There is disclosed a composite material lay-up head (20) for applying elongate fibre reinforcement material (14) to a tool (12), the head (20) comprising: at least one elongate tow guide channel (32) for guiding fibre reinforcement material (14) from a tow inlet (33) to a tow outlet (35) of the channel (32); and feed apparatus (36, 38) for feeding fibre reinforcement material through the at least one channel (32); wherein the or each channel (32) is provided with at least one nozzle (60) arranged so that in use a jet of gas can be delivered into the channel (32) so as to inhibit contact between fibre reinforcement material (14) in the channel (32) and the channel (32).

A device for producing textile planar structures formed of a plurality of portions deposited beside one another of fiber rovings. A supply device provides a fiber rovings at a transfer installation. A plurality of path guiding rails are disposed beside one another and above the depositing face. A gripper unit and a cutting unit are disposed on each path guiding rail. Each gripper unit and each cutting unit is movable and positionable along the path guiding rail independently of the gripper units and cutting units of the other path guiding rails. The gripper units grab the fiber roving from the transfer installation and move their free end to a desired terminal position. The cutting units severs the rovings at a cutting position. The gripper units and the cutting units have a downholder for pressing the fiber roving against the depositing face.

An apparatus for applying self-adhesive labels includes a supporting base for at least one reel of a ribbon that supports self-adhesive labels, elements of feeding the ribbon to a head for applying the self-adhesive labels, and a device for taking up the ribbon. The application head can move on command about an orientation axis in order to vary its own direction of extension with respect to the unwinding direction of the ribbon from the reel. The feeder elements include at least one redirection roller, the rotation axis of which can rotate on command, with respect to the reel, about an adjustment axis that is substantially parallel to the orientation axis in order to bring the direction of extension of the ribbon at the application head.

An automated labeling method and apparatus includes a label web-severing mechanism and a label-applying assembly, the web-severing mechanism configured to synchronously sever a plurality of labels from a self-wound label web, and the label-applying assembly configured to synchronously apply the plurality of severed labels to a corresponding plurality of articles to be labeled.

A frangible laminate includes first, second and third webs, and the second web is positioned between the first and third webs. The forming of the frangible laminate includes adhesively bonding a first plurality of sections of the second web to the first web, applying release material in order to inhibit at least some of any bonding between the first plurality of sections of the second web and the third web, and adhesively bonding a second plurality of sections of the second web to the third web. The frangible laminate is separated into a first laminate and a second laminate, so that the first laminate includes the first web and the first plurality of sections of the second web, and the second laminate includes the third web and the second plurality of sections of the second web.

A frangible laminate includes first, second and third webs, and the second web is positioned between the first and third webs. The forming of the frangible laminate includes adhesively bonding a first plurality of sections of the second web to the first web, applying release material in order to inhibit at least some of any bonding between the first plurality of sections of the second web and the third web, and adhesively bonding a second plurality of sections of the second web to the third web. The frangible laminate is separated into a first laminate and a second laminate, so that the first laminate includes the first web and the first plurality of sections of the second web, and the second laminate includes the third web and the second plurality of sections of the second web.

A device for producing textile planar structures formed of a plurality of portions deposited beside one another of fiber rovings. A supply device provides a fiber rovings at a transfer installation. A plurality of path guiding rails are disposed beside one another and above the depositing face. A gripper unit and a cutting unit are disposed on each path guiding rail. Each gripper unit and each cutting unit is movable and positionable along the path guiding rail independently of the gripper units and cutting units of the other path guiding rails. The gripper units grab the fiber roving from the transfer installation and move their free end to a desired terminal position. The cutting units severs the rovings at a cutting position. The gripper units and the cutting units have a downholder for pressing the fiber roving against the depositing face.

A device for welding thermoplastic tubes to a welding method, and to a welding knife. The device is provided for welding thermoplastic tubes, wherein the tubes are placed into tube holders and squeezed with the aid of tube clamps. A welding knife is moved between the first and the second tube holder and severs the tubes in the process. Cut ends and residual ends are thereby produced. The cut ends are aligned with one another by a relative movement of one tube holder with respect to the other tube holder and, by a horizontal movement of the two tube holders, are welded simultaneously to form continuous tubes.

An automated labeling method and apparatus includes a label web-severing mechanism and a label-applying assembly, the web-severing mechanism configured to synchronously sever a plurality of labels from a self-wound label web, and the label-applying assembly configured to synchronously apply the plurality of severed labels to a corresponding plurality of articles to be labeled.

A device for welding thermoplastic tubes to a welding method, and to a welding knife. The device is provided for welding thermoplastic tubes, wherein the tubes are placed into tube holders and squeezed with the aid of tube clamps. A welding knife is moved between the first and the second tube holder and severs the tubes in the process. Cut ends and residual ends are thereby produced. The cut ends are aligned with one another by a relative movement of one tube holder with respect to the other tube holder and, by a horizontal movement of the two tube holders, are welded simultaneously to form continuous tubes.