A method for connecting the joint of two ends of at least one chassis sealing element. In order to allow a secure and quick connection of the ends and allow an additional unhindered passage of air and moisture between hollow chambers within the chassis sealing element via the joint when using a profiled hollow chamber, the ends are first arranged at a distance to each other, and a shapeless bonding agent is applied to at least one end. The bonding agent is then heated, and the ends are brought into mutual contact, whereby the ends are bonded at the joint by way of the heated bonding agent.

Process for manufacturing inflatable bodies capable of assuming a desired complexly curved shape comprising two, around their circumference hermetically bonded opposing membranes (3, 4), which are internally linked by a plurality of link tapes (1), which tapes are bonded at an exact length and inclination angle at an exactly determined position. By numerical instructions, a continuous tape is fed and bonded alternately on the insides of the membranes by means of a roboticized tape positioning head, creating bond lines (2) between the tape and a membrane. Any fold occurring through local inclination, or planar angle variation of the tape relative to a membrane is kept between two bond lines on a membrane (3,4). A roboticized tape positioning and bonding head inside, and a bond activation head outside of a membrane can position relative to a membrane (3,4) by means of printed positioning marks, optical and proximity sensors to create the bond lines (2).

A method for producing a frame component for a door frame structure of an aircraft. A connecting zone is generated on a first and a second assembly surface of a connecting component in each case by generating a surface texture on the assembly surfaces, wherein the connecting component is formed from a metal material. The assembly surfaces of the connecting component are placed against a door frame member and against an attachment member, wherein the door frame member and the attachment member are each formed from a fiber-reinforced thermoplastics material. Furthermore, the connecting component and the door frame member are welded, and the connecting component and the attachment member are welded. A frame component and a door frame structure are also described.

A system and method for welding thermoplastic components is provided. The system includes a component positioning system and a welding subsystem. The component positioning system includes a trailing force applicator having first and second lateral side trailing force applicators disposed on opposite lateral sides of a weld line. The welding subsystem is configured to weld the thermoplastic components together at a weld zone. The first and second lateral side trailing force applicators are laterally spaced apart from the weld zone, and at least a portion of the first and second lateral side trailing force applicators are disposed aft of the weld zone. During welding the first and second lateral side trailing force applicators and a welding subsystem probe are moved relative to the thermoplastic components, or vice versa.

The present invention relates to a method for evaluating an assembly by welding of parts made of thermoplastic materials, to a test piece and its associated uses, to an installation for implementing this method and to the associated welding system.

The invention provides automated spacer processing systems and methods. The systems and methods involve at least one robot arm that is configured to process spacers for multiple-pane insulating glazing units. In some embodiments, the systems also include an insulating glazing unit assembly line and a spacer conveyor system. Additionally or alternatively, the systems may include a sealant applicator.

A portable welding device comprising: a base facing a work surface, designed to receive tapes in electrically conductive composite materials to be joined or defined by at least one already positioned tape; an operating head receiving one tape at a time and movable with respect to the base along at least a first movement line parallel to the work surface; a motorized arm connecting the operating head to the base and selectively activatable to impart movements to the operating head; and feeding means selectively activatable to feed one tape at a time to the operating head and connected to the operating head; the operating head comprises a positioning roller receiving a tape at a time; a pressure roller spaced from and aligned with the positioning roller along the first movement line; and an inductor interposed between the positioning roller and the pressure roller with reference to the first movement line.

A thermoplastic welding assembly includes a structural cage that supports a press and one or more hydraulic and pneumatic actuators. The press includes first and second plates that movable toward and away from each other to load and remove thermoplastic components to be held together for thermoplastic welding. Specifically, the first plate of the press includes non-conductive tooling inserts that are positioned to form a slot for a welding prove, and the second plates includes non-conductive tooling inserts that form cavities for plungers to move through. Plungers that are movable using the actuators are positioned in the cavities of the second plate, and compressible pressurizers are attached to the ends of the plungers. An operator uses electrical controls to move the plungers in the plunger cavities toward the thermoplastic components in the press to drive the pressurizers into the thermoplastic components and provide stabilizing pressure on the components during welding.

An apparatus for forming a weld between a first portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material and a second portion of a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a structure for holding said first and second electrodes in opposition to one other with a space therebetween for receiving said first portion and said second portion in contact with one another. The structure is electrically non-conductive and an electrical circuit comprising a power source and a switch arranged such that closure of said switch applies a voltage potential across said first electrode and said second electrode so as to generate heat via electrical resistance, the heat being sufficient to melt regions of said first and second portions.

Provided among other things is a method of affixing a small, single chip to a plastic item, the chip having a top surface having length and width dimensions, and having a height, the method comprising: (1) vacuum adhering a top-oriented surface of the chip to a probe of outer dimensions comparable to or smaller than those of the length and width; (2) conveying heat to the chip via the probe such that a bottom-oriented surface of the chip is sufficiently hot to melt the plastic; (3) applying via the probe the chip to the plastic such that the chip embeds in the plastic; and (4) releasing the chip from the probe, wherein the largest of the length and width is about 500 microns or less, and height is no more than about the smallest of length and width.