A method for bonding fibers includes providing a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer positioned below the first fiber layer to bond the first fiber layer with the second fiber layer. The method may also include providing a first additive layer. The first additive layer is located between the first fiber layer and the second fiber layer. Then, the method may further include activating the first additive layer by directing energy at the first additive layer.

A method for bonding fibers includes providing a first fiber layer and a second fiber layer positioned below the first fiber layer to bond the first fiber layer with the second fiber layer. The method may also include providing a first additive layer. The first additive layer is located between the first fiber layer and the second fiber layer. Then, the method may further include activating the first additive layer by directing energy at the first additive layer.

An automatic bonding apparatus and a method for thermally induced seam bonding of weldable and/or gluable flat flexible material layers with each other which are each configured as a material web, material band and/or material piece and arranged so that they overlap at least partially wherein the bonding is performed by an electrically controlled contact heating arrangement through a heating wedge welding method. A temperature and/or a power of the heating wedge which is formed by a thin folded steel sheet blank is controlled as a function of a relative velocity between the material layers and the automatic bonding apparatus. This is performed so that a thermal energy that is transferred from the heating wedge to the material layers to be glued is kept constant. For this purpose the relative velocity is detected and the power of the heating wedge is automatically adjusted when the relative velocity changes.

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 scam, overlaying the seam with a tape made of the same selected material, and scaling the tape and seam using a radio frequency (RF) welding machine.

A joining apparatus includes a fusing mechanism part that joins two thermoplastic sheet-like materials by fusing, a sticking mechanism part that sticks an adhesive tape along a joined portion of the sheet-like materials, a workbench having a placement surface on which the fusing mechanism part and the sticking mechanism part are disposed side by side, the placement surface allowing the sheet-like materials in an unfolded state to be placed thereon, and a guide that allows an end portion to be joined of one of the sheet-like materials and an end portion to be joined of the other sheet-like material to overlap each other while aligned along a plane intersecting the placement surface, each of the end portions to be joined of the sheet-like materials being placed on the placement surface, and to feed the overlapping end portions to be joined. The fusing mechanism part fuses and joins the end portions.

The present invention provides a movable load bearing structure with a surface that includes antimicrobial agents capable of eliminating, preventing, retarding or minimizing the growth of microbes and also minimizing cross-contamination when the load bearing structure is being reused for cargos that differ from a previously transported cargo, for example, different food types, such as poultry, fresh vegetables, and fresh fruit. The load bearing structure may be a dunnage platform or a container for storing and/or shipping cargo.

An adhesive assembly for joining adjacent ends of insulation tubing, comprising a layer of pressure-sensitive transfer adhesive material, said layer of pressure-sensitive transfer adhesive material capable of bonding to insulation tubing, whereby when said layer of pressure-sensitive transfer adhesive material is positioned between a first section of insulation tubing and a second section of insulation tubing, said layer of pressure-sensitive transfer adhesive material bonds to both the first section of insulation tubing and the second section of insulation tubing; and a disposable release liner including a release liner tab adapted to hold said layer of pressure-sensitive transfer adhesive material prior to positioning said layer of pressure-sensitive transfer adhesive material between the first section of insulation tubing and the second section of insulation tubing. The seam created when the first section of insulation tubing and the second section of insulation tubing are joined may be covered with tape.

A water sport article is provided. The water sport article includes a joint formed between a first panel having a greater thickness than a second panel. The joint includes an overlapping interface between the first and second panels where one or more of adhesive bonding, blind stitching, and taping is used to attach the first and second panels at the overlapping interface.

A method for joining unidirectional tapes is provided. The method includes placing a plurality of unidirectional tapes by abutting without overlapping an end of one of the unidirectional tapes with an end of other one of the unidirectional tapes at a butt joint. The unidirectional tapes includes a resin material and a plurality of fibers running in a running direction. The method further includes placing a prepreg including a resin material and a plurality of short fibers over the butt joint to cover an area surrounding the butt joint such that the short fibers run in the running direction. The method further includes fusing the prepreg by applying heat such that the short fibers are fused into a matrix of the unidirectional tapes at the butt joint.

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.