An apparatus for hot drape forming a part includes a plurality of pyrometers, a bladder covering a formable material, and a pyrometer control medium positioned between the plurality of pyrometers and the formable material. The plurality of pyrometers are configured to measure a temperature of the pyrometer control medium.

A high-speed lamination machine includes a hinged, clamshell lid, and clamped lamination chamber that uses localized and thermally isolated heating and stepper driven separation pin motion. Pneumatically actuated rollers in a track clamp the lamination chamber closed during operation. The clamshell design obviates the need for a hydraulic press and makes the lamination chamber easily accessible to other automated systems, so robots may be used to place lamination elements within the chamber.

A method of laminating a contoured part including heating a flexible membrane, positioning the heated flexible membrane into thermal contact with the contoured part, maintaining the heated flexible membrane in thermal contact with the contoured part to raise a surface temperature of the contoured part, moving the flexible membrane out of thermal contact with the contoured part, positioning a laminate between the flexible membrane and the contoured part, conforming the laminate to a surface of the contoured part, and heating the conformed laminate and contoured part to adhere the conformed laminate to the surface of the contoured part. The laminate may be conformed to a surface of the contoured part by applying a vacuum between the flexible membrane and the contoured part.

A working station for a packaging, machine, wherein the working station has a lifting unit having a pressure source and a lifting actuator connected to the pressure source. The lifting actuator comprises a hose comprising a wall having an inner surface and an outer surface disposed opposite the inner surface, and a seal having a seal cap engaging the outer surface. The seal further comprises an insert engaging the inner surface. Furthermore, the seal clamps a clamping portion of the wall of the hose between the insert and the seal cap in a fluidtight, preferably gastight, manner.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A first tooling die and a second tooling die are movable with respect to each other. The first tooling die and the second tooling die form a die cavity. The first tooling die and the second tooling die comprise a plurality of stacked metal sheets. A plurality of air gaps is defined between adjacent stacked metal sheets. A first smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and connected to the first tooling die. The first smart susceptor material has a first Curie temperature. A second smart susceptor material is within the die cavity and associated with the second tooling die. The second smart susceptor material has a second Curie temperature lower than the first Curie temperature. A flexible membrane is between the second tooling die and the first smart susceptor material. The flexible membrane is configured to receive pressure.

A bonding apparatus includes a chuck and a bonding head. The chuck is configured to carry a plurality of substrates to be bonded. The bonding head has a cavity facing the chuck and includes a divider, at least one pneumatic component and a diaphragm. The divider is disposed in the cavity and dividing the cavity into a plurality of compartments. The at least one pneumatic component is disposed in at least one of the compartments. The diaphragm covers the cavity and is disposed between the at least one pneumatic component and the chuck.

A bonding apparatus includes a chuck and a bonding head. The chuck is configured to carry a plurality of substrates to be bonded. The bonding head has a cavity facing the chuck and includes a divider, at least one pneumatic component and a diaphragm. The divider is disposed in the cavity and dividing the cavity into a plurality of compartments. The at least one pneumatic component is disposed in at least one of the compartments. The diaphragm covers the cavity and is disposed between the at least one pneumatic component and the chuck.

An apparatus (100) for applying pressure to at least a portion of an edge surface (192), which bridges opposing faces (194) of a workpiece (190), comprises a frame (110), a first roller (120), a second roller (130), a rotation-control member (140), a first biasing member (150), and a second biasing member (160). The first roller (120) and the second roller (130) are coupled to the frame (110) and are rotatable relative to the frame (110). At least one of the first roller (120) or the second roller (130) is translatable relative to the frame (110) along a first axis (101). The rotation-control member (140) is movable relative to the frame (110), controlling rotation of the first roller (120) and the second roller (130) relative to the frame (110). The first biasing member (150) is configured to operate in compression along a second axis (102). The second biasing member (160) is positioned, in compression, between the frame (110) and the rotation-control member (140).

The invention relates to a press for producing a component from a fibre-composite material, which is designed as a membrane press, comprising a press frame (15), a press lower part (3) on which a mould (4) is arranged, a press upper part (5) having a pressure chamber (6) that can be sealed against the press lower part (3), one or more press cylinders (9) which are supported on the press frame and act on the press upper part (5) and/or the press lower part (3), a membrane (11) that can be tensioned over the mould (4), a vacuum pump (12) with which a vacuum can be generated on a side of the membrane (11), for example on the underside, characterised in that the press frame is designed as a C-frame with an upper horizontal C-arm, a lower horizontal C-frame and a vertical C-base.