A steel for an induction hardening including, by mass %, C: more than 0.75% to 1.20%, Si: 0.002 to 3.00%, Mn: 0.20 to 2.00%, S: 0.002 to 0.100%, Al: more than 0.050% to 3.00%, P: limited to 0.050% or less, N: limited to 0.0200% or less, O: limited to: 0.0030% or less, and the balance composing of iron and unavoidable impurities, wherein an Al content and a N content satisfy, by mass %, Al−(27/14)×N>0.050%.

Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

Methods, wires, and apparatus for use in cutting (e.g., slicing) hard, brittle materials is provided. The wire can be a super-abrasive wire that includes a wire core and super-abrasive particles bonded to the wire core via a metal bonding layer. This wire, or another type of wire, can be used to slice workpieces useful for producing wafers. The workpieces can be aligned within a holder to produce wafers using the device and methods presently provided. The holder rotates about its central axis, which translates to workpieces moving in orbit around this axis. A single abrasive wire, or multiple turns of wire stretched tightly between wire guides, is then contacted with the rotating holder to slice the workpieces.

A method for slicing a plurality of wafers from a crystal includes providing a crystal of semiconductor material having a longitudinal axis, a cross section and at least one pulling edge. The crystal is fixed on a table and guided through a wire gang defined by sawing wire so as to form the wafers. The guiding is provided by a relative movement between the table and the wire gang such that entry sawing or exit sawing using the sawing wire occurs in a vicinity of the at least one pulling edge of the crystal.

A hand-operated implement has a guide bar on which is fitted a cutting chain for cutting mineral and metal materials. The cutting chain is driven around the guide bar by a chain sprocket. The chain sprocket is arranged in a chain sprocket chamber which is delimited by a chain sprocket cover. A cutting element has an outer side facing a sidewall of the chain sprocket cover which lies in a first notional plane. The distance between the sidewall and the first notional plane measured perpendicular to the first notional plane and centrally between the top of the cutting element and the peripheral wall is less than approximately 0.8 cm over at least 30% of the section between a second notional plane containing the central axis of a fixing bolt on the guide bar and the exit opening at which the cutting chain leaves the chain sprocket chamber.

A method for cooling a cylindrical workpiece during wire sawing includes applying a liquid coolant to a surface of the workpiece. The workpiece is made of semiconductor material having a surface including two end faces and a lateral face. The method includes sawing the workpiece with a wire saw including a wire web having wire sections arranged in parallel by penetrating the wire sections into the workpiece by an oppositely directed relative movement of the wire sections and the workpiece. Wipers are disposed so as to bear on the surface of the workpiece. The temperature of the workpiece is controlled during the wire sawing using a liquid coolant applied onto the workpiece above the wipers so as to remove the liquid coolant with the wipers bearing on the workpiece surface.

Described herein are systems and methods for producing a hardwearing or wear-resistant material. In one aspect, a first group of materials comprising zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and one or both of calcium oxide (CaO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) may be mixed, heated, and cooled to yield a first mixture. The first mixture may be used to generate granules that may then be mixed with a second group of materials comprising iron, nickel, manganese, titanium, carbon, chromium, and optionally, a paraffin, to yield a second mixture. The second mixture may then be compressed, cast, cooled, and heat treated to yield the hardwearing or wear-resistant material.

A method of extracting hydrocarbon-containing organic matter from a hydrocarbon-containing material includes the steps of providing a first liquid comprising a turpentine liquid; contacting the hydrocarbon-containing material with the turpentine liquid to form an extraction mixture; extracting the hydrocarbon material into the turpentine liquid; and separating the extracted hydrocarbon material from a residual material not extracted.

Systems and methods for extracting recoverable materials from source materials are provided. Source materials are introduced into a furnace. A condition is created within the furnace in which a gaseous pressure within the furnace is less than an atmospheric pressure outside of the furnace by removing air from within the furnace with a vacuum pump. Hydrocarbons contained within the source material are separated from the source material without using a significant amount of water by heating the source material to a temperature sufficient to cause the hydrocarbons to liquefy or vaporize. The liquefied hydrocarbons or vaporized hydrocarbons are then captured.

A method for manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber may include obtaining a spacer textile material a stabilization structure. A tensile member is removed from an area of the spacer textile material where the stabilizing structure is absent. The tensile member is located between a first polymer element and a second polymer element. Additionally, (a) the first layer is bonded to the first polymer element, (b) the second layer is bonded to the second polymer element, and (c) the first polymer element and the second polymer element are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.

The present invention provides a method for producing thread using nonwoven, which discloses that nonwoven having different materials is slit first to get a plurality of nonwoven threads and then the nonwoven threads are used for performing a twisting process to get a plurality of nonwoven yarns. In the twisting process, each of the nonwoven threads has different materials, so that the nonwoven yarns have good mechanical characteristic and can be added for producing textiles with various functionalities.

This document provided methods and materials involved in treating medical conditions. For example, methods and materials for using anti-Interleukin 4, anti-Interleukin 5, and/or anti-Interleukin 13 antibodies to treat asthma in a mammal identified as having a Th2 immune response using a whole blood cell-based cytokine whole blood cell-based cytokine assay are provided.

The present invention relates to a plant-based wrapping paper for wrapping food. The plants (raw materials) may be fruits, herbs, medicinal plants, tea, vegetables and/or spices. The invention further relates to a method for producing said wrapping paper, its use for wrapping food or its use as packaging material.

A wipe structure of stitch bonded construction incorporating one or more substrate layers of an absorbent material with a barrier layer across a face side of the absorbent material and a preformed lightweight loop fabric disposed across the underside of the absorbent layers with loops projecting away from the absorbent layers.

A composite material includes a composite body having a composite surface, and a reinforcing element extending through the composite body in a first plurality of stitches and a second plurality of stitches. The first plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially similarly to each other. The second plurality of stitches are aligned relative to the composite surface substantially dissimilarly to each other.

Fertilizer granules and methods of producing fertilizer granules. The fertilizer granules are formed from a fertilizer composition, such as a phosphate fertilizer, includes a fibrous material for the purpose of increasing the granule strength preventing or reducing attrition or dusting formation during storage, transport, and/or handling of the fertilizer. Dust formation can be reduced fifty percent or more. The base fertilizer composition can include a phosphate fertilizer, such as monoammonium phosphate (MAP) or diammonium phosphate (DAP), and optionally one or more micronutrients or secondary nutrients, such as elemental sulfur. The fibrous material is pulp or paper sludge, for example.

The steps of the irrigation method include: flowing a stream of water having input and output and intermediate location; interposing a feeding device into the stream of water at the intermediate location, the feeding device having input and output ends; inserting a quantity of nutrient fertilizer into the feeding device; converting the nutrient fertilizer from the viscous state to the less viscous state through the flow of water through the feeding device; and intermixing the viscous nutrient fertilizer with the water entering the feeding device whereby the water leaving the device to plants and soil will include a fertilizer.

The present invention relates to a method and arrangement for the treatment of liquid material based on organic waste products, in particular sludge from sewage disposal plants and the like, wherein the sludge material is added and mixed with chemicals, in particular sulphuric acid, nitric acid, and/or ammonia, during the vaporization and degasification of liquid from the material to increase the solids content thereof. The present invention is characterized, inter alia, in that the material is continuously introduced at the upper part of a vertical mixing vessel (1), in which the material is subject to mixing, after which the material is passed on into a reactor tank (8) for sulphuric acid treatment and at the same time, while sinking through the sulphuric acid treatment reactor tank (8), is exposed to an impact action from a number of rotary processing means (9) disposed in the reactor tank (8), after which the material is passed on into a reactor tank (14) for ammonia treatment and at the same time, while sinking through the ammonia treatment reactor tank (14), is exposed to an impact action from a number of rotary processing means (9) disposed in the reactor tank (14), after which the material is finally passed on into a drier (15) in which the material is dried until a desired solids content is achieved.

A positive electrode active material includes: secondary particles obtained by aggregation of a plurality of primary particles. The primary particles include, core particles including a lithium composite oxide, and a layer that is provided on surfaces of the core particles and includes a lithium composite oxide. The lithium composite oxide included in the core particles and the lithium composite oxide included in the layer have the same composition or almost the same composition, and crystallinity of the lithium composite oxide included in the layer is lower than crystallinity of the lithium composite oxide included in the core particles.

A printing apparatus includes a plasma treatment unit that performs plasma treatment on a surface of a treatment object to acidify at least the surface of the treatment object; and a recording unit that performs inkjet recording on the surface of the plasma treatment subjected to the plasma treatment by the plasma treatment unit.

A suitcase comprising a body with an edge adapted to be coupled to a space of a connection means for a partition adapted to divide the internal space of the suitcase into a smaller space and a larger space, the connection comprising a raceway adapted to be slidingly coupled to a sliding element which is complementary to the raceway and fixed to a support element with which the partition is integrally associated, the connection includes an internal portion of the body made of soft material, at the extremity of which the raceway which is made of rigid material is fixed, and an external portion of the body made of soft material, the sliding element being made of rigid material fixed to the support element which is made of soft material.

A watercraft body includes a hull made of an aluminum-based material and a separately fabricated superstructure that is mounted on the hull via adjoining flange plates. To fabricate the hull, frame elements are spot-welded onto the inner surface of initially-flat hull plates or plank elements, which are then curved according to the required hull contour and assembled onto the flange plate. The frame elements are screwed together via gusset plates and transverse beams to form transverse frames, and then longitudinal seams between plank elements are continuously welded from the outside. Additionally, the longitudinal seams may be welded from the inside, for example by temporarily removing gusset plates to allow continuous access to the longitudinal seams. Additionally, stand-offs may form a spacing gap between the frame elements and the plank elements, and an adhesive may fill this spacing gap to adhesively bond the framework to the hull plating.

The invention relates to a device for the flow-through treatment of web-shaped, gas-permeable material, in particular for drying woven or non-woven fabrics, having the following characteristics: a sieving drum (5), which is rotatably supported and which is connected to a vacuum generator and which has a permeable outer circumference, wherein the material web (M) to be treated rotates around part of the outer circumference of the sieving drum (5);a treatment chamber (BH), which accommodates the sieving drum and to which the gas to be treated, preferably heated air, is supplied;inside the treatment chamber (BH), a sieving cover (SD) or corresponding flow-conducting elements, which surround the sieving drum (5) in the area around which the material web (M) is wound and by means of which the gas flowing into the treatment chamber (BH) is conducted in the direction of the sieving drum surface. According to the invention, the wall (W) of the treatment chamber (BH) facing the outer circumference of the sieving drum (S) in the area around which the material web (M) is wound has a decreasing distance (a1, a2, a3) from the surface of the sieving drum (S) in said area.

Vaporizable material is supported within a vessel to promote contact of an introduced gas with the vaporizable material, and produce a product gas including vaporized material. A heating element supplies heat to a wall of the vessel to heat vaporizable material disposed therein. The vessel may comprise an ampoule having a removable top. Multiple containers defining multiple material support surfaces may be stacked disposed within a vessel in thermal communication with the vessel. A tube may be disposed within the vessel and coupled to a gas inlet. Filters, flow meters, and level sensors may be further provided. Product gas resulting from contact of introduced gas with vaporized material may be delivered to atomic layer deposition (ALD) or similar process equipment. At least a portion of source material including a solid may be dissolved in a solvent, followed by removal of solvent to yield source material (e.g., a metal complex) disposed within the vaporizer.

Provided is a gas-generating material which can generate a gas in a large amount per unit time and has high storage stability. The gas-generating material 11a according to the present invention comprises a gas-generating agent that is an azo compound or an azide compound, a tertiary amine, a photosensitizing agent and a binder resin.

An energetic composition with controlled detonation having at least a first organic material and a second material, where the second material is a porous material (micro-, meso-, or macroporous), having a pore ratio of at least 10% and preferably greater than 50%, and the first material is, at least partially, infiltrated into the pores of the second material. A mixture containing such a composition, and a method for manufacturing such a composition and such a mixture. Additionally, a method for fragmenting or expanding a microporous material at nanoscale.

A conveying apparatus includes a first roller that is rotational to convey a nonwoven fabric and a second roller that is rotational to convey the nonwoven fabric and is located on the trailing side of the first roller with respect to the conveying direction of the nonwoven fabric. The conveying apparatus includes a noncontact sensor and a controller. The noncontact sensor detects the distance from the nonwoven fabric at a position between the first roller and the second roller. The controller uses the distance detected by the sensor to compute the slack amount of the nonwoven fabric and controls the rotation speed of the second roller, thereby reducing the difference between the computed slack amount and a predetermined target value.

The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to valve devices, systems, and methods for controlling the distribution of materials to multiple locations. The improved valve devices, materials distribution systems, and materials distribution methods disclosed herein are particularly suitable for use in applications where the materials being distributed are, for example but not limited to, non-gaseous fluid materials (e.g., raw liquids, solutions, slurries, colloids, suspensions, and the like) and solid materials having some level of tackiness, moisture content, or like property. The valves, systems, and methods disclosed herein can be operated without having to stop the flow of materials therethrough in order to change the position of the valve from one outlet to another. Further, the valves and systems disclosed herein have few directional changes, therefore there are few, if any, points within the system where the material can get stuck and/or lodged.

A system and method for changing a flow rate and direction of dry bulk material supplied from an elevated source, via an angled spout to an adjustable spout end having no internal baffles therein and having readily interchangeable wear pads therein which are accessible through an access door.

An apparatus includes a processing apparatus that processes raw material in an airtight state, an accommodation section that accommodates the raw material, a first feeding path that is provided outside the processing apparatus and receives the raw material from the accommodation section, and a second feeding path having upstream and downstream ends that are outside and inside the processing apparatus, respectively. The second feeding path receives the raw material from the first feeding path. The apparatus also includes a joint section that separates and joins the first path and the second path, and a closing section that is positioned in the second path closer to the processing apparatus than the joint section and maintains the processing apparatus, and the second path in an airtight state when the joint section separates the first path and the second path.

A system and method for causing a differential flow rate to exist in a downspout so as to reduce abrasion of a bottom side of said downspout and to sort dry bulk material flowing therethrough. The present invention reduces the velocity of the mass of the dry bulk material, such as corn, thus preserving grain quality and reducing the exit velocity at the lower end of the spout.

Methods and apparatus to monitor conditioning machines are disclosed herein. An example system includes a plurality of work rolls to process a strip material. A first sensor detects a first distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a first reference location and a second sensor detects a second distance between an upper surface of the strip material and a second reference location. A controller determines a difference value between the first distance and the second distance to detect material curvature of the strip material.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of paper, e.g., traditional Korean paper, and a composite yarn manufactured thereby, a method for manufacturing a fabric using the same and an automotive interior material manufactured thereby. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of traditional Korean paper by using a traditional Korean paper yarn and a synthetic yarn, in which the composite yarn can be used in weaving and knitting, and a method for manufacturing a fabric as an automotive interior material using the same. Accordingly, the present invention provides a method for manufacturing a composite yarn of paper, comprising twisting a tape-type paper yarn, and covering the twisted paper yarn as a ground yarn at least two strands of synthetic yarn as an effect yarn to manufacture a composite yarn of paper of 160˜700 denier.

A machine is provided for processing elongate strand-form material, having a rotatably mounted rotor bow which is used to twist the strand-form material and, proceeding from a cross-sectional area, extends in the direction of a longitudinal axis. In the direction of this longitudinal axis, the rotor bow extends in a curved manner at least in portions. In this direction, the rotor bow has a longitudinal groove extending substantially orthogonal to this cross-sectional area. At least regions of this longitudinal groove are covered by at least one guide element. In this rotor bow, the strand-form material is guided movably in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The present rotor bow is preferably made of plastics, preferably reinforced with fibers.

A system for determining material characteristics of a material of a work surface includes a position sensor and a controller. The controller stores a first estimate of the material characteristics and utilizes a planning system to determine an expected profile. The expected profile is based at least in part upon the first estimate of the material characteristics. The controller determines an actual profile of the work surface, compares the expected profile to the actual profile, and determines a second estimate of the material characteristics based at least in part upon the difference between the expected profile and the actual profile.

A method of thermally processing a tobacco material is provided, the method including the steps of (i) mixing a tobacco material, water, and an additive selected from the group consisting of lysine, glycine, histidine, alanine, methionine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, phenylalanine, valine, arginine, di- and trivalent cations, asparaginase, saccharides, phenolic compounds, reducing agents, compounds having a free thiol group, oxidizing agents, oxidation catalysts, plant extracts, and combinations thereof, to form a moist tobacco mixture; (ii) heating the moist tobacco mixture at a temperature of at least about 60° C. to form a heat-treated tobacco mixture; and (iii) incorporating the heat-treated tobacco mixture into a tobacco product. Heat-treated tobacco composition prepared according to the method are also provided, such as heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition comprising a tobacco material, water, flavorant, binder, and filler, the heat-treated smokeless tobacco composition having an acrylamide content of less than about 2000 ppb.

The invention provides a filter element of a smoking article having a longitudinal axis and adapted for filtration of mainstream smoke generated by the smoking article, the filter element including a first region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a first pressure drop and a second region extending along the longitudinal axis of the filter element and exhibiting a second pressure drop lower than said first pressure drop, wherein the first and second regions are arranged in a side-by-side configuration such that both regions are visible in a cross-section of the filter element perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and wherein mainstream smoke can move from the second region into the first region, and further comprising a smoke-altering material, such as an oxidation catalyst, positioned in the first region.

The invention relates to methods of nicotine extraction from tobacco, caporal and tobacco crumb. The proposed method for extraction of nicotine from tobacco, caporal and tobacco crumb implies continuous extraction from raw material with low-boiling solvents at vapor phase followed by solvent stripper and recurrence for further reuse in the process.

A cutting apparatus and an associated method for slitting a tobacco sheet material into cut pieces used to form smoking articles are provided. The cutting apparatus includes a rotatable cutter assembly having a drum member configured to rotate about an axis defined thereby. The cutter assembly includes a plurality of knife members disposed about the periphery of the drum member and extending radially therefrom. A fixed counter-knife assembly is disposed adjacent to the periphery of the drum member and is configured to interact with the rotatable cutter assembly during rotation thereof about the axis. The counter-knife assembly includes a ledger member having a plurality of cutting insert members removably engaged therewith. The cutting insert members are configured to interact with the knife members during rotation of the cutter assembly with respect to the counter-knife assembly so as to slit the tobacco sheet material received therebetween into cut pieces.

A method for extracting and isolating constituents of cellulosic matter, comprising providing cellulosic matter; contacting the cellulosic matter with a supercritical fluid; separating the supercritical fluid from the cellulosic matter, thereby forming an extract and a raffinate; and separating at least one compound present in the extraction medium by distillation.

A method for providing an encapsulated flavorant or chemesthetic agent in a smoking article includes forming an emulsion including: (i) a first aqueous solution, comprising one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides; and (ii) a hydrophobic additive comprising one or more flavorants or chemesthetic agents. The method also includes extruding the emulsion into a second aqueous solution in the form of an elongated structure, cross-linking at least a portion of the one or more cross-linkable polysaccharides, removing the cross-linked elongated structure from the second aqueous solution, introducing the cross-linked elongated structure into a filter, or into a rod including a smoking composition, or both; and forming the filter or the rod of the smoking composition into a smoking article. The method can include a drying step.

Method of applying phase transition substance to impart reduced ignition propensity to a smoking article comprising a tobacco column and a wrapper surrounding the tobacco column and having a porous structure with a base permeability. The method comprising forming a pattern of phase transition material on the wrapper such that, when subjected to the heat of the tobacco column burning firecone, the phase transition material at least partially fills the wrapper porous structure in the vicinity of the burning firecone to form an area on the wrapper having reduced permeability lower than that of the wrapper base permeability. The reduced permeability of the wrapper in the vicinity of the burning firecone imparts reduced ignition propensity such that there is insufficient air flow to sustain combustion of the firecone or insufficient air flow to sustain an intensity of the burning firecone necessary to ignite the substrate.

A smokeless tobacco product is configured for insertion into the mouth of a user and incorporates materials from Nicotiana species (e.g., tobacco-derived materials) and plant materials from non-Nicotiana species (e.g., non-tobacco plant materials). The tobacco material can have the form of processed tobacco material (e.g., granulated, reconstituted, heat treated, or otherwise processed tobacco laminae and/or stem), tobacco extract (e.g., an extract of water soluble tobacco components obtained by extracting tobacco with water), or a combination thereof. The non-tobacco material can have the form of vegetable pulp (e.g., sugar beet pulp), pulp obtained after removal of water soluble components as a result of water extraction treatment, or a combination thereof. The tobacco product is composed of a mixture of the tobacco material and non-tobacco material components; such as a mixture of tobacco material, tobacco extract and processed non-tobacco material, or a mixture of aqueous tobacco extract and water-extracted vegetable pulp.

The invention is related to a transport system for sheet material including a conveyor belt charged with a vacuum. The transport system includes a vacuum chamber providing the vacuum to charge the conveyor belt while moving along the vacuum chamber in a transport direction, wherein the conveyor belt is permeable to air by recesses having specified distances from each other, and air nozzles arranged at a deflection position inside the vacuum chamber. The specified distances from each other correlate with the distances of the recesses in the conveyor belt to allow pressurized air charged to the air nozzles to pass through the recesses in the conveyor belt.

In some embodiments, apparatus useful for assisting in controlling the discharge of material onto a conveyor from a material dispenser includes a carrier, first and second side restrictors extending downwardly from the carrier and at least one wiper extending downwardly from the carrier and transverse to the side restrictors. The side restrictors are configured to assist in preventing at least some material from overflowing off the sides of the conveyor, while the wiper is configured to level the top of at least some of the material dispensed on the conveyor.

A device for stretching webs of material transversely to a travel direction thereof, includes at least one rotary stretcher extending transversely to the travel direction of the web of material. The stretcher is composed of at least two round tubes which are aligned axially with each other and are supported by ball-and-socket joints on links. The links are mounted adjustably on a base frame.

A stationary working surface of a one roll microcreper member is of plastic resin having low wear and friction properties. As a primary pressing member subject to concentrated force it is 0.040 inch thick. One or both opposed retarder members of a bladed microcreper are of the plastic. Thermoplastics meeting wear and friction limits, e.g. ultra high density polyethylene, are employed. Primary extensions, some having openings, slots or holes serve as flexible retarders to engage treated material. By a load-spreading surface, the thermoplastic primary member is restrained without distortion. By this surface being linear it slideably inserts into a mounting. By this surface being parallel to the roll axis the primary member is free for cross-machine thermal expansion. A primary member shown is sheet form, mounted between sheet metal members, one with a restraint surface. Sheet materials of polyolefins, wood pulp, etc. are dry microcreped at improved rates and materials not heretofore capable of being processed can now be processed.

A device for preventing jamming of a fibrous material subject to a compressive treatment in a stuffing chamber defined by a feed roll and a retard roll. The device includes an impact blade and a stabilizing apparatus. The impact blade is rigid and interchangeable. The stabilizing apparatus stabilizes the impact blade against moving away from the feed roll to prevent the jamming of the fibrous material between the feed roll and the impact blade during the compressive treatment of the fibrous material.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for opening a fabric, in which warp and weft yarns can be uniformly opened using a simple method without having to alter the fabric weaving procedure. The method is a method for opening a fabric (4) produced by weaving a warp yarn (2) and a weft yarn (3), each of which having a bundled plurality of fiber filaments (1). A contact body (6) is provided to a surface of the fabric (4) with a protective film (5) interposed therebetween, and the contact body (6) is caused to move over the fabric (4) obliquely, and in a relative manner, with respect to the longitudinal direction of the warp yarn (2) or the weft yarn (3), whereby the warp yarn (2) or the weft yarn (3) is spread.

An apparatus for pliabilizing tubular materials including a frame, a ring holder, and a mandrel assembly. The ring holder assembly is mounted to the frame and includes a circumferential ring, and a plurality of pairs of non-mechanically driven, rotatable wheels mounted around the ring and having a recess extending circumferentially around an outer edge. The mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having proximal and distal ends and a maximum outer circumference, and a plurality of non-mechanically driven, rotatable wheels spaced apart about a circumference of the mandrel and mounted thereto so as to extend radially beyond the maximum outer circumference. The wheels of the mandrel assembly are positioned between and so as to mate with respective pairs of the wheels of the ring holder assembly, and the wheels of the mandrel assembly are sized shaped to mate with the recesses of the respective pairs of wheels of the ring holder assembly.