Abstract: A method and apparatus for laying composite tape. The method may comprise driving a plurality of robots, each having a respective movement system across a movement surface, in which the movement surface faces a workpiece, and laying composite tape from the plurality of robots in a coordinated manner on the workpiece.

Abstract: An assembly for manufacturing a balloon envelope includes a table component and a sealing component. The table component may include a first platform, a second platform, a third platform, and a lateral opening between the first and second platforms. The first and second platforms can receive a first sheet of material that forms a first gore of the balloon envelope and a second sheet of material that forms a second gore of the balloon envelope. At least a portion of the first platform may move relative to the third platform so as to allow for the tendon and the portion of the second sheet attached to the tendon to move toward the third platform. The sealing component may be configured to bond the first sheet to the second sheet in order to join the first and the second gores of the balloon envelope.

Abstract: A labelling machine comprises a supply spool support for supporting a supply spool comprising label stock comprising a web and a plurality of labels attached to the web and which are separable from the web; a take-up spool support adapted to take up a portion of web; a first motive means configured to propel the web along a web path from the supply spool support towards the take up spool support, the first motive means comprising a first motor including a first stator and a first rotor; a labelling peel beak located along the web path and configured to peel the labels from label web as the label stock passes the labelling peel beak; and a printer for printing on the labels.

Abstract: Systems and methods for parcel one pass labeling and sorting for presort qualification. The system includes a conveyor on which parcel pieces are placed by an operator, where the conveyor ensures proper gap between parcel pieces and justifies the parcels to an edge of the conveyor in order to align the parcels with labelers which print and apply shipping documents and shipping labels. The labeled parcel pieces are then sorted according to the destination indicated and deposited into a sort bin. The system is configured to allow dynamic reassignment of the sort bins based on capacity and sort destinations processed. A single bin is used for depositing parcel pieces which do not need to be sorted by destination.

Abstract: The invention relates to a container handling machine (1) having at least one operative unit (18) comprising first support means (21) to support a base (12) of a filled and closed container (3), second support means (24) cooperating with an end (17) of the container (3) opposite the base (12), a plunger (31) selectively moved along its axis (E) to perform a deformation operation on the base (12) of the container (3) from a first swollen configuration to a second inwardly-retracted configuration, and actuator means (35) selectively activated to move the plunger (31) along its axis (E) between a first position, detached from the base (12) of the container (3), and a second position, in which the plunger (31) defines the second configuration of the base (12); the machine (1) further comprises a control unit (41) configured to selectively activate the actuator means (35) for moving the plunger (31) along its axis (E); the second support means (24) are maintained at a constant distance from the first support means

Abstract: A pressure welding device (1), especially a friction welding device, holds workpiece parts (2, 4) in clamping devices (6, 7) and axially moves the workpieces towards each other by means of a feed device (21). The pressure welding device (1) has a measuring device (8, 13), measuring in a contactless manner. The measuring device detects the surface condition and/or the concentricity and/or true running and/or the axial runout and/or radial runout in a front welding region (3, 5) of a workpiece part (2, 4).

Abstract: A machine for making absorbent sanitary articles, where each article includes components progressively positioned relative to each other and assembled along a production line. The machine includes a programmable electronic controller device having a shift register, at least one optical inspection system connected to the programmable electronic controller device, and an operator interface connected to the electronic controller. The programmable electronic controller device generates a machine sync signal, a trigger signal for activating the optical inspection system in phase with the sync signal and a shift register shift command. The optical inspection system receives the trigger signal and has a defined maximum response time which produces at least one band of uncertainty. The operator sets with the operator interface the instant of activating the shift register shift command outside the band of uncertainty and between two consecutive sync signals defining a machine step.

Abstract: A label applicator, system, and method for applying labels to curved sides of objects, such as cell culture dishes, is provided. In an aspect, the label applicator includes a body having a first side and a second side, the second side comprising a curved surface; a base; at least one first resilient member having a defined length between a first end and a second end; and at least one second resilient member engaging the body and the base, wherein the second end of the at least one first resilient member is configured to removably attach to a label and, when the label is in contact with the second end and an object, to apply a pressure to the label that increases as the at least one first resilient member and at least one second resilient member are compressed. The system may also include a label verifier and/or label verification system.

Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a front camera housing and a lens assembly and dispensing an adhesive bead in an uncured state at at least one of (i) an attaching portion of the lens assembly and (ii) the front camera housing. The attaching portion and the front housing member are mated together with the adhesive bead therebetween. With the attaching portion and front housing member mated together, lens optics of the lens assembly are aligned with respect to an imaging array of the front camera housing. After such alignment, the adhesive bead is cured to a first cure level via ultraviolet light exposure to join the lens assembly and the front housing member. The lens assembly and front camera housing so joined are moved to a further curing station, where the adhesive bead is further cured to a second cure level.

Abstract: 3-D printers include an intermediate transfer surface that transfers a layer of material to a platen each time the platen contacts the intermediate transfer surface to successively form a freestanding stack of layers of the material on the platen. A sensor detects the thickness of the layer on the platen after a fusing station fuses the layer. A feedback loop is electrically connected to the sensor and a development station (that includes a photoreceptor, a charging station providing a static charge to the photoreceptor, a laser device exposing the photoreceptor, and a development device supplying the material to the photoreceptor). The exposure device adjusts the intensity of light exposed on the photoreceptor, based on a layer thickness measurement from the sensor through the feedback loop, to control the thickness of subsequent ones of the layers transferred from the intermediate transfer surface to the freestanding stack on the platen.

Abstract: A kit for fusing piping includes a plurality of couplings, each coupling having a susceptor layer concentric with a weld zone. A control unit provides a current to a wand with a handle for gripping by a user. The handle has opposing jaws mounted on the distal end, each jaw including an arcuate conductor such that the arcuate conductors form a circular inner diameter when the jaws make contact. A lever system couples to the distal end for opening and closing the jaws. The lever system includes a spring for selectively biasing the lever system in a latched position with jaws closed and an open position with the jaws open. Each coupling is sized such that the jaws will only close about the weld zone. The arcuate conductors create a fuse zone about the susceptor layer and the spring is outside the fuse zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a labelling device (1), in particular price labelling device, for providing a product (2) with a label (3), with at least one scale (4) for weighing the product (2), with at least one handling system (5) for moving the product (2) and with at least one printer (6) comprising a label outlet (6.1) for printing and outputting labels (3). In order to reduce the complexity, the invention proposes that the handling system (5) can be moved from a product pickup position (I), in which the product (2) can be picked up by the handling system (5), to a first label acceptance position (II), which is located adjacent to the label outlet (6.1) of the printer (6) and in which a first label (3) can be transferred onto the product (2). Furthermore, the invention relates to a labelling system (11) with multiple such labelling devices (1) and to a method for providing a product (2) with a label (3).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for sensing distortions in patterns of reflected light to create profiles representing surface topographies of absorbent structures during the manufacture of absorbent articles. Inspection systems may include sensors arranged adjacent an advancing absorbent structure on a converting line. In turn, a controller may monitor and affect various operations on the converting line. The inspection systems herein may also include a radiation source that illuminates a surface of an absorbent structure with a predetermined pattern of light extending in the cross direction CD. The sensor senses distortions in patterns of light reflected from the illuminated surface of the absorbent structure and triangulates changes in elevation of the illuminated surface of the absorbent structure relative to the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a stack of adhesive plies for attaching a doubler to a surface on a structure includes a digital scanner, configured for scanning the surface and for producing a first set of digital data representing a contour of the surface, and a computer, coupled to the digital scanner, having a processor and system memory. The computer is programmed for mapping a gap between a bonding surface on the doubler and the surface on the structure using the first set of digital data and a second set of digital data representing the bonding surface, and for segmenting the mapped gap into layers corresponding to the adhesive plies.

Abstract: Provided is a preform member bonding method, in a RTM process, for bonding a preform member and another member (a preform member or a hardened member) together with an adhesive. The preform member bonding method includes: beforehand obtaining data on a range of a level of progress in hardening of the adhesive which allows the adhesive to penetrate the preform member, and data on a range of the level of progress in the hardening of the adhesive which decreases bonding strength of the adhesive; and controlling the level of progress in the hardening of the adhesive by heat-treating the adhesive based on these data, before the preform member comes into contact with the adhesive.

Abstract: A system for controlling adhesion between a touch panel (TP) and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The system includes a controlling module, an adhering roller, and a limiting device. The controlling module is configured to determine a first moving speed of the adhering roller and a second moving speed of the limiting device. The adhering roller is configured to roll along a first direction from a first side of the TP to a second side of the TP at the first moving speed. The limiting device is configured to move along a second direction at the second moving speed and prevent the TP from moving with respect to the LCD.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for removing pressure adhesive indicia, such as labels or stamps, from their backing and affixing the same to a target substrate is provided. The automated process affixes stamps, for example, to the target substrate with both speed and precision of placement. Desired stamps can be selectively removed from a backing, for example, can be placed on variable locations upon the target substrate, and can be affixed in the desired orientation with precise spacing between stamps. The precision of affixation afforded by this system is commensurate with philatelic standards and is suitable for all pressure adhesive indicia where rapid and precise placement is desired for aesthetic or other reasons.

Abstract: A method of controlling a process for the manufacture of a multicomponent sheet material having a desired pre-determined parameter comprising applying electromagnetic energy to interact with the sheet material whereby the interaction modifies the applied energy, detecting the modified energy, comparing the modified energy or data derived from it with data relating to the pre-determined parameter and modifying at least one step of the process whereby the data relating to the modified energy is modified towards the data relating to the pre-determined parameter.

Abstract: A method of wafer bonding includes bonding a wafer to a carrier in a bonding system. The method further includes measuring thickness profile of the bonded wafer. The method further includes modifying surface contours of at least one of an upper plate or a lower plate of the bonding system during a bonding operation to improve planarity of bonded wafers based on the measured thickness profile, wherein modifying the surface contours of at least one of the upper plate or the lower plate comprises modifying the surface contours using a plurality of height adjusters.

Abstract: Techniques for micro-optics alignment and assembly are described. By attaching a needle pin to an optical component to be assembled, the optical component can be placed and aligned within a limited space. After the aligned optical component is permanently bonded to a substrate or to another component, the needle pin is detached from the component. This technique allows a user to place and align a small optical component to a right position.