Apparatus configured to enable the staking of an interfacing part to a base is provided. The apparatus includes a retainer configured to convey a stake and the interfacing part to the base. The apparatus is further configured to provide a heat and/or vibration to effect the simultaneous attachment of the stake to the base and the interfacing part to the base.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

Methods and apparatus for positioning a structure on a polymer layer are described. A method may involve forming a first polymer layer. The method may further involve positioning, by an apparatus, a structure on the first polymer layer, where the apparatus comprises a rod having a first end that supports the structure as the structure is being positioned and a plunger located around the first end of the rod that presses the structure onto the first polymer layer as the structure is being positioned. And the method may involve forming a second polymer layer over the first polymer layer and the structure, where the first polymer layer defines a first side of a body-mountable device and the second polymer layer defines a second side of the body-mountable device opposite the first side.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

The invention relates to a sonotrode for an ultrasound welding system for welding workpieces (20, 30), comprising a pressure element (2) which has a contact surface, which pressure element can be applied to carry out the welding process with said contact surface on one of the workpieces (20) to be welded to each other, wherein the contact surface has an annular design. A centering pin axially projecting over the contact surface is arranged inside the annular contact surface. The invention also relates to a method for welding a connection element (20), in particular an adapter for a PDC sensor, to a component (30), in particular an exterior add-on part of a motor vehicle.

A method is provided for producing a component connection. The method includes the following steps: providing a first component, providing a first ball, pressing the first ball against the first component by a sonotrode, vibrating the first ball by the sonotrode such that material of the first ball and/or material of the first component melts, and the first ball is welded to the first component, providing a second ball, pressing the second ball against the first ball by the same sonotrode or another sonotrode, and vibrating the second ball by the same sonotrode or the other sonotrode such that material of the second ball and/or material of the first ball melts, and the second ball is welded to the first ball.

A method is provided for producing a component connection. The method includes the steps of: providing a first component that is made of a thermoplastic plastic material at least in the region of a portion of the surface thereof; providing a ball that is made of a thermoplastic plastic material in at least one region of the surface thereof; pressing the ball on the first component such that the thermoplastic plastic material of the ball comes into contact with the thermoplastic plastic material of the first component; vibrating the ball using an ultrasonic sonotrode and welding the ball with the first component; providing a second component having a through hole; bringing the second component to the first component in such a way that the ball projects at least into the through hole of the second component or a portion projects to a certain extent through the through hole; clipping a clip element to the ball, wherein the clip element projects beyond the through hole and joins both components to one another in an interlocking and/or force-locked manner.

A method of mechanically securing a first object including a thermoplastic material in a solid state to a second object with a generally flat sheet portion, with a perforation of the sheet portion, and with the sheet portion having an edge along the perforation is provided, wherein the first object is positioned relative to the second object so that the edge is in contact with the thermoplastic material and wherein mechanical vibration energy is coupled into the assembly including the first and second objects until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material due to friction heat generated between the edge and the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows around the edge to at least partially embed the edge in the thermoplastic material. After the mechanical vibration stops, the thermoplastic material is caused to re-solidify, whereby the re-solidified thermoplastic material at least partially embedding the edge anchors the first object in the second object.

An outer ring (29) is first transported to an insertion point (E) in the feed device (34). At the same time, a circular blank ring (30) is brought into a starting position (P) in the feed device. The circular blank ring (29) is first aligned coaxially with respect to an axis (A) using a centering body (61). The circular blank ring moves solely radially with respect to the axis (A). The circular blank ring (30) is then inserted into the hole of the outer ring (29). During this movement, the circular blank ring is aligned coaxially with respect to the axis (A) preferably using a centering channel (54). The circular blank ring (30) carries out a superimposed movement in the axial direction (V) and in the radial direction radially with respect to the axis (A).