Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for slip-form casting a concrete product, the product being made from at least two different grades of concrete so that the concrete mix grade can be changed in an uninterrupted fashion during casting at a desired point along the length of the casting bed.

Abstract: Method for making flexible, noncarpeted thermoplastic articles, including floor mats. The method includes placing a flat slab of thermoplastic material in a cavity between first and second mold sections with each mold section having a mold surface for contacting a respective surface of the slab. The mold cavity is placed under vacuum and the mold sections are heated under compression to cause the thermoplastic material to heat and flow against the mold surfaces. The process further involves cooling the mold sections under compression and removing the floor mat from the mold sections. Vacuum is maintained in the mold cavity by way of a check valve device during transition from the heated compression apparatus to the cooled compression apparatus and during the cooled compression step. In this general manner, a floor mat formed with a Class A, textured finish and with a variable cross sectional thickness may be manufactured in a short cycle time.

Abstract: A brushless permanent-magnet direct current motor has a permanent magnet which is magnetized to create an offset angle between detent and mutual torques for providing sufficient starting torque for all relative orientations between the stator and the rotor of the motor. This is accomplished by providing a permanent magnet in which the global magnetization of the magnet has been disrupted by the application of a local magnetic field to a portion of the magnet, thereby to provide a magnetic anomaly in the global magnetization. Also, a method of magnetization of the magnet is described.

Abstract: A method for aperturing a laminate. The first step is to provide a laminate having at least one nonwoven web of thermoplastic fibers and at least one elastic member. The laminate is forwarded through a pressure biased nip having a relief patterned nip defining member having a plurality of pattern elements and a nip defining anvil member. The nip defining members are biased towards each other with a predetermined pattern-element loading. Each nip defining member is heated to a temperature that is sufficiently above the melt temperature of the thermoplastic fibers of the nonwoven web and above the melt temperature of the elastic member to enable aperturing of the laminate.

Abstract: An annular friction liner, especially for use in a friction device of a motor vehicle, is made by a method in which a straight strip of friction material, having a width substantially equal to the required final width of the liner, is deformed into a continuous ring.

Abstract: The target stroke amount calculation portion obtains an initial value of the target stroke amount of a punch according to bending information including workpiece condition of a workpiece to be bent, tool condition, target folding angle, and the like. The bending information setting portion sets the bending information in the workpiece bending simulation processing portion, in a specified form. The element breakdown calculation portion divides workpiece sectional image according to the bending information to a plurality of major portions and further divides these portions to detailed portions. The workpiece bending simulation processing portion virtually deforms the workpiece according to elastoplasticity finite element method corresponding to a virtual descent of the punch by the target stroke amount and obtains workpiece deformation image after a spring-back.

Abstract: A method of controlling lateral wandering of flattened tubular plastic film in gauge distribution apparatus in which gauge distribution is effected by passing a flattened tubular plastic film around at least one turning bar whose position with respect to the film is varied. The method comprises adjusting the position of a turning bar in response to a signal from the sensor which senses the position of one of the side edges of the flattened film before it is wound on a storage roll. When lateral wandering of the flattened tubular film is sensed, the position of the turning bar is varied until the sensor detects that the film has returned to its desired path.

Abstract: Sheet material which incorporates selected particulate is produced using a blown film die (1); polymer containing the selected particulate is supplied to the die inlet so that, when the polymer is extruded through the die and expanded to form a blown film (6), the selected particulate is incorporated in the blown film; and the selected particulate is added to a part only of the polymer supplied to the die, so that the particulate will be present in only a certain part, for example a surface, of the blown film and of sheet material produced from the blown film.

Abstract: A method by which to easily and inexpensively make a matched set of male and female embossing dies so that articles can be embossed in an arts and crafts environment. Upper and lower sheets of adhesive are applied to opposite faces of a substrate, and each adhesive layer is covered with a paper backing to form a sandwich with the substrate secured between the upper and lower sheets. A design to be embossed is then cut through the sandwich. A portion of the backing covering the upper adhesive sheet is removed to expose an area of the adhesive, and a first die plate is bonded to the upper sheet. A different portion of the backing covering the lower adhesive sheet is removed to expose an area of the adhesive, and a second die plate is bonded to the lower sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of pile-up lids, each of which comprises an upper wall (1) and an element (2) arranged around the perimeter of said upper wall (1) and which forms a lip (3) protruding above said upper wall (1), and skirt (4) extending below said upper wall (1). The apparatus is used for carrying out a process which includes bringing together in a synchronous manner external sector elements (9) and internal sector elements (10) in radially opposite directions so that, owing to the forced approach of the contact surfaces of the external and internal sector elements (9, 10) with said upper lip (3) of said lid interposed between them, a reeding pressure-moulding is obtained on both the inner and the outer surfaces of said upper lip (3), giving said lip (3) an outline to allow piling up on other similar lids.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for adapting speed, in particular for nippers (1) which can be made to travel along a rail arrangement (3), is distinguished by the following featuresa rotating and electrically conductive eddy-current body (17), preferably designed in the form of an eddy-current wheel or an eddy-current cylinder, is provided,the guide rail arrangement (3) runs at least over and away from a partial region of the eddy-current body (17) with a tangential component,on the carriages (1) which can be made to travel along the guide rail arrangement (3) there is provided or can be excited at least one magnet (7a, 7b), which is arranged on the side facing the eddy-current body (17) and, in the region of the eddy-current body (17), can be moved over and away from the eddy-current body (17), with an air gap being formed.

Abstract: A sculptor's pressure vessel having a frame, a pressure container and an expandable member for pushing the pressure container against a portion of the frame to seal the container. A pressurized gas supply is connected expandable member to inflate it and to push the pressure container against the top of the frame to seal the pressure container. The pressurized gas supply is also connected to the frame top to pressurize the pressure container when it is in sealed contact with the frame.

Abstract: A valve and method are provided wherein the valve has a membrane which is molded and cured in a naturally cupped or concave shape, but wherein the membrane is elastically inverted or deflected inside-out so that the direction of concavity is reversed. The membrane is positioned concentrically within a cylindrical or tubular dispensing spout so that the inverted membrane is cupped toward an exit direction of the spout. By inverting the membrane, a reliable radially-outward sealing bias is formed between a peripheral edge of the membrane against an interior of the tubular spout. When mounted on the bottom of a squeeze container, the valve is effective to dispense fluid from the container when squeezed, permit air to breathe back into the container after squeezing, and to sealably prevent leakage from the container.

Abstract: A method for forming a bend in a tube of thermoplastic material by heating a pre-formed bend to a pre-determined temperature and maintaining the temperature substantially constant by the pulsed emission of infra-red radiation from one or more infra-red sources in response to the surface temperature of the tube detected by a remote temperature sensor.

Abstract: A process for beveling the tip of a medical catheter is described. A catheter blank is mounted on a mandrel normally with the mandrel tip extending beyond the tip of the catheter to be beveled. The mandrel and catheter blank are inserted into a previously heated mold having a passage therethrough through which the mandrel passes. At a portion of the mold at which the terminus of the catheter is to be formed, a constriction is provided through which material (flash) may pass from the mold volume to the outside of the mold. The material is permitted to cool sufficiently such that when the mandrel and catheter are withdrawn from the mold, the flash tears and separates from the catheter at the point of the constriction formed between the mold and the mandrel.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a golf-club head is disclosed comprising; shaping a fluid-removable core in the general form of the club head, placing a flexible inflatable bladder around the core, wrapping over the assembly of core and bladder at least one ply of fiber impregnated with a curable resin, placing the assembly of core, bladder, and impregnated fiber into a female mold, forming a cured part in the form of a golf-club head by inflating the bladder to force the plies against the inner surfaces of the mold and heating the mold to cure the resin, removing the cured part from the mold, disintegrating the fluid-removable core with a fluid sufficient to allow removal of the bladder from the interior of the cured part through a hole in the cured part, removing the bladder through the hole with any residues of the core within the bladder to form a hollow molded club head with a hollow interior essentially free from non-functional materials.

Abstract: A method for forming a molded-in lifter for supporting a fabric liner of a flexible magnetic recording disc so that the disc is cleaned by rotation of the disc with respect to the liner when the disc is housed within a cartridge. The lifter is a raised rib that has a controlled height typically provided by deforming a molded-in rib to the desired height. The cartridge may also include a recess in the shell opposite the rib to receive the rib and prevent or reduce compression of the media if the cartridge is compressed.

Abstract: A method of producing a tubular container which can efficiently and integrally produce a thinly walled neck section on the tubular container without altering the appearance and profile of the container. The method of producing a tubular container comprises the first step of arranging a thinly walled tube to a tube holder, the second step of softening the inside of the front end of the thinly walled tube, the third step of shrinking the front end of the thinly walled tube, and the fourth step of forming a neck section and a shoulder section to the front end of the thinly walled tube by means of a male mold. After heating the thinly walled tube with hot air, the air is drawn and removed, and the outer wall surface is cooled so as to make the subsequent steps to be conducted smoothly and efficiently. Since hot air is drawn after heating the outer wall surface, a thinly walled tapered shoulder section can be produced without altering the appearance and profile of the tubular container.

Abstract: A method for treating a roller cover includes the steps of positioning an element with respect to a roller cover and removing a portion of the roller cover with said element to form a pattern on said roller cover. The process for treating roller covers for a paint roller may also includes the steps of providing a surface, forming a pattern on the surface, heating the surface, and contacting the roller cover with the heated surface. The heated surface is a metal. The heat is transferred from the heated metal surface to the roller cover when the heated metal surface contacts the roller cover. The heated surface sears or melts the nap of the roller cover. The surface can be provided with a pattern so that a pattern can be placed into the nap of the roller cover. An apparatus used to treat the surface of a roller cover includes a surface having a desired pattern therein. A holder for a roller cover holds or presents the roller cover to the surface. A heater is attached to the surface.

Abstract: A method of embossing thermoplastic sheet by continuously advancing thermoplastic sheet through an embossing nip defined by a rotating embossing roll with an engraved surface at elevated embossing temperature and an opposite fixed rigid concave member and pneumatically forcing the sheet against the engraved surface while within and continuously passing through the nip.