A method of bonding materials may comprise defining a bond interface between two materials in a cure zone on a surface of an object and heating the bond interface with sound waves. Heating the bond interface may include applying ultrasonic sound waves to the bond interface.

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.

A method and apparatus for sealing a plastic enclosure is provided. The apparatus includes a handle including elements pivotally coupled together at a first end. The apparatus also includes a heating element positioned along an inner surface of an element and connected to a power source where a longitudinal axis of the heating element is oriented parallel with a longitudinal axis of the element. Plastic material including first and second plastic layers is positioned at an interface between the second elements. Upon pivoting the first elements from an open position to a closed position the heating element increases a temperature at the interface to melt the plastic material and form a seal between the first and second plastic layers.

The present invention relates to, in general, a welding end effector apparatus configured for welding a plastic component. The welding end effector apparatus typically comprises a frame structure supporting a welding tip. The welding end effector apparatus further comprises a plastic weld rod feeder apparatus configured for delivering a plastic weld rod to the welding tip. The welding tip is configured to deposit at least partially deformed plastic weld rod onto the plastic component for welding the plastic component. The frame is configured to operatively couple the welding end effector to a multi-axis robotic arm for welding the component.

Herein are disclosed apparatus and methods for impinging fluids, e.g. heated fluids, onto the surface of substrates and then locally removing the impinged fluid. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid delivery outlets that are in diverging relation to each other. The apparatus may comprise at least first and second fluid capture inlets that are locally positioned relative to the first and second fluid delivery outlets, respectively. The apparatus and method may be used e.g. to impinge fluids onto two converging substrates and may be used to heat the surfaces of the substrates so as to facilitate melt-bonding the substrates to each other.

The invention relates to a device (1) for connecting two fluid-channeling lines (10, 20), wherein the device has a through-bore (2) for advancing the fluid and two opposite line mounts (11, 21), which terminate at a predetermined distance (4) from one another within the device. Each of these line mounts (11, 21) is designed such that it is provided with a first part (12, 22), through which the through-bore (2) leads, and a second part (13, 23), which enclosed the first part (12, 22), an annular space (14, 24) therefore being formed between the first part (12, 22) and the second part (13, 23). Each of the two fluid-channeling lines, (10, 20) is arranged in one of the line mounts (11, 21) such that it has an inner cross section (16, 26) arranged, and fixed, with sealing action against the first part (12, 22) of the device and has an outer cross section (17, 27) arranged, and fixed, in the annular space (14, 24).

An apparatus comprising a packaging machine, which comprises a control unit having a process parameter generator designed to determine specific process parameters for a production process of the packaging machine. The control unit of the packaging machine also comprises a recipe generator for an adjustment process of the packaging machine preceding the production process or can be connected to a recipe generator of the apparatus, which generator is designed as a separate unit. The respective recipe generator comprises a set of rules for determining recipe variables for the adjustment process of the packaging machine and is designed to generate the recipe variables with reference to a plurality of data and to form therefrom a recipe data set for the adjustment process of the packaging machine. A method for using the apparatus is also included.

A tube sealing positioning apparatus has a tube holder slidable on a vertical guide from a lower to an upper portion of a sealing chamber for positioning adjacent a heating apparatus and a clamping apparatus. The heating apparatus may have a nozzle to direct heated air on an open end of a plastic tube. The clamping apparatus may have two clamping devices slidably disposed to clamp the heated open end of the plastic tube to fuse the tube wall adjacent the open end. A control processor may be connected to control movement and dwell time of the tube holder, and to control heat application and clamp spacing and time. A sealed tube may be attached to a top cover to be positioned in a test container. A sealing disk may close the top cover and may direct fluid pressure into the tube and apply a vacuum to the test container.

A packaging machine comprising a control unit, a plurality of measuring devices and a plurality of working units for different process. The control unit is functionally connected to the working units and to the measuring devices. The measuring devices may detect actual process values at the respective working units and forwarding these values to the control unit for monitoring the respective working units. The control unit may create a specific program sequence for each of the individual working units and/or a program sequence coordinated with respect to the working units, by comparing the actual process values from the respective measuring devices with associated target process values from a memory. The individual working units may function according to this program sequence, depending on the actual process values detected at these working units, and/or the working units are coordinated with one another based on the actual process values.

A tool for fabrication of a thermoplastic panel includes a sealed vessel, a membrane and a heater. The sealed vessel defines a volume. The sealed vessel includes first and second fluid ports. The membrane is disposed within the volume to define first and second chambers. The first chamber receives a skin and a core of the thermoplastic panel. The first chamber selectively applies a first fluidic pressure to the skin and the core in response to receiving a first fluid via the first fluid port. The membrane abuts a major surface of the thermoplastic panel. The second chamber selectively applies a second fluidic pressure to the membrane in response to receiving a second fluid via the second fluid port. The heater selectively directs heat toward the first chamber. A method for fabrication of the thermoplastic panel is provided. Various examples of thermoplastic panels are also provided.