Abstract: A method and apparatus for impregnating a porous substrate with foam, the method comprising transporting the porous substrate through a nip region defined by a rotating foraminous drum and a foam discharge head, the foam discharge head comprising one or more discharge openings, supplying foam to the discharge head with pressure sufficient to discharge foam through the discharge openings to impregnate the porous substrate, and urging the foam discharge head and the foraminous drum toward each other to compress the porous substrate as it passes the discharge openings. The foam discharge head is mounted to a hinged plate to enable the urging of the discharge head toward the foraminous drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for impregnating a pourous substrate with foam the method comprising transporting the porous substrate through a nip region defined by a moving foraminous surface such as a rotating foraminous drum and a foam discharge head, the foam discharge head comprising one or more discharge openings, where the transport of the porous substrate through the nip region causes the porous substrate to be compressed as it passes the discharge openings, and supplying foam to the discharge head with pressure sufficient to discharge foam through the discharge openings to impregnate the porous substrate. A surface support conveyor is positioned between the foraminous surface and the porous substrate.

Abstract: A local electroless plating process for plastics comprising the steps of: coating the nonplating surface portion of a shaped plastic product with a pasty masking composition comprising a polymer and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a sulfur compound, nitrogen compound and silicon compound; roughening the surface portion of the plastics product to be plated and applying a catalyst to the rough-surfaced portion; electrolessly plating the plastics product; and removing the polymer coating from the nonplating surface portion of the plastics product.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is an art and craft product is made using colored adhesives. The method of making the product comprises using a plurality of at least partially transparent squeeze bottles, each containing a different color of a non-toxic water and soap washable and removable adhesive which dries at room temperture to a hardened stable substance of the same color. A substantially continuous film of the colored adhesive is dispensed from one or more of the squeeze bottles and applied to individual structural parts of a visible scene in an art and craft object so that the adhesive being dispensed both forms a colored portion of the scene and bonds together the structural parts forming the visible scene. Contained in and visible through the bottle in the unit is a quantity of non-toxic, water and soap washable and removable colored adhesive, that is curable to a hardened colored state at room temperature. Included in the unit is a tube for dispensing the colored adhesive from the bottle.

Abstract: An integrated plasma desmearing and plated-through-hole apparatus for first plasma desmearing a printed circuit board and then plating through the holes of the plated circuit board by sputtering. The apparatus comprises a plurality of vacuum chambers serially interconnected together. Preferably, five vacuum chambers are provided including a loading chamber, a desmearing chamber, a plating preparation chamber, a plating chamber and an unloading chamber. Airtight isolation doors isolate each chamber from the others. A transport system is provided for serially transporting the printed circuit boards through the chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein a beam of substantially coherent light passes through a window in a chamber and then through the chamber in a direction substantially parallel, and contiguous, to substrates in the chamber. The beam ionizes gases in a mixture in the chamber. The ionized gases combine to form a substance which becomes deposited on the substrate(s) as a layer or which etches a previously deposited layer on the substrate. As the beam moves through the chamber, it loses energy.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing smudging of indicia printed on a surface by selective application of an amount of coating material to lubricate the contact with surfaces abrading the printed indicia or to provide physical separation from abrading surfaces, and thus prevent smearing. The coating material is preferably a "Teflon" micropowder that is applied by using impulse devices to dispense controlled amounts of the micropowder from a container, with the dispensed micropowder being transferred to, and passing through a plurality of apertures adjacent the surface of a piece of paper on which indicia has just been printed by a nonimpact printer such as a laser printer.

Abstract: A coater for an offset printing press in which the last printing station, i.e., the blanket cylinder roller with its associated sheet-handling grippers, is converted to coating service, such that a pick-up roller, after an ascending arcuate path not exceeding 80.degree., transfers a liquid coating to an applicator roller rotating in an opposing direction to the blanket cylinder surface which coats the individual imprinted sheets and the liquid coating itself serves as a lubricant permitting said opposing directions of rotation and grippers of said blanket cylinder roller maintain proper handling control of the sheets during the coating thereof. Limiting the arcuate path of 80.degree. obviates reverse flow of the liquid coating on the pick-up roller.

Abstract: A preform wire for fiber reinforced metal composite consisting of a metal/silicon carbide fiber composite material is light in weight and excellent in strength and elasticity, and can be easily obtained by impregnating a silicon carbide fiber bundle with a molten metal which is kept vibrated by means of an ultrasonic wave vibration apparatus having a hole for cooling water or a cooling-water jacket located at the node of the half-wavelength of the ultrasonic wave created by the vibration apparatus.

Abstract: An electrostatic toning system employed in applying toner to latent electrostatic images on the surface of a dielectric material. Toning is accomplished by fluidizing the toner in a gaseous stream, charging the toner in the fluidized bed, and conveying the charged toner to the dielectric surface by means of a toner receptive member in contact with the fluidized toner.

Abstract: An electrostatic powder spray coating method and apparatus for producing evenly coated continuous films of thermoplastic and thermosetting powders on substrates or parts having electrically conductive geometric complex surfaces and enables the use, without the occurrence of "cobwebbing," of significantly higher charging voltages for the spray gun in the spray coating of preheated substrates and parts, thus allowing faster coating lines. The invention features the use of a grounded electrically conductive ring for grounding the ionized field in the powder discharge region of the spray gun.

Abstract: Improved techniques are provided for obtaining a desirable surface finish of two or more visually distinct selected colors. A mat is prepared by selectively weaving wire between fixed pins on a board. Once removed from the pins, the mat may be molded about the surface of an object painted a first selected color. A second color is then applied over the mat and the object, resulting in a desired dual-color finish after the mat is removed. The techniques of the present invention are particularly well suited for obtaining a high quality marble-like finish on objects of various sizes, shapes, and materials.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for dispensing only that amount of coating material which is required for coating a series of one or more articles to be coated by the coating material. The method and system include the step of, and apparatus for, feeding that amount of coating material to an intermediate container. The intermediate container receives the coating material from a color changer. The connection between color changer and intermediate container is so designed that no electrical current flow exists between these two components, even when using electrically conducting coating material. The coating material is electrostatically charged at an atomizer downstream from the intermediate container during a spray operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning and spray painting pole structures. The apparatus includes a carriage constructed to be upwardly and downwardly movable along the axis of the pole to be cleaned or painted. Mounted on the carriage is a carousel rotatably secured so as to revolve around the pole as the carriage moves upwardly and downwardly. The carousel may be provided with brushes for cleaning the pole or with a paint sprayer for applying paint. In one embodiment two pairs of rollers are located symmetrically with respect to the sprayer and the poles so that the rollers evenly apply the paint to the pole and simultaneously minimize overspray losses.

Abstract: A heat and pressure roll fusing apparatus for fixing toner images to copy substrates, the toner comprising a thermoplastic resin. The apparatus includes an internally heated fuser roll cooperating with an unheated bare metal backup or pressure roll to form a nip through which the copy substrates pass with the images contacting the heated roll. The heated fuser roll is characterized by a comformable outer layer or surface which by way of example is fabricated from a silicone rubber or "Viton" material to which a low viscosity polymeric release fluid is applied. Release fluid is contained in a sump and the pressure roll is partially immersed in the fluid. Thus, the release fluid is applied to the surface of the internally heated fuser roll via the bare metal pressure roll. The roll structures are such as to provide maximum area of contact in the nip, while minimizing the area of contact between the pressure roll and the copy substrates.

Abstract: An output scanner exposure cylinder perforated to allow exposure film to be held on to the cylinder by vacuum comprises a metal substrate carrying a coating of cured black resin composition which has been machined to e.g., a thickness of 0.1 to 1.5 mm. The resin is usually an epoxy resin and is applied as a powder and cured by heating.

Abstract: A barrel plating apparatus in which a barrel accommodating a large number of works is successively soaked in a plurality of baths filled with treatment liquid, the barrel comprising a peripheral wall, a pair of end walls at opposite ends of the peripherial wall, an opening provided at a central portion of the end wall without a cover or a cap, and a space for accommodating the works which is formed by a space lower than the opening inside the barrel when the central longitudinal axis of the barrel is horizontal.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the adhesive metallization of ceramic materials by roughening of the materials and subsequent chemical and, if necessary, galvanic metal deposition, in which the materials are treated with an alkali hydroxide solution having a temperature from 50.degree. to 180.degree. C. for the roughening, and are subsequently heated to a temperature between about 300.degree. and 600.degree. C. The metal coatings provided on the ceramic materials display adhesive strengths from 3 to 5 kg/inch. Such materials find use in the fields of electrical engineering and electronics.

Abstract: A continuous composite coating apparatus for coating a continuous strip has a pair of strip supply/take-up devices and at least two of a plasma chemical vapor deposition coating zone, an ion-plating coating zone and a sputtering coating zone which are arranged in series along the path of said strip between the strip supply/take-up devices. The adjacent coating zones are separated from each other by a partition wall having a slit which is sized to allow the strip to pass therethrough and guide rollers are provided adjacent to the upper edge of the strip so as to tense the strip such that the path of the strip is slightly convex downwards thereby to keep the strip away from the upper and lower edges of the slit. The coating zones are arranged to effect coating only on the underside of the strip which is not contacted by the guide rollers, whereby a coating layer having excellent properties without any defect can be formed on the underside of the strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for permanently setting pre-formed creases of a pair of pants comprises a stanchion member and a pair of spaced-apart substantially parallel support members extending substantially horizontally from the stanchion member. A substantially horizontal upper crease blade is fixed to each support member and has a lower crease blade pivoted thereto. The free ends of the crease blades extend away from the stanchion member and include applicator nozzles that are directed upward for the upper crease blades and downward for the lower crease blades. When a pair of pre-creased pants are slipped over the crease blades and the lower crease blades are pivoted downward, the pants are pulled taut at the hems between the pre-formed creases. As the pants are pulled off of the crease blades a pumping mechanism supplies a flowable, curable setting material such as silicone rubber to the applicator nozzles, which apply a coating of setting material to the inside surfaces of the pant legs along the creases.