Shaping the Parameters of Cylindrical Belt Surface in the Joint Area

Abstract

Most of the industrial machines use round-shaped drive belts for power transfer. They are often a few millimetres in diameter, and made of thermoplastic elastomer, especially polyurethane. Their production process requires the bonding step, which is often performed by butt welding, using the hot plate method. The authors have undertaken to design an automatic welding machine for this purpose. Consequently, it is required to carry out a process analysis of hot plate welding, which entails describing the dependency between technological parameters (temperature, pressure force, time) and the quality of the joint, especially the outer surface of the belt around the weld. To analyse this process in a proper way, it is necessary to describe the physical phenomena that occur in the material, during particular operations of the hot plate welding process. One of the most troublesome phenomena occurring during the welding process is removing of the flash. These round rings, placed around the weld, which remains after the joining process, are unacceptable in the finished component. The authors took an effort to design the necessary equipment for removing of the flash after welding, using some simple parts that cut off excessive material. The paper shows the three possible solutions for flash removal. They were verified experimentally, and afterwards, the best solution was chosen. Additionally, a number of analytical calculations were carried out in order to determine the maximum force value required for this operation. Results of the analytical calculations were compared with experimental results.

Investigating friction spin welding of thermoplastics in shear joint configuration

“…Takasu [19] has demonstrated the friction spin welding machine for welding of thermoplastics in a horizontal orientation for joining pipes in butt joint configuration. The friction spin welding is generally performed in butt joint configuration and does not speak of shear joint configuration [20,21]. The schematic difference between butt joint and shear joint configuration for friction spin welding is shown in Fig.…”

Experimental approach to modeling of the plasticizing operation in the hot plate welding process

“…This action ends with its winding on the reel, which facilitates transport and storage. The final step in the production of a finished drive or conveyor belt is to cut to the appropriate length and make a permanent connection of its ends, to obtain a tight belt band with a closed circumference and uniform geometry along the entire length [5].…”

“…• properly planning the course of technological operations accompanying welding, e.g., cutting the belt to the appropriate length or cutting the flash [5].…”

“…9), which consisted in the fact that a sample of the belt (1) with a height h (the free end of which extends from the grip to a distance h 1 ) and a diameter d, mounted in the grip (2), was moved with a constant velocity v i towards the thermal insulation plate (5) with a constant thickness t = 0.5 mm, until physical contact (detected by the strength measurement system of the testing machine). The plate (5) was adjacent to the hot plate (3) lying on the ceramic pad (4). The traverse movement was then stopped and the plate (5) removed.…”

Comparative Analysis of Polyurethane Drive Belts with Different Cross-Section Using Thermomechanical Tests for Modeling the Hot Plate Welding Process

“…In response to the industry demand for automation of the hot plate butt welding of drive belts, the authors have proposed a solution for the automatic belt welding machine. The proper configuration of the control system requires the development and verification of the technological parameters of the welding process [ 3 , 11 , 12 ].…”