Systems and methods for applying a protective layer to an outer surface of a mobile device. A system may include a protective layer for an outer surface of a mobile device and an alignment layer coupled to the protective layer. A frame may define a cavity configured to receive the mobile device. The frame may include a surface positioned outside of the cavity and configured to support the alignment layer and configured to be depressed relative to the mobile device to reduce a distance between the protective layer and the outer surface of the mobile device when the mobile device is positioned in the cavity.

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 joining apparatus includes a fusing mechanism part that joins two thermoplastic sheet-like materials by fusing, a sticking mechanism part that sticks an adhesive tape along a joined portion of the sheet-like materials, a workbench having a placement surface on which the fusing mechanism part and the sticking mechanism part are disposed side by side, the placement surface allowing the sheet-like materials in an unfolded state to be placed thereon, and a guide that allows an end portion to be joined of one of the sheet-like materials and an end portion to be joined of the other sheet-like material to overlap each other while aligned along a plane intersecting the placement surface, each of the end portions to be joined of the sheet-like materials being placed on the placement surface, and to feed the overlapping end portions to be joined. The fusing mechanism part fuses and joins the end portions.

A method forms a butt joint between ends of first and second plies and splices the first and second plies together. The method includes the steps of: positioning a first splice edge of a first ply at a first location; positioning a second splice edge of a second ply at a second location, the second splice edge being left bare; wrapping a gum strip around the first splice edge such that the first gum strip forms a U-shaped structure in section that allows the first gum strip to extend from a first planar side of the first ply over the first splice edge to a second opposite planar side of the first ply; not wrapping a gum strip around the second splice edge; placing the first splice edge in abutting relationship to the second splice edge; and stitching the first splice edge to the second splice edge such that stitches each extend from the first planar side of the first ply, through the gum strip, to the first planar side of the second ply.

A machine includes an inflation arrangement, a sealing arrangement, and a tensioning device. The inflation arrangement provides air at a first pressure to inflate a first web of a first type of inflatable material, provides air at a second pressure to inflate a second web of a second type of inflatable material, receives the first and second webs, and aligns the first and second webs on the machine. The first pressure is different from the second pressure. The sealing arrangement seals the first and second types of inflatable material. The tensioning device provides a first tensioning force to the first web as the first web moves between the inflation and sealing arrangements and provides a second tensioning force to the second web as the second web moves between the inflation and sealing arrangements. The first tensioning force is different from the second tensioning force.

A sterile connection device includes first and second carriages. The first carriage defines a first portion of a proximal slot and a first portion of a distal slot, while the second carriage defines second portions of the proximal and distal slots. A controller executes a sterile connection procedure in which a solid cutting blade is heated, followed by the heated blade being moved to a cutting position to cut sealed proximal and distal tubes received by the slots. The second carriage moves proximally or distally with respect to the first carriage so as to align the cut ends of the tubes. The heated blade then moves out of the cutting position, followed by the first carriage moving toward the second carriage so as to press the cut ends of the tubes into contact with each other so as to sterilely connect the cut ends and define a joined tube.

A garment station including a first guide separated from a second guide by a repositionable gap. The garment station further includes a head carrier disposed between the first guide and the second guide. The garment station further includes a first tool head and a second tool head attached to the head carrier and configured to join webs of fabric disposed across the gap. The head carrier is configured to maintain the first tool head and the second tool head aligned in the gap as the gap is repositioned.

Method and apparatus are disclosed for mechanically opening a heat-bonded connection site between two hollow, flexible, thermoplastic segments of a medical fluid flow path, the heat-bonded connection site having an axis. The connection site is compressed between two facing surfaces, and the facing surfaces are relatively moved to rotate the connection site about the connection site axis and to apply force to the connection site substantially perpendicular to the connection site axis.

A method for setting up a joining apparatus for joining a light lens to a housing of a motor vehicle lighting arrangement. A first virtual model is created of the joining apparatus with a light lens and a housing received therein, a relative arrangement of the light lens to the housing corresponds to a target arrangement. A plurality of virtual models are created of the joining apparatus with the light lens and the housing received therein. The relative arrangement of the light lens to the housing deviates from the target arrangement in each case by means of virtual displacement of the adjuster. A target displacement is calculated of an adjuster on the basis of a functional relationship calculated and the relative arrangement in the test construction unit measured. A light lens is joined to a housing in the target arrangement by displacing the adjuster by the target displacement.

An optical system can include a receiver secured to a first optical component and a flexure arrangement secured to a second optical component. The flexure arrangement can include a plurality of flexures, each with a free end that can extend away from the second optical component and into a corresponding cavity of the receiver. Each of the cavities can be sized to receive adhesive that secures the corresponding flexure within the cavity when the adhesive has hardened, and to permit adjustment of the corresponding flexure within the cavity, before the adhesive has hardened, to adjust an alignment of the first and second optical components relative to multiple degrees of freedom.