An infrared welding system for joining two parts made of thermoplastic material comprises a pair of infrared heaters for heating the two parts while spaced from each other; and energizing the infrared heaters to emit infrared heat and directing the emitted infrared heat onto selected portions of the opposed surfaces of the parts to melt at least portions of the opposed surfaces, while directing an inert gas onto the selected portions to prevent ignition of the melted thermoplastic material. The two parts are clamped together by moving at least one of the parts toward the other part to press the melted surfaces of the parts into contact with each other. The parts are cooled while they remain clamped together to solidify the molten thermoplastic material and thus weld the two parts together.

An exterior body panel assembly having a Class A painted surface, mold-in color or non-Class A surface, and process of infrared welding components of the assembly. Panels of the assembly are placed on a nesting structure and the inside half of the structures are brought together with the other for a fit check. Panels are separated and an infrared heating fixture then heats the various areas to be heated on the panels. The areas on the panels are heated depending on the thicknesses of the parts at each area and surface geometries to be welded. The parts are immediately clamped back together under pressure for joining and cooling of the joined surfaces in the clamped arrangement.

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 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.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods to secure a film to a container are provided. An example sealing device utilizes film from a supply of film to seal a lid onto a container. Various sizes of containers are usable with some example sealing devices. Additional features, such as printing on the film and piercing the film for ventilation and/or insertion of a straw are contemplated. One or more markings along the film may be utilized for confirming that an approved film has been loaded into the sealing device. In response, various components or features of the sealing device may be appropriately enabled or disabled. The one or more markings may also be utilized to convey data to the sealing device regarding the installed film, such as for improved operation thereof.

Disclosed is a heat welding apparatus for combining a plastic fuel tank and plastic parts, and a method of combining the plastic fuel tank and the plastic parts using the apparatus. When a plastic part is heat-welded onto an inner surface of the plastic fuel tank, a melting unit simultaneously heats and melts a welding portion of the inner surface of the plastic fuel tank, to which the plastic part is joined, and a welding surface of the plastic part inside the plastic fuel tank, and then the welding surface of the plastic part is heat-welded to the welding portion of the plastic fuel tank after melting without delay.

A method and installation for joining a cover layer to an object in a continuous process. Joining is effected with the aid of a joining material having thermoplastic properties, wherein the joining material is arranged between the cover layer and the object and is liquefied using ultrasonic vibration energy. Before application of the ultrasonic vibration energy, the joining material is preheated in a contactless manner with the aid of electromagnetic induction in the region of the glass transition temperature of the joining material or above this glass transition temperature. The object is in particular a chip board and the cover layer an edge strip to be joined to an edge of the chip board.

A fluid reservoir for a vehicle comprises a first reservoir portion and a second reservoir portion, wherein the first and the second reservoir portions define a reservoir to retain fluid for a washer system. The first reservoir portion and the second reservoir portion are secured together using infrared welding.

The present invention relates to trim component for covering an interior space of a means for transporting passengers, in particular of a vehicle, comprising a support element which has at least one separation surface and at least one edge-folded section abutting the separation surface, wherein the support element has at least one folded edge which includes at least one edge-folded section. Moreover, the present invention relates to a method for producing such a trim component.

A method of bonding two components at a joint interface using a UV-curable substance. The method comprises incorporating a UV radiation emitting device in the joint interface between the components together with said substance and supplying power to said UV radiation emitting device to generate UV radiation and cure the substance.