The invention is directed to a method for preparing a pyrotechnic composition, to the use of a water-soluble cellulose ether binder, to a pyrotechnic composition, to a method for preparing a pyrotechnic charge, and to a pyrotechnic charge. The method of the invention comprises mixing the fibrous nitrocellulose in wet form with the one or more water-soluble cellulose ether binders and optionally one or more solvents, wherein the amount of organic solvent in the mixture is 10 wt. % or less based on total weight of the mixture.

Methods and systems for mixing propellant formulations are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of mixing a solid propellant formulation includes placing a first component (e.g., a polymer or fuel) and a second component (e.g., an oxidizer of suitable particle size) in a mix vessel. The method further includes mixing the first and second components together by rotating the mix vessel about a first axis and, during at least a portion of the vessel rotation, revolving the vessel about a second axis spaced apart from the first axis. In one embodiment, the first axis can be a vessel spin axis, and the second axis can be spaced apart from the first axis so that the vessel revolves about the second axis in a planetary manner. In another embodiment, the vessel can rotate about the first axis in a first direction while revolving about the second axis in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.

A system for attaching a shade material to a roller having recesses in its surface includes inserting portions of the shade material into an associated elongated recess and retaining the material in the recess with an attachment member having peaks and valleys along its length for intermittent engagement with the material within the recess.

A piezoelectric element is manufactured in a method including forming an adhesion layer of zirconium above a zirconium oxide insulating film, forming a first electrode above the adhesion layer, forming a piezoelectric layer of a complex oxide containing bismuth above the first electrode, and forming a second electrode above the piezoelectric layer.

An iron (1), comprising: —a water reservoir (16), configured to hold liquid water; —a heatable soleplate (20); —at least one water outlet opening (24); —a water atomization and distribution unit (30), configured to atomize water from the water reservoir and to distribute the atomized water to the at least one water outlet opening; —at least one sensor (40,42), configured to monitor at least one motion dependent variable of the iron and to generate a reference signal reflecting said variable; —a control unit (50), operatively connected to both the water atomization and distribution unit (30) and the at least one sensor (40, 42), and configured to control a water outflow rate of the at least one water outlet opening (24) by controlling the operation of the water atomization and distribution unit in dependence of the reference signal generated by the at least one sensor.

The invention concerns a method and corresponding apparatus of transferring a piece of cloth (3) from a pair of spreader clamps (4,5) to a conveyor (1) via a transverse boom, where the piece of cloth is first suspended and straightened between the spreader clamps, then delivered to the transverse boom (8,9), and subsequently delivered from the transverse boom to the conveyor. Apart from that, a straightening of the fore edge of the piece of cloth is performed, seen in the direction of conveyance of the conveyor, after its delivery from the clamps to the transverse boom has been initiated, but before it is delivered to the conveyor.

An iron (1), comprising: a water reservoir (10), configured to hold liquid water; a heatable soleplate (20), including at least one mist outlet opening (22); water atomization means (30), configured to atomize water from the water reservoir so as to generate a mist of water droplets at a mist generation site (32) mist distribution means (40), configured to distribute the mist from the mist generation site (32) to the at least one mist outlet opening (22), comprising: a distribution channel (42), extending from an air inlet (46), along the mist generation site (32), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22); and an air flow generator (44), disposed in or adjacent said distribution channel and configured to generate an airflow that transports the water droplets, from the mist generation site (32), through the distribution channel (42), to the at least one mist outlet opening (22).

A bearing casing assembly for a conveyor roller tube having a casing, a stub axle, bearings, an outer seal member and shield cap, is provided. The casing includes a body having a shoulder at its distal end extending circumferentially and radially outwardly for abutting against an end of the roller tube, an inner flange extending circumferentially and radially inwardly near the distal end from the casing body and an internally threaded a proximal end. The casing also includes a casing seat having a threaded portion for threadingly engaging the threaded proximal end portion of the casing body and a bearing engaging portion adapted to abut the bearing for selectively adjusting a preload on the bearing by rotating the casing seat about the casing body. The bearing casing assembly may further include an inner seal member when fluid lubricating bearings are used.

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.

A conveyor for a sheet glass tempering furnace, comprising a roller conveyor and an inclined airborne conveyor, as well as support and transport rollers at a lower edge of the airborne conveyor. The roller conveyor includes a horizontal level conveyor and an adapter conveyor between the horizontal level conveyor and the airborne conveyor. The adapter conveyor features a horizontal level upstream end and an inclined downstream end, the inclination angle of which matches substantially that of the airborne conveyor. The adapter conveyor has its rollers increase in inclination step by step when proceeding from the up-stream end towards the downstream end.

A mobile loading dock for a vehicle including a load-bearing, fixed frame with a support plate connected to diagonal supports and horizontal support members. The dock has a planar ramp member with an underside including a wheel assembly. The assembly has a tension spring and hydraulic member attached to the underside. The tension spring exerts a pulling force and the hydraulic member exerts a pushing force. The combined forces are directionally disposed to erect the assembly when the lower end of the dock is raised from a resting position in contact with the ground surface to a mobile position.

A rebuildable conveyor roller includes a hollow, cylindrical roller tube having a first end opposite a second end. The roller tube has a rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly provided at the first end and the second end. The rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is affixed to the roller tube such that at least a part of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly is removable from the roller tube. A hub of the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly has a generally circular shape that is dimensioned to fit inside the internal diameter of the roller tube. The hub has a centrally located hole through which a stub shaft may be inserted. A bearing holder is inserted in an internal cavity provided within the hub for securing the rebuildable conveyor roller bearing assembly to the roller tube.

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.

A method of manufacturing a valve for an internal combustion engine, comprises: (i) a primary step of forging a bulging portion at one end of a rod material to form a generally disk-shape valve head of the valve having a tapered periphery; (ii) an thickness adjustment step of machining an excessively thick portion of the valve head; and (iii) a secondary step of forging a peripheral region of the valve head to create radial slip deformations therein to form a valve face of the valve head. In the step of thickness adjustment, only the front end of the disk-shape valve head is machined without harming dense grain flow lines induced in the tapered face (16a) in the primary forging while advantageously saving the valve material and reducing thickness adjustment time. In the secondary forging, the hardness of the valve face is further enhanced.

The current invention provides a tube-grasping body for grasping an insert tube in a heat exchanger, and heat exchanger production methods and apparatuses utilizing the tube-grasping body, wherein the tube-grasping body enables to enlarge and connect an insert tube to a heat radiating fin for producing a heat exchanger, still keeping the total length of insert tubes at an almost same level even after the enlargement; and the tube-grasping body is connected at its exterior to the guide-pipe.

Rolling mill bearings incorporate bearing bushings with pluralities of hydrostatic pad recesses, that are preferably in conjunction hydrodynamic bearings also formed within the bushing. Each recess has an isolated lubricant passage that is adapted for coupling to a separate isolated source of pressurized lubricant. In some embodiments herein, the isolated pressurized lubricant source is supplied by a dedicated outlet of a pressure pump. In this manner each hydrostatic pad recess has a dedicated pressurized lubricant supply that is not interrupted by loss of lubricant pressure events in other bearing pads or elsewhere within the rolling mill lubrication system.

When forming a toothed portion on the outer section of a blank by contacting a tooth profile-forming portion of a forming die with a curved portion of the blank, the first projection of the blank is accommodated in a first depression, and a load is applied axially to a center section of the blank so a material of the blank flows radially outward. The material of the blank at the first projection flows in the axial direction to inside the first depression, and the material of the blank at an intermediate section between the center and the outer section flows in axially to inside a second depression to form a second projection. When the load is maximized, a space is provided between a toothed portion and the tooth profile-forming portion, between the first projection and the forming die, and between the second projection and the forming die.

A method of manufacturing large diameter tapered roller bearing cages includes beginning with a metal strip, coil or plate of cage blank material and feeding it into a rolling mill. The rolling mill includes a pair of unparallel forming rolls disposed to define a wedge-shaped gap therebetween. As the cage blank material is fed through the wedge-shaped gap, one lateral side of the cage blank material is plastically deformed to reduce its thickness and to elongate its length, while slight or no deformation is introduced into the other lateral side, thus forming the cage blank into an arc shape. A third roll disposed at the exit side of the forming rolls bends the rolled cage blank into a circular conical ring. Adjacent butt ends of the formed conical ring cage blank are aligned and joined together during the assembly process to form the large diameter tapered roller bearing cage.

An oil hole penetrating through a partition wall of a pulley cover of a continuously variable transmission is formed in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the pulley cover. The pulley cover, having first and second hydraulic oil chambers through which a movable pulley half of a pulley of the continuously variable transmission is biased toward a fixed pulley half thereof, is manufactured in the step of machining a metal sheet. The manufacturing step includes a first step of press-forming the annular partition wall of the pulley cover, a second step of opening the oil hole in the partition wall, the oil hole allowing communication between the first and second hydraulic oil chambers, and a third step of press-forming the peripheral wall of the second hydraulic oil chamber at an outer side, in a radial direction, of the partition wall.

In order to provide a steel sheet for hot pressing from which a hot-pressed part excellent in perforation corrosion resistance is obtainable and a method of manufacturing a hot-pressed part using the steel sheet for hot pressing, provided is a steel sheet for hot pressing having, sequentially on a surface of a base steel sheet: a plating layer I containing 60% by mass or more of Ni and the remainder consisting of Zn and inevitable impurities, a coating mass thereof being 0.01 to 5 g/m2; and a plating layer II containing 10 to 25% by mass of Ni and the remainder consisting of Zn and inevitable impurities, a coating mass thereof being 10 to 90 g/m2.

[Problem] To present a manufacturing apparatus of a plate-like tooth profile member capable of forging and forming in one process by using a closed type die, being hardly accompanied by burrs due to plastic changes in the circumferential direction and in the axial direction of the material of the plate-like tooth profile member. [Solving Means] Consisting of an upper die 1 and a lower die 2 of closed type, the lower die 2 is composed of a tooth die 21 for forming a tooth portion in a material W of a plate-like tooth profile member, and movable dies 22, 22 movable relatively in a vertical direction to the tooth die 21 disposed at both sides in the axial direction of the material W of the plate-like tooth profile member of the tooth die 21, a first stroke is executed for confining the circumference at both end portions in the axial direction of the material W of the plate-like tooth profile member by the upper die 1 and the movable dies 22, 22, and a second stroke is executed for forming a tooth portion in the material W of the plate-like tooth profile member by the upper die 1 and the tooth die 21.

A method for manufacturing an Ni base alloy pipe stock comprises piercing and rolling a billet by use of Mannesmann piercing and rolling mill. The pipe stock has controlled amounts of C, Si, Mn, P, S, Cr, Ni, Mo, W, Cu, Al, N, with the balance being Fe. With the method, the following equations are satisfied, wherein values of TGBm, Psr and Pσ represented by the following equations (1) to (3) being not more than 1300, not more than 200 and not less than 0, respectively TGBm=1380−5000P−100S−4400C (1), PsrNi+10(Mo+0.5W)+100N (2), Pσ=(Ni−50)+10(N−0.1)−2(Cr−25)−5(Mo+0.5W−6)+12 (3), wherein each element symbol in the equations represents mass % of the element concerned.

The invention provides a method for producing grain-oriented silicon steel with single cold rolling, comprising: 1) smelting, refining and continuous casting to obtain a casting blank; 2) hot rolling; 3) normalization, i.e. normalizing annealing and cooling; 4) cold-rolling, i.e. single cold rolling at a cold rolling reduction rate of 75-92%; 5) decarburizing annealing at 780-880° C. for 80-350 s in a protective atmosphere having a due point of 40-80° C., wherein the total oxygen [O] in the surface of the decarburized sheet: 171/t≦[O]≦313/t (t represents the actual thickness of the steel sheet in mm), the amount of absorbed nitrogen: 2-10 ppm; 6) high temperature annealing, wherein the dew point of the protective atmosphere: 0-50° C., the temperature holding time at the first stage: 6-30 h, the amount of absorbed nitrogen during high-temperature annealing: 10-40 ppm; 7) hot-leveling annealing. The invention may control the primary recrystallization microstructure of steel sheet effectively by controlling the normalization process of hot rolled sheet to form sufficient favorable (Al, Si)N inclusions from nitrogen absorbed by slab during decarburizing annealing and low-temperature holding of high-temperature annealing, facilitating the generation of stable, perfect secondary recrystallization microstructure of the final products. In addition, the invention avoids the impact of nitridation using ammonia on the underlying layer in prior art, and thus the formation of a good glass film underlying layer is favored.

Using a method for producing a spring from a spring wire, turns of a first spring part are produced, wherein said produced turns move in a first direction. Thereafter, turns of a second spring part are produced, wherein said produced turns move in a second direction which is different from, in particular opposite of, the first direction. Such a method can be used to produce a spring having a plurality of spring parts.

In a method of manufacturing a fiber-reinforced strand, the fiber-reinforced strand is so manufactured that the cross-section thereof becomes as circular as possible. Particularly a method of causing a reinforced fiber bundle 3 to pass through a resin bath means 7 and, thereafter, twisting the reinforced fiber bundle 3. The resin bath means 7 includes an impregnation region 21 where the reinforced fiber bundle 3 is impregnated with a thermoplastic resin 5 and a twisting region 22 where the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation can be twisted, and the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation is twisted in such a manner that a twist pitch P imparted to the reinforced fiber bundle 3 after the resin impregnation within a length L in the twisting region 22 satisfies L/3≧P≧3.15/90×(dtex)1/2.

A removable bucket ring attachment configured to slide over a terminal bottom front end of a bucket on a loader or a backhoe; where the bucket ring attachment has a pair of parallel plates closed at one end and open at an opposing end.

A method puts into operation a clearing apparatus suitable for picking up ballast and is disposed in an endless configuration during employment so as to encircle a railroad track. The clearing apparatus has a horizontal cross-duct which, prior to a start of the employment, is intended to be positioned below the railroad track and connected, on the one hand, to a rising duct and, on the other hand, to a return duct of the clearing apparatus. The method includes displacing ties of the railroad track in a longitudinal direction of the railroad track to create a tie gap; lowering the cross-duct through the tie gap between two rails of the railroad track and transferred, below the ties, into a working position extending crosswise to the longitudinal direction of the railroad track; and connecting the cross-duct to the rising duct and to the return duct.

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.

Delivery of additives in a smoking article is provided through thermally degradable, robust immobilized additive inserts. Additives can be immobilized in an elongated device or an insert, wherein the elongated device or the insert is sufficiently robust to allow the elongated device or the insert to be manually or machine inserted into a smoking article while maintaining the structure of the elongated device or the insert. By providing additives in the form of thermally degradable immobilized additive inserts, migration and/or loss of the additives in a smoking article prior to smoking can be reduced.

A flue-curing apparatus and a related method are provided. The flue-curing apparatus includes a circulation chamber and a curing chamber that are separated by a divider wall. An air circulation system includes a blower positioned in the circulation chamber that directs air to a heater device and a lower passage into the curing chamber. The air may be received from one or both of an inlet and an upper passage extending from the curing chamber to the circulation chamber. A humidity control system humidifies the air directed into the curing chamber. A controller may receive signals from wet and dry bulb thermometers to determine the conditions in the curing chamber and the condition of tobacco leaves being cured therein. The controller may adjust various operational parameters to cause the tobacco leaves in the curing chamber to cure at a desired rate.

A vapor inhalation device includes a first body portion defining a first chamber and a second body portion defining a second chamber provided at least partially within the first chamber, where the second body portion has at least one aperture placing the second chamber in fluid communication with the first chamber. An intake conduit defines a first air passageway from an exterior of the first body portion to within the second chamber. An output conduit has a proximal end located within the first chamber, a distal end opposite the proximal end and located at the exterior of the first body portion, is physically coupled to the first body portion at a location different from the proximal end of the output conduit, and defines a second air passageway extending from within the first chamber to the exterior of the body portion.

An orally-enjoyable tobacco product includes a portion of smokeless tobacco comprising an active ingredient and either: (1) a collection of tobacco particles at least partially enclosed by a coating comprising a water-soluble non-crosslinked component and a substantially water-insoluble cross-linked component, or (2) a pouch comprising smokeless tobacco enclosed in a water-permeable wrapper. The active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a mercaptan, camphor, borneol, isoborneol, bornyl acetate, isobornyl acetate, mono-bornyl succinate, mono-isobornyl succinate, mono-bornyl formate, and mono-isobornyl formate. The active ingredient is present in an amount effective to reduce or eliminate the sensory irritation arising from the smokeless tobacco. Also disclosed is a method of making such a product.

An object is to provide a display device of an organic light emitting type suppressing luminance unevenness. The display device includes: a pixel including an organic light emitting element and a pixel circuit that controls a current supplied to the organic light emitting element; a first wiring 41 and a second wiring 42 supplying a first signal used for controlling the pixel circuit to the pixel circuit; and a third wiring 43 suppling a second signal used for controlling the pixel circuit to the pixel circuit. The first wiring 41 to the third wiring 43 are arranged inside an area in which the pixel circuit is arranged in a first direction, and the third wiring 43 is arranged between the first wiring 41 and the second wiring 42.

Some embodiments provide a non-transitory machine-readable medium that stores a program executable by at least one processing unit of a device. The program receives data associated with a visual presentation that includes several visual elements. The program also identifies a first set of visual elements in the several visual elements having a first type and a second set of visual elements in the several visual elements having a second type. The program further renders the first set of visual elements in a first layer of the visual presentation using a first rendering engine. The program also renders the second set of visual elements in a second layer of the visual presentation using a second rendering engine.

A unit for transferring and up-ending at least one sealed package containing a pourable food product and having a first axis, comprising: at least one push member which cooperates with package to feed it along a first path from an in-feed station to an out-feed station; the path extending about a second axis; the unit further comprising a guide cooperating with a first side of package along first path to up-end it from an in-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a first direction, to an out-feed position, in which it is positioned with first axis oriented in a second direction crosswise to first direction; and an anti-rotating mechanism cooperating with package along path to prevent package from rotating about first axis; an anti-rotating mechanism comprising a pressure element rotatable about second axis and adapted to cooperate, in use, with package.

A rotary conveyor apparatus, for collecting, transferring and releasing containers, includes: a platform (9) rotating according to a rotation axis (AA);trolleys (3), supported by the platform, and slidable in a corresponding slit extending from the periphery (9B) to the center of rotation through an internal conduit (6), within the trolleys a certain degree of suction is created for a determined rotation angle of the platform through a suction box (4), arranged at the lower part and in contact with the platform, including a suction opening (7) extending along an angular section thereof. The trolleys are movable relative to the rotation of the platform, and are moved from the periphery to the center of rotation and vice versa during a complete rotation of the platform. The movement action is directed by a first guide closed loop-like on the box and a second radial guide integral with the platform.

A transferring mechanism for transferring a workpiece from a tray to a fixture is provided. The transferring mechanism includes a main bracket defining an uploading hole thereon, an uploading assembly, a pick-up assembly and a transferring assembly. The pick-up assembly is located under the uploading hole. The pick-up assembly is mounted on the main bracket above the uploading hole. The transferring assembly includes a fixing bracket and a first transferring subassembly and a blocking member. The fixing bracket is mounted on the main bracket and located under the pick-up assembly. The first transferring subassembly is mounted on the fixing bracket. The blocking member is mounted on the first transferring subassembly and includes a driving portion. The driving portion moves upward to block and position the fixture to enable the pick-up assembly to release the workpiece on the fixture.

A method for storing and transporting products in a low-pressure storage device and a low-pressure storage device therefore, to allow product storage in a simple manner, and to control the storage in a simple manner. The products transfer on a first storage path and on a second storage path that is arranged directly next to the first storage path, during the storage operation of the storage device.

A portable folding support structure for safely tethering an individual comprises a portable cart sized to fit through a residential doorway, having wheels and a motor that actuates at least one of the wheels. A hand-operated throttle and steering device control the cart. The cart comprises an extendable anchoring plate to prevent rolling. A substantially horizontal jib with the cart comprises a harness point for receiving a safety cable to which an individual is attached to allow safe cleaning practices and to minimize fall risk. A foldable outrigger provides stability to the cart and an anchoring pad attaches to a distal region of the outrigger to promote stability. A textile liquid-absorbing surface is positionable about an outer surface of a glass balcony to inhibit cleaning liquids from spilling below the level of the liquid-absorbing surface.

Tree stands are disclosed for providing an elevated standing location. The tree stand can include a support post, a seat rotatably coupled to the first end of the support post, and a platform rotatably coupled to the second end of the support post. The platform can comprise a plurality interconnected polygonal shapes defining a top standing surface. The platform can be a grating that has load bearing properties and that can be cast from a mold. The platform includes a perimeter wall, a surface portion, and one or more reinforcement walls. A height or thickness of the surface portion is less than a height or thickness of the perimeter wall and/or the reinforcement walls.

A safety line anchor system is provided and includes an elongate member including a threaded stud at one end for threading the member on to a threaded opening in a trench plate, a flange fixed to the stud end of the member above the stud base, the flange having two or more openings provided there through for accepting two or more stabilization bolts, a freely rotable platform attached to the end of the elongate member opposite the stud end, the platform including two or more slots cut there through for accepting safety line attachments, and a crane handle fixed to the rotable platform, the crane handle for accepting a crane hook.

A tether device includes a magnetic base; a pole having a first end attached to the magnetic base; and a connector or clip attached at a second end of the pole, for removably connecting the tethering device to a user. Also, a method for tethering a user to a hull of a vessel including the steps of providing a tether device having a magnetic base, a pole having a first end attached to the magnetic base, and a connector or clip attached at a second end of the pole; connecting the connector or clip to the user; and engaging the magnetic base with the hull of the vessel.

Self-locking bi-foldable load bearing segments are disclosed that can be used in applications such as ladders or ramp. First and second sections of the segment are foldably coupled to transition between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The first and second sections can include rungs pivotally attached to rails that can be further transitioned from the folded configuration to a collapsed configuration, but not transitioned from the open configuration to the collapsed configuration. Openings in the side walls of the rails allow the rungs to pivot in one direction, but not an opposite direction. In the open configuration, the openings of the first and second sections may be oriented opposite, and the direction of allowed rotation of the rungs of the first section and second section are opposite, restricting compression of the rails together. In the folded configuration, the openings of the first and second sections can be oriented the same to allow rotation of the rungs and compression of the rails together.

A valve timing adjusting device for and engine includes a sprocket configured to rotate by receiving drive power from a driving shaft, a vane rotor fixed to a driven shaft so as to be rotatable relative to the sprocket, a housing that includes an oil chamber housing the vane rotor and is fixed to one end in a thickness direction of the sprocket, a bolt fixing the sprocket to the housing, and a knock pin inserted into a sprocket hole formed in the sprocket at one end thereof and into a housing hole formed in the housing at the other end thereof to restrict relative relation between the sprocket and the housing. The knock pin abuts against an inner wall of the sprocket hole at one end thereof, and abuts against an inner wall of the housing hole at the other end thereof.

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for generating a codeword, and a method and an apparatus for recovering a codeword. An encoder calculates the number of punctured symbol nodes among symbol nodes included in a codeword, punctures symbol nodes located at even or odd number positions among the symbol nodes included in the codeword, calculates the number of symbol nodes which need to be additionally punctured on the basis of the calculated number of the symbol nodes to be punctured, classifies the symbol nodes, which need to be additionally punctured, into one or more punctured node groups on the basis of the calculated number of symbol nodes which need to be punctured, determines the locations on the codeword where the one or more punctured node groups are to be arranged, and punctures the symbol nodes included in the codeword which belong to the punctured node groups according to the determined locations. A transmission unit transmits the codeword.

Provided is a method of assigning a slot, the method including transmitting an assignment request for at least one slot of a first frame to a terminal, determining whether an acknowledgement (ACK) of the assignment request is received from the terminal, in a slot corresponding to the at least one slot in a second frame which is a subsequent frame of the first frame, and determining whether the at least one slot for which the assignment request is transmitted has been assigned based on whether the ACK of the assignment request is received.

A spring steel slip sheet for a compactor and for extending into a compression zone defined by a feed roll and a retard roll for shrinking a fabric. The slip sheet is for the compactor, extends into the compression zone defined by the feed roll and the retard roll for shrinking the fabric, and is made of spring steel. The slip sheet is sheet-like and includes a mounting portion and a compressing portion. The compressing portion extends from the mounting portion at an interface line. The mounting portion usually is flat and the compressing portion usually is arcuate. The compressing portion curves similarly as the feed roll of the compactor does, and presses the fabric against the feed roll of the compactor as the fabric enters the compression zone of the compactor.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a high-quality porous film. Here, while the porous film is being manufactured through forming micropores by stretching, a raw film is prevented from slipping on the surfaces of the respective rolls as much as possible even though the raw film includes oil or liquid paraffin as a solvent. The method is for manufacturing a porous film through forming micropores by successive biaxial stretching. A tensile force applied to the raw film F transferring from the longitudinal stretching machine (10) to the transverse stretching machine (50) is set not less than a stretching force necessary for the longitudinal stretching, and thus the raw film is prevented from slipping on a contact surface between the raw film and each roll of the longitudinal stretching machine (10).

A device and method for measuring the thickness of a cloth when the predetermined pressing force is applied to the cloth. A device for measuring a cloth thickness includes a stationary part having a base surface; a movable member having a pressing end to press a cloth against the base surface; a movable member driving mechanism to move the movable member linearly without rotating around itself from an initial position up to an over-pressing position where the pressing end presses the cloth against the base surface with a force exceeding the predetermined pressing force; a load cell for detecting a force with which the pressing end presses the cloth against the base surface; and a pulse coder for detecting the space between the base surface and the pressing end when a force value detected by the load cell reaches the predetermined pressing force.

Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for applying a compaction pressure to a fabric during formation of a fabric preform. One end of the fabric is applied to the form having a central axis. The form with the fabric applied thereto is at least partially surrounded with a film. This film extends along a film path to the form and around at least a portion of the form. The fabric and the film are fed onto the form such that the fabric is wrapped around the form to create the fabric preform while the film is fed around the form. A vacuum is drawn to evacuate a gas from between the form and the film, thereby pressing the film onto the fabric and applying the compaction pressure to the fabric.