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 multi-phasic polymer blend for energy activated edge banding adhesion to a substrate is described. While the blend may be used for adhering edge banding to straight substrates, the blend is preferred for adhering edge banding to contoured substrates. The outer, hard, structural layer of the edge banding is formed from a polypropylene component. The polypropylene component at least includes polypropylene and an optional energy adsorber. The inner adhesion layer of the edge banding is formed from a multi-phasic polymer blend that bonds the outer layer of the edge banding to the substrate. The multi-phasic polymer blend at least includes a polyamide component, a polyolefin component, and a modified polypropylene component. Both the outer and inner layers forming the edge banding may be tinted to conform or contrast with the color of the finished substrate.

This invention describes a 3-layer insulation material comprising a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer and a third fluted intermediate fabric layer between the first and the second fabric layers, the fluted intermediate fabric layer being attached alternately to the first and the second fabric layer with longitudinal seams forming longitudinal channels for the insulation material having individual insulation material bundle inside each longitudinal channel. Also disclosed are a method and an arrangement for producing the same.

The present disclosure relates more to processes for making a filter element that includes a filter membrane having a strip of thermoplastic polymer material laminated thereto, for example, as a strip along an edge of the filter membrane. For example, one such process includes providing a sheet of filter membrane having a first surface and an opposed second surface; providing a strip of thermoplastic polymer material having a first surface and an opposed second surface; contacting the first surface of the strip of thermoplastic polymer material with the first surface of the filter membrane; and softening the strip of thermoplastic polymer material at at least its first surface by irradiation with laser radiation; such that the softened polymer material of the first surface of the strip of thermoplastic polymer material bonds to the first surface of the filter membrane upon hardening.

A laser welding method and system for joining portions of first and second workpieces of thermoplastic material that is partially permeable to a laser beam but absorbs radiation from the laser beam. The first and second workpieces, which are made of material that absorbs radiation from a laser beam, are clamped together. A mask is placed on a first surface of the first workpiece, the first surface being opposite the surface engaging the second workpiece. The mask is impermeable to a laser beam and forms a slot for passing a laser beam to the portion of the first surface of the upper workpiece exposed by the slot, so that heating and melting of the material of the workpieces is limited to the width of the slot. A laser beam is directed onto the slot and moved in a manner to illuminate the slot to melt and join the workpieces.

Examples herein relate generally to methods, and associated components, characterized by the laser welding of crosslinked polyethylene plumbing components so as to create a leak-proof connection with both mechanical and thermal fusion bonds.

A fiber placement system including a compaction roller rotatable about an axis of rotation, the compaction roller including a reflective layer that includes a reflective material dispersed in a polymeric material, and a light source positioned to project a beam of electromagnetic radiation proximate the compaction roller, the beam having a wavelength, wherein the reflective material has a reflectance of at least 80 percent at the wavelength.

An automated fiber-placement method comprises delivering a first quantity of pulsed energy to first portions of at least one fiber-reinforced tape strip, and delivering a second quantity of pulsed energy to second portions of at least the one fiber-reinforced tape strip, alternating with the first portions. Each one of the second portions at least partially overlaps two adjacent ones of the first portions such that overlapping regions of the first portions and the second portions have a higher temperature than non-overlapping regions of the first portions and the second portions. The automated fiber-placement method further comprises laying down at least the one fiber-reinforced tape strip against a substrate along a virtual curvilinear path, such that (i) at least the one fiber-reinforced tape strip is centered on the virtual curvilinear path, and (ii) the overlapping regions are transformed into discrete tape-regions, geometrically different from the overlapping regions.

A welding method heats a surface to be welded of a continuous strip member with a laser beam. The welding method pressurizes the strip member and a continuous film to weld the surface to the film, when or after heating the surface with the laser beam. The welding method preheats the surface before heating the surface with the laser beam. A welding device includes a heat device having an infrared light source disposed to extend along a feed path for the strip member. The heat device is configured to irradiate the surface with infrared light to heat the surface with infrared light. The welding device includes a pressure device configured to pressurize the strip member and the film to weld the surface to the film.

A narrow waveguide homogenizes laser light traveling from a laser light source of a laser bank through a plurality of laser delivery bundles that include at least a fiber optic bundle leg to weld a plurality of work pieces along a weld line that is narrower than the width of the fiber optic bundle leg. The narrow waveguide has a portion associated with each fiber optic bundle leg that is narrower than the fiber optic bundle leg with which that portion of the waveguide is associated. A reflective bounce plane diverts laser light of the fiber optic bundle leg that does not travel through the narrow waveguide.