Abstract: The two halves of medicine-filled, gelatin capsules are fitted together and passed through a field of microwave energy to selectively melt the overlapping portions of the two halves whereby they become sealed together when the capsules are removed from the microwave energy field and permitted to cool.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler with a thermographic print head for printing on labels releasably secured to a carrier web, a delaminator for delaminating printed labels, an applicator for applying printed labels, a web feeding mechanism including an electric motor for advancing the carrier web, a detachable handle containing a source of electrical energy, and circuitry including a plurality of printed circuit boards electrically connecting the electrical energy source, the keyboard and the print head.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for the sealing of gelatin capsules having hard shell coaxial cap and body parts which overlap when telescopically joined. Also described are apparatus and sealing fluids to seal the capsules.

Abstract: A flyleaf heat sealer for adhering a flyleaf having its inner surface pre-coated with hot melt or heat sensitive adhesive to the exposed outer surfaces of the end sheets of a book block insert, includes means for engaging and transporting a book block insert and the flyleaf folded therearound, means for directing a flow of air heated to a temperature adequate to melt the adhesive against and impinging upon the outer surfaces of the flyleaf, and means for pressing and cooling the flyleaf and book insert between them and removing heat from the flyleaf and book block, and thus curing and hardening the adhesive.

Abstract: A surface type structural component such as a wing for an aircraft is curved in space and is manufactured from a plurality of fiber wound box frames forming longitudinal and cross ribs made of fiber reinforced resin impregnated material. These box frames are formed as modular units by winding the fiber compound material onto mold bodies and assembling the mold bodies for bonding the box frames together to form a reinforcing grid structure while the box frames are still on the mold bodies. A laminated sheathing is bonded to the grid structure. Methods and apparatus including an automated assembly plant are disclosed for manufacturing the surface type structural component.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing finger jointed lumber from random length boards is disclosed. Adhesive applied to the union of two boards of lumber mated end-to-end in a finger joint union is cured in a rotary bonding assembly including a stator and a rotor. Mounted on the stator assembly are a plurality of electrode plates disposed at equally spaced locations around the stator opening thereby defining a plurality of curing stations. The rotor assembly is mounted for rotation within the stator assembly and includes a plurality of electrode plates disposed at equally spaced locations and in axial alignment with the stator electrode plates. The electrode plates are adapted to conduct radio frequency current through the finger joint union of boards confined between the rotor and stator electrode plates at each curing station.

Abstract: In order to manufacture molded bodies by pressing finely divided material with a binder while the binder sets, such as to avoid problems caused because of contact of the binder or vapors therefrom with oxygen, the pressing and setting is carried out in a gas atmosphere different from air.

Abstract: A method of fabricating an insulating joint between a pair of end abutting rail sections of a railroad track includes the suspension of a pair of opposed fishplates at the rail joint at spaced distances outwardly of the rail sides, and simultaneously heating the rail sections and the fishplates to a predetermined temperature for activating a heat-activatable adhesive provided in fabric cuffs which are disposed between the fish surfaces and the fishplates. The fishplates are shifted along guide rods of their support assemblies inwardly toward one another into place against opposed fish surfaces of the rail sections, and are thereafter bolted in place. A device for fabricating the joint includes a box-like hood on which heaters are mounted, or a shear assembly supporting the heaters and being clamped onto the rail head. The heaters may be adjusted to accommodate various rail profiles.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for cutting and sealing a plastic film. The plastics film is conveyed to a sealing area which contains a sealing wire in a housing over which the plastics film is draped out of contact with the wire. The wire is preheated to a first temperature and is then heated to a second higher temperature while a differential pressure is applied to the film biasing it towards and into contact with the wire which cuts and heat seals it. By providing the heat sealing area in the outer periphery of a rotatable drum to which a continuous film is conveyed, a continuous cutting and heat sealing process can be achieved.

Abstract: When a laminated light transmitting fire-screening panel is formed by sandwiching at least one layer of intumescent material between at least two plies of glazing material, there is a risk that air will be entrapped between the various plies as they are bonded together.In order to reduce such entrapment of air, the sandwich is assembled while there is present between the or each layer and any panel sheet element which is to be brought into contact therewith, an atmosphere which immediately prior to such contact consists at least in part of one or more materials which is more soluble in the intumescent material than is air, and the sandwich assembly is then subjected to heat and/or pressure to bond it together to form the laminate. Such more soluble material is preferably the vapor phase of a solvent for the intumescent material, for example water.

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: An apparatus for unloading a length of film from a cartridge, trimming the ends from the film, splicing the leading edge of the film to the trailing edge of the previously unloaded film, placing an identifying mark on the film and on an envelope and winding the film on a magazine. The unloading device allows the film to be removed from the cartridge by manually pulling the sheet of backing paper from the film in the daylight while shielding the film from light. The cartridge is locked to the loading device until all of the film in the cartridge has been loaded through a film guide into a storage box. The leading edge of the film is then trimmed by upward movement of a cutting blade allowing the film to advance through an aperture in the cutting blade until the trailing edge is trimmed by downward movement of the cutting blade.

Abstract: Two cooperatively rotating annular wheels are temporarily deformed against each other radially to form a contact length and are partially located in a heated chamber. Each annular wheel is connected to a rotating shaft by flexible means. A positive pressure is maintained in the heated chamber. A plurality of composite plies are fed into the heated chamber where they are clamped and carried by the annular wheels. The clamped plies are subjected to a sustained pressure and temperature along the contact length. The plies are cured under sustained pressure and temperature after which they are cooled under sustained pressure and exit from between the annular wheels as an elongated cured composite laminate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed by which electrical conductor cable can be produced utilizing electrostatic coating means, which method and apparatus are highly convenient, uncomplicated and economical to carry out. An outstanding and unique feature of the cable produced in accordance herewith resides in the presence of a web portion of reduced cross-section connecting the individual conductors, by which manual severence of one from another is facilitated. Most desirably, the apparatus and method provide means for producing individual insulating coatings on each of the conductors, which means ideally utilizes an electrostatic cloud coating technique.

Abstract: In order to reach every void between the individual cable conductors, particularly when filling a multi-pair communication cable, the water repellent substance is supplied to the cable core in great excess; a filling basin surrounding the filling station proper collects the re-emerging excess substance.

Abstract: Two cooperatively rotating annular wheels are temporarily deformed against each other radially to form a contact length and are partially located in a heated chamber. Each annular wheel is connected to a rotating shaft by means of flexible means. A positive pressure is maintained in the heated chamber. A circumferential groove is provided on the rim of each annular wheel so that when the two annular wheels rotate cooperatively, the grooves cooperate to form a closed orifice along the contact length of the annular wheels. A mandrel, rotating about its axis, protrudes into this orifice. A plurality of elongated composite plies are wound around the mandrel and are clamped and carried forward by the annular wheels. In the heated chamber, the elongated plies are subjected to a sustained pressure and temperature. They are cured under this pressure and temperature after which they are cooled under pressure and exit from between the annular wheels as an elongated cured composite tube.

Abstract: Core sandwich structure comprised of a lightweight core material in the form of a low density thermosetting resin matrix composition containing glass microballoons, particularly an epoxy resin containing glass microballoons, sandwiched between high strength fiber-thermosetting resin matrix outer sheets, particularly woven graphite-epoxy sheets. Employing epoxy resin as the preferred thermosetting resin, the epoxy core material is B-staged, placed between sheets of pre-preg woven graphite-epoxy material, and the assembly co-cured under pressure to form the core sandwich structure.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a tire retreading machine which includes a chamber adapted to receive therein a plurality of stacked tires adapted to be retreaded therein, the chamber having an inner surface, and inwardly therefrom there being a radiant heater, a porous or perforated shield, and an imperforate or nonporous shield with the latter being axially shorter than the former and both shields being spaced from a bottom surface of the chamber such that upon heat being generated by the radiant heater, hot air convection currents are set up within the chamber flowing generally upwardly adjacent the chamber inner surface and flowing generally downwardly between the imperforate shield and tires within the chamber to create substantially uniform curing or retreading temperature throughout the chamber, lessening temperature gradients or hot spots, and also allowing radiant heat to pass through a lower portion of the porous shield adjacent the bottom surface of the chamber to augment temperature uniformity thro

Abstract: The disclosure embraces a process and apparatus for producing a roving package of strands of glass fibers or filaments bearing a coating material including converging the strands into a linear bundle or roving with the strands oriented into a ribbonized formation and winding the bundle or roving into a package in an enclosed chamber and heating the package in the chamber sufficiently during its formation to cause the coating material on the strands to cohere the glass strands of the bundle or roving together so that upon cooling of the package the ribbonized roving can be readily unwound or removed.

Abstract: An improved method is described for thermally bonding contacting pieces of a thermoplastic material provided in a variable volume confined space surrounded by a combustible gas. The combustible gas is ignited and explosion diffused externally of the pieces of thermoplastic material and thus heats the pieces without damage sufficiently to produce interbonding when the heated pieces are compacted in the confined space. The heated pieces are compacted isostatically or non-isostatically using various apparatus which reduce the volume of the confined space. Preferably a moveable piston is provided in a cylinder to form the confined space for the pieces. The driving means for the piston can be a combustible gas which is ignited or non-combustible gas under pressure or a resilient means or other mechanical means. The products of the method are in the form of a porous mass composed of the interbonded pieces which are undamaged by the explosion.

Abstract: An improved method is described for thermally bonding contacting pieces of a thermoplastic material provided in a variable volume confined space surrounded by a combustible gas. The combustible gas is ignited and explosion diffused externally of the pieces of thermoplastic material and thus heats the pieces without damage sufficiently to produce interbonding when the heated pieces are compacted in the confined space. The heated pieces are compacted isostatically or non-isostatically using various apparatus which reduce the volume of the confined space. Preferably a moveable piston is provided in a cylinder to form the confined space for the pieces. The driving means for the piston can be a combustible gas which is ignited or non-combustible gas under pressure or a resilient means or other mechanical means. The products of the method are in the form of a porous mass composed of the interbonded pieces which are undamaged by the explosion.

Abstract: A method for reducing lace breakage in a process in which a continuous roving is impregnated with a polymer powder before melting and consolidating the impregnated roving, wherein the consolidated lace tension is continuously recorded and the supply of polymer to the roving correspondingly adjusted.

Abstract: A laminator system for the continuous treatment and lamination of a plurality of flexible webs, with the system including the conventional adhesive applicator stations and laminator stations, with a drying chamber being arranged to dry or otherwise condition the applied adhesive films. The drying chamber is an annular enclosure having a generally inverted "U" configuration with access openings being formed at the base of each of the upright legs. Guide rolls are provided for creating a plurality of web paths through the laminator system, with the web paths including a plurality of generally parallel and concentric spans extending through the drying chamber. In addition to size reduction considerations, the drying chamber provides enhanced versatility for the laminator assembly, and simplifies solvent recovery.

Abstract: A welding apparatus for welding covers to containers, such as battery casings by pressing the cover on to the casing is provided with a testing device which includes a connector adjacent the pressing-on device and adapted to connect with an opening in the cover. The testing device is adapted to monitor the pressure inside the container after the latter has been charged with fluid under pressure at the end of the welding operation. Any fall in pressure is indicative of a leak at the welded seam.

Abstract: A process for controlling the amount of polymer applied to a lace in which a powdered heat is applied to melt the polymer and the composite is passed through a die to consolidate the product and remove excess polymer, the control being effected by detecting the amount of excess molten polymer and automatically adjusting the polymer input. The process is also suitable for controlling the amount of polymer applied in a process for coating a lace.