A standardization system for the manufacture of tires is provided. The same size tire components can be used in the summit of tires having different sizes i.e., tires having different section widths, sidewall heights, and/or aspect ratios. A matrix of tire sizes can be associated with one or more tire summit parameters. The matrix can be used for the manufacture of tires having one or more standardized components by holding substantially constant the value of one or more tire summit parameters across a diagonal of the matrix.

An expiratory limb for a breathing circuit includes an enclosing wall defining a flexible singular expiratory flow passage between an inlet and an outlet and bounding the flexible singular expiratory flow passage and ambient air. The expiratory limb includes one or more regions of the enclosing wall that made from a material that allows passage of water vapor without allowing passage of liquid water, thereby forming a water vapor flow path from the flexible singular expiratory flow passage to the ambient air through the material. The expiratory limb is configured to allow diffusion of water vapor along the flexible singular expiratory flow passage and dry the flow of expiratory gases between the inlet and the outlet.

A printer system may include a coaxial extruder head that extrudes a core, a bulk, and/or a core and bulk cladding to form complex structures without retooling. The coaxial extruder head may include a distribution channel with an entrance and an exit, a priming chamber that surrounds the distribution channel. The priming chamber may include an outlet and a first inlet, a heating element thermally connected to the priming chamber, and a nozzle connected to the outlet of the priming chamber. Further, the nozzle may converge from the outlet of the priming chamber to an orifice of the nozzle. In addition, the exit of the distribution channel may be disposed at the orifice of the nozzle. This structure facilitates extruding a core and cladding type composite from the extruder head.

A long fiber extrusion apparatus applies a polymer melt to a length of fiber using a die and an extruder where the length of fiber is directed to the die through a glass tube. The transparency of the glass tube enables viewing of the fiber as it is directed through the glass tube to monitor for any difficulties or problems encountered by the fiber passing through the glass tube. The glass interior surface of the glass tube reduces friction between the fiber and the glass surface and thereby reduces abrasion of the fiber and dust produced from abrasion of the fiber inside the glass tube.

An extruder for a three-dimensional additive printer can be used to receive and dispense material. The extruder can include a number of different components including a nozzle with an adjustable opening configured to discharge material. The nozzle can be configured to be moved and rotated so as to align the adjustable opening with a plurality of paths along which the material is configured to be deposited for generating a three-dimensional object. The adjustable opening can comprise a first orifice and an obstruction member configured to move with respect to the first orifice. The position of the obstruction member can adjust the size of the opening area of the adjustable opening.

A dual head extruder for a three-dimensional additive printer can be used to receive and dispense material. The extruder can include a number of different components including two nozzles, at least one having an adjustable opening configured to discharge material. The adjustable opening can be configured to be moved and rotated so as to align the adjustable opening with a plurality of paths along which the material is configured to be deposited for generating a three-dimensional object. The adjustable opening can comprise a first orifice and an obstruction member configured to move with respect to the first orifice. The position of the obstruction member can adjust the size of the opening area of the adjustable opening.

A die with alignment mechanism includes a die including a through-hole through which a traveling wire travels, a bearing member for rotationally moving the die in a circumferential direction of the traveling wire, and a movable member that moves the die so that a central axis of the through-hole is aligned with a travel direction of the traveling wire without inhibiting the rotational movement of the die produced by the bearing member when the travel direction changes in a direction orthogonal to the travel direction.

In a system and method for making a capped structure having a variegated cap layer a layer of cap materials is applied to a substrate and pin stripes are applied onto the cap layer through an extrusion die. After these materials exit the extrusion die they are passed through a single opening in a die plate to create a capped structure having a variegated appearance. This capped structure has a smooth surface that enables an embosser to create a consistent embossing pattern on the entire surface.

A process of forming a non-woven web including spinning continuous polymeric filaments including one selected from a poly(phenylene ether) component, a poly(phenylene ether)-polysiloxane block copolymer, and combinations thereof. The filaments can have a length to diameter ratio that is more than 1,000,000, and a diameter ranging from 50 nanometers to 5 microns. The spinning can include passing a polymer through a spinneret having a plurality of orifices in a non-electrospinning environment. The process can further include chopping the plurality of continuous filaments and obtaining a plurality of chopped nano-fibers and forming the nano-fibers into a nonwoven web. The spinning can be conducted at a rate of at least 300 grams/hour/spinneret.

The present invention forms bead apex rubber with good precision on the outer circumferential surface of the bead core. A molding process, in which unvulcanized rubber is made to flow into a bead apex molding chamber that is surrounded by surfaces that include the outer circumferential surface of a circular bead core and the bead apex rubber is formed directly on the outer circumferential surface of the bead core that is rotating around the core axis, is provided. The molding process comprises: a tip forming step that forms the leading end of the bead apex rubber; a middle section forming step that sequentially forms the bead apex rubber to be continuous with the leading end; and a joining step to join the back end and the leading end of the bead apex rubber by inflowing the unvulcanized rubber therebetween.