The method of bonding a first object (1) to a second object (2) uses a connector, the connector having a first sheet portion and a second sheet portion (32). The first sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding first attachment portion (33), and the second sheet portion has at least one outwardly protruding second attachment portion (34). The connector (3) further has a spacer between the first and second sheet portions. For bonding, the first and second objects (1, 2) and the connector (3) are positioned relative to each other so that the connector is placed between the first and second objects. Then the first and second objects (1, 2) are pressed against each other while mechanical vibration energy impinges on the first and/or second object until a first flow portion of thermoplastic material of the first object in contact with the first attachment portion(s) and a second flow portion of thermoplastic material in contact with the second attachment portion(s) become flowable allowing the respective attachment portions (33, 34) to be pressed into material of the first and second object, respectively. After re-solidification of the flow portions, a positive-fit connection between the first and second objects via the connector results. The spacer defines a width (w) of a gap between the first and second objects (1, 2) after bonding.

A system for consolidating materials, comprising a sonotrode configured to direct ultrasonic energy into materials to be consolidated, wherein the materials to be consolidated have both a glass transition temperature and a melting temperature; a non-rigid consolidating material in proximity to the sonotrode, wherein the non-rigid consolidating material and sonotrode define a region therebetween for receiving the materials to be consolidated, and wherein the non-rigid consolidating material has a glass transition temperature that is higher than the glass transition temperature of the materials to be consolidated and a melting temperature that is higher than the melting temperature of the materials to be consolidated.

A strut bearing assembly for a vehicle includes: an insulator coupled to a vehicle body; a first case disposed to face the insulator; a second case rotatably coupled to the first case; a friction reduction unit disposed between the first case and the second case, and configured to reduce friction between the first case and the second case; and a coupling unit disposed in the insulator and the first case, melted by heat, and coupling the insulator and the first case to each other.

An optical cable and method for forming an optical cable is provided. The cable includes a cable jacket including an inner surface defining a channel and an outer surface and also includes a plurality of optical fibers located within the channel. The cable includes a seam within the cable jacket that couples together opposing longitudinal edges of a wrapped thermoplastic sheet which forms the cable jacket and maintains the cable jacket in the wrapped configuration around the plurality of optical fibers. The method includes forming an outer cable jacket by wrapping a sheet of thermoplastic material around a plurality of optical core elements. The method includes melting together portions of thermoplastic material of opposing longitudinal edges of the wrapped sheet such that a seam is formed holding the sheet of thermoplastic material in the wrapped configuration around the core elements.

A vibration welding device has a first tool being with a vibration welding head arranged at a first support, wherein the vibration welding head vibrates in use in a first plane, and the first tool receives a first component, a second tool arranged at a second support, wherein the second tool receives a second component or a stack of welded components. The first and the second support are movable with respect to each other at least along a second axis perpendicular to the first plane from an initial position to a vibration welding position. A clamping arrangement having at least two oppositely arranged clamping devices, each having a clamping surface which is moveable along the first axis between a clamping position and open position, wherein in the clamping position, movement of the second component or the stack of welded components at least along the first axis is hindered during vibration welding.

A manufacturing method and an apparatus enable high productivity. A method for manufacturing an oxidized fiber bundle includes joining an upstream precursor fiber bundle and a downstream precursor fiber bundle together with a joining fiber bundle, and oxidizing the joined precursor fiber bundles by feeding the joined precursor fiber bundles through an oxidization furnace. The joining includes applying an oiling agent to a joint area of a joining target precursor fiber bundle before joining the joining target precursor fiber bundle and the joining fiber bundle together. A quantity of the oiling agent adhering to the joint area is 0.15 to 0.85 wt %.

A method of sealing reinforced packages. The method can comprise moving an open-ended package in a downstream direction on a package conveyor by engaging the open-ended package with a chain flight of the package conveyor moving in the downstream direction. The method further can comprise forming a bag with a closed end by engaging at least a seal portion of a tail section of an open-ended tube portion of the open-ended package between the chain flight of the package conveyor and a hot plate positioned adjacent the package conveyor. The chain flight can move with the tail section in the downstream direction relative to the hot plate, which can transfer thermal energy to the tail section to at least partially form a seal along the seal portion in the tail section to at least partially form the closed end of the bag.

The machine comprises a heating station (20) with hot air supply nozzles (22) facing one another and spaced apart; a unitary dispenser device (30) for dispensing plastic spouts into said heating station by a delivery element; a welding station (40); a gripping device (50) for gripping the plastic spout (5) at said heating station (20) and transferring it to the welding station (40) by turning said plastic spout (5) and placing a portion thereof, once heated, inside the open mouth (M) of a plastic package (2)); and a control unit (60) which manages in a coordinating manner the operation of the heating station (20), the dispenser device (30), the plastic spout delivery element, the gripping device (50) and the welding station (40).

Disclosed is a welding machine for synthetic resins. The welding machine for synthetic resins performs welding of fabrics using ultrasonic waves and through preheating sufficient not to burn off a coating solution on the surfaces of the fabrics using hot air so as to achieve rapid and firm welding due to concentrated molecular decomposition and melting on the bonding surface between the fabrics, allows both an ultrasonic horn and a welding wheel to be rotated vertically so as to achieve rapid and stable entry of the fabrics and welding of the fabrics while preventing the fabrics from slipping, and achieves stable welding of various fabrics through adjustment of pressing force of the welding wheel depending on the thickness or the material of the fabrics, etc.

A preheating arrangement includes a preheating device defining a first plane by a first centerline along a first axis and a second centerline along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A first preheating structure is asymmetric with respect to the first and/or the second centerline. A second preheating structure is oriented like the first preheating structure such that, when viewed along a third axis perpendicular to the first plane, the preheating structures are arranged one above the other. A first actuator rotates the preheating device between first and second positions and the preheating structures in the first position have a first orientation and in the second position a second orientation rotated around the axis of asymmetry by 180° or in which they are rotated by an angle α in the range of 0°<α<360°, or 90°≤α≤270° or α=180° around the third axis compared to the first orientation.