A heat-curable tape, a kit, and a method for connecting ends of an elongate belt to form an intermediate transfer members suitable for use with indirect printing systems. The kit includes an elongate belt and the heat-curable tape. The kit can include a crimping pin. The method includes using the heat curable tape to join ends of the elongate belt at a seam. A heater is used, in a printing system, for heat-curing the heat-curable tape onto the free ends of the elongate belt so as to form the intermediate transfer member.

Induction welding process for welding two parts using at least one susceptor including discontinuous conductive elements, and assembly of at least two parts obtained using the induction welding process. An induction welding process can join at least first and second parts, and the process can include a step of positioning at least one susceptor, including discontinuous conductive elements, between the first and second contact faces of the first and second parts, and steps of holding the first and second parts pressed against each other and of producing an electromagnetic field to generate an induced current that engenders heating of the susceptor. An assembly of two parts can be obtained using the process.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to an IR tube sealing device and method of sealing a polymer tube with infrared energy. In particular embodiments, the IR tube sealing device can be a portable, hand-held device adapted to receive and compress a polymer tube, and produce and direct infrared energy toward the compressed polymer tube to quickly form a permanent aseptic seal.

A method for joining a device to an object with the aid of a combination of ultrasonic vibration energy and induction heating, wherein the device includes a portion of a thermoplastic polymer and a susceptor additive wherein this portion is at least partly liquefied or plasticized through the ultrasonic vibration energy in combination with the induction heating and wherein the joining includes establishing a connection between the device and the object which connection is at least one of a positive fit connection, a weld, a press fit connection, and an adhesive connection. The induction heating is applied for rendering the device portion suitable for absorption of ultrasonic vibration energy than other device portions by raising its temperature above the glass transition temperature of the polymer. The ultrasonic vibration energy is used for liquefying or at least plasticizing the thermoplastic polymer of the named device portion.

A metal-resin joining device joins a thermoplastic resin plate (12) to a metal plate (13) by melting the resin plate (12) in contact with the metal plate (13) through heating an exposed face of the metal plate (13) by one-sided resistive heating. The metal-resin joining device has a center electrode (24a) that is brought in contact with the metal plate (13) and a peripheral electrode (24b) that is brought in contact with the metal plate (13) to annularly surround the center electrode (24a) and to which a current flows from the center electrode (24a) via the metal plate (13), wherein the peripheral electrode (24b) is made of a metal material having a higher electrical resistance than the center electrode (24a).

A welding apparatus for use in welding first and second sheets of material together includes a seal die, a platen, a control unit, and a power source adapted to provide energy to the seal die. The seal die is made of a conductive material and is configured to impart thermal-mechanical energy to the first and second sheets of material. The seal die includes a bottom surface configured to contact the first sheet, an inner edge, a chamfer extending between the bottom surface and the inner edge, a first blend radius, and a second blend radius. The first radius extends between the chamfer and the bottom surface, while the second radius extends between the chamfer and the inner edge. The platen is configured to support the second sheet, while the control unit is programmed to cause the seal die to be directed towards the platen.

An apparatus for packaging a product comprises a packaging assembly to fix a film sheet to a support. The packaging assembly includes a lower tool having seats for receiving the support and an upper tool facing the lower tool and comprising a film holding plate for holding the film sheet. The film holding plate has an active surface for receiving the film sheet, where the upper and lower tools cooperating to define a packaging chamber. The packaging assembly is open to receive the film sheet in a first operating condition and is hermetically closed in a second operating condition. The film holding plate has a lateral surface extending substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the active surface, the film holding plate comprising ejectors arranged in the lateral surface for ejecting a stream of gas substantially parallel to said plane and substantially away from a center of the active surface.

A metal-resin joining device joins a thermoplastic resin plate (12) to a metal plate (13) by melting the resin plate (12) in contact with the metal plate (13) through heating an exposed face of the metal plate (13) by one-sided resistive heating. The metal-resin joining device has a center electrode (24a) that is brought in contact with the metal plate (13) and a peripheral electrode (24b) that is brought in contact with the metal plate (13) to annularly surround the center electrode (24a) and to which a current flows from the center electrode (24a) via the metal plate (13), wherein the peripheral electrode (24b) is made of a metal material having a higher electrical resistance than the center electrode (24a).

An assembly comprising a substrate 1, a substrate 2 and heat curable adhesive, which is positioned between the substrates 1 and 2, wherein the heat curable adhesive is cured only in a portion of less than 50% of the entire surface covered by the heat curable adhesive. In this manner, the cured parts of the adhesive serve as chemical screws which sufficiently fix the substrates together during further processing steps, but do not involve complete curing of the adhesive.

An apparatus for packaging a product comprises a packaging assembly to fix a film sheet to a support. The packaging assembly includes a lower tool having seats for receiving the support and an upper tool facing the lower tool and comprising a film holding plate for holding the film sheet. The film holding plate has an active surface for receiving the film sheet, where the upper and lower tools cooperating to define a packaging chamber. The packaging assembly is open to receive the film sheet in a first operating condition and is hermetically closed in a second operating condition. The film holding plate has a lateral surface extending substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the active surface, the film holding plate comprising ejectors arranged in the lateral surface for ejecting a stream of gas substantially parallel to said plane and substantially away from a center of the active surface.