Process for forming a permanent join between two sections of fibrous material contained in a thermosetting resin matrix, said process comprising overlaying the two sections and subjecting the overlaid sections to ultrasonic welding to form a permanent join between the two sections, wherein there is no significant change in the sub-ambient Tg of the fibrous material contained in the thermosetting resin matrix in the region of the permanent join.

A protective packaging formation device is provided herein. The device includes an inflation assembly having a fluid conduit that directs fluid between overlapping plies of a polymeric web. The device also includes a driving mechanism that drives the film in a downstream direction. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes a thin film heater that heats the plies to create a longitudinal seal that seals the plies of film together. The driving mechanism drives the web such that the web slides across the heating assembly in a downstream direction to trap fluid between the plies.

The vacuum sealer includes a base, a cover, a vacuuming device, at least a heating device, at least a heat-resistant element wrapping around the heating device, at least a heat insulation element between the base and the heating device, at least a power provision device, and at least a safety breaker device. The safety breaker device includes at least a safety switch, and at least a trigger element. The object to be sealed is placed on the heating device and, as the cover closes the base, the safety switch engages the trigger element to release the safety breaker device and to allow the power provision device to power the heating device. The heat insulation element prevents heat from being conducted to the base. With the dual protection from the safety breaker device and the heat insulation element, safety is enhanced and the power provision device may operate under high voltage.

A welder for constructing and welding plastic fenestration structures, including parts storage bins structured to store and support parts to be assembled to create the plastic fenestration structures; wheels that receive the parts from the parts storage bins; aligners that position the parts relative to one another; heating plates that apply heat to ends of the parts thereby rendering at least a portion of the ends of the parts molten; parts shifters operably shiftable between a first position adjacent the wheels and a second position remotely located from the wheels that shift the parts to a fusing position in which adjacent parts are abutted together at a fusing station to produce the plastic fenestration structure; and at least one cooling station at which the plastic fenestration structure is held.

A sealing device generally includes a rotatable support cylinder having an outer, circumferential surface and a heating element disposed about such surface and secured thereto such that the heating element rotates therewith. The heating element is coiled about the outer surface of the cylinder in the form of an overlapping helical pattern. Juxtaposed film plies may be sealed together by bringing the sealing device into rotational contact with the juxtaposed film plies and heating the heating element to a temperature sufficient to cause the film plies to seal together.

A cover layer is joined to an object by a pressing force and mechanical vibration. The cover layer has a cover layer contact surface, and the object has an object contact surface, and the cover layer contact surface and the object contact surface face each other. At least one of the cover layer and the object include a joining material. The cover layer contact surface is brought into contact with the object contact surface, and a sonotrode presses the cover layer against the object and applies mechanical vibration to an outer surface of the cover layer for a time sufficient for activating the joining material. Cover layer and object are conveyed relative to the sonotrode in a continuous manner in a conveying direction throughout the steps of arranging, of bringing into contact, of pressing and of applying vibration.

A protective packaging formation device is provided herein. The device includes an inflation assembly having a fluid conduit that directs fluid between overlapping plies of a polymeric web. The device also includes a driving mechanism that drives the film in a downstream direction. The device also includes a sealing mechanism that includes a thin film heater that heats the plies to create a longitudinal seal that seals the plies of film together. The driving mechanism drives the web such that the web slides across the heating assembly in a downstream direction to trap fluid between the plies.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards methods and apparatus for molding-in gaskets that serve as light blockers, within the grooves of a moving planar work material. The gaskets comprise of a hot melt adhesive material that is in a molten state above a particular temperature and gets solidified below a particular temperature. Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed towards a planar work material having grooves that are filled with molded-in gaskets, wherein the gaskets are made up of a hot melt adhesive material. The gaskets made of the hot melt adhesive material bond securely with the panels because of inherent adhesive properties, and provide structural stability to the light panels. Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is directed towards the use of a hot melt adhesive material as the molding material for molding-in gaskets within the grooves of a planar work material.

A system includes a source, a detector, and a controller. The source is configured to emit electromagnetic energy toward two plies of film. A portion of the emitted electromagnetic energy is within a range of wavelengths. The detector is arranged to detect electromagnetic energy propagating away from the two plies of film. The detector detects electromagnetic energy within the range of wavelengths and generates signals indicative of intensity of detected electromagnetic energy. The controller controls operation of the foam-in-bag system based the signals from the detector. The film is transmissive of electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths. When dispensed between the two plies of film, one or both of foaming chemical precursors or foam formed from a reaction thereof is opaque to electromagnetic energy in the range of wavelengths.

A system includes a dispenser, first and second feed lines, and heating zones. The dispenser dispenses a first chemical precursor and a second chemical precursor. The first feed line permits flow of the first chemical precursor from a first source to the dispenser. The second feed line permits flow of the second chemical precursor from a second source to the dispenser. The heating zones are located along the first and second feed lines. The heating zones include a first heating zone located around a first portion of the first feed line and a second heating zone located around a first portion of the second feed line. The first heating zone and the second heating zone are independently controllable to independently control temperature around the first portion of the first feed line and temperature around the first portion of the second feed line.