3m Innovative Properties Company

Andrzej P Jaworski

David L Hofeldt

James M Nelson

Robert L Brott

Robert A Yapel

Daniel H Carlson

James N Dobbs

Michael J Sykora

Karl K Stensvad

Jennifer L Trice

Robert B Secor

John T Strand

Charles N DeVore

Evan J Ribnick

Guillermo Sapiro

Keith R Bruesewitz

William R Dudley

Glen A Jerry

Kenneth G Brittain

John A Ramthun

Gregory D Kostuch

Catherine P Tarnowski

Derek H Justice

Michael J Tichy

Bruce D Shalles

Esa H Vilkama

A manufacturing system includes a sensing system that provides high-resolution feedback for web guiding and tension control. The system may be especially useful for web material that is manufactured to include micro-replicated structures with micron size scale. A micro-replication station forms a pattern of micro-replicated lenses on a web material. The sensing system illuminates a measurement area on the web material and detects an angular distribution of light exiting a set of the micro-replicated lenses within the first measurement area. A control system that adjusts at least one process control parameter of the transport system based on the detected angular distribution.

Precision control of web material having micro-replicated lens array

A system is described for detecting the presence of non-uniformity patterns and providing output indicative of a severity of each type of non-uniformity pattern. The system includes a computerized rating tool that assists a user in efficiently and consistently assigning expert ratings (i.e., labels) to a large collection of training images representing samples of a given product. In addition, the rating software develops a model that allows a computerized inspection system to detect the presence of non-uniformity patterns in a manufactured web material in real time and provide output indicative of a severity level of each pattern on a continuous scale. The system also includes algorithmic and hardware approaches to significantly that increase the throughput of the inspection system.

System for detection of non-uniformities in web-based materials

Computer implemented method for making a die includes: selecting coating uniformity required to produce a particular coated product with the die and a value for one or more dimensions of the die; determining (using a mathematical model determined by regression analysis) total indicated run-out (TIR) of a die surface and dimensions of the die not having a user specified value; and machining die part or parts to the determined TIR and dimensions. A thermal treatment process for reducing the number of finishing (e.g., grinding) cycles needed to produce a desired die flatness is provided. A coating fluid rheological characteristic can be an input to the method.

System and method for designing a die to yield a desired coating uniformity

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Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Andrzej P Jaworski