The invention relates to a process for the production of at least two-layer thermoplastic sheets via thermal welding of at least one thinner thermoplastic sheet with density (D1) and of at least one second thinner thermoplastic sheet with density (D2), where the density (D1) of the first thinner thermoplastic sheet is smaller than the density (D2) of the second thinner thermoplastic sheet. The process introduces at least one first heating element and at least one second heating element along mutually offset planes between the two thinner thermoplastic sheets, where the surfaces of the thinner thermoplastic sheets do not touch the surfaces of the heating elements. The first heating element transfers a quantity of energy (E1) to the surface of the first thinner thermoplastic sheet, and the second heating element transfers a quantity of energy (E2) to the surface of the second thinner thermoplastic sheet, where the quantity of energy (E1) is smaller than the quantity of energy (E2).

A joining method is provided during which a first thermoplastic component joint section and a second thermoplastic component joint section are arranged between first tooling and second tooling. The second thermoplastic component joint section is abutted against the first thermoplastic component joint section at a joint area. The first thermoplastic component joint section is joined to the second thermoplastic component joint section to provide a unitized thermoplastic structure. The joining includes: pressing the first thermoplastic component joint section against the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area between the first tooling and the second tooling using a pressure device; and heating the first thermoplastic component joint section and the second thermoplastic component joint section at the joint area using a first heater configured with the first tooling. The unitized thermoplastic structure is cooled at the joint area using a first cooler configured with the first tooling.

Packaging apparatus (1) comprises a packaging assembly (8) which has a supply unit (300) configured to supply electric energy to a conductive element of a heating head by causing an electric current flow through this conductive element; the conductive element defining a heating surface configured to heat seal one or more parts of said film. The electric conductive element comprising: a supporting substrate (206), at least a conductive structure engaged on the supporting substrate (206), at least one protective layer (208) covering the conductive structure as this latter is engaged between the supporting substrate (206) and the protective layer (208). The conductive element comprising at least one first and one second contacting tabs each integral with said conductive structure; each of said contacting tabs protruding transversally from a prevalent development surface of the conductive structure towards the supporting substrate (206) for defining a terminal contacting end. The heating head (700) comprising a first and second electric terminals respectively engaged with said first and second contacting tabs; each of said electric terminal is configured for stably constraining opposite faces of the respective contacting tab which define the thickness of said tab.

The invention provides a method of manufacturing a pouch for holding therein a liquid, comprising providing a front and back layer, locally bonding them together to create an inner space, forming a pour channel, by locally bonding the layers together to form bonds defining boundaries of the pour channel, wherein the forming of the pour channel is carried out by providing a heating device having a plurality of heating elements arranged in a grid-like manner, forming a heating surface, each of the heating elements being individually operable, operating the heating device such that heating elements which are required for creating the boundaries are operated and thereby heated, and bringing the heating surface into contact with the front layer or back layer, so as to locally bond together the front layer and the back layer so as to form the bonds defining the boundaries of the pour channel.

A laminate film including at least one bio-based polyester layer. The polyester layer has a radiocarbon (.sup.14C) content of at least 21.5 pMC. The laminate film may further have additional layers such as a second bio-based polyester resin-containing layer of at least about 21.5 pMC radiocarbon content, a metal layer, or combinations thereof.

The invention relates to a device (1) for connecting two fluid-channeling lines (10, 20), wherein the device has a through-bore (2) for advancing the fluid and two opposite line mounts (11, 21), which terminate at a predetermined distance (4) from one another within the device. Each of these line mounts (11, 21) is designed such that it is provided with a first part (12, 22), through which the through-bore (2) leads, and a second part (13, 23), which enclosed the first part (12, 22), an annular space (14, 24) therefore being formed between the first part (12, 22) and the second part (13, 23). Each of the two fluid-channeling lines, (10, 20) is arranged in one of the line mounts (11, 21) such that it has an inner cross section (16, 26) arranged, and fixed, with sealing action against the first part (12, 22) of the device and has an outer cross section (17, 27) arranged, and fixed, in the annular space (14, 24).

A method for joining primary and secondary members includes providing a primary member, a secondary member and a heating element which is joined to one of the primary and secondary members. The heating element includes an electrically insulating matrix material and an electrically conductive reinforcing clement extending through the matrix material. The method further includes bringing the other of the primary and secondary members and the heating element into engagement and controlling a flow of electrical current in the reinforcing element so as to resistively heat and fuse at least some of the matrix material of the heating element with a matrix material of the other of the primary and secondary members. The method may be used to join a primary member such as a composite tubular and a secondary member such as a component for terminating the composite tubular.

A process for producing a flexible container is provided. The process includes: A. providing a rear panel web, a front panel web, a first folded gusset panel web, and a second folded gusset panel web, each panel web having peripheral edges and a bottom face, each bottom face having two opposing tapered edges meeting at a bottom end; B. placing the folded gusset panel webs between the rear panel web and the front panel web, the gusset panel webs opposing each other, the panel webs configured to form a common periphery and the bottom seal area including the bottom end of each panel; C. first sealing the peripheral edges, the tapered edges, and the bottom seal area under a set of heat seal conditions; D. second sealing a portion of the bottom seal area under a second heat seal condition; and E. forming a flexible container.

Provided is a device (400) for forming a pouch. The device can include a first sealing section (404) having a curved heat-transfer surface, and a second sealing section (406). The second sealing section (406) can include a first heat-transfer surface (407), a second heat-transfer surface (405), and a heated cutter (408). The heated cutter (408) can be disposed between the first heat-transfer surface (407) and the second heat-transfer surface (405). The device can also include an optional cutting face that accepts the heated cutter.

Packaging apparatus comprises two counter-rotatable sealing dies for pressing together two tissue webs to produce pockets for containing a substance for preparing beverages and to seal around the pockets, and two heating drums for heating the sealing dies and each being positioned inside a respective sealing die, wherein a first heating zone of each heating drum comprises a first plurality of circumferentially distributed infrared heating elements, and a second heating zone of each heating drum comprises a second plurality of circumferentially distributed infrared heating elements.