Floating Joint Structure for Stable Ultrasonic Joining Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional floating joints in ultrasonic vibration joining apparatuses experience contact instability due to gaps between spherical connection regions, leading to fluctuations in pressure and inaccurate operation.

Innovation Solution

A floating joint design with a shaft body and spherical portion for contact, accommodated in a frame body with a recessed space, and a pressure adjusting member to maintain a constant one-side spherical contact relationship using elastic force, eliminating gaps and contact instability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If fixed gaps are maintained between spherical connection regions to ensure flexibility, then the floating joint can accommodate movement, but contact instability occurs during ultrasonic vibration operation

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidcontact stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the contact configuration from bilateral spherical contact with gaps to one-sided spherical contact with the spherical portion pressed against a flat bottom surface. This parameter change eliminates the gap-induced instability while maintaining the necessary flexibility through the elastic pressing mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a spherical portion with a curved surface that contacts a flat bottom surface, creating a stable one-sided contact relationship. The spherical geometry allows for smooth movement and rotation while the curved-to-flat contact provides stable positioning without gaps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If bilateral spherical contact is used to maintain flexibility, then the joint can move freely, but pressure fluctuations occur during operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovement freedomVSAvoidpressure stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the contact relationship into two distinct components: the spherical portion providing movement freedom and the flat bottom surface providing pressure stability. This segmentation allows each component to fulfill its specific function without interfering with the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic element acts as an intermediary between the spherical portion and the flat bottom surface, maintaining constant contact pressure while allowing the spherical portion to move freely. This intermediary ensures stable pressure transmission during ultrasonic vibration operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional floating joint with gaps is used, then assembly is simple, but contact unstable state causes malfunctions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidoperational stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates the elastic pressing mechanism that pre-establishes stable contact between the spherical portion and the flat bottom surface before operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the contact stable state is maintained throughout the operational period without requiring complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The design ensures stable contact during operation, preventing malfunctions and simplifying device configuration by eliminating the need for spherical shapes in the bottom surface portion, reducing size and assembly time.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure adjusting member provided between the bottom surface exposed region of the spherical portion for contact and the bottom surface facing region of the fixing member without a gap, and having elasticity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

an ultrasonic joining head portion that executes an ultrasonic vibration operation that applies ultrasonic vibration from an ultrasonic joining portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectUltrasonic vibration: Ultrasonic Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS12577980B2Floating joint and ultrasonic vibration joining apparatus

Publication Date: 2026.03.17 TMEIC CORP

AI summary

A floating joint includes a driving side coupling portion and a driven side coupling portion serving as first and second connections. A pressure adjusting structure in the floating joint is provided between the bottom surface exposed region of the spherical portion for contact and the bottom surface facing region of a fixing ring without a gap, and has elasticity. Therefore, the floating joint relatively firmly maintains the one-side spherical contact relationship, in which the top region of the spherical portion for contact contacts a part of the bottom surface portion of the frame body by the elastic force of the pressure adjusting structure.