Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite ring (1) comprising the steps of: (a) providing band-shaped means (2) of reinforcement fibers (5, 5?) impregnated with a high temperature thermoplastic material and (b) wrapping the band-shaped means (2) around a mandrel (9) to form the ring (1) in such a way that a first group (5) of the embedded reinforcement fibers extends substantially continuously along a first direction (3) with respect to the circumferential direction (10) of the ring (1), characterized in that the band-shaped means (2) is wrapped in such a way that a second group (5?) of the embedded reinforcement fibers extends substantially continuously along a second direction (4) different from the first direction (3) with respect to the circumferential direction (10) of the ring (1).

Abstract: The invention provides a device for applying a pulsed high voltage electric field (PEF) treatment to a (laminar) fluid flow, said device comprising a chamber comprising an inlet with an inlet cross sectional area, an outlet, a treatment zone, and at least a first and a second electrode positioned for providing an axialelectric field in said treatment zone, wherein the cross sectional area of the treatment zone is at least as large as the cross sectional area of the inlet.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a composite ring (1) comprising the steps of: (a) providing band-shaped means (2) of reinforcement fibres (5, 5?) impregnated with a high temperature thermoplastic material and (b) wrapping the band-shaped means (2) around a mandrel (9) to form the ring (1) in such a way that a first group (5) of the embedded reinforcement fibres extends substantially continuously along a first direction (3) with respect to the circumferential direction (10) of the ring (1), characterised in that the band-shaped means (2) is wrapped in such a way that a second group (5?) of the embedded reinforcement fibres extends substantially continuously along a second direction (4) different from the first direction (3) with respect to the circumferential direction (10) of the ring (1).

Abstract: A plastic pressure vessel comprises a first (1, 2) and a second part (2, 1) welded to each other. The first part (1) comprises a layer (11) of thermoplastic material having substantially continuous fibres. The second part comprises a layered structure having an first (20) and a second (22) layer of thermoplastic material having substantially continuous fibres separated by a central (21) layer comprising thermoplastic material. The layer having substantially continuous fibres (11) of the first part extends over a length (d) sandwiched in between and connected with the first (20) and second (22) layer of thermoplastic material having substantial continuous fibres of the second part. Preferably the second part is provided with a slit (24) and the first part with a fitting protrusion, preferably with a bevelled end (23).

Abstract: A plastic pressure vessel comprises a first (1, 2) and a second part (2, 1) welded to each other. The first part (1) comprises a layer (11) of thermoplastic material having substantially continuous fibres. The second part comprises a layered structure having an first (20) and a second (22) layer of thermoplastic material having substantially continuous fibres separated by a central (21) layer comprising thermoplastic material. The layer having substantially continuous fibres (11) of the first part extends over a length (d) sandwiched in between and connected with the first (20) and second (22) layer of thermoplastic material having substantial continuous fibres of the second part. Preferably the second part is provided with a slit (24) and the first part with a fitting protrusion, preferably with a bevelled end (23).

Abstract: A method for thermally processing a sheet of a thermographic material provides good flatness and dimensional stability together with a high optical homogeneity. The method incorporates the steps of supplying a sheet of thermographic material m (1) to a thermal processor (10) having a processing chamber (12), heating the processing chamber to a predetermined processing temperature, and transporting the sheet of thermographic material through the processing chamber in a sinuous way (4). This transporting is carried out by a first drivable belt (21), a second drivable belt (22) and backing means (27).

Abstract: A method for thermally processing a sheet of a thermographic material provides good flatness and dimensional stability together with a high optical homogeneity. The method incorporates the steps of supplying a sheet of thermographic material m (1) to a thermal processor (10) having a processing chamber (12), heating the processing chamber to a predetermined processing temperature, and transporting the sheet of thermographic material through the processing chamber in a sinuous way (4). This transporting is carried out by a first drivable belt (21), a second drivable belt (22) and backing means (27).

Abstract: The apparatus comprises at least one treatment vessel (12) comprising a housing (14) having a sheet material inlet opening (17) and a sheet material outlet opening (18) defining a sheet material path (20) through said vessel (12). Each opening (17, 18) is closed by a path-defining rotatable roller (28) biased towards a reaction surface (30) to form a nip (36) there-between through which said sheet material path (20) extends. The path-defining roller (28) is in contact along its length, with a plurality of rotatable intermediate rollers (38) carried in fixed bearings (40) mounted on said housing (14).

Abstract: The roller comprises a core (56) having an elastomeric covering which comprises an outer exposed region (60) and an intermediate region (58) positioned between the outer region (60) and the core (56). The outer region (60) has a thickness which decreases towards each end of the roller and the intermediate region (58) has a thickness which increases towards each end of the roller. When associated with another such roller to form a nip in an apparatus for wet processing sheet materials, carry-over is reduced, leakage when no sheet material is passing through the nip is reduced, and the risk of physical damage to the sheet material is reduced.

Abstract: A roller, for use in a photographic sheet material processing apparatus, comprises a core (32) provided with a covering of relatively soft material (34). The roller has a length (L) of from 0.4 to 2.0 m. The core has a maximum diameter (D) of less than 0.04*L m. The roller is characterised by having a deflection as measured by a specific test and a weight (W) below levels defined by a specified boundary condition formulae (1) & (2). Rollers satisfying this condition are characterised in that the core is formed of a composite material comprising fibers and a resin matrix. Such rollers have a relatively small diameter, are light and yet still have sufficient stiffness to avoid substantial wrinkling of the sheet material in the apparatus and to satisfy the requirements of high processing quality.