Abstract: System and method for controlling the caliper of a web of material acted upon by one or more pressure rolls. The caliper is controlled by adjustment of the diameter of the roll, and the roll is locally heated and cooled by a combination of impingement, radiant and convective heat transfer.

Abstract: In a belt pressing unit, which preferably serves as wet press of a paper machine, an elastic tubular press belt travels around a supporting body and, together with a back roll, forms an extended press zone. Beyond the press zone along the path of the press belt, liquid is fed to the inner side of the press belt in order to cool the press belt. This liquid is permitted to travel, together with the press belt, around the supporting body. Most of the liquid is then removed from the press belt, preferably at a position in front of the press zone. The liquid may then be cooled and fed back to the press belt. In addition, liquid may also be fed to the inner side of the press belt where the press belt enters the press zone, for cooling and lubricating a pressing surface of a press shoe which presses the press belt toward the back roll.

Abstract: Sintering method and apparatus. A pre-sintered or compacted mass of particulate material is densified by loading the mass into a substantially closed three-dimensional space defined by three pairs of punches juxtaposed thereacross in three respective directions, and then by multi-axially compressing the mass by advancing the punches of each pair toward each other while energizing the mass with thermal energy. The axes of action of pressures applied thereto by the three pairs of punches intersect substantially at a point substantially constituting the center of the three-dimensional space.

Abstract: A straw briquette press in form of a towable machine can in the field pick up straw or receive it from another traversing machine and press said straw to briquettes having a stable shape and density of about 1 g/cm.sup.3. The machine employs a high-speed finger press receiving the straw from a conventional feed device. The finger press consists of two rotatable blocks (1) which perform synchronized, oppositely directed rotary oscillations at great speeds. The two blocks (1) are provided with fingers (1) which grip straw during the first phase of a working stroke and then engage each other and perform a massive piston-like movement during the last phase of the working stroke when the straw is subjected to high-compression. During the return stroke the fingers are withdrawn in the same opposite paths. The two synchronized and oppositely directed movements provide a vibration-free operation.

Abstract: A process is provided for the treatment of foil laminated paperboard stock to obtain a super smooth printing surface. The smoothness is accomplished by eliminating the surface irregularities of the foil by passing the foil laminated paperboard through a smoothing nip formed with a heated highly polished hard surface roller and a resilient roller, preferably having a nylon cover with the foil surface against the heated hard roller at a pressure whereby the thickness of the paperboard is not significantly decreased.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method and apparatus for accurately calendering a web of material, such as paper. Zone control rolls of variable geometric profile are provided for a super calender at the top and bottom nips. The upper zone control roll has its geometric profile along the nip altered as a function of web caliper. The bottom zone control roll has its geometric profile altered as a function of temperature measured at the bottom compliant roll of the super calender.

Abstract: Cooperating hard and soft paper calendering rolls have probes for measuring the soft roll's temperature at different zones along its length and units for controlling the nip line pressure in each zone in dependence of the zone's measured temperature.

Abstract: A laminator for laminating and/or encapsulating a multilayer laminate assembly is disclosed. The laminator includes a processing chamber designed to receive the laminate assembly. The processing chamber is provided with independently controllable temperature, vacuum and pneumatic pressure capabilities for effecting optimum processing conditions for particular materials and configurations. The laminator features a double-vacuum system and a choice between two automatic cycles: a lamination cycle and a lamination-and-cure cycle. Preferably, the laminator is microprocessor controlled and is provided with a control panel where the processing parameters are set and monitored.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and an apparatus for use in controlling a nip through which material is passed. The apparatus comprises at least one means for generating a magnetic field and means for locating the magnetic field generating means at a selected position along the length of one of the pressing elements, adjacent to the element, to thereby affect only a portion of the length of the element, thus controlling only that portion of the length of the nip which is generally aligned with the affected portion of the pressing element.

Abstract: Control of a laminating press is attained by monitoring the temperature of the heating medium circulating through the press components.

Abstract: A moist, porous web is consolidated and dried by running it through the nip between two rotatable rolls, the surface of one of which is heated as it approaches the nip. One side of the web is in direct contact with the surface of the heated roll and the other side faces a permeable surface. The rolls are pressed together under high pressure to transfer heat from the heated roll to the web compressed therebetween to dry the same. The roll surface may be heated by hot gases from a fuel combustion burner or by a liquid medium. The dried and consolidated web may be removed from the heated roll by doctoring or it may be conveyed from the nip between the rolls to apparatus for processing it further.

Abstract: An improved laminator with a novel heating control system is disclosed for particular employment with laminating packets formed of an article to be laminated positioned between top and bottom leaves. When the packet is aligned in a ready position within the laminating machine, heating elements in a heating zone of the laminating machine are activated while the packet is stationary. When the heating zone attains a first temperature, movement of the packet is initiated in the heating zone. During passage through the heating zone, when the heating zone attains a second temperature, power to the heating elements is cycled so as to maintain the second temperature substantially constant. Also, to further minimize temperature overshoot, power to the heating elements is temporarily removed when the first temperature is attained. With the system of the invention, the dual problems of temperature overshoot and insufficient lamination of lead ends of the packet is avoided.

Abstract: There are disclosed in the present application, methods and apparatus for reprocessing sheets of veneer which have received an unsatisfactory first drying treatment resulting in wide variations in the percentage of moisture in various parts of a given sheet and in the average moisture from sheet to sheet. In the present apparatus, veneer sheets somewhat larger than four by eight feet are subjected in a stack or batch to radio frequency energy, heated air below the boiling point of water and variable pressure to accomplish both a redistribution of moisture and the elimination of excess moisture to prepare the sheets of veneer to be bonded together to form sheets of plywood.

Abstract: A mass of particulate material is sintered or densified by applying a first pressure to the mass in a first direction, applying a second pressure to the mass in a second direction which is transverse to the first direction, and applying a third pressure to the mass in a third direction which is transverse to the first and second directions. The first, second and third pressures may be successively modified while the mass is heated to a sintering temperature.

Abstract: A paper calender using a polyurethane coated calendering cylinder is operated with the coating maintained at an unusually low temperature found to prevent damage to the coating when calendering at high speeds and pressures.

Abstract: A process for splitting the shells of pistachio nuts comprising soaking closed-shell pistachio nuts in an aqueous liquid, subjecting the wet-shelled nuts to mechanical pressure to compress them, releasing the said pressure, and substantially immediately subjecting the nuts having the mechanically compressed shells to an elevated temperature to effect splitting of at least the majority of the shells.

Abstract: In apparatus having an endless pressing band, formed of a layer of rubber with a steel-wire fabric connected thereto, passing around a heating drum, two associated guide rollers and a hitch roller, the relative positions of advancement of the opposite ends of a transverse weft wire of the steel-wire fabric are sensed by photoelectric cell arrangements and, upon sensing of a lagging of one end behind the other, control means are activated to move the bearing at one end of the hitch roller towards or away from the heating drum while retaining the axes of the hitch roller and the heating drum in a common plane.

Abstract: A connection apparatus mainly comprises a gas-tight container one surface of which is made of a film, a gas supply source for filling the container with a gas at a predetermined pressure, and a heat source. Two substrates, at least one of which is flexible, are tightly supported on the film surface of the container in such a manner that electrodes or terminals formed on the both substrates confront with each other. The gas pressure in the container is increased to the predetermined value, thereby to tightly contact the electrodes formed on the both substrates with each other. Thereafter, the heat source is enabled to melt the electrodes and to electrically connect the two substrates with each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed whereby a laminating press is controlled using the relative cure of a resinous material as the primary factor.

Abstract: A system for drying and preheating small metallic particles such as chips, turnings, borings and the like to remove volatiles therefrom which includes a dryer working in conjunction with a briquetting press. The dryer includes a drying and preliminary combustion chamber including a revolving drum therein through which the chips pass. The drying and preliminary combustion is heated and is atmospherically sealed and operated with a reducing atmosphere. The volatiles driven from the metallic particles are passed to a combustion completion chamber which is maintained at a temperature sufficient to burn the combustibles and into which air is injected to complete the combustion. The hot metallic particles are thermally insulated and sealed from the atmosphere while being conveyed from the drying and preliminary combustion chamber to the briquetting press where they are compressed into briquettes for subsequent introduction into induction furnaces and the like.

Abstract: A high density insulating board is produced by a process which includes forming a wet multi-ply board of fibrous material, substantially free of resin, on the roll of a wet cylinder machine, drying the board, placing the dry board in a press, and then hot pressing the board at a differential temperature of about 15.degree. to about 40.degree. F across the board for at least 30 seconds.

Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a dimensionally stable compressed article such as an absorbent catamenial tampon comprising compressed cellulosic fibers. The method comprises the steps of first radially compressing a cylindrical blank to form a radially compressed blank having a length in excess of the desired finished length; then axially compressing the blank in a heated chamber to a length less than the desired finished length; then allowing the blank to expand to the desired finished length; and then maintaining the blank at this length while still in the heated chamber until the blank obtains the desired stability.

Abstract: A pulp slurry including pulp made from recycled waste paper is formed into tissue paper in a paper-making machine having an improved calender stack preceded by a conventional drying and creping section. Drying may be completed on a Yankee dryer or the drying may be partial on the Yankee and completed on so-called afterdryers. One or more rolls in the calender stack are cooled to about 90.degree. F by passing liquid coolant therethrough to keep the paper at a temperature below the melting temperature of thermoplastic contaminants in the recycled waste paper so that the contaminants pass through the calender roll in a hardened, nonsticky or less sticky condition. The cooled calender roll is kept dry by an air shower. A continuous doctor on the cooled roll removes any contaminants that adhere to the roll.

Abstract: A method of controlling a laminating press in accordance with a predetermined time-temperature command profile and apparatus for use therein, are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for processing refuse material including comminuting metal free raw refuse and placing the comminuted refuse between heated platens, forcing the platens together to compress and dry the refuse, and scraping the adhering dried and compressed refuse from the surfaces of the platens, comminuting it and placing it in containers. The apparatus for carrying out the process of the present invention includes a conveyor belt to convey the refuse to a grinder that comminutes the raw refuse, a hopper receives the comminuted raw refuse from the grinder and supplies it to feed screws feeding the raw comminuted refuse onto heated metal platens that compress and dry the refuse. A scraper is provided for removing the adhered refuse from the platens, and a second hopper is disposed to receive the refuse scraped from the heated metal platens and to deposit it into a second grinder where it is comminuted into a small platelet-like flakes for final disposition in containers.

Abstract: Polyolefin fibers containing at least 70% by weight of polypropylene fibers having a denier of at least 0.5 and a birefringence of at least 2.5 .times. 10.sup.-.sup.2 are formed into a sheet. The sheet is then frictionally calendered in the dry state at a frictional ratio of at least 15% and at a temperature in the range from 90.degree.C to 160.degree.C whereby an insulating paper having excellent air-impermeability and oil-resistance is obtained.

Abstract: A method of converting scrap or other small pieces of metal into a useful, commercial product while maintaining the metal in a solid state. According to the process, the pieces are maintained together for further processing. They are impacted, while heated, to produce a metal body and thereafter subjected to continued impaction so that the pieces forming the body are welded together into a cohesive, homogeneous slab. There is also disclosure of a novel press and method of operating the press. The press is of the harmonic type. Its novel aspects include control of movement of novel platens during rotation of shafts which drive the platens and perimetral constraint of a workpiece being forged to achieve rapid impaction and self feed of a workpiece.