Abstract: In a system for manufacturing a part, a first forming station forms the part from a supply of material. A chemical processing system chemically alters a surface of the part. The chemical processing system includes a tank, parts rotator, circulation system, and control system. The tank includes a chemical side and a rinse side. The chemical side includes a chemical solution and the rinse side includes a sprayer to spray a rinse solution on the part. The parts rotator assembly moves relative to the tank. The circulation system circulates fluid in the tank. The control system receives signals from a sensor and modulate the system in response to the signals. Additionally, in the system, a finishing station applies a finish to the item.

Abstract: Electroless plating systems and methods are described herein.

Abstract: The invention is a die for dispensing flowable material. The die is comprised of a die block. An external face is disposed on the die block. At least one slot extends perpendicularly into the external face. The slot has a longitudinal dimension, a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side. At least one support member extends from the external surface into the slot. The support member extends continuously from the first longitudinal side to the second longitudinal side. At least a portion of the support member is disposed in a direction other than perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension. The support member is disposed to such that at least a portion of any plane extending from the first longitudinal side to the second longitudinal side, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the slot, passes through a void area.

Abstract: An improved film coater which utilizes one or more coater or applicators to transfer coating to the outer surfaces of at least one more rolls, which in turn transfers the coating from the roll surface to one or more sides of the web for coating paper is disclosed. The coater or applicator includes a smoothing doctor on the web and downstream of the one or more rolls, and may also utilize humidity from one of steam showers or a humidity enclosure to assist smoothing. The web may run in any direction, but preferably runs upwardly from the roll toward the doctor to reduce “film split” droplets effect. The present invention also reduces the fiber rise and arrange peel pattern on the coated web, resulting in a smooth uniform coated paper.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a system and method for color-coating an optical fiber. The system includes a flow controller that controllably delivers and mixes color concentrate from one or more color concentrate reservoirs with a coating material, which colored coating material is fed to a coating die through which optical fiber passes. The color concentrate reservoirs are more compact and can be made portable along with the flow controller. Thus, the entire color coating system can travel to any appropriate location in the fiber manufacturing facility, e.g., at any one of a number of draw towers. Such portability allows many different colors to be used at the same draw tower much more easily than conventional arrangements, which typically only have one color line per draw tower. The method includes providing an optical fiber, controllably delivering color concentrate with a coating material to a coating die, coating the optical fiber with the coating die, and curing the coated fiber.

Abstract: An assembly and method is described as employing a polymeric plug member. The plug member is used in the bottom portion of a photoreceptor drum to prevent leakage of the coating solution into the interior of a photoreceptor drum during dip-coating.

Abstract: A system for forming a drug-polymer coated stent includes means for applying a polymeric coating onto at least a portion of a stent framework, means for drying the applied polymeric coating on the stent framework and means for directing a jet of heated gas towards excess coating portions of the dried polymeric coating that extend into apertures of the stent framework. The system also includes means for reflowing the polymeric coating with the directed jet of heated gas to remove the excess coating portions from the apertures of the stent framework.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying glue onto a moving, plane object comprises inlet pipes of the glues a dispenser extending across the path of travel of the object of the dispensing, dispensing nozzles of the glue and means for controllably opening and interrupting the glue flow to the nozzles. The means for interrupting the flow comprise a cylindrical case formed into the frame of the dispenser, extending along the total length thereof, inlet channels for the glue leading to the case, nozzle channels leading out from the case and a pipe element mounted into the case with a sliding fit, said pipe element being equipped with openings for forming a flow connection between the inlet channels of the glue and the nozzle channels in one position of the pipe element with respect to the frame and for closing said flow connection in the second position of the pipe element with respect to the frame.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling local flow along a slot jet with applications to airknives is disclosed. The airknife provides improved options for on-line control over coating thickness and edge build-up prevention. The gap of the slot nozzle of the airknife can remain constant while the outflow pattern is controlled by a series of preset throttle valves in combination with a single moving component, the multi-port aero-valve. This valve can be actuated locally or remotely, in rotation or translation, thereby changing gradually from a conventional uniform outflow to one which increases in velocity and mass flow rate along the airknife span to produce a bow effect. The valve can also change gradually from a conventional uniform outflow to one which increases in velocity, mass flow rate and outflow angle along the span to simulate bow effect in combination with fan-like outflow.

Abstract: An apparatus for dip coating lenses comprises a tank for containing a coating liquid, a coating chamber for receiving one or more ophthalmic lenses. The tank is in fluid communication with the coating chamber for permitting the flow of coating liquid between the tank and the coating chamber. The apparatus has a first position where the coating chamber is located above the tank and second position where the tank is located above the coating chamber.

Abstract: Two embodiments of end seal design are described, each having preferably three seal lips, one of which differs in the center of its radius of curvature from the center of radius of curvature for the other two seal lips. The end seal is gently spring loaded. In this way the end seal provides a good seal and minimizes spray, spatter, and slinging, and can accommodate various plunge depths and can accommodate various angles of attack of a nozzle upon an application surface such as a web or applicator roll. The nozzle is able to have any of various user-determined angles of attack upon the application surface.

Abstract: Known devices for coating a continuous web of material (13) comprise a casting container (1) which consists of a casting surface (8) for the discharge of the coating material in a free falling curtain (C); at least one distribution chamber (2) which extends in a transversal manner in relation to the direction of circulation of the web of material and which comprises a supply line (10) for the coating material and an discharge slit (9) which discharges onto the casting surface (8), and two lateral guiding elements (7, 12) which extend in a downward direction for the edges of the curtain (C). According to the invention, the lateral guiding elements (7, 12) are curved on the upper end thereof corresponding to the course of the casting surface, (8) whereon (8) the lateral guiding elements are fixed in an adjustable transversal manner and the coating material supply line (10) leads into the valve chamber (2) in the central area of the casting container (1).

Abstract: This invention relates to a curtain applicator on which a two-layer curtain is formed by dispensing two types of coating medium, for example color, from a medium feeder positioned to the upper side of a moving web in order to apply two layers of coating medium onto the web surface. The medium feeder has a middle lip, which is arranged in the flow channels for the two types of medium and has a pointed part projecting toward the web side from the pointed parts of the two side lips which are arranged on the outer side of the flow channels for the two types of medium on the outer side in the width direction of the web. The curtain applicator also includes a convexly formed medium separation device, which adjoins the pointed part of the middle lip and individually separates the two types of surplus medium, for example, color, which are dispensed from the medium feeder.

Abstract: A system for applying a thin coat of a material on one side only of a substrate is disclosed together with a process for applying the thin coat. Coatings of less than one thousand angstroms are attainable on a single surface of the substrate by controlling the speed at which a meniscus of a mix containing a predetermined concentration of the coating material travels across the single surface being coated. Various pressure, temperature and humidity controls are implemented in the process and by the apparatus as needed to obtain the desired coating characteristics.

Abstract: A metal surface coating treatment device and a surface coated metal manufacturing method capable of providing excellent uniformness of coating thickness, excellent balance of weight, excellent appearance, and excellent feeling at the time of operation and contact, and having a large freedom degree of design of the amount of coating and size of coated metal, the metal surface coating treatment device comprising a magnetic floating means (1) for floating a treated metal (10) in the air, an optical control means with parts 2A, 2B, and 3 preventing the floated treated metal (10) from being magnetically attracted to the magnetic floating means (1) in vertical direction, a storage tank (9) positioned vertically coaxially with the magnetic floating means (1) and storing liquid coating material (11) used for the coating treatment of the treated metal (10), and a vertical moving means having a drive mechanism (7) for adhering the liquid coating material (11) to the treated metal (10) by immersing the treated metal (10

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a particulate material, in particular for mixing, drying, granulating, pelletizing and/or coating the material, has a container which has a process chamber arranged around a longitudinal mid-axis of the container and formed as an annular chamber, and also a container central duct, separated from the process chamber, as a flow duct for process air, which duct opens into the lower region of the process chamber, an upper region of the process chamber being open. In at least one first operating state, the upper open region of the process chamber communicates with the container central duct so as to conduct process air, by the container central duct widening circumferentially towards the upper region of the process chamber and opening towards the process chamber.

Abstract: In a system for coating a plurality of items, a tank unit prepares the plurality of items for painting, a painting unit paints the plurality of items, a drying unit dries the plurality, and an item conveyer conveys the plurality of items through the system as a flow of single items.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of controlling an electroless deposition process by directing electromagnetic radiation towards the surface of a substrate and detecting the change in intensity of the electromagnetic radiation at one or more wavelengths reflected off features on the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the detected end of an electroless deposition process step is measured while the substrate is moved relative to the detection mechanism. In another embodiment multiple detection points are used to monitor the state of the deposition process across the surface of the substrate. In one embodiment the detection mechanism is immersed in the electroless deposition fluid on the substrate. In one embodiment a controller is used to monitor, store, and/or control the electroless deposition process by use of stored process values, comparison of data collected at different times, and various calculated time dependent data.

Abstract: A method of designing and the resulting thermally stable heated coating die apparatus, the die apparatus including a die having a die geometry and a heating system with heaters and temperature sensors. The method and resultant apparatus provides minimized temperature gradients, flat die lip faces in a die to roll plane and a flat die in a plane perpendicular to die flat lip faces and parallel to substrate width. The method optimizes simultaneously: die geometry, placement of the heaters, placement of temperature sensors, and shielding from operating conditions, using heat transfer and structural numerical modeling and statistical analysis while considering die functionality characteristics, minimum increment of temperature measurement and control accuracy related to minimum acceptable deviation from flatness, coating die material of construction relative to thermo-structural material properties, and desirable coating die material properties.

Abstract: A bowling lane maintenance machine utilizes flexible wick segments to transfer lane dressing to the applicator roll of the machine. The wick segments are caused to flex into and out of contacting engagement with a transfer roll associated with the applicator roll by rotatable cams that engage cam followers associated with the wick segments. The cams are all secured to a common cam shaft and are rotated in unison through successive short segments of rotational travel by an indexing motor that responds to a controller. Each wick segment has at least one spring that urges the segment into contacting engagement with the transfer roll, while the cam for that segment is disposed to engage the follower and flex the wick segment off the transfer roll against the action of the spring when the lobe of the cam is in contacting engagement with the follower.