Abstract: A dispensing container, such as a double-barrel cartridge used in dispensing dental material, matingly receives a sliding cap that maintains a seal between material in the barrels and the atmosphere. The cap includes a body and a gasket within the body, and the cap also includes a cam portion that shifts the body slightly away from an outlet of the container as the cap is moved toward a closed position to seal the container. Once the cap is in a fully closed position, the cam portion enables the body to shift somewhat closer to the container outlet in order to increase the compression of the gasket between the body and the outlet. Optionally, an orienting section is provided for insuring that the cap is coupled to the container in only one certain orientation, so that the likelihood of cross-contamination of material within the barrels due to residual material on the gasket is substantially reduced.

Abstract: A cartridge for delivery of aqueous paste dental materials is provided, wherein the cartridge comprises a cartridge body made from an injection moldable material comprising polyolefin polymers. The cartridge body having a Moisture Permeability less than 25 g mil/m.sup.2 day atm. and an Oxygen Permeability greater than 180 cm.sup.3 mil/m.sup.2 day atm. The cartridge body comprises at least one chamber adapted for holding and simultaneously dispensing an aqueous paste dental material. The cartridge has a polymerizable aqueous paste dental material contained within the chamber of the cartridge body, and the cartridge is specially adapted to be mounted in a hand-held ejector-type gun.

Abstract: Dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a polyolefin-coated substrate or a polyolefin substrate having thereon, in order, a subbing layer and a dye image-receiving layer, and wherein the subbing layer comprises a polyolefin-coated support or a polyolefin support having thereon, in order, a subbing layer and a dye image-receiving layer, wherein the subbing layer comprises a colored reaction product of a mixture ofa) an aminofunctional organo-oxysilane, andb) a hydrophobic organo-oxysilane;the subbing layer also containing a mixture of brown and black colorants, the brown colorant being present in an amount of about 0.0007 to about 0.015 g/m.sup.2 and the black colorant being present in an amount of about 0.004 to about 0.007 g/m.sup.2, and the ratio of black to brown colorant being about 3.5:1 to 6.5:1; and the subbing layer also containing at least 0.2 wt. % of a water-soluble, cellulose derivative.

Abstract: Dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a polyolefin-coated substrate or a polyolefin substrate having thereon, in order, a subbing layer and a dye image-receiving layer, and wherein the subbing layer comprises a colored reaction product of a mixture ofa) an aminofunctional organo-oxysilane, andb) a hydrophobic organo-oxysilane;the subbing layer also containing a mixture of brown and black colorants, the brown colorant being present in an amount of about 0.0007 to about 0.015 g/m.sup.2 and the black colorant being present in an amount of about 0.004 to about 0.007 g/m.sup.2, and the ratio of black to brown colorant being about 3.5:1 to 6.5:1.

Abstract: Dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a polyolefin-coated support or a polyolefin support having thereon, in order, a subbing layer and a dye image-receiving layer, and wherein the subbing layer comprises a colored reaction product of a mixture ofa) an aminofunctional organo-oxysilane, andb) a hydrophobic organo-oxysilane;the subbing layer also containing a mixture of brown and black colorants, the brown colorant being present in an amount of about 0.0007 to about 0.015 g/m.sup.2 and the black colorant being present in an amount of about 0.004 to about 0.007 g/m.sup.2, and the ratio of black to brown colorant being about 3.5:1 to 6.5:1; and the subbing layer also containing at least 0.2 wt. % of a 1,2-epoxide polymer.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a support having on one side thereof a polymeric dye image-receiving layer and on the other side thereof a backing layer comprising a polymeric binder, submicron inorganic particles, a polymeric acid, an ionic antistatic material and an organometallic complex.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer comprising a transparent support having on one side thereof a polymeric dye image-receiving layer and on the other side thereof an antistatic backing layer which contains polymeric particles which are deformation-resistant.

Abstract: A transparency dye receiver media for minimizing curl during recept of dye transfer images in a thermal printing process includes a transparent support having a thickness between about 5.5 mil and about 6.5 mil and a dye receiver layer on a surface of said support. Preferably, the transparent support has a thickness of about 5.8 mil. The transparent support has a thickness in inches approximately equal to the cube root ofC*F.sub.H R*.sup.2 .theta..sup.3 /4Eb(57.3).sup.3 (1-Cos.theta./2),where:C* is a constant for a given dye receiver support thickness,F.sub.H is the load on the receiver media from the printhead in pounds,R* is the radius of the bend during printing in inches,.theta. is the arc of bending of the receiver media during printing in degrees,E is Young's Modulus in psi, andb is the width of printhead in inches.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element comprising a reflective support having thereon a dye image-receiving layer having an overcoat layer thereon containing crosslinked elastomeric beads having a Tg of 45.degree. C. or less, the elastomeric beads being made from an acrylic polymer, an acrylic copolymer or a styrenic copolymer, the elastomeric beads having from about 5 to about 40% by weight of a crosslinking agent, the elastomeric beads having a particle size of less than about 1 .mu.m and are present at a coverage of from about 0.2 to about 1.0 g/m.sup.2.

Abstract: A cartridge for delivery of multiple-part dental materials comprisinga) a cartridge body made from an injection moldable material comprising polyalkylene oxide homopolymer or polyalkylene oxide copolymer wherein said homopolymer or copolymer comprises a repeat unit that is ##STR1## wherein R is H or an aliphatic moiety. The cartridge body has a Burst Pressure greater than that of an otherwise identical cartridge made entirely of polypropylene, and a flexural modulus greater than 1.3.times.10.sup.3 MPa at 50% relative humidity and 23.degree. C., andb) a multiple-part dental material. The cartridge is specially adapted to be mounted in a hand-held ejector-type gun.

Abstract: A dental dispensing tray has a plurality of wells formed in a substrate, along with a cover that is slidably attached to the substrate. The cover transmits at least a portion of the visible light spectrum but does not transmit a substantial portion of actinic radiation that might otherwise prematurely cure photocurable material in the wells.

Abstract: An assembly for mixing and dispensing preparations such as dental cements includes a capsule and a lever actuated dispensing device. The capsule is received in a first orientation of the dispensing device for initial movement of a piston of the capsule to combine two components in a mixing chamber of the capsule. The capsule is received in a second orientation when dispensing of the components is desired. The capsule includes flanges engageable with one or more retention members of the dispensing device, and the flanges are positioned to substantially utilize the mechanical advantage provided by the dispensing device regardless of whether the capsule is in the first orientation or in the second orientation. The flanges are also arranged to substantially prohibit bursting of the capsule when the components are discharged from the mixing chamber, and essentially preclude dispensing of the components when the capsule is in the first orientation.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer includes a support having on one side thereof a dye image-receiving layer. Receiving elements of the invention are characterized in that the dye image-receiving layer comprises a miscible blend of an unmodified bisphenol-A polycarbonate and a polyether modified polycarbonate, the polyether modified polycarbonate being a block copolymer of polyether block units and bisphenol-A polycarbonate block units.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer includes a support having on one side thereof a polymeric dye image-receiving layer and on the other side thereof a backing layer wherein the backing layer comprises a mixture of an ionic polymer as a polymeric binder comprising an addition product of from about 0 to 98 mol percent of an alkyl methacrylate wherein the alkyl group has from 1 to 12 carbon atoms, from about 0 to 98 mol percent of a vinylbenzene, and from about 2 to 12 mol percent of an alkali metal salt of an ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic or carboxylic acid, the polymer components being selected to achieve a glass transition temperature of at least about 30.degree. C. for the resulting polymer; submicron colloidal inorganic particles; and polymeric particles of a size larger than the inorganic particles.

Abstract: A method for controlling the curl of high density images on transparent media is provided for thermal dye transfer printers. The method includes wrapping the transparent receiver media around the print drum a preselected amount during printing. For a mechanical drive printer, the amount of wrapping is about 210 degrees. For capstan drive systems, the degree of wrapping is about 90 to about 160 degrees.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer includes a support having on one side thereof a polymeric dye image-receiving layer and on the other side thereof a backing layer made from a mixture of an organo-clay binder, submicron colloidal inorganic particles, and polymeric particles of a size larger than the inorganic particles.

Abstract: A dye-receiving element for thermal dye transfer includes a support having on one side thereof a polymeric dye image-receiving layer and on the other side thereof a backing layer made from a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol as a polymeric binder, submicron colloidal inorganic particles, and polymeric particles of a size larger than the inorganic particles.

Abstract: A mixing and dispensing assembly includes a dispensing device having a receptacle. A capsule is removably received in the receptacle. The capsule has a single chamber and piston with a handle portion that is movable within the confines of the chamber. A tablet made of compacted powder is received in the chamber, and the piston is separated from the capsule when desired in order to add a liquid component and make the preparation.

Abstract: A cartridge made of a material that does not to a significant extend absorb polar components from a dental composition stored therein. The force required to extrude a dental composition from the cartridge increases less over time in a cartridge of the invention than in a cartridge of the same configuration made of conventionally employed materials such as nylon-6.