In a fastening method and fastening apparatus, workpieces are fastened using a fastener made of a thermoplastic polymer comprising carbon fibers. The method and apparatus involve induction heating of the carbon fibers to soften the thermoplastic polymer and then plastically deforming axial ends of the fastener using a die or dies to form first and second heads while a shaft body or a shaft part of the thermoplastic polymer comprising the carbon fibers is inserted through respective through holes formed in the workpieces.

A fastening apparatus includes a fastening device (1, 3) that heats in a non-contacting state, and then applies pressure to, a shaft part (11b) or shaft body (111) while it is inserted through the through holes (W10, W20) of workpieces (W1, W2), thereby forming at least a second head part (11c) of a fastener (11). The fastening device (1, 3) includes: a fastening die (15) that forms the second head part (11c); and a shaft-part pressure-applying device (9) that applies the pressure to the fastening die (15). A determining device (5) determines whether the fastener (11) is defective or not by calculating a load curve defined by the time and the load during which the pressure was applied and then determining whether an amount of change per unit of time in the load curve after a reference load has been exceeded is within a range of a predetermined reference value.

An apparatus for joining, in particular laser welding, two components, in particular plastics components, comprisestwo workpiece receptacles (1, 3) for respectively holding the two components (2, 4) to be connected, in each case one bearing element, preferably a bearing plate (7), for each of the workpiece receptacles (1, 3), a clamping drive (SA) for at least one bearing element for feeding and bracing of the two components (2, 4) held in the workpiece receptacles (1, 3) during the joining process, a controller (9) for the clamping drive (SA) and in particular a laser welding device (LS), anda mechanically loose coupling between the clamping drive (SA) and bearing element (7) such that the two workpiece receptacles (1, 3) are tiltable towards one another during feeding and bracing. Also disclosed is a method for operating such a joining apparatus during a joining process of two components (2, 4) held in the workpiece receptacles (1, 3), in particular during a laser welding process.

Embodiments herein include a system for joining components. The system can include a rotating base platform, a plurality of receptacles mounted to the base platform, and a rotating sonotrode platform. A plurality of sonotrodes are mounted to the sonotrode platform. Each sonotrode can correspond to a receptacle. Each sonotrode can move in a reciprocating motion between a release position distant from a corresponding receptacle and a compressing position proximal to the corresponding receptacle. The compressing position occurs at a first angular position of the sonotrode platform. Each sonotrode is energized at the compressing position.

The present disclosure can provide for an ultrasonic welding method for a pair of workpieces. The method can include first pressing an ultrasonic welding stack against a first workpiece in the pair so that the first workpiece comes into contact with a second workpiece in the pair. The method can then provide for initiating a weld phase by outputting energy from the ultrasonic welding stack to the first workpiece. The method can provide for monitoring, with at least one sensor, a sensed parameter. The sensed parameter can be, for example, weld force and/or weld force rate of change. The method can provide for determining whether the sensed parameter has reached a predetermined level. Based on determining that the sensed parameter has reached the predetermined level, the method can provide for ending the weld phase.

A packaging machine, comprising a control unit, at least one measurement device and a plurality of work units for different processes. One of the work units is designed as a sealing station which comprises at least one moisture sensor designed as the measurement device which is functionally connected to the control unit and is designed to detect moisture within the sealing station as a time-dependent measured variable during a program sequence of the sealing station. The program sequence may comprise an evacuation process, wherein the control unit is designed to calculate a rate of change in the moisture during the evacuation process of the sealing station. The control unit may abort the evacuation process performed on the sealing station, based on the rate of change, before reaching a target vacuum pressure within the sealing station, immediately or after a specified delay time elapses.

A profile body of a not liquefiable material is used as a connecting element between a first object and a second object. The profile body may especially be metallic and/or may be bendable. The profile body, in contrast to a conventional wire, however, has a shape defining a first and a second undercut. The method includes embedding the profile body in the second object so that the second undercut is within material of the second object, and embedding the profile body within material of the first object so that the first undercut is within the first object, and wherein at least embedding of the profile body in the first object is caused by mechanical energy impinging on the first object and/or on the second object while the first object and the second object are pressed against each other.

A method of bonding a connector to a first object includes providing the first object and the connector, the connector extending between a proximal end and a distal end and has a connector body that forms a distally facing punching edge. At least one of the connector and of the first object includes a thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method further includes driving the connector into the first object and coupling mechanical vibration into the connector until the connector extends through a portion of the first object from a proximal side to a distal side thereof and material of the first object is punched out by the connector body, and until at least a flow portion of the thermoplastic material becomes flowable and flows relative to the first object and the connector body while the connector body remains solid. Thereafter, the thermoplastic material is allowed to re-solidify.

The invention relates to a sealing station in a film bag filling device for sealing of film bags after a filling process, wherein the sealing station comprises a first and a second sealing arm for sealing of several filled film bags that are arranged next to one another, wherein the first sealing arm is moveable with a first drive shaft and the second sealing arm with a second drive shaft. A servo engine is disposed on the first drive shaft, and a drive movement of the first drive shaft from a first gear wheel is transferred to a second gear wheel that encroaches in the first gear wheel and from the second gear wheel to the second drive shaft. The invention further relates to a method for sealing of film bags after a filling process with the sealing station according to the invention with the following steps: positioning of filled film bags below the sealing station; closing of the sealing arms and application of a contact pressure with a first value and sealing of the filled film bags.

A method and apparatus for forming pouches and/or bags is disclosed. A seal and/or insert is crushed using a multiphase sealer or crusher.