A laser joining method and device includes a pressure-applying clamping device, which presses a first and a second workpiece against one another at least after the workpieces have been locally plasticized, and a mask having mask structures, which allow laser light to pass only in the region of the bonding contact faces, wherein at least the workpiece facing the laser source is formed by a three-dimensional molded part, which is not planar at least on the first contour side facing the clamping element and/or on the second contour side facing the second workpiece, and wherein the clamping element, with the bearing side thereof for the first workpiece, is adapted to the first contour side of the first workpiece. The mask structures are created on the bearing side of the clamping element facing the first workpiece or on the second contour side of the first workpiece facing the second workpiece.

A pair of thermoplastic resin members are placed on an anvil. A pressing force of a tool horn vibrating ultrasonically in a direction not perpendicular to but along upper surfaces of the pair of thermoplastic resin members is applied to the upper surfaces. The application of the pressing force of the tool horn vibrating ultrasonically allows melting of a vicinity of the upper surfaces of the pair of thermoplastic resin members. A welded structure part is formed on an unwelded structure part, thereby welding the pair of thermoplastic resin members as an overlap structure including the welded structure part arranged on the unwelded structure part. The distance and positional relationship between the pair of thermoplastic resin members after the welding are unchanged before and after the welding. The surfaces, placed on the anvil, of the thermoplastic resin members are neither burned nor discolored.

A joining method is provided during which a first thermoplastic component joint section and a second thermoplastic component joint section are arranged between first tooling and second tooling. The second thermoplastic component joint section is abutted against the first thermoplastic component joint section at a joint area. The first thermoplastic component joint section is joined to the second thermoplastic component joint section to provide a unitized thermoplastic structure. The joining includes: pressing the first thermoplastic component joint section against the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area between the first tooling and the second tooling using a pressure device; and heating the first thermoplastic component joint section and the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area using a first heater configured with the first tooling. The unitized thermoplastic structure is cooled at the joint area using a first cooler configured with the first tooling.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm2/sec. A joint flexibly joins the tiles together.

A method of forming shaped articles by welding.

A sealing system for heat sealing superimposed walls of heat-sealable film material, e.g. in the production of pouches. The sealing section comprises two or more sealing stations arranged in series along a linear path for the superimposed walls dispensed from an infeed section. Each sealing station comprises a sealing device with first and second jaws and an actuator device to move the jaws between an opened position and a clamped position. Each sealing device comprises a motion device that is configured to move the first and second jaws in synchronicity with the superimposed walls when clamped between the first and second jaws. Each sealing station has a cooling device that is configured to continuously cool at least one of the jaws. At least each first jaw comprises at the respective front surface thereof at least one impulse heatable member embodied as a susceptor element that extends along the respective front surface. Each sealing station is configured to perform an integrated impulse sealing and cooling cycle.

A process for thermo-adhesive bonding of semi-finished products includes preparing an inner sock, an outer sock and an impermeable membrane provided with a thermo-adhesive disposed on an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the membrane; fitting the inner sock onto a rigid reference shape; fitting the membrane over the inner sock; fitting the outer sock over the membrane; heating the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock arranged on the rigid reference shape in an oven until at least partial melting of the thermo-adhesive; cooling the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock arranged on the rigid reference shape until cross-linking of the thermo-adhesive and stable bonding of the membrane to the outer sock and/or the inner sock. Also, exerting a substantially uniform pressure on the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock disposed on the rigid reference shape during cooling, so as to compact them.

A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm2/sec. A joint flexibly joins the tiles together.

A production machine for the production of collapsible pouches having a fitment. The machine has a fitment sealing station with an impulse sealing device comprising a first jaw and a second jaw and with an actuator device configured to move the first and second jaws relative to one another between an opened position and a clamped position, as well as a cooling device configured to cool each of the first and second jaws. The fitment sealing station is configured to perform an impulse sealing cycle.

A heatsink, a method of manufacturing the heatsink, and an induction welding apparatus including the heatsink. The heatsink includes a carrier sheet and a plurality of tiles. The carrier sheet comprises an electrically non-conductive material and has a contoured profile. The plurality of tiles comprises a thermally conductive and electrically non-conductive material. Each tile of the plurality of tiles has a bonding surface bonded to the carrier sheet and a contact surface opposite the bonding surface. The contact surface is configured to contact a structure to be induction welded.