Abstract: A method for attaching a service device, such as a plastic handle, to a flexible container sidewall, and a container prepared by the method. The inside of the container is supported rigidly to effect a strong bond between the container and the handle.

Abstract: Bordered and custom fabricated rugs are formed by initially bonding carpet segments together along abutting edges, using a high temperature hot melt adhesive. Preferably a latex coated material is then bonded to the backing of the adjoined carpet segments using a second lower temperature hot melt adhesive. A reinforcing mesh layer is preferably bonded to and between a rug backing and the carpet backing. The apparatus used to bond the rug backing to the carpet backing includes two opposed endless belts, moving along parallel runs at the same speed, which capture the carpet sections and the backing between them and carry the assembly first through a heating section then through a cooling section as pressure is applied to force the carpet segments against the rug backing into engagement with the adhesive. The heating section melts the low temperature adhesive, which then flows under pressure, bonding the segments together.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for bonding at least two continuously moving substrate webs together is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a rotatable bonding roll which is located adjacent the substrate webs and configured to rotate about a bonding axis. A rotatable anvil roll has an anvil surface and is configured to rotate about an anvil axis to press the substrate webs against an outer peripheral bonding surface of the bonding roll thereby bonding the substrate webs together. The anvil roll is pivotally connected to a pivotal support mechanism which is configured to maintain the anvil surface in a substantially parallel relationship with the bonding surface. The pivotal support mechanism is configured to allow the anvil roll to pivot such that the anvil roll maintains a substantially constant force on the bonding surface of the bonding roll across the width of the anvil roll.

Abstract: An ultrasonic horn of a bonding apparatus quipped with a bonding tool attached to one end of the horn and a vibration-generating source such as an electrostrictive strain element, magnetostrictor, etc. attached to a bonding arm that supports the bonding horn. The ultrasonic horn is further provided with a vertical vibration adjuster which adjusts the vertical component of the vibration of the ultrasonic horn, and the vertical vibration adjuster includes a projection, recess, etc. provided at the end of the horn.

Abstract: A machine (34) for use in assembling a stringer (32) from two C-shaped charges (22), each channel charge being draped about a mandrel (20), is disclosed. The machine includes a framework (36) having a first platform (40) for supporting the mandrels and C-shaped charges such that the C-shaped charges are back to back. A U-shaped anvil (48), connected to the framework, is rotatable between an engaged position overlying the mandrels and the C-shaped charges, and a disengaged position away from the mandrels and C-shaped charges. The anvil (48) includes a side bladder (58) for compacting the C-shaped charges against one another by pressing the mandrels and C-shaped charges together and against a wall of the anvil opposite to the side bladder, and a top bladder (62) for aligning the mandrels and C-shaped charges by compressing the mandrels and C-shaped charges against the platform.

Abstract: An assembly for heat sealing thermoplastic film, having a first jaw (11) and (optionally) a second jaw (not shown), an electrical impulse heat sealing element (12) mounted on the first jaw (11), electrical terminals (17) connected to the element (12), and at least one electrically and thermally insulating film or tape (14) between the first jaw (11) and the heat sealing element (12). At least one of the jaws is capable of transverse motion and is adapted to collapse a tubular film made from the thermoplastic film and passing between the jaws. The improved heat sealing assembly has a first jaw (11) which has a thermally insulting material (16) embedded therein along a length about equal to the width of the flattened film and having a width at least as great as the width of the sealing element.

Abstract: A method of installing a thermoplastic fastener insert unit into a thermoplastic composite resin panel includes the steps of cutting a hole in the plastic resin panel of a diameter less than the annular flange of the fastener insert unit. The fastener insert unit is then rotated to frictionally generate heat between the annular flange and the plastic resin panel until sufficient heat has been generated to enable the welding of a fastener insert unit directly to the plastic resin panel. Additionally, the lower surface of the fastener insert unit can also be frictionally welded to an interior surface of the plastic resin panel.

Abstract: An automated continuous heat sealing apparatus and method are disclosed having dedicated operating stations for fabricating continuous hermetically sealed tubular structures and individual bags from rolls of continuous webs of polymer material, the first web including TYVEK.RTM., as breather bags adapted for gas and steam sterilization. The breather bags are customized to any length depending on the settings of the apparatus. A feeding station holding the rolls of continuous webs longitudinally feeds the continuous webs to a first operating station having a slitter for providing a continuous longitudinal strip of apertures in the second continuous web for cutting material from the slitted second continuous web, and for continuously heat sealing a first set of seams to join the first and second webs. A second operating station continuously heat seals a second set of seams to join the second and third continuous webs for forming a continuous tubular structure.

Abstract: In a method for producing a three-dimensional object by successive solidification of superposed layers of the object a deformation of the object caused by shrinkage during the solidification shall be reduced. To this end first of all respective partial regions (6a . . . 6k) of a layer are solidified and simultaneously connected with underlying partial regions of the previously solidified layer to form multilayered cells and thereafter adjacent partial regions of the same layer are interconnected by solidifying narrow connecting regions (8a . . . 8p). The intermediate regions (7) between the individual partial regions are solidified by post-curing.

Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus and method for forming individual pillowed chips of light lock material are provided. An ultrasonic horn and ultrasonic anvil are used to form pillows in a composite web of light lock material. The pillowed web material is then notched and cut to produce individual chips of light lock material. Each individual chip has one pillowed edge and one non-pillowed, notched edge. The pillowing and notching facilitate placement of the individual chips of light lock material into a film cartridge.

Abstract: A sheet sticker apparatus includes a pair of bases for supporting sheets, at least one of which has an adhesive thereon. One of the bases can be overlaid on the other. The apparatus also includes a positioning device for correctly positioning the sheets on the respective bases; an attraction device for at least one of the bases for attracting the sheet positioned by the positioning device; and an aligning device for aligning the bases relative to each other when the bases are overlaid with each other.

Abstract: A machine for the manufacture of chipboards or fibreboards comprises a pressure drum (1) and an endless steel belt (2) which wraps the pressure drum (1) around part of its periphery and forms there a compacting line (P) in which is for a sufficiently long time compacted and cured, by the action of pressure and temperature, material which is brought into it and which comprises lignocellulose or cellulose, is reduced to chips or fibres and is provided with an adhesive curable by heat. The compacting pressure and the heating are produced by extensive pressure shoes (10, 13, 14, 15) comprising a hydrostatic bearing pocket (11) supplied with hot pressurised oil. The pressure drum (1) is provided with a non-rotatable carrier (19) and a jacket (20) which is rotatable about it and is supported by supporting elements (21) supplied with hot pressurised oil, so that the jacket (20) is simultaneously heated and adjustable pressure forces without bearing loading are produced, while a uniform smooth gap is obtained.

Abstract: A method of attaching an adhesively backed carton address label by vigorous rubbing over the label surface with a curved-wire device that does not snag, causing frictional heat to supplement the adhesion of the label rear surface to the carton.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonically welding a transparent semi-rigid lid onto a molded cellulose egg tray employs a compound sonotrode which includes a holding block and a plurality of individual sonotrodes coupled to the holding block. Each of the individual sonotrodes has a respective welding surface gridded by an array of square-base pyramids. The adjoining pyramids have contiguous angled surfaces that form substantially a 90-degree angle therebetween for effectively welding plastic to cellulose. The welding surfaces preferably have an imprint outline that is rectangular or circular.

Abstract: A multi-faceted energy director (15) is provided for joining two plastic workpieces (12) (14) by an ultrasonic welding method. The energy directors (15) include at least first and second facets (16) (17) arranged in perpendicular fashion, so as to engage two surfaces. A method for joining at least two ultrathin plastic pieces, including the multifaceted energy director, is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is an ultrasonic cylinder arm machine which includes a combination of the use of ultrasonics with a cylindrical arm that extends out from the ultrasonic unit and back toward the horn of the ultrasonic unit whereby the machine is especially suited for the manufacture of tube shaped or cylindrical shaped articles such as trouser legs and long sleeved shirt sleeves.

Abstract: A flexible true color day-night graphic display particularly suited to providing high color quality graphics during both day and night on the sides of commercial vehicles includes an image-carrying translucent flexible substrate, a flexible electroluminescent lamp and a durable flexible optically transparent adhesive. The display is flexibly adhered to the sidewalls of cargo trailers or other support surfaces and supplied at night with electrical current to energize the light-emitting electroluminescent panel. The night visible graphics not only satisfy advertising demands for color fidelity without compromising daytime effectiveness, but also increase the overall visibility of the graphic-carrying vehicle to enhance highway safety.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a fin at a gabled end of a carton is disclosed. The apparatus includes a longitudinal force mechanism for applying a sealing force to a first pair of opposed flaps of the gabled end of the carton. The longitudinal force mechanism is movable from a first position in which the gabled end of the carton is in a generally open condition to a second position at which the fin of the gabled end is sealed. A transverse force mechanism applies oppositely directed transverse forces to a second pair of opposed flaps of the gabled end of the carton as the longitudinal force mechanism moves from the first position to the second position. The transverse force mechanism urges the second pair of opposed flaps toward one another during movement of the longitudinal force mechanism. The second pair of opposed flaps are thus urged inward toward one another as the longitudinal force mechanism moves to form and seal the fin thereby preventing "duckbilling".

Abstract: A new method of friction welding, particularly suitable for manufacturing BLISKS and BLUMS for gas turbine engine rotors, in which the disc or drum rotor is angularly reciprocated while the airfoil blades are pressed radially against the rotor circumference. A machine for carrying out the method has a workpiece holder and a counterbalancing member mounted for angular reciprocation and coupled together by torque transfer means to constitute a resonant system. In operation the machine is driven at or near its natural frequency of oscillation. The natural frequency can be tuned by adjusting the stiffness of the torque transfer means. The machine also includes a drive mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for cutting small pieces of fabric by means of an ultrasonic horn and a hollow open centered cutting anvil. The cutting operation includes a pick mechanism incorporating two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position before, during, and after the cutting operation. The pick head mechanism is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces, referred to as chips, in a subsequent assembly operation performed by the pick head.The assembly operation relates to attachment of small pieces of fabric by means of two miniature ultrasonic horns. The horns are combined with a pick and place mechanism which incorporates two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position during the manufacturing process. This pick and place head, when attached to a robotic arm, is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces repeatedly in a thermoplastic cartridge.