Abstract: A method of recycling fiber reinforced polymers includes grinding used fiber reinforced polymers material to produce ground particles, functionalizing the ground particles to produce functionalized particles, dispersing the functionalized particles into a base resin, dispensing the resin with functionalized particles into one or more layers of continuous fiber mats, molding the resin with functionalized particles and the continuous fiber mats into a form of a desired part, and curing the form to produce the part. The used fiber reinforced polymer materials may be carbon fiber reinforced polymers or glass fiber reinforced polymer materials.

Abstract: An automated packaging system for automated collating, stacking and transferring long cut retail edge marker strips exiting a roll fed high speed slitter/perforator/cutter apparatus includes a series of angled and stepped baffles configured to receive the cut retail edge marking strips and allow them to fall into and accumulate in bins formed by each angled baffle and then be removed from each bin consecutively by an automated pusher acting orthogonally to the bins to move and collate the retail edge markers into a final stack collated to meet a specific store planogram requirement. An automated transfer unit moves the final stack downstream for further packaging, which may include automated banding and loading of the final stack into an empty container for shipment to the store having the specific planogram requirement.

Abstract: Methods for producing highly spherical particles that comprise: mixing a mixture comprising: (a) nanoclay-filled-polymer composite comprising a nanoclay dispersed in a thermoplastic polymer, (b) a carrier fluid that is immiscible with the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite, optionally (c) a thermoplastic polymer not filled with a nanoclay, and optionally (d) an emulsion stabilizer at a temperature at or greater than a melting point or softening temperature of the thermoplastic polymer of the nanoclay-filled-polymer and the thermoplastic polymer, when included, to disperse the nanoclay-filled-polymer composite in the carrier fluid; cooling the mixture to below the melting point or softening temperature to form nanoclay-filled-polymer particles; and separating the nanoclay-filled-polymer particles from the carrier fluid.

Abstract: A print configuration system will receive, from a first sensing modality, a first message indicating that a user has entered a first region where a print device is located. The system will access a profile for the user to identify a first configuration task, and it will cause the print device to perform the first configuration task. The system will later receive, from a second sensing modality that is different from the first sensing modality, a second message indicating that the user has entered a second region. The second region includes the print device and is a subset of the first region. In response to receiving the second message, the system will cause the print device to perform a second task that is different from the first configuration task.

Abstract: Aqueous inkjet ink compositions are provided. In an embodiment, such an aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises water; resin particles; a colorant; and optionally, a wax. The resin particles comprise a polymerization product of reactants comprising a monomer, an acidic monomer, a hydrophilic monomer, a difunctional monomer, and a reactive surfactant. The acidic monomer, the hydrophilic monomer, and the difunctional monomer may be present at an amount in a range of from about 10 weight % to about 30 weight % in the resin particles. Methods of forming and using the aqueous inkjet ink compositions are also provided.

Abstract: A building environmental sensor includes a sensing element for collecting measurements of environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, sound or the absence or presence of gas. The sensor will: (a) detect that a data collection device is within a communication range of the sensor; (b) generate a data stream that includes the data that the sensor collected; (c) transmit the data stream to the first data collection device; (d) determine that a communication link between the sensor and the first data collection device was lost before the first data stream was fully transmitted; (e) detect that a second data collection device is within the communication range of the sensor; (f) generate a second data stream that includes the remaining data; and (g) transmit the second data stream to the second data collection device.

Abstract: A mixer includes a shaft and an agitator coupled to the shaft. The shaft and the agitator are configured to rotate together to mix a liquid composition. The mixer also includes a sleeve positioned around the shaft. The sleeve forms a gap between the shaft and the sleeve. The sleeve is positioned in the liquid composition such that the liquid composition fills the gap up to the surface of the liquid composition in the gap to form a liquid seal between the shaft and the sleeve that minimizes an amount of air that penetrates into the liquid composition outside the gap during rotation of the shaft and the agitator.

Abstract: Parts made by additive manufacturing are often structural in nature, rather than having functional properties conveyed by a polymer or other component present therein. Printed parts having piezoelectric properties may be formed using powder particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer and piezoelectric particles, wherein the piezoelectric particles are located (i) in the thermoplastic polymer at an outer surface of the powder particulates, (ii) within a core of the powder particulates, or (iii) combinations thereof. Additive manufacturing processes, such as powder bed fusion of powder particulates, may be employed to form printed objects in a range of shapes from the powder particulates. Melt emulsification may be used to form the powder particulates.

Abstract: A particle and a method for producing the same is disclosed. For example, the particle includes a polymer resin that is compatible with a three-dimensional (3D) printing process to print a three-dimensional (3D) object and a marking additive that allows selective portions of the 3D object to change color when exposed to a light, wherein the marking additive is added to approximately 0.01 to 25.00 weight percent (wt %).

Abstract: A transform memory controller is described herein wherein the transform memory controller comprises logic elements configured to perform desired transform operations on data that flows to-and-from conventional computer memory elements. The transform operations are configured to perform operations on such data without the need for such data to travel to-and-from the conventional computer memory element via the processor (e.g., Central Processing Unit (CPU)) of the computer system. Several desirable transform operations are herein disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions include a plurality of polymer particulates comprising a matrix polymer and one or more types of nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of biopolymer nanoparticles, biomineral nanoparticles excluding biomineralized silica alone, and any combination thereof. Illustrative examples of such nanoparticles may include cellulose nanoparticles, hydroxyapatite nanoparticles, or any combination thereof associated with the matrix polymer. The polymer particulates may be prepared by melt emulsification. Methods include depositing such polymer particulates in a powder bed; and heating a portion of the powder bed to consolidate a portion of the polymer particulates into a consolidated part having a specified shape. The matrix polymer may be biodegradable and lose at least about 40% mass in six days in a phosphate buffer solution (0.2 M, pH 7.0) containing 0.2 mg/mL of lipase obtained from Pseudomonas cepacia (?30 U/mg) and incubated at 37° C.

Abstract: The present exemplary embodiment discloses a method and system for utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence to selecting an optimal conversion driver to convert a document into a printable form. The methods include receiving at least one user print request and at least one user submitted file associated with the user request, optimizing the conversion of a file by executing, by at least one computer processor, determining that format conversion is necessary for the file, identifying least one of a plurality of file conversion drivers as optimal for converting the file, causing the optimal file conversion driver to convert the file into a printer readable format, and printing the converted file. The conversion drivers may be selected from remote or local conversion engines. The machine learning employs artificial intelligence to select the optimal conversion path by analyzing the properties of the document submitted for conversion.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a system and method for constructing a graph-based model for optimizing the security posture of a composed system. During operation, the system constructs a multi-layer graph for a system with a plurality of components, wherein the multi-layer graph comprises a configuration subgraph, a vulnerability subgraph, and a dependency subgraph. The system constructs the multi-layer graph by the following. The system generates nodes in the configuration subgraph, including: nodes in a first class which encode information associated with a configuration parameter for a respective component, wherein the encoded information includes a name, a default value, a range of values, and a data type; and nodes in a second class which encode value assignments for configuration parameters and relationships between configuration parameters. The system generates nodes in the vulnerability subgraph based on known vulnerabilities associated with a component, bad security practices, and best security practices.

Abstract: A removable raised tray system for a printing system generally includes a removable tray operatively arranged to receive print media thereon. The removable tray includes an upper tray surface having an electrically conductive material, a lower tray surface, and at least one tray leg that is connected to the removable tray, which is configured to support the removable tray at a position that is raised relative to a platform surface of a printer feeder or stacker. The at least one leg includes a releasable fastening assembly, such as a rare earth magnet, that releasably secures the removable tray to the platform surface thereby allowing the tray to easily attached and removed from the printer feeder or stacker. The electrically conductive material of the tray surface and the platform surface are electrically conductively connected to one another so as to prevent the build-up of static electricity.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a marking process speed in a printing system, the printing system including a vacuum transport belt and at least one sheet onto which marking material is directly applied to print sheets, the method including printing an image on the sheet, receiving, from a sensor, data related to the image, determining, based on the data, at least one actual dimension of the image, determining if the at least one actual dimension of the image is equal to a target dimension of the image, and if the at least one actual dimension is not equal to the target dimension, adjusting one or more components of the printing system.

Abstract: Additive manufacturing processes featuring consolidation of thermoplastic particulates may form printed objects in a range of shapes. Inorganic nanoparticles disposed upon the outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates may improve flow performance of the thermoplastic particulates during additive manufacturing, but may be undesirable to incorporate in some printed objects. Polymer nanoparticles may be substituted for inorganic nanoparticles in some instances to address this difficulty and provide other advantages. Particulate compositions suitable for additive manufacturing may comprise: a plurality of thermoplastic particulates comprising a thermoplastic polymer and a plurality of polymer nanoparticles disposed upon an outer surface of the thermoplastic particulates, the polymer nanoparticles comprising a crosslinked fluorinated polymer.