Abstract: A filtration media array is provided having at least one contoured polymeric film layer having surface structures. The film layers may be configured as a stack that has the contoured film layer defining a plurality of ordered inlet openings through a face of the stack and corresponding air pathways, thereby forming an open, porous volume. The air pathways may be defined by a plurality of flow channels formed by the contours of the structured contoured film layers.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided an automotive sunshade panel formed from a metallic hollow panel and having flanged edges and a two-dimensional curved surface or a three-dimensional curved surface formed at least partially of its central portion excepting the peripheries of the metallic hollow panel. For use in the present invention, a fabric may be laminated to at least one side of the metallic hollow panel. The metallic hollow panel is formed into a one-side expanded Roll-Bond® panel, a both-side expanded Roll-Bond® panel, a both-side flat three-layer Roll-Bond® panel or a honeycomb panel.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making cushioning dunnage comprising the steps of providing an elongated band of stock material having lateral edges and a longitudinal axis, the band of stock material being formed from at least two elongated paper webs adhered together along the lengths of the webs by glue applied to one of the webs in a gluing area having a length along a longitudinal axis of the one web and a width transverse to the one web longitudinal axis, the transverse location of glue applied to the gluing area varying as a function of the longitudinal location along the gluing area; driving the band longitudinally; folding the lateral edges of the band laterally inwardly; alternatingly crumpling the band longitudinally on first one side of the longitudinal axis of the band and then on the other side of the longitudinal axis of the band to form pleats in the band; and connecting the pleats in the band by compressing the band through the thickness of the band.

Abstract: A hybrid double backer for the formation of a double face corrugated paperboard web combines an upstream driven holddown belt section and a downstream static porous mesh belt holddown section that provides optimum curing and drying of the paperboard web.

Abstract: A method for molding an end of a long resin molded article that is obtained by extrusion molding and has a design surface and an attachment surface extended in a longitudinal direction of the long resin molded article, and the attachment surface is attached to other parts. An end portion of the long resin molded article is heated so as to soften the end portion of the long resin molded article. The design surface of the heated end portion is pressed so as to stretch resin on a side of the design surface thereby forming an inclined surface on the end portion, whereby the end portion is inclined from the design surface at the end portion to said attachment surface at the end portion along said inclined surface. The attachment surface of the heated end portion is pressed so as to form a cavity on the attachment surface and stretch resin on a side of the attachment surface.

Abstract: A laminated pad and method of manufacturing such pad wherein the laminated pad includes a grip portion and a work surface. The work surface may be comprised of any of a variety of substances including absorbent material, abrasive material, or polishing material. The grip portion may be upstanding for facile gripping with one's fingers.

Abstract: A method for forming a wiping product is provided. In particular, the wiping product contains a fabric formed from a nonwoven web that is bonded by microcreping at least one side of the web. The nonwoven web can contain melt-spinnable fibers, such as polyolefins, as well as various other fibers, such as pulp fibers, staple fibers, etc. For example, the nonwoven web can contain at least about 20% by weight of polyolefin fibers. By bonding the web using microcreping, the resulting bulk, absorption capacity, and softness of the fabric can be improved.

Abstract: A folding-pressing operation is carried out on the strip (17) in successive steps, by means of two opposed dies (11,12) with a relative movement alternating between coming together and moving apart, these dies having active surfaces (11,12) which are substantially conjugate with the two faces of the corrugation.

Abstract: A method of forming a reclosable gusseted bag is disclosed wherein a carrier tape webs having discrete sections of mating profile separated by profile free sections is introduced between two bag walls and sealed to the bag wall tops or adjacent thereto. The carrier tape webs are sealed to the bag wall films and cross seals are made in the bag wall films and carrier tape webs through the profile free sections. Side gussets are formed by pushing a part of the bag walls and the profile free sections of the carrier tape web between the profiles so that when the bag is closed a part of the gussets are captured between the mated profiles. A bottom gusset is formed in the bag bottom and a peel seal may be provided below the profiles.

Abstract: A system for continuously manufacturing security tags involves supplying housing stock material in a continuous web from a supply station and then forming housing cavities in the housing stock material without separating the continuous web. Resonator strips are inserted in the housing cavities downstream of the plastic forming. The housing cavities with the inserted resonator strips are closed and sealed with lid stock material which is placed over the open ends of the housing cavities. Bias strips are attached to the outer surface of the lid stock material remote from the housing cavity. Cover strip material is then placed over the bias strips and outer surface of the lid stock material.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a hardcover book, a laminated sheet is fed to the inner book spine with a wide roll machine, and the sheet consists of a paper-laminated gauze. The laminate is subsequently treated and has a flat fine creping with a lengthwise elasticity of 5-15%. The end of the laminate sheet is fed to the inner book (12) perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the inner book spine and pressed onto the glued inner book spine followed by the 10 mm overlaps to either side. The joint material (36) that is applied is elastic perpendicular to the inner book spine. The inner book can then be trimmed and rounded, and the joint (36) stretches without losing stability or tearing.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a flexible heat-exchange device for taking heat from or delivering heat to the ambient surroundings, wherein the device includes a body comprised of mutually joined flexible mats and including an internal passageway for the heat-carrying fluid. The apparatus includes two mould dies which can be brought together and have on their mutually opposing surfaces generally mirror-image patterns in the form of recesses in the respective abutment surfaces of the tools, the recesses corresponding to the extension of a flow passageway, and two mat joining tools which can be brought together and have on their mutually opposing surfaces a generally mirror-image pattern in the form of abutment surfaces that form the electrodes of the mat joining tools, wherein the electrodes are disposed in a pattern corresponding to the delimitations of the flow passageway, and the electrodes can be connected to a high frequency welding unit.

Abstract: A method of resurfacing a traction roll to provide a friction surface to replace a worn surface. A supply reel of metal strip material is continuously unwound from a supply reel and rewound on a take-up reel. Between the reels, the unwound strip passes through a treating station at which a surface of the strip is prepared for coating and is then coated by one or two sprays of various types of thermal spray equipment as the applicator, with a polymer coating sometimes applied as a top coating. The take-up reel with the coated strip is then transported to a facility where the traction roll is located. The traction roll is then prepared for winding of the strip thereonto. The strip is wound helically onto the traction roll and secured thereto by doublesided adhesive tape disposed between and attached to the roll surface and the metal strip. In a modification, the strip is fed through the treating location in contact with an arcuate surface of a mandrel to impart curvature to the strip.

Abstract: An automotive trim product is made as follows. A single or multiple layer sheet is extruded so as to include at least one color pigmented and/or metallized layer therein. The sheet is then thermoformed into a three-dimensionally shaped preform via vacuum forming or the like. The preform is placed into a cavity of an injection molding apparatus and heated semi-molten material is injected thereinto. The semi-molten material bonds to the preform in the cavity. After cycling, the molding apparatus ejects a final automotive trim part. Optionally, some processing (e.g. trimming) may be performed following ejection.

Abstract: In a process for making prefastened and refastenable garments, a discrete article is transported in a primary direction of movement. The discrete article can define a leading half comprising first fastening components, a trailing half comprising second fastening components releasably engageable with the first fastening components, and an interconnecting region disposed between and interconnecting the leading and trailing halves. The leading half can be temporarily diverted from the primary direction of movement, while continuing to transport the interconnecting region and the trailing half in the primary direction. After reestablishing movement of the leading half in the primary direction, the leading half can contact a contoured surface, such as a contoured plate or roll. The contact can cause the first fastening components to be transversely displaced toward one another, whereupon the first and second fastening components can be engaged.

Abstract: A lamination process for orienting and conforming a film or sheet material to a substrate surface having a surface feature such that the film or sheet material reflects the surface feature includes interposing an adhesive between the film or sheet material and the substrate surface and opposing the film or sheet material and the substrate surface; providing at least two manifolds, where each manifold provides a plurality of flow streams of a pressurized liquid, each flow stream being oriented to effectuate a clear but minimally overlapped resulting flow stream from each manifold; and directing the resulting flow streams onto the film or sheet material to coincide at a contact nip line with at a force effective to conform the film or sheet material to the surface feature of the substrate surface. The resulting flow streams are maintained for sufficient time to adhere the film or sheet material to the substrate.

Abstract: A method for producing an intermediate product made of a fiber-reinforced composite composed of a reinforcing fiber impregnated with a thermosetting resin or a thermoplastic resin, comprising: (a) the first process where a plurality of sheets made of the fiber-reinforced composite are laminated to each other, heated under a pressure, and cooled under a pressure to provide a flat plate-shaped laminate; (b) the second process where the flat plate-shaped laminate is cut into a plate; and (c) the third process where the plate is softened by heating, placed on a forming tool, and formed by cooling under a pressure.

Abstract: A method and system for producing an article using a thermoplastic sandwich material such as, for example, a 3-D deep-drawn article is disclosed. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, two reinforced thermoplastic skins surround a generally planar honeycomb structure. During the manufacturing process, the skins and the honeycomb structure are bonded together by means of a thermocoupling process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a pneumatic tire.

Abstract: Embossed textured films are made by feeding a thin thermoplastic polymer barrier film through the nip of a bonding roll assembly having a patterned roll and an anvil roll rotating at different circumferential speeds which differ by 5% to 200%. The bond pattern is imparted to the film as well as additional texture due to the differential speeds of the rollers thereby creating an embossed, textured barrier film having improved hand and a hydrohead in excess of about 30 mbar.

Abstract: Mask formations of a laryngeal mask airway are made from two tracks of sheet plastics material. Each sheet track comprises two layers sandwiching ring-shape reinforcements between them. A station along each track pressure-vacuum forms the regions of the reinforcements into cuff members. The two tracks come together and the cuff members are joined to opposite sides of mount members to complete the mask formations.

Abstract: A dust bag comprises a filter bag consisting of a filter material. In a first wall portion of the filter bag, an inlet opening is provided through which the air flow to be cleaned gets into the filter bag. On the inner surface of the wall portion opposite the inlet opening, there lies a protective layer of a resistant material of great tensile strength. This protective layer extends as a strip through the filter bag and prevents damage to the inner surface of the filter bag caused by particles striking the same.

Abstract: A method for embossing and crimping a plurality of sheet material web layers using an apparatus, including a first, second and third roll. The first roll including at least one element extending radially therefrom. The second roll has a resilient surface that engages the element to form a first nip therebetween. The third roll has a non-resilient surface that engages the element to form a second nip therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the first roll includes at least a first and second element extending radially therefrom, with the first element having a greater radial height than the second element, which avoids contact with the third roll. The layers of sheet material web are embossed by the first and second elements as they are passed through the first nip, and are crimped together by the first element as they are passed through the second nip. In a preferred embodiment, the first roll includes a plurality of first and second elements arranged in a pattern.

Abstract: A method for molding an end of a long resin molded article is disclosed. The long resin molded article is obtained by extrusion molding and having a design surface and an attachment surface extended in a longitudinal direction of the long resin molded article, and the attachment surface is attached to other parts. An end portion of the long resin molded article is heated so as to soften the end portion of the long resin molded article. The design surface of the heated end portion is pressed so as to stretch resin on a side of the design surface thereby forming an inclined surface on the end portion, whereby the end portion is inclined from the design surface at the end portion to said attachment surface at the end portion along said inclined surface. And the attachment surface of the heated end portion is pressed so as to form a cavity on the attachment surface and stretch resin on a side of the attachment surface.

Abstract: Molding, such as that used in the manufacture of picture frames, is laminated with a covering wrap of foil, paper, plastic, cloth, or wood veneer and is embossed on the same machine shortly thereafter. The covering wrap is adhered by an adhesive and the embossed pattern is formed in part by pressure of a pattern against the substrate and through the covering wrap and partly by forcing of the adhesive used in the laminating process into various raised portions of the pattern, thus supporting and enhancing the embossed profile.

Abstract: A method of fixing a flexible electrical conductor, in which a plurality of flat conductors in which their connecting ends to be connected to another circuit are exposed are integrally covered with a resin-made cladding member, to a fixing portion for connection to the other circuit, comprises the steps of: placing the cladding member on this side of the connecting ends on the fixing portion; and welding together the cladding member on this side of the connecting ends and the fixing portion so as to fix the flexible electrical conductor to the fixing portion. As a result, even if an external force is applied to the flexible electrical conductor, the force is not applied directly to a connecting portion for connecting the connecting ends to connecting ends of the other circuit, thereby improving the electrical reliability in the connection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stable material having enhanced extensibility and a method for making the same. A tensioning force is applied to the neckable material to neck the material in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The necked material is then subjected to mechanical stabilization to provide a stabilized extensible necked material. The stabilized extensible necked material is then passed between the peripheral surface of a cylinder which is driven in rotating motion and a device for pressing the stabilized extensible necked material against the peripheral surface of the cylinder. A retarding member retards the passage of the stabilized extensible necked material and directs the material away from the peripheral surface of the cylinder. The stabilized extensible necked material is easily extended in a direction parallel to the first direction and perpendicular to the first direction.

Abstract: A three dimensional sail of one piece construction is made on a rotating roll having a deformable outer surface. The roll is divided into a large number of segments, extending across the width of the roll, with the convex profile of each segment being adjustable. A sail is made on the roll on a continuous basis by applying a first layer of film, deforming the film on the roll, applying adhesive and reinforcing the yarns, and applying a second layer of film to form a 3-D laminate.

Abstract: A method and system for continuously manufacturing security tags involve supplying housing stock material in a continuous web from a supply station and then forming housing cavities in the housing stock material without separating the continuous web. Resonator strips are inserted in the housing cavities downstream of the plastic forming. The housing cavities with the inserted resonator strips are closed and sealed with lid stock material which is placed over the open ends of the housing cavities. Bias strips are attached to the outer surface of the lid stock material remote from the housing cavity. Cover strip material is then placed over the bias strips and outer surface of the lid stock material.

Abstract: The present invention provides a stencil sheet roll formed by winding up a stencil sheet to form a roll, the sheet including a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support laminated thereto, wherein the compression elastic modulus of the sheet is not less than 32 kg/cm.sup.2. The invention also provides a stencil sheet roll formed by winding up a stencil sheet to form a roll, the sheet including a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support laminated thereto and having been subjected to calender treatment. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing a stencil sheet roll comprising laminating a thermoplastic resin film to a porous support to form a stencil sheet, subjecting the stencil sheet to calender treatment, and winding up the calender-treated stencil sheet to form a roll.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of honeycomb core structure is disclosed, which substantially comprises the step (a) of of feeding a starting continuous web or sheet of material; the step (b) of applying an adhesive to the sheet material along a plurality of spaced parallel bands; the step (c) of drying the sheet; the step (d) of forming a plurality of slits extending longitudinally of the sheet and interconnected by a transversely extending slit-devoid web portion; the step (e) of cutting the slitted sheet to a predetermined dimension across the slit-devoid web portion; the step (f) of piling a plurality of layers of the thus cut sheets upon one another in a stack with the adhesive bands on one of the adjacent sheets positioned out of registry with those on the other by half of a pitch between the consecutive bands on each sheet; the step (g) of compressively curing the stacked sheets; the step (h) of slicing the cured stack into individual elongated strips; and the step (i) of expanding the strips in a direct

Abstract: The labyrinth path in the corrugating nip of a single facer is substantially reduced by utilizing a small diameter corrugating roll captured between a larger diameter conventional corrugating roll and a backing roll arrangement. The smaller diameter corrugating roll is captured to prevent bending thereof under corrugating loads. The corrugator may be operated at high speeds without the adverse increase in labyrinth path and web tension characteristic of a pair of large diameter corrugating rolls.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making contoured hydrocolloid-containing adhesive dressings in which, in the final product, a soft pliant adhesive layer having one or more hydrocolloids dispersed therein is sandwiched between a top backing layer of stretchable film or fabric and a bottom release layer of flexible but substantially non-stretchable material. In a combined contouring and cutting step, the layers are compressed and heated to reshape the adhesive material and are simultaneously cut to form the finished dressing. In a preferred embodiment, three steps of laminating, contouring and cutting are performed simultaneously at a single station.

Abstract: Optical and firescreening protective glazing laminates comprising fluoropolymer interlayer films are described. The films and their laminates comprise THV and blends of THV with FEP, ECTFE or ECCTFE, and modified with additives, such as coupling agents, pigment or color concentrates, and IR- or UV- light blockers, and may be subjected to a surface corona treatment. The films also may incorporate a fiber mesh for additional reinforcement.

Abstract: A method for forming a sheet of loop material in which a sheet of fibers is passed between a first cylindrical forming member having sockets and a second cylindrical forming member having mating posts to generally conform the sheet of fibers to the peripheral surface of the first forming member and retain it there for a distance after which molten thermoplastic material is bonded to it to form a backing layer. Arcuate portions of the sheet of fibers that were in the sockets then projecting from the backing. The formed sheet of fibers is retained along the peripheral surface of the first forming member for said distance by drawing air through those air passageways in the bottoms of the sockets. The first forming member can be heated, and a source of heated air can be supplied to restrict cooling of the first forming member.

Abstract: An improved roll-form vent for buildings comprises a sequentially thermoformed polymeric vent which provides multiple venting air flow paths between the interior of a building and ambient atmosphere. The vent includes projections extending from a web and a plurality of vent openings that cooperate with screening to bar entry into the building of water, insects and foreign matter. A method of making the vent includes steps of providing a web of material of indeterminate running length, heating the web, sequentially thermoforming the web, cooling the web and rolling the formed vent for storage, shipment and use.

Abstract: A method and apparatus 200 for building a laminate 10A and in forming a subassembly 10 for a pneumatic tire from an assembly of reinforced or unreinforced tire components wherein the method has the steps of providing an apparatus 200 for simultaneously forming, positioning, attaching and conveying a plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components and activating the apparatus simultaneously forming, positioning and attaching the plurality of continuous strips of elastomeric tire components to adjacent strips of tire components as they are conveyed thus forming a laminate 10A of reinforced or unreinforced tire components suitable for use as a subassembly for a neumatic tire.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a hollow fiber membrane carpet includes the steps of laying out a multiplicity of hollow fibers, forming a pair of strips of non-permeable adhesive material on the hollow fibers in a transverse relationship thereto and in a spaced relationship from one another such that main portions of the hollow fibers extend between the spaced strips, cutting selected portions of the hollow fibers adjacent to the spaced strips so as to open the hollow fibers to communication at least at one of a pair of opposite end portions of the hollow fibers, and assembling the hollow fibers and spaced strips into a plurality of elementary carpet members and thereafter into a hollow fiber membrane carpet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and to an arrangement for creating in a web (1) of sheet material a fold which includes at least one elastic thread (4). The web is placed on two mutually separated carrier elements (2, 3), and at least one prestretched elastic thread (4) is placed over the web in the space between the opposing edges of the carrier elements.

Abstract: An orientable in situ expandable layer comprisinga) a blend of incompatible, in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles and a thermosettable matrix resin for the in situ-expandable thermoplastic particles which blend has the capacity of expansion in height, width and length directions andb) other insoluble and matrix-resin incompatible solid particles uniformly incorporating throughout the resin matrix, which other insoluble and matrix-resin incompatible solid particles have (i) an aspect ratio of length/width greater than 1, that defines a longitudinal axis (length) of the particles which longitudinal axis is not greater than about one inch (2.54 cm.), and (ii) thermal stability at the temperature of expansion of the resin and insolubility in the resin, and (iii) an orientation in the thermosettable resin of their length in one or two directions.Moldable compositions and methods of making the compositions and molded article from the compositions are disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for producing a laminate containing a metal foil strip and a plastic film strip, in which the two strips have stamped structures repeated at regular intervals in the longitudinal direction of the strips and are disposed at contiguous points in the laminate, a pre-stamped strip and the second strip being continuously joined together from one end.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed article includes the following steps: providing a first web of polyethylene upon which a pattern has been printed; providing a second web of plastics material from which the article is to be formed, one of the first or second webs having a heat seal lacquer applied thereto; passing the first and second webs through a pair of heated rollers to cause the heat seal lacquer to become tacky; directing the first and second webs in adjacent overlying relation to a vacuum forming machine including a mold and applying heat and vacuum in the vacuum forming machine to cause the first and second webs to conform to the shape of the mold to produce the printed article, wherein the application of heat in the vacuum forming machine activates the heat seal lacquer to adhere the first and second webs together.

Abstract: This invention provides an exceptionally expandable sheet elastic complex which consists of an elastic body sheet and a sheet backing material which is mounted on either one or both sides of it, these two members being bonded together along multiple, oblong, mutually parallel bonding sections, and in which multiple, mutually parallel channels are formed between the two members because the width of the sheet backing material between mutually adjacent bonding sections is greater than that of the elastic body sheet. The sheet backing material does not accept more than the minimum constraint of the elastic body sheet, and its waveform surface has excellent properties as a material for use in sanitary products. The invention also provides a process for manufacturing this sheet elastic complex.

Abstract: A process for fabricating panels of a core material with thermoplastic resin facings. The core material is either foam or a honeycomb structure from aramid paper. A belt press machine provides a means for rapid heating and cooling such that the core will not degrade. Since the process is so rapid, aramid fibers can be used to reinforce the resin facings without deleterious decomposition of the fibers under the temperatures used to heat the panels during forming.

Abstract: Apparatus for folding a web of sheet material moving along a given linear path comprise three longitudinally spaced plates forming an overall slot having a base portion through which the central portion of the web passes, and short reversely curved slot portions at the ends of the base portion which join outer end slot portions which fold the opposite longitudinal edge portions of the web toward each other. The outermost of the plates having large aligned apertures whose margins fall along the outer margins of the slot. The plate between the outermost plates has a tongue with margins which fall along the inner margin of the slot.

Abstract: A particle loaded, porous, fibrous compressed or fused article comprises a nonwoven fibrous polymeric web, which preferably is thermoplastic, melt-extrudable, and pressure-fusible blown microfibrous web, and sorptive particles enmeshed in said web, the particle loaded fibrous article has a Gurley number of at least two seconds, and the article is useful in separation science. A method of preparation of the article and method of use is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a control system and method for curing composite articles such as corrugated fiberglass resin plastic (FRP) panels. An exemplary system of the invention includes a curing oven, at least one infrared pyrometer sensor which is located within the oven curing zone and which provides an output indicating the temperature of the resin being cured, a tractor unit for moving the panel through the oven, and a comparator circuit which adjusts the speed of the tractor unit in predetermined response to sensor output. The invention thereby provides for the detection of the peak temperature or gelation point of resin in the panel, and allows its specific location in the oven to be controlled to optimize the performance and efficiency of the panel production line.

Abstract: A process for preparing a postformable composite article of a heat curable thermosetting polymer having a substantial length and a non-trivial uniform cross-sectional shape. The process includes controlling the pull rate and the temperature of the heating and cooling sections of the die in response to the viscosity and the cure kinetics of the thermosetting polymer composition and (2) the non-trivial shape of the article.

Abstract: A flexible composite material comprising a core composed of a blend of a thermoplastic resin fiber and a reinforcing fiber, and a flexible sleeve formed of a thermoplastic resin and surrounding the core is prepared by intermixing a thermoplastic resin fiber and a reinforcing fiber to obtain a core, and then extruding a thermoplastic resin over the core.

Abstract: A machine (300) and the process for manufacture of a unique completely pleated product (110) which is made from a continuous, flexible web (311) for the covering of windows and the like. The machinery consists of a production line (300) with at least a screen printing assembly (306), printing phase control apparatus (330), a unique pleating assembly (400) and a folding assembly (500) for stacking and receiving the final product, screen printing and web travel phasing is performed in accordance with standard practices in the industry, while the pleating and folding of the finished product is performed by apparatus designed and constructed by the instant inventors. After predetermined patterns of adhesive or bonding material (212) have been applied to the continuous web (311), it is pleated by a paired roller assembly (400) and, through the use of an air knife assembly (500), folded into a collecting apparatus.