A protrusion on a first member made of synthetic resin wherein a laser beam is applied to a side surface of the protrusion in a state in which a top surface of the protrusion of the first member is abutted against a second member made of synthetic resin, so as to melt at least the entire top surface of the protrusion and melt a portion of the second member in contact with the protrusion by heat of the melted top surface of the protrusion, followed by solidification of the melted portions, whereby the first member and the second member are welded together.

Aspects of the present invention are directed to a heat sealed packaging wherein the heat seal is along a curved surface. Additional aspects of the present invention are directed to a device for heat sealing a package on a surface that is curved along the direction of force.

A method for forming compression-bonding portions in a continuous body including a fiber bundle while conveying the continuous body includes: rotating a rotator to convey the continuous body; compressing a target part of each of the compression-bonding portions in the continuous body using a first compression-bonding apparatus and the rotator to form the compression-bonding portions of a first stage; and further compressing each of the compression-bonding portions of the first stage using a second compression-bonding apparatus and the rotator to form the compression-bonding portions of a second stage. At least one of the compression-bonding portions is positioned between the first compression-bonding apparatus and the second compression-bonding apparatus in the direction of rotation of the rotator when the second compression-bonding apparatus compresses the compression-bonding portion of the first stage.

A method for forming compression-bonding portions in a continuous body including a fiber bundle while conveying the continuous body includes: rotating a rotator, while holding the continuous body on an outer peripheral surface of the rotator, to convey the continuous body; compressing a target part of each of the compression-bonding portions in the continuous body using a compression-bonding member and the rotator to form the compression-bonding portions; and pressing the continuous body inwardly in a radial direction of the rotator using a pressing member, while avoiding forming the compression-bonding portions in the continuous body, the pressing member being opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the rotator, at a position upstream in the direction of rotation from the compression-bonding member.

A tool for fixing a protective textile sleeve about an elongate member contained therein, and method of use thereof is provided. The tool includes a clamp assembly having opposed clamp members. Each of the clamp members has a clamp surface for abutting the textile sleeve. Each of the clamp surfaces includes a plurality of heating members operably connected to a source of power. The heating members within each clamping surface are supported for independent radial movement relative to one another in response to engagement with an outer surface of the textile sleeve to allow the clamp surfaces to automatically conform to the arcuate shape of the sleeve and elongate member being clamped therebetween.

A device and method for the fluid-tight sealing of two partially overlapping packaging components, one being a tubular base member formed from a blank of composite cardboard/plastics material, and an additional packaging component forming the upper packaging portion or packaging base, having at least one mandrel and one die, the mandrel having at least two expansion elements which are moved from the operating position thereof towards each other into a rest position, the expansion elements having sealing jaws which, in the operating position thereof, form a closed circumferential outer contour, which corresponds to an inner contour formed by an opening in the die, there remaining between the inner contour and outer contour a narrow annular gap in order to apply a pressing force from the inner side to the overlap region of the packaging components.

A vibration welding device includes a base plate, a vibrating body, and a plurality of position adjusting jigs. The vibrating body is capable of vibrating while holding an interior part which is an object to be welded. The base plate is disposed below the vibrating body. The base plate holds an instrument panel which is an object to be welded. The position adjusting jigs are connected to the vibrating body so as to be adjustable in position. The plurality of position adjusting jigs are disposed independently of each other.

A device for joining material by anchoring an insert comprising a first material in a structure comprising a second material is provided. The first material is solid and comprises thermoplastic properties and the second material is solid and is penetrable by the first material when in a liquefied state. The device comprises a vibration device being configured to transmit vibrations to said insert to cause at least partial liquefaction thereof and being arranged to move, relative to said structure, along an insertion direction (ID) to insert said insert at least partly into said structure, a contact sensor being connected to the vibration device and being adapted to move together with the vibration device along the insertion direction (ID), the contact sensor having a sensor body being adapted to detect contact with said structure. A controller is further connected to the contact sensor and adapted for receiving a contact signal from the contact sensor indicating that the sensor body has come into contact with said structure.

A system and method for controlling the speed of both a continuous web and a bonding apparatus is provided in order to effectuate stronger bonds in the web. The bonding system includes a velocity changing device for increasing and decreasing a velocity of the web in a machine direction, an anvil and a corresponding ultrasonic horn that interact to form ultrasonic bonds on the web, and an anvil actuator configured to control a movement of the anvil. A control system is also included in the bonding system for controlling operation of the anvil actuator the velocity changing device, with the control system programmed to decrease a moving velocity of the web from a feed velocity to a bonding velocity as the web passes between the anvil and the ultrasonic horn and control movement of the anvil to synchronize the movement of the anvil with the moving velocity of the web.

A system using a pressure differential to clamp welding heads on opposite sides of a joint of a thermoplastic composite structure to be welded. The heads are positioned over the joint opposite each other. Each head includes a housing defining a chamber having a lower pressure such that the pressure differential forces the head against the side. Each head includes a contour plate located in the space and against the joint, and at least one of the heads includes a heater located in the space and heating the contour plate to a welding temperature. The system may also include a first arm coupled with one of the heads and moving it along the joint so as to remain aligned with the other head, and a second arm coupled with the other head and moving it along the joint while the system welds the joint in successive overlapping sections.