Abstract: A calender for the treatment of web-like materials, including a fixed structure adapted to support two heated rollers shaped to be connected to the fixed structure, to a drive unit and to a heating system. The calender includes automatic elements for engaging and respectively for disengaging the rollers to and from the fixed structure, the drive unit and the heating system; the automatic elements are controlled by a programmable control unit and each of the rollers has an engaging surface shaped to be engaged by mechanical elements for moving the rollers which move the rollers between the calender and one or more waiting or parking stations while the rollers are at a temperature between 50° C. and 200° C.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a first roller that is rotational to convey a nonwoven fabric and a second roller that is rotational to convey the nonwoven fabric and is located on the trailing side of the first roller with respect to the conveying direction of the nonwoven fabric. The conveying apparatus includes a noncontact sensor and a controller. The noncontact sensor detects the distance from the nonwoven fabric at a position between the first roller and the second roller. The controller uses the distance detected by the sensor to compute the slack amount of the nonwoven fabric and controls the rotation speed of the second roller, thereby reducing the difference between the computed slack amount and a predetermined target value.

Abstract: A method of conveying and treating a web, wherein the web is first conveyed over a transport surface and then over a rotating transfer roller at the end of the transport surface. The web is transferred from the transfer roller to a treatment roller at a spacing from the transfer roller. The conveying of the web is performed with the proviso and particularly a spacing a between the transfer roller and the treatment roller is set such that the web wraps around the treatment roller over a wrap angle ? from 15° to 90°.

Abstract: A conveying apparatus includes a first roller that is rotational to convey a nonwoven fabric and a second roller that is rotational to convey the nonwoven fabric and is located on the trailing side of the first roller with respect to the conveying direction of the nonwoven fabric. The conveying apparatus includes a noncontact sensor and a controller. The noncontact sensor detects the distance from the nonwoven fabric at a position between the first roller and the second roller. The controller uses the distance detected by the sensor to compute the slack amount of the nonwoven fabric and controls the rotation speed of the second roller, thereby reducing the difference between the computed slack amount and a predetermined target value.

Abstract: A method of forming a planarized layer on a substrate, where the substrate is cleaned, and the layer is formed having a surface with high portions and low portions. A resistive mask is formed over the low portions of the layer, but not over the high portions of the layer. The surface of the layer is etched, where the high portions of the layer are exposed to the etch, but the low portions of the layer underlying the resistive mask are not exposed to the etch. The etch of the surface of the layer is continued until the high portions of the layer are at substantially the same level as the low portions of the layer, thereby providing an initial planarization of the surface of the layer. The resistive mask is removed from the surface of the layer, and all of the surface of the layer is planarized to provide a planarized layer.

Abstract: Three reuasable surgical/medical fabrics provide improved barrier properties, as reflected by their Suter ratings, and also posses a "hand" similar to a "cotton hand". The Suter ratings are degraded in the order of 10%-20% after 100 sterile reprocessing cycles. The fabrics are reliable free of "voids", permitting their use as a single layer barrier panel. The fabrics are woven, respectively, with false twist 100/100 warp yarns and air texturized core and effect 2/60/100 fill yarns; flat trilobal 100/50 warp yarns and air texturized core and effect 2/60/100 fill yarns; and false twist 2/50/34 warp yarns and false twist 150/200 fill yarns. The fabrics are characterized by a minimum porosity of at least 10.times.10.sup.6 pores/square centimeter and maximum average. and mean pore sizes. The fabrics have a thickness of at least 0.005 inch, a weight of at least 3.5 ounces per square yard and a filament density of at least 2.0.times.10.sup.6 filaments per square inch.

Abstract: A battery separator fabric comprising a nonwoven fibrous web of thermoplastic fibers having top and bottom surface fibers and inner fibers. The surfaces of the top and bottom surface fibers of the fibrous web are seared and fused together to form film-like surfaces having pores, while the surface fibers and inner fibers of the web remain substantially unaffected. Searing and fusing of the surface fibers are accomplished by simultaneously applying heat to the top and bottom surfaces of the fibrous web so as to sear the surfaces of the thermoplastic fibers, and pressure to ensure that the seared fibers make contact with each other to secure themselves together. As the seared fibers make contact with each other, film-like surfaces are formed with pores being created in the surfaces. The pores are created because a majority of spaces remain between the surface fibers.

Abstract: A strong, lightweight, thin, flexible fabric of low permeability comprising an uncoated woven cloth characterized by a permeability of not more than one cubic foot of air per minute per square foot of cloth (0.5 cm.sup.3 /sec/cm.sup.2) at a pressure drop of 0.5 inch of water (1.27 cm) across the cloth. The cloth is calendered on both sides to reduce its permeability.

Abstract: A hydraulic system for operating the rollers and one or more steam chests in a laundry flatwork ironer. A two-way, variable delivery, high pressure, main pump operates a hydraulic motor driving the ironer rollers. A one-way, fixed delivery, charge pump keeps the hydraulic circuit between the main pump and the hydraulic motor fully charged. The charge pump also powers a hydraulic control circuit for the main pump and controls the operation of steam chest lift cylinders. The control circuit for the main pump has a positioning cylinder and a speed control cylinder which jointly control the direction and delivery rate of the main pump, thereby controlling the direction and speed of the ironer rollers. The control circuit has a solenoid valve for stopping the hydraulic motor in an emergency and a solenoid valve for selectively controlling the speed of the chest lift cylinders.

Abstract: A wrinkle-preventing mechanism for a high-speed printer, in which the web constituting the printing medium passes between skewed image and pressure cylinders while being subjected thereby to a high pressure, includes a flat-surfaced, rigid pressure pad underlying the web path toward the nip of the cylinders, a skewed, freely rotatable, elastomer-surfaced drag-inducing roller for pressing the web over its entire width against the pressure pad, and a loading system for applying forces to the roller to provide the requisite loading across the entire width of the web. A skew angle for the drag-inducing roller of about 2.degree.-5.degree. relative to the perpendicular to the direction of movement of the web toward the nip is preferred.

Abstract: A gas heated direct fired center tube revolving ironer for use in an automated fabric ironing environment features improved roller surface temperature distribution control. An adjustable hot air recirculation system with a venturi throat, a high momentum gas burner, an improved temperature control system and an exhaust blower cooperate to provide an even temperature along the ironing surface. Multiple high and low temperature controls provide backup and ensure accuracy and safety. The gas fuel consumption is minimized thereby reducing operating costs.

Abstract: For operating the rollers and the steam chest in a laundry flatwork ironer a hydraulic system is provided which includes a hydraulic motor for driving the rollers, hydraulic cylinder-and-piston units for raising the steam chest, and a pump for operating the motor and the cylinder-and-piston units. Valves between the pump and the motor are selectively operable to establish low pressure standby operation of the pump with the hydraulic motor off, or low speed operation of the motor to jog the rollers or higher speed operation of the motor to drive the rollers at a speed appropriate for laundry flatwork. Other valves between the pump and the cylinder-and-piston units are selectively operable to raise the steam chest, reduce the cylinder pressure after the steam chest has been raised, and to increase the cylinder pressure whenever laundry flatwork is in the ironer.