Abstract: A process for the production of divisible tablets by melt calendering in which two molding rolls are combined together, at least one of which has depressions with at least one bar which extends up to the surface line of the molding roll and forms a score.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermally forming a surgical suture tip from a length of unfinished surgical suture material having a varying cross-section. The thermally formed surgical suture tip has a generally uniform cross-section along its length, and the varying cross-section corresponds to a distribution of different cross-sectional sizes along the length of the unfinished surgical suture material. A first heating die has a first face with a first groove therein for receiving a portion of the length of the unfinished surgical suture material, and a second heating die has a second face with a second groove therein. The first and second grooves extend along a common axis. At least one mechanical actuator is provided for moving the first face of the first heating die against the second face of the second heating die and for contacting the first and second grooves against an outer surface of the unfinished surgical suture material.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of manufacturing a polyester-series photographic support, comprising the steps of: incorporating at least one anthraquinone-series dye into a polyester, which polyester is produced by a condensation polymerization reaction of a dicarboxylic acid component that comprises a dialkyl ester of naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid as a main component, with a diol component that comprises ethylene glycol as a main component, the polyester being produced by allowing manganese, magnesium, antimony, and phosphorus to be incorporated in specific amounts, whereby the polyester has melt electric resistance in terms of common logarithm (log R) in the melt state at 300.degree. C. in the range of from 7.0 to 9.5, and intrinsic viscosity, measured in a mixture solution of phenol/tetrachloroethane (6/4, weight ratio) at 25.degree. C., in the range of from 0.49 to 0.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing reduction in maximum width in plastics lining pipes includes at least one pair of reducing rolls through which the lining pipe is forced from upstream thereof. The rolls are disposed and configured to present a roll throat of effective ovality, defined by the percentage difference between the maximum dimension normal to the axes of rotation and the maximum dimension parallel to the axes of rotation, in the range of 5% and 30%.

Abstract: A manufacturing process produces an article in slab form and more precisely an article made from a hydrated matrix which contains cement, sand, water and reinforcing fibers. The process includes the steps of mixing the constituents until a substantially homogeneous mineral paste is obtained; extruding the mineral paste in the form of a sheet having a thickness approximately equal to that of the article; and cutting the sheet to the size of the article. The article is made in the form of a slab and may be an imitative slate piece to be used as a roofing cover element.

Abstract: A polyester film made from a polymer having ethylene glycol moieties, isosorbide moieties and terepthaloyl moieties, and the method of making the film is described. The polyester film is used to form articles such as films, lacquers, labels, capacitors, insulators, and the like, and has an inherent viscosity of at least 0.35 dL/g when measured as a 1% (weight/volume) solution of the polyester in o-chlorophenol at a temperature of 25.degree. C.

Abstract: Fibers and yarns of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PET copolymers with a sheath/filamentous core microstructure are formed from unoriented and non crystalline "as spun" source fibers and yarns by drawing to high draw ratios in one step. Fibers and yarns with the sheath/filamentous core microstructure are stiffer than commercial PET fibers. Fibers and yarns with the sheath/filamentous core microstructure may be annealed and relaxed to increase their dimensional stability without loss of the sheath/filamentous core microstructure.

Abstract: A method to remove during fabrication of a flexible electrostatographic imaging member, the curl from a curled layered member having a top surface and a bottom surface and comprised of a substrate and a thickest coated layer including: (a) heating a section of the curled layered member to at least the glass transition temperature of the thickest coated layer, thereby defining a heated layered member section containing a thickest coated layer section and a substrate section; (b) compressing the top surface and the bottom surface of the heated layered member section to expand the thickest coated layer section beyond the dimensions of the substrate section; and (c) cooling the heated layered member section such that the expanded thickest coated layer section shrinks to about the dimensions of the substrate section.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a shaped panel from a continuous length of an expanded mat. The method includes transporting an expanded mat on a conveyor. The conveyor includes side chains and a plurality of spaced apart slats, which extend transversely between the side chains, on which the expanded mat is supported. The side chains and the plurality of slats define a plurality of openings in the conveyor. A length of the expanded mat is confined and shaped between a male mold and a female mold by moving the male mold and the female mold into mating relationship through one of the plurality of openings in the conveyor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming fiber-reinforced thermoplastic materials which include the steps of arranging at least two sets of roll-forming dies in an operative relationship, introducing a portion of a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic element to said dies for predetermined deformation, heating the element to a temperature above the melting temperature of the thermoplastics in the element and then allowing the element to cool below the melting temperature, but not less than the recrystallization temperature of the thermoplastic, and passing the element in the state through the at least two sets of dies wherein the distance between each consecutive set of dies exceeds the deformation length created by the at least two sets of dies.

Abstract: A multilaminar high density polyethylene (HDPE) film is provided having high biaxial orientation. The film includes a HDPE substrate, at least one outer layer of a propylene copolymer, and at least one layer of an adhesion promoter material positioned between the outer layer and the HDPE substrate, to efficiently mediate adhesion therebetween. The adhesion promoter is preferably a polyethylene material having a density lower than that of the HDPE base material. Preferred adhesion promoter materials include very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), high pressure low density polyethylene (HP-LDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), and medium density polyethylene (MDPE). The film is high biaxially oriented, being, stretched in the machine direction to a degree of from about 5:1 to about 8:1, preferably from about 6:1 to about 7:1, and stretched in the transverse direction to a degree of from about 6:1 to about 15:1, preferably from about 9:1 to about 13:1.

Abstract: There is provided a method of capping mechanical fasteners from a web having an array of upstanding stems. A heated surface member is positioned opposite a support forming a nip into which the web is fed. The heated surface member has a series of laterally spaced elongated peak and valley structures such that more than one peak and valley structure contacts and deforms each stem structure. The peak and valley groove structures provided asymmetric elongation and deformation of top portion of the stem structures forming hook heads.

Abstract: A method for the production of a completely impregnated composite material having the surface thereof coated with a thermosetting resin and essentially consisting of a thermoplastic resin matrix including minute voids filled with a thermosetting resin and reinforcing fibers, which method comprises setting in place a roller and a collecting section disposed in the direction of the rotation of the roller, rotating the roller, feeding thermoplastic resin fibers and reinforcing fibers to the roller, causing the roller to throw a uniform mixture of the two types of fibers onto the collecting section, thereby forming a composite mat of the uniform mixture on the collecting section, then thermally compressing the composite mat and further solidifying the compressed composite mat by cooling and forming a composite material of the shape of a plate, further heating the composite material, thereby melting and expanding the thermoplastic resin forming the matrix, then cooling the expanded composite material, thereby form

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness and flatness characteristics for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of opposed milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.

Abstract: A method for reducing curl in a stored photographic film which aids in preventing serious difficulties with downstream film transport and handling of the film. The film, which has been stored as a roll wound on a first core or mandrel is unwound from the first core and wound onto a second core or mandrel in a first direction. The film is then unwound from the second core to yield a traveling web portion. The traveling web portion is preheated to a predetermined temperature while being continuously delivered to a housing. The film is wound onto a third core or mandrel located within the housing in a direction opposite the first direction where it is maintained at about the same predetermined temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides fabrics having improved ballistic performance and processes for making the same. The fabrics include a network of consolidated multifilament yarns formed of high strength filaments. At least a portion of the high strength filaments of the yarns are temporarily locked together to provide a substantially stable, flattened cross-sectional configuration to the yarns. The resultant fabrics are capable of absorbing an impact from a projectile, i.e., a bullet or shrapnel, directed toward the fabric and substantially decreasing its velocity. The fabric can also provide slippage or movement of the yarns relative to one another to dissipate the energy of impact of a projectile across a greater surface area of the fabric.

Abstract: When producing plastic cards, a plurality of layers is laminated under application of heat and pressure resulting in unpredictable shrinking. In order to compensate shrinking, the laminated web is elongated to adapt to its nominal alignment size. Elongation is produced by material displacement along grid bars separating to-be-fabricated cards later punched off the web leaving a waste grid.

Abstract: Calibrators (10-16) are pre-aligned on a base (18) that is positioned on a table (60). A guide (82) includes a first section (84a, 84b) connected to base (18) and a second section (94) connected to table (60). First section (84a, 84b) cooperates with second section (94) to laterally maintain base (18) on table (60) while allowing thermal expansion of base (18) in the direction of a longitudinal axis (22).

Abstract: The crispness or clarity of embossed tissue is improved by embossing the tissue twice in two successive embossing nips formed between a rigid engraved embossing roll and a resilient backing roll. The hardness of the resilient backing roll in the first embossing nip is less than the hardness of the resilient backing roll in the second embossing nip. This form of double nip embossing is particularly effective for embossing tissue webs having high bulk and resiliency, such as soft uncreped throughdried tissues, which cannot be satisfactorily embossed by conventional methods.

Abstract: Low-density uncreped through-air-dried webs containing bleached chemithermomechanical pulp fibers and a wet-strength resin are calendered to significantly increase density and reduce caliper. When wetted, these webs substantially return to their original caliper and density and substantially regain their original fluid-handling characteristics. Consequently these webs are very thin when dry and thick when wet. They can be used for a wide variety of applications, including paper towels, wipers and fluid-handling components for infant care and personal care products.

Abstract: A method for conveying a strip of plastically deformable material to a processing device includes the step of conveying the strip in a conveying direction toward the processing device. Cross-sectional areas of the strip are deformed relative to one another perpendicular to the conveying direction, whereby the cross-sectional areas extend perpendicular to the conveying direction and are sequentially arranged in the conveying direction, such that the cross-sectional areas each have one side delimiting one side of the strip, that form together an edge of the strip. The edge extends parallel to the conveying direction and remains parallel to the conveying direction until the strip reaches the processing device. A device for performing the method includes a straightening device for straightening the lateral limiting edge of the strip conveyed on the conveying table.

Abstract: A web material which exhibits an elastic-like behavior along at least one axis when subjected to an applied and subsequently released elongation. The web material includes a strainable network having at least two visually distinct regions of the same material composition. The first region undergoes a molecular-level deformation and the second region initially undergoes a substantially geometric deformation when the web material is subjected to an applied elongation in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of elongation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the continuous solid state forming of semicrystalline polymers using roll-drawing is disclosed. The output of an extruded thick polymer profile is stabilized by a gear pump. The profile is passed through a die for the desired geometry and a cooling calibrator. The profile is heat conditioned in heating tunnels to a temperature below the melting point prior to deformation between sets of rolls. A plurality, e.g. four pairs of rolls apply both compression and tension to the polymer profile. The tension applied on the profile, the roll gap, the linear speed of the profile and its temperature are monitored and controlled for the amount of polymer deformation and relaxation allowed. High tensile modulus and strength, both in the longitudinal and transverse direction of the polymeric strip, can be achieved.

Abstract: A polyolefin film for use as a sterilization wrap material which includes a film with a thickness of from about 0.005 mm to about 0.2 mm and having a plurality of discontinuous thinned regions. The thinned regions constitute at least about 25 percent of the surface area of the film. The thickness and area of the thinned regions are adapted to permit the passage of steam and water vapor through the film during steam sterilization. The film is made by a method which involves extruding a molten polyolefin film at a first temperature and passing the molten film through a nip. The nip includes an anvil roll and a pattern roll. The anvil roll has a smooth surface and the surface of the pattern roll is maintained at a temperature which is at least about 150.degree. C. lower than the first temperature and is selected to prevent sticking of the film to either roll.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing highly-oriented polyester sheet comprises a two-stage drawing process. The first drawing stage is performed within a zero-gap milling and stretching roller assembly comprising a pair of opposed rollers defining a nip therebetween and wherein the rollers are rotated in opposite directions at different lineal surface velocities such that a predetermined draw ratio is defined therebetween. Amorphous polyester sheet is conducted through the nip of the opposed rollers, and as a result of the simultaneous milling and stretching of the polyester sheet, the amorphous polyester is transformed into crystalline polyester as a result of orientation-induced crystallization. The crystalline polyester sheet is heated above the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) immediately downstream of the nip defined between the pair of opposed rollers, and an exit bridle assembly is disposed downstream of the pair of opposed rollers.

Abstract: A method for fabricating composite structures at a low-cost, moderate-to-high production rate. A first embodiment of the method includes employing a continuous press forming fabrication process. A second embodiment of the method includes employing a pultrusion process for obtaining composite structures. The methods include coating yarns with matrix material, weaving the yarn into fabric to produce a continuous fabric supply and feeding multiple layers of net-shaped fabrics having optimally oriented fibers into a debulking tool to form an undebulked preform. The continuous press forming fabrication process includes partially debulking the preform, cutting the partially debulked preform and debulking the partially debulked preform to form a net-shape. An electron-beam or similar technique then cures the structure. The pultrusion fabric process includes feeding the undebulked preform into a heated die and gradually debulking the undebulked preform.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing single-sided knurls on a web or substrate without heat. The apparatus includes a conventional knurling wheel and a knurling wheel having its points ground down. A nip is formed by these two wheels and an edge of the web is passed through the nip. The resulting knurl has raised features on only one side of the web. The knurls are thinner than conventional two sided knurls and minimize fluting to the web.

Abstract: This invention relates to making backwindable rod shaped batts or logs from highly oriented flash-spun continuous fibers. The fibers are conducted from the exit of a spinneret through a tunnel and into a two stage diverging nozzle to slow down the fibers for an organized collection in the collection section. The invention further includes an inflatable bladder in a discharge section for initiating the formation of the log and a mesh screen in the collection section for reducing the occurrence of fiber blow out through the gas discharge ports.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness and flatness characteristics for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of opposed milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown for lining a tubular member with an elastomeric liner having an outside diameter which is initially greater than the inside diameter of the tubular member. A series of downsizing rollers reduce the outside diameter of the liner a preselected amount. A series of shaping rollers form the downsized liner into an ellipse, thereby allowing the downsized liner to be guided around bends and turns into the interior of the tubular member. After insertion, the liner is allowed to expand to substantially its original outside diameter to secure the liner within the tubular member.

Abstract: There is provided by this invention a least three integrated regions, each region having wherein the density and fluid affinity of the composite continuously increases from top to bottom thereby facilitating effective fluid transport and efficient utilization of storage capacity. An additional layer of SA and tissue may be provided to the absorbent product to provide an absorbent structure with dry feel and low stain. Methods of forming integrated, multi-layered absorbent composites and structures comprising at least three regions wherein each region has distinct density and fluid affinity gradients and wherein the density and fluid affinity of the composite continuously increases from top to bottom, are also provided herein.

Abstract: A packing material having a resilient core and a uniform non-seamed exterior surface comprising a plurality of discrete compressible particles attached to the flexible core and to each other, the particles being compressed after attachment. The method comprises surrounding the flexible elongate core with a plurality of powder-like particles which together feed through a plurality of aligned pairs of feed groove rollers. The core, with the attached particles, wraps under tension around an arcuate sector of a cylinder or wheel passing between a pair of spaced-apart walls. A roller pushes against the core to compress the powder particles together and to bias the length of packing material into a spiral coil.

Abstract: Apparatus for the thermoforming of hollow objects at a base comprises thermoforming of the objects from a sheet of thermoplastics material in a half of a double female mould that can be moved between a forming area against a male die and a discharge area to one or the other side of the forming area. The thermoformed objects are transferred from the discharge area onto a plurality of receiving formers moving sequentially stepwise along a track. One or more processing or handling operations are performed on the objects while the formers are stationary.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for forming ribs with sideward projections in a plastic pipe. The projections are formed by means of elongated rolls (10) each moving around the pipe and rotating about its central axis, the rolls being in an inclined position and at an oblique angle with respect to the central axis of the pipe.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting and/or decurling a strip of photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a plurality of rollers and a drum. A belt is wrapped about the plurality of rollers and are positioned such that the belt forms a receiving pocket for holding and retaining the drum and for rotating the drum about its axis. At least one of the plurality of rollers being connected to a drive mechanism so as to move the belt about the rollers so as to cause the drum to rotate about its axis of rotation. The belt is in direct contact with the outer surface of the drum for a predetermined distance about the circumference of the drum forming a first film path. The first film path has an entrance for receiving film and an exit for allowing film to leave the film path. A heater may be provided which is associated with the heating drum for heating the drum to a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to a continuous flow process of mold making or die making using a reusable bondable mixture substance to make selected finished products.

Abstract: A method for making plastic case blanks is disclosed. A molten plastic material is passed through a nip of a first, preforming pair of molding cylinders to form a semi-solidified sheet having a first thickness, The semi-solidified sheet is then molded to form a final sheet having a second, uniform thickness less than the first thickness and the final sheet is scored to form folding scores and cut to form a plurality of the blanks. The molding, scoring and cutting are simultaneously performed by passing the semi-solidified sheet through a nip of a second pair of cylinders. One of the second pair of cylinders has scoring means for forming the folding scores in the final sheet and cutting means for cutting the final sheet to form the plurality of the blanks and the other of the second pair of cylinders has recess means complementary to the cutting means for receiving the cutting means and effectuating the cutting.

Abstract: A process and a plant for the continuous production of particleboards and fiberboards, in which a particle mat of a mixture of large-area oriented wood particles and a phenolic resin binder is scattered onto a conveyor, moistened with steam, preheated, and pressed between heated press platens of a continuously operating press using pressure and heat to form a particleboard or a fiberboard.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in connection with the strapping of packages or the like, is disclosed. A sheet workpiece is conducted into a nip defined between a pair of milling and stretching rollers wherein one of the rollers is rotated at a lineal surface velocity which is greater than the lineal surface velocity of the other roller, and the rollers are rotated in opposite directions. One of the rollers effectively brakes or retards one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece while the other one of the rollers effectively accelerates the other one of the surfaces of the sheet workpiece as the workpiece passes through the nip defined between the rollers whereby the workpiece is simultaneously milled and stretched.

Abstract: A coextruded, multilayer polymeric film having a core layer including a surfactant and at least one outer layer is placed on a forming structure. The forming structure moves in a direction parallel to the direction of travel of the multilayer film and carries the multilayer film in that direction. A fluid pressure differential is applied across the thickness of the multilayer film along the direction of movement of the forming structure. The fluid pressure differential is sufficiently great to cause the multilayer film to conform with the forming structure forming a formed polymeric web. The formed polymeric web is exposed to a temperature which is sufficiently great enough to allow the surfactant in the core layer to migrate to the outer layer to form a surfactant treated formed polymeric web.

Abstract: A thin soft film material having fibers and/or particulates embedded therein is disclosed. A process for effecting such embedding utilizing hydrosonics is also disclosed.

Abstract: In the manufacture of reinforced composites having reinforcing filaments within a matrix, a filament consisting of a staple yarn spun from discontinuous fibers with low twist is subject to controlled stretching to vary the weight per unit length of the yarn along the length of the yarn. Apparatus for performing the stretching operation comprises two roll pairs spaced apart along the yard feed path and rotated at controlled relative speeds to obtain the desired elongation of the yarn. The yarn may be used directly in producing a composite, e.g., by applying resin to the yarn and winding it onto a mandrel or former, or it may be used to prepare a perform, prepeg tape, woven fabric or the like to be used in the production of a shaped composite. The invention makes it possible to vary the characteristics, e.g., thickness and/or strength, over a composite in a way not previously possible.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for manufacturing a strip of ski-coating material made of polyethylene of ultra high molecular weight, wherein a ski-coating strip material 4 manufactured to a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 mm by a screw extruder, a ram extruder or press sintering with subsequent peeling is made to pass continuously first through a heating zone 1 in which it is heated to temperature above 140.degree. C. and then through a cooling zone consisting of two sizing plates 2, 2' in which it is cooled to a temperature equal to or lower than ambient. This process produces a ski coating of which the crystalline proportion can be adjusted within a range of 25 and 60%, as a result of which improved gliding by the ski coating on snow and improved wax acceptance is assured in comparison with the known methods.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a composite thread formed of a plurality of filaments combined with a thermoplastic organic material, which consists in mechanically entraining a thread in a device mounted in the manner of a cross head at the end of an extruder and injecting the material in the direction of the thread and concentrically thereto at a constant maximum radial pressure of less than 50 bars.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a support for a filtration medium comprising passing a sheet of nonwoven fibrous polymeric material having first and second sides through a calender which comprises a nondeformable roll and a resilient roll, the nondeformable roll being maintained at a temperature below the melting temperature of the material, so as to increase the smoothness of the first side of the material which contacted the resilient roll. A filtration medium support material prepared in accordance with the method of the present invention, as well as a filter comprising a filtration medium and that filtration medium support material, are also provided by the present invention.

Abstract: A continuously working press includes first and second flexible, endless steel belts which are guided around a press table and a press ram via drive drums and return drums and which are supported on a plurality of roller bars. Each of two entry systems has an entry area which extends from an entry tangent to a starting point of a high pressure area and which is divided into a roller bar orientation area, a curved precompression area for the material to be pressed, and a straight compression area. The last third of the roller bar orientation area and all of the precompression area of each of the entry systems have a radius of curvature R.sub.E which is between one and two times the radius of curvature of the return drums R.sub.U. A plurality of computer-controlled hydraulic supporting members support the first and second entry systems and apply a pressure to the material to be pressed. The applied pressure increases constantly from 0 bar at the entry tangent up to a maximum pressure HP.sub.

Abstract: A method of producing high modulus and high strength products of polyethylene and other thermoplastic polymers by swelling with a suitable solvent a melt crystallized, or compacted powder morphology to form a pseudo-gel, drying the pseudo-gel, compressing it, and drawing it. The optimum process involves swelling the initial morphology in the form of a tape/ribbon/rod/monofilament/sheet/tube in a non-volatile solvent at temperatures near the polymer crystalline melting point, cooling the morphology under controlled conditions, lightly compressing it to remove the non-volatile solvent, extracting the non-volatile solvent by volatile solvent, removing the volatile solvent by evaporation or vacuum, compressing the morphology between rolls, and then stretching it at temperatures below the crystalline melting point of the polymer to obtain tapes, ribbons, monofilaments, sheets or tubes with improved mechanical properties.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing an oriented plastic strap having a predetermined desired thickness for use in strapping packages and the like is passed between a pair of cylinders or rollers placed closely together at a desired nip for reducing the thickness of the sheet. One roller is rotated at a faster lineal rate of speed than the other, and the rollers rotate in opposite directions. This apparatus and method achieves milling and stretching of the material substantially simultaneously at the nip of the rollers.

Abstract: A method for the continuous production of boards made from feedstock includes A) providing a continuously operating press with an entry adjustment device being movable to define a variable angle entry gap through which the board passes such that the board is subject to compression forces, the variable angle entry gap defined by at least first and second independently variable angle entry gap portions, the first and second portions being flexibly connected and the second portion being flexibly connected at least to one of the heating plates of the press table and press ram; B) moving the feedstock through the variable angle entry gap; C) setting the first independent variable entry gap at a first angular value which falls in a first range from approximately 0.5.degree. to approximately 5.0.degree.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming composite tows of uniform width comprises a tow tensioner mechanism which carries a reel having a length of tow of non-uniform width, a tow sizing unit, a drive roller unit and a tow winding device. A single tow is fed from the tensioner mechanism to the tow sizing unit where the side-to-side or width dimension of the tow is sized, and then the sized tow is transmitted through the drive roller unit to the tow winding device which winds the sized tow onto a reel. The tow sizing unit includes a rotatable sizing wheel having a circumferential flanged groove, and a presser roller, which cooperate to confine the tow on all four sides, i.e., top, bottom and opposed side edges, as the tow is pressed therebetween to form a finished, sized tow having a substantially uniform width.