A sonotrode that includes a sealing face; a front quarter wavelength region adjacent to the sealing face, wherein the front quarter wavelength region has been modified to increase the gain of the sonotrode; and a rear quarter wavelength region adjacent to the front quarter wavelength region, wherein the rear quarter wavelength region has been modified to create a non-uniform amplitude profile across the length of the sealing face of the sonotrode.

A method for forming a seal or cover on an opening of a vehicle body. An extruded strand made of an elastomer material is adhered to a body support surface which receives the strand, and the support surface and/or a strand surface to be adhered is supplied with adhesive material prior to the adhesion process. The supply of adhesive material is controlled according to an adhesive material quantity requirement based on the strand length, the requirement changing in the longitudinal direction of the support surface, as a result of depressions and/or steps for example, and/or according to an arrangement of the strand surface to be adhered on the strand, the arrangement changing in the longitudinal direction of the support surface.

An ultrasonic systems and methods for sealing complex interfaces or for metal forming. Complex interfaces, such as a Gable top, have multiple and a variety of layers across the interface, or an oval or round spout having a complex geometry. An example system includes two ultrasonic horns arranged opposite a gap between which the interface is provided. The frequency and phase of the ultrasonic energy are synchronized as the energy is applied simultaneously while the interface is pressed between a jaw and the energy is applied to both sides of the interface. Another example system includes two ultrasonic transducers synchronized in frequency and phase and used to vibrate a horn mechanically to facilitate a sealing or welding interface or to assist in a metal-forming process.

An ultrasonic welding system. The system includes an ultrasonic transducer assembly having a horn and a first transducer and a second transducer arranged to impart ultrasonic energy into the horn. The horn has a first part-interfacing surface and a second part-interfacing surface opposite the first part-interfacing surface. An actuator assembly is operatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and configured to cause rotation of the horn. A controller is configured to: cause the actuator assembly to rotate the horn so that the first part-interfacing surface applies the ultrasonic energy to a first part along an entire length of the first part-interface surface while a first ultrasonic energy is applied through the horn via the first transducer to cause the first part-interfacing surface to vibrate back and forth along its entire length as the first ultrasonic energy is applied by the first transducer to the horn.

A composite thermoplastic liner for use as a moisture barrier comprises a hollow tubular body made from a woven composite thermoplastic material configured to substantially block the ingress of moisture; and an opening at one end of the hollow tubular body for intake into the hollow of the hollow tubular body. In one aspect a welded closed opposite end forms a base configured to substantially block the ingress of moisture external to the hollow tubular body. In another aspect the woven composite thermoplastic material comprises an electrically conductive additive. In another aspect there is a gusset in at least one side of the hollow tubular body. The hollow tubular body is able to be flattened with the respective gussets formed from folds of the hollow tubular body, such that in the flattened state the tube is more readily stored in a narrow form, but is expandable when the gusset is unfolded.

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.

An ultrasonic welding system. The system includes an ultrasonic transducer assembly having a horn and a first transducer and a second transducer arranged to impart ultrasonic energy into the horn. The horn has a first part-interfacing surface and a second part-interfacing surface opposite the first part-interfacing surface. An actuator assembly is operatively coupled to the ultrasonic transducer assembly and configured to cause rotation of the horn. A controller is configured to: cause the actuator assembly to rotate the horn so that the first part-interfacing surface applies the ultrasonic energy to a first part along an entire length of the first part-interface surface while a first ultrasonic energy is applied through the horn via the first transducer to cause the first part-interfacing surface to vibrate back and forth along its entire length as the first ultrasonic energy is applied by the first transducer to the horn.

The present invention is directed to a method of forming a bottom-gusseted package, wherein each package includes an inwardly-extending, pleat-like gusset at the bottom of the package. To permit heat-sealing formation of each package, the sleeve from which each gusset is formed comprises a lamination of two differing polymeric materials, a sealant layer and a non-sealant layer, so that only an exterior surface of each sleeve, at which the sealant layer is positioned, exhibits the desired heat-sealing characteristics. To facilitate package formation, the sleeves from which the bottom gussets are formed are maintained in a closed or sealed configuration during package formation by providing a heat-sealed bond at the edge of each sleeve. In one embodiment, portions of the non-sealant layer are vaporized to provide sealable surface regions of the sealant layer. In an alternative embodiment, a lamination of the sealant and non-sealant layers is formed such that the sealant layer extends laterally beyond the non-sealant layer, to thereby provide sealable surface regions of the sealant layer.

A method of sealing reinforced packages. The method can comprise moving an open-ended package in a downstream direction on a package conveyor by engaging the open-ended package with a chain flight of the package conveyor moving in the downstream direction. The method further can comprise forming a bag with a closed end by engaging at least a seal portion of a tail section of an open-ended tube portion of the open-ended package between the chain flight of the package conveyor and a hot plate positioned adjacent the package conveyor. The chain flight can move with the tail section in the downstream direction relative to the hot plate, which can transfer thermal energy to the tail section to at least partially form a seal along the seal portion in the tail section to at least partially form the closed end of the bag.

A method for manufacturing an air bag includes forming a bag portion surrounded by a welded portion extending in an annular shape by pressing at least one welding mold against two sheet materials arranged to be stacked from a stacking direction of the sheet materials. The welding mold is pressed against the sheet materials to form the welded portion including a welding bead portion protruding to an inside of the bag portion between the sheet materials. A pressing surface of the welding mold against the sheet materials is provided with a slope portion facing in the stacking direction of the sheet materials and in a direction of the inside of the bag portion at a position further on an outside of the bag portion than a position at which the welding bead portion is formed.