End effectors having compaction feet for welding thermoplastic parts of thermoplastic composite laminated articles are described. An example end effector is to be coupled to a robot. The end effector includes a welding head. The welding head includes a welder having a first central axis and a compaction foot having a second central axis. The welder is movable along the first central axis between a first retracted position and a first extended position relative to a surface of the end effector. The compaction foot circumscribes the welder and is movable along the second central axis between a second retracted position and a second extended position relative to the surface.

An infrared welding system for joining two parts made of thermoplastic material comprises a pair of infrared heaters for heating the two parts while spaced from each other; and energizing the infrared heaters to emit infrared heat and directing the emitted infrared heat onto selected portions of the opposed surfaces of the parts to melt at least portions of the opposed surfaces, while directing an inert gas onto the selected portions to prevent ignition of the melted thermoplastic material. The two parts are clamped together by moving at least one of the parts toward the other part to press the melted surfaces of the parts into contact with each other. The parts are cooled while they remain clamped together to solidify the molten thermoplastic material and thus weld the two parts together.

An in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement is disclosed that can allow process monitoring and diagnosis for thermoplastic composite welding and other applications. A distributed fiber-optic sensor can be permanently embedded in a thermoplastic welded structure when it is welded and left there to perform lifelong monitoring and inspection. The fiber optic sensor can include a dissolvable coating, or a coating matched to the composite material to be welded. Other applications include in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement on thermoset composite curing (autoclave), for thermoplastic and thermoset composites during compression molding, and for fiber-optic field measurements on freeze/thaw of large items of public health interest, such as stored or transported foodstuffs.

End effectors having compaction feet for welding thermoplastic parts of thermoplastic composite laminated articles are described. An example end effector is to be coupled to a robot. The end effector includes a welding head. The welding head includes a welder having a first central axis and a compaction foot having a second central axis. The welder is movable along the first central axis between a first retracted position and a first extended position relative to a surface of the end effector. The compaction foot circumscribes the welder and is movable along the second central axis between a second retracted position and a second extended position relative to the surface.

The invention relates to an ultrasonic welding device comprising a sonotrode (1) secured to an amplifier (12), and this in turn being secured to a converter (13), on which the head (2) is secured, characterised by comprising an external casing (3) disposed around the sonotrode (1), together delimiting an annular chamber (4) for the circulation of pressurised air having a crenellated opening in the front end (31) thereof for the output of pressurised air and the cooling of the sonotrode (1), wherein said external casing (3) has a rear portion (32) on the head (2) that can move axially, forming a presser plate which exerts a pressureowing to the action of compressible means (51)against the parts (P1, P2) to be welded, in a peripheral zone next to the welding zone, before the tip (11) of the sonotrode (1) comes into contact with said parts to be welded.

The present invention relates to plastic welding process comprising using a dynamic heatsink that minimize the temperature rise of the predetermined surface whereby the surface quality of plastic welding is maintained.

An in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement is disclosed that can allow process monitoring and diagnosis for thermoplastic composite welding and other applications. A distributed fiber-optic sensor can be permanently embedded in a thermoplastic welded structure when it is welded and left there to perform lifelong monitoring and inspection. The fiber optic sensor can include a dissolvable coating, or a coating matched to the composite material to be welded. Other applications include in-situ fiber-optic temperature field measurement on thermoset composite curing (autoclave), for thermoplastic and thermoset composites during compression molding, and for fiber-optic field measurements on freeze/thaw of large items of public health interest, such as stored or transported foodstuffs.

A method for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components, including jointly covering thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined, at least in the region of a joining zone, with a pressurization arrangement, which is flexible, at least in some section or sections, and extensive pressurization of thermoplastic fiber composite components to be joined by the pressurization arrangement, with the result that the fiber composite components are pressed against one another, at least in the joining zone. The fiber composite components are welded in the joining zone during pressurization. The pressurization is maintained by the pressurization arrangement until the joining zone solidifies. A cover is also disclosed, in particular a mold or diaphragm, for a pressurization device for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components, and an apparatus for thermally joining thermoplastic fiber composite components.

The invention relates to an ultrasonic welding device comprising a sonotrode (1) secured to an amplifier (12), and this in turn being secured to a converter (13), on which the head (2) is secured, characterised by comprising an external casing (3) disposed around the sonotrode (1), together delimiting an annular chamber (4) for the circulation of pressurised air having a crenellated opening in the front end (31) thereof for the output of pressurised air and the cooling of the sonotrode (1), wherein said external casing (3) has a rear portion (32) on the head (2) that can move axially, forming a presser plate which exerts a pressureowing to the action of compressible means (51)against the parts (P1, P2) to be welded, in a peripheral zone next to the welding zone, before the tip (11) of the sonotrode (1) comes into contact with said parts to be welded.

A fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin member welding method includes: heating, by a heating unit, a welding target portion in which plural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin members layered on top of each other, each of the plural fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin members including thermoplastic resin as a main composition, and the thermoplastic resin including reinforcing fibers; applying pressure, by a pressure applying unit, to the welding target portion; and cooling, by a cooling unit, at least a surface of the welding target portion at the same time as when the welding target portion is being heated by the heating unit or after the welding target portion has been heated by the heating unit.