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.

A method for manufacturing a fuel cell assembly includes: arranging an end face of a gas diffusion layer on a placement jig in a state abutting an end face of a resin frame; melting a part of the frame member and causing to penetrate into the gas diffusion layer by pressurizing the projecting part by way of a heat-transfer member, and heating the projecting part via the heat-transfer member by abutting a heating member against of the heat-transfer member; and solidifying the part of the resin frame having penetrated into the gas diffusion layer, in which an abutting position of the heating member relative to the heat transfer member is set in the melting step so that a central axis of the heating member is positioned more to a side of the gas diffusion layer than the central axis of the projecting part.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling welding. One embodiment is a method for controlling welding of a composite part. The method includes locating a linear fiber optic sensor along a composite part comprising a matrix of thermoplastic reinforced by fibers, measuring temperatures along the weld line via the linear fiber optic sensor, performing induction welding at the composite part along the weld line, determining a continuum of weld temperatures along the weld line, and controlling the induction welding based on the continuum of weld temperatures.

Heat-seal condition indicating packages include a first sealing substrate comprising a leuco dye and a second sealing substrate comprising a leuco dye developer. The packages may optionally include a leuco dye sensitizer which dissolves both the leuco dye and the leuco dye developer when melted. The packages further include a heat-seal produced between the first sealing substrate and the second seating substrate. The heat-seal comprises a reaction product of the leuco dye and the leuco dye developer. The reaction product may be colored, which may provide the heat-seal with a detectable optical characteristic. A magnitude of the optical characteristic may be proportion to the strength of the seal between the first and second seating substrates.

A moveable seam welding machine, system, and method of use is provided. The seam welding machine includes at least one sensor that generates at least one data point having geolocation coordinates incorporated or integrally formed therewith. The data point typically relates to the integrity or quality of the welded seam created by the machine. The sensor generates data points which may be evaluated in alarm logic for abnormalities or anomalies. The geolocation coordinates inherent or integral to the data point may be plotted or registered overtop satellite imagery. The coordinates of the anomalies or the registered image, or both, can be provided to the workman or operator so he/she may manually inspect the geolocation at where the abnormal or anomaly data point was generated by the sensor to spot check the welded seam by hand.

A moveable seam welding machine, system, and method of use is provided. The seam welding machine includes at least one sensor that generates at least one data point having geolocation coordinates incorporated or integrally formed therewith. The data point typically relates to the integrity or quality of the welded seam created by the machine. The sensor generates data points which may be evaluated in alarm logic for abnormalities or anomalies. The geolocation coordinates inherent or integral to the data point may be plotted or registered overtop satellite imagery. The coordinates of the anomalies or the registered image, or both, can be provided to the workman or operator so he/she may manually inspect the geolocation at where the abnormal or anomaly data point was generated by the sensor to spot check the welded seam by hand.

A method for determining whether a sealing area of a primary packaging container for an ophthalmic lens is unacceptable for properly sealing a foil to the sealing area is disclosed. The method involves comparing the temperature of an infrared image of the sealing area to a reference temperature to determine if the difference in temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A system and method for thermoplastic composite welding comprising a cooling means and a heat source. The cooling means cools a heat-side laminate so as to create a thermal gradient in the heat-side laminate. The heat source heats the heat-side laminate after the cooling step is initiated but before the thermal gradient dissipates so that a first side of the heat-side laminate closer to the heat source does not deform as faying surfaces of the heat-side laminate and another laminate farther away from the heat source are welded together.

A device and a method for applying cover sheets to cross-bottoms of tubular sections made of a plastic material. The device includes conveyor devices for transporting the tubular sections and for depositing the cover sheets on the cross-bottoms in a deposit area. The device includes a hot gas device with a gas heater and a nozzle connected to the gas heater and oriented toward the deposit area for the cover sheets so when gas is supplied to the gas heater, the gas flows along a flow path from the gas supply through the gas heater and the nozzle into the deposit area. The hot gas device has a hot gas reservoir with an internal volume for the temporary storage of hot gas, the flow path running through the hot gas reservoir. A gas mass flow ({dot over (m)}1, {dot over (m)}2, {dot over (m)}ges) of gas supplied to the gas heater is adjustable by a control.

A device and a method for applying cover sheets to cross-bottoms of tubular sections made of a plastic material. The device includes conveyor devices for transporting the tubular sections and for depositing the cover sheets on the cross-bottoms in a deposit area. The device includes a hot gas device with a gas heater and a nozzle connected to the gas heater and oriented toward the deposit area for the cover sheets so when gas is supplied to the gas heater, the gas flows along a flow path from the gas supply through the gas heater and the nozzle into the deposit area. The hot gas device has a hot gas reservoir with an internal volume for the temporary storage of hot gas, the flow path running through the hot gas reservoir. A gas mass flow ({dot over (m)}1, {dot over (m)}2, {dot over (m)}ges) of gas supplied to the gas heater is adjustable by a control.