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.

In a fastening method and fastening apparatus, workpieces are fastened using a fastener made of a thermoplastic polymer comprising carbon fibers. The method and apparatus involve induction heating of the carbon fibers to soften the thermoplastic polymer and then plastically deforming axial ends of the fastener using a die or dies to form first and second heads while a shaft body or a shaft part of the thermoplastic polymer comprising the carbon fibers is inserted through respective through holes formed in the workpieces.

A method for optimizing a welding process to produce a weld joint having a predetermined strength includes measuring a plurality of melt layer thicknesses of weld joints for a plurality of sample assemblies formed by the welding process, measuring a plurality failure loads of weld joints for the plurality of sample assemblies, each of the measured plurality of failures loads being associated with one of the measured plurality of melt layer thicknesses, selecting a first failure load from the plurality of measured failure loads responsive to determining that the first failure load corresponds to a predetermined weld strength, and selecting a first melt layer thickness from the plurality of measured melt layer thicknesses that is associated with the selected first measured failure load.

A heat seal device for use in a bag making apparatus includes: a first heat seal member; a second heat seal member facing the first heat seal member; a heater for heating at least one of the first heat seal member or the second heat seal member; a drive mechanism configured to move the first heat seal member towards and away from the second heat seal member so as to releasably sandwich a web between the first and second heat seal members; a sensor disposed to detect acceleration of the first heat seal member; and a measurement part configured to measure a sandwiching time during which the web is sandwiched by the first and second heat seal members based on data from the sensor.

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.

A welding method for welding a first component to a second component using a welding device including an upper tool mounted to an upper support for receiving the first component, a lower tool mounted to a lower support for receiving the second component as well as a preheating arrangement for preheating the first and/or the second component and a controller. A welding device in accordance with the welding method is further provided.

Applied power as a function of time is ramped up at the onset of an RF welding process in a manner that is predetermined to match source and load impedance as reflected by maximized forward power during at least the majority of the welding process. The ramp-up portion takes the form of a non-linear curve, such as an S-shaped curve, as opposed to one or more discrete steps. The applied power may then be maintained at or near that maximum required value at least a majority of the remainder of the heating portion of the welding process. The shape of the non-linear ramp-up portion of the applied power curve may be predetermined using, for example, virtual motor control using applied power as a virtual axis.

A fastening apparatus includes a fastening device (1, 3) that heats in a non-contacting state, and then applies pressure to, a shaft part (11b) or shaft body (111) while it is inserted through the through holes (W10, W20) of workpieces (W1, W2), thereby forming at least a second head part (11c) of a fastener (11). The fastening device (1, 3) includes: a fastening die (15) that forms the second head part (11c); and a shaft-part pressure-applying device (9) that applies the pressure to the fastening die (15). A determining device (5) determines whether the fastener (11) is defective or not by calculating a load curve defined by the time and the load during which the pressure was applied and then determining whether an amount of change per unit of time in the load curve after a reference load has been exceeded is within a range of a predetermined reference value.

An apparatus comprising a packaging machine, which comprises a control unit having a process parameter generator designed to determine specific process parameters for a production process of the packaging machine. The control unit of the packaging machine also comprises a recipe generator for an adjustment process of the packaging machine preceding the production process or can be connected to a recipe generator of the apparatus, which generator is designed as a separate unit. The respective recipe generator comprises a set of rules for determining recipe variables for the adjustment process of the packaging machine and is designed to generate the recipe variables with reference to a plurality of data and to form therefrom a recipe data set for the adjustment process of the packaging machine. A method for using the apparatus is also included.

A polar functional group is added onto a surface of a metallic member. A resin member contains an adhesive functional group. The adhesive functional group and the polar functional group attract each other. A method for joining the metallic member and the resin member to each other includes: heating a junction between the metallic member and the resin member while pressing the metallic member and the resin member against each other with a first load; maintaining temperature of the junction higher than melting temperature of a resin that structures the resin member while pressing the metallic member and the resin member with each other with a second load smaller than the first load; and cooling the junction to temperature lower than the melting temperature while pressing the metallic member and the resin member against each other with a third load larger than the second load.