Embodiments of the invention relate generally to electrospun fibers and, more particularly, to the controlled release of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) from electrospun fiber scaffolds (EFSs).

The invention relates to a fiberglass material manufacture method and facility, were in molten glass is converted into fiberglass material via the steps of spinning, drawing, sizing, and collecting, followed by a step of producing a resulting fiberglass material that is then subjected to thermal desizing. The fumes from the melting furnace are used to preheat a combustion reagent from the melting furnace in two steps: a first step in which air is heated via heat exchange with the fumes, and a second step in which the combustion reagent is preheated via heat exchange with the hot air, the air then being used in the step of desizing the fiberglass material.

The invention relates to a fiberglass material manufacture method and facility, were in molten glass is converted into fiberglass material via the steps of spinning, drawing, sizing, and collecting, followed by a step of producing a resulting fiberglass material that is then subjected to thermal desizing. The fumes from the melting furnace are used to preheat a combustion reagent from the melting furnace in two steps: a first step in which air is heated via heat exchange with the fumes, and a second step in which the combustion reagent is preheated via heat exchange with the hot air, the air then being used in the step of desizing the fiberglass material.

Ovens, discharge nozzle plates for distribution of gas through an oven, and methods to operate an oven are disclosed. Example ovens include a heating system to heat gas, a substrate heating volume, and a plenum comprising a side wall having a plurality of passages formed therein, the plenum configured to direct heated gas into the substrate heating volume from the plurality of passages, each of the plurality of passages formed in the plenum having a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.

A manufacturing method and an apparatus enable high productivity. A method for manufacturing an oxidized fiber bundle includes joining an upstream precursor fiber bundle and a downstream precursor fiber bundle together with a joining fiber bundle, and oxidizing the joined precursor fiber bundles by feeding the joined precursor fiber bundles through an oxidization furnace. The joining includes applying an oiling agent to a joint area of a joining target precursor fiber bundle before joining the joining target precursor fiber bundle and the joining fiber bundle together. A quantity of the oiling agent adhering to the joint area is 0.15 to 0.85 wt %.

A manufacturing method and an apparatus enable high productivity. A method for manufacturing an oxidized fiber bundle includes joining an upstream precursor fiber bundle and a downstream precursor fiber bundle together with a joining fiber bundle, and oxidizing the joined precursor fiber bundles by feeding the joined precursor fiber bundles through an oxidization furnace. The joining includes applying an oiling agent to a joint area of a joining target precursor fiber bundle before joining the joining target precursor fiber bundle and the joining fiber bundle together. A quantity of the oiling agent adhering to the joint area is 0.15 to 0.85 wt %.

The apparatus for producing ultrafine fibers includes a nozzle portion, a laser irradiation unit, and a drawing chamber. The nozzle portion has an inlet for feeding a raw fiber, a first jet outlet which communicates with the inlet and jets a first drawing gas stream for delivering and drawing the raw fiber, and a second jet outlet which is arranged in the periphery of the first jet outlet and jets a second drawing gas stream. The laser irradiation unit on which the nozzle portion is installed irradiates a laser light to the raw fiber delivered from first jet outlet to melt the raw fiber. The drawing chamber draws the melted raw fiber by using the first drawing gas stream and the second drawing gas stream which are jetted from the nozzle portion.

The apparatus for producing ultrafine fibers includes a nozzle portion, a laser irradiation unit, and a drawing chamber. The nozzle portion has an inlet for feeding a raw fiber, a first jet outlet which communicates with the inlet and jets a first drawing gas stream for delivering and drawing the raw fiber, and a second jet outlet which is arranged in the periphery of the first jet outlet and jets a second drawing gas stream. The laser irradiation unit on which the nozzle portion is installed irradiates a laser light to the raw fiber delivered from first jet outlet to melt the raw fiber. The drawing chamber draws the melted raw fiber by using the first drawing gas stream and the second drawing gas stream which are jetted from the nozzle portion.

One embodiment is directed to an oven for heating fibers. The oven comprises a supply structure disposed within the oven between first and second ends of the oven. The supply structure comprises a plurality of plenums stacked one above each other with gaps therebetween. The plenums are in fluid communication with a heating system. At least one plenum comprises at least one side wall comprising a plurality of passages formed therein, said at least one plenum configured to direct at least a portion of the heated gas into an interior of the oven from the plurality of passages. Each of the plurality of passages formed in said at least one plenum has a respective tapered cross-sectional shape.

The present invention is a mechanism that reverses a product placed between a first upper conveyor belt and a second lower conveyor belt. The first one is linked to at least one cylinder on one end, characterized in that the reversal mechanism contains at least one means for clamping the product placed against the first conveyor belt moving on a portion of the periphery of the cylinder.