Device for welding plastic tubes

Abstract

A tube welder including a clamp block configured to receive a tube, a carriage movable along a first axis, and a slide rail coupling the clamp block to the carriage such that the clamp block is configured to move along a second axis between the carriage and the clamp block. The tube welder further including a spring biasing the clamp block in a first direction along the second axis and a linkage configured to move the clamp block in the first direction and in a second direction along the second axis, opposite the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tube welder comprising:
 a clamp block configured to receive a tube;   a carriage movable along a first axis, and   a slide rail coupling the clamp block to the carriage such that the clamp block is configured to move along a second axis;   a spring biasing the clamp block in a first direction along the second axis; and   a linkage configured to move the clamp block in the first direction and in a second direction along the second axis, opposite the first direction.   
     
     
         2 . The tube welder of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion; and the clamp block includes a post configured to be at least partially received between the first protrusion and the second protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The tube welder of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp block translates in the first direction along the second axis when the first protrusion abuts the post. 
     
     
         4 . The tube welder of  claim 3 , wherein the clamp block translates in the second direction along the second axis when the second protrusion abuts the post. 
     
     
         5 . The tube welder of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is orthogonal to the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The tube welder of  claim 1 , wherein the linkage includes:
 a motor;   a transmission coupled to the motor;   a first bar member coupled to the transmission; and   a second bar member coupled to the first bar member at a pivot.   
     
     
         7 . The tube welder of  claim 6 , wherein the second bar member includes a protrusion; wherein the protrusion is configured to engage the clamp block. 
     
     
         8 . The tube welder of  claim 7 , further including a sensor configured to detect the position of the linkage. 
     
     
         9 . The tube welder of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor detects the position of the second bar member. 
     
     
         10 . The tube welder of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor detects the position of the transmission. 
     
     
         11 . The tube welder of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission transfers rotational motion from the motor to linear translation of the first bar member. 
     
     
         12 . The tube welder of  claim 1 , further including a release assembly coupled to the linkage, wherein the release assembly moves in response to a force acting on the linkage exceeding a threshold force. 
     
     
         13 . The tube welder of  claim 12 , wherein the release assembly includes a carrier coupled to the linkage and a spring biasing the carrier. 
     
     
         14 . The tube welder of  claim 1 , further including a rail positioned with a non-planar surface facing the clamp block. 
     
     
         15 . The tube welder of  claim 14 , wherein the rail extends along a center axis that is parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         16 . The tube welder of  claim 15 , wherein a distance between the clamp block and the center axis of the rail varies as the clamp block translates along the first axis. 
     
     
         17 . The tube welder of  claim 16 , wherein a heating assembly is coupled to the rail. 
     
     
         18 . The tube welder of  claim 17 , wherein the heating assembly includes a core with a longitudinal axis, a winding positioned around the core, a first reflector including a first surface; and a second reflector including a second surface. 
     
     
         19 . The tube welder of  claim 18 , wherein the core is positioned between the first surface of first reflector and the second surface of the second reflector. 
     
     
         20 . The tube welder of  claim 1 , wherein the clamp block is a first clamp block and the tube welder further includes a second clamp block coupled to the carriage by a slide rail to permit relative movement between the carriage and the second clamp block.