Abstract: Exemplary support assemblies may include a top puck characterized by a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The top puck may define a recessed ledge at an outer edge of the first surface of the top puck. The assemblies may include a cooling plate coupled with the top puck adjacent the second surface of the top puck. The assemblies may include a back plate coupled with the top puck about an exterior of the top puck. The back plate may at least partially define a volume with the top puck. The cooling plate may be housed within the volume. The assemblies may include a heater disposed on the recessed ledge of the top puck. The assemblies may include an edge ring seated on the heater and extending about the top puck. The edge ring may be maintained free of contact with the top puck.

Abstract: The disclosure provides dental hygiene devices including a plurality of bristles in the form of polymer fibers, the polymer fibers having a plurality of microcapsules positioned within at least a portion of the polymer fibers, and the plurality of microcapsules comprising an oral care additive surrounded by a shell configured as one or a plurality of layers. In some aspects, the present disclosure provides processes and methods for forming toothbrush bristles including an oral care additive contained therein.

Abstract: A representative system includes an alignment tool for aligning attachment interfaces of horizontally-oriented launch vehicle portions. The tool can include a receiver assembly for connecting to a first launch vehicle portion and an actuation assembly for connecting to a second launch vehicle portion. When a first connecting element of the receiver assembly is engaged with a second connecting element of the actuation assembly, the second connecting element can apply force to the receiver assembly, and the actuator assembly applies an opposite force to the second launch vehicle portion, to align fastening features in the launch vehicle portions and/or to reshape the launch vehicle portions. A representative method includes connecting the alignment tool to the launch vehicle portions and operating the tool to apply oppositely-directed forces to align the launch vehicle portions for installing fasteners to connect the launch vehicle portions. One or more bracing beams can connect two tools together.

Abstract: A cable barrier separator apparatus for separating cables from the barrier support so that the barrier support can be replaced. The cable barrier separator apparatus includes an actuator assembly; and an engagement assembly in communication with the actuator assembly for separating cables from support devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cleaning and polishing connections of underwater equipment, comprising: a connection element (3) adapted to be connected to a torque-generating device; a cleaning-fluid-discharge device (2) comprising at least one cleaning-fluid reservoir (20); and a cleaning element connected to the discharge device via a support (4) for the cleaning element, wherein the support (4) for the cleaning element comprises at least one channel (41) that in a fluidic manner connects the at least one cleaning-fluid reservoir (20) to the cleaning element.

Abstract: A glassware polishing system includes a base and a wall extending upward from the base. The wall circumscribes and defines a chamber within an inner side of the wall. A first polishing head having a first spindle extends upward from the base within the chamber and has a polishing material disposed about the first spindle. A second polishing head having a second spindle extends upward from the base within the chamber and has a polishing material disposed about the second spindle. At least one motor is disposed in the base and is configured to rotate the polishing heads about vertical axes of rotation defined by the spindles. The polishing heads may simultaneously polish internal and external surfaces of the glassware when the first polishing heads are rotated by the at least one motor.

Abstract: A mobile robot includes a body and a mop module with left and right rotating plates rotatably installed on the body and each including a water supply space. The mobile robot also includes a water distribution module for providing water to the water supply spaces of the left and right rotating plates, and a water supply module for supplying water to the water distribution module. The water distribution module includes a water-supply counterpart portion connected to the water supply module and configured to receive water. Left and right water supply distribution pipes are connected to the water-supply counterpart portion to supply water to the water supply spaces of the left and right rotating plates, wherein the length of the left and right water distribution pipes are the same.

Abstract: Automatic swimming pool cleaners (APCs) may include separate chassis and bodies. Such constructions may facilitate assembly and disassembly of certain components of the APCs, with or without using tools. APCs with separate chassis and bodies may enable quick and easy access to motor assemblies of the APC, and bodies of the APCs may be readily interchanged on a common chassis.

Abstract: The cable lasher comprises an autonomous carriage for moving along cables to be attached to each other, a low mass lashing apparatus rotatably mounted to the carriage and at least two lashing wire dispensers carried by the lashing apparatus that each dispense a lashing wire about the cables in a helical winding pattern as the cable lasher moves along a longitudinal axis and the lashing apparatus rotates to attach the cables to each other. The cable lasher also comprises a channel for receiving the cables, about which the carriage and the lashing apparatus are disposed and extending along the longitudinal axis, a lashing apparatus actuator carried by the frame that rotates the lashing apparatus when the cable lasher moves along the longitudinal axis, and an onboard power source carried by said carriage for powering the advance of the carriage and the rotation of the lashing apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for cleaning the light scattering film (LSF) from the surface of a windshield in a vehicle, and more particularly, is directed to a magnetically associated cleaning element that is moved across the interior surface of a windshield by an interactive magnetic force transmitted through the windshield, with magnets associated with the wiper assembly on the other side of the glass.

Abstract: The cable lasher comprises an autonomous carriage for moving along cables to be attached to each other, a lashing apparatus rotatably mounted to the carriage and capable of dispensing a lashing wire about the cables in a helical winding pattern as the cable lasher moves along a longitudinal axis and the lashing apparatus rotates to attach the cables to each other. The cable lasher also comprises a channel for receiving the cables, about which the carriage and the lashing apparatus are disposed and extending along the longitudinal axis, a lashing apparatus actuator carried by the frame that rotates the lashing apparatus when the cable lasher moves along the longitudinal axis, and an onboard power source carried by said carriage for powering the advance of the carriage and the rotation of the lashing apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fine machining a cylindrical workpiece surface of a workpiece blank by means of a fine machining tool. Said method comprising the following steps: generating a relative rotational movement between a tool and a workpiece blank about a machining axis which is concentric to a cylindrical workpiece surface of the workpiece blank; generating a relative feed rate between the tool and the workpiece blank along the machining axis; detecting an actual value of a process variable, which is a function of a relative force between the tool and the workpiece blank and which can assume a plurality of process variable values; and continuously controlling the process variable by changing the relative feed rate in such a way that the more the relative feed rate changes, the more the actual value of the process variable deviates from a desired value of the process variable.

Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a chuck table for holding a plate-shaped workpiece under suction on a holding surface thereof, a processing unit for processing the workpiece held on the holding surface of the chuck table, and a moving unit for moving a support base supporting the chuck table thereon in a processing-feed direction. The chuck table is formed from a porous material having pores, and has the holding surface and a mountable assembly positioned opposite the holding surface and mountable on an upper surface of the support base. Fluid passages defined in the chuck table for allowing a negative pressure transmitted from the support base to act on the holding surface are provided only by the pores in the porous material.

Abstract: There is provided a processing method of grinding a workpiece. The processing method includes a holding step of holding the workpiece on a side of its front surface on a chuck table, a coarse grinding step of grinding the workpiece on a side of its back surface with first grinding stones until the workpiece has a predetermined thickness, an auxiliary grinding step of grinding the workpiece on the side of its back surface with the first grinding stones such that an unground region remains at an outer peripheral portion of the workpiece, an unground region grinding step of grinding the unground region with second grinding stones having an average abrasive grain size smaller than that of the first grinding stones, and a finish grinding step of grinding the workpiece on the side of its back surface with the second grinding stones until the workpiece has a predetermined finish thickness.

Abstract: A bypass valve may include a body defining a dirty air passageway, a nozzle coupling port configured to fluidly couple the dirty air passageway to a nozzle of the surface cleaning device, a wand coupling port configured to fluidly couple the dirty air passageway to a wand of the surface cleaning device, a suction coupling port configured to fluidly couple the dirty air passageway with a suction motor of the surface cleaning device, a wand receptacle configured to removably couple to the wand, and a valve bypass arrangement configured to selectively redirect air flowing through the body such that a majority of the air flowing through the body transitions between flowing through one of the wand coupling port and the nozzle coupling port. The valve bypass arrangement redirects the air in response to the wand being coupled to or decoupled from the wand receptacle.

Abstract: An end effector is disclosed that is configured for connection to a robotic unit used to manipulate a door of a vehicle (e.g., during vehicle painting). The end effector includes a base plate; a sensor that is supported by the base plate; and a piston that is configured for engagement with the door. The piston is operatively connected to an interrupter such that movement (displacement) of the piston causes corresponding movement (displacement) of the interrupter between a first position, in which the interrupter is positioned in alignment with a signal transmitted across the sensor to interfere with the signal and thereby interrupt circuit completion, and a second position, in which the interrupter is out of alignment with the signal transmitted across the sensor to permit circuit completion and thereby inform the robotic unit that the door is present and engaged with the end effector.

Abstract: Disclosed are a cleaning roller and a rolling steam mop. The cleaning roller includes a central shaft capable of rotating, a steam channel, and a cleaning layer. The steam channel is provided with a steam inlet and a plurality of first steam outlets; the steam inlet is used for communicating with a steam generation device: the plurality of first steam outlets are distributed in an axial direction of the central shaft. The cleaning layer is provided around the central shaft; and the steam flowing out from the first steam outlets can be diffused outwards through the cleaning layer When in use, the steam generated by the steam generation device enters the steam channel through the steam inlet, and then flows out from the first steam outlets, and is diffused outwards through the cleaning layer, so that the steam can be diffused to an object to be cleaned.

Abstract: A substrate may be loaded onto a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus, which includes a polishing pad and a wafer carrier that holds the substrate. The wafer carrier includes a backside plate, a wafer carrier frame, and at least one optical vertical displacement measurement unit that includes a respective laser source and a respective pixelated image sensor. A total reflection geometry is used to reflect a laser beam off a top surface of the backside plate. A polish rate or a polish thickness of a polished portion of the substrate may be measured at each location underneath at least one reflection point during the CMP process.

Abstract: A cleaning head is provided having a support structure having a front edge. A foldable portion is coupled to the support structure at least partially along the front edge. A receptacle is connected to the foldable portion and defining a chamber therein. A suction inlet is arranged within the foldable portion for allowing debris to flow into the chamber. A cleaning pad is positioned underneath the support structure. An attachment tab extends from a rear edge of the cleaning pad.

Abstract: A tool for retracting pistons into cylinder bores is disclosed, with a narrow gap between facing pressure plates allowing use of the tool in tight places, and ratcheting spreading of the facing pressure plates causing outward moving of the pistons, enabling work to be performed, wherein movement of a threaded stud through a coupler moves a first pressure plate.