Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible composite panel having a plurality of reservoirs connected by at least one capillary includes forming a capillary assembly by winding a flexible, deformable capillary base web partially around a rotating cylinder that has a plurality of recessed features formed therein; drawing the capillary base web into the recessed features to form the capillaries in the capillary base web; filling the capillaries; and laminating a capillary barrier web over the capillary base web. A flexible reservoir assembly is formed by cutting the perimeter of the at least two reservoirs and associated catchments into a flexible reservoir web; removing the waste cut interiors of the reservoirs and the catchments from the reservoir web; securing the reservoir web to a base layer; overfilling each reservoir; and laminating the capillary assembly over the reservoir assembly, driving excess filler from the reservoirs into the catchments.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible composite panel having a plurality of reservoirs connected by at least one capillary includes forming a capillary assembly by winding a flexible, deformable capillary base web partially around a rotating cylinder that has a plurality of recessed features formed therein; drawing the capillary base web into the recessed features to form the capillaries in the capillary base web; filling the capillaries; and laminating a capillary barrier web over the capillary base web. A flexible reservoir assembly is formed by cutting the perimeter of the at least two reservoirs and associated catchments into a flexible reservoir web; removing the waste cut interiors of the reservoirs and the catchments from the reservoir web; securing the reservoir web to a base layer; overfilling each reservoir; and laminating the capillary assembly over the reservoir assembly, driving excess filler from the reservoirs into the catchments.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexible composite panel having a plurality of reservoirs connected by at least one capillary includes forming a capillary assembly by winding a flexible, deformable capillary base web partially around a rotating cylinder that has a plurality of recessed features formed therein; drawing the capillary base web into the recessed features to form the capillaries in the capillary base web; filling the capillaries; and laminating a capillary barrier web over the capillary base web. A flexible reservoir assembly is formed by cutting the perimeter of the at least two reservoirs and associated catchments into a flexible reservoir web; removing the waste cut interiors of the reservoirs and the catchments from the reservoir web; securing the reservoir web to a base layer; overfilling each reservoir; and laminating the capillary assembly over the reservoir assembly, driving excess filler from the reservoirs into the catchments.

Abstract: An air dryer tunnel, including an impingement section and an exhaust section. The impingement section may include a hot air inlet, and a corrugated impingement nozzle shroud including rows of orifices positioned at least one of at and proximate apexes of the corrugation of the nozzle shroud. The orifices may be in fluid communication with the hot air inlet. The exhaust section may include an exhaust air outlet in fluid communication with the orifices of the impingement nozzle shroud.

Abstract: A method of making a non-inkjet ready substrate suitable for inkjet printing. The method comprising providing a non-inkjet-ready substrate and applying a coating to the substrate. The coating provides a surface to which inkjet ink adheres with a selectable and substantially consistent texture and gloss level across the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A printer and a printing method, wherein the printer comprises, in one embodiment: a frame; a set of non-movable print heads fixed to the frame; an idler carriage for carrying a web, said idler carriage disposed a distance from the set of print heads so that ink from the print heads will be received by the web; and a carriage translation assembly to move the idler carriage to vary the distance between the set of print heads and the idler carriage. In a preferred embodiment, the carriage translation assembly comprises at least one slide shaft; wherein the idler carriage is disposed to slide linearly along the slide shaft; and a force mechanism is provided for exerting a force to move the idler carriage linearly along the slide shaft.