and the front face, the vibration element has a slit in the lateral surface, the slit has a slit length, a slit width and a slit depth, the slit depth being selected such that the slit completely penetrates the ultrasonic element, and the slit length being greater than the slit width, wherein the slit is not axially symmetrical to a slit longitudinal axis.

A sonotrode for an ultrasonic welding apparatus, having a lower portion of length u and an upper portion of length o, the upper portion and the lower portion adjacent on a longitudinal axis of the sonotrode, and the total length of the sonotrode in the direction of the longitudinal axis being u+o, the lower portion having a sealing surface oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the sealing surface contacting a material to be processed. The lower portion has a slot, wherein the slot extends from the sealing surface to a side of the lower portion opposing the sealing surface, such that the lower portion of the sonotrode is divided into a plurality of segments which lie adjacent each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.