Abstract: A planar diaphragm loudspeaker for use in a suspended ceiling grid and related methods of manufacturing are provided. The loudspeaker includes a rectangular, planar diaphragm of polymer material sized to fill an opening of the ceiling grid. The front surface of the diaphragm defines a three-dimensional, textured pattern formed by a secondary operation, such as, etching, perforating, and adhesion of granular or fiber material. The diaphragm may include an outer region about the periphery of the diaphragm having a density of at least 5 pcf and an inner region circumscribed by the outer region, thereby providing sufficient structural stiffness to the outside perimeter of the diaphragm and eliminating the need of an outer frame. The density of the inner region is at or below about 3 pcf throughout the inner region. Also, a shroud may secured to the diaphragm, in which the shroud and the diaphragm are securable in a first orientation for flush mounting or in a second orientation for tegular-drop mounting.

Abstract: A loudspeaker for vehicles having cabins, the loudspeaker including a diaphragm including a first, planar portion for radiating acoustic energy and a second, planar portion for transmitting vibrational energy from a voice coil driver to the first portion. The first portion is incorporated into an inner surface of the vehicle's cabin. The second portion extends from the first portion to a location outside of the cabin, where the voice coil driver is located.

Abstract: A mounting assembly for mounting a device, such as a loudspeaker enclosure, through an opening in a barrier, such as a ceiling or wall of a room, including a support for positioning on the back side of the barrier adjacent the barrier opening, and at least one spring having a first end attached to the support and a second end configured for freedom of movement. The spring is held in a set position by a set latch on the support until the device is inserted through the opening and selectively engages the spring, whereupon the second end of the spring is released to allow the spring force to act on the device in a manner tending to pull the device further through the opening, toward the back side of the barrier, and into a mounted position relative to the barrier. For dismounting the device, the second end of the spring may be inserted into a retaining latch on the support by selective engagement of the spring by the device.

Abstract: A frequency response compensation system for use with a planar diaphragm speaker mounted in an architectural wall, ceiling or sealed enclosure having a depth dimension limited by the interior depth of the ceiling, wall or enclosure. The compensation system combines signals derived from a modified high-pass filter stage, an unmodified signal path, and a gyrator stage so as to phase-interact with one another and provide a complex transfer function. An underdamped high-pass filter stage further enhances low bass performance. The frequency compensation system includes a main circuit board and a series of daughter boards that are adapted to be releasably connected to the main board. Each of the daughter boards contains a set of passive components having different component values that determine the specific response parameters of the various stages and circuits of the compensation system and is optimized for a specific planar speaker and enclosure combination.

Abstract: An improved planar diaphragm loudspeaker having a voice coil assembly coupled to the rear surface of a planar diaphragm formed of a pre-expanded cellular plastic material, in which a metal dissipator in the form of a disk is mounted between the voice coil assembly and the planar diaphragm to reduce the transfer of heat from the voice coil assembly to the planar diaphragm.

Abstract: A planar diaphragm loudspeaker incorporating a planar diaphragm having multiple sound producing regions, a support frame, and one or more electromagnetic drivers coupled to the sound producing regions on the rear surface of the diaphragm. A first sound producing region is formed generally centrally on the rear surface of the diaphragm, and second and third sound producing regions are formed on opposite sides thereof. The sound producing regions comprise raised portions on the rear surface of the diaphragm which are symmetrical about both first and second orthogonal axes for balance. Cross members extend between opposite sides of the support frame so as to overlay all of the sound producing regions to selectively mount separate electromagnetic drivers for coupling to each sound producing region, as well as to mount one or more anchors extending from the cross members to the perimeters of the second and third sound producing regions in order to isolate them from the first sound producing region.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus has a fluid-cooled nip roll which, in use, presses a hot, rapidly moving, endless printed and dried web into intimate contact with the first downstream chill roll while avoiding damage to the web, nip roll, or chill roll, and while avoiding ink picking by the web surface contacted by the nip roll. Employing the nip roll in the system also permits the use of a substantially shorter dryer and fewer chill rolls as compared to a conventional system operating at the same web speed. A coolant circuit for the nip roll preferably includes a warmup loop which temporarily circulates warm fluid through the nip roll when the system is first taken off-line, thereby preventing condensate formation or frost formation on the nip roll.

Abstract: A planar-type loudspeaker incorporating a substantially planar diaphragm constructed from a pre-expanded cellular plastic material, such as polystyrene, in which one or more balancing weights are embedded in a resilient material within recesses formed in the rear surface of the diaphragm. The resilient material enables the weights a degree of movement relative to the diaphragm, such that the weights can serve a counteractive function to help control the frequency response characteristic of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A nip roll presses a hot, rapidly moving, endless printed and dried paper web into intimate contact with the exterior surface of a first downstream chill roll so as to improve the cooling efficiency of the first downstream chill roll, permit the use of fewer chill rolls, and prevent condensate streaking. The nip roll is specially designed to press the web into intimate contact with the first downstream chill roll while avoiding damage to the web, nip roll, or chill roll, and while avoiding ink picking on the web surface contacted by the nip roll. The nip roll has an elastomeric outer peripheral surface and is internally cooled so as to maintain the outer peripheral surface at an equilibrium temperature below that at which ink softening and resultant picking could occur. By eliminating concerns of condensate streaking, the nip roll also permits dryer operation at relatively low temperatures, thereby substantially reducing operating costs.

Abstract: An offset printing apparatus has a fluid-cooled nip roll which, in use, is placed in intimate contact with a hot, rapidly moving, endless printed and dried paper web so as to improve the cooling efficiency of the first downstream chill roll, permit the use of fewer chill rolls, and avoid condensate streaking. The apparatus takes the form of a nip roll specially designed to press the web into intimate contact with the first downstream chill roll while avoiding damage to the web, nip roll, or chill roll, and while avoiding ink picking by the web surface contacted by the nip roll. Employing the nip roll in the system also permits the use of a substantially shorter dryer and fewer chill rolls as compared to a conventional system operating at the same web speed. The coolant circuit for the nip roll includes a warmup loop which temporarily circulates warm fluid through the nip roll when the system is first taken off-line, thereby preventing condensate formation or frost formation on the nip roll.

Abstract: A planar-type loudspeaker incorporating a substantially planar diaphragm constructed from a pre-expanded cellular plastic material, such as polystyrene, in which separate portions of the diaphragm have different densities. The higher density portion is designed for the reproduction of high frequencies, and the lower density section is used for the reproduction of low frequencies. In one embodiment, the diaphragm is formed by laminating together a pair of diaphragm members having the different densities to define a single sound producing region, to which a single voice coil assembly is coupled. In another embodiment, the diaphragm is formed as a unitary, one-piece structure having separate but contiguous sound producing regions, each with its own density material and voice coil assembly for reproducing a specified frequency range of sound.

Abstract: Apparatus including a single sided airfoil floater conveyor for floatingly conveying a running web of indeterminate length. The apparatus has a series of longitudinal air bars arranged in parallelism and spaced along the path of web movement. The bars have a rear edge and a perforated foil extends along and from the bar rear edge and terminates in a trailing edge. A tail plate extends along the foil trailing edge and away therefrom in a direction of web movement, and forms an air outlet opening with the next adjacent air bar for the exit of spent air. The tail plates act to maintain velocity of the air passing thereover and thereby results in a decrease of air pressure on the web and consequently tends to pull the web down. This inhibits the web from excessive floating and prevents uncontrolled instability and excessive fluttering of the web.

Abstract: A web threader assembly comprises at least one flexible stainless steel belt to which the leading edge of a web can be detachably affixed. The belt is conveyed through a web path extending through the dryer or other machine in which the web travels, is guided by a plurality of pulleys and tensioning devices, and is positively driven through the dryer or other web processing machine by its own drive system. The belt is extremely thin and thus permits tight sealing of the dryer or other machine requiring a threading operation and also requires no lubrication, and also can be easily cleaned and thus can be used in sterile environments. If the threader is to be used with a relatively wide web, two spaced apart belts are preferably provided and connected threader bar to which the web is attached. An electronic control system monitors operation of the threader assembly and terminates operation of the threader assembly upon breakage or jamming of the web or the belt.

Abstract: A contactless turning guide for floatingly suspending a running web in an arcuate path and comprising a housing having an arcuate surface extending in the direction of web travel, the guide also having leading and trailing edges, an air supply nozzle mounted adjacent and parallel to the leading and trailing edges and extending transversely of the path of the web over the arcuate surface, the nozzle acts to supply air over the arcuate surface, and a baffle extends from adjacent each of the edges and a direction away from the arcuate surface for increasing the velocity of waste air spilling off of the leading and trailing edges and thereby decreasing the pressure of waste air on the web outwardly from the guide.

Abstract: Web drying equipment, including a dryer through which a web passes, web drying nozzles within the dryer for directing heated air against the web, air supply header means in the dryer and in air delivering communication with the nozzles which discharge heated air toward the web for supporting and drying the web, an exhaust air duct extending from the interior of the dryer for conveying spent air therefrom. An exhaust flow rate control system is provided for controlling the rate of flow of the spent air from the dryer including (1) a valve in the exhaust duct for varying the rate of air flow from the dryer, (2) a controller for operating the valve, (3) a sensor located in the exhaust duct for measuring air pressure therein and for sending a corresponding signal to the controller, (4) a speed sensor for measuring the speed of the web passing through the dryer and sending a corresponding signal to the controller.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for continuously cooling a hot printed traveling web in order to set the ink thereon. The apparatus and method include a frame and a chill roll rotatably mounted thereon having a peripheral surface. A pressure roll is rotatably mounted on the frame and has a pressure applying surface in contact with the chill roll peripheral surface to define a web receiving nip. The printed web is passed into the nip. Liquid coolant is applied to the peripheral surface of the pressure roll prior to its entering the web nip during which time the pressure roll is cooled. A metering roll is rotatably mounted on the frame to place its peripheral surface in contact with the pressure applying surface to define a metering nip. The pressure in the metering nip is adjusted so that only a predetermined amount of coolant liquid remains on the pressure roll peripheral surface for contact with the web.

Abstract: A ventilating and impingement air bar assembly for floatingly suspending a running web and comprising a direct impingement air bar for directing air directly against the coated side of the running web, a dilution air bar mounted along each side of the impingement air bar and in parallelism therewith. The dilution air bars have an air nozzle slot directed generally parallel to and along the web and in a direction away from the direct impingement air bar. The dilution air bars also have a coanda corner over which the air from the slot is directed away from the web. An air supply is provided for supplying air selectively to the impingement air bar or to the dilution air bars.

Abstract: A high velocity web dryer which has a series of upper and lower air bars for floatingly suspending a running web as the web moves through the dryer. A hot air supplying system provides hot air to the bars for drying the web. The system includes a gas fired burner and a source of combustion air for the burner. A valve control is provided for controlling the admission of combustion air to the gas fired burner, and includes a movable valve for controllably admitting combustion air to the burner. The said valve control includes an initial air admitting valve for providing initial air through the valve control prior to partial opening of the valve control, to thereby provide a relatively smooth and excessive surge-free supply of air to the burner, whereby a stable air supply system in provided without oxygen starvation and without blowing out a flame of the burner.

Abstract: A turning guide for a running web and which guide has a curved guide surface with air slots therein and pressurized air supplied from a blower is delivered through a plenum to the guide to form a cushion of pressurized air which floatingly supports the web. An adjustable damper operated by a servomotor regulates air flow and controls the clearance spacing between the curved guide surface and the web. Control apparatus for the servomotor comprises an electronic control unit, including a memory and a central processing unit (CPU), to which are connected an ultrasonic signal generator, an ultrasonic signal receiver, temperature sensing devices located with the ultrasonic signal sensors, a sensor responsive to blower operation, and a sensor responsive to web presence. In operation, after a desired web clearance set-point is entered into the memory and blower operation and web presence are established, an ultrasonic signal from the signal generator is reflected off of the web to the signal receiver.

Abstract: An arcuate turning guide for a running web over which the running web is floatingly suspended on a cushion of air. The guide has a pair of air nozzle slots positioned transversely and spaced circumferentially apart from one another, the slots being directed toward one another for providing pressurized air to said air cushion. The air slots are defined in part by a nozzle knife which has a sharp nozzle defining edge and also has a heel edge, the guide has a pocket for securely receiving the knife heel edge, and an adjustment is provided for the sharp edge to vary the width of the nozzle slot. The guide has a pair of vane members, one located at each transverse end of the guide, and adjustable means are provided for selectively adjusting said vane members transversely toward and away from one another.