A method of manufacturing a de-icer assembly includes disposing a first welded-material layer and a second welded-material layer beneath a horn of a horn-based welding system, controlling the horn to move along a welded-portion pattern configured to weld the first welded-material layer to the second welded-material layer in the pattern of the welded-portion pattern such that inflatable portions are formed within the welded-portion pattern formed in the de-icer assembly between non-welded sections of the first welded-material layer and the second welded-material layer, and applying high-frequency energy to the first welded-material layer and a second welded-material layer using the horn such that the first welded-material layer and the second welded-material layer are welded together at areas in the shape of the welded-portion pattern to form a welded de-icer assembly.

A die-welding system for a de-icer assembly includes a die, a die base, a high energy source, and a de-icer assembly. The de-icer assembly includes a first welded-material layer and a second welded-material layer. At least one of the die and the die base includes a welded-portion pattern thereon configured to weld the first welded-material layer to the second welded-material layer in the pattern of the welded-portion pattern such that inflatable portions are formed within the welded-portion pattern formed in the de-icer assembly between non-welded sections of the first welded-material layer and the second welded-material layer.

A method of manufacturing a de-icer assembly includes positioning a first welded-material layer and a second welded-material layer between a die and a die base of a die-based welding system, wherein at least one of the die and the die base includes a welded-portion pattern configured to weld the first welded-material layer to the second welded-material layer in the pattern such that inflatable portions are formed within the welded-portion pattern formed in the de-icer assembly between non-welded sections of the first welded-material layer and the second welded-material layer, pressing the first welded-material layer and the second welded-material layer together between the die and die base, and applying high energy to the die-based welding system using a high energy source such that the first welded-material layer and the second welded-material layer are welded together at the areas in the shape of the welded-portion pattern to form a welded de-icer assembly.

A method for producing a component from two or more sub-components includes the steps of: producing each of the sub-components using an additive manufacturing process in which a resin, which is radiant-energy-curable, is partially cured using a selective application of radiant energy, wherein each sub-component includes a joint surface in which the resin is partially cured which is cured to a lesser degree than the remainder of the respective sub-component, so as to leave the joint surfaces in a condition suitable for bonding; assembling the sub-components with their respective joint surfaces in mutual contact; and performing a secondary cure of the partially-cured resin at the joint surfaces using an application of radiant energy, so as to further cure the partially-cured resin and bond the sub-components to each other, thereby forming the component.

A method of making a flowcell includes bonding a first surface of an organic solid support to a surface of a first inorganic solid support via a first bonding layer, wherein the organic solid support includes a plurality of elongated cutouts. The method further includes bonding a surface of a second inorganic solid support to a second surface of the organic solid support via a second bonding layer, so as to form the flowcell. The formed flowcell includes a plurality of channels defined by the surface of the first inorganic solid support, the surface of the second inorganic solid support, and walls of the elongated cutouts.

A device for joining a lens with a housing of a lighting device of a motor vehicle, having a receiver for receiving and securing the housing and a pre-centering device for positioning the lens on the housing, wherein the pre-centering device includes a frame element and a plurality of positioning elements that are attached to the frame element for receiving the lens, wherein during a pre-centering process, the frame element of the pre-centering device is movable together with the joined lens relative to the receiver in such a way that the lens is aligned on the housing, which is received in the receiver.

Bag-sealing apparatus is provided for heat-sealing a bag. The apparatus has a heater arrangement operable to apply heat to heat-seal an open end of the bag. A bag detector detects the location of the bag relative to the heater arrangement. The heater arrangement is formed of plural heater portions. The heater arrangement is operable such that only the or each heater portion that overlies the bag as detected by the bag detector is caused to operate to apply heat to the bag.

A liftgate assembly having finished show surfaces, and process of manufacturing same. The liftgate assembly includes local reinforcements that are overmolded to first reinforcements, and the first reinforcements are infrared welding to a first panel. Second and third reinforcements are also infrared welded to the first panel. To infrared weld the respective reinforcements to the first panel in predetermined locations with respect to the first panel, nesting structures are provided to hold the respective reinforcements and first panel. At least one infrared heating fixture heats various predetermined surfaces on the reinforcements and first panel, and the parts are then pressed together for joining the predetermined surfaces of the respective parts together. The process is repeated, if needed, until all of the reinforcements are infrared welded to the first panel. Outer panels are bonded to the second and third reinforcements.

A tool for welding a light pane to a housing of a motor vehicle light, the tool comprising a base body and at least one heating element arranged on the base body, wherein the heating element is displaceable relative to the base body between an idle position and a welding position.

An infrared welding machine has a heating device that heats and melts at least one of an end surface of a first member made of resin and an end surface of a second member made of resin, called a surface-to-be-heated, with infrared rays. The heating device includes: a lamp that is disposed so as to face the surface-to-be-heated without coming into contact with the surface-to-be-heated and has a circular shape in cross-section such that the lamp radiates infrared rays in all radially outward directions; an upper-side reflective member that reflects infrared rays radiated from the lamp toward the upper side of the surface-to-be-heated so as to direct the infrared rays toward the surface-to-be-heated; and a lower-side reflective member that reflects infrared rays radiated from the lamp toward the lower side of the surface-to-be-heated so as to direct the infrared rays toward the surface-to-be-heated.