A directional air knife, components thereof, and associated methods. The air knife includes a housing that comprises an inlet opening which receives air under pressure into the housing along a first inlet axis. A chamber is defined within the housing and positioned to receive air that passes through the inlet opening along the first inlet axis. A discharge duct is defined by the housing and includes a discharge channel within the discharge duct. The discharge channel is in fluid communication with the chamber which receives the air under pressure. The housing defines an outlet opening through which the air under pressure passes out of the discharge duct. The discharge channel has a second central axis along which the air under pressure flows to the outlet opening and out of the housing. The second central axis is arranged with respect to the first inlet axis at a skew angle.

A composite implant device for use in a medical application, comprising a synthetically-derived mesh that mimics particular critical aspects of a biologically-derived mesh. The composite implant device can be used for the reinforcement and reconstruction of tissues within the body and can be comprised of a majority of synthetic components and minority of naturally-derived components which mimic the structure and function of a naturally-derived mesh.

In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible mat forming system includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof; a hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste into successive mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities facing the hopper, as the drum rotates relative to the hopper; wherein the hopper includes an opening shaped and positioned to align with the mold cavities facing the hopper; and a sheet of mesh material that is fed between the hopper and the mold cavities facing the hopper.

In an exemplary embodiment, a flexible mat forming system includes a rotating drum having a plurality of mold cavities about an outer periphery thereof; a hopper positioned adjacent the drum, the hopper shaped to receive a hardenable paste and deposit the hardenable paste into successive mold cavities of the plurality of mold cavities facing the hopper, as the drum rotates relative to the hopper; wherein the hopper includes an opening shaped and positioned to align with the mold cavities facing the hopper; and a sheet of mesh material that is fed between the hopper and the mold cavities facing the hopper.

Disclosed are multilayer film structures including a layer (B) that includes a crystalline block copolymer composite (CBC) or a specified block copolymer composite (BC), including i) an ethylene polymer (EP) including at least 80 mol % polymerized ethylene; ii) an alpha-olefin-based crystalline polymer (CAOP) and iii) a block copolymer including (a) an ethylene polymer block including at least 80 mol % polymerized ethylene and (b) a crystalline alpha-olefin block (CAOB); and a layer C that includes a polyolefin having at least one melting peak greater than 125 C, the top facial surface of layer C in adhering contact with the bottom facial surface of layer B. Such multilayer film structure preferably includes (A) a seal layer A having a bottom facial surface in adhering contact with the top facial surface of layer B. Such films are suited for use in electronic device (ED) modules including an electronic device such as a PV cell.

Disclosed are multilayer film structures including a layer (B) that includes a crystalline block copolymer composite (CBC) or a specified block copolymer composite (BC), including i) an ethylene polymer (EP) including at least 80 mol % polymerized ethylene; ii) an alpha-olefin-based crystalline polymer (CAOP) and iii) a block copolymer including (a) an ethylene polymer block including at least 80 mol % polymerized ethylene and (b) a crystalline alpha-olefin block (CAOB); and a layer C that includes a polyolefin having at least one melting peak greater than 125 C, the top facial surface of layer C in adhering contact with the bottom facial surface of layer B. Such multilayer film structure preferably includes (A) a seal layer A having a bottom facial surface in adhering contact with the top facial surface of layer B. Such films are suited for use in electronic device (ED) modules including an electronic device such as a PV cell.

A method of manufacturing an activated composite web includes laminating a film layer to a nonwoven web to form a composite web, forming a plurality of apertured protuberances in the film layer, and passing the composite web through intermeshing elements to form an activated composite web. The intermeshing elements form a plurality of first lanes, with first widths, substantially unaffected by activation, and a plurality of second lanes, with second widths. The second widths are less than the first widths. Portions of the plurality of apertured protuberances define first apertures in the first lanes and second apertures in the second lanes. The cross-sections of the second apertures are larger than the first apertures. The first apertures have their major axes substantially aligned in the first direction while the second apertures have their major axis substantially aligned in the second direction. An activated composite web also is provided.

A method of manufacturing an activated composite web includes laminating a film layer to a nonwoven web to form a composite web, forming a plurality of apertured protuberances in the film layer, and passing the composite web through intermeshing elements to form an activated composite web. The intermeshing elements form a plurality of first lanes, with first widths, substantially unaffected by activation, and a plurality of second lanes, with second widths. The second widths are less than the first widths. Portions of the plurality of apertured protuberances define first apertures in the first lanes and second apertures in the second lanes. The cross-sections of the second apertures are larger than the first apertures. The first apertures have their major axes substantially aligned in the first direction while the second apertures have their major axis substantially aligned in the second direction. An activated composite web also is provided.

A surface fastener molding apparatus includes a supporting structure and a second supporting structure for axially supporting a mold roll in a rotatable manner at a first end side and a second end side of the mold roll which is opposite to the first end side. The mold roll includes a circumferential surface in which a plurality of mold cavities for molding engaging elements of the surface fastener is provided. A first linear driving means and second linear driving means are provided which are for, respectively, advancing or retracting the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure. The degree of closeness between the extruding nozzle and the mold roll is regulatable across the first end side and the second end side of the mold roll, based on at least one activation of the first driving means and the second driving means.

A surface fastener molding apparatus includes a supporting structure and a second supporting structure for axially supporting a mold roll in a rotatable manner at a first end side and a second end side of the mold roll which is opposite to the first end side. The mold roll includes a circumferential surface in which a plurality of mold cavities for molding engaging elements of the surface fastener is provided. A first linear driving means and second linear driving means are provided which are for, respectively, advancing or retracting the first supporting structure and the second supporting structure. The degree of closeness between the extruding nozzle and the mold roll is regulatable across the first end side and the second end side of the mold roll, based on at least one activation of the first driving means and the second driving means.