Abstract: A smoothed and durable industrial process fabric and method for producing such a fabric. The fabric may be used as a papermaker's fabric, other industrial process fabric and/or engineered fabric. In any case, the fabric is processed using a device comprising at least two smooth rolls which form a pressure nip, such as a calender, such that at least some of the fabric components are permanently deformed. Preferably, at least one of the rolls is heated to a pre-selected temperature.

Abstract: A microchamber structure (100) comprising a base layer (120), a lid layer (130), and at least one microchamber (140) having a cross-sectional shape with a depth (d) of less than 1000 microns and a width (w) of less than 1000 microns. The base layer (120) includes a depression (122) and the lid layer (104) includes a projection (132) positioned within the depression (122) to together define the cross-sectional shape of the microchamber (140).

Abstract: A paper making elastic belt has a drainage channels in a surface. A surface roughness of a wall of the drainage channel is not more than 2.0 ?m in arithmetic average roughness (Ra).

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a multi-ply embossed paper product having a first pressure roll; embossing roll with a plurality of embossing protrusions, each protrusion having a distal end; a second pressure roll; and a marrying roll. The first pressure roll and the embossing roll are juxtaposed in an axially parallel relationship to form a first nip therebetween. The first nip has a first nip width, and the first pressure roll and embossing rolls are adapted to receive a first paper web at the first nip. The second pressure roll and the embossing roll are juxtaposed in an axially parallel relationship to form a second nip therebetween. The second nip has a second nip width, and the second pressure roll and embossing rolls are adapted to receive the first paper web, after the first paper web has traversed the first nip, and a second paper web at the second nip. The marrying roll is juxtaposed in an axially parallel relationship with the embossing roll to form a third nip therebetween.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a multi-ply paper product, the having the steps of: providing a first paper web; providing a second paper web; and providing a converting apparatus. The converting apparatus has a first pressure roll; an embossing roll; a second pressure roll; and a marrying roll. The embossing roll has a plurality of embossing protrusions wherein each embossing protrusion has a distal end. The first pressure roll and the embossing roll are juxtaposed in an axially parallel relationship to form a first nip therebetween. The first nip has a first nip width. The first pressure roll and embossing roll are adapted to receive the first paper web at the first nip. The second pressure roll and the embossing roll are juxtaposed in an axially parallel relationship to form a second nip therebetween. The second nip has a second nip width.

Abstract: A melt-processable thermoplastic composition is described, which comprises a) 50-99.5 wt. % of a melt-processable thermoplastic polymer and b) 0.5-50 wt. % of a particulate polymer comprising the residues of a monomer mixture comprising 50-100 wt. % of MMA, at least 0-50% of an ethylenically unsaturated comonomer comprising at least one alkyl acrylate or methacrylate and 0-10 wt. % of a copolymerisable cross-linking monomer said particles having a maximum dimension of 5 mm. The compositions have reduced surface gloss and may be useful for forming building components or in any other application in which a low gloss surface is required. A method of making the composition and its uses, for example its use as a capstock material, are also described.

Abstract: A belt for a shoe-press of a paper machine having water drain grooves which are resistant to the occurrence of cracks in side walls of the water drain grooves. The surface condition of the water drain grooves side wall is arranged to be a pear-skin state having minute unevenness. Preferably the surface has an average surface roughness in a range of 10 to 50 micrometers in at least the upper two thirds of the total distance (depth) of the side walls of the water drain grooves between the top of the groove and the bottom thereof. The water drain grooves can be manufactured by rotary cutting blades disposed in a position in contact with a roll around which a belt is wound. The roll and the rotary cutting blades rotate simultaneously and a groove cutting device is shifted in the width direction of the belt so that water drain grooves are formed in the belt.

Abstract: A roll to roll microreplication apparatus is described. This apparatus forms a microreplicated article including a web having first and second opposed surfaces. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll, first nip roll and first coating die; the first coating die is disposed adjacent the web substrate first side and the web substrate is disposed between the first patterned roll and first nip roll. The first nip roll touches the web substrate second side and the first patterned roll touches the web substrate first side. The apparatus includes, a second patterned roll, second nip roll and second coating die, the second coating die is disposed adjacent the web substrate second side and the web substrate is disposed between the second patterned roll and second nip roll. The second nip roll touches the web substrate first side and the second patterned roll touches the web substrate second side.

Abstract: An embossing device having a first embossing unit for satin finishing a strip of packing material, and a second embossing unit for impressing graphics on the strip of packing material; the second embossing unit has two embossing rollers, at least one of which only has embossing pins in areas for impressing the graphics.

Abstract: A method of embossing a sheet material includes: heating at least a portion of the sheet directly or indirectly with radiant energy from a radiant energy source; pressing a tool against the heated portion of the sheet, thereby patterning a surface of the sheet; and separating the sheet and the tool. The radiant energy may travel through a solid material that is relatively transparent to radiation, on its way to being absorbed by a relatively-absorptive material. The relatively-transparent material may be an unheated portion of the sheet, and the relatively-absorptive material may be either the tool or the heated portion of the sheet. Alternatively, the relatively-transparent material may be the tool, and the relatively-absorptive material may be all or part of the sheet. The method may be performed as one or more roll-to-roll operations.

Abstract: A method for producing abrasive non-woven cloth includes forming a non-woven web of fibers including a first layer adjacent to a first surface of the web containing at least about 5% by weight of thermoplastic fibers. The web is patterned to generate raised regions and lowered regions in the first surface, and then heat treated to cause at least part of the thermoplastic fibers to form nodules, thereby imparting abrasive properties to at least the raised regions of the first surface. The non-woven web preferably includes a second layer adjacent to a second surface of the web made up primarily of fibers which do not form nodules under the heat treatment.

Abstract: Embossing regularly textured sheets with an appropriate regular, discrete embossing pattern to improve softness can result in a combined texture that creates an interference pattern that camouflages the original texture pattern and the embossing pattern. The resulting pattern is more appealing to the eye and is more random in appearance than the initial textured sheet or the embossing pattern individually. This result is particularly advantageous for paper towels.

Abstract: The device for satinizing and embossing metallized or surface-treated packaging foils comprises three embossing rolls, all three embossing rolls cooperating with one another and the packaging foil being capable of being passed under pressure between the first and the second and between the first and the third embossing rolls in order to produce a satin-finish and a pattern. The first, driven embossing roll has a tooth array composed of individual teeth that are arranged in a homogenous grid, and the other two embossing rolls each have a surface structure that differs from that of the first embossing roll. At least one of the additional embossing rolls has structural elements that are arranged individually or in groups but not in the same grid as on the first roll, the structural element being composed of individual teeth and being arranged circularly on the embossing roll. Such an arrangement provides an effective breaking of the paper substrate of the foil and thus a surface having improved properties.

Abstract: Methods for restoring elasticity to a stiffened elastic material include prestretching, compressing and/or notching the stiffened elastic material. These methods can be used alone, or in combination for a compounding effect.

Abstract: A moisture resistant film is for covering an architectural structure. The film includes a flexible membrane defining a plane and a first plurality of spaced apart, discrete embossings formed in the membrane extending outwardly of the plane. The embossings are formed in rows in an x-direction and in columns in a y-direction. The rows are parallel to and spaced from one another and the columns are parallel to and spaced from one another. A method and tool for making the film are also disclosed.

Abstract: An embossing system is provided for embossing a web having a first embossing roll having embossing elements and a second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein at least a portion of the embossing elements of the first and second embossing rolls are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction. The embossing roll may be crowned, may have alignment means, and may be provided with precision gearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing and producing a surface of a material with a reproducible degree of lustre and to a press for carrying out said method. The aim of the invention is to increase the stability of the press. To achieve this, a press is provided with a coating that consists of carbon with diamond-like layers and that adheres to the surface of the press. Said coating has a layer thickness of between 0.1 and 10 ?m and a surface hardness in excess of 1800 HV (Vickers). The attrition of the surface of the press is thus significantly reduced during the processing of abrasion-resistant materials.

Abstract: A method of making a patterned ribbon includes cutting a fabric to strips of ribbons, providing a roller device having a patterned model and a cutting blade, providing an ultrasonic device for high frequently oscillating and heating up the roller device, setting the ribbon under the roller device and driving the roller device to rotate and press the ribbon. The patterned model presses and melts corresponding regions of the ribbon to form a coining pattern on the ribbon according to the pattern of the patterned model. The heated cutting blade cuts down the excessive portion of the ribbon, and rapidly melts an edge of the ribbon for sealing.

Abstract: An imprinting method carries out imprinting on a workpiece by clamping UV-curable resin between a nano-imprinting mold and a workpiece and curing the UV-curable resin using UV light. In this method, the workpiece is supported on a setting table provided with through-holes that are disposed in a planar region of the setting table on which the workpiece is set and are connected to a gas pumping/evacuating mechanism. The UV-curable resin is supplied onto the workpiece and the setting table is raised to and stopped at a filling operation position where the mold surface of the nano-imprinting mold and the surface of the workpiece are apart. After this, gas is pumped toward the lower surface of the workpiece from the through-holes and the workpiece is pressed onto the nano-imprinting mold from a center of the workpiece toward a periphery of the workpiece while gradually filling the UV-curable resin between the nano-imprinting mold and the workpiece.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an endless non-woven tissue making fabric having a three-dimensional texture suitable for use as a fabric for producing three-dimensional fibrous webs. The endless non-woven tissue making fabric comprises a plurality of substantially parallel adjoining sections of non-woven material. Each section of non-woven material has a width substantially less than the width of the non-woven tissue making fabric. Each section of non-woven material may be joined to at least one other adjoining section of non-woven material. The non-woven tissue making fabric has a machine direction, a cross-machine direction, a tissue contacting surface and a tissue machine contacting surface. The tissue contacting surface comprises solid matter at a plurality of heights such that the tissue contacting surface of the non-woven tissue making fabric has an Overall Surface Depth of at least 0.2 mm in regions of solid matter on the tissue contacting surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming one or more grooves in a hose is disclosed. The groove forming device is comprised of a circular guide tube through which the hose is driven. The guide tube is rotated by a drive. The groove forming device is mounted at the exit end of the guide tube are rotated about the hose as the grooves are formed in the hose cover. The grooves of the hose are formed by at least one roller mounted on a chuck.

Abstract: A method of imaging a woven textile fabric comprises the steps of providing a woven textile fabric having a plurality of interwoven warp and weft yarns comprising aesthetically contrasting fibrous components. A three-dimensional image transfer device is provided with the woven textile fabric positioned thereon, and subjected to hydraulic imaging by application of pressurized liquid streams. The liquid streams are applied to a surface of the fabric facing away from the image transfer device, to thereby impart the pattern of the image-forming surface of the three-dimensional transfer device to the fabric. The resultant fabric can find application as an apparel article, a home fashion article, or an upholstery backing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a two-stage process for the production of a structured film based on partially acetalized polyvinyl alcohol with roughnesses of the surfaces, independently in each case, of Rz=20 to 80 ?m by embossing the sides of the film between correspondingly roughened embossing rollers and pressing rollers with a certain Shore A hardness. The temperature of the film and the rollers is adjusted in order to fix the structure.

Abstract: A mold for imprint capable of forming a reduced seam or seamless pattern, on a surface of a substrate, having larger area than that of the mold includes a first pattern area comprising a plurality of first recesses; and a second pattern area, comprising a plurality of second recesses, for being used as an alignment mark. The first pattern area and the second pattern area have an equal height at their outermost surfaces. The first recesses and the second recesses have different depths. The first pattern area and the second pattern area have an equal cyclic interval.

Abstract: A multi-layered paper product that has bridging regions for inhibiting nesting is provided. For example, the paper product can contain a first and second layer that define ridges and valleys. Bridging regions are formed into at least one of the outer surfaces of the layers. In particular, the bridging regions are positioned at an angle of between about 0° to about 180° relative to the ridges and also have a length sufficient to extend between the peaks of at least two of the ridges. The bridging regions can be formed in a variety of ways, such as with an embossing roll that contains embossing elements. Moreover, the bridging regions can also have a variety of shapes, sizes, orientations, and/or patterns.

Abstract: Presented herein is an apparatus and method for deforming a sheet material. The apparatus includes a deforming roller having a plurality of circumferential depressions and at least one cord in rotational engagement with the roller and adapted to press the material into the depressions. The method includes the steps of providing a rotating deforming roller having circumferential depressions, at least one cord aligned to fit within the depressions and at least one sheet material, and feeding the material in a first direction between the roller and cord and deforming the material by pressing it at least partially into the depressions with the cord. The deformation may include stretching or extending the material, and/or aperturing the material, and/or producing topographical shapes or surface features in the material.

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. Optionally, a clear coat may be laminated to the sheet, or may even be coextruded therewith. In certain embodiments, a roughened surface texture may be embossed into a major surface(s) of the sheet prior to lamination. In other embodiments, a design (e.g., logo) may be silk-screened onto the clear coat layer prior to lamination. The sheet, after optional lamination, is then thermoformed into a three-dimensionally shaped preform or article via vacuum forming or the like.

Abstract: Processes are provided for formation of complex shapes by embossing of a sheet of flexible graphite material. In one approach, a sheet (26) of material is provided with a variable resin concentration across a selected dimension of the sheet, and the position of the variable which will result in thinner areas in the embossed articles. In a second approach, recesses are provided in the embossing rollers (30 and/or 32) to accomodate material flow during embossing. These recesses result in protrusions formed on the articles, which protrusions must then be removed in a machining operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for casting a patterned surface on both sides of a web. The apparatus includes a first patterned roll; a second pattered roll; and a means for rotating the first and second patterned rolls such that their patterns are transferred to opposite sides of the web while it is in continuous motion. During this process, their patterns are maintained in continuous registration to within at least 100 microns, and preferably at least 20 microns.

Abstract: An anti-reflection film comprises a transparent support and a low refractive index coating layer. The low refractive index coating layer has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the support. The low refractive index coating layer has an essentially uniform thickness, while the layer has a surface roughness in terms of an arithmetic mean (Ra) in the range of 0.05 to 2 ?m.

Abstract: A method for processing a film. The method impressing the whole surface or a selected surface of the film to form protuberant structures on the film by using a transfer and an impresser which has grain projections formed thereon, wherein the protuberant structures have a protuberant shape with an opening hole on the tip or without an opening hole on the tip.

Abstract: A self-healing tribological surface comprises a shape memory material. The self-healing tribological surface can be used for recovering a scratches and/or indentations in the surface. Processes for recovering scratches or indentations generally comprises forming a shape memory material onto the surface; scratching or indenting the surface; and heating an area about the scratch or indentation, wherein a depth of the scratch or the indentation decreases after heating as compared to the depth prior to heating.

Abstract: A method for forming a medium having a substrate is formed have a patterned surface with a channel pattern and a transponder having a memory is provided in the channel pattern. A conductive material is deposited in the channel pattern with the conductive material operatively associated with the transponder.

Abstract: An apparatus and process (20) for forming an embossed web or other article can include moving a target, composite web (26) along an appointed machine-direction (22) at a selected web speed, and operatively contacting the target web (26) with a rotary embossing device (38) to thereby form a non-linear embossment region (82) in at least a selected embossment portion of the target web (26). For example, the web speed can be at least a minimum of about 1.9 m/sec. In a particular aspect, the embossing device (38) can include an outer peripheral surface (42) having a lateral cross-direction (24) and a circumferential-direction (40), and can include a non-linear embossing member (44) located on the outer surface (42). In another aspect, the embossing member (44) can be configured to include a selected traversing occurrence along the circumferential-direction (40) of the embossing device (38). In a further aspect, the embossing member (44) can be configured to include a selected lateral traversing distance (50).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and installation for integrally applying a relief decoration to the surface of solid elongate members. The installation comprises a pre-heater (43) with pre-heater control means (69), a press (51), and a camber measurement system (67). The pre-heater (43) is adapted for differently heating the surface of two opposing faces of an elongate member previous to feeding it to the press (51) for applying the relief decoration. The camber measurement system (67) measures possible camber of the elongate member coming out of the press (51) and generates camber measurement signals which are fed back to the pre-heater control means (69) for controlling the heating of the pre-heater (43). The aim of the installation of the present invention is to eliminate the camber of following elongate members to which a relief decoration is to be applied.

Abstract: An embossing method and apparatus (20) comprises a rotary embossing device (32) having a radial direction (28) and an outer peripheral surface (34). The embossing device (32) includes at least one embossing-component (48) which extends at least radially outward from the peripheral surface (34), and is configured to provide for a first embossing-pattern (38). The embossing device (32) also includes a rotary shaft member (46). A base embossing-segment (50) is operatively joined to the rotary shaft member (46) and configured to carry a first base-section (40) of the first embossing-component (48). In a particular aspect, a first, supplemental embossing-segment (52) is operatively joined and selectively positionable on the rotary shaft member (46), and is configured to carry a first supplemental-section (42) of the first embossing-component (48).

Abstract: A method and a device for production of a web with good breathing properties, for example having a nonwoven web based on plastic filaments and/or plastic fibers and a plastic film, applied on one side of the nonwoven web and containing at least one mineral filler. For the production of the good breathing properties, the web is stretched in the longitudinal direction of the same, in two successive steps, and an embossing is carried out, at least in certain sectors of the surface, between the two steps which effect the stretching in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a nonwoven substrate, and specifically to a nonwoven substrate imparted with a three-dimensional image, wherein the three-dimensional nonwoven substrate is particularly suited as a support substrate for a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and similar application. By the utilization of a hydroentangled, three-dimensionally imaged support substrate impregnated with a durable resinous matrix, PCB's, and similar applications, can be imparted with unique and useful performance properties, to improve structural performance.

Abstract: To provide manufacturing method for a double tube having a hole formed therein and a mold for implementing such method, which reduce the time required for manufacturing, do not leave shavings in the gap between the outer tube and the inner tube, and offer highly accurate hole positioning. The manufacturing method for a double tube having a hole formed therein pertaining to the present invention uses a mold in which a punch is located in at least one of the split mold halves that form the outer circumferential surface, an indentation is formed by drawing the punch into the mold, and fluid pressure is applied between the outer tube and the inner tube of the double tube located within the mold to form a hole in the circumferential wall of the outer tube via such indentation. Furthermore, the punch is placed in the mold in a watertight fashion.

Abstract: Structured polyolefin coated substrates and processes for making the same are disclosed. A chill roll is used to impart a plurality of peaks which protrude outwardly from the polyolefin coating of the structured substrate. In addition, the chill roll surface is treated to impart a matte finish and thus to transfer a matte finish to the area surrounding the peaks of the polyolefin coating.

Abstract: An embossing system is provided for embossing a web having a first embossing roll having embossing elements and a second embossing roll having embossing elements, wherein at least a portion of the embossing elements of the first and second embossing rolls are substantially oriented in the cross-machine direction. The embossing roll may be crowned, may have alignment means, and may be provided with precision gearing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-layered semi-finished product with at least one first and one second film layer. The semi-finished product has a velour-type structure on the outer surface of the first film layer facing away from the second film layer and the second layer has a filler material. The first and second film layers are permeable. A first proportion of a filler material in the first film layer is smaller than a second proportion of a filler in the second film layer.

Abstract: A method of forming thermoplastic panels is disclosed which includes the steps of forming the thermoplastic panels by extrusion or a similar process and simultaneously or subsequently texturing or graining at least one face thereof, and utilizing such pre-textured or pre-grained panels to form a finished panel or article by disposing such panel in a thermoforming mold having at least one grained or textured mold surface against which the pre-textured or pre-grained surface of the panel is disposed and thermoforming such panel. The process provides a textured or grained surface having greatly improved uniformity and enhanced appearance.

Abstract: A process for producing an object made from plastic material with a mesh structure, wherein the mesh structure is deformed in at least one defined area, in such a manner that the original mesh structure of the area is eliminated and an essentially continuous structure and information can be introduced in this area.

Abstract: A method for producing a material useful for forming a component for an electrochemical fuel cell is provided. More particularly, the component is formed of a sheet (10) of a compressed mass of expanded graphite particles. The component is treated with a water resistant additive sufficient to provide utility as a component in an electrochemical fuel cell. Preferably, the water resistant additive is a fluoropolymer material. More preferably, the water resistant additive is a polytetrafluoroethylene material. The treatment preferably occurs by coating and/or impregnating the water resistant material in the sheet of graphite particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing and producing a surface of a material with a reproducible degree of lustre and to a press for carrying out said method. The aim of the invention is to increase the stability of the press. To achieve this, a press is provided with a coating that consists of carbon with diamond-like layers and that adheres to the surface of the press. Said coating has a layer thickness of between 0.1 and 10 &mgr;m and a surface hardness in excess of 1800 HV (Vickers). The attrition of the surface of the press is thus significantly reduced during the processing of abrasion-resistant materials.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a rubber crawler through a first vulcanization step and a second vulcanization step using an upper mold, a middle mold and a lower mold, at least the middle mold is heated at each vulcanization step, and a vulcanizing circumferential length at the first vulcanization step is made longer than that at the second vulcanization step, and the second vulcanization step is carried out at a state that each end portion of the crawler part formed at the first vulcanization step is positioned by at least one pitch rate in each mold at the second vulcanization step and the distance between the upper and lower molds is made larger than that in the first vulcanization step.

Abstract: A method fabricates fluid flow field plates that are suitable for use in an electrochemical fuel cell assembly. Pursuant to the method, a fluid flow field channel region such as, for example, substantially straight, parallel fluid flow field channels, is roller embossed in a sheet of compressible, electrically conductive material such as, for example, expanded graphite sheet material. A fluid distribution region such as, for example, a region containing manifold openings and supply channels, is then reciprocally embossed in the sheet material. A sheet pre-impregnated with a curable polymeric composition, such as pre-impregnated expanded graphite, can be employed, with the curing step being performed after the roller embossing and reciprocal embossing steps.

Abstract: A light guiding plate is manufactured with accuracy and at low cost. This invention comprises a cylindrical roller, which has a heater built-in, rotating while fixing a stamper having a dot pattern formed on its surface, substrate fixing means for reciprocating along a lower portion of the cylindrical roller in accordance with rotation of the cylindrical roller as fixing a resin substrate, and pressing means for pressing the stamper, which is fixed to the cylindrical roller, onto a surface of the resin substrate, which is fixed to the substrate fixing means, with a constant pressure.

Abstract: A composite plank (146) having a curved bottom surface (154) made by the method wherein a feed mixture of thermoplastic polymer material and glass fibers are provided to an extruder (10). The extruder compresses the feed mixture to form a thermoplastic/glass melt in the presence of a blowing agent. The melt is extruded through a die (26) to form a strand or extruded length (110) that is further shaped and cooled in an array of calibrators (112). A cutter (142) severs sections of the extruded length (110) to form planks (146).