A spacer-locator with integrated locator pins and spacer tabs for use in joining applications. The spacer-locator provides consistent and accurate spacing between mating surfaces and the locator pins provide enhanced location control of the joining components while providing a mechanical advantage to the shear strength at the joint. Also, a spacer-locator for joining at least two objects along mating surfaces, the spacer-locator constraining at least two degrees of freedom for the objects to be joined.

A method of closing a packaging tray comprises arranging a packaging tray between a lower tool and an upper tool of a sealing station, positioning a cover film above the packaging tray between the lower tool and the upper tool, and pressing together the cover film and the packaging tray by a lower sealing surface of the lower tool and an upper sealing surface of the upper tool cooperating with the lower sealing surface. During the pressing together, a connection is established between the cover film and the packaging tray along a sealing seam. While the cover film and the packaging tray are being pressed together, an overpressure is locally generated by supplying pressurized gas from a pressurized-gas source, the overpressure cooperating as a counterpressure with the lower sealing surface or with the upper sealing surface so as to press the cover film and the packaging tray together.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

A method for joining two objects by anchoring an insert portion provided on one of the objects in an opening provided on the other one of the objects. The anchorage is achieved by liquefaction of a thermoplastic material and interpenetration of the liquefied material and a penetrable material, the two materials being arranged on opposite surfaces of the insert portion and the wall of the opening. Before such liquefaction and interpenetration, an interference fit is established in which such opposite surfaces are pressed against each other, and, for the anchoring, mechanical vibration energy and possibly a shearing force are applied, wherein the shearing force puts a shear stress on the interference fit.

A fin sealer and method to seal a radially outwardly directed fin of a tubular web structure by directing the fin through a nip between a first and a second fin sealing rollers while communicating heat to the fin through at least one of the fin sealing rollers is provided. The fin sealer is configured to maintain a nominal face-to-face relation between an outer annulus of the first fin sealing roller and an outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller with a flexible connection between a hub element of the second fin sealing roller with the outer annulus of the second fin sealing roller.

The invention relates to an assembly for adhesively connecting substantially congruent gluing surfaces of a first and second joining partner over their full surface, comprising: the first joining partner (1); the second joining partner (2); an adhesive layer (3) of a polar, flowable adhesive applied to the gluing surface (1a) of the first joining partner (1); means (8) for holding the second joining partner (2) above the adhesive layer (1a) of the first joining partner (1), such that the gluing surface (2a) of the second joining partner (2) faces the adhesive layer (3) on the first joining partner (1) and is disposed so as to be spaced therefrom across an air gap (5), and the spacing defined by the air gap (5) between the first joining partner (1) and the second joining partner (2) is dimensioned in such a way that a capillary volume is formed; means (7) for generating an electric field (10) in order to cause, by means of electric influence, a local charge displacement (11) on and/or in the second joining partner (1), and the charge displacement (11) is suitable for attracting the polar adhesive in such a way that it wets the gluing surface (2a) of the second joining partner (2) first in the area of the local charge displacement (11), wherein the means for generating the electric field comprise an electrode (7), which is disposed on the side of the second joining partner (2) facing away from the gluing surface (2a) and is electrically insulated from said partner (2).

A method for watertight welding, and components formed using that welding method, wherein the welding method includes providing a first component half with a groove and a protruding ridge located therein, providing a second component half with a tenon shaped to match the profile of the groove, disposing the tenon inside the groove such that the tenon contacts the protruding ridge, applying an ultrasonic power source near the groove to melt the protruding ridge, and applying opposing vertical force to the first component half relative to the second component half, such that the protruding ridge wedges in a bonding seam between an outside surface of the tenon and an inside surface of the groove.

A method, and an apparatus associated therewith, for detecting plastic tube ends clamped in a butt welding machine, the plastic tube ends being planed by means of a plane, which can be introduced between the plastic tube ends, and subsequently being heated by means of a heating mirror, which can be introduced between the plastic tube ends, and the plastic tube ends are welded together after removal of the heating mirror, the plane and/or the heating mirror being tilted in between the plastic tube ends by means of a controlled movement, wherein detection or sensing of the plastic tube ends during the controlled movement of tilting in the plane and/or the heating mirror is carried out by means of at least one sensor arranged on the plane and/or on the heating mirror.

A dressing for treating a tissue site with negative pressure may comprise a cover having an adhesive, a manifold, a perforated polymer film, and a perforated silicone gel having a treatment aperture. The cover, the manifold, the perforated polymer film, and the perforated silicone gel may be assembled in a stacked relationship with the cover and the perforated silicone gel enclosing the manifold. The perforated polymer film may be at least partially exposed through the treatment aperture, and at least some of the adhesive may be exposed through the perforated silicone around the treatment aperture.

The invention relates to a punching and/or welding machine for acting on a piece of motor vehicle bodywork that is made of plastics material, the machine having movable punching and/or welding tools, each of which is adjusted to perform a punching and/or welding operation and that are transferred from a waiting position to a working position for performing the punching and/or welding operation, the punching and/or welding operation being performed in three stages: a) transferring from a waiting position at a distance from a skin of the piece in order to come into a working position in contact with the skin; b) performing the punching and/or the welding; and then c) returning to the waiting position;
the device further comprising a support for receiving the skin in a determined position. The support and the movable tools are arranged in such a manner that, once the skin has been positioned on the support, it defines, possibly in association with a protective screen, a safety volume within which the movable tools move in order to perform the punching and/or welding operations on the skin.