Abstract: A method for forming an item by partially fusing selected portions of two sheets together. A non-heat-sensitive barrier sheet is inserted between two heat-sensitive sheets. The sheets are stamped with a die to fuse portions of the heat-sensitive sheets together remote from the barrier sheet. The barrier sheet and waste heat-sensitive sheet material is removed to leave the item. The method has particular application to stamping envelopes from a clear flexible vinyl material in a single continuous stamping operation.

Abstract: A method for making a two-tone vinyl skin cover for an automotive interior trim panel is provided including heating a first vinyl skin to a working temperature; heating a second vinyl skin to a working temperature; stretching the first vinyl skin over a first male vacuum mold, the first mold having a first welding blade along a translationally separable part line; applying a vacuum via the first mold to the first vinyl skin; stretching the second vinyl skin over a second male vacuum mold, the second male mold having a second welding blade along a translationally separable part line aligned with the translationally separable part line of the first mold; applying a vacuum via the second mold to the second vinyl skin; heating the first and second vinyl skins through the first and second welding blades; and abutting the first and second welding blades together under a pressure force to heat weld the first and second vinyl skins together until such time as the first and second vinyl skins are welded to one another

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a friction plate for a clutch, said friction plate comprised of an annular core having a bonding surface, and a large number of friction material segments adhered to the bonding surface in a circumferential direction of the core with an oil groove provided between every adjacent segments. The process includes the steps of positioning the core with the bonding surface with an adhesive facing upwards; unwinding a friction material tape to a position above the core in an amount corresponding to one friction material segment; subjecting the friction material tape to a cutting to provide the friction material segment, and pressing and adhering the friction material segment to the bonding surface; and unwinding the friction material tape in an amount corresponding to a next friction material segment, and rotating the core for adhering the next friction material segment.

Abstract: A system for forming burr-less edged name plates includes a shearing station. A die block is provided in the shearing station. An adhesive backing member is disposed above the die block and includes an adhesive coating on a release paper. A name plate assembly is disposed above the backing member for adhesive contact with the backing member. The name plate includes a plurality of name plates connected by a connector web. Each name plate is secured to the web along only one side edge with the remaining side edges being exposed. As a result the remaining side edges could be formed without the formation of burrs. A shear bar is disposed above the name plate and includes a shearing blade for cutting through the connection along the side edge of each name plate and the web and through the backing member to form a plurality of name plate units each of which comprises the name plate and the portion of the backing member in contact with the name plate.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a process and apparatus for preparing panels used in the manufacture of protective garments with compression platens. The platens are provided with at least one heating element which is tensioned by spring means and forms a pattern for a panel. Two panels may be formed simultaneously each having seamed leg and arm portions and are to be joined by heat sealing along the back.

Abstract: A method for combining a tensioned garter with a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A mandrel has a perimeter of the desired garter shape. An elastic garter is stretched and placed onto the mandrel such that an upper portion of the garter extends above a top surface of the mandrel while a lower portion of the garter clings to a side wall of the mandrel. The upper portion of the garter has sufficient elastic tension to cause it to fold over onto the top surface of the mandrel to form a garter flange. A substrate is then engaged with the garter flange and a sealing means seals the flange to the substrate, using the top surface of the mandrel as an anvil.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for cutting small pieces of fabric by means of an ultrasonic horn and a hollow open centered cutting anvil. The cutting operation includes a pick mechanism incorporating two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position before, during, and after the cutting operation. The pick head mechanism is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces, referred to as chips, in a subsequent assembly operation performed by the pick head.The assembly operation relates to attachment of small pieces of fabric by means of two miniature ultrasonic horns. The horns are combined with a pick and place mechanism which incorporates two tapered pins and a stripper pad to maintain the fabric position during the manufacturing process. This pick and place head, when attached to a robotic arm, is designed to insure accuracy in locating these small fabric pieces repeatedly in a thermoplastic cartridge.

Abstract: A method for bonding a tensioned elastic garter to a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment a mandrel has a top surface and side walls. The side walls have recesses. A tensioned garter is wrapped around the side walls such that it spans the recesses. A substrate is placed against the top surface of the mandrel. An anvil surface is positioned to backup the substrate. Sealing tools pass through the recesses and intercept the tensioned garter and press it against the substrate backed up by the anvil surface. Thermobonding or adhesive sealing occur at spots where sealing tools press the tensioned garter against the substrate and anvil. The garter is stripped from the mandrel either by moving the substrate away from the mandrel or by having the sealing tools push the garter off the mandrel side walls.

Abstract: A conductive woven material (2) being conductive, and preferably equally conductive, in all directions is made using woven fabric (4) having conductive weft fibers (10). The material is produced by cutting the woven fabric at a first, acute angle (19) to the side edges (12, 14) to produce trapezoidally-shaped cut fabric pieces (18). The cut fabric pieces are then reoriented so that the former side edges of the fabric are placed to abut one another to create a reconstructed fabric (20) in which the weft fibers are at acute angle (22) to the length of the reconstructed fabric. Two layers of reconstructed fabric (24, 26) are placed one upon the other, with one upside down, so that the conductive weft fibers are at an angle, preferably 90.degree., to one another so to create the conductive woven material. The conductive woven material can be used to form, for example, conductive laminates or conductive honeycomb material.

Abstract: A unitary disposable garment, such as disposable training pants, having a high degree of stretch in the cross-machine direction and fitting a broad range of wearer sizes. The unitary disposable garment is manufactured from a chassis and has a waist opening, two leg openings and a pair of side seams which join the front portion of the chassis to the rear portion of the chassis. The unitary disposable garment preferably has an absorbent assembly, i.e. an absorbent insert, secured to the inner layer of the chassis. The chassis from which the unitary disposable garment is manufactured, has four elasticized ear flaps; each ear flap is elasticized by securing an elastomeric element thereto and mechanically stretching the ear flap and the elastomeric element such that the ear flap is elastically extensible in the direction of initial stretching. The front portion of the chassis is then joined to the rear portion of the chassis on each side of the disposable garment by a seam.

Abstract: A sleeve forming method and apparatus where sleeves are formed by use of overlapping webs. The webs are twisted in one direction to form a seal at one side of a sleeve and later twisted in the opposite direction to form the seal at the opposite side of a sleeve, such that all of the sleeves are oriented in the same direction, such as with the large openings of the sleeves facing upwardly and the smaller openings of the sleeves facing downwardly.

Abstract: A headliner for mounting in the passenger compartment of a vehicle is formed from a plurality of layers of materials including foamed polyurethane, fiber glass and scrim. The layers are bonded together under heat which cures an incorporated thermosetting resin. The thermosetting resin freezes the assembled laminate conforming to the configuration of the lowermost mold. After setting of the resin the flexible laminate is trimmed to the desired shape at its periphery.

Abstract: A simplified process is disclosed for making form-fitting undergarments that may include structures for absorbing and containing body exudates. The garments are cut and seamed into rectangular or trapezoidal shapes from nonwoven elastic sheet that has parallel rows of elastic strands and specific stretch and simultaneous contraction characteristics. The finished garment when stretched in the waist direction simultaneously contracts in the direction perpendicular thereto by at least 20%.

Abstract: A method of producing an interior trim component using the steps of: impregnating a foam pad with a dielectrically heatable thermoplastic binder; placing the pad between a dielectrically heatable panel and decorative covering; compressing the pad; and applying an electric field to the pad and panel sufficient to heat and soften the thermoplastic binder and the panel whereby the thermoplastic binder bonds with the covering and panel.

Abstract: There is provided an improvement in a process and apparatus for preparing panels used in the manufacture of protective garments with compression platens. The platens are provided with at least one heating element which is tensioned by spring means and forms a pattern for a panel. Two panels may be formed simultaneously each having seamed leg and arm portions and are to be joined by heat sealing along the back.

Abstract: A tape carrier for electronic components is provided with enlarged regions along cut out lines defining the boundaries of the electronic component mount area. Provision is made for temporarily maintaining the cut out mount area substantially coplanar with remaining portions of the tape carrier. In the preferred embodiment, this is accomplished by way of an adhesive tape bridging the enlarged openings or by tabs or micro connectors bridging the enlarged openings. Thereafter, the mounts can be totally removed from the carrier film by severing the tape or the tabs. The enlarged regions facilitate the severance of the tape or tabs in an automated assembly line environment.

Abstract: A heating system for joining plastic films which is capable of matching the potential of the laser. The system comprises a burner assembly and a workholder. The burner assembly includes a torch tip with an inner diameter of 0.016 inch which is capable of delivering a hot, concentrated flame onto a narrowly exposed film workpiece at a 15.degree.. The workholder includes a heat-conductive base roll and a plurality of hold-down rolls which expose an edge portion of approximately 0.0625 inch so as to prevent the plastic film from shriveling away from the joint. These features in combination permit the advantages both of high speed manufacture and of a high-quality bead seal.

Abstract: An improved method for inserting valves between the front and back panels of inflatable bodies, such as novelty balloons or air-inflated dunnage bags, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of conveying an upper web through an upper roller assembly and conveying a lower web through a lower roller assembly positioned adjacent to and below, and pivotal relative to, the upper roller assembly. The valve is then inserted between the top and bottom webs as they pass through the roller assemblies and then the roller assemblies are pivotally clamped together to bring the top and bottom webs together and frictionally engage the valve between the webs. The webs are then conveyed, with the valve clamped therebetween, to a downstream die station without any attachment of the valve to either of the webs prior to reaching the die station. At the die station, the perimeter of the inflatable body shape is heat sealed into the webs which simultaneously heat seals the valve to both of the webs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a tensioned garter and bonding it to a substrate while holding the garter in a predetermined shape. A garter is any continuous loop of elastic material or a laminate of elastic bands and one or more flexible backing sheets. In one embodiment mandrels having a perimeter of the desired garter shape are mounted to a rotating drum. Tensioned elastic ribbons are progressively wrapped, sealed, and cut around the mandrels to form individual tensioned garters which cling to the side walls of the mandrels. In another embodiment each mandrel has a top surface. The upper portion of a garter has sufficient elastic tension to cause it to fold over the mandrel top surface to form a garter flange thereon. A substrate is then engaged with the garter flange and an external sealing means seals the flange to the substrate, using the mandrel top surface as an anvil. In still another embodiment the mandrel top surface has a raised outer rim.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing filling material includes guide structure wherein a tow of filling and binding fiber is continuously guided through a heating zone in which the binding fiber becomes fused to the filling fiber at least at the surface of the tow, the tow is then continuously guided through a cooling zone in which at least a surface-consolidated tow is formed, and the consolidated tow is then continuously guided into a heated cutting means and cut and fused into tufts.

Abstract: A heated film die for the fabrication of plastic containers such as bags, envelopes, balloons, bladders, etc.. The die is an integrated sectionalized structure having independent, adjacent, electrically heated, temperature regulated, die sections which are maintained at different temperatures, for performing, simultaneously, two or more of operations such as, cutting, staking and forming, in plastic container fabrication. A lower temperature heat sink between adjacent die sections provides thermal isolation between the die sections.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for forming diagonal splices in flexible, fusible material and the material spliced accordingly. The splice is formed by overlapping the material, tensioning the material at the area to be spliced, and heating a strip of the material under tension to its fusion temperature, thereby fusing and separating the material at the strip. The splice is nearly undetectable to the untrained eye.

Abstract: A heat sealing element, for sealing and simultaneously cutting through at least two layers of thermoplastic film is disclosed. It is particularly adapted for use with a vertical form, fill and seal machine for packaging flowable materials, e.g. chocolate fudge sundae topping, in a lap seamed pouch. The heat sealing element has a portion, which has a greater electrical resistance than the remainder of the element, at the position where the lap seal is to be formed. The portion which has a greater electrical resistance is preferably a portion which is narrower than the remainder of the element, preferably 83 to 94% of the width of the remainder of the element.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for forming a honeycomb core. In particular, the apparatus comprises a compressible array of heater rods that are interleaved with layers of a formable material. Upon compressing the array, the formable material conforms to the shape of the heater rods. Through the application of heat and pressure, the different layers of the formable material are caused to bind to each other. The bound layers thereby form a honeycomb core, which is then removed from the forming apparatus. Also disclosed herein are methods of making honeycomb core using the apparatus, as well as methods of determining precise curing conditions for the making of honeycomb core, by sensing the temperature and pressure transmitted to the formable materials during the curing process.

Abstract: A joint forming sheet comprising a substrate having an easy release surface having a contact angle with water of at least 50.degree., having provided on the easy release surface thereof an inorganic thin layer, the interfacial adhesive force of the inorganic thin layer to the substrate surface being greater than the tensile strength of the inorganic thin layer. The inorganic thin layer can be released and transferred to a part on which an electrical joint is to be formed with high precision to form a joint causing no electrical connection failure.

Abstract: A heat sealing assembly, for sealing through at least two layers of thermoplastic film is disclosed. It is particularly adapted for use with a vertical form, fill and seal machine for packaging flowable materials. The heat sealing assembly comprises two jaws, resilient clamping elements and a heat sealing element, at least one of the jaws being capable of transverse motion and adapted to collapse a tubular film made from the thermoplastic film and passing between the jaws, each of said jaws having said element mounted thereon, said clamping elements being adapted to grip thermoplastic film which passes therebetween and urge said gripped film towards said jaws when the jaws close and to release said film when the jaws open. Clamping is accomplished without an activating device other than the jaws themselves. Preferably there are clamping elements on both sides of the jaws. Preferably the clamping elements are made of a flexible rubber.

Abstract: To form a seam of attractive appearance, a heated platen having a shaped lip acts to engage and press the central surface of an adhesively-backed sheet of a polymeric fabric against the top appearance surface of a panel and the peripheral edge of the sheet into a groove formed in the surface, the platen activating the adhesive and the lip forcing a portion of the adhesive inwardly adjacent to the sheet edge against one wall of the groove. An insertion blade presses a portion of the sheet edge towards the bottom of the groove, the blade acting as a heat shield to space and protect the other wall of the groove from the heated platen.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing reclosable plastic bags or packages, wherein sections of zipper profiles are pre-softened at intervals equal in length to the width of the bags or packages to be manufactured. The pre-softening enables the zipper profiles to be fused together and completely flattened when a seal bar clamps thereacross to form a side seal area transverse to the zipper.

Abstract: A long composite which includes a long carrier film and a green ceramic layer continuously formed thereon along its longitudinal direction is prepared and continuously guided successively to a printing station, a drying station and a punching station while being maintained in the long configuration. A conductor film is printed on the green ceramic layer with conductive paste in the printing station, the printed conductor film is dried in the drying station, and the green ceramic layer provided with the conductor film is punched while being registered with the conductor film and separated from the carrier film in the punching station, whereby a ceramic green sheet for a laminated ceramic electronic component is extracted.

Abstract: A cassette reel in use for a video tape cassette including a hub and an upper flange made of a transparent plate which is provided with an annular groove on one side surface of the upper flange and a foil deposited on the surface of the upper flange which is surrounded by the annular groove, so that the foil can be cut clearly and then deposited on the face of the upper flange which is surrounded by the annular groove by hot stamp with a clear outer profile, whereby decorative effects can be obtained by the foil covering the internal construction of the hub and when the cassette reel is used for a video tape cassette, the commercial value of the video tape cassette can be elevated.

Abstract: An improved process for cutting and simultaneously sealing the cut edges of holographic materials comprising cutting with a hot cutting tool. Suitable cutting tools include a steel rule die, a hot tipped cutter, and a laser. The resulting product can be attached easily to a substrate and will resist delamination even when attached to a substrate such as a textile material that will be subjected to ordinary washing and drying.

Abstract: A method for providing a welded side seam area in a plastic bag or package having interlocking male and female profile sections on plies of plastic sheeting material includes the provision of cut-outs through one of the male and female profile sections and contiguous plastic sheeting material at preselected intervals therealong. The welds, which may be provided by a seal bar or jaws, are provided along lines including or passing through the cut-outs. A thinner and more leak-resistant side seam area between bags or packages is the result.

Abstract: An apparatus prints the necessary attribute on an identity tag immediately before a cut wiring cable is inserted thereinto, and automatically attaching the printed identity tag to the wiring cable. An identity tag attaching apparatus attaches an identity tag which represents the attribute of a cable to the cable.

Abstract: A method of making and using a combined shipping label and product information device which includes the steps of providing a relatively elongated foldable sheet having a pair of sides and leading and trailing ends and equipped with a plurality of connected panels, and having a release liner adhesively secured thereto, printing addressee information on one panel and product information on another panel, applying adhesive in a longitudinally extending pattern adjacent each of the sides and also in a transversely extending pattern while folding the sheet between adjacent panels to position the product information on a hidden inner surface and the addressee identification information on an outer surface, perforating the folded sheet along a longitudinally extending line adjacent each of the sides inboard of the longitudinally extending adhesive pattern, removing the release liner and adhesively securing the device to a carton, shipping the carton to the addressee and upon carton receipt tearing the device along

Abstract: A sterile containment welding device for plastic tubes comprises a pair of side by side spaced tube holders. Each of the tube holders includes a clamp base and a clamp lid. A pocket is provided in each clamp base extending completely across the clamp base so that a plastic tube could be inserted into the pocket and clamped in the holder when its clamp lid is moved to a closed position. Pockets of the side by side tube holders are alignable with each other to permit a plastic tube in one of the holders to be welded to the plastic tube in the other of the holders. A tube locating member is movably mounted at the end of each pocket in the space between the holders. The tube locating member has a wall disposed in the space beyond the pocket for positioning its plastic tube in the proper position for the later welding step when its tube is moved into contact with the walls.

Abstract: Paper stock is unwound, printed, folded, laminated and cut to form inserts. The laminated inserts are applied to an overwrap at an appropriately spaced interval. The resultant overwrap can then be wrapped around cigarette packs to provide each pack with an insert without slowing down production.

Abstract: A pair of teremps of a knitted structure are bonded to a blank of a shell plate of a film cartridge. A pair of teremps in continuous lengths is conveyed in the longitudinal direction thereof with the piled side of each of the teremps kept in contact with a locator member. The teremps in continuous lengths are bonded to opposite side edges of the blank and then cut to conform to the blank. Before they are brought into contact with the locator members, the teremps in continuous lengths are subjected to a process in which the pile is substantially uniformly oriented rearward at an angle with respect to the direction in which the teremps are conveyed.

Abstract: A method for bonding, cutting and printing sheets of polymeric material is provided which comprises the steps of: (a) forming first, second and third patterns of an infrared-absorbing material on one of the sheets, the first pattern corresponding to the locations at which the sheets are to be bonded together, the second pattern corresponding to the locations at which the sheets are to be cut, and the third pattern corresponding to the locations at which the sheets are to be printed; (b) contacting the sheets with one another; (c) exposing the contacted sheets to infrared energy; (d) applying pressure to the sheets; and (e) cooling the sheets. The amount of infrared energy to which the sheets are exposed and the distribution of the infrared-absorbing material are chosen so that 1) the sheets bond to one another in the areas of the first pattern, 2) the sheets are cut in the areas of the second pattern, and 3) the sheets are neither bonded nor cut in the areas of the third pattern.

Abstract: A pair of hollow plastic tubes are welded together by mounting each tube in the clamp jaws of a holder in a bent condition to form the U-shape. A structural element is utilized to create a space between the bight of the U-shape and the holder. The bent tubes are disposed toward each other. A tube section separating member is moved into contact with the bent tubes and through the space between each bight and its holder to create a set of two tube sections from each bent tube. A tube section from one set is aligned with a tube section from the other set and the aligned sections are welded together. The structural element may be a weld seam resulting from a prior welding.

Abstract: A method of producing a decorative plate with a three-dimensional configuration. The method includes the steps of preparing a substrate with a release paper on it, cutting the release paper bonded substrate to form slits of a predetermined configuration, preparing an adhesive core by bonding a release paper leaf and cutting the adhesive core into a smaller size relative to the configured formed by the slits, peeling off the release paper and placing the adhesive core on the peeled-off place, peeling off the release paper leaf from the adhesive core and bonding a decorative cloth, thereto cutting the decorative cloth along the predetermined configuration of slits and pushing the peripheral ends of the cloth into the slits.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is used for forming airlaid articles such as diapers, sanitary napkins and the like. The apparatus includes an anvil drum with die cavities formed therein. The die cavities have foraminous bottom walls for drawing a stream of air-entrained fibrous fluff therethrough. A first material layer is laid on the anvil drum for covering some of the die cavities and is then deformed into the cavities. After a belt with opening corresponding to the die cavities has been laid on the first layer for protecting the sealing areas from fluff, an air stream with fibrous fluff is drawn through the first layer and through the foraminous bottom walls, thus pulling the first layer into the die cavities and causing the fluff to be deposited in the cavities. A second material layer is placed on the deposited fluff and glued or crimped to the first layer. A die-cutting roller then cuts the airlaid articles into the desired shape before the articles are removed from the anvil drum.

Abstract: A plastic tube is cut into two sections which are sealed closed by a sterile method wherein the tube is loaded into two clamping jaws which flatten the tube. The tube is cut through the flattened section and the cut ends are heated to their molten state. A wafer having wings is located between the cut ends with the wings penetrating the lumens to create an internal plug as the wings force the molten material inwardly. The plugs add to the strength of the resultant seal. If desired, the molten ends are pressed into a cavity which is cooled to a temperature below the molten temperature to seal the ends. The tubes are then removed from the cavity. When it is desired to connect individual tube sections the two tube sections are placed in clamp members in axial alignment slightly spaced from each other. The ends of the tube sections are melted by a melt/wipe process and the tube sections are then pressed into contact with each other to be welded into an integral tube.

Abstract: A method of attaching a membrane across an opening of an annular deformable wall including the steps of placing a disc across the opening with the disc extending outwardly beyond the wall, and deforming the outer edge of the disc and the wall simultaneously by applying heat and pressure thereto to fuse the outer edge of the disc onto the wall.

Abstract: Process for producing carbon composite components having an edge and a central part with at least one layer of carbon/carbon composite and at least one layer of recompressed expanded graphite to obtain a sealing carbon composite component with a central part having a high deformation level and/or with an edge providing self-bonding of the layers of the component. There is prepared a stack of at least one layer of preimpregnate based on carbon fiber and of at least one layer of expanded graphite of a specific gravity of between 0.03 and 0.06. The stack is compressed under a pressure of between 2.5 and 15 MPa and at a temperature of between 50.degree. and 200.degree. C., in such a way that the thickness of the edge is at least equal to that of the central part and the specific gravity of the expanded graphite is between 0.3 and 0.6 for the edge and between 1 and 1.5 for the central part. The compressed component is treated thermally at a temperature of between 400.degree. and 3000.degree. C.

Abstract: A condom having a blow formed tubular main sheath portion, and a method for making the condom. Blow extrusion techniques of fabrication are described, together with the use of various thermoplastic materials of construction, including polyurethanes, polyether block amides, styrene-rubber-styrene block copolymers, ethylene-octene copolymers, and polyesters. The condom is made by blow extruding a tubular film of thermoplastic material to form a main sheath portion, severing the main sheath portion into one or more condom pieces, and sealing one end of each piece.

Abstract: The vessel portion of a gas-tight container suitable for packaging fresh foods is produced as a composite of paperboard and polymer film. A pair of folded paperboard blanks, pre-cut and pre-formed, are inserted into the opposite halves of split mold elements to a blow molding machine. Vacuum orifices in each mold half unit temporarily secure the position of a respective paperboard blank. The paperboard lined mold halves are closed upon a hot, extruded parison of malleable polymer leaving an end portion of the parison tube projecting from the closed mold unit. A fluid conducting needle penetrates this projected end portion to inflate the parison with an apppropriate blowing gas. Such inflation expands the malleable polymer, seamlessly and creaselessly, into the internal corners and crevices of the folded paperboard blanks. Following chilling, the mold unit is opened and the pair of paperboard blanks are ejected as a singular unit, joined by a molded flange of the continuous polymer film.

Abstract: Plastic tubes are welded together by placing each tube in a nest which includes a pair of grooves and an anvil centrally located between the grooves. Each tube is positioned in the grooves around the anvil for being juxtaposed the other tube. A wafer of movably mounted to move to the gap between the anvils so as to heat the ends of the tubes and melt the tubes without actually cutting through the tubes. The melted ends are then joined together so that the two tubes are thereby connected with one section of each tube being in flow communication with a corresponding section of the other tube.

Abstract: A detection apparatus is provided in a form, fill and seal operation to detect the position of sealing jaws with respect to one another during the sealing process.

Abstract: A process for the production of a headrest with an articulated insert, comprises casting in situ polyurethane foam (7) within an external cover in which is disposed an insert (5) having articulated legs (4) that protrude from the cover, then hollowing out, by means of heating elements (2), swinging spaces (3) for the articulated legs (4) of the insert (5) by hot fusion of the external cover (6) and of the polyurethane foam (7) at the corresponding locations (8) of the headrest (1), and simultaneously heat sealing the external cover (6) and the surface of the polyurethane foam (7) bordering the swinging spaces (3).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing sleeping bags (10) and similar insulated articles is provided using continuous fiber materials. The articles constructed are in the nature of enclosing shells (23) containing a fibrous insulation material (28). The primary articles are sleeping bags (10). The process involves creation of a three dimensional last element (32) in the general volumetric shape of the article and then wrapping the continuous fiber material (28) about the last (32) in such a manner as to form a cocoon (29). The method is enhanced by utilizing a last support apparatus (34) to rotate the last (32) during the wrapping step. The continuous fiber material (28) is ordinarily in the form of a swath (54) which is either preformed or is created from a ropelike tow (282) by a fiber separator (284). When the cocoon (29) is complete it is removed from the last (32) and inserted into a preformed enclosing shell (23) including an outer shell (24), an inner shell ( 26) and a closure such as a zipper (20).