A device for the laser treatment of trousers, including a laser beam generating equipment suitable for emitting the laser beam in any direction within an emission pyramid with an emission axis and two opening angles, and a work station with two mannequins, where each mannequin includes two legs. Each leg defines a longitudinal axis, and the two longitudinal axes of each mannequin define a mannequin plane. Each of the mannequins is oriented towards the equipment so that the emission axis strikes the mannequin plane at an angle of less than 90? and each mannequin has at least one of its legs within the pyramid.

The present application relates to silk fibroin-based hydrogels, methods for making and using the same.

A garment includes a finishing pattern created by a laser. The garment can be a pair of jeans or other denim garment. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. A technique includes determining a fabric's response to a laser, capturing an initial image of a wear pattern on a garment, and processing the initial image to obtain a working image in grayscale. The working image is further processed to obtain a difference image by comparing each pixel relative to a dark reference. The difference image is converted to a laser values image by using the previously determined fabric response to the laser.

A method and apparatus comprising a laser unit and a controller. The laser unit is configured to generate a number of laser beams. The controller is configured to operate the laser unit to generate the number of laser beams resulting in a desired level of heating of a composite patch that cures the composite patch on a composite structure.

A machine and process for a heating system for a composite patch comprising a light beam and a controller. The controller is configured to command the light beam to heat the resin in the composite patch to a desired level for curing while avoiding overheating a fiber in the composite patch.

Adaptive smart textiles that facilitate reduced energy consumption are described. In one implementation, a dual pane fabric arrangement includes a first pane of fabric and a second pane of fabric separated by an intra-layer gap, and an insert layer disposed in the intra-layer gap, wherein the insert layer causes a thickness of the intra-layer gap to change responsive to changes in ambient temperature.

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for attaching electronic components to interactive textiles. In various implementations, an interactive textile that includes conductive thread woven into the interactive textile is received. The conductive thread includes a conductive wire (e.g., a copper wire) that that is twisted, braided, or wrapped with one or more flexible threads (e.g., polyester or cotton threads). A fabric stripping process is applied to the interactive textile to strip away fabric of the interactive textile and the flexible threads to expose the conductive wire in a window of the interactive textile. After exposing the conductive wires in the window of the interactive textile, an electronic component (e.g., a flexible circuit board) is attached to the exposed conductive wire of the conductive thread in the window of the interactive textile.

Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. A technique includes determining a fabric's response to a laser, capturing an initial image of a wear pattern on a garment, and processing the initial image to obtain a working image in grayscale. The working image is further processed to obtain a difference image by comparing each pixel relative to a dark reference. The difference image is converted to a laser values image by using the previously determined fabric response to the laser.

A method of cutting a web structure that is utilized in the manufacture of an absorbent article. The method of cutting the web structure can employ a laser having a pulse mode of operation. In various embodiments, the frequency of the beam of radiation pulsed from the laser can be patterned to correspond to the material of the web structure. In various embodiments, the frequency of the beam of radiation pulsed from the laser can be patterned to correspond to the speed at which the web structure is moving and can change with any change in speed of the web structure movement.

A method and apparatus comprising a laser unit and a controller. The laser unit is configured to generate a number of laser beams. The controller is configured to operate the laser unit to generate the number of laser beams resulting in a desired level of heating of a composite patch that cures the composite patch on a composite structure.