A method for dispensing a flowable material is disclosed. The method comprises holding a hydraulic fluid in a reservoir at a negative pressure, inserting a cartridge tube, having an interior, into a cartridge housing, locking an over-center mechanism relative to the cartridge housing so that a hermetic seal is created between a plunger and an interior of the cartridge tube and between an end-cap and the interior of the cartridge tube, and turning a rotary actuator in a rotational direction so that a linear actuator advances a piston within the reservoir to transfer at least a portion of the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to a flowable-material dispenser through the end-cap and into the interior of the cartridge tube, causing the plunger to advance within the cartridge tube in a forward plunger direction, away from the end-cap.

A dispenser (10) for dispensing a flowable material M has a container (12) having an outer wall (20) and membrane (14) collectively defining a first chamber (22) configured to contain the flowable material M. The membrane (14) has a thickness and a weld seam (40) wherein the weld seam (40) has a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane (14). A fracturing mechanism (16) is operably connected to the container (12). The fracturing mechanism (16) has an extending member (64) projecting from the outer wall (20) of the container (12). The extending member (64) has a projection (66) positioned proximate the membrane (14), wherein in response to deflection of the extending member (64), the projection (66) deflects the outer wall (20) proximate the membrane (14) wherein the weld seam (40) fractures creating an opening (41) through the membrane (14) configured to allow the flowable material M to pass therethrough and from the dispenser (10).

A dispenser (10) for dispensing a flowable material M has a container (12) having an outer wall (20) and membrane (14) collectively defining a first chamber (22) configured to contain the flowable material M. The membrane (14) has a thickness and a weld seam (40) wherein the weld seam (40) has a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane (14). A fracturing mechanism (16) is operably connected to the container (12). The fracturing mechanism (16) has an extending member (64) projecting from the outer wall (20) of the container (12). The extending member (64) has a projection (66) positioned proximate the membrane (14), wherein in response to deflection of the extending member (64), the projection (66) deflects the outer wall (20) proximate the membrane (14) wherein the weld seam (40) fractures creating an opening (41) through the membrane (14) configured to allow the flowable material M to pass therethrough and from the dispenser (10).

An apparatus (100) for dispensing a flowable material (308) is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises a rotary actuator (120), a reservoir (140), containing a hydraulic fluid (155), a piston (145), movable inside the reservoir (140), a linear actuator (130), coupled to the piston (145), a gear train (125), coupling the rotary actuator (120) with the linear actuator (130), and a flowable-material dispenser (160), hydraulically coupled with the reservoir (140).

An apparatus (100) for dispensing a flowable material (308) is disclosed. The apparatus (100) comprises a rotary actuator (120), a reservoir (140), containing a hydraulic fluid (155), a piston (145), movable inside the reservoir (140), a linear actuator (130), coupled to the piston (145), a gear train (125), coupling the rotary actuator (120) with the linear actuator (130), and a flowable-material dispenser (160), hydraulically coupled with the reservoir (140).

A coating apparatus for a moving web that employs a spreader roller in the upweb position in a tensioned-web-over-slot die coater. The spreader roller can help spread webs laterally in a web processing operation, in particular to reduce or remove the presence of wrinkles or bagginess in the web. The spreader roller can be a reverse crown roll that is covered with a resilient material to assist spreading the web to remove wrinkles. The surface curvature of the spreader roller can be formed using layers of material such as a tape, to easily and readily approximate the shape of a reverse crown roll.

A dispenser (10) for dispensing flowable materials has a container (12) having an outer wall (20), a dividing wall (21) and a membrane (14) operably connected to define a first chamber (22), a second chamber (24) and a third chamber (16). The dividing wall (21) is connected to the membrane (14) at an interface (30). The first chamber (22) defines a first volume and is configured to contain a first flowable material (M1), and the second chamber (24) defines a second volume and is configured to contain a second flowable material (M2). The membrane (14) has a first section (34) having a first rupturable member (40) and a second section (36) having a second rupturable member (40). The first section (34) is separated from the second section (36) by the interface (30). The third chamber (16) is positioned adjacent the membrane (14) generally opposite the first chamber (22) and the second chamber (24), wherein the third chamber (16) defines a third volume and is configured to receive the first flowable material (M1) and the second flowable material (M2) upon rupture of the first rupturable member (40) and the second rupturable member (40) wherein a mixture (MX) is formed. The first volume and the second volume are collectively approximately equal to the third volume.

A dispenser (10) for dispensing flowable materials has a container (12) having an outer wall (20), a dividing wall (21) and a membrane (14) operably connected to define a first chamber (22), a second chamber (24) and a third chamber (16). The dividing wall (21) is connected to the membrane (14) at an interface (30). The first chamber (22) defines a first volume and is configured to contain a first flowable material (M1), and the second chamber (24) defines a second volume and is configured to contain a second flowable material (M2). The membrane (14) has a first section (34) having a first rupturable member (40) and a second section (36) having a second rupturable member (40). The first section (34) is separated from the second section (36) by the interface (30). The third chamber (16) is positioned adjacent the membrane (14) generally opposite the first chamber (22) and the second chamber (24), wherein the third chamber (16) defines a third volume and is configured to receive the first flowable material (M1) and the second flowable material (M2) upon rupture of the first rupturable member (40) and the second rupturable member (40) wherein a mixture (MX) is formed. The first volume and the second volume are collectively approximately equal to the third volume.

A dispenser (10) for dispensing a flowable material M has a container (12) having an outer wall (20) and membrane (14) collectively defining a first chamber (22) configured to contain the flowable material M. The membrane (14) has a thickness and a weld seam (40) wherein the weld seam (40) has a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane (14). A fracturing mechanism (16) is operably connected to the container (12). The fracturing mechanism (16) has an extending member (64) projecting from the outer wall (20) of the container (12). The extending member (64) has a projection (66) positioned proximate the membrane (14), wherein in response to deflection of the extending member (64), the projection (66) deflects the outer wall (20) proximate the membrane (14) wherein the weld seam (40) fractures creating an opening (41) through the membrane (14) configured to allow the flowable material M to pass therethrough and from the dispenser (10).

A dispenser (10) for dispensing a flowable material M has a container (12) having an outer wall (20) and membrane (14) collectively defining a first chamber (22) configured to contain the flowable material M. The membrane (14) has a thickness and a weld seam (40) wherein the weld seam (40) has a thickness less than the thickness of the membrane (14). A fracturing mechanism (16) is operably connected to the container (12). The fracturing mechanism (16) has an extending member (64) projecting from the outer wall (20) of the container (12). The extending member (64) has a projection (66) positioned proximate the membrane (14), wherein in response to deflection of the extending member (64), the projection (66) deflects the outer wall (20) proximate the membrane (14) wherein the weld seam (40) fractures creating an opening (41) through the membrane (14) configured to allow the flowable material M to pass therethrough and from the dispenser (10).