Abstract: A process is provided for simultaneously attaching surface-mount (SM) integrated circuit (IC) devices (12) and chip-on-board (COB) IC devices (22) to a circuit board (10) using a combined solder reflow and adhesive cure thermal cycle. The process generally entails placing SM and COB devices (12, 22) on the circuit board (10), such that a suitable solder composition (14) and adhesive (24) are present between the circuit board (10) and the SM and COB devices (12, 22), respectively. The circuit board (10) and devices (12, 22) are then heated so as to simultaneously cure the adhesive (24) and reflow the solder composition (14). A preferred heating step entails at least one thermal cycle that attains a peak temperature well above the cure temperature of the adhesive (24), as well as above the melting or liquidus temperature of the solder composition (14). Accordingly, the thermal cycle is employed to cure the adhesive (24) well outside its conventional cure limits.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing insulating glass units is disclosed that comprises delivering a succession of high temperature insulating glass units from an oven and a press, moving successive IGUs along a travel path with the major surfaces of each IGU extending substantially parallel to the major surfaces of adjacent IGUs, establishing an IGU cooling station on the travel path, moving the IGUs into heat exchange relationship with a fluent cooling medium at the cooling station to reduce the IGU temperature, and thereafter closing and sealing a vent opening of each IGU. Successive IGUs are moved along the travel path with their major surfaces disposed in substantially vertical planes and successive IGUs disposed in closely spaced relation. The cooling station comprises at least a blower for directing cooling medium onto IGUs moving through the cooling station. The blower directs cooling medium onto the IGUs in a direction parallel to the major surfaces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing electrical conductivity between the opposing surface edges of gaps and joints in composite and metallic structures comprises fiber flocking a first and second set of conductive fibers in a direction normal to the surface edge of each side of the gap or joint. The first and second set of conductive fibers are positioned such that the conductive fibers interdigitate with respect to each other providing a compliant electrically conductive path between the opposing surface edges of the structural gaps and joints. After assembly, the defined joint or gap containing the interdigitated sets of carbon fibers may be filled with a polymer material or materials which constitute state of the art matrix materials used for conductive joints. Applications for this technology include electromagnetic shielding and low observables.

Abstract: A tire is provided including a subtread, a plurality of tread elements extending a height "H", and a circumferential groove in the tread having a depth greater than tread element height "H" and extending into the subtread of the tire. Most preferably the groove is bounded by continuous circumferential ribs which close the groove to prevent drainage of fluid to the tread edge and reduce the amount of noise generated by the tread. The ribs also radially reinforce the tread in the region of the groove and aid in providing the tread with a uniform road engaging surface for maximum wear life. Preferably, the tire includes a belt package for reinforcing substantially the entire width of the tread.

Abstract: A ply server for applying a preselected length of ply material drawn from a supply roll thereof onto a tire carcass building drum. The desired length of ply material is measured by a programmable mechanism, then severed at the length desired. The incoming ply material is center guided onto the ply conveyor, or (optionally) a transverse scanner device is used to determine the location of the longitudinal centerline of the length of ply material. The carcass building drum is precisely located with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the ply material. At the opposite end of the server, there is a receptor arrangement into which a cart bearing the supply roll can be brought to the server and the ply material fed into the server, with the separator for the rolled uncured ply material being rewound as part of the material pay-out process.

Abstract: A fiber placement head for a fiber placement machine of the type in which a number of individual resin-impregnated fiber tows or "towpregs" are fed at independent rates from a creel assembly for application as a fiber band onto the surface of a mandrel includes cooling chutes for each fiber tow which reduces their temperature to reduce the tack of the tows. A cut, clamp and restart mechanism is provided wherein the cutting and clamping operations are performed by a unitary knife blade and clamping block, and the restart or rethreading of cut tows is obtained by the engagement of a pinch roller with a continuously rotating rethread shaft which are operative independently of the movement of the fiber placement head relative to the mandrel. The tows are pressed or compacted onto the mandrel by a compaction shoe, and feed and rewind rollers are provided to interpose a protective film between the compaction shoe and fiber band to avoid damage to the tows.

Abstract: A multiple-ply tire carcass building apparatus is described. A collapsible/expandable tire band applier is used to sequentially apply a plurality of cylindrical tire bands onto a collapsible tire building drum to form the multiple-ply tire carcass. An air nozzle or a plurality of air jets are longitudinally extend over a portion of the longitudinal surface of the tire building drum and any tire bands thereon and is spatially separated therefrom for facilitating the placing of the tire band onto the tire building drum. Preferably, a selectively positionable light sensing means carried by an expandable with the band applier is utilized to automatically and accurately provide the band applier with an outer diameter slightly less to slightly greater than that of the tire building drum and any tire band thereon so that the tire band can be displaced from the band applier onto the tire building drum.

Abstract: A transfer robot comprises a carriage mounted headstock assembly, a main support disk mounted to the rotatable spindle of a headstock, an extention slide mounted to the support disk for motion transverse to the spindle, and a carrying fixture mounted to the outer end of the slide and having adjustable sets of spaced apart gripping arms for gripping and carrying a cylindrical tire carcass. A counterweight on the disk offsets the outboard weight of the extended slide and carrying fixture, and a carcass carried thereon, on the headstock spindle and its bearings. The robot is powered by programmable devices which sequence its operation to grasp and carry a carcass by its bead areas from a carcass supply station, in an arc, into alignment with the axis of a tire building drum, then the carcass is moved axially of that drum and located around it, after which the gripping arms release and retract, and the fixture is moved to a parked position.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a plurality of insulating glass assemblies, the method comprising the steps of providing a plurality of glass assemblies each including a pair of generally parallel, spaced glass panes having therebetween an endless spacer, the spacer and the panes defining an interior space between the panes and inside the spacer, and the spacer having therethrough a tortuous passage affording gas flow into and out of the space, placing the glass assemblies in a chamber, creating a vacuum in the chamber so as to remove substantially all of the air from the spaces, introducing into the chamber a gas having a coefficient of thermal conductivity lower than that of air so that the gas fills the spaces, removing the glass assemblies from the chamber, and closing the passages in the spacers.