Claims
- 1. A heat staking apparatus for deforming a thermoplastic part comprising:
a housing defining a treatment area into which at least a portion of the part to be deformed is admitted; an energy source disposed in the housing for generating energy in the infrared band; an energy directing means for directing energy from the source to the treatment area; a punch mounted in the housing for movement relative to the source toward and away from the treatment area; and a power means for selectively causing movement of the punch.
- 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy source is an incandescent lamp.
- 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the energy directing means comprises at least one reflector.
- 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the reflector has a reflective surface covered by a layer of gold.
- 5. The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the energy directing means comprises a primary reflector surrounding the lamp and a secondary reflector spaced from the primary reflector and surrounding the treatment area.
- 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the secondary reflector comprises a plurality of connected curved sections for providing localized redirection of the infrared energy and wherein each curved section directs the infrared energy to a different focal area.
- 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the energy directing means comprises fiber optic cables.
- 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the energy source comprises a plurality of incandescent lamps.
- 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the incandescent lamp is a halogen lamp.
- 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing includes a slidable carriage moveable along an axis toward the thermoplastic part and wherein the punch is mounted on the slidable carriage.
- 11. The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein the slidable carriage is magnetically attached to the power means for selectively moving the punch.
- 12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein the power means is a pneumatic cylinder.
- 13. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an arm rotatably connected to the housing and wherein the punch is mounted on the arm.
- 14. The apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein motion of the rotatable arm is selectively controlled by a pneumatic cylinder.
- 15. A heat staking apparatus for deforming a thermoplastic part comprising:
a cylindrical housing having an end cap defining a cavity into which at least a portion of the stud can be admitted; an energy source disposed in the housing and for generating energy in the infrared band; a primary reflector disposed in and fixed to the housing in surrounding relationship to the energy source for directing energy substantially axially of the housing; a secondary reflector affixed to the housing in axially spaced relation with the primary reflector to receive energy therefrom and to concentrate the energy on a defined treatment area essentially surrounded by the secondary reflector; said secondary reflector having an aperture found centrally therein to admit the stud into the treatment area; a punch mounted in the housing for movement toward and away from the stud; and a power means for selectively causing movement of the punch.
- 16. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the secondary reflector comprising a plurality of connected curved sections for providing localized redirection of the infrared energy and wherein each curved section directs the infrared energy to a focal area at a different distance from the central aperture.
- 17. The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the primary reflector and the secondary reflector are covered with a thin layer of gold.
- 18. The apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the punch is magnetically attached to the power means, and is slidably moveable along an axis toward the treatment area.
- 19. A heat staking apparatus for deforming a thermoplastic part comprising:
a housing defining a cavity into which at least a portion of the part is admitted; an energy source including at least one incandescent lamp for generating energy in the infrared band and affixed to the housing; a primary reflector having a generally parabolic shape surrounding the lamp and directing the light toward a secondary reflector; the secondary reflector spaced from the primary reflector and including a central aperture and a plurality of connected curved sections wherein each curved section provides localized redirection of the light to a focal area at a different distance from the central aperture; a slidable carriage mounted on the housing and moveable along an axis toward and away from the part; a power means magnetically attached to the slidable carriage and for selectively moving the slidable carriage toward and away from the part; and a punch mounted on the carriage.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 09/531,543, filed Mar. 20, 2000.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09531543 |
Mar 2000 |
US |
Child |
09866997 |
May 2001 |
US |