Abstract: A stitchless seam comprises a first portion of material folded upon itself proximate an edge to define an overfolded end portion having overlapping edge and nonedge portions and a second portion of material positioned adjacent the overfolded end portion. A first portion of adhesive is interposed between the overlapping edge and nonedge portions and a second portion of adhesive is interposed between the second portion of material and the edge portion of the overfolded end portion. Energy may be applied, via an ultrasonic seam bonding machine or other means, to activate the adhesive portions. The seams may be used for items made of waterproof breathable laminate fabric material, such as garments and sports articles.

Abstract: A method of forming a stitchless, adhesively bonded seam involves placing a first strip of adhesive between the outside surface of first and second sheets of material along an edge of the second sheet. At least a portion of a second strip of adhesive is positioned against a first portion of the inside surface of the second sheet along the edge thereof. The second sheet of material is folded such that a second portion of the inside surface overlies the second strip of adhesive. In some embodiments the first and second strips of adhesive are replaced by a single longitudinally folded strip of adhesive. Energy may be applied, via an ultrasonic seam bonding machine or other means, to activate the adhesive. Seams made according to the disclosed methods may be used for garments, sports articles, and other items made of fabric or other sheet material.

Abstract: This invention provides a manufacturing method of printed wiring board which enables a plate-like substrate to be carried and processed without any contact to its product surface. End portions of plate-like copper clad laminates are overlapped vertically and then joined linearly by rotating an ultrasonic horn along the end portions. Consequently, copper foils can be metal-joined and a joining strength necessary for transportation with a roller is obtained. Because belt-like copper clad laminate is obtained by joining the plate-like copper clad laminates and after that, processed, thus, the belt-like copper clad laminate can be carried without any contact to its product surface as it is carried with the roller, and then processed.

Abstract: A method for assembling at least two rigid thermoplastic material based parts. The two parts are superposed to have at least one interface zone, wherein at least one of the two parts includes one or plural energy directors, protruding, situated in the interface zone. At least one excited ultrasonic source is brought into contact with one of the two parts, the ultrasonic source applying a compression effort to the two parts in a region of the interface zone located opposite the ultrasonic source. The ultrasonic source is continuously displaced at the interface zone to form a continuous welded joint by fusion of the thermoplastic material in the region positioned opposite the ultrasonic source. Such a method may find particular application for assembly of stratified parts.

Abstract: Post treatment of an ultrasonically welded seamed flexible imaging member belt includes providing a flexible belt having an outer surface, an inner surface, parallel edges and a welded seam extending from one parallel edge to the other parallel edge, the belt seam including a seam region comprising an overlap of two oppositely miter cut edges, and two adjacent splashing formed around the seam; contacting the seam with abrasive and a super finishing tool; and super finishing the seam to remove at least the splashing on the outer surface of the belt.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of wrapping products in films, including the steps of: positioning the products on a first sheet of film which is continuously advanced in one transport direction; covering the products with a second sheet of film, which is continuously advanced in the transport direction and which is aligned plane-parallel to the first sheet of film; ultrasonically welding the first and second films on the outer edges of the products in each case and ultrasonically separating the overlapping films at selected positions; separating the wrapped products or groups of wrapped products.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and cutting lengths of tape and advancing the lengths to a vacuum wheel applicator, the feed section of the apparatus comprising a feed roll, an anvil vacuum roll, and a rotary knife adjacent to the anvil vacuum roll, and means for adjusting the speed of the feed roll and the speed of the anvil vacuum roll to vary the length of the tape advanced to the applicator, and a tape roll splicing assembly to provide a continuous supply of tape to the apparatus.

Abstract: A suction-side transmission or engine filter includes a filter bag assembly having an outlet portion and a media bag enclosing an inner support structure, the filter bag assembly is contained at least partially within a housing having an outlet port. The outlet portion and outlet port are aligned and sealed together creating an outside-in fluid flow scheme.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filter comprises the steps of assembling multiple layers of filtration material on top of one another to form an assembly; holding the assembly between an ultrasonic weld horn and a weld nest so that the assembly has a marginal area outside of an edge formed on either the nest or the weld horn; and operating the weld horn so as to cause the marginal area to be cut off from the assembly at the edge and to simultaneously seal together the layers of filtration material of the remaining assembly at the edge. A filter made by the process and an apparatus used to practice the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a stitchless, adhesively bonded seam for a garment includes positioning an outside surface of a first sheet of fabric adjacent to an outside surface of a second sheet of fabric, and positioning a first strip of adhesive tape between the first and second sheets of fabric. A second strip of adhesive tape is positioned such that a first side is adjacent to a first portion of an inside surface of the second sheet of fabric, and the second sheet of fabric is folded such that a second portion of the inside surface of the second sheet of fabric overlaps a second side of the second strip of adhesive tape. The adhesively bonded seam is formed by applying energy to the first and second sheets of fabric and to the first and second strips of adhesive tape.

Abstract: Two pieces of weatherstripping are spliced together by cutting a defined amount of a sealing element from a first piece of weatherstripping leaving an exposed backing, then overlapping a second piece of weatherstripping over the exposed portion of backing of the first piece of weatherstripping, and then ultrasonically welding the backing of the first piece of weatherstripping to the backing of the second piece of weatherstripping.

Abstract: There is provided a process for producing a seamed, flexible electrostatographic imaging member belt comprising providing a flexible, substantially rectangular, electrostatographic imaging sheet having a first major exterior surface opposite and parallel to a second major exterior surface and a first marginal end region of said sheet opposite and parallel with a second marginal end region; shaping said first marginal end region at an angle to form a first new sloping surface between the first major exterior surface and the second major exterior surface; shaping said second marginal end region at an angle to form a second new sloping surface between the first major exterior surface and the second major exterior surface, wherein the second new sloping surface is substantially parallel with the first new sloping surface; forming the sheet into a loop and overlapping said first new sloping surface with said second new sloping surface to form a mated region; and, joining said first new sloping surface to said seco

Abstract: Food packaging articles are manufactured by providing top and bottom sheets of flexible material and securing selected areas of the sheets along sealing edges to define a plurality of triangular-shaped pouches, with each pouch corresponding to an individual food packaging article. The sealing edges preferably are secured by fusion or adhesion welding. In an illustrative embodiment, the sealing edges are secured by ultrasonic welding using a pair of weld heads that are positioned to weld lines at different angles from one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for splicing a strip of material packaged in stacks arranged parallel to each other. The method comprises a step of reversely rotating the bottom end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion and/or reversely rotating the top end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion until the longitudinal tangential vector of the bottom end portion forms an angle of 90 and 270 degrees with the longitudinal tangential vector of the top end portion.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method is described for ultrasonically splicing together overlapping ends of first and second lengths of photographic film strips of common film strip width with a film splicer employing a stationary elongated ultrasonic horn positioned on one side of the overlapping film strip ends in the width direction and a relatively movable anvil positioned on the opposite side of the overlapping film strip ends which traverses across the overlapping film ends by sliding or rolling in the length direction of the horn while the horn is ultrasonically vibrated and which provides pressure to the overlapping film ends while traversing across the overlapping film ends such that ultrasonic energy from the horn is transferred to the overlapping film ends effecting an ultrasonic weld between such film ends, wherein one of the first and second lengths of photographic film strips comprises an acetate based film strip and the other of the first and second lengths of photographi

Abstract: The present invention includes a method for producing individual folded labels having an additional layer of material attached thereto. A ribbon of labels is provided along with an additional strip of material. Pieces of information, such as text or a machine readable-code are applied to the strip of material. The ribbon of labels and material strip with printed information thereon are joined together and then subdivided into individual folded labels. A label-making apparatus includes a mechanism for advancing the ribbon of labels and strip of material and a print head that prints the information on the strip of material at spaced intervals. A mechanism joins the ribbon of labels with the material strip. A cutting station subdivides an individual label from the ribbon of labels and material strip. A sensor in communication with the advance mechanism controls the advance of a length of the ribbon of labels and material.

Abstract: After the fixing of an angle indexing body to a holder by fixtures is canceled by loosening the fixtures, a resonator is turned by operating the angle indexing body with an axis in a vibration transmission direction as the center of rotation, a bonding work face is replaced by another bonding work face, and the angle indexing body is fixed to the holder by the fixtures so that the new bonding work face becomes parallel to the top face of a mounting table. Therefore, the replacement of the bonding work face can be simplified. Since overlapped workpieces are sandwiched between the bonding work face of the resonator and the mounting table, the mounting table makes a follow-up movement by a bearing composed of a spherical projection portion and a spherical depression portion to ensure that the bonding work face becomes parallel to the top face of the mounting table, thereby making it possible to optimize the position of the sandwiched workpieces.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the connection of pieces of textile fabric, a textile band and a method for producing same. In order to provide a textile band or continuous textile product which is suitable for continuous processing, it is proposed that, for the connection of pieces of textile fabric, a cut edge, at which the threads are essentially bound at the edge, is first formed. The textile pieces are then laid one on the other with an overlap, and are pressed one onto the other between a sonotrode and an anvil, where the anvil and/or the sonotrode have a surface profile with a number of elevations, The textile pieces are connected to each other by introducing an ultrasonic oscillation into the sonotrode, thus welding the textile pieces to one another ultrasonically.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for splicing a strip of material packaged in stacks arranged parallel to each other. The method comprises a step of reversely rotating the bottom end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion and/or reversely rotating the top end portion around the transverse edge of the bottom end portion until the longitudinal tangential vector of the bottom end portion forms an angle of 90 and 270 degrees with the longitudinal tangential vector of the top end portion.

Abstract: A flexible imaging member seam treatment method comprising bonding a thermoplastic polymer film to the seam of the flexible imaging member after placing the film on the seam. The film is bonded by heating the film above a glass transition temperature of at least one of a thermoplastic polymer from which the film is made and a polymer from which an imaging layer of the flexible imaging member is made. The film can be formed on a flexible, removable substrate. Treatment according to embodiments significantly improves seam region physical properties, greatly reducing cracking and delamination resulting from bending stresses induced by traversal of rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for welding materials has a flat anvil (12) having a width of at least two inches and a length of at least eighteen inches. A welding apparatus (14) having at least one welding head (22) is mounted on a rail (16) which is parallel to said anvil (12). The apparatus (10) may be mobile. In an illustrated embodiment, welding apparatus (14) is an ultrasonic welding unit, and apparatus (10) is used to weld thermoset materials. As illustrated, the method is used to weld thermoset plastic monofilament fabric (34) to provide a continuous method of treating the monofilament fabric (34).

Abstract: A flexible imaging member seam treatment method comprising bonding a thermoplastic polymer film to the seam of the flexible imaging member after placing the film on the seam. The film is bonded by heating the film above a glass transition temperature of at least one of a thermoplastic polymer from which the film is made and a polymer from which an imaging layer of the flexible imaging member is made. The film can be formed on a flexible, removable substrate. Treatment according to embodiments significantly improves seam region physical properties, greatly reducing cracking and delamination resulting from bending stresses induced by traversal of rollers.

Abstract: There is provided a leader tape which is capable of preventing breakage of a tape body when the tape body is pulled out, and a tape cartridge incorporating the leader tape. A leader tape includes a tape body having one end fixed to a tape, for enabling the tape to be pulled out of a cartridge body, and a pin attached to the tape body, for pulling out the tape therewith. The tape body has a portion on a side of another end opposite to the one end, the portion being folded such that the folded portion surrounds the periphery of the pin and that the folded portion has a leading end portion thereof welded to a tape surface of the tape body opposed to the folded portion. The welding is effected non-densely in at least one of a pin-side boundary portion of a welded area where the leading end portion and the tape surface opposed thereto are welded to each other and a one end-side boundary portion of the welded area.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the connection of pieces of textile fabric, a textile band and a method for producing same. In order to provide a textile band or continuous textile product which is suitable for continuous processing, it is proposed that, for the connection of pieces of textile fabric, a cut edge, at which the threads are essentially bound at the edge, is first formed. The textile pieces are then laid one on the other with an overlap, and are pressed one onto the other between a sonotrode and an anvil, where the anvil and/or the sonotrode have a surface profile with a number of elevations, The textile pieces are connected to each other by introducing an ultrasonic oscillation into the sonotrode, thus welding the textile pieces to one another ultrasonically.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a filter comprises the steps of assembling multiple layers of filtration material on top of one another to form an assembly; holding the assembly between an ultrasonic weld horn and a weld nest so that the assembly has a marginal area outside of an edge formed on either the nest or the weld horn; and operating the weld horn so as to cause the marginal area to be cut off from the assembly at the edge and to simultaneously seal together the layers of filtration material of the remaining assembly at the edge. A filter made by the process and an apparatus used to practice the process are also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to make a laminate, a knitted terry-cloth elastic base fabric 42 is used, the fabric 42 having an elastic base made of synthetic yarn and a cotton pile. A film 28 of polyurethane resin is deposited on an anti-stick support web 16 and is set, and a layer 4 of polyurethane resin having adhesive properties is deposited on the film 28. The base fabric 42 is applied to the adhesive layer 40 whilst the latter is still liquid, after which the layer 40 is set. Finally, the film 28 is detached from the support web 16. The layers of polyurethane resin are impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor. Pieces of the laminate can be joined together by welding the respective film and adhesive to form a water tight join.

Abstract: An apparatus (21, 221, 231) for forming a butt seam (33, 233, 354) between opposed edges (32, 33, 231, 232) of resiliently compressible, fully cured, elastomeric, fabric sheets (28, 29, 228, 229, 351, 352), such as foamed neoprene for wet suits and dry suits. In some embodiments (21, 221) the apparatus includes fabric manipulating assembly (23, 223) which continuously compresses the sheets proximate and inwardly of the edges, preferably by a roller assembly (26, 27, 226, 227), to firmly press the opposed edges of the flexible and compressible sheets (28, 29, 228, 229) tightly together during movement and bonding along the seam (33, 233). The apparatus (21, 221, 331) preferably includes adhesive activation device in the form of an ultrasonic transducer (24, 222, 322) which contacts the neoprene pieces to activate a dry neoprene cement carried on the edges of the fabric pieces.

Abstract: A strong, leak-proof seal includes a number of intermittent ultrasonic bonds spaced closely together. At least two layers of material, such as nonwoven webs laminated to a liquid-impermeable film, can be held together by these bond points. The bond points can be arranged in a pattern, such that material that is displaced during the bonding process blocks the passage of any fluid between the bond points.

Abstract: A method of making a fabric Venetian blind comprises helical winding of a narrow, elongated strip, which, when properly overlapped and bonded along longitudinal glue lines, will form the vanes and front and rear facings of the blind. The strips may be formed of a single, uniform material, or of adjacent, longitudinally extending portions of relatively opaque and relatively translucent fabric. An alternative embodiment uses the same winding technique to similarly form a structure of only translucent fabric, but with pockets for subsequent insertion of opaque vanes. Several alternative strip configurations and assembly arrangements are disclosed. The disclosed method and structure may also be used to form products for other applications.

Abstract: A welded seam of an imaging belt comprises a surface roughness. To reduce the surface roughness, the welded seam is treated by compressing a portion of the belt comprising the welded seam and adjacent belt portions and, while compressing, heating the welded seam to a heating temperature near but less than the glass transition temperature of the imaging layer of the belt, then cooling the welded seam to a cooling temperature. The compressing continues while the heating and cooling steps are repeated until the surface roughness is determined to be satisfactory. The process then ceases.

Abstract: A method of making a fabric Venetian blind comprises helical winding of a narrow, elongated strip, which, when properly overlapped and bonded along longitudinal glue lines, will form the vanes and front and rear facings of the blind. The strips may be formed of a single, uniform material, or of adjacent, longitudinally extending portions of relatively opaque and relatively translucent fabric. An alternative embodiment uses the same winding technique to similarly form a structure of only translucent fabric, but with pockets for subsequent insertion of opaque vanes. Several alternative strip configurations and assembly arrangements are disclosed. The disclosed method and structure may also be used to form products for other applications.

Abstract: A method of making a fabric Venetian blind comprises helical winding of a narrow, elongated strip, which, when properly overlapped and bonded along longitudinal glue lines, will form the vanes and front and rear facings of the blind. The strips may be formed of a single, uniform material, or of adjacent, longitudinally extending portions of relatively opaque and relatively translucent fabric. An alternative embodiment uses the same winding technique to similarly form a structure of only translucent fabric, but with pockets for subsequent insertion of opaque vanes. Several alternative strip configurations and assembly arrangements are disclosed. The disclosed method and structure may also be used to form products for other applications.

Abstract: A method of making a fabric Venetian blind comprises helical winding of a narrow, elongated strip, which, when properly overlapped and bonded along longitudinal glue lines, will form the vanes and front and rear facings of the blind. The strips may be formed of a single, uniform material, or of adjacent, longitudinally extending portions of relatively opaque and relatively translucent fabric. An alternative embodiment uses the same winding technique to similarly form a structure of only translucent fabric, but with pockets for subsequent insertion of opaque vanes. Several alternative strip configurations and assembly arrangements are disclosed. The disclosed method and structure may also be used to form products for other applications.

Abstract: Multiple-seam electrostatographic imaging member belts include two or more imaging member portions joined together by two or more seams. The belts can be formed from imaging member web that either includes or does not include an anti-curl backing layer, and that includes a charge transport layer that is substantially stress free.

Abstract: In an apparatus for machining a material web by means of a sonotrode, the pressure force of the sonotrode is determined and is used as a control signal for the advance of the sonotrode, as a result of which the nip height is set.

Abstract: A welded seam of an imaging belt comprises a surface roughness. To reduce the surface roughness, the welded seam is treated by compressing a portion of the belt comprising the welded seam and adjacent belt portions and, while compressing, heating the welded seam to a heating temperature near but less than the glass transition temperature of the imaging layer of the belt, then cooling the welded seam to a cooling temperature. The compressing continues while the heating and cooling steps are repeated until the surface roughness is determined to be satisfactory. The process then ceases.