Abstract: A method for forming a composite elastic material. A thermoplastic film is extruded from an extruder. The thermoplastic film is fed while still in a molten condition onto a rotating forming structure exhibiting a multiplicity of apertures therein. A pneumatic vacuum is applied to the thermoplastic film to produce apertures in the thermoplastic film. An elastic member having at least one elastic strand is placed against a surface of the thermoplastic film while the thermoplastic film is still in a molten condition.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite elastic material. An elastic member having at least one elastic strand is fed onto a rotating forming structure exhibiting a multiplicity of apertures therein. The elastic member has a surface facing the forming structure and another surface facing away from the forming structure. A thermoplastic film is extruded onto the surface of the elastic member facing away from the forming structure. A pneumatic vacuum is applied to the thermoplastic film and the elastic member so that the thermoplastic film is simultaneously apertured and bonded to the elastic member thereby forming a breathable composite elastic material.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing a product, such as a disposable absorbent garment, from flexible material having elasticized portions tending to contract the product as it moves along a path. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced apart engaging members which grip opposed edge and end margins of the product and a conveyor on which the engaging members are mounted to carry the engaging member and products stretched therebetween along a production path. At various stations along the production path apparatus is provided for retarding forward movement of one of the sets of engaging members to fold a leading edge portion thereof back into a position overlying a trailing end portion thereof, joining, or sealing, apparatus for sealing side edge margins together, and severing mechanism for severing the article from the engaging members.

Abstract: A method for making a disposable garment with de-elasticed elastic members in the crotch area of the garment is disclosed using means for de-elasticing the elastic members such as macerators, chemicals, selective laser beams, heat, and freezing.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the production of a three-dimensional textile (3), wherein the textile (3) is formed from two sheets of textile (5, 6) placed face to face and connected together by a plurality of threads (10), impregnated with resin and inserted between two layers (16, 17) so as to form a layered structure (1). This layered structure (1) is inserted between two dies (25, 26) of a heated press which is subsequently closed to allow the resin impregnating the structure to distribute itself uniformly. The layers (16, 17) are then attached by vacuum to the faces of the dies (25, 26) which are then opened through a first controlled distance within the limit of the elastic recovery of the three-dimensional textile (3). The outermost layers of the structure (1) are then polymerized by heating the dies (24, 26) while the resin impregnating the threads (10) remains in a plastic state.

Abstract: A zero scrap method for manufacturing side panels for use with absorbent articles including the following steps. First, a web of material having predetermined portions is provided in a machine direction. The predetermined portions are then activated to provide stretch in the side panels. The web is then cut continuously severing the web into a first panel and a second panel, each of the panels having alternating, nested inwardly extending elements defined by the cut and terminating at a distal edge. The inwardly extending elements are offset with respect to each other in the machine direction. The first and second panels are separated and positioned such that the inwardly extending elements of the first panel and the inwardly extending elements of the second panel are aligned in the machine direction. The distal edge of at least a portion of the first panel is then joined with at least a portion of the distal edge of the second panel.

Abstract: Absorbent articles of the present invention are specifically adapted for the adult male anatomy. The articles include a moisture barrier having a length measured between front and back ends of less than about 46 centimeters. A liner is bonded to the moisture barrier sandwiching an absorbent assembly therebetween. The moisture barrier is gathered along each of its side edges between forward and rearward terminal points. The forward terminal points are spaced from the front end of the moisture barrier by at least about 7 centimeters, and the rearward terminal points spaced from the back end of the moisture barrier by less than about 5 centimeters. Elasticized containment flaps disposed on the liner extend longitudinally toward the front end to a position at least about 16 centimeters from the back end of the moisture barrier. The moisture barrier is also gathered along its back end.

Abstract: This invention pertains to handling a continuous web in a continuous processing operation wherein the web incorporates therein one or more stretched elastic-type elements having retractive forces active in the cross-machine direction, and limiting shrinkage of the web in the cross-machine direction to no more than about 5%. Shrinkage in the width dimension is controlled using methods including transporting the web on a sequence of rolls having on their outer working surfaces protuberances which interact with edges of openings in the web, inhibiting lateral movement of elements defining the edges of the openings, and thereby stabilizing the web in the width dimension.

Abstract: A female component for a refastenable fastening device having an elastomeric adhesive backing and a multiplicity of fibrous elements extending from the backing. The female fastening component is formed by a method comprising the steps of: providing a first lamina comprising an elastomeric, pressure-sensitive adhesive film having a first adhesive surface and a second adhesive surface opposed to said first adhesive surface, a relaxed orientation and an elongated orientation; stretching said first lamina from said relaxed orientation to said elongated orientation; contacting a second lamina comprising a nonwoven web with said first surface of said first lamina in said elongated orientation, thereby directly joining said second lamina and said first lamina to form a laminate; and relaxing said first lamina such that said second lamina is shirred to form catching regions capable of entangling the hooks of a complementary male fastening component.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a quilted film laminate wherein a film having a plurality of generally parallel slits is laminated to a substrate layer such as a fibrous nonwoven web. Due to processing conditions, once the slit film layer and substrate layer have been laminated to one another, the composite is allowed to retract thereby giving the composite a puckered or quilted appearance with an undulating surface. The undulating surface also causes the slits to form a plurality of openings which are generally perpendicular to the central plane of the film. In addition, due to the undulating nature of the surface of the film, the apertures so created reside in, above and below the central plane of the film layer. The composite so produced has a wide variety of uses not the least of which include a cover material or body side liner for personal care absorbent products. The process for producing the composite is also disclosed.

Abstract: A distinctive apparatus and method for applying an elastic strand onto a moving substrate along a selected curvilinear path includes a transporting mechanism for moving the substrate along a selected substrate path and a supplying mechanism for supplying the elastic strand along a selected elastic path. An oscillating mechanism selectively changes a positioning of the elastic strand and includes a slidably movable guide which moves in a direction essentially transverse to said substrate path. The elastic strand slidably travels along the guide which positions the elastic strand such that the elastic strand is selectively applied to the substrate along the curvilinear path. A bonding mechanism selectively applies adhesive in an arrangement which selectively secures the elastic strand to the substrate. A rotatable nip roll contacts the elastic strand and the substrate to press the elastic strand onto the substrate along the curvilinear path.

Abstract: A machine for applying elastic to material is provided that includes a conveyor for carrying material. The conveyor moves the material in one direction along a flow path. An elastic band storage with a plurality of elongate elastic bands is provided for application to the material. An elastic feeder has a feeder head that feeds the plurality of elastic bands directly onto the material while the feeder head moves laterally across the flow path. The lateral movement of the feeder head across the moving conveyor applies the elastic bands to the material in a curved contour. The feeder head is operable to feed the elastic bands onto the material while maintaining a selected spacing between individual elastic bands throughout the curved contour.

Abstract: A method is provided for joining an elastic band to a continuously moving, partially elastic substrate. The method includes temporarily inhibiting portions of the elastic band and then positioning the band on the substrate. The substrate includes elastic and non-elastic segments, and the band is positioned so that an elastic portion of the band is on an elastic segment of the substrate and the temporarily inhibited portion of the band is on the non-elastic segment of the substrate. The band and substrate are then joined together, and the temporarily inhibited portion is activated to gather the non-elastic segment.

Abstract: A method of joining adjacent, non-coplanar, fiber reinforced composite structures includes machining a plurality of serrations (4) into an edge (6) of a consolidated first fiber reinforced composite structure (2) such that reinforcing fibers continue from a main body (14) of the first fiber reinforced composite structure (2) into the serrations (4). One or more reinforcing fiber plies (16) are then laid up around the serrations (4) to form an unconsolidated second structure such that the serrations (4) protrude through at least one reinforcing fiber ply (16). In addition to the one or more reinforcing fiber plies (16), the unconsolidated second structure also includes a matrix precursor. Sufficient heat and pressure are applied to the unconsolidated second structure and the serrations (4) to consolidate the second structure into a fiber reinforced composite structure (8).

Abstract: The invention provides elastic fabrics which are substantially non-extensible in the machine direction and have substantial elastic properties in the cross-machine direction. The process stable fabrics of the invention include a net and a fibrous layer which are secured together. The net is composed of a plurality of continuous machine direction strands and a plurality of cross-direction strands. The machine direction strands are substantially non-extensible and the cross-direction strands are substantially elastic. The fabrics of the invention can be manufactured and processed more readily than fabrics which are elastic in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching an elastic member in cross machine direction and combining the elastic member, while held in tension, with a moving substrate web. A web of unstretched material, having elasticity across the direction of metering, is fed onto a first rotating drum at a speed slower than the surface speed of the drum. A cutter roll severs a portion of the unstretched material from its leading edge. Vacuum grippers in a drum slot beneath the elastic member support the ends of the member when it is cut from the web. Sealing dies are mounted to the surface of the vacuum grippers below the ends of the elastic member. As the first drum rotates further, the vacuum grippers are cammed axially outward within the slot to stretch the elastic member. Meanwhile, a substrate web is metered onto a second drum which rotates at the same surface speed as the first drum. The second drum rotates against the first drum but in the opposite direction.

Abstract: The invention provides elastic fabrics which exhibit low extensibility in the machine direction and have substantial elastic properties in the cross-machine direction. The fabrics of the invention include an elastic layer and a fibrous layer which are combined together. The fibrous layer is composed of a plurality of thermally activated binder fibers or filaments oriented substantially in the machine-direction of the fibrous web. The fabrics of the invention can be manufactured and processed more readily than fabrics which are elastic in both the machine direction and the cross-machine direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resilient body which includes two thin layers (1, 6) of flexible material to which intermediate elastic threads (2, 3, 5) or bands are fastened in a stretched state and disposed in a regular, net-like pattern, and bodies (4) of soft material are disposed between the two layers (1, 6) in at least some of the meshes of the net formed by the elastic threads. These bodies have smaller dimensions than the meshes, so as to permit total or partial contraction of the stretched or tensioned elastic threads. The bodies also have an intrinsic stiffness such as to substantially retain their shape upon contraction of the elastic threads. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the inventive resilient body.

Abstract: The method comprises the steps of providing a liquid-pervious bodyside layer, a liquid-impervious outer layer, a stretchable layer, and an absorbent layer; forming the layers into a configuration designed generally to fit conformably to the body; stretching the stretchable layer; bonding the stretched stretchable layer to the other layer; releasing the bonded layer; and forming a plurality of rugosities in the bodyside layer, outer layer, and absorbent layer upon relaxation of the stretchable layer. Apparatus for practicing the method are also disclosed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional non-woven fabric with a thermally activated adhesive surface well suited for use as a facing fabric for covering a fibrous mat. The fabric comprises two adjoining fiber layers, namely an adhesive layer including bond-forming fibers fusible at a predetermined temperature and a facing layer of fibers having a considerably higher melting temperature than the bond-forming fibers. The fibers of both layers are mechanically engaged one with another and are arranged flat-wise in bundles interconnected at junctures by protuberant fiber packings disposed in a staggered relationship throughout the fabric. Bond-forming fibers are concentrated in the apex portions of the fiber packings to form the thermally activated adhesive surface. The invention also extends to a process for manufacturing the three-dimensional non-woven fabric, based on the so-called "rosebud" technique for producing foraminous webs.

Abstract: To fill insulating glass panes with a heavy gas, one of the glass plates (40) of which the insulating glass pane is formed is initially only partly joined to the other glass plate (42) during assembly and to that end is flexed along one edge so that a gap is temporarily left between the glass plate (40) and the spacer (41) and a heavy gas can be introduced through that gap to fill the interior space of the insulating gas pane.

Abstract: A bend portion of a bonded, laminated article is made substantially free of wrinkling, which results in interlaminar voids and discontinuities, by applying tension to at least one layer of a radially outer portion of a preform of the article during bonding, the tension being applied in a direction away from the bend, typically generally tangentially in respect to an inner portion. The apparatus includes a rigid support to carry the preform bend portion, held to the support to enable application of force or pressure to the outer layer.

Abstract: This invention effectively avoids the inconvenience conventially occuring such that, with the pants of prior art being put on the user, the front body is displaced downward under a force exerted thereon as the user's legs move or under a weight of excretions accumulated in the crotch area of the pants, resulting in loosened leg-openings through which leak of excretion may occur.A front body comprising a sheet having elastic stretchability in the transverse direction and a rear body comprising a sheet having no elastic stretchability are bonded to each other with a transverse dimension of the front body in its transversely contracted state being smaller than a transverse dimension of the rear body so that laterally opposite waist sides of the user's body wearing the pants may be covered by a part of the rear body.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for adjoining two ends of a length of impact printer ribbon to form a continuous loop of ribbon. A welding fixture, including a welding anvil, ironing anvil and ultrasonic horn are provided to join the ribbon ends. Tensioning slides are provided to grip the ribbon ends and tension the ribbon during welding operations. A microprocessor controls a series of pistons, switches and solenoids to control the welding sequence.

Abstract: A film is delivered from a delivery roller and another film is delivered from another delivery roller. The two films are introduced between a heater and a receiver. The heater presses the two films against the receiver to bond the films. Then, the rear end of the film is cut off with fusing and the front end of another film is cut off with fusing by wire heaters. The bonded film is transferred through drive and pinch rolls to an accumulator for storing the film and is spread to open slits by holding rolls to form a longitudinal web, which is laminated on a lateral web manufactured in another process to form a reticulate non-woven fabric.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic panel having a desired illumination pattern is assembled from at least two partial panels, each comprising a plurality of fully terminated parallel fibers. Two or more such partial arrays are combined to fabricate a optical fiber substrate having an arbitrary illumination pattern. The non-illuminated fiber lengths extending from the individual fiber terminations are removed before the two partial arrays are assembled, thus further enhancing the efficiency of the device. In a preferred embodiment the fibers of each partial array have a center-to-center spacing slightly greater than twice the fiber diameters, and the fibers of the two partial arrays are intermeshed to form a closely packed parallel array of fibers in which a fully terminated shorter fiber is located between two longer fibers.

Abstract: An unstretched first plastic foil is laminated with a longitudinally stretched second plastic foil by the application of heat and pressure. The second foil is preheated, thereupon stretched and thereafter tempered prior to being laminated with the first foil which is heated prior to lamination. The laminating step can coincide with the tempering step and immediately follows the stretching step so that the laminating step can be carried out by utilizing heat which is required for stretching of the second foil. The material of the first foil is or can be identical with the material of the second foil; in any event, the two materials are sufficiently compatible to permit bonding of the unstretched foil to the stretched foil by the application of heat and pressure alone, i.e., without resorting to an adhesive.

Abstract: In a liquid crystal display panel manufacturing method, before two substrates of the display panel are adhered to each other, one of the substrates is subjected to thermal expansion, and after adhesion, the other substrate is subjected to thermal expansion so that the first and second substrates are curved, thereby obtaining a liquid crystal display panel the display surface of which is curved. The liquid crystal display panel manufactured by the above method is relatively low in cost. Further, since the two substrates are not curved forcibly, the gap therebetween is uniform over the entirety of the display surface, ensuring high display quality.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a chip device bonding machine in which bubbles can be effectively prevented from remaining with the adhesive. A flexible board is moved on a base at every unit by the rotation of reels. In accordance with the movement of the flexible board, a new portion of a tape made of a film, a paper or the like is moved above the base. The tape is located between the flexible board and the base. A thermosetting adhesive is deposited on the flexible board on the base by an adhesive nozzle. An IC chip is placed on the flexible board on the base by an IC chip supply arm. A pressing arm including a heater presses and heats the IC chip toward the base side to interconnect the IC chip to the flexible hoard. When the IC chip is heated and pressed by the pressing arm, the tape is concaved at its portions corresponding to bumps and consequently the flexible board is deformed, whereby bubbles produced within the adhesive are pushed out to the outside.

Abstract: A method for forming a cover of an umbrella including preparing several pieces of cloth, clamping the perimeters of the cloth and pulling the cloth downward against a lower mold having a convex shape, heating the lower mold in order to soften the cloth, moving an upper mold downward to clamp the cloth, heating the lower mold again in order to further increase the temperature of the lower mold so that the cloth can be hot-pressed, cooling the lower mold, removing the cloth, and cutting the perimeter of the cloth so as to form the cover of the umbrella.

Abstract: A non-woven towpreg fabric and a method of production therefor. The non-woven towpreg fabric is fabricated from a plurality of flexible, multiply towpregs, comprising towpreg plies which comprise reinforcing filaments substantially wetout by a matrix forming material, which then are bonded together to form the fabric. The method of production for the non-woven towpreg fabric involves spreading the reinforcing filaments, coating the reinforcing filaments with the matrix forming material in a manner causing interfacial adhesion, forming the towpreg plies by heating the matrix forming material until the matrix forming material liquefies and coats the reinforcing filaments, cooling the towpreg plies in a manner while said towpregs remain substantially unconsolidated until the matrix forming material solidifies, overlapping a plurality of the towpreg plies, and bonding the towpreg plies together. Multidimensional fabrics, preforms and composite articles also can be formed by this invention.

Abstract: A vinyl floor covering to accommodate wood subfloor contraction and expansion as well as rolling load incorporates a foamed plastisol encapsulated glass mat which may be cut to form pivot points and expanded under a controlled pre-stressed condition. The glass mat serves as a carrier during manufacture and an "elastic glass" reinforcing layer during use as either tension or loose-lay flooring. The floor covering may be a true hybrid surface covering which is capable of accommodating the dimensional change of a target subfloor by utilizing the characteristics of both tension floorings and loose-lay floorings.

Abstract: A method for laminating plastic film to glass is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a precast layer of glass on a support and placing a polymer film at a distance therefrom; then providing a ram with a lower surface having substantially the same contour as the top surface of the glass layer and providing a hard, flexible intermediate layer between the ram and the polymer film in which the intermediate layer has a contour that is more convex than that of the lower surface of the ram. The distance between the ram and the precast glass is then decreased such that initially the lower surface of the ram contacts the intermediate layer and the central portion of the intermediate layer contacts the polymer film at its center first and continues to stretch the polymer film into contact with the glass layer at its center outwardly towards the edges. Eventually the pressure is increased between the ram and the glass layer, heat is applied, and the glass layer and polymer film are laminated.

Abstract: The thickness of a fiber-reinforced resin sheet having uniformly distributed and substantially unidirectional fibers is reduced by stretching a fiber-reinforced resin sheet starting material in intimate contact with a thermoplastic sheet having a tensile strength larger than the fiber-reinforced resin sheet. This is accomplished by heating the fiber-reinforced resin sheet at a temperature at which the resin in the fiber-reinforced resin becomes sticky and subjecting the sheets to a uniform compressive force to adhere the fiber-reinforced sheet to the thermoplastic resin sheet and then simultaneously stretching the thus-adhered sheets to form a thin fiber-reinforced sheet in which the direction of stretching is perpendicular to the direction of the fibers.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a laminated strip having a gas barrier material laminated in a liquid-tight manner between two external films includes the steps of forming surface irregularities in a first film, laminating a web gas barrier material to the first film, transversely cutting the gas barrier material and applying a second film over the gas barrier material. The apparatus for manufacturing the laminated strip includes a pair of cooperating rolls between which the first film is fed for forming irregularities in the first film. Two other cooperating rolls are provided for cutting the gas barrier member after it has been laminated to the first film. Two additional cooperating rolls are also provided for laminating the second film to the gas barrier material and the first film.

Abstract: A method of constructing fibrous composite material, and a resulting structure, having a modular construction in which the modules are formed on mandrel assemblies having a metal core and an elastomeric, deformable and removable sheath. Fibrous composite material is wrapped around each sheath, which in a complex shape such as a thrust reversing cascade for a jet engine, has sets of similar modules arranged in rows across layered composite ribs and in columns in which the modules are mutually engaged. When bonded by heat and pressure, the epoxy matrix of the composite material joins the ribs and the modules into a structure of high strength. In a cascade configuration a slotted medal plate is bonded to the ribs and the modules, being positioned in slots in the plate, with modules positioned fore and aft of the plate to increase the bonding area.

Abstract: A precision glass jig is formed to properly position ribbons of optical fibers for the area end of a fiber optic bundle forming the entrance field of an optical subsystem for an electronic printer. The opposite ends of the ribbons are aligned side-by-side and coupled against an electrostatic drum. The ribbons are inserted into slots in the glass jig, each ribbon providing a bearing surface for guiding the adjacent ribbon into the respective slot. A spacing tool may be used to temporarily separate adjacent ribbons for ensuring initial alignment and also for guiding insertion of the ribbons into the slots.

Abstract: An optical fiber array is disclosed that is useful in a print head of a thermal printer. The array is comprised of materials that hold a collection of output ends of optical fibers in precise alignment to each other and to a well defined plane. The materials of the array are selected so that each material has a polishing rate that is substantially the same. This selection of materials facilitates efficient fabrication of the arrays. Additionally, a fixture that facilitates ease of assembly and finishing of the array is disclosed.

Abstract: A vinyl tension floor covering includes a reinforcing layer, preferably disposed below the neutral bending plane. The floor covering elongates in at least one direction due to a controlled pre-stressed condition and tends to return to its original pre-elongated dimension. Reinforcing layers expand in the across machine direction as well as machine direction in response to a tensile stretching force in the machine direction or roll-up growth.

Abstract: A vinyl floor covering to accommodate wood subfloor contraction and expansion as well as rolling load incorporates a foamed plastisol encapsulated glass mat which may be cut to form pivot points and expanded under a controlled pre-stressed condition. The glass mat serves as a carrier during maufacture and an "elastic glass" reinforcing layer during use as either tension or loose-lay flooring. The floor covering may be a true hybrid surface covering which is capable of accommodating the dimensional change of a target subfloor by utilizing the characteristics of both tension floorings and loose-lay floorings.

Abstract: A take-up liner for uncured rubber members is a band-like laminate of inextensible reinforcing cloth, flexible foamed layer arranged thereon, extensible cloth arranged thereon and sheet-like elastomer layer adhered thereto and has a helical formed shape.

Abstract: This invention provides a process for preparing a heat shrinkable film by extruding a blend of elastomer, hydrocarbon oil and polyolefin to form a film, stretch orienting the film to form a stretched film, annealing the stretched film while still under stress, then cooling while further maintaining stress on the film. This invention further provides a process for preparing an elasticized composite material by attaching strips of the heat shrinkable film to a flexible substrate and then heating the composite.

Abstract: Method for the production of a compound foil as an endless strip, the compound foil to be processed in the form of rectangular blanks covering a width of the endless strip characterized in that two different foil strips, of which a first strip contains an aluminum foil (4) or a paper are drawn through a lamination machine with tractive forces to overcome friction losses in the machine, these tractive forces producing different elongations in said two different foil strips, that one of the endless strips is provided at one side surface with a binding agent over a connecting surface, which consists of several partial areas (3, 13) separated from each other, that the two strips are connected to each other while the both strips being elastically stretched to different elongations as the strips are drawn through the lamination machine whereby after the two foil strips coming back again to their non-stretched starting state, that surfaces of the blanks each have one central area and two margin areas (9, 12) borderi

Abstract: An oriented nylon film, useful as a carrier web in the manufacture of fibrous reinforced resin sheets, is disclosed. Oriented nylon film containing a salt selected from at least one copper salt, at least one alkali metal halide, at least one alkaline earth metal halide or mixtures thereof is disclosed. The nylon film is preferably nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 66/6 and/or mixtures thereof and the salt is preferably a copper salt, especially cupric acetate or cupric iodide, or potassium bromide.

Abstract: Disclosed are a method of filler taping a screen frame and a method of filling a screen frame. The screen frame is held in such a manner as to be indexable 90 degrees, a tape is attached simultaneously on opposing two sides of the screen frame through linear motion. At the same time, a filling liquid is applied simultaneously on opposing two sides of the screen frame on the rear surface thereof. Subsequently, the screen is rotated 90 degrees, and taping and filling are similarly effected with respect to the remaining two sides.

Abstract: A screen assembly, the process for its manufacture, the apparatus used in the process and an adhesive presenting a system and the final product for accurately tensioned bonded screens. The screens include a screen frame and screen cloth bonded thereto by adhesive using bisphenol F epoxy resin, amine adduct hardener, a substantial percentage of amorphous silica and small amounts of glycerin and fumed or precipitated silicon dioxide. Titanium dioxide may also be employed for color. A screen assembly apparatus includes a screen cloth tensioning frame and a platform positionable adjacent a tensioned screen cloth. The platform includes heating elements about the periphery of a sheet heater on a left table. The heating elements receive a screen frame which can be lifted into contact with a screen cloth in the tensioning frame. The sheet heater approaches the screen cloth itself. A thermal control cycle is presented which allows the screen frame to cool prior to the tensioned screen.

Abstract: A moving web is folded at its predetermined length at its opposite side portions so that the opposite side portions are opposed to each other at a predetermined angle with its central portion. Then part of each of the opposite folded portions is outwardly folded. These foldings occur so that a first folding line and a second folding line being opposed to each other at each side of the web include portions in non-parallel relationship. Elastic bands are affixed onto the web along the second opposite folded portions longitudinally and substantially in parallel to each other. When the web is flattened from the folded condition, the paired elastic band affixed onto the web at its opposite sides each has a diagonal orientation symmetrically with respect to the direction in which the web moves.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for making a diaper having one or more elastic margins. The diaper uses for the entire moisture permeable backing sheet an elastomeric material of the type that is heat unstable and relatively inelastic in its unshrunk form and stable and relatively elastic in its heat shrunk form. Diapers made using one of these materials as a backing sheet can be conventionally assembled. After assembly, the marginal areas, which may be either or both of the transverse and longitudinal margins, may be heated to a sufficient temperature for shrinkage to occur in the backing sheet. This shrinkage will only occur when the backing sheet is unrestrained. The method provides for the maintenance of longitudinal tension in the central portion of an end-to-end assembly of diaper units while relaxing the edge tension on the units.

Abstract: A fabric web having a high modulus of elasticity is used as a spring element in an upholstered article such as a seat or a bed. The fabric web is joined to a metal rod serving as a frame member of the upholstered article by an end portion of the fabric web, which is folded on itself over the metal rod to provided folded and unfolded layers that are united together by means of a heat-fusible resin film. The heat-fusible resin film is held against the inner surface of the folded end portion of the fabric web and fused by high-frequency welding. The folded end portion of the fabric web is protected by the intermediary film against damage which would otherwise be caused by abrasive contact with a rust layer on the metal rod. The film sandwiched between the folded and unfolded layers has opposite ends folded and fused over the unfolded layer of the fabric web for reinforcing marginal edges of the fabric web.

Abstract: A protective web is releasably laminated to an adhesive-coated stretchable web by continuously drawing the webs at differential degrees of tensile strain into laminating contact in the nip formed by a resilient and a non-resilient roller.