The invention relates to a method for the ultrasonic welding of two plastic components using a sonotrode, wherein the energy for the welding is introduced into the plastic components via at least one or more pins of the sonotrode, wherein the two plastic components are welded to one another step by step, wherein the respectively subsequent step of the welding is carried out in a region which has already been loaded and relieved of tension as a result of the preceding step of the welding.

Methods for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic polymer workpieces and assemblies made therefrom are provided. The method may comprise disposing a first region of a first thermoplastic polymer workpiece and a second region of a second thermoplastic polymer workpiece between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding device. The first workpiece has a preformed deformation and at least one of the first and/or second workpieces has an adhesive precursor applied thereto. The ultrasonic horn or anvil seats within the preformed deformation. Ultrasonic energy is applied from the ultrasonic horn to create a weld nugget between the first and second workpieces. The assembly thus formed has a green strength sufficient to be further processed immediately. The methods provide a robust weld joint with controlled adhesive bondline thickness.

Apparatus and methods are described including an additional lens (24) made from an amorphous viscoelastic material and having an optical design. A curvature of the additional lens (24) is changed such as to conform with a curvature of abase eyeglasses lens (22), without causing a loss of the optical design of the additional lens (24), by heating the additional lens (24) to a temperature at which a Tan Delta of the amorphous viscoelastic material is between 0.2 and 0.8, and shaping the additional lens (24). Subsequently, the additional lens (24) is adhered to the base eyeglasses lens (22). The optical design of the additional lens (24) is such that, upon being adhered to the base eyeglasses lens (22), the adhered base eyeglasses lens (22) and the additional lens (24) provide a combined lens (20) having a desired optical prescription. Other applications are also described.

A machine converts a web of preformed pouches, which are defined by transverse seals extending from a remote edge, into inflated dunnage units. A sealing arrangement is positioned to provide a longitudinal seal intersecting the transverse seals to close the preformed pouches and form a dunnage unit. The sealing arrangement has at least two sealing belts. Each belt is positioned so that respective first sides engage a surface of the web and pull the web through sealing elements positioned on either side of the web. A heating element is on a second side of the first belt not engaging the web. A compliant material is on a second side of the second belt not engaging the web. As the web passes between the heating element and compliant material, imperfections in the web are smoothed by the compliant material and the layers of the web are sealed by the heating element.

Methods for ultrasonic welding of thermoplastic polymer workpieces and assemblies made therefrom are provided. The method may comprise disposing a first region of a first thermoplastic polymer workpiece and a second region of a second thermoplastic polymer workpiece between an ultrasonic horn and an anvil of an ultrasonic welding device. The first workpiece has a preformed deformation and at least one of the first and/or second workpieces has an adhesive precursor applied thereto. The ultrasonic horn or anvil seats within the preformed deformation. Ultrasonic energy is applied from the ultrasonic horn to create a weld nugget between the first and second workpieces. The assembly thus formed has a green strength sufficient to be further processed immediately. The methods provide a robust weld joint with controlled adhesive bondline thickness.

A reusable container system and method for reducing the use of plastic is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a reusable container includes: a reusable bottle; a lid attachable to the reusable bottle that enables access removing and inserting single-use replaceable sealed bag or pouch; an inner single-use replaceable sealed bag or pouch that holds a liquid, viscous, or gel material inside the reusable bottle; a sprayer or pump attachable to the reusable bottle; and a dip tube with a leading edge that pierces the inner bag upon assembly of the above listed components. The liquid material is accessed for dispensing through the dip tube without contaminating the reusable bottle.

An apparatus for manufacturing an elastic composite structure for an absorbent sanitary product includes an anvil with weld pattern comprising at least one anchoring region and at least one deactivating region. The anchoring region includes anchoring welds that form anchoring bonds that fuse facing web layers and anchor elastic thread(s) in position relative to the facing web layers. The deactivating region includes a break bar constructed to sever the thread(s). A method of manufacturing the elastic composite structure includes positioning a tensioned elastic thread between web layers, fusing the web layers to form an anchored zone that includes anchoring bonds that fuse the web layers and anchor the tensioned elastic thread therebetween, and cutting the thread to form a deactivated zone between adjacent portions of the anchored zone that is free of tensioned threads. The method further includes fusing the web layers within the deactivated zone.

A method of directly joining a polymer to a metal along a joint interface through the formation of C—O—M chemical bonds, where M represents an element in the metal to be joined. The method includes heating the metal to a predetermined temperature above a glass transition temperature of the polymer and less than a flash ignition temperature of the polymer and less than a metal melting temperature of the metal; and applying force to the joint interface of the metal and the polymer to generate intimate atomic contact between the metal and the polymer to create C—O—M chemical bonds between the metal and the polymer.

The invention relates to a device comprising a first fixing element, a further fixing element and a folded planar composite; wherein the first fixing element comprises a first fixing surface and the further fixing element comprises a further fixing surface; wherein the folded planar composite is at least partially fixed between the first fixing surface and the further fixing surface; wherein the folded planar composite comprises a first composite region; wherein the first composite region comprises a first layer sequence comprising a first composite layer comprising a first carrier layer, a second composite layer comprising a second carrier layer, a third composite layer comprising a third carrier layer and a fourth composite layer comprising a fourth carrier layer; wherein in the first composite region the second composite layer is joined to the third composite layer and the third composite layer is joined to the fourth composite layer; wherein in the first composite region the third carrier layer is characterised by a smaller layer thickness than in each case one selected from the group consisting of the first carrier layer, the second carrier layer and the fourth carrier layer or a combination of at least two of these; wherein the first fixing surface or the further fixing surface or both comprises a recess comprising a first recess region; wherein the first composite region is located at least partially between the first recess region and the first fixing surface or the further fixing surface.

The present invention provides, in various embodiments, a rotary-type machine (M) for continuously sealing individual foil bags (B) by way of ultrasonic welding between an anvil (6) and a sonotrode (5) in at least one welding station (S) of a carousel (1), where each foil bag (B) can be positioned by way of holders (11). In some embodiments, the rotary-type machine (M) comprises at least one welding station (S) composed of a sonotrode (5) being located stationary at least relative to the direction of circulation (8) and anvils (6) which with intermediate spacings (7) rotate past said sonotrode (5) successively in the direction of circulation (8) of the carousel (1). According to the invention, the foil bags (B) are sealed at the stationary sonotrode (5) when the anvils (6) equipped with the foil bags (B) are rotated past.