Abstract: An apparatus for extrusion forming a sheet product having an extruder assembly with a sheet die through which a flowable material is delivered and a roll stand assembly made up of a roll stack sub-assembly and a sheet take-off sub-assembly. The roll stack assembly has first and second rolls between which a nip location is defined at which flowable material from the sheet die is delivered. The sheet take-off sub-assembly produces an advancing force upon a first sheet component made up of at least the first sheet layer. The roll stand assembly further has a coating system for applying a coating component to a surface on at least one sheet component advancing through the apparatus. The roll stand assembly is constructed to be reconfigured thereby to change a path traveled by the at least one sheet component and facilitate selective application of the coating component.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for hydrodischarging and hydrocharging substrates and articles to produce enhanced ability to avoid attraction of contaminants or improved capability of removing contaminants from fluids are disclosed. In another form the method involves removal of electric charges or neutralization of charge on or within substrates. Also disclosed are methods of making using electret substrates and articles for removing particulates and mists from fluid streams.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of making articles of semiconducting material and semiconducting material articles formed thereby, such as articles of semiconducting material that may be useful in making photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for hydrodischarging and hydrocharging substrates and articles to produce enhanced ability to avoid attraction of contaminants or improved capability of removing contaminants from fluids are disclosed. In another form the method involves removal of electric charges or neutralization of charge on or within substrates. Also disclosed are methods of making using electret substrates and articles for removing particulates and mists from fluid streams.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention is that of manufacturing apparatuses for automatically making sausages. The present invention relates to a coated food product, in particular a sausage, to a composition for coating the food product, to a method of coating food products, and to apparatus enabling the method to be implemented. The method comprises in succession the following steps: a sausage of raw sausage meat, puree, or paste is molded by being passed through a tubular mold; the mold is cut up into segments having ends that are preferably rounded; the segments are moved while being covered in a first composition containing sodium alginate so as to coat the segments in a film of this first composition; and the coated segments are put into contact with a second composition containing a calcium salt in order to cause a gel of calcium alginate to be formed, coating the segments.

Abstract: A method of performing imprint lithography of a surface substrate includes a stamper having a thin lubricant coating thereon to facilitate release of the stamper from the imprinted surface to reduce degradation of image replication. Embodiments of the invention include stampers suitable for use in patterning servo information on magnetic recording media having a lubricant coating of from about 1 nm to about 20 nm.

Abstract: A method of performing imprint lithography of a surface substrate includes a stamper having a thin lubricant coating thereon to facilitate release of the stamper from the imprinted surface to reduce degradation of image replication. Embodiments of the invention include stampers suitable for use in patterning servo information on magnetic recording media having a lubricant coating of from about 1 nm to about 20 nm.

Abstract: An impression mold includes a main body and a detachable segment. The main body has an obverse bearing a first intaglioed pattern, and is formed with an opening defined in the obverse thereof. The segment has an obverse bearing a second intaglioed pattern and has a shape complementary to the opening of the main body. Therefore, a complete pattern is formed by the two intaglioed patterns when the segment is fitted in the opening of the main body.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process of forming a prepreg material having substantially no voids. According to the process of the invention, the reinforcing material is heated to a temperature above the temperature of the impregnating resin. The prepreg formed has substantially no voids and does not require lengthy consolidation when formed into useful articles.

Abstract: A gel coating method comprising making a mold (27), which has both a gelatinizer impermeability or a slight gelatinizer impermeability and a hardening agent permeability, retain a hardening agent (26) thereon beforehand by immersing the mold (27) in the hardening agent (26) and taking out the mold (27) therefrom, placing a gelatinizer (30) and an object to be sealed (9) in the resultant mold (27), allowing the hardening agent (26) to permeate through the mold (27) as a whole by immersing the mold in the hardening agent (26) again, and uniformly hardening the gelatinizer (30), which is around the object to be sealed (9), from the portion thereof which contacts the mold (27), whereby the object to be sealed (9) is rendered easily removable as gel-coated object (9a) from the mold (27).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a passenger airbag housing using a continuous flow or constant cross-section process, the process will enable maximum design flexibility when multiple materials are capable of being used. The method will have a short design and tooling lead-time providing lean processing and a common footprint over a family of designs. A method of structurally reinforcing a passenger air bag housing by inserting a structural member into the continuous flow or constant cross-section process.

Abstract: A coating of drystuff particles on the outside of an ice dome projecting from a cone is effected by pressing down the inversed cone against a spherical resilient membrane having a overlying layer of a particulate material. The invention proposes to coat the domes projecting further from the cone with the use of compressed air for pressing the membrane against the dome surface and by arranging for a vertical movement of the membrane relative to the overlying layer of the particle material.

Abstract: A method of continuously draw-molding a fiber reinforced plastic rod formed with a spiral groove includes the steps of arranging in parallel a plurality of reinforcing fibers under tension, impregnating an unhardened thermosetting resin in the reinforcing fibers with tension being applied to the reinforcing fibers, winding a tape having a resin impregnable property and an expandible and contractible property around a fiber bundle composed of the thermosetting resin impregnated reinforcing fibers in a spiral fashion with a winding angle being substantially equal to an angle of the spiral groove with respect to an axial direction of a rod to be molded, passing the fiber bundle with the wound tape in a heating mold provided with a hole having a cross section substantially equal to that of the rod to be molded to heat and harden the thermosetting resin, and taking up the tape thereafter.

Abstract: A distinctive technique for making porous fiber includes a stretching of a substantially continuous fiber while the fiber is in an operative association with an effective quantity of surface-active material. The fiber can be produced from a source material which includes a thermoplastic, orientable material and at least about 0.35 weight percent (wt %) of a supplemental material. In particular configurations of the invention, the fiber may be contacted with a first quantity of surface-active fluid and at least a separate, second quantity of surface-active fluid. In other configurations, the fiber may be subjected to an additional incremental stretching.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing stretched yarns.

Abstract: An apparatus used in connection with the construction of a duroplastic, fiber-reinforced article a fibrous web which includes continuously impregnating the web under subatmospheric pressure with a liquid, curable resin composition whose viscosity is gradually increasing. The prepreg thus obtained is covered on both its major surfaces by thin polymer sheets, then cut into the desired length, vacuum molded, pre-cured in the mold and finally cured outside the mold. Construction parts, car parts and boat bodies may thus be produced.

Abstract: Movable barriers as well as auxiliary movable barriers are provided in a trough filled with a liquid forming a monomolecular film thereon. The barriers are driven with a constant positional relationship maintained therebetween to prevent disturbances from occurring in the flow of the monomolecular film. Thus, the monomolecular film is transferred to a substrate with a uniform molecular density. The substrate preferably has a width equal to the length of the movable barriers and the distance between the auxiliary movable barriers.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating integral three-dimensional objects from successive layers of photoformable compositions by exposing the layers of the composition through a detachable flexible transparent film, one side of the film being in contact with the composition and the other side of the film with a rigid transparent plate, which guides and supports the film.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the uniformity of wall thickness of an article having a high aspect ratio horizontal cross section and produced from a parison in a blow molding process whereby a barrier layer is applied to a selected area of the outer surface of each parison prior to its introduction into the blow molding apparatus, the barrier layer being effective to prevent premature freezing of the blown parison upon contact with a wall of the blow molding apparatus. The barrier layer application apparatus includes a generally contoured pad coupled to a supply of the barrier material, the pad being situated to contact a selected portion of each parison prior to its introduction into the blow molding apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the uniformity of wall thickness of an article having a high aspect ratio horizontal cross section and produced from a parison in a blow molding process is disclosed. A barrier layer is applied to a selected area of the outer surface of each parison prior to its introduction into the blow molding apparatus, the barrier layer being effective to prevent premature freezing of the blown parison upon contact with a wall of the blow molding apparatus. The barrier layer application apparatus includes a generally contoured pad coupled to a supply of the barrier material, the pad being situated to contact a selected portion of each parison prior to its introduction into the blow molding apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing capsules which causes a solution of thermo-gelling material to gelatinize, and then drys the gel, whereby the process of manufacturing capsules is less affected by drying conditions, thus providing capsules of uniform wall thickness without wrinkles. In the apparatus of this invention, circulating capsule pins are dipped in the solution of thermo-gelling material, thus the solution adheres to the pins, and, the pins are rotated upside down, thus thickness of the solution adhering to the pins becomes uniform. Then, the pins are retained in the vessel maintained at a higher temperature than the gelling temperature of the solution, and the solution adhering to the pins is accelerated to gelatinization. The formed gel is dried in a drying device, and the dried gel bodies, i.e. capsules, are removed from the capsule pins.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously transporting and dipping patterns in a process wherein patterns of a desired shape are dipped in and coated with a liquid that subsequently forms a thin membrane thereon. The apparatus includes an endless roller chain assembly that carries a number of pattern carrier assemblies through a linear dipping span. Each pattern carrier assembly includes a vertical track attached to the roller chain assembly and a carrier arm slidably connected to the track for vertical movement therein between a raised position and a lowered position. A pattern support bar is connected to the carrier arm and extends perpendicular to the dipping span of the roller chain assembly. Two or more parallel rows of patterns are suspended from the pattern support bar with their maximum width dimension extending perpendicular to the bar and with the patterns of each row being closely spaced to the patterns of the adjacent row so that at least two rows are transported simultaneously by the same carrier arm.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the impregnation of a continuous length of multifilament or multifiber yarns with a molten thermoplastic polymeric resin includes a member for spreading the multifilaments or multifibers apart during their immersion in a bath of the molten resin. The shape, configuration and location of the member facilitates the homogeneous impregnation, particularly with highly viscous melts, to produce a uniform and thorough encapsulation of the filaments or fibers.

Abstract: Apparatus for the impregnation of a continuous length of multifilament or multifiber yarns with a molten thermoplastic polymeric resin includes a pair of convex/concave (mating) surfaces for spreading the multifilaments or multifibers apart during their immersion in a bath of the molten resin. The shape, configuration and location of the surfaces facilitates homogeneous impregnation, particularly with highly viscous metls, to produce a uniform and thorough encapsulation of the filaments or fibers.

Abstract: An in situ fiberization apparatus for continuously fiberizing belt shaped substrates by impregnation with fibrous material formed from fiber forming polymer solutions. The apparatus includes a belt substrate which is continually passed through a fiber forming solution at a constant rate. During passage of the substrate belt through the fiber forming solution, the apparatus provides continual oscillation of the belt. The oscillating or reciprocating motion of the belt substrate produces the conditions for flow-induced crystallization of fibers around and throughout the substrate material to thereby produce a fiber reinforced substrate.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously and rapidly forming trays of highly uniform elastomeric soil plugs comprises means for continuously mixing a water-containing soil slurry with a water-reactive pre-polymer compound, means for supplying the soil slurry and the pre-polymer compound to the mixing means at respective controlled rates, and means for delivering the mixed soil slurry and pre-polymer compound to a dispensing station for dispensing into mold receptacles; the receptacles are disposed in a closed path and carried by transport means seriatim past the dispensing station. Releasable bias means biases a tray mold member against a base mold member within each receptacle so as to extrude soil-pre-polymer mixture into plug-molding cavities of the tray mold member. The bias means is released after the plugs within the tray mold member have cured.

Abstract: Reinforced facings, including reinforcing webs entrained in hydraulic cement via a slurry bath, adhere to a nailable lightweight aggregate cementitious core to form a panel web. The reinforced web is formed on abutting conveyed carrier sheets, and the web is transversely cut, between the sheets, while moving or when stopped, in response to sensing of the sheets. The cut panels, on respective sheets are stacked for curing without damaging the panel edges and in a manner to minimize panel flex. Slurry bath, facing applicators, and cutter and stacking apparatus are included.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacture of milk chocolate-coated toffee candy pieces that comprises a toffee header with means connected to the header for heating a mass of toffee to a softened temperature sufficient to permit portions of it to be pulled from the mass. The header has spaced orifices for the toffee to exit as strands. A rotary toffee forming device is mounted beneath the orifices. Means is provided for reciprocating the header back and forth with the fine toffee strands being drawn from the orifices by the rotary movement of the rotary toffee forming device. Means is provided for transversely severing outer ends of the axially moving lengths of cores with consecutive cuts to form successive toffee pieces of toffee cores. A chocolate coating bath is provided for first immersing the bottoms of the toffee cores in a bath of milk chocolate and then for flooding chocolate over the tops of the cores to completely coat the cores.

Abstract: A plurality of reinforced plastic parts are simultaneously molded from separate bundles of resin impregnated strands wound about individual frame sections of a substantially planar frame assembly. A loading station includes a dual-acting elongated carrier engaging the multi-sectioned frame assembly and initially rotatable to wind the bundle of strands thereon. Subsequent reciprocation of the carrier delivers the wound frame assembly to a molding station provided with a plurality of mating pairs of molded sections and having displaceable frame supporting and bundle clamping assemblies for engaging the wound frame assembly and severing opposite ends of the bundles as the mold sections close within the individual frame sections.

Abstract: A reinforced plastic product is molded from a bundle of resin impregnated strands with the bundle being sequentially advanced from a supply station to a molding station by two pairs of clamping assemblies simultaneously reciprocating in opposite directions with the forward moving pair gripping the bundle and pulling it to the molding station as the rearward moving pair is shuttled back past the forward moving pair toward the supply station to grip the bundle prior to molding of the forward gripped bundle.

Abstract: Apparatus as set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,796,781 for the production of quenched tubes of plastics materials, wherein the peripheral portions of the caibrating disc assembly that contact the wall of the tube during operation of the apparatus comprise a liquid absorbent material.

Abstract: A production line for the manufacture of (unreinforced, reinforced or prestressed) concrete comprising concrete casting means, a circuit for hardening it and means for removing the hardened elements. It includes a chain of floats adapted to be moved in a moat of liquid and means for placing the concrete elements which have just been cast, on said floats, which by moving in the moat, transport the concrete elements through the hardening circuit, means being provided to bring back the floats to the concrete casting means. The installation is applied in the manufacture of piles, posts for electric cables, slabs, beams, panels and curbs.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a protective glove, there is provided a mold having two parts interconnected to be moved into open and closed positions. There is also provided an inner glove lining, and each part of the mold is covered with it. The mold, in closed position, is dipped in a bath of protective coating material, removed therefrom, and exposed to initial draining of an excess of coating material. Thereafter, the mold is opened and the draining is completed, while portions of the coating material are retained and gelled.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for fabricating continuously a solidified elongated rod or hollow shapes of various geometric cross sections of fiber reinforced plastic having a smooth surface. A plurality of strand-like fibers are wetted with a liquid, heat-hardenable plastic, the fibers are collected together into a plastic-wetted bundle, the bundle is continuously, in intermittent steps, passed through an elongated die, the die being heated in sequential zones of progressively increasing temperature so as to harden the plastic by the time the bundle emerges in rod form from the die. The bundle is moved through the die intermittently, dwelling for a predetermined time at rest, then moved an incremental distance, permitted to dwell again, until the hardened bundle eventually emerges from the die. The various heated zones of the die serve to initiate and carry the hardening of the plastic to a predetermined point at which the bundle is moved and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: A continuous fiber reinforced pultruded rod-like reinforcing element is disclosed. This rod-like element includes at least one groove and/or protrusion along its length, with the continuous reinforcing fibers in the protrusions or surrounding the grooves generally conforming to the pattern of the outer surface of the rod. Preferably, the protrusions and/or grooves form a generally helical pattern on the surface of the rod. The rods formed by the instant invention have utility in reinforcing such structures as concrete, mine roofs, plastics and the like. Also disclosed are methods and apparatus for producing these stock materials.

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a method of and apparatus for producing and processing frozen confections or desserts wherein bodies or discs of frozen confection or dessert, such as ice cream, ice milk or other edible material mounted on sticks are advanced through successive stations at which method steps are performed in which a chocolate composition in liquid form is sprayed onto the frozen bodies, the chocolate-coated bodies advanced a sufficient distance whereby the chocolate coating is congealed under the influence of the reduced temperature of the bodies, the coated bodies then subjected to controlled heat to render the chocolate coating in a softened, tacky or viscous condition and advancing the coated bodies through a chamber in which particulate edible materials, such as chopped nuts, nut pieces, fragments of edible cake or the like are impinged against the softened chocolate coating whereby a substantial amount of chopped nuts, nut pieces, cake fragments or the like are adhered to the chocolate coating.

Abstract: A system for the production of dipped taper candles, including an overhead conveyor system supporting mobile carrier racks for formation of the candles in suspended relation from the rack, and including a wicking station for providing rows of candle wicks in generally tensioned suspended relation from a carrier rack, a dipping station for automatically dipping said wicks on the rack through a predetermined number of dipping cycles, a cutoff station for cutting off the bases including the wick tensioning weights of the candles suspended from the carrier rack, a butt forming station for heat forming the cut butt ends of candles suspended from the carrier rack, and a cut down station for expeditiously cutting down the carrier rack rows of the candles formed on the candle wicks and for collecting the same for further processing. The invention also provides a novel method of producing physically uniform candles in mass production batches.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device used in capsule-making machines which, after the gelatin has cured, strips it off the tapered forming pin. More particularly, the device is a plastic ring having a spring metal split ring insert embedded therein along with an external anti-creep spring to maintain proper dimension of the device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the continuous manufacture of structural shapes are disclosed. Mineral fiber material in the form of continuous strands, webs, or mats, impregnated with a heat-hardenable resin, is passed through a dielectric heater. The material is shaped as it passes through metallic dies that are disposed within the dielectric heater. The electric field between the electrodes of the heater is reduced or shunted at the location of the dies. The heater is arranged so that the maximum electrical field occurs adjacent the entrance to the heater.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for making articles of footwear by the so-called dipping process. The system comprises placing under a last a mould for a sole and/or heel. When the last and mould are dipped in molten plastics material, the material solidifies to form a thin skin on the last in the usual way and is contained in the mould until it sets to form the relatively heavy sole and/or heel. The mould contains the molten plastics either by virtue of being provided with peripheral walls or, for thinner soles, by virtue of friction preventing the molten material from escaping. The mould may be constituted by an element to which the plastics material adheres and becomes part of the sole unit. SUThis invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel method of manufacturing footwear.Having regard to the antiquity of the art of manufacturing footwear a relatively recent innovation is the moulding of a complete shoe, boot or the like as a homogeneous unit, i.e.

Abstract: A series of articulated product gripper mechanisms are mounted on a continuously operating pickup conveyor having a reach adjacent the product transfer zone of a continuously operating transport conveyor that has cold plates running through a freezing tunnel. The gripper mechanisms are employed to transfer frozen confections such as ice cream bars, ice cream cones, ice cream cups, and stickless or stick novelties from the transport conveyor cold plates to the pickup conveyor. Each gripper mechanism includes replaceable gripping tongs or fingers appropriate to the particular type of confection being handled, and is operable to pick up the moving confection, invert and dip the confection in a coating bath and in a dry confection applicator, and release the coated confection in predetermined orientation onto the inlet conveyor of an associated wrapping machine.

Abstract: A flooring member for use in constructing a floor surface comprising an elongated structural member having at least one, relatively flat, vertically-extending support portion enabling said flooring member to withstand relatively heavy loads without substantial bending, said flooring member consisting essentially of glass fiber reinforcements and a suitable polyester. Preferably the member is constructed by pultrusion and includes a top portion having a substantially flat upper surface suitable for forming the floor surface, the support portion being integrally connected to the bottom of the top portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device used in capsule-making machines which, after the gelatin has cured, strips it off the tapered forming pin. More particularly, the device is a plastic ring having a spring metal split ring insert embedded therein along with an external anti-creep spring to maintain proper dimension of the device.