Abstract: A 3-dimensional PDMS cell sorter having multiple passages in a PDMS layer that follow the same path in a DEP separation region and that are in fluid communication with each other within that region. The passages may differ in width transverse to the flow direction within the passages. Flat plates may sandwich the PDMS layer; each plate may have a planar electrode used to generate a DEP field within a sample fluid flowed within the passages. The DEP field may concentrate target cells or particulates within one of the passages within the DEP separation region. The passages may diverge after the DEP-separation region, leaving one passage with a high concentration of target cells or particulates. Techniques for manufacturing such structures, as well as other micro-fluidic structures, are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of forming connector brackets for irrigation laterals along a prefabricated lay-flat pipe and lay-flat pipe with such connector's brackets, wherein an opening is formed at one wall of the premanufactured pipe, a separation means is positioned inside the pipe opposite the opening while separating the one wall from the second wall of the pipe, and an injunction molding is performed into a mold cavity, in order to form the bracket affixed to the one wall of the prefabricated pipe and around the opening.

Abstract: A tire comprises a tread portion provided with a first middle main groove, a second middle main groove, a crown longitudinal groove disposed between the first middle main groove and the second middle main groove, first crown lateral grooves connecting between the crown longitudinal groove and second middle main groove, and second crown lateral grooves connecting between the crown longitudinal groove and the second middle main groove. The first crown lateral grooves and the second crown lateral grooves are arranged so as to be misaligned with each other in the tire circumferential direction. The crown longitudinal groove is provided with at least one crown tie bar formed by raising a groove bottom of the crown longitudinal groove.

Abstract: A method of making microstructures having re-entrant or doubly re-entrant topology includes forming a mold defining the negative surface features of the re-entrant or doubly re-entrant topology that is to be formed. In one embodiment, a soft or flowable material is formed on a first substrate and the mold is contacted with the same to form a solid, now positive surface having the re-entrant or doubly re-entrant topology. The mold is then released from the first substrate. The microstructures are secured to a second, different substrate, and the first substrate is removed. Any residual microstructure material located between adjacent microstructures may be removed to form the separate microstructures on the second substrate. The second substrate may be thin and flexible any manipulated into useful or desired shapes having the microstructures on one side thereof.

Abstract: A method for forming fiber-reinforced composite parts via compression molding, particularly useful for forming parts that include off-axis, out-of-plane, or small, intricate features. In accordance with the method, non-flowing continuous fiber bundles and flowing continuous fiber bundles are placed in a mold, wherein the flowing continuous fiber bundles are disposed proximal to a minor feature. The non-flowing bundle has a length about equal to the length of a major feature of the mold. The flowing bundle has a length that is somewhat longer than the length of the minor feature. Under heat and pressure, resin softens and fibers from the flowing continuous fiber bundles flow into the minor feature.

Abstract: A continuous reinforcement is disclosed for use in additive manufacturing. The continuous reinforcement may include a plurality of continuous primary fibers oriented in a general axial direction of the continuous reinforcement. The continuous reinforcement may also include a plurality of secondary fibers interspersed with the plurality of continuous primary fibers and oriented generally orthogonal to the plurality of continuous primary fibers.

Abstract: Tire tread comprising elongate block (3) of rubbery material and extending in a circumferential direction of the tire. Elongate block (3) comprises a ground contact surface (5) delimited first and second lateral walls (7,9). Elongate block (3) comprises a plurality of oblique cutouts (11a, 11b) that open onto either the first or second lateral wall s and extend as far as cutout ends (13a, 13b) which do not open onto said lateral walls (7, 9). The cutouts of the plurality of cutouts (11a, 11b) are distributed over the contact surface (5) of the block such that when a cutout (11a) reaches its cutout end (13a), another cutout (11b) starts out from a lateral wall (9), at a same circumferential level (N) on the elongate block (3). The cutouts (11a, 11b) are sipes.

Abstract: In a tire 2, a band 14 has a helically wound structure in which a strip 26 having a cord 28 is wound in a circumferential direction. The band 14 includes a center portion C disposed at a center in an axial direction, and a shoulder portion S disposed outward of the center portion C in the axial direction. A pitch Pc of the strip 26 in the center portion C is not less than 2.0 times a width W of the strip 26 and not greater than 2.5 times the width W. A pitch Ps of the strip 26 in the shoulder portion S is not less than 0.8 times the width W of the strip 26 and not greater than 1.2 times the width W.

Abstract: An insulating sheet is pushed into a first mold portion, and formed in a first shape along a shape of the first mold portion. The insulating sheet of the first shape inside the first mold portion is pushed into the second mold, and is deformed by a front mold portion, a front guide portion, and a bent convex portion of the front mold, and a rear mold portion and a rear guide portion of the rear mold, and is formed in a second shape. The insulating sheet of the second shape is inclined such that the front end portion overlaps the rear end portion in a first direction, and the width in a front-rear direction becomes narrower toward the front and the rear end portions. The insulating sheet inserted in the second mold and formed in the second shape is inserted into a slot of a stator core.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing device has a vessel for containing a polymerizable material, a build platform and a curing unit. The vessel has a flexible wall which is at least partially transparent to radiation at one or more wavelengths at which the material is polymerizable. The build platform is movable relative to the vessel to position a build surface thereof to face the flexible wall. The curing unit has a rigid component with a planar contact surface, the rigid component being at least partially transparent to radiation at the one or more curing wavelengths, and a radiation module positioned to emit radiation through the rigid component. The rigid component and the vessel are movable relative to each other. In a first position, the planar contact surface of the rigid component is in contact with the flexible wall, and in a second position, the rigid component is separated therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

Abstract: An injection molding system comprising: a first selected valve, one or more downstream valves, delivering a fluid to a mold cavity, at least one fluid property sensor, each valve associated with a position sensor that detects opening of a gate at an actual open gate time to the controller, the controller automatically adjusting time of instruction to open the gates on a subsequent injection cycle by an adjustment time equal to any delay in time between a predetermined open gate target time and an actual open gate time, wherein the system forms a first one or more parts or objects, the user inspecting or measuring the first one or more parts or objects and manually adjusts the predetermined open gate target time.

Abstract: Tire tread comprising elongate block (3) of rubbery material extending in a circumferential direction (X) when the tread (1) is mounted on the tire. The elongate block (3) comprises a ground contact surface (5) delimited by first and second lateral walls (7,9), with a plurality of cutouts (11a, 11b) that open onto it. The cutouts (11a, 11b) extend in an oblique direction from the first lateral wall (7) in the direction of the second lateral wall (9) as far as cutout ends (13a, 13b). For at least one cutout (11a) that opens onto the first lateral wall (7), its end (13a) does not open onto the second lateral wall (9), and when this cutout (11a) reaches its cutout end (13a), another cutout (11b) starts out from the first lateral wall (7), at a same circumferential level (N) on the elongate block (3). The cutouts (11a, 11b) are sipes.

Abstract: An injection molding system comprising: a first selected valve, one or more downstream valves, delivering a fluid to a mold cavity, at least one fluid property sensor that detects a flow front of fluid material flowing downstream through the mold cavity at a trigger location within the cavity disposed between the first gate and at least one selected downstream gate, a controller instructing an actuator associated with the downstream gates to open the gates at a predetermined open gate target time on a first injection cycle, each valve associated with a position sensor that detects opening of a gate at an actual open gate time to the controller, the controller automatically adjusting time of instruction to open the gates on a subsequent injection cycle by an adjustment time equal to any delay in time between the predetermined open gate target time and the actual open gate time.

Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing an antireflection film including, in order: a step (1) of providing a layer (a) containing a curable compound (a1) and a particle (a2) having an average primary particle diameter of 100 nm to 380 nm and a layer (b) containing a compound (b1) incompatible with the curable compound (a1) so that the particle (a2) is buried in a layer defined by combining the layer (a) and the layer (b), on a substrate; a step (2) of curing the layer (a) in a state in which the particle (a2) is buried in the layer defined by combining the layer (a) and the layer (b); and a step (3) of removing the layer (b) to form an uneven shape on a surface of the layer (a) with the particle (a2).

Abstract: Provided is a method for extruding molten resin in a charging space from a head by converting a rotational motion of an electric motor into a linear motion of a piston disposed in the charging space through a ball screw and thus causing the piston to move vertically, the charging space being a space into which the molten resin can be charged and formed in an accumulator, the head having an extrusion port at a lower end thereof.

Abstract: The tread has four grooves that delimit a central, intermediate and edge regions. Each intermediate region is divided into elongated raised elements that delimit oblique grooves which open into the circumferential grooves and are inclined at an average angle of between 30 and 60 degrees relative to the circumferential direction. The raised elements have an average circumferential length of between 50 and 70 mm. The depth of the oblique grooves is at least 30% of the depth of the circumferential grooves. Each raised element has a plurality of sipes that open into the oblique grooves. Each raised element also has an internal and oblique cut that has a total depth at least equal to 75% of the thickness PMU to be worn away. The oblique cut has a wide part and a part that forms a sipe that extends by a channel that forms a new groove after wear.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes bead portions, each having a bead bottom surface. The bead bottom surface includes a toe-side portion extending axially outwardly from a bead toe at an angle ? in a range of from 17 to 24 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, a heel-side portion positioned axially outside the toe-side portion and extending axially outwardly at an angle ? in a range of from 3 to 7 degrees with respect to the tire axial direction, and a heel-side arc portion smoothly connecting between the heel-side portion and a flange contacting surface with a radius of curvature (R) in a range of from 1.5 to 3.5 mm.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire includes a first tread-half region from the tire equator to a first tread edge. In the first tread-half region, a crown land portion and a middle land portion are not provided with any grooves having widths equal to or more than 2 mm. In the first tread-half region, crown, middle and shoulder portions are respectively provided with a first crown sipe, a first middle sipe and a first shoulder sipe each having a width less than 2 mm. The first crown sipe, the first middle sipe and the first shoulder sipe are respectively configured as arc shapes having radiuses R1, R2 and R3 of curvature to protrude in a first circumferential direction side, wherein the radiuses R1, R2 and R3 are satisfied the following relation: R1<=R2<=R3, and R1<R3.

Abstract: Disclosed is a motorcycle pneumatic tire comprising a plurality of blocks arranged on a tread surface, wherein: a plurality of wide blocks, each having a tire widthwise length larger than a tire circumferential length, are formed in at least a central region and intermediate regions, and a plurality of narrow blocks, each having a smaller tire widthwise length than each of the wide blocks, are formed in at least the intermediate regions; and the following relations are satisfied: 1.5?W1/L1?4.0 . . . (A), 0.5?W2/L2?1.5 . . . (B), 0.3?S1M/S1?0.6 . . . (C), and 0.5?S2M/S2?1.0 . . . (D).