Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a single face corrugated web in which a steam cloud is injected between the corrugated medium web and the liner web directly at the line along which the webs converge. This type of steam injection allows faster corrugator speeds without sacrificing bonding quality. An adhesive slurry of water and starch granules is applied to the flute tips to form glue lines on the corrugated web prior to the convergence of the webs. The injected steam cloud directed at the web convergence line adds heat without promoting premature dehydration to facilitate proper conditions for effective cooking of the adhesive slurry to thoroughly gelatinize the adhesive. In some applications, dry steam is preferred because dry steam does not significantly interfere with subsequent dehydration of the adhesive gel during the formation of the initial green bond.

Abstract: An apparatus for preconditioning a medium web on a corragator before fluting the medium web during the manufacturing process of corrugated paperboard uses steam flows and pressures to press the medium web against a hot plate assembly. A plurality of elongated steam showers are located within a steam chamber secured to the preconditioning apparatus. The steam chamber wall structure includes a sealed web inlet and sealed web outlet for the medium web. The velocity and pressure (e.g., average steam pressure within steam chamber approximately 0.1 to 0.3 psi) of steam injected into the steam chamber holds the medium web against hot plates to promote heat transfer from the hot plates to the medium web. In addition, the medium web is heated directly by the latent heat of steam condensation, and also moistened directly by the condensation of the steam. A vacuum may or may not be used to increase the pressure of the medium web against the hot plates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for constructing block-shaped units of corrugated sheet material that are easily banded because of the absence of any irregularities in the units, and the units are as close to being cube-shaped as is possible for a given set of parameters. The automated stacking system comprises a computer programmed to determine a set of solutions to optimize a unit by determining an optimal number of corrugated sheets per bundle, and an optimal number of bundles per tier, and an optimal number of tiers per unit based upon customer order parameters. The system is initially set up with machine parameters defining machine constraints and a set of algorithm parameters which comprise desirability weighting factors. The desirability weighting factors allow a customer to customize the system according to preferred operating criteria.

Abstract: A trunked communication system wherein some of the communication resources are preassigned for exclusive use only by a predetermined group, such as a public safety agency. In addition, to assure optimal assignment of communication resources, communication resource assignments are made pursuant to a methodology that minimizes usurpation of unused resource capabilities.

Abstract: A trunked communication system having a control resource that encrypts system control messages. In one embodiment, the encryption includes controlling a bit interleaving process (208, 311) as a function of an encryption key (203, 321). In another embodiment, the encryption process includes reordering (202, 302) the information bits that constitute the message itself. If both encryption processes are used, the controlling encryption key can either be the same for both processes, or different.

Abstract: A trunked communication system wherein some of the communication resources are preassigned for exclusive use only by a predetermined group, such as a public safety agency. In addition, to assure optimal assignment of communication resources, communication resource assignments are made pursuant to a methodology that minimizes usurpation of unused resource capabilities.