Combined continuous/random fiber reinforced composite filament including a plurality of axial fiber strands extending substantially continuously within a matrix material of the fiber reinforced composite filament as well as a multiplicity of short chopped fiber rods extending at least in part randomly within the same matrix material is 3D printed via a deposition head including a conduit continuously transitioning to a substantially rounded outlet tipped with an ironing lip, which is driven to flatten the fiber reinforced composite filament against previously deposited portions of the part, as the matrix material and included therein a first proportion of the short chopped fiber rods are is flowed interstitially among the axial fiber strands spread by the ironing lip. A second proportion of the short chopped fiber rods is forced against previously deposited portions of the part.

A preform charge is formed by forming an assemblage of preforms, wherein preforms in the assemblage are bonded to a neighboring preform such that the preform charge effectively becomes a single unit. The preform charge can then be added to a mold to fabricate a part via compression molding.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for ultrasonic welding of a removal thread (1) of an intrauterine system (2). The apparatus comprises a welding jig (3) comprising a welding groove (4), the welding groove having a length Lg, a width Wg and a depth Dg and a bottom (5) with concave shape. The apparatus further comprises a sonotrode (6) having a length Ls that is 150-220% of Lg, a width Ws of a welding tip (7) of the sonotrode that is 80-98% of Wg and a depth Ds. Further, the welding tip of the sonotrode has a concave shape.

A method of fusing without contact the ends of thermoplastic filaments grouped together to form at least two tufts. The method steps include providing at least two tufts of thermoplastic filaments arranged at a distance to each other, providing a heating plate at least partly made from a conductive material and structured to have at least two heating sectors separated from one another by at least one separation sector arranged for emitting at least less thermal radiation then the heating sectors, each of the heating sectors having conductive material and a heating surface corresponding in shape and position to the shape and position of the ends of the tufts, exposing the ends of the tufts to the heating plate such that the tuft ends and the heating sectors are aligned with each other, and generating an electric-current flow through the heating sectors so that the heating surfaces of the heating sectors emit thermal radiation that is absorbed by the ends of the filaments, whereby the ends of the filaments melt and the filaments of each tuft are fused together.

A tension member with at least one loop made from fiber-reinforced plastic, which tension member has a plurality of fibers that run substantially parallel to each other, so that the loop is formed by the plurality of fibers, wherein a first group of fibers is turned over along the loop in a first turning direction, while a second group of fibers is turned over along the loop in a second turning direction, which is opposed to the first turning direction. Some of the turned-over fibers of both groups end in a different distance from the vertex of the loop than others of the turned-over fibers, so that a cross-section of the tension member that results from the respective number of fibers that run approximately parallel to each other outside the turning-over area of the fibers approximately continuously decreases until it reaches the cross-section size of the tension member.

A fiber cushion body, which is formed from cross-linked fiber material and which is resiliently deformable when load is applied along a main load direction, is treated using ultrasonic energy. A portion of the fiber cushion body is displaced, for example using a sonotrode, and ultrasonic vibrations are applied to the fiber cushion body to re-shape the fiber cushion body from a first shape to a second shape different from the first shape.

A method for splicing two bundles (1, 2) of multifilament textile fibers comprises: inserting an end portion of a first bundle (1) into a first end of a heat-shrinkable sheath (10) and an end portion of a second bundle (2) into a second end of the sheath, axially opposite the first end, until the ends of the end portions of the two bundles are facing each other; inserting a curable organic material inside the sheath (10) in a space separating the end portions of the bundles (1, 2); heating a portion of the heat-shrinkable sheath (10) surrounding a joining portion (9) to a predetermined temperature; curing the curable organic material; and removing the sheath (10).

A method of manufacturing a toothbrush includes steps of providing a carrier having at least a first through hole extending from a front side to a backside of the carrier and at least a first wall element integral with the carrier and extending from the back side in a vicinity of the through hole; introducing a first cleaning element into the first through hole such that an end portion of the first cleaning element is exposed on the backside of the carrier; treating the end portion of the first cleaning element such that it deforms and becomes wider than the first through hole; and deforming the first wall element until it at least partially extends over the deformed end portion of the first cleaning element such that the first cleaning element is effectively retained in its axial position. A brush having structural features resulting from the manufacturing method.

A personal-care applicator comprising at least one stem having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end including a handle, and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, and at least a first plurality of bristles ultrasonically welded to the stem and outwardly extending therefrom according to a first pre-determined pattern, wherein the elongated stem and the at least first plurality of bristles comprise ultrasonically compatible materials, and wherein the bristles are ultrasonically bonded to the stem through a direct ultrasonic bond between a surface of the stem and a lengthwise portion of each of the bristles. Process comprises providing a stem strip, wrapping a continuous yarn around a moving endless band, juxtaposing the continuous stem strip with the band's edge, ultrasonically welding the yarn portions adjacent to the band's edge to the stem strip at a predetermined density, removing the stem strip having the yarn ultrasonically welded thereto from the endless band, and cutting the stem strip into a plurality of applicator components.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for thermally treating webs which comprise thermoplastic respectively meltable compounds, thereby creating cylindrical or elliptic consolidation regions which may optionally comprise an aperture by employing a thermal energy source, such as ultrasonic energy, as well as to webs comprising elliptic consolidation regions. In a particular aspect the invention concerns apparatus and methods for creating the consolidation regions by using an anvil with a contact member that is supported by support ribs in its outer or proximal portion.