A system and method for controlling the speed of both a continuous web and a bonding apparatus is provided in order to effectuate stronger bonds in the web. The bonding system includes a velocity changing device for increasing and decreasing a velocity of the web in a machine direction, an anvil and a corresponding ultrasonic horn that interact to form ultrasonic bonds on the web, and an anvil actuator configured to control a movement of the anvil. A control system is also included in the bonding system for controlling operation of the anvil actuator the velocity changing device, with the control system programmed to decrease a moving velocity of the web from a feed velocity to a bonding velocity as the web passes between the anvil and the ultrasonic horn and control movement of the anvil to synchronize the movement of the anvil with the moving velocity of the web.

A handrail has a thermoplastic body having a generally C-shaped cross section, a stretch inhibitor in the thermoplastic body above a T-shaped slot and a slider fabric layer. The handrail includes first and second end portions, each comprising a forward part extending from an end surface of the end portion and a rear part adjacent the forward part. A method of forming a joint can include: providing cuts to separate a top section of the thermoplastic body from a base section including shoulder portions; for each end portion, removing at least shoulder portions from the forward part thereof, to leave a central portion including a forward part at the slider fabric layer and a layer of thermoplastic; cutting the forward parts to a required shape; and assembling the first and second end portions together to form a spliced joint for moulding.

A process of constructing an air tight and water tight seam, comprising cutting a sheet of selected material into two or more panels, sealing the panels at respective selected edges using an ultrasonic machine to form a seam, overlaying the seam with a tape made of the same selected material, and sealing the tape and seam using a radio frequency (RF) welding machine.

A moisture-curable hot-melt adhesive composition is disclosed. This moisture-curable hot-melt adhesive composition contains: a urethane prepolymer including a polymer chain, which includes a structural unit derived from a polyol and a structural unit derived from a polyisocyanate, and having two or more isocyanate groups; and a modified urethane prepolymer including a polymer chain, which includes a structural unit derived from a polyol and a structural unit derived from a polyisocyanate, and having one or more isocyanate groups modified with a castor oil monool.

A method for processing massive fiber bundles includes massive fiber-bundle formation and massive materials handling, wherein plural small-diameter bundles are unified, while more or less preserving their legacy cross-sectional form. It also includes bending, such as to create non-linear preforms, and preform-charge fabrication. Embodiments of the invention operate to help preserve a desired fiber alignment throughout a part fabricated from relatively large-diameter fiber bundles.

A framed stencil for surface mount technology (SMT) is provided. The frame assembly includes a frame member and a binding insert. The frame member includes an inner perimeter portion and an outer perimeter portion that cooperates with the inner perimeter portion to define an elongated channel. The outer perimeter portion includes a first cantilever portion that extends over the elongated channel and towards the inner perimeter portion. The binding insert is configured for releasable insertion into the elongated channel. The binding insert includes a base and a tongue. The base configured to interface with a mesh substrate to facilitate coupling therebetween. The tongue is coupled to the base and extends substantially horizontally from the base. When the binding insert is inserted into the elongated channel, the tongue extending beneath the first cantilever portion to facilitate retention of the binding insert to the frame member. Methods are also provided.

A cap and a method for forming the same are provided. An integrally formed outer layer of fabric and an integrally formed moldable layer are adhesively bonded together to form a moldable panel. A curved edge of the moldable panel is then formed by a mold. After that, the moldable panel and at least one second panel are connected to form a crown, to which a peak is subsequently connected to form the cap. Once the curved edge of the moldable panel is formed by heating and pressure application through the mold, the integrally formed moldable layer keeps the moldable panel in shape, so there is no need to support the outer layer of fabric and curve, for example, the front panel with two pieces of buckram that are stitched together, as is conventionally required.

A stitchless highly oriented polypropylene fabric bulk bag of the type that can hold 500 to 5000 pounds (226.7 to 2268 kilograms) of bulk material includes a highly oriented polypropylene fabric top, body and bottom, with a heat fused joint providing an air tight connection between the top and body, and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the body and bottom. A fill spout and discharge tube may also be provided with an air tight heat fused joint connecting the fill spout to the top and another air tight heat fused joint connecting the discharge spout to the bottom. Heat sealing machinery include heat seal bar assemblies that can self-align during heat-sealing to apply even pressure to all areas being heat sealed. A heating element is of single piece construction and can include end coupler portions as part of the single piece construction. Carrier plates used in a heat-sealing assembly line guide parts placement, provide quality checks for parts placement, and tooling set-up for machinery.

Manufacturing and assembly of a shoe or a portion of a shoe is enhanced by automated placement and assembly of shoe parts. For example, a part-recognition system analyzes an image of a shoe part to identify the part and determine a location of the part. Once the part is identified and located, the part can be manipulated by an automated manufacturing tool.

A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.