Abstract: A method of plugging a honeycomb body is disclosed herein, the method comprising: contacting a first end of the honeycomb body comprising a plurality of channels with a light curable sealing mixture such that an infiltrate of the light curable sealing mixture flows into the plurality of channels proximate the first end; emitting a light toward a first portion of the infiltrate within the plurality channels of the filter; and curing the first portion of the infiltrate within the channels with the light to form a plurality of seals.

Abstract: A method of plugging a filter, comprising: positioning a mask layer over the filter comprising a plurality of intersecting walls, wherein the intersecting walls define at least one channel between the intersecting walls; perforating the mask layer proximate the channel to form a hole, wherein the hole extends around a portion of a perimeter of the channel such that the mask layer defines a flap extending over a center of the channel; passing a plugging mixture into the channel through the hole in the mask layer; and sintering the plugging mixture to form a plug within the channel.

Abstract: A method for applying a surface treatment to a plugged honeycomb body comprising porous wall includes: atomizing particles of an inorganic material into liquid-particulate-binder droplets comprised of a liquid vehicle, a binder material, and the particles; evaporating substantially all of the liquid vehicle from the droplets to form agglomerates comprised of the particles and the binder material; depositing the agglomerates onto the porous walls of the plugged honeycomb body; wherein the agglomerates are disposed on, or in, or both on and in, the porous walls.

Abstract: A method of plugging a honeycomb body is disclosed herein, the method comprising: contacting a first end of the honeycomb body comprising a plurality of channels with a light curable sealing mixture such that an infiltrate of the light curable sealing mixture flows into the plurality of channels proximate the first end; emitting a light toward a first portion of the infiltrate within the plurality channels of the filter; and curing the first portion of the infiltrate within the channels with the light to form a plurality of seals.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a preform on a mold includes a preform handling tool and a force sensor coupled to the preform handling tool such that the force sensor is capable of sensing forces applied to the preform during handling of the preform by the preform handling tool. The apparatus includes a control device that is arranged and operable to move the preform handling tool relative to the mold. A method of locating the preform on the mold includes picking up the preform using the preform handling tool and placing the preform in a vicinity of the mold. Positions on the mold are mapped with an edge of the preform with the aid of the force sensor. The preform is paced on the mold according to the mapped positions.

Abstract: A spool apparatus includes a first flange with a first layer of conformable material defining an inner face of the first flange and a second flange with a second layer of conformable material defining an inner face of the second flange. Methods are also provided where a first end winding of a first layer of windings is pressed into the inner face of the first flange such that the first layer of conformable material of the first flange conforms the inner face of the first flange into a shape of a circumferential surface portion of the first end winding.

Abstract: A spool apparatus includes a first flange with a first layer of conformable material defining an inner face of the first flange and a second flange with a second layer of conformable material defining an inner face of the second flange. Methods are also provided where a first end winding of a first layer of windings is pressed into the inner face of the first flange such that the first layer of conformable material of the first flange conforms the inner face of the first flange into a shape of a circumferential surface portion of the first end winding.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a preform on a mold includes a preform handling tool and a force sensor coupled to the preform handling tool such that the force sensor is capable of sensing forces applied to the preform during handling of the preform by the preform handling tool. The apparatus includes a control device that is arranged and operable to move the preform handling tool relative to the mold. A method of locating the preform on the mold includes picking up the preform using the preform handling tool and placing the preform in a vicinity of the mold. Positions on the mold are mapped with an edge of the preform with the aid of the force sensor. The preform is paced on the mold according to the mapped positions.

Abstract: A skinning apparatus including: a manifold having: a chamber, one or more channels, or both, to receive a source of flowable cement and to direct the received flowable cement to an interior skinning region or skinning chamber surrounding at least a portion of the lateral surface of a first article received in the skinning chamber, and to form a cement skin on the lateral surface of the received article; a source of motive force to controllably urge the received article into and through the skinning chamber; and a support member to receive and support the resulting skinned article. Also disclosed is a method for skinning a ceramic article using the aforementioned skinning apparatus, as defined herein.

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: A pull roll apparatus and method are described herein that can control a cross-draw tension and a down-draw tension of a glass sheet while manufacturing the glass sheet. In one embodiment, the pull roll apparatus includes a first driven stub roll pair, a second driven stub roll pair and a control device (e.g., PLC) that controls the first and second driven stub roll pairs while a first edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the first driven stub roll pair and while an opposing second edge portion of the glass sheet is drawn between two vertically downtilted rolls associated with the second driven stub roll pair. If desired, the pull roll apparatus may include a pulling roll assembly (located below the first and second driven stub rolls) or another set of driven stub roll pairs (located below the first and second driven stub roll pairs).

Abstract: A skinning apparatus including: a manifold having: a chamber, one or more channels, or both, to receive a source of flowable cement and to direct the received flowable cement to an interior skinning region or skinning chamber surrounding at least a portion of the lateral surface of a first article received in the skinning chamber, and to form a cement skin on the lateral surface of the received article; a source of motive force to controllably urge the received article into and through the skinning chamber; and a support member to receive and support the resulting skinned article. Also disclosed is a method for skinning a ceramic article using the aforementioned skinning apparatus, as defined herein.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for detecting defects in a honeycomb body. The system and apparatus include a fixture adapted to hold the honeycomb body, a particulate fluid source, a pipe which defines a flow path between the particulate fluid source and a first end face of the honeycomb body thereby allowing particulate fluid to flow from the particulate fluid source to the first end face of the honeycomb body. The particulate fluid emerges at a second end face of the honeycomb body through defects, if any, in the honeycomb body where the positions of such defects may be monitored. The system and apparatus includes a flow straightener disposed in the flow path to minimize boundary layer influence of the pipe on the flow of the particulate fluid. A substantially uniform velocity flow profile is provided to the first end face of the honeycomb body.

Abstract: A method for detecting defects in a honeycomb filter body. In operation, a gas flow stream containing particulates emerges at an outlet end face of the honeycomb body through defects, if any, in the honeycomb walls and/or plugs where they are illuminated. The gas flow stream containing the particles are provided at varying flow rates, pressures and particle densities during the course of the test cycle, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio, and reducing turbulence within the gas flow stream such that any defects within the filter body may be more readily detected.