Abstract: The present invention provides a method for use in forming an irregularly shaped part using in-mold labeling which includes receiving at least one of text and image information at a first computing unit. A mold is formed using a mold cutter controlled by a second computing unit based on the at least one of text information and image information. The mold has a cavity, an interior surface, and at least one aligning characteristic on the interior surface. A label is printed based on the at least one of text information and image information to provide the at least one decoration. The label is cut from a sheet of paper using a label cutter controlled by a third computing unit based on the at least one of text information and image information. The label is inserted into the cavity and aligned with the at least one aligning characteristic and moldable material is inserted into the mold to form the part and the label integral to each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing wood fiberboard by pressing wood fibers which have been treated with binder, in which the wood fibers are boiled and milled at elevated temperature under steam pressure in a refiner unit, subsequently are transferred to a blow-line, then dried and finally pressed under pressure and, if desired, at elevated temperature to produce boards, wherein the treatment with binder is carried out using a multi-component binder, preferably with one component A) containing functional groups which are nonreactive at elevated temperature and a second component B) containing functional groups which are reactive at elevated temperature the component A) being added in the refiner unit at a temperature of from 120° C. to 200° C. prior to the milling step, during the milling step, or shortly after the milling step in the front section of the blow-line and component B) being added at a lower temperature of not more than 150° C.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of forming a compressed product. The method includes introducing a material into a press that is oscillating between a compression phase and a release phase. The material has a compression recovery response time when compressed and released. The compressed product is formed by repeatedly compressing the material during the compression phase and releasing the material during the release phase.

Abstract: A high strength lightweight product formed from particulate inorganic materials such as a masonry building block is formed in a mould (1) from a flowable slurry of inorganic particularly materials and water. The interior of the mould is lined with perforate walls (2a, 3a, 4a, 3) fluidically coupled to a vacuum source (9). The fluid slurry contains entrained air and when pumped into the mound under superatmospheric pressure the gas bubbles contract in size. The fluidic mass is then subjected to subatmospheric pressure which enables the gas bubbles to expand the expel excess moisture from the mass.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of forming a compressed product. The method includes introducing a material into a press. The material has a flow direction through the press. The press is arranged to have at least one platen oscillating between a compression phase and a release phase. The at least one platen is configured to impart a compressive force onto the material during the compression phase such that the force is applied initially at an acute compression vector angle relative to the material flow direction. As a function of the angled compressive force, the material is transported a distance through the press and then released during the release phase.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for making a reinforced fibrous absorbent member, fibrous material is collected on a forming surface to at least partially form the absorbent member. Fibrous material is entangled with a reinforcing web which is overlaid on at least a portion of the partially formed absorbent member. Additional fibrous material is collected on the forming surface to further form the absorbent member whereby at least a portion of the fibrous material forming the absorbent member becomes entangled with at least one of the reinforcing web and the fibrous material entangled with the reinforcing web to secure the reinforcing web within the absorbent member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for preparing at least one mold part of a two-part mold useful for transferring a hydrophobic top coat from a mold onto an optical substrate. Further, the invention relates to a method for easily transferring a hydrophobic top coat from a mold onto the anti-reflecting coating of a coated optical substrate. Additionally, the invention relates to a method which provides improved adhesion of the hydrophobic top coat onto an optical substrate and in particular onto an anti-reflecting coating of a coated optical substrate. The invention also discloses a mold part useful in such methods.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for air forming an article having a plurality of superimposed fibrous layers. The layers are formed in substantially discrete forming chambers by depositing fibrous material on a forming surface which moves along an arcuate path through the chambers. A first layer is air-formed on the forming surface as the surface moves through the first forming chamber and a second layer is air-formed over the first layer as the surface moves through the second forming chamber.

Abstract: A method of making a biodegradable non-polluting product includes grinding an agricultural fibrous material to form a particulate material; preparing a binder by mixing formaldehyde with carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinylalcohol; mixing the particulate material with a stearate and a sulfate to form a first mixture; adding the binder and water to the first mixture to form a second mixture; and forming the second mixture into the non-polluting product. The fibrous material may be an agricultural fibrous waste material. The products made by the method contain no toxic material.

Abstract: Stretched polymeric films can be used in a variety of applications, including optical applications. The stretching conditions and shape of the stretching tracks in a stretching apparatus can determine or influence film properties. Methods and stretching apparatuses can include adjustable or zone-defined stretching regions.

Abstract: A high-CHDM PET-based support for an imaging element can be annealed relatively rapidly to achieve acceptable core-set and post-process curl properties. The fast annealing response of this material allows effective in-line annealing of the film support, yielding a more efficient manufacturing process with less annealing-induced defects in the imaging support.

Abstract: A binder B for inorganic powders comprises a mixture of b1 from 80 to 99.5% by weight of a polyoxymethlene homopolymer or copolymer B1 and b2 from 0.5 to 20% by weight of a polymer system B2 which is not miscible with B1 and comprises b21 from 5 to 100% by weight of polytetrahydrofuran B21 and b22 from 0 to 95% by weight of at least one polymer B22 of C2-8-olefins, vinylaromatic monomers, vinyl esters of aliphatic C1-8-carboxylic acids, vinyl C1-8-alkyl ethers or C1-12-alkyl (meth)acrylates.

Abstract: A process for stretching films is described. The process preferably stretches films in a uniaxial fashion. Preferably, optical films are stretched including multilayer optical films. Other aspects of the invention include a roll of stretched film and an apparatus for stretching films.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for making fibrous web materials which may be used in or as absorbent core materials for absorbent products. The method involves providing loose fibers, entraining the fibers in a moving airstream, treating the fibers with an energy-activatable pre-polymer composition and subjecting the fibers to activation energy to initiate cross-linking of the composition. The fibers are collected on forming surface to form a fibrous web. The fibers may be treated with the composition while entrained in the moving air or after being collected on the forming surface, or in an alternate embodiment by treating with the composition a mat of fibers from which the loose fibers are provided. The fibrous web material may comprise cellulosic fibers such as pulp, and/or synthetic fibers such as staple fibers, and/or super absorbent materials.

Abstract: A method of making a cannula includes providing a plurality of polymer reservoirs with each reservoir containing a polymer material and providing a nozzle mounted within each reservoir of the plurality of reservoirs. The method further includes one or more of preheating the mandrel, generating a polymer material wave from each nozzle, rotating the mandrel over the nozzles to form an initial coat on the mandrel, curing the initial coat, depositing a reinforcing material around a selected section of the mandrel and ensuring that the reinforcing material is held in place at the selected section of the mandrel. The method further includes rotating each section of the mandrel over a selected nozzle to form an additional coat, curing the additional coat, and removing the tubular structure from the mandrel.

Abstract: Stretched polymeric films can be used in a variety of applications, including optical applications. The stretching conditions and shape of the stretching tracks in a stretching apparatus can determine or influence film properties. Take-away systems can be used to receive the film after stretching. The configuration of the take-away system can, in at least some instances, influence final film properties.

Abstract: An array of dies having a closed configuration is used in a method and apparatus for making a closed composite article that comprises multilayered materials. In the method and apparatus, at least two extruders are used to extrude at least two material streams through the die array to provide an extrudate comprised of alternate layers of material from the at least two material streams. The compositions in the two material streams can be the same or different.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing a multicolor slide fastener includes an upper die 110, a lower die 120, and a plurality of unit fastening teeth-forming slots 101 formed in a lengthwise direction. Molding material-injecting passages and a plurality of sprue holes 102 are provided for injecting the molding materials S into the slots 101. Inclined passages 201 and 202 are connected to the molding material injecting passages respectively, for carrying the molding materials S from a raw material source. Heaters 240 and heat sensors 241 heat the passages 201 and 202. Pressing means 300 press the molding materials S into the inclined passages 201 and 202. Valves 400 control injection of the molding materials S into the sprue holes 102 of the upper die 110.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite absorbent member is provided that includes: a) extruding a first fibrous component through a first meltblowing die and intermingling pulp fibers with the first fibrous component to form a first admixture; b) extruding a second fibrous component through a second meltblowing die and intermingling pulp fibers with the second fibrous component to form a second admixture; and c) codepositing the first and second admixtures on a collecting surface so as to form a composite structure having at least a first layer and a second layer. The second layer has a higher weight percentage of pulp fibers than the first layer, and the average diameter of the pores within the second layer is smaller than the average diameter of the pores within the first layer.

Abstract: A method of making a cannula utilizing dispense molding includes providing at least one dispense nozzle that dispenses a polymer material, providing a mandrel, moving at least one of the mandrel and at least one dispense nozzle relative to one another to produce an alternating pattern of polymer material along a longitudinal axis of the mandrel to form a tubular structure, and removing the tubular structure from the mandrel.