Abstract: A system for ultrasonic or vibration welding, staking, swaging, forming or degating of a thermoplastic workpiece includes a vibratable horn having a face, a thermoplastic workpiece, and a vibratable tool positioned between the vibratable horn and the thermoplastic workpiece. The system is configured to energize the vibratable horn to transfer energy from the vibratable horn through the vibratable tool to the thermoplastic workpiece to induce welding, staking, swaging, forming or degating of the thermoplastic workpiece. Optionally, the upper and/or lower surfaces of the vibratable tool may have three-dimensional contour(s) that are complementary to three-dimensional contour(s) of the vibratable horn and/or the thermoplastic workpiece. Additional systems and methods for ultrasonic or vibration welding, staking, swaging, forming or degating of a thermoplastic workpiece are also disclosed.

Abstract: A food-cutting machine for slicing, grating or shredding foodstuffs such as fruits, vegetables, meats or cheeses. The device is designed particularly for home kitchen use and features a hollow body or housing, the interior of which is adapted to storage of a set of stacked or nested cutters having blades for producing different cuts in various food items. The housing latches to a suction base by means of a cam lock operated by a lever which also operates the suction disc of the base. When the housing is latched to the base, the base is simultaneously fastened to an appropriate work surface by the suction of the disc. When the lever is raised to unlatch the housing, the suction is released so that the device may be moved to another location.