Abstract: A process (100) for forming an article (20) includes delivering an article web (120) which provides an interconnected plurality of article-segments (104). At least one selected article-segment (104) can include at least one wing-panel component or member (142), which has been operatively joined to its corresponding, selected article-segment (104) and configured to extend beyond at least one laterally-opposed side edge of said article web (120) in an intermediate portion (76) of the corresponding article-segment (104). The process (100) can also include a substantially continuous severing of the article web (120) and the at least one wing-panel member (142) to provide a contoured composite web. The contoured composite web can include at least one contoured wing-panel (142). In addition, a contoured side-edge (64) of the contoured wing-panel (142) can be configured to extend substantially continuously from a cooperatively contoured side-edge (74) of the article web.

Abstract: A first parting film is held on a first flat laminating table in close contact with the first flat laminating table, and then wide prepregs are laid for plane lamination on the first parting film to form a large prepreg-laminate having a large area. A second parting film is held on a second flat laminating table in close contact with the second flat laminating table by suction, and then narrow prepregs to form a gridlike prepreg-laminate. The large prepreg-laminate is floated up by jetting air from the first flat laminating table is cut on a cutting table to obtain a prepreg-laminate skin. The gridlike prepreg-laminate is processed similarly to obtain a prepreg-laminate doubler. The prepreg-laminate skin and the prepreg-laminate doubler are carried from the cutting table to a laminating mold having a single-contour laminating surface so as to be superposed and are laminated to form a composite panel.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for reducing the deformation along a cut contour edge (26) of a sheet (2) caused by the cutting process whereby sheet material (4) protrudes above the top surface of the sheet being cut. One group of embodiments (22, 50, 60) apply pressure to the deformation to flatten the protrusion (4). Another group of embodiments (70, 80) cut away ant material protruding above the top surface of the sheet. The deformation reduction mechanisms of both groups may be mechanically linked to the contour-cutting element or they may pass over the line of the contour cut independently.

Abstract: A stacking apparatus and a method for assembly of electrochemical cells. The stacking apparatus includes at least one stacking head having an adjustable holding member adapted to hold an electrochemical laminate of a pre-determined length and means for adjusting the shape of the electrochemical laminate of the pre-determined length during stacking of a plurality of electrochemical laminates. The electrochemical laminates are assembled in a way that prevents air entrapment between the electrochemical laminates.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing an optical information recording medium having a track pitch of 200 to 400 nm and a groove depth of 20 to 150 nm, and being capable of recording and reproducing using a light with a wavelength of 450 nm or less, the method at least including: a metal reflective layer forming step for forming a metal reflective layer on a substrate; a recording layer forming step for forming a recording layer of an organic dye type on said metal reflective layer; and a cover layer forming step for forming a cover layer on said recording layer; in this order.

Abstract: The invention relates to a splicer for splicing strips of in rubber material embedded cords to each other, the splicer I comprising a supply device (3) having an output side (30), for supplying the strips in a supply direction, a transport device (32, 24) in line with the supply device and having an input side (36, 38) oriented at the output side of the supply device. The transport device (33, 24) is adapted for transporting the strips. The splicer further comprises a splicing unit for splicing strips to each other along a splice line which splice line intersects the transport device at an angle alpha. The transport device comprises at least two transport means that are substantially parallel on to the other.

Abstract: A frangible fiberglass insulation batt includes a pair of fiberglass strips arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another and a frangible polymerized binder bridge spanning a gap between the fiberglass strips and retaining the fiberglass strips in side-by-side relation. To produce such a batt, a stream of uncured fiberglass insulation is cut along its length to form two side-by-side fiberglass strips and then passed through a curing oven to cause heat generated in the oven to polymerize (cure) binder associated with the strips in the gap to form the frangible polymerized binder bridge.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating the refastenable absorbent garment includes a web perforator adapted to perforate a base web in a cross direction and a construction drum positioned downstream of the web perforator and adapted to receive the perforated base web. A landing material cutter is adapted to cut a landing material and fastener material in the cross direction. A landing member rotator is positioned adjacent the construction drum and downstream of the landing material cutter. The landing member rotator is adapted to separate successive pieces of the landing material with the fastener material attached thereto at the cross direction landing material cut, rotate the pieces of landing material with the fastener member attached thereto and apply the piece of landing material and fastener material to the base web on the construction drum.

Abstract: A frangible fiberglass insulation batt includes a pair of fiberglass strips arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another and a frangible adhesive bridge spanning a gap between the fiberglass strips and retaining the fiberglass strips in side-by-side relation. To produce such a batt, a fiberglass insulation blanket is cut along its length to form two side-by-side fiberglass strips and then an adhesive material is applied to form a frangible adhesive bridge between the strips.

Abstract: In a method of the present invention for producing an unvulcanized-rubber/steel-wire composite, steel wires are continuously drawn, and the drawn steel wires are not taken up but fed to a rubber coater so that the steel wires are coated with unvulcanized rubber. An apparatus of the present invention for producing an unvulcanized-rubber/steel-wire composite comprises a wire drawer for drawing steel wires continuously, and a rubber coater for coating the steel wires with unvulcanized rubber, and the steel wires drawn by the wire drawer are not taken up but are led to the rubber coater.

Abstract: A method is provided for continuous mass production of winged absorbent articles, including T-shaped absorbent articles, by attachment of wing portions to the chassis of the absorbent article which comprises a topsheet, a backsheet and a core sandwiched between the topsheet and the backsheet. The method comprises feeding at least one web of wing-making material, which may be at least partly elasticated, simultaneously attaching landing zones in spaced apart relationship on a surface of the web, attaching tape tabs on the edge of the web, folding the web longitudinally in a generally Z-fold configuration, feeding the chassis of the absorbent article in the general direction of the web, severing individual folded wing portions from said web and attaching the winged portions to the chassis at predetermined spaced intervals.

Abstract: A frangible fiberglass insulation batt includes a pair of fiberglass strips arranged to lie in side-by-side relation to one another and a frangible polymerized binder bridge spanning a gap between the fiberglass strips and retaining the fiberglass strips in side-by-side relation. To produce such a batt, a stream of uncured fiberglass insulation is cut along its length to form two side-by-side fiberglass strips and then passed through a curing oven to cause heat generated in the oven to polymerize (cure) binder associated with the strips in the gap to form the frangible polymerized binder bridge.

Abstract: In order to manufacture a friction plate for a wet clutch including a core plate and a friction member bonded to at least one of annular flat surfaces of the core plate, each friction member including friction member segments, an oil groove being provided between adjacent friction member segments, there is adopted a method including: a step of making a plurality of cuts in at least one band-shaped friction member material in a lengthwise direction to form a plurality of friction member strips; a step of retaining the friction member strips with distances corresponding to the oil grooves being formed between adjacent friction member strips; a step of cutting off a portion of a tip end of at least one of the friction member strips which are located at opposite ends to thereby secure the oil grooves between the friction member segments on the annular flat surface; and a step of superposing friction member segment correspondence portions forming the tip ends of the plurality of friction member strips to the annul

Abstract: The fundamental technique of the method for making cellular cores is to make stacks of components which are configured such that cutting slices off the stacks produces cellular cores and, when needed, components used in stacks used to produce cellular cores. One of the basic components used in the stacks is termed a ribbed ply which is a ply (thin sheet of material such as wood) with a number of ribs (long thin strips of material such as wood) attached to the ply, parallel to each other. If the spaces between the ribs are filled with filler material such as foam plastic, the cells in the cellular core will be filled with the filler material. The filler material is introduced as layers of the material stacked alternately with plies and adhesively attached. Slices of such a stack, sliced parallel to the grain of the plies (if wood) are called ribbed fillers. Stacking ribbed fillers and plies produces a stack having a cross section which, when sliced, produces filled cell cellular cores.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing glued laminated wood such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL) is disclosed. The glued laminated wood is made of a number of wood sheets such as veneer sheets which are laminated together by a hot press with a thermosetting adhesive into a continuous length of multiple-layered board wherein the end joints of the wood sheets are disposed in a staggered array. There is provided an initial base material having an end which is shaped in the form of a flight of steps including a series of alternate horizontal surface having a lengthwise dimension smaller than the length of the wood sheet and a vertical surface having a height corresponding to the wood sheet thickness, and the glued laminated wood board is formed extending from the end of such initial base material. The hot press includes a pair of heat plates each having an effective pressing area capable of covering the entire surface of the wood sheet.

Abstract: A segment cut core machine is disclosed. The core machine includes five basic process stations: a roll stand; a glue station; a paper feed; a take-up station; and a core cut station. The core cut station uses a vertically oriented cutting shear with a unique beveled two-piece flying blade. The flying blade has a beveled cutting face that cuts the core stock in opposite directions from the outer edges to the center of the sheet. The beveled cutting edge reduces the “close time” of the shear and allows more core stock to be advanced into the shear. The take-up station includes a relatively flat horizontal deck and a gather adjustment gate that controls the character of the slack gathered in the sheet of core stock within the take-up station. The gate transverses over the sheet of core stock and can be shifted forward and back within the gather section of the take-up section to vary the wave length and amplitude of the gather form in the slack in the core stock.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a monolithic ceramic electronic component formed by using a laminate allows a plurality of types of ceramic green sheets to be laminated with ease and efficiency. The method enables a reduction in space for lamination. This method includes first, a ceramic green sheet with a predetermined shape is cut out of a long first ceramic green sheet supported on a carrier film by a cutting/laminating head. The cut-out ceramic green sheet is laminated to the cutting/laminating head. A card-like second ceramic green sheet supported on a carrier film is cut by a cutting/laminating head. The cut ceramic green sheets is laminated to the cutting/laminating head. A laminate is formed by performing each of the first and second steps plural times.

Abstract: A segment cut core machine is disclosed. The core machine includes five basic process stations: a roll stand; a glue station; a paper feed; a take-up station; and a core cut station. The core cut station uses a vertically oriented cutting shear with a unique beveled two-piece flying blade. The flying blade has a beveled cutting face that cuts the core stock in opposite directions from the outer edges to the center of the sheet. The beveled cutting edge reduces the “close time” of the shear and allows more core stock to be advanced into the shear. The take-up station includes a relatively flat horizontal deck and a gather adjustment gate that controls the character of the slack gathered in the sheet of core stock within the take-up station. The gate transverses over the sheet of core stock and can be shifted forward and back within the gather section of the take-up section to vary the wave length and amplitude of the gather form in the slack in the core stock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a friction clutch plate includes cutting a supply of friction material into a plurality of individual shaped segments. The cut segments are moved in a first horizontal linear direction to a position adjacent a shuttle assembly. At least a first cut segment is engaged by the shuttle assembly which transfers the first cut segment in a second horizontal linear direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction. The first cut segment is deposited in a first indexing fixture. The remaining cut segments are sequentially moved in the first horizontal linear direction to the position adjacent the shuttle assembly. At least a second cut segment is engaged by the shuttle assembly and is transferred in a third horizontal linear direction which substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction.

Abstract: A method of making shingles includes providing a moving asphalt coated sheet having at least an overlay lane and an underlay lane. Blend drops of at least two color blends are discharged onto each lane, wherein at least one of the blend drops discharged onto the overlay lane has a different color blend from the color blends of all the blend drops discharged onto the underlay lane. Background granules are then discharged onto the asphalt coated sheet to form a granule coated sheet, and the excess granules are removed from the granule coated sheet.

Abstract: A method of making shingles includes coating a shingle mat with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt-coated sheet, and covering the asphalt-coated sheet with granules to form a granule-covered sheet along a longitudinal axis, the granule-covered sheet having a shadow patch thereon, the shadow patch having a first width along the longitudinal axis. The granule-covered sheet is divided into an overlay sheet and an underlay sheet, the shadow patch being on the underlay sheet. A pattern of tabs and cutouts is cut in the overlay sheet, one of the tabs of the pattern being a select tab having a second width along the longitudinal axis, the second width of the select tab being less than the first width of the shadow patches. The relative longitudinal positions of the shadow patch and the select tab are synchronized.

Abstract: A method for producing a strip-shaped object of any thickness, width and length, made up of stacked, partially glued together foil strips. According to said method, each of the foil strips is provided with adhesive strips applied across the width (u) of the foil strip on one side, and the adhesive strips are offset from each other on foil strips that directly follow each other. The foil strips are stacked to produce a foil strip stack, pressed against each other in the stacking direction and glued together in order to produce the strip-shaped object. In the process, a line of foil which is provided with adhesive strips crosswise to its longitudinal direction (x) is divided into at least two lines of foil strips of equal width in its longitudinal direction (u).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making a friction clutch plate includes cutting a supply of friction material into a plurality of individual shaped segments. The cut segments are moved in a first horizontal linear direction to a position adjacent a shuttle assembly. At least a first cut segment is engaged by the shuttle assembly which transfers the first cut segment in a second horizontal linear direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction. The first cut segment is deposited in a first indexing fixture. The remaining cut segments are sequentially moved in the first horizontal linear direction to the position adjacent the shuttle assembly. At least a second cut segment is engaged by the shuttle assembly and is transferred in a third horizontal linear direction which substantially perpendicular to the first horizontal linear direction.

Abstract: A flexible material includes a plurality of separate resilient elements joined to a flexible, resiliently stretchable substrate. Such a material is suitable for providing protective war for human and animal bodies. Preferably, the elements includes a foam material such as a closed cell polyethylene foam and the substrate includes a knitted fabric. In an advantageous embodiment, a second flexible substrate is bonded over the elements to sandwich them between the two layers of substrate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing shaped components for absorbent articles from web materials including the following steps. A first web of material is provided in a machine direction. The first web is cut into at least two shaped strips having alternating nested projecting portions defined by at least one shaping cut having a pattern extending in the machine direction and alternately extending in the cross machine direction to alternate distal points located between longitudinal side edges of the first web. At least a first and a second of the shaped strips are separated. A second web of material is provided in the machine direction. At least the first shaped strip is joined to the second web. The second web is repositioned in the cross machine direction a predetermined distance. At least the second shaped strip is joined to the second web. The resultant composite web is cut into separate shaped components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a strip-shaped object (48) of any thickness, width and length, made up of stacked, partially glued together foil strips (30). According to said method, each of the foil strips (30) is provided with adhesive strips (18) applied across the width (u) of the foil strip on one side, and the adhesive strips (18) are offset from each other on foil strips (30) that directly follow each other. The foil strips (30) are stacked to produce a foil strip stack (39), pressed against each other in the stacking direction and glued together in order to produce the strip-shaped object (48). In the process, a line of foil (22) which is provided with adhesive strips (18) crosswise to its longitudinal direction (x) is divided into at least two lines of foil strips (29) of equal width in its longitudinal direction (u).

Abstract: A print producing apparatus of a print producing system is provided with a recording medium conveying section that intermittently conveys a strip-like hologram recording medium, a cutting out section that cuts out, as a piece of hologram recording medium, a predetermined region of the recording medium that includes at least a piece of a holographic stereogram image or a hologram from a hologram recording medium, a film retaining section, and a film supplying section. The film supplying section provides plural sheets of protecting film that are retained, a film opening and closing section that opens and folds a single sheet of the protecting film that has been folded in two along a folding line, a mounting retaining and supplying section that one by one provides plural sheets of mountings, and a laminating section that laminates the piece of hologram recording medium and the mounting with the protective film.

Abstract: This invention provides a process and apparatus (38) for the manufacture of disposable absorbent cores from a continuous web (40), wherein a plurality of first and second core elements (40a, 40b) are cut from the same continuous web (40). The object of the invention is achieved by rotating each of first and second core elements (40a, 40b) about axes perpendicular to the plane of the core element and subsequently combining a first core element (40a) and a second core element (40b) in proximal relationship to form the absorbent core. Preferably each of the first and second core elements (40a, 40b) are rotated through 90° in mutually counter-rotating directions.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and apparatus for the manufacture of disposable absorbent articles comprising the application of discrete web panels (40a, 40b) to a receiving web (1), wherein a plurality of first web panels (40a) and second web panels (40b) are cut from the same continuous web (40), and wherein the process comprises the steps of: cutting the continuous web (40) to form at least a first web panel (40a) and a second web panel (40b); rotating the second web panel (40); and applying the first web panel (40a) and the second web panel (40b) to the receiving web (1).

Abstract: The invention relates to a notepad and to a process for manufacturing a notepad comprising providing a paper supply; sequentially feeding single pages from said paper supply to a printing and cutting station; printing on images on pad region of each single page; making at least one irregular cut at the edge of the pad region whilst leaving at least one straight edge of the pad region uncut; collating the printed and cut pages in a stack of desired quantity; cutting the collated stack along the at least one uncut straight edge of each pad region; and gluing the collated stack along the resulting cut straight edge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus utilizes a flexographic printing cylinder or print sleeve that is functionally adapted to have a photopolymeric printing plate removably attached to it. A micro-cutting mechanism is also provided that is axially aligned with the printing cylinder or print sleeve whereby a cutting tool, such as a knife, blade, straight edge or laser, can be drawn across the printing cylinder or print sleeve to cut a portion of the printing plate that is mounted thereto. In the method and apparatus of the present invention, and after the printing plate is attached at a point along the cylinder or sleeve, the micro-cutting mechanism is placed proximally to the printing cylinder or sleeve and the cutting tool is drawn along a line and across a portion of the printing plate. This forms a first cut through the plate. The cut may be at an angle relative to the perpendicular of the cylinder or sleeve, or the cut may be perpendicular to the surface of the cylinder or sleeve.

Abstract: A method of making shingles includes coating a shingle mat with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt-coated sheet, and covering the asphalt-coated sheet with granules to form a granule-covered sheet along a longitudinal axis, the granule-covered sheet having a shadow patch thereon, the shadow patch having a first width along the longitudinal axis. The granule-covered sheet is divided into an overlay sheet and an underlay sheet, the shadow patch being on the underlay sheet. A pattern of tabs and cutouts is cut in the overlay sheet, one of the tabs of the pattern being a select tab having a second width along the longitudinal axis, the second width of the select tab being less than the first width of the shadow patches. The relative longitudinal positions of the shadow patch and the select tab are synchronized.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing profiles formed so as to have different cross-sectional shapes in the height direction, in which a long-sized hoop of workpiece is indexed, a plurality of types of component members having outer contours corresponding to the respective cross-sectional shapes of the profile are formed in a plurality of stages and indexed in the state where the component members are replaced on the workpiece, and the component members are sequentially ejected from the workpiece, laminated into a profile in the final stage.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the continuous manufacture of shingles, for producing a plurality of laminated shingles.

Abstract: The invention is a wane-free engineered wood product and the method of its manufacture. Lumber having wane along one or more edges is first milled to produce rectangular notches along each of the four edges. The notches are sized to remove all or most of the wane. The notched piece is then ripped lengthwise to produce two strips. These are rotated 180° and placed adjacently so that the notched edges face each other and form longitudinal channels. Strips of oriented strand board or a similar material are then affixed into the channels, preferably by gluing, reuniting then again into a unitary wane-free structural member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to place a series of timing marks on a granule covered roofing sheet. A rotary pattern cutter cuts a pattern of tabs and cutouts in the continuous granule covered sheet. The rotary position of the pattern cutter and the position of the timing marks are sensed, and the position of the continuous granule covered sheet with respect to the rotary position of the pattern cutter is synchronized in response to the sensed position of the timing marks and the sensed rotary position of the pattern cutter.

Abstract: The invention describes a method and apparatus for forming splice ends for elastomeric strips. The splicing ends each have a low angle splicing surface and an abutment surface. The combination of surfaces provide a precise way to locate and join splices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus automatically fabricates a three dimensional object from individual layers of fabrication material having a predetermined configuration. Successive layers are stacked in a predetermined sequence and affixed together to form the object. The fabrication material is carried on a substrate to a stacker. At the stacker the layers are stacked together, with each layer being successively affixed to the stack of previously affixed layers, and with the substrate removed from each layer after it is affixed.

Abstract: A process for producing a friction plate having a flat friction surface includes a step of provisionally arranging a plurality of sector-shaped lining segments punched out of a friction lining tape material, in a generally annular form on an index table so as not to overlap with each other, a step of correcting the provisional arrangement of the lining segments into an annular form having no gaps between the lining segments by moving together the plurality of lining segments, provisionally arranged on the index table, towards the centre of the index table and a step of adhering the plurality of lining segments, correctly arranged in the annular form, to a surface of a core plate. A friction plate having a flat friction surface can thereby be obtained with low cost.

Abstract: A multi-layered shingle adapted to be positioned with other similar shingles in an overlapping arrangement on a roof to yield a simulated wooden shake roof covering comprising a headlap portion and a butt portion. The butt portion comprises a series of multi-layered tabs. All the tabs have the same number of layers and each multi-layered tab (a) is separated from the next adjacent multi-layered tab or tabs by a space or spaces, respectively, and (b) comprises an uppermost layer and at least two layers underlying the uppermost layer. Each underlying layer is laminated to the layer above it to form a multi-layered laminated composite. The laminated composite is integral with the headlap portion and the top surface of the uppermost layer of each tab is coplanar with the top surface of the headlap portion. The invention also includes an apparatus and a process for the continuous manufacture of the shingles of the invention.

Abstract: A wood fiber board (6) which is provided with a decorative layer (3) of paper or similar material, and where the length or width value of the decorative layer (3) deviates from its original value after it is applied to the wood fiber board (6), is cut into uniform panels using a board-dividing apparatus that compensates for these deviations. The board-dividing apparatus has a saw (1) that preferably has a plurality of saw blades (S1, S2, . . . Sn) which are adjustably spaced in parallel fashion. The board-dividing apparatus is equipped with a number of cameras and with controller which utilizes deviation measurement information to adjust the spacing of the saw blades. The wood fiber board (6) is first aligned with at least one initial camera (4a) at a point P1. Then, predetermined points (P1 and P2) in the decorative layer (3) are recorded by the first camera (4a) and a second camera (4b).

Abstract: A method and structure for filling an opening in a substrate which includes positioning a sheet above the substrate and punching the sheet into the opening in the substrate, wherein the sheet and the substrate have similar shrinkage characteristics when subjected to a subsequent sintering process.

Abstract: A substrate on which a plurality of thin films having a plurality of cross-sections corresponding to the cross-section of a micro-structure are formed is placed on a substrate holder. The substrate holder is elevated to bond a thin film formed on the substrate to the surface of a stage, and by lowering the substrate holder, the thin film is separated from the substrate and transferred to the stage side. The transfer process is repeated to laminate a plurality of thin films on the stage and to form the micro-structure. Accordingly, there are provided a micro-structure having high dimensional precision, especially high resolution in the lamination direction, which can be manufactured from a metal or an insulator such as ceramics and can be manufactured in the combined form of structural elements together, and a manufacturing method and an apparatus thereof.

Abstract: Corrugated cardboard plates are made by laminating and bonding corrugated cardboards 1, each including a corrugated sheet 1a and at least one liner sheet 1b bonded to the corrugated sheet 1a, to provide a corrugated cardboard laminate 5, which is in turn cut along a plurality of cutting lines b lying perpendicular to a direction parallel to ridge lines a of the corrugated sheet 1a to provide a plurality of corrugated blocks 7. The corrugated blocks 7 are then arrayed in a line to provide an elongated flat corrugated plank 9 in which the top face of one of the corrugated blocks 7 is bonded to the bottom face of the next adjoining corrugated block 7. At least one backing sheet 11a or 11b, made of paper, to one of opposite surfaces of the elongated flat corrugated plank 9 and is subsequently cut into a plurality of corrugated cardboard plates 14 of a predetermined size.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for covering a roof with seamable sheet material for roofing prepared from a polymeric composition of matter comprising the steps of: applying layers of sheet material prepared from a seamable polymeric composition of matter to the roof being covered, overlapping adjacent edges of said layers, and adhering the overlapped areas to provide an acceptable seam strength; wherein the composition of matter comprises an interpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and at least two nonconjugated dienes, each having one reactive double bond.

Abstract: A modeling apparatus for producing a model by lamination of sheet material including a support platform which can be raised and lowered, a sheet feed mechanism for feeding sheet material over the platform, a superstructure mounted over the platform, a cutting mechanism for cutting the sheet material to form shaped portions, an adhesive applicator for applying adhesive to the shaped portions, and a control mechanism.

Abstract: A method for making laminated roofing shingles includes providing a substantially continuous sheet of shingle material, cutting the sheet material at a first cutting station to define a first pair of longitudinal strips having interdigitating tabs with a first pattern length, further cutting the sheet to define a second pair of longitudinal strips, further cutting the sheet at a second cutting station to define a third pair of strips having interdigitating tabs with a second pattern length, laminating together one of the first pair of strips, one of the second pair of strips and one of the third pair of strips in overlapping relation to form a substantially continuous three-layer laminated strip in which one of the second pair of strips is the lowermost layer and having the tabs of the remaining two strips oriented in a common lateral direction, and cutting the laminated strip into uniform longitudinal lengths whereby laminated roofing shingles are made.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a machine and process for cutting discrete workpiece components from webs of material precisely registering them with respect to one another, and depositing them with precise registration onto a constantly moving web of material, the webs of material optionally all moving at different speeds. In a particular embodiment of the invention, a process for manufacturing a multi-component absorbent personal hygiene article is described.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing laminated roofing shingles comprises coating a continuously supplied shingle mat having a width W with roofing asphalt to make an asphalt coated sheet, and subjecting the asphalt coated sheet to one of two subsequent processes. The first process comprises covering the asphalt coated sheet with granules in a first pattern suitable for making laminated shingles with an overlay having tabs and cutouts, where the area of the tabs approximately equals the area of the cutouts, thereby forming a first granule covered sheet. The second process comprises covering the asphalt coated sheet with granules in a second pattern suitable for making laminated shingles with an overlay having tabs and cutouts, where the area of the tabs is substantially greater than the area of the cutouts, thereby forming a second granule covered sheet.

Abstract: A rapid prototyping process and apparatus that provides an intermittent material feed type variable-lamination rapid prototyping using a linear thermal cutting system, wherein intermittently fed materials are cut to have variable lengths, widths, and lateral gradients with the 4-axis control-type linear thermal cutting system controlled by a computer, and based on cutting operation data generated in the computer.