Abstract: A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member with a curved, concave top surface; a second pultrusion die member with a curved, convex bottom surface; a curved die cavity gap formed between the a curved, concave top surface of the first pultrusion die member and the curved, convex bottom surface of the second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap from closed to a specified location to open at a specified location; a pultrusion gripper mechanism having one or more grippers in series, and a computer numerical control (CNC) computer system controlling the die cavity gap adjustment mechanism.

Abstract: A durable gear strap couples components in an imaging device to a driving force. The gear strap includes a strip having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. Gear teeth on the strip enable rotation of a gear to move the gear strap in a track. At least one engagement member extends from one of the rigid sections to couple a component to the gear strap for movement.

Abstract: A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member; a second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap formed between the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member; and a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap within a very tight die cavity gap tolerance.

Abstract: A gear switching mechanism for a printing machine comprises at least one pair of input and driven gears, each pair rotationally mounted on a corresponding common axle. The input gear of each pair may be coupled to a common drive, while each driven gear is coupled to a separate output. A rotational gear coupling is mounted to translate along each axle to selectively engage and disengage the corresponding pair of input and driven gears. The rotational gear coupling includes a cam follower that slides along a cam profile of a cam shuttle. The shuttle defines a cam profile that is normal to the common axles. In one embodiment, the cam shuttle translates linearly, while in another embodiment, the shuttle rotates. The cam profile is configured to selectively engage and disengage the rotational couplings of each pair of input and driven gears.

Abstract: A durable gear strap couples components in an imaging device to a driving force. The gear strap includes a strip having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. Gear teeth on the strip enable rotation of a gear to move the gear strap in a track. At least one engagement member extends from one of the rigid sections to couple a component to the gear strap for movement.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes an endotracheal tube for a child, the tube having a balloon mounted near the distal end of the tube. The tube has a ventilation lumen and an inflation line used to inflate the balloon. The balloon is mounted to the tube at a lower mounting point and an upper mounting point. The upper mounting point is above the level of the vocal cords. The balloon has a lower and upper diameter when inflated, and the upper diameter is from 1.1 to 1.5 times larger than the outer diameter of the tube.

Abstract: Elastomeric articles, such as gloves are disclosed. The gloves include a primary matrix made from one or more elastomeric materials and a foam donning layer. In one embodiment, for instance, the donning layer can be formed from a polyurethane foam. The polyurethane foam can be created from the reaction product of a polyurethane prepolymer and a solution containing water. The resulting foam can be hydrophilic and can absorb moisture for preventing moisture from being trapped between the primary matrix and a user's skin.

Abstract: A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member; a second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap formed between the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member; and a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap within a very tight die cavity gap tolerance.

Abstract: An interlocking support structure has an array of rectangular cells arranged in at least one layer, each cell having four sides, opposite ends, and eight corners, and sharing common sides and corners with any adjacent cells. The cells are formed by sets of spaced, parallel elongate members extending in x, y and z directions, with the x, y and z members interlocked with one another at the corners of the cells to form interlocking corner joints. Each structural member is hollow at least in the vicinity of each corner joint with which it intersects, and communicates with the other structural members at the respective corner joints. A plug of hardened, initially flowable material fills the hollow interior of the interlocking structural members at least at the corner joints and adheres to the internal surfaces of the members at the corner joints to secure the members together at each corner in the rectangular array.

Abstract: A composite laminate structure includes a first skin; a second skin; and a plurality of distinct groupings of Z-axis fibers that extend from the first skin to the second skin, wherein the Z-axis fibers include opposite ends respectively terminating at and integrated into the first skin and the second skin.

Abstract: An adjustable doff core device for installation in the hollow center of a center-pull doff has a tubular core with a fixed internal diameter configured for engagement on a processor configured to dispense material from the outside of a doff. An adjustable outer press bar portion is adjustably mounted on the outside of the tubular core by an adjustment mechanism and is movable between an inner, contracted position and outwardly expanded positions spaced outwardly from the tubular core to define an adjustable outer diameter of the device. The press bar portion is configured for substantially non-slip engagement with an inner diameter of a hollow center-pull doff. A locking device releasably locks the press bar portion in a selected adjusted position.

Abstract: A method of placing a 90 degree ply on a separate 0 degree material includes providing 90 degree ply from a 90 degree ply material source; moving the 90 degree ply in a 90 degree ply carrier to a position over the 0 degree material; removing the 90 degree ply carrier from the 0 degree material and simultaneously pushing the 90 degree ply off of the 90 degree ply carrier and onto the 0 degree material; and severing the 90 degree ply from the 90 degree ply material source so that the 90 degree ply remains on the 0 degree material.

Abstract: A thermoplastic pultrusion die system for pultruding a thermoplastic composite includes a first pultrusion die member; a second pultrusion die member; a die cavity gap formed between the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member; and a die cavity gap adjustment mechanism that imparts movement to at least one of the first pultrusion die member and the second pultrusion die member to vary the die cavity gap within a very tight die cavity gap tolerance.

Abstract: A CNC tensioning system for applying tension in one or more fibers or fiber bundles drawn into a fiber process in a fiber movement direction includes a reverse torque mechanism that applies a net torque on the one or more fibers or fiber bundles in a reverse direction from the fiber movement direction; a motion-control motor that drives the reverse torque mechanism to apply a net torque on the one or more fibers or fiber bundles in a reverse direction from the fiber movement direction; and a computer system controlling the motion-control motor to incrementally control net torque on the one or more fibers or fiber bundles in a reverse direction from the fiber movement direction in discrete incremental values.

Abstract: A method of inserting z-axis reinforcing fibers into a multi-layer composite laminate. Layers of material made up of z-axis fiber and y-axis fibers are automatically transported into a z-fiber deposition machine having a housing with upper and lower surfaces. Z-axis apertures are formed in the respective upper and lower surfaces. An elongated solid rod having a tapered front tip is aligned in close proximity to the aperture in the bottom surface. The rod is first rotated by a motor and then actuated upwardly completely through the thickness of the layer of x-y material by an actuator. A first hollow tube having a z-axis is axially aligned with the aperture in the top surface and a fiber bundle is threaded downwardly through a first hollow tube to a position adjacent its bottom end.

Abstract: A composite laminate structure includes a first skin; a second skin; and a plurality of distinct groupings of Z-axis fibers that extend from the first skin to the second skin, wherein the Z-axis fibers include opposite ends respectively terminating at and integrated into the first skin and the second skin.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming an improved pultruded and clinched Z-axis fiber reinforced composite laminate structure. The upper and lower skins and the core are pulled automatically through tooling where the skin material is wetted-out with resin and the entire composite laminate is preformed in nearly its final thickness. The preformed composite laminate continues to be pulled into an automatic 3-dimensional Z-axis fiber deposition machine that deposits “groupings of fiber filaments” at multiple locations normal to the plane of the composite laminate structure and cuts each individual grouping such that an extension of each “grouping of fiber filaments” remains above the upper skin and below the lower skin. The preformed composite laminate then continues to be pulled into a secondary wet-out station.

Abstract: A composite laminate structure includes a first skin; a second skin; a core between the first skin and the second skin, the core including adjacent core sections and a Z-Y partition separating the adjacent core sections; and a plurality of distinct groupings of Z-axis fibers that extend from the first skin to the second skin through the adjacent core sections and the Z-Y partition separating the adjacent core sections.

Abstract: A gear switching mechanism for a printing machine comprises at least one pair of input and driven gears, each pair rotationally mounted on a corresponding common axle. The input gear of each pair may be coupled to a common drive, while each driven gear is coupled to a separate output. A rotational gear coupling is mounted to translate along each axle to selectively engage and disengage the corresponding pair of input and driven gears. The rotational gear coupling includes a cam follower that slides along a cam profile of a cam shuttle. The shuttle defines a cam profile that is normal to the common axles. In one embodiment, the cam shuttle translates linearly, while in another embodiment, the shuttle rotates. The cam profile is configured to selectively engage and disengage the rotational couplings of each pair of input and driven gears.

Abstract: The invention provides alfalfa plants having adaptation, productivity, winterhardiness, and disease resistance with high levels of somatic embryogenesis. Plants and plant parts of the invention are useful in the efficient development of transgenic alfalfa plants with adaptation, productivity, winterhardiness, and disease resistance.