According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

A metering rod holder assembly for supporting a metering rod in compressive engagement with a surface from which a fluid is to be metered. The rod holder assembly includes a base member having a channel opening to a first face thereof, and a rod bed insert at least partially received in the channel of the base member in spaced relation to a base wall of the channel. The rod bed insert includes a metering rod slot for receiving a metering rod, and a flank engaging surface engaged with at least one flank surface of the base member, the rod bed insert movable from a first position to a second position within the channel.

A system for coating a heat transfer tube for a condenser is disclosed. The system simplifies a process of coating the heat transfer tube, and is able to uniformly coat a plurality of heat transfer tubes. In addition, the system is economically feasible in that coating solution can be reused by collecting and circulating it. Due to super-hydrophobic coating, the size of a droplet condensed on the surfaces of the heat transfer tubes coated by the system can be reduced, and a condensation heat transfer coefficient can be increased.

A metering rod assembly including a body for accommodating a metering rod insert and configured to clamp the metering rod and/or metering rod insert without the use of an auxiliary clamping device, such as a pressure tube or the like. A rod bed insert is supported in a tapered channel of a body whereby a clamping action is created during use. In another embodiment, the body includes a hinge portion that facilitates relative rotation between upper and lower jaws to create a clamping action during use.

An applicator for coating metal wire with resin, an associated method for coating resin on metal wire, and an installation containing the applicator while using the method. The apparatus that contains an applicator for applying an resin solution and a wiping section, wherein the distance between these two can be adjusted as well as the length of the wiping section. The applicator applies a surplus of resin solution, while the wiping section calibrates this to the desired amount in order to obtain the final amount of dried resin on the wire. Both applicator and wiping section are contained in an encasement with provisions to recuperate evaporated solvent thereby reducing harmful emissions. In the associated method the resin to solvent ratio is used to steer to the final amount.

A coating apparatus configured to coat a peripheral surface of an endless member with a coating liquid, includes: a holding member configured to hold the endless member; an impregnation member configured to be impregnated with the coating liquid and configured to coat the endless member with the coating liquid in contact with the endless member; a nozzle member configured to eject the coating liquid onto the endless member; a rotating mechanism configured to rotate the holding member relative to the impregnation member and the nozzle member; and a moving mechanism configured to move the holding member relative to the impregnation member and the nozzle member so that the coating liquid is ejected from the nozzle member onto the endless member in a region where the coating liquid is already coated by the impregnation member.

Provided that a process for manufacturing an elastic roller having a mandrel and a coating film. The process comprise a first step of forming a coating film on an outer peripheral surface of a first mandrel, and a second step of forming a coating film on an outer peripheral surface of a second mandrel. The process further comprises a cleaning step between the steps. The cleaning step comprising: making a cleaning member arranged coaxially with the central axis of a circular coating head, in a downstream side in a moving direction of the first mandrel with respect to the circular coating head, making the cleaning member relatively approach the circular coating head; bringing a surface to be cleaned into contact with the cleaning member; rotating the cleaning member while the surface comes in contact with the cleaning member; and inserting the cleaning member into the center hole.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.

A die and a method for impregnating fiber rovings with a polymer resin are disclosed. The die includes a manifold assembly (220), an impregnation zone (250), and a gate passage (270). The manifold assembly (220) flows the resin therethrough, and includes a channel (222). The impregnation zone (250) is in fluid communication with the manifold assembly (220), and is configured to impregnate the roving with the resin. The gate passage (270) is between the manifold assembly (220) and the impregnation zone (250), and flows the resin from the manifold assembly (220) such that the resin coats the roving. The gate passage (270) includes a projection (300). The projection (300) is configured to diffuse resin flowing through the gate passage (270).

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) prepreg includes a mechanism for continuously moving a fabric or mat and a resin application component that applies a methyl methacrylate (MMA) resin to the fabric or mat. The system also includes a press mechanism that presses the fabric or mat during the continuous movement subsequent to the application of the MMA resin to ensure that the MMA resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the fabric or mat is continuously moved. The curing oven is maintained at a temperature of between 40 C. and 100 C. to polymerize the MMA resin and thereby form PMMA so that upon exiting the curing oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with PMMA.