The subject-matter of the invention is an apparatus for the manufacture of geocells from double-side textured and - if required - perforated thermoplastic strips which are connected using ultrasonic welds aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the strips.

The familiar apparatus for the manufacture of geocells consists of a movable support structure, an ultrasonic welder installed onto a mounting structure fixed to the floor and anvils which are manually slid into the support structure. The anvils function as a support for the strips during the welding process.

The Polish description of the invention No. P-380523 "Method and apparatus for the manufacture of geocells" presents a familiar apparatus consisting of a support structure with slots in its side walls and a beam resting on pillars.

The beam is aligned axially to the support structure. Ultrasonic welders - each consisting of a generator and a press and incorporating a converter, a booster and a sonotrode - have been attached to the beam through carriages. The carriages have an independent drive and move back and forth along the beam axis with the amplitude equal to the half-way of the weld spacing.

This is a stationary support structure and has two oppositely placed rows of anvils contained in two support brackets, a front one and a rear one.

The oppositely placed rows of anvils have been shifted in relation to each other by an interval equal to the half-way of the weld spacing. The support brackets are driven by pneumatic servomotors.

The apparatus is connected to the systems of electrical power supply and compressed air. The PLC automation controls all the functions of the apparatus.

The described apparatus makes it possible to manufacture geocells of standard spacing between the adjacent welds. The change in spacing always requires the replacement of the support structure, support brackets and carriages.

The apparatus for the manufacture of geocells from double-side textured and - if required - perforated thermoplastic strips, which are connected using ultrasonic welds, consists of a stationary support structure with two oppositely placed rows of anvils contained in two support brackets driven by pneumatic servomotors and a carrying beam - resting on the pillars, over the support structure and aligned axially to it. The t _ωυ ,,ι _{6 ^} .n _* . _Ui* ~~ _& n carriages with an independent drive - holds the presses and the working elements of the welders. It is characteristic for the apparatus that the oscillators have been moved away beyond the bearing structure of the apparatus and the support structure is equipped with a system of adjustable holders, movable along the axis of the support structure. The function of the holders is to support the anvils during the welding process. Throughout the welding the holders, anvils and presses remain equally spaced. According to the invention, the carriages - connected by means of turnbuckles - are driven by a pneumatic servomotor, whereas the high frequency oscillators are located in the control switchboard.

The support structure has assembly holes for the holders, located at the upper edges of the side walls of the support structure. The holders, by screwing them to the support structure, get interlocked in the assembly holes during the welding of geocells. Assembly holes have been also made in the rods of the support brackets of both rows of anvils, which for the time of the welding of geocells are mounted to these holes.

The apparatus according to the invention has been shown at the drawing. Fig. 1 shows its lateral view, fig. 2 shows the view of the apparatus as from the switchboard cabinet and fig. 3 - the overview of the apparatus.

The apparatus consists of a stationary support structure I, a carrying beam 3_ mounted over the support structure to the pillars 2 and axially aligned to the support structure 1_ as well as presses ^ incorporating a converter 7, a booster 8 and a sonotrode 9, which are mounted to the carrying beam 3 through carriages 4. The oscillators 6 are located in a stand-alone switchboard cabinet 1/7. The stationary support structure 1 is equipped with a pair of oppositely placed rows of anvils K), JJ _. . Each row of anvils K), H is contained in support brackets , a rear one L3 and a front one 12 _. ; they are driven by pneumatic servomotors ]Λ. The oppositely placed rows of anvils K), Ii- - supported by the holders 1_5 mounted to the support structure I - support the strips during the welding process. All anvils K), ϋ of each support bracket \2, 1_3 are get over the support structure in a simultaneous movement. The spacing of the anvils in each row is adjusted according to the principle that during the manufacturing process the oppositely placed rows of anvils are shifted in relation to each other by an interval equal to the half-way of the spacing between the adjacent geocell welds. The carriages 4 - connected by turnbuckles - are moved to the respective welding positions by means of a pneumatic servomotor 16. The amplitude of this movement is equal to the halfway of the spacing between the adjacent welds. During the welding process of the geocells the holders 15 are loαceα in me noiαers 12 assembly holes 1_8, and anvils K), ϋ are mounted to the anvils assembly holes 19.

The apparatus - according to the invention - makes it possible to manufacture geocells of non-standard spacing between the adjacent welds so that the replacement of the support structure, the support brackets and carriages is not required.