Abstract: An applicator for applying a flexible tape to a planar sheet having a base, a table, a robotic arm and an applicator head. The applicator head is carried by the robotic arm and includes a cradle for receiving a spool of flexible tape. The robotic arm moves the applicator head through the Cartesian coordinate system relative to the table. A motor feeds flexible tape out from the spool, over a dancer arm through a plurality of rollers. A sensor associated with the dancer arm measures the pressure or position in a cylinder connected to the dancer arm and forwards a signal to the motor to increase the speed if the dancer arm pressure is high, and decrease the motor speed if dancer arm pressure is low. A plurality of optical sensors determine the layer of flexible tape currently being removed from the reel, and adjust the motor speed to adjust for the varying length of material removed per revolution as concentric layers of flexible tape are removed from the spool.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing a enclosed transceiver, such as a radio frequency identification ("RFID") tag. Structurally, in one embodiment, the tag comprises an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and an RF antenna mounted on a thin film substrate powered by a thin film battery. A variety of antenna geometries are compatible with the above tag construction. These include monopole antennas, dipole antennas, dual dipole antennas, a combination of dipole and loop antennas. Further, in another embodiment, the antennas are positioned either within the plane of the thin film battery or superjacent to the thin film battery.

Abstract: A gumming device includes a frame and a gumming roller fitted in a rotary manner to the frame. The device includes a circuit circulating a cooling fluid, the circuit including a first and second portion, the first portion extending through the roller and having two opposite ends, at least one of which is connected to the second portion. The device also includes a seal connecting the two portions of the circuit in a rotary and fluidtight manner, the gumming roller being removably connected to the second portion and including a normally-closed valve controlling the opposite ends of the first portion. The frame includes a shoulder cooperating with and maintaining the valve in an open position when the gumming roller is fitted to the frame.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method of manufacturing an enclosed transceiver, such as a radio frequency identification ("RFID") tag. Structurally, in one embodiment, the tag comprises an integrated circuit (IC) chip, and an RF antenna mounted on a thin film substrate powered by a thin film battery. A variety of antenna geometries are compatible with the above tag construction. These include monopole antennas, dipole antennas, dual dipole antennas, a combination of dipole and loop antennas. Further, in another embodiment, the antennas are positioned either within the plane of the thin film battery or superjacent to the thin film battery.

Abstract: An expert system for a welding machine has an installed knowledge base concerning weld problems and preferred solutions. Trial welds are made from which input data concerning weld quality is obtained. The expert system applies predetermined rules and historic confidence levels to determine changes in weld parameters to attempt to correct any weld defects.

Abstract: A method for producing laminated integrated circuit cubes includes applying conductive heat to the cube using at least one conductive heating device. A vacuum is created around the cube to remove air and other gases from between the integrated circuit layers prior to curing. A force is applied to the cube while it is heated under vacuum. A cooling gas is then circulated over the cube. Temperature and force sensing can be performed, and the process can be controlled by programmable logic controllers and the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to a plastic substrate production process, the production device for such a substrate, and the use of the process for the production of integrated circuit boards. The plastic substrate production process is characterized in that it comprises the following steps: unwinding and straightening of a continuous strip of plastic which is slightly larger in dimension than one of the dimensions of the board; printing, at at least one printing station, of a series of printing patterns and of printed markings; driving of the strip at a regulated printing speed; detection of the difference in speed; cutting by a press of the strip at positions defined by the printed markings; and regulation of the printing speed as a function of the difference between the printing speed and the driving speed.

Abstract: An automatic assembly and inspection system for optical connectors is provided, which is highly reliable and which can produce economical and highly-effective optical cords or cables with optical connectors.

Abstract: A machine for use in butt fusing in axial alignment plastic pipe having a selected maximum diameter is adaptable by the use of specially designed inserts secured in the lower portions of fixed and moveable clamps, the inserts serving to elevationally raise segments of pipes to be joined when the machine is used to manufacture a segmented pipe turn. In addition to the employment of inserts providing increased height of support for pipe segments, the pivotal upper portions for the fixed and moveable clamps are replaced by specially designed upper clamp portions that have contacting surfaces configured to accept inclined and elevationally upwardly supported pipe segments. By the use of such specially designed inserts and replacement upper clamp portions a butt fusion machine can be employed to manufacture segmented pipe turns of the maximum pipe diameter for which the machine is designed.

Abstract: A sticker dispenser for holding a tape of stickers and dispensing the stickers one at a time consists of a case; a loading door for inserting the stickers into the case; a movable plunger mounted to the case and movable between an extended position and a retracted position and biased in the extended position by a spring and the plunger having a gear rack; geared wheels meshing with the gear rack for moving the stickers out of the dispenser; and a sticker door for engaging and guiding the tape of stickers as it leaves the case.

Abstract: An improved apparatus (10) for thermally bonding indicia to caps comprises relatively movable upper and lower platens (12,14) with a heat source in one of the platens for heating it. A handle (18) pivotal in a vertical plane raises and lowers the upper platen (12) swinging it through virtually a 90.degree. arc to permit easy positioning of a cap between the platens where they are open. Both platens (12,14) have curved nesting pressing surfaces (20,20'), the upper platen pressing surface (20) having a concave shape and the lower platen pressing surface (20') having a convex shape with the radius of curvature of the upper platen pressing surface (20) being greater than the radius of curvature of the lower platen pressing surface (20') so that the platens (12,14) apply equal pressure across a cap disposed between them.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a laminate containing a metal foil strip and a plastic film strip, in which the two strips have stamped structures repeated at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strips and are disposed at contiguous points in the laminate, a pre-stamped strip and the second strip being continuously joined together from one end.

Abstract: A woven fabric is formed from polypropylene fibers by simply weaving the fabric using polypropylene fibers in both the warp and weft directions. The edges are left frayed and could become unraveled. In order to prevent the fabric from fraying further, particularly during washing, binding fibers are incorporated at least in the weft direction, but only along the edges. The binding fibers are polyester fibers coated with a low-melting-point thermoplastic adhesive. The thermoplastic adhesive is one that melts at a temperature lower than the melting point of the polypropylene fibers. Once these are incorporated into the fabric at the loom, the fabric is placed in an oven and heated to a temperature above the melting point of the thermoplastic adhesive and below the melting point of the polypropylene fibers to cause the thermoplastic adhesive to melt, binding the polypropylene fibers together.

Abstract: A process for controllably registering two continuously moving layers of material is provided. One of the layers of material has a plurality of reference marks representing a plurality of separate and distinct components, and the other of the continuously moving layers has a respective plurality of different components thereon. The process controls the distance between reference marks to a selected distance, and controllably registers each reference mark to a respective component of the continuously moving second layer. An article is provided in which a graphic is controllably registered within a designated area thereof.

Abstract: A tube-forming machine and process has a supply for delivering an elongate, folded, plastic web along a path of travel. The web may be clear polyethylene folded treated surface to treated surface. A cutting mechanism is positioned along the path including a hard cylindrical roll and a cutter having a cutting head and means to bias the head toward the roll. A rotatable sealing drum has a cylindrical web engaging surface delineating a further portion of the path. A set of circumferentially spaced flame-emitting nozzles are positioned adjacent the drum surface section. Each of the nozzles includes a tip disposed within the cylinder delineated by said drum surface and has an axis disposed in an imaginary radial plane. Each tip is directed radially upwardly to impinge its flame against portions of a web being fed along the path when such portions project from said drum surface. Each tip axis is at an angle from 90.degree. to 60.degree.

Abstract: A machine comprising a supporting base for boxes to be sealed, a mechanism for moving the boxes, a head that can be displaced vertically with respect to the supporting base, and at least one unit for feeding gum-coated paper sections that is removably disposed in a seat of the vertically displaceable head. The feed unit comprises a plurality of individual units that can be taken apart separately. The feed unit includes a unit for supporting a roll of gum-coated paper, a tape control unit, a tape centering unit, a tape feed unit, a contrast unit cooperable with the tape feed unit, a tape shearing unit, a tape moistening unit, and a unit for applying the moistened tape to the box to be sealed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus (84, 94) for controlling an assembly for bonding a cover (22) over the undulating surface of a foam cushion (10) by controlling a ram actuator cylinder (90) to lift a ram (14) to permit placing the foam cushion (10) on a tool (18), lowering the ram (14) to pierce the cushion (10) with a plurality of needles (44), lifting the ram (14) to lift the cushion (10) which is frictionally retained on the needles (44), controlling a heater (38) to heat ambient air and ejecting the hot air from the needles (44) into the cushion (10) to elevate the temperature of the cushion. A pair of plate actuator cylinders (62) are controlled to dispose a compression plate (58) with holes (60) extending therethrough against the backside of the cushion (10) with the needles (44) extending through the holes (60).

Abstract: A bag maker bends an elongated flexible bag-making film into a tubular form and transversely seals it by a transverse sealer while filling it with articles to produce packaged bags. The transverse sealer has two seal jaws at both sides of the film being pulled downwards. The seal jaws are each caused to move in a generally D-shaped trajectory with a vertically straight portion where they move along the film, sandwiching it therebetween. The seal jaws are operated so as to move faster than the film while on the top half of the straight portion of the trajectory where stripping takes place and more slowly than the film while on the bottom half of the straight portion such that the film will blouse to make it easier for articles to drop deeper inside the bag being produced. The speed of each seal jaw on the arcuate part of its trajectory is adjusted such that the period of the cyclic motion of the seal jaws need not be modified.

Abstract: Process for optimizing the features of multilayered tubes made of fibrous composite materials, allowing to maintain within the specified limits the limit elongations and stresses which they withstand in response to the applied strains. The process comprises selecting at least two optimized features characteristic of each layer (its thickness and the winding angle of the fibers for example) by starting from an initial tube selected a priori. Through small deviations applied to the parameters, the relations between small deviations applied to the parameters and the variations of the resulting limit elongations and stresses are determined, as well as the inverse relations relating the variations of the limit elongations and stresses to the parameter deviations. Knowing these inverse relations allows, in one or several stages, to find out the deviations to be applied in order to make up the measurable differences between the limit elongations and stresses of the optimized tube and the tube selected a priori.

Abstract: A label applicator for applying a label to the top surface of an object moving along a path adjacent to the applicator. The applicator is comprised of a label printer mounted for vertical adjustment on support structure attached to a moveable frame. The printer has a label feed position and is adjusted vertically on the support to set the label feed position to an expected median article height. A label transport assembly, attached to the frame, receives and retains the label and then moves vertically and laterally from a home position, above the label feed position, to an article intercept position, where it applies the label to the moving article. The controller learns the home position and positions the label transport assembly at the home position to pick up labels. The label printer, the label transport assembly, and the moveable frame are located along side the object path such that when the label transport assembly is in the home position, the object path is vertically unobstructed.