Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.

An extrusion molding machine for manufacturing the spiral bicolor LED hose light just needs a single process and equipment to greatly increase the production efficiency and save the equipment investment costs. The input channel terminal of the second flow channel connected with a first horizontal channel is gradually smaller, and the transportation end terminal of the first horizontal channel connected with a second horizontal channel of larger diameter is gradually larger. The transportation end terminal of the second extruder is connected with the input terminal of the third flow channels. The light strip input channel inputs the LED light strip to pass through the first and second flow channel, which the transparent molten plastic squeezed by the first extruder wraps and covers the LED light strip and the molten plastic with the other color squeezed by the second extruder is spirally wounded on the surface of the transparent molten plastic.

A skinning apparatus and a method of skinning a porous ceramic. The apparatus includes an axial skinning manifold. The axial skinning manifold includes a curved adaptive pipe to flow cement in a circumferential direction from an inlet at a first position and through an adaptive opening along an inner bend of the curve through a land channel disposed along the inner bend. The land channel emits the cement at a constant velocity from a land opening extending proximate the first position to a second position spaced apart from the first position. The land outlet emits cement at a constant velocity around the outer periphery of the porous ceramic to dispose a uniform skin thereon as the porous ceramic moves axially relative to the land outlet.

A skinning apparatus and a method of skinning a porous ceramic. The apparatus includes an axial skinning manifold. The axial skinning manifold includes a curved adaptive pipe to flow cement in a circumferential direction from an inlet at a first position and through an adaptive opening along an inner bend of the curve through a land channel disposed along the inner bend. The land channel emits the cement at a constant velocity from a land opening extending proximate the first position to a second position spaced apart from the first position. The land outlet emits cement at a constant velocity around the outer periphery of the porous ceramic to dispose a uniform skin thereon as the porous ceramic moves axially relative to the land outlet.

A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

A system for delivering and applying a flowable mixture to an article (311-313) is disclosed. The system includes a mixture delivery system (200) and a skinning system (300). The mixture delivery system (200) includes a mixer (220) configured to mix a dry material and a fluid to produce the flowable mixture, and a pump (235) configured to pump the flowable mixture to a delivery line. The skinning system (300) receives the flowable mixture from the mixture delivery system (200) through the delivery line. The skinning system (300) includes a skinning pipe (310) configured to apply the flowable mixture to the article (311-313) and a manifold (305) that supports the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) also includes an article feeding mechanism (315) configured to push the article (311-313) into the skinning pipe (310). The skinning system (300) includes a transfer system (320) configured to hold the article (311-313) and move the article (311-313) out of the skinning pipe (310).

Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.

Various systems, methods and apparatus for locating emitters embedded in tubing are disclosed herein, as well as forming outlets in said tubing and confirming the placement accuracy of such outlets. In one form, an emitter locator is disclosed having: a housing defining a generally enclosed space and having an inlet located in a first side of the housing and an outlet located in a second side of the housing positioned opposite the inlet; a cutter positioned within the generally enclosed space between the inlet and outlet; a first optical instrument located proximate the inlet; a second optical instrument located proximate the outlet; and a controller connected to the cutter and first and second optical instruments, the controller configured to detect a tubing target area desired for placement of an outlet opening in tubing that passes through the inlet and cut the tubing target area to form the outlet opening therein.

A multi-orifice nozzle suitable for drawing a plurality of line rules in parallel, line rules disposed in parallel drawn using the multi-orifice nozzle, and systems and methods for using such line rules for impressing a substrate with a plurality of line indentations disposed in parallel.

A system for manufacturing a catheter includes at least first and second controllable rate material feeders that feed at least first and second materials into a temperature-controlled mixer to form a compound material that varies in flexibility and/or strength with the respective first and second materials and material feed rates. An extruder extrudes the compound material onto a rotating and translating mandrel to thereby form a variable stiffness profile along a length of the catheter that depends on respective rates of rotation and translation of the mandrel.