An automatic splicing apparatus and methods thereof are provided herein for splicing together two ends of a sheet of tire material on a tire building drum. The apparatus comprises a frame, a splicer foot assembly, and a splicer roller assembly. The frame is configured to support the apparatus relative to the drum. The splicer foot assembly and the splicer roller assembly are independently longitudinally translatable relative to the frame. The splicer foot assembly includes a splicer foot having forward lower preparation rollers and rearward lower splicer rollers, and upper preparation rollers configured to operate in coordination with the forward lower preparation rollers to pull the two ends of the sheet of tire material together over the splicer foot. The splicer roller assembly includes upper splicer rollers configured to act in coordination with the rearward lower splicer rollers to splice the two ends together.

An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure may also prevent any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

A bag-making and packaging machine includes sealing jaws, a horizontal moving device, a vertical moving device, and a control unit. The sealing jaws perform a transverse sealing operation. The vertical moving device moves the sealing jaws in a vertical direction. The vertical moving device includes a rotating shaft, a motor, and a link mechanism. The link mechanism transmits rotational force of the rotating shaft to the sealing jaws. The control unit performs first control or second control. The first control forwardly rotates and reversely rotates the rotating shaft during a period of time from a start of the transverse sealing operation to a start of a subsequent transverse sealing operation. The second control performs one of the transverse sealing operation and the subsequent transverse sealing operation with a forward rotation of the rotating shaft and the other with a reverse rotation of the rotating shaft.

A feedback control system for use with ultrasonic welding. A weld energy set point and/or a reference power curve are used by a controller to provide a power supply voltage set point and a power supply frequency set point for the power that is to be drawn by an ultrasonic weld generator. Information regarding the actual voltage and/or frequency of the drawn electrical power, and/or the frequency and magnitude of an ultrasonic wave transmitted from the generator to an applicator tool used to weld an object can be utilized by an estimator to estimate the weld energy dissipated at the weld site and/or generate a power curve for the welding operation. Using information from the estimator, the controller can determine adjustments for variables for the current and/or future welding operations. Further, welding may not commence until a clamping force exerted on the object satisfies a clamping force set point.

An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure may also prevent any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

A bag-making and packaging machine includes sealing jaws, a horizontal moving device, a vertical moving device, and a control unit. The sealing jaws perform a transverse sealing operation. The vertical moving device moves the sealing jaws in a vertical direction. The vertical moving device includes a rotating shaft, a motor, and a link mechanism. The link mechanism transmits rotational force of the rotating shaft to the sealing jaws. The control unit performs first control or second control. The first control forwardly rotates and reversely rotates the rotating shaft during a period of time from a start of the transverse sealing operation to a start of a subsequent transverse sealing operation. The second control performs one of the transverse sealing operation and the subsequent transverse sealing operation with a forward rotation of the rotating shaft and the other with a reverse rotation of the rotating shaft.

A vertical flow-wrapper, for producing tubular bags from a foil web, with a frame/housing, at which a form-fill-tube, a longitudinal-sealing means and a cross-sealing means and a cutting means are provided. The vertical flow-wrapper includes a part of the frame/housing that is moveable relative to the frame/housing from an operation position into an inspection position and vice versa, and the cross-sealing means is provided on the part.

A sealing apparatus including a sealing tool that is movable between an inactive position and a sealing position. The sealing tool includes two actuating elements, each with a respective actuating surface that face each other. The actuating elements are configured to allow the passage of a packaging material therebetween and for transversely sealing the packaging material when the sealing tool is in the sealing position. The actuating surfaces are configured to cooperate with one another to perform the sealing. The actuating surfaces are also configured to cooperate with one another during the change in position of the sealing tool to the sealing position, and for transversely cutting the packaging material during the change in position.

Some embodiments relate to printing system is described that has an intermediate transfer member (ITM) in the form of a seamed endless belt for transporting an ink image from an image forming station, at which an ink image is deposited on ITM, to an impression station, where the ink image is transferred onto a printing substrate. Two drive members are provided for movement in synchronism with one another. Rotation of the drive members during installation of a new ITM serves to thread the strip through the printing system by pulling the strip from its leading end. Alternatively or additionally, indirect printing system comprising the ITM and an image forming station at which droplets of ink are applied to the ITM to form ink images thereon is disclosed. One or more blowing mechanisms (e.g. associated with the image forming station) are disclosed herein.

A method and apparatus for constructing a tubular assembly 40 comprising an inner portion (24) and a further portion (23) surrounding the inner portion. The inner portion (24) comprises reinforcement (37) and the further portion (23) being formed from a strip (50) of material comprising two opposed longitudinal marginal side portions (53). The apparatus comprises an assembly station (220) comprising a wall (253). The apparatus comprises means for advancing the inner portion (21) along a first path (231) extending passed the wall (253), and means for advancing the strip (50) along a second path (232) and causing the strip to encircle the wall (253) and thereby wrap about and surround the inner portion (21). The apparatus further comprises means (321) for introducing resinous binder into the reinforcement (37) as the strip (50) is being wrapped about the inner portion (21).