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.

A method of coupling polymeric components utilizing electromagnetic energy is disclosed. The method can include obtaining a first component having a first coupling portion, a second component having a second coupling portion, and a susceptor. The method can also include mating the first and second components such that the susceptor is proximate the first and second coupling portions. In addition, the method can include applying electromagnetic energy to the susceptor. The susceptor can convert the electromagnetic energy to heat, which can melt portions of the first and second coupling portions about the susceptor to couple the first and second components to one another upon solidification.

The machine comprises a heating station (20) with hot air supply nozzles (22) facing one another and spaced apart; a unitary dispenser device (30) for dispensing plastic spouts into said heating station by a delivery element; a welding station (40); a gripping device (50) for gripping the plastic spout (5) at said heating station (20) and transferring it to the welding station (40) by turning said plastic spout (5) and placing a portion thereof, once heated, inside the open mouth (M) of a plastic package (2)); and a control unit (60) which manages in a coordinating manner the operation of the heating station (20), the dispenser device (30), the plastic spout delivery element , the gripping device (50) and the welding station (40).

A surface cleaning apparatus uses an inverted cyclone. An air flow path extends from a dirty air inlet to a clean air outlet. A suction motor is positioned in the air flow path. The inverted cyclone is downstream from the dirty air inlet in a first cyclonic cleaning stage. The cyclone defines a cyclone chamber having a lower air inlet, a lower air outlet and an upper dirt outlet. An openable dirt collection chamber is in communication with the upper dirt outlet.

The invention relates to a bicycle saddle having a saddle shell, on the underside of which a frame is arranged. A saddle pad is arranged on the upper side of the saddle shell. According to the invention, the saddle pad has two padding elements for improved comfort, wherein in a preferred embodiment the inner padding element is made of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).

Installation fittings for use with induction weldable pipe connectors for assembling multi-layer pipe fluid distribution systems. Induction welding pipe connectors including a major central pipe connector section and a minor lateral pipe connector section pair having reduced thickness relative to the major central pipe connector section. Induction welding pipe connectors with integral solder flow barrier for assembling fluid distribution systems. Electromagnetic induction coil reverse action pliers for use with induction weldable pipe connectors for assembling fluid distribution systems.

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 first thermoplastic component and a second thermoplastic component including a first joint portion and a second joint portion, respectively, are provided. A least a portion of a surface area of each of the first and second joint portions include a respective first and second mating surface. The first and second mating surfaces of the respective first and second joint portions are positioned in contact with one another. The first and second joint portions are fusion joined. Fusion joining the first and second joint portions forms a fused unitary portion of the first and second thermoplastic components.

A method of producing a golf ball applies ultrasonic welding on two half shells to form at least one intermediate layer, at least one cover layer, or at least one intermediate layer and at least one cover layer. The ultrasonic welding may include pressing the two half shells together, delivering a high power electrical signal to a welding stack, and converting the high power electrical signal at the welding stack to ultrasonic energy. The converting may include converting the high power electrical signal into a mechanical vibration, modifying an amplitude of the mechanical vibration to generate a modified mechanical vibration, and applying the modified mechanical vibration to an interface of the two half shells to weld them together ultrasonically. Aspects also relate to golf balls, or one or more layers thereof, made using ultrasonic welding.

A method of induction welding a first carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes aligning the first TPC with the second TPC to form a weld interface area, flexing a heat sink onto a surface of the first TPC between the weld interface area and the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil.