A method of joining workpieces includes the steps of bringing a first workpiece and a second workpiece together, induction heating a susceptor material, and pressing the workpieces together. Each workpiece may include a thermoplastic material, and the workpieces are brought together at a joint interface so that a protrusion of the first workpiece is aligned with a receptacle of the second workpiece. The susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece during heating such that the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece softens. The step of pressing is performed while the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece is softened, thereby reshaping the first workpiece where the susceptor material is in contact with the thermoplastic material of the first workpiece. The protrusion is deformed to form an interlock with the receptacle at the joint interface.

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.

Disclosed embodiments provide automated fiber placement techniques for fabrication of parts made from composite materials. A peening system with multiple pins provides compaction over irregular surfaces, providing superior performance as compared with traditional compaction rollers. The apparatus that carries out the techniques include a tape dispensing system, a heating system, a peening system, a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory contains instructions that when executed by the processor perform the steps of: dispensing a first ply of thermoplastic composite tape over a mandrel; dispensing a second ply of thermoplastic composite tape on the first ply; and peening the second ply onto the first ply, such that the second ply is bonded to the first ply.

A welding method heats and pressurizes a contacting portion, where a first member and a second member made of resin are in contact with each other, by a pressing tool. The welding method has forming a step, forming a recessed portion, crushing a protrusion, and filling the recessed portion. The step is defined between the first member and the second member by providing the protrusion to the first member. The recessed portion is provided in a tip of the pressing tool. The protrusion of the first member is crushed in the recessed portion by being pressed toward the second member using the pressing tool. The recessed portion is filled with the molten portion of the first member and the molten portion of the second member such that a rim of an outer periphery of the recessed portion is dug into the first member and the second member.

The invention relates to a device for making a sealing connection between two material layers containing plastic, especially in a product packing pouch (2), having at least one sealing station (3), comprising at least two sealing jaws (4a, 4b) situated opposite each other and movable between an open position and a sealing position, having respectively a sealing surface (5a, 5b) on their inner side facing toward the other respective sealing jaw (4b, 4a), wherein the sealing station (3) is configured such that in the open position at least two material layers (6, 7, 8) to be joined together by sealing can be arranged between the sealing jaws (4a, 4b) and in the sealing position the material layers (6, 7, 8) can be pressed together. It is proposed that at least one of the sealing jaws (4a, 4b) comprises at least one lubricant channel (9) and the device (1) comprises a lubricant delivery device (10), which is configured to direct a lubricant through the lubricant channel (9) toward the sealing surface (5a, 5b) of the sealing jaw (4a, 4b) and/or toward the sealing surface (5b, 5a) of the oppositely situated sealing jaw (4b, 4a).

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.

System includes a first object having an energy-assisted bonding (EAB) mechanism along a surface of the first object. The EAB mechanism includes a heat-activatable adhesive layer and a carbon-filled (CF) sheet material. The CF sheet material is electrically conductive for resistive heating. A control sub-system is configured to control a coupling actuator to drive an actuator body toward the first object, wherein the actuator body and the first object engage each other. The coupling actuator is configured to apply pressure to the EAB mechanism along the surface of the first object. The control sub-system is also configured to control the power source to apply a current through the CF sheet material of the EAB mechanism to provide thermal energy through resistive heating that activates the adhesive layer along the interface.

A supporting unit for supporting a rotatable member to feed a developer includes a frame including a first surface extending in a direction crossing an axis of the rotatable member and a second surface extending in a direction crossing the first surface, and a fixed member. The fixed member includes (i) a first opposing surface opposing and contacting the first surface, (ii) a second opposing surface opposing the second surface, and (iii) a first front side surface opposite from the second opposing surface. The second opposing surface is welded to the second surface by ultrasonic spot welding such that a first recess is formed on the first front side surface.

An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

Composite fasteners, associated blanks and also methods and apparatus for the installation of such fasteners are disclosed. An exemplary composite rivet disclosed comprises an elongated body including braided reinforcement fibers embedded inside the body and supported in a matrix material. Also disclosed are structural assemblies comprising composite fasteners and panels or other parts comprising composite and/or other materials.