The invention provides a sonotrode (100) for welding a material, the sonotrode (100) comprising a welding section (110) configured for contacting the material, wherein the welding section (110) defines a rounded shape (111) in a cross-section parallel to a longitudinal axis (A) of the sonotrode (100), wherein the rounded shape (111) approximates a circular sector (20), wherein the circular sector (20) has a central angle α.sub.c selected from the range of 25°-300°, and wherein the circular sector (20) has a central radius r.sub.c selected from the range of 5-30 mm, and wherein the sonotrode (100) has a width W perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) [and to the cross-section], wherein W is selected from the range of 10-100 mm.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

The pressing of an article is achieved with a closed-loop feedback press. The closed-loop feedback press is effective to measure an amount of pressure applied and adjust the pressure to achieve a prescribed amount of compression on the article. Further, the press may leverage a closed-loop feedback system to maintain a consistent temperature of one or more platens. The press is able to adjust a pressure applied one or more times during a pressing operation to accelerate a temperature change in the pressed article while reducing the pressure applied as the temperature approaches a target temperature to limit unintentional deformation and bleeding of the pressed material of the article.

A method of anchoring a connector element (10) in a receiving object (66) comprises inserting a distal end of the connector element (10) into a mounting hole in an insertion direction along an insertion axis; inserting a sleeve (36) comprising a thermoplastic material into the mounting hole, the sleeve (36) enclosing the connector element (10); and transferring energy to liquefy at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the sleeve (36). A machine (500) configured for carrying out the method and a connector element anchoring kit comprising a connector element (10) and a sleeve (36) comprising thermoplastic material.

The present invention relates to a method for ultrasonic treatment of a plastic material, comprising the steps of: positioning the plastic material between a sonotrode and a counter-tool, bringing the sonotrode excited by means of an ultrasonic oscillation into contact with the plastic material during a welding phase, moving the sonotrode and the counter-tool towards each other during a holding phase, in which neither the sonotrode nor the counter-tool are excited with an ultrasonic oscillation so that a force F is applied onto the plastic material. In order to reduce treatment times, wherein at the same time the quality of the welding process is not impaired but is even to be improved, it is proposed according to the invention that the force F is varied during the holding phase.

A method of anchoring a connector in a first object, wherein the first object is a lightweight building element having a first outer building layer and an interlining layer, and wherein the connector includes thermoplastic material in a solid state. The method includes: bringing a coupling surface portion of the connector into contact with an attachment location of the first outer building layer; displacing a portion of the first outer building layer at the attachment location with respect to the interlining layer by applying a first pressing force to the first outer building layer and thereby piercing the first outer building layer; applying a second pressing force to the connector and transferring energy to the connector until a flow portion of the thermoplastic material has liquefied and flown to interpenetrate structures of the interlining layer; and stopping the energy transfer and allowing the flow portion to re-solidify.

The pressing of an article is achieved with a closed-loop feedback press. The closed-loop feedback press is effective to measure an amount of pressure applied and adjust the pressure to achieve a prescribed amount of compression on the article. Further, the press may leverage a closed-loop feedback system to maintain a consistent temperature of one or more platens. The press is able to adjust a pressure applied one or more times during a pressing operation to accelerate a temperature change in the pressed article while reducing the pressure applied as the temperature approaches a target temperature to limit unintentional deformation and bleeding of the pressed material of the article.

An ultrasonic welding system includes an ultrasonic welding stack that is movable to initiated a welding operation. A plurality of sensors measure respective control variables and output control signals corresponding, respectively, to the control variables. A motion control system is coupled to and causes controlled movement of the welding stack, including initiating the welding operation. The motion control system determines, based on the control signals, control inputs such that any motion of the welding stack, subsequent to the initiating, is initially delayed until the control signals satisfy a predetermined condition. In response to the predetermined condition being satisfied, the motion control system causes the welding stack to move in accordance with a weld profile.

The present invention provides a sealing process for a secondary battery of the present invention, which thermally fuses and seals a sealing portion that extends along an edge surface of a battery case, the sealing process comprising: an arrangement operation of disposing the sealing portion of the battery case between an anvil and a horn; a first region-fixing operation of pressing and fixing a first region of the sealing portion through the anvil and the horn; and a first region-primary sealing operation of applying an ultrasonic wave to the first region of the sealing portion through the horn at a set frequency and a set amplitude for a set time, thereby thermally fusing the first region of the sealing portion.

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.