Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for forming protrusions in a substrate by passing the substrate between recesses and a source of vibration energy. The protrusions may extend from the substrate in a direction transverse to the machine direction. The recesses may be formed via a plurality of inserts, some having one or more cavities defined in their outer surface. Absorbent articles may comprise such a substrate. The absorbent articles may have a central longitudinal axis, a central lateral axis, a substrate produced in a machine direction, a plurality of protrusions integrally formed in the substrate. The machine direction may be generally parallel to the longitudinal axis or to the lateral axis and a portion of the plurality of protrusions may extend in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis or to the lateral axis.

Abstract: Methods and devices for bonding a plurality of substrates in a nip provided between an anvil and a bonding device may involve preheating a portion of a first substrate for a preheating duration to impart a preheated temperature, and then conveying the plurality of substrates to the nip to form a bond. The portion of the first substrate may reach the nip at a final temperature that is within 0° C. to 40° C. of the preheated temperature. A time-in-nip to create the bond may be less than 20 milliseconds. The preheating duration may be at least 200% longer than the time-in-nip. Laminate materials formed via such methods and devices may include unbonded areas in the nonwoven material that may have at least 5 fibers per square inch that are fused at fiber-to-fiber intersections caused by preheating the nonwoven material.

Abstract: Methods of forming a laminate may include conveying a first substrate through a first nip, where a first source of vibration energy may be used to alter a portion of the first substrate in the first nip to create an altered area. The method may include conveying the first substrate with the altered area and a second substrate into a second nip and using a second source of vibration energy to join the first substrate to the second substrate in the second nip.

Abstract: An example clamp assembly for a solar panel includes a clamp frame, a first clip, a second clip, and a fastener. The inner surface of the clamp frame has a polygonal contour. The clamp frame defines a first aperture, a first contact pad, a second aperture, and a second contact pad. The first clip defines a fastener passage, and the second clip includes a fastener engaging portion. Both clips are T-shaped and include panel engaging portions, which include contact surfaces formed on the undersides of a cross portion of the T-shapes. The fastener includes a complementary engaging portion configured to engage the fastener engaging portion of the second clip. The fastener passes through the first aperture, the second aperture, and the third aperture, and engages the complementary engaging portion with the fastener engaging portion of the second clip.

Abstract: A method is presented for altering a portion of a substrate. The method includes providing a first device including an outer surface and a second device including a source of vibration energy. The method also includes forming a nip between the source of vibration energy and the outer surface. The method also includes conveying the substrate through the nip and intermittently altering the portion of the substrate in the nip to create a pattern of altered areas forming a shape. The altered areas have a pattern balance that includes one or more of: an average area of the substrate altered in the nip is within a threshold range across the portion of the substrate; and a simple area of integral areas within the altered areas is within a threshold range across the portion of the substrate.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to automatic calibration systems, methods and devices for use with vehicle systems such as grain cart and combine vehicle systems to calibrate the yield monitor via collected calibration load profile data that is processed and used to calibrate and recalibrate the system automatically.

Abstract: A method is presented of forming protrusions in a portion of a substrate. The method may include providing a first device comprising an outer surface; providing a second device including a source of vibration energy; forming a nip between the source of vibration energy and the outer surface; conveying the substrate through the nip; forming the protrusions in the portion of the substrate in the nip using the source of vibration energy; and inspecting one or more characteristics of the substrate using a vision system.

Abstract: A method of altering a portion of a substrate may include providing a first device and a second device with a nip therebetween. The second device may comprise a stationary or rotating source of vibration energy. When conveyed through the nip, the substrate may be exposed to the vibration energy and the portion thereof may be altered. Thermal energy may be applied to the portion of the substrate upstream of the nip to raise a temperature of the portion of the substrate to a temperature below a melting temperature thereof. A substrate spreader may contact the substrate upstream of the nip to mitigate fold over or wrinkles in the substrate. When the first device is a rotating anvil and the second device comprises a rotating source of vibration energy, the surface velocities thereof may be variable and may be the same or different.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing portions of absorbent articles may include or facilitate conveying a substrate through a nip formed between a first device and a second device, transmitting vibrational energy from the second device toward the first device via the nip to alter the substrate, and cooling the second device by transferring thermal energy from the second device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for manufacturing portions of absorbent articles may include or facilitate conveying a substrate through a nip formed between a first device and a second device, transmitting vibrational energy from the second device toward the first device via the nip to alter the substrate, and cooling the second device by transferring thermal energy from the second device.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for making elastomeric laminates that may be used as components of absorbent articles. During assembly of the elastomeric laminate, elastic material may be advanced and stretched in a machine direction and joined with either or both first and second substrates advancing in the machine direction. The apparatuses according to the present disclosure may be configured with a plurality of spools, wherein each spool comprises a single elastic strand wound onto a core. The elastic strands are unwound from respective spools by rotating the spools about the cores. Neighboring elastic strands may be spaced or separated from each other at a desired distance in a cross direction by advancing the elastic strands through a strand guide that may comprise a plurality of tines or reeds. The assembled elastomeric laminate may then be accumulated by being wound onto a roll or festooned in a container.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for the selective application of down pressure or downforce to a row unit. Each row unit has a dual-action actuator which is in fluidic communication with the hydraulic system for independent control of the supplemental downforce. The pressure line can be directly routed to the lift chamber for a constant supply of up pressure, with down pressure selectively applied to the down chamber for accurate control of the supplemental downforce system.

Abstract: A method of matching a first entity to a second entity by evaluating Boolean expressions includes identifying a set of criteria vertices for a second entity vertex by traversing a graph database in a manner constrained to fact vertices identified for the second entity. The graph database relates fact vertices to the criteria vertices by edges corresponding to Boolean expressions for satisfying criteria for matching first entities to second entities. The method additionally includes selecting one of the first entities based on the criteria vertices of the set. The method further includes matching the first entity to the second entity based on the selection.

Abstract: A method of matching a first entity to a second entity by evaluating Boolean expressions includes identifying a set of criteria vertices for a second entity vertex by traversing a graph database in a manner constrained to fact vertices identified for the second entity. The graph database relates fact vertices to the criteria vertices by edges corresponding to Boolean expressions for satisfying criteria for matching first entities to second entities. The method additionally includes selecting one of the first entities based on the criteria vertices of the set. The method further includes matching the first entity to the second entity based on the selection.

Abstract: An acoustic pickup transducer device for converting sounds produced by a musical instrument into electrical signals proportional in amplitude and frequency to the instrument sounds includes a housing which has protruding therefrom a suction cup for removably attaching the device to an instrument, and a microphone interconnected through interface circuitry including a volume control potentiometer within the housing to an audio output signal jack. In a preferred embodiment, the microphone is fastened to the outer end of a flexible “gooseneck” stalk which extends from the housing at an angle adjustable by manually bending the stalk to a desired shape, which is retained by a bent wire within the stalk, thus enabling adjustment of the direction of peak sound responsivity or directivity over a wide range of angles. Preferably, the microphone is an electret type supplied with a D.C. bias voltage by a coin-cell battery within the housing.

Abstract: Methods of treating laminates, treated laminates, and articles with treated laminates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for creating a pass marker in a field. During planting, planting of seed is stopped and started on pass marker rows differently than on adjacent rows to create a visible offset to assist a harvester or applicator to find and drive down the right row to prevent skips and overlaps.