Abstract: An apparatus and method for setting the upstand height of the studs of an array of studs used to form antenna panels is disclosed. The apparatus includes a transducer beam having a row of spaced-apart distance transducers. The apparatus also includes an actuator beam having a row of spaced rotary actuators. The actuators rotate the threaded studs to raise or lower the studs until the corresponding transducer indicates that the stud has achieved an intended height. Also disclosed is a method using an array of laser diodes, rather than the transducer beam, arranged at one end of the base plate and an array of photo diodes at the opposite end. The output of the diodes indicates the height of the studs.

Abstract: An automated apparatus for applying sealant, for example to insulated glass, is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a computer control and a support structure on which is movably disposed a sealant applicator. The sealant applicator is selectively positionable along at least one axis via the computer control one or more sensors operate to provide the computer control with data regarding sealant application as the sealant is applied. The computer control is further operative to both determine the depth of sealant to be applied, and to effect positioning of the sealant applicator in response to data from the one or more sensors such that sealant applied does not exceed the determined depth.

Abstract: A method of making a composite comprises applying controlled heating to a bonding surface of a preformed substantially rigid thermoplastic substrate to cause the bonding surface to flow, without causing substantial heat soaking, melting, or other damage to a residue portion of the substrate, or a second component known as a bonding layer. The method further comprises causing pressurized contact at an interface between the bonding surface and the bonding layer, while the bonding surface is in a flow state. The invention further contemplates an apparatus for making a composite, comprising a heater capable of applying controlled heating to the bonding surface, and a bonding device in communication with the heater for creating pressurized contact at the interface between the bonding surface and the bonding layer, following controlled heating.

Abstract: A system and a method for marking a continuous substrate, such as a sheathed wire, are disclosed. An aqueous-based ink is deposited onto a continuous substrate passing through an ink deposition means. A gas, heated by a heater and directed by a blower across the continuous substrate, heats the deposited aqueous-based ink in an amount sufficient to cause a pigment of the aqueous-based ink to bond to the substrate, thereby marking the continuous substrate. In an alternate embodiment, a system for marking a continuous substrate includes an elongate housing which is disposed substantially vertically. A continuous substrate, onto which an aqueous-based ink has been deposited, is directed upwardly through the housing. Gas, which has been heated in a tube disposed within the housing, is directed across the continuous substrate, causing the pigment of the aqueous-based ink to bond to the continuous substrate and thereby mark the continuous substrate.

Abstract: An improved applicator die for alternately depositing different liquid coating materials on a moving web comprises a die body having switch bars for opening and closing respective flow passageways for supplying the different liquid coating materials to an elongated coating orifice from respective manifolds. The switch bars, flow passageways and manifolds are substantially as wide as and substantially parallel to the coating orifice of the die whereby changeover between different coating materials can be made very rapidly.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an electronic device having one or more contact pads is placed in contact with a carrier sheet bearing an array of transferable solder particles. Heat is applied to adhere the solder to the contact pads, and solder is selectively transferred onto the contact pads. In a preferred embodiment the solder-carrying medium comprises elastomeric material and the solder particles comprise solder-coated magnetic particles. Application of a magnetic field while the elastomer is curing produces a regular array of solder coated particles. Using this method, devices having smaller than conventional contact structures can be readily interconnected.

Abstract: A heat activation method for activating a thermosensitive adhesive label having a support and a thermosensitive adhesive layer which is formed on the support and is not adhesive at room temperature, so as to make the thermosensitive adhesive layer adhesive with the application of heat thereto, includes the step of bringing the thermosensitive adhesive layer into contact with a surface portion of a heating medium, at least the surface portion of the heating medium being made of a silicone resin and having a peel strength of 2 g/mm or less with respect to the thermosensitive adhesive layer. There is also disclosed a heat-activating apparatus for heat-activating the above-mentioned thermosensitive adhesive label.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for butt fusing lengths of plastic pipe in axial relationship. The assembly includes a cart having a chassis and wheels, the chassis having a longitudinal axis defined by the direction of movement of the cart in a straight line. A butt fusion machine having a frame, a first clamp and a second clamp thereon, is removably positioned on the cart. Each clamp is adapted to releasably secure the end portion of a length of thermoplastic pipe so that thereby the frame has a plane of orientation along which lengths of pipe extend when secured by the clamps.

Abstract: A label printer and applicator system which determines the height and position of moving objects on a conveyor while printing labels and positioning the labels for application on the moving objects. The printer/applicator includes a controllable label buffer, applicator actuator and label ejector to receive and apply the printed label, or eject the label when it has been determined that the application to the object cannot be made. Further embodiments include multiple applicators deployed along the conveyor to permit higher conveyor velocities and avoidance of unlabeled objects due to height/proximity relationships with adjacent packages.

Abstract: A moistening apparatus includes a moistening fluid supply means. A moistening means is connected to the moistening fluid supply means for applying the moistening fluid onto the glue line of an envelope flap or onto the glue area of a postage meter or parcel register tape. Excess moistening fluid collection means are positioned with respect to the moistening means such that excess moistening fluid collects in the excess moistening fluid collection means. The collected excess moistening fluid from the excess moistening fluid collection means is moved to the moistening fluid supply means. This recirculates excess moistening fluid back to the moistening fluid supply means.

Abstract: An automated film slide orienting and mounting system includes at least one detector for detecting the orientation of film, a knife assembly for successively cutting the film to generate film segments, a rotatable table for orienting the film segments into a proper orientation, a set of driver assemblies for progressively moving each film segment for insertion into a slide mount, and a magnetic writing device for writing the orientation of the film segment magnetically onto the slide mount in a region of magnetic material disposed upon each slide mount.

Abstract: In a lead frame taping apparatus and a method thereof, a plurality of punching portions are provided and each punching portion concurrently attaches a tape to at least two lead frames. Also, the tape can be continuously attached to the different kinds of a lead frame without the exchange of molds by differing the operation time of each punching portion. Further, a taping detecting sensor is provided to detect the attachment of the tape at the lead frame. Therefore, productivity is increased while saving labor and inferior products can be accurately detected.

Abstract: An application method of adhesive for applying an adhesive by an application nozzle on an application object. Each application object is positioned in a direction intersecting the conveying direction by the move of each table, and the individual application heads corresponding to the tables are individually moved and positioned in the conveying direction, and the adhesive is applied simultaneously to necessary positions of the application objects by the application heads, so that the production efficiency of electronic circuit boards is enhanced in various aspects without increasing the size of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and a machine for marking an electric cable that comprises a conductive core, an insulating coating, and a varnish comprising an outer layer and an inner layer of contrasting colors, with the marking being performed by ablating the outer layer of said varnish with a laser, the outer layer of varnish being based on polytetrafluoroethylene and being 10 .mu.m to 20 .mu.m thick. According to the invention the machine comprises:a pulsed CO.sub.2 laser (2) whose power is adjusted to obtain an energy density lying in the range 8 J/cm.sup.2 to 15 J/cm.sup.2 at the outer layer of the cable varnish;drive means (9) for driving the cable (4) so as to cause it to run past the laser beam (5);guide means (13, 14, 15) for guiding the cable (4) in the vicinity of the point of impact of said beam (5) on the cable; andcomputerized control means (6).

Abstract: According to a method of manufacturing a multilayer capacitor, the accuracy of the capacitance of the capacitor is improved. After internal electrodes 2 are printed on ceramic green sheets 1, the area of the internal electrodes on all of the ceramic green sheets is measured on a block-by-block basis. The number of the green sheets having main patterns provided thereon to be stacked to obtain a set capacitance for the capacitor is obtained from the area of the electrodes. A predetermined number of sheets are stacked to create a block. Thus, the accuracy of the capacitance of the multilayer capacitors is improved.

Abstract: A device for conveying a wafer ring between a wafer ring container and a pellet pick-up device. The wafer ring having a wafer sheet with semiconductor pellets adhered on it is held at its one end by a pair of claws that is equipped with a sensor for detecting the wafer ring held by the claws. After determining the presence of the wafer ring held by the pair of claws, the claws carry the wafer ring onto the pellet pick-up device and then carries the wafer ring back to the wafer ring container. The sensor can be installed on either one of the pair of the claws.

Abstract: A sealing machine and method are described as used for sealing the edges of documents so that envelopes are not needed. In known such machines, particularly when used for sealing the documents by pressure, problems arise if documents overlap either partially or fully (i.e. a double document) because the pressure rollers in the machine easily jam. The documents being sealed may be very valuable (e.g. pay slips) and any loss or damage is a serious problem. The invention therefore provides means for sensing the presence of double or overlapping documents in a feed path of the machine and means for diverting such double or overlapping documents upstream of the sealing means. Both the thickness and the length of the documents are measured and compared to preset values, such as may be stored in a microprocessor either from ideal figures or from measurements taken during a controlled start-up procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are shown and described for labeling bottles in a stream. An input conveyor is provided for supplying bottles to a presenting station. Bottles are restrained at the presenting station until the appropriate time by an entrance gate. Bottles are conveyed from the presenting station to a work station by an advancing conveyor. Bottles entering the work station drive the predecessor bottle out of the work station to a slowing conveyor. Slowed bottles are abutted by subsequent relatively faster moving bottles to be labeled. Abutment with a slowed labeled bottle serves to register each bottle to be labeled at the labeling station.

Abstract: A composite abrasive material is formed by coating a mesh-type material substrate with an adhesive, contacting the substrate with a quantity of hard, abrasive particles, then removing all particles not held by the adhesive within the openings of the mesh-type material. The particles are surrounded with a sinterable matrix material while the particles are temporarily held by the adhesive. The substrate can have the adhesive applied in a pattern, or covering uniformly to cause the particles to adhere in certain areas to achieve a desired pattern. While the particles are held on the substrate, physical force can be applied to orient the particles uniformly; then, a powder can be applied, or the substrate can be applied to a preform. Subsequent treatment with heat and pressure will complete the composite abrasive material.

Abstract: Polyolefin pipes are welded end-to-end by a self-propelled, self-contained machine which performs all steps necessary to the process without need for any other machines or equipment. Hydraulically driven parallel tracks are independently controlled for maximum maneuverability. An hydraulically driven, computer controlled, reversible jaw assembly reciprocates the new pipe section relative to the exiting pipe line. A facer for trimming and squaring the pipe ends to be joined and a heater for melting the pipe ends for fusing are umbilically connected to the machine for on-board or remote operation. The computer, also on an umbilical, enables the operator to operate the machine in a normal mode in which the operator manually controls the facing, soaking and fusing processes or an automatic mode in which the fusing process is automatically controlled by the computer.