An automated fiber placement (AFP) and in-situ fiber impregnation system includes a feeder, a resin dispenser, and a compaction roller. The feeder feeds a tow of fiber from a fiber supply toward a forming tool. The resin dispenser deposits resin onto the forming tool in front of the compaction roller. The compaction roller moves over the tow along the forming tool so as to press the tow onto the resin such that the compaction roller impregnates the resin into the tow a direction away from the forming tool via compaction forces immediately after the resin is deposited by the resin dispenser.

The invention relates to a method for applying a joint (2, 102) onto a plate (3), in particular a plate having shape defects. An edge of interest is defined on a portion of the plate (3) onto which the joint (2, 102) is intended to be applied. The plate (3) is then placed on a tool (4, 104) comprising a supporting element (5, 105) made of solid material and a supporting element (6, 106) made of flexible material, in such a way that the edge of interest rests on a portion of the supporting element made of flexible material. While the joint is applied onto the edge of interest, the plate is maintained in a predetermined reference position and the element made of flexible material is pushed against the plate, perpendicularly to an outer surface of the element made of flexible material, the outer surface being opposite to the surface on which the edge of interest rests.

A portable conveyor belt splicing apparatus is provided that includes an upper press assembly and a lower press assembly which include, respectively, upper and lower platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may each include a forced air cooling system for rapidly cooling platens of the platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may include insulating assemblies with resilient members that support the upper and lower press assemblies. The resilient members provide structural support and insulate the platens from the frame which reduces the power required to heat the platens. In one form, the apparatus includes a power supply circuit that can alternate between providing power to upper and lower heaters in response to the apparatus being connected to different types of standard power supplies. Further, the power supply circuit permits the use of a single recipe for a particular belt irrespective of the type of power supply.

An automated fiber placement (AFP) and in-situ fiber impregnation system includes a feeder, a resin dispenser, and a compaction roller. The feeder feeds a tow of fiber from a fiber supply toward a forming tool. The resin dispenser deposits resin onto the forming tool in front of the compaction roller. The compaction roller moves over the tow along the forming tool so as to press the tow onto the resin such that the compaction roller impregnates the resin into the tow a direction away from the forming tool via compaction forces immediately after the resin is deposited by the resin dispenser.

An apparatus and method of manufacturing a thermoplastic tube-to-tube-sheet joint is disclosed. The method provides at least one tube-sheet having a first aperture and a plurality of holes. Further, the at least one tube-sheet fixes into a welding fixture using a plurality of bolts through the holes. The welding fixture has a second aperture. The method inserts a tubular member within the first aperture and the second aperture and fills an adequate molten workpiece material, using an FSW process, in a clearance gap between the tubular member and the at least one tube-sheet. The apparatus includes at least one tube-sheet having a first aperture, a welding fixture having a second aperture, a tubular member inserted into the at least one tube-sheet, and an adequate molten workpiece material, using the FSW process, is filled in a clearance gap between the tubular member and the at least one tube-sheet.

A method includes compressing a non-dielectric, elastically-deformable component, a wire mesh component, and a dielectric, contoured object between first and second forming tools. Once the components are compressed, radio frequency energy is supplied to the first forming tool, thereby causing a radio frequency electromagnetic field to be generated between the first forming tool and the wire mesh component that results in a contoured weld of the contoured object. A tooling assembly is configured to carry out the method.

A method includes compressing a non-dielectric, elastically-deformable component, a wire mesh component, and a dielectric, contoured object between first and second forming tools. Once the components are compressed, radio frequency energy is supplied to the first forming tool, thereby causing a radio frequency electromagnetic field to be generated between the first forming tool and the wire mesh component that results in a contoured weld of the contoured object. A tooling assembly is configured to carry out the method.

A portable conveyor belt splicing apparatus is provided that includes an upper press assembly and a lower press assembly which include, respectively, upper and lower platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may each include a forced air cooling system for rapidly cooling platens of the platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may include insulating assemblies with resilient members that support the upper and lower press assemblies. The resilient members provide structural support and insulate the platens from the frame which reduces the power required to heat the platens. In one form, the apparatus includes a power supply circuit that can alternate between providing power to upper and lower heaters in response to the apparatus being connected to different types of standard power supplies. Further, the power supply circuit permits the use of a single recipe for a particular belt irrespective of the type of power supply.

A portable conveyor belt splicing apparatus is provided that includes an upper press assembly and a lower press assembly which include, respectively, upper and lower platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may each include a forced air cooling system for rapidly cooling platens of the platen assemblies. The upper and lower press assemblies may include insulating assemblies with resilient members that support the upper and lower press assemblies. The resilient members provide structural support and insulate the platens from the frame which reduces the power required to heat the platens. In one form, the apparatus includes a power supply circuit that can alternate between providing power to upper and lower heaters in response to the apparatus being connected to different types of standard power supplies. Further, the power supply circuit permits the use of a single recipe for a particular belt irrespective of the type of power supply.

The invention relates to a device for heat sealing a film lid placed on the rim of a glass, the device comprising a deformable and thermally conductive element designed to press against the film lid and the rim and to heat the film lid and the rim. A peripheral portion of the conductive element is arranged to extend beyond the rim. The device has means for hinging and suspending the conductive element, and means for transmitting a pressure force exerted by an actuator to the conductive element, which force transmission means are distinct from the means for hinging and suspending the conductive element.