Abstract: A liquid coating applicator with a very precise means for controlling gap thickness as well as adapting to non-planar discontinuities in the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for uniformly depositing nanomaterials having particles smaller than 1 ?m (i.e., nanoparticles) onto a surface of a base material (substrate or surface). The process is used to deposit any solid (nanoparticle) of any shape such as nanofibers, nanotubes, nanoclays (e.g., platelet shaped), nano-spheres, or irregularly shaped granules. The base material upon which the nano-particles are deposited can be made of any material. The method substantially prevents the deposition on the base material of larger particles (contaminants or clusters of the nanoparticles) which are often mixed with the nanomaterials. The amount of deposition and the range of particle sizes to be deposited can also be controlled by this method.

Abstract: An article support system for supporting articles and collecting paint or stain that drips off of the articles includes a plurality of stanchions being positioned and upwardly extending from a support surface. Each of the stanchions includes a top wall, a bottom wall and a perimeter wall that extends between the top wall and the bottom wall. Each of a plurality of span assemblies is mounted to a pair of the stanchions and extends between the stanchions. The span assemblies support the articles above the support surface when the articles are placed on and extend between the span assemblies positioned adjacent each other.

Abstract: An articulating paper dispenser is provided including an upper housing and a lower housing that, when engaged together, form a both a lubricant container and a chamber for containing an articulating paper roll. The articulating paper that is unwound from the articulating paper roll is passed through the lubricant container. The articulating paper dispenser will preferably include pressure rollers to guide the articulating paper through a dispensing slot in the dispenser. The lubricant container is configured to contain a lubricant that increases the marking ability of the articulating paper. As the articulating paper is dispensed from the articulating paper system, it is coated on both sides with a thin layer of the lubricant. The lubricant-coated articulating paper is then used to check a patient's occlusion more accurately and precisely.

Abstract: A batter applicator with an adjustable coating mechanism is disclosed which includes a frame, a main batter tank, a structure comprising at least one of a submerger and an overflow structure that is adapted to be positioned proximate the main batter tank and actuatable means for tilting the structure relative to a reference horizontal surface.

Abstract: A powder spray coating facility is automatically switched between a first operating mode in which only recovery powder is moved into an intermediate receptacle, and a second operating mode in which only fresh powder from a fresh powder unit is fed to the intermediate receptacle. Switching may be carried out from the second operating mode to a reserve powder operating mode when, following switching from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, an intermediate receptacle sensor continues to transmit a “powder needed” signal.

Abstract: A solar cell production system utilizes self-contained vacuum chucks that hold and cool solar cell wafers during transport on a conveyor between processing stations during a fabrication process. Each self-contained vacuum chuck includes its own local vacuum pump and a closed-loop cooling system. After each wafer is processed, it is removed from its vacuum chuck, and the vacuum chuck is returned to the start of the production line by a second conveyor belt. In one embodiment, each vacuum chuck includes an inductive power supply that is inductively coupled to an external source to drive that vacuum chuck's vacuum pump and cooling system. An optional battery is recharged by the inductive power supply, and is used to power the vacuum pump and cooling system during hand-off between adjacent processing stations.

Abstract: A film forming apparatus includes a film forming chamber for performing a film formation; an exhaust unit connected to the film forming chamber to discharge a gas out of the film forming chamber; a holder provided in the film forming chamber to hold a process-objective material; a jetting nozzle provided in the film forming chamber on which a jetting port is formed in a slit shape, and jetting an aerosol containing particulate material to form a film made of the particulate material on the process-objective material; and a shielding member provided at a side of the jetting port in a longitudinal direction of the jetting port to cover a side of a jet flow of the aerosol jetted from the jetting port. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress a turbulence of a flow of the aerosol due to an exhaust flow, and to form the film uniformly.

Abstract: A batter applicator with an adjustable coating mechanism is disclosed which includes a frame, a main batter tank, a structure comprising a submerger or an overflow structure positioned proximate the main batter tank and actuatable means for positioning the structure vertically relative to the main batter tank. The actuatable means for positioning the structure vertically relative to the main batter tank includes a rotatable shaft operably coupled to a gear box, a screw lift assembly operably coupled to the gear box and a hand wheel operably coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A current sensor for detecting a full return current is connected to a high voltage generator. A leakage current detector including current sensors for detecting a leakage current is provided at the surface of the cover of a coating machine, air passages and a paint passage. Based on current detection values obtained by the current sensors, a high voltage control unit controls a power supply voltage control unit and a high voltage to be output from the high voltage generator can be raised or dropped. By employing the current detection values, the high voltage control unit can identify and provide notification of a location where the leakage current is increased and the insulation is deteriorated, and can request an operator to perform maintenance for the pertinent location. Further, upon occurrence of the insulation being deteriorated, the high voltage control unit can stop the high voltage supply.

Abstract: An apparatus for growing an epitaxial film and transferring it to an assembly substrate is disclosed. The film growth and transfer are made using an epitaxy lateral overgrowth technique. The formed epitaxial film on an assembly substrate can be further processed to form devices such as solar cell, light emitting diode, and other devices and assembled into higher integration of desired applications.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ascent and descent apparatus for a liquid material spray printer, which may control a distance between a subject and a spray assembly optimally. The apparatus includes a sliding member having a pair of sliders selectively reciprocating oppositely by a driving unit; a frame installed above the sliders and having an elongated guide hole corresponding to a reciprocating range of the sliders; and a pair of crosslink members installed to an upper surface of the frame to couple with the sliders through the hole and whose upper end supports a flat table. The crosslink members include a pair of unit links hinged at their substantial center, whose lower ends are respectively coupled to the slider and hinged to the frame, and upper ends are respectively hinged to the flat table and supports the flat table rotatably, whereby the flat table is lifted by reciprocation of the sliders.

Abstract: A gravure coating apparatus is provided for forming a stripe-shaped coating film by means of a gravure roll having a groove between plate cylinders. The apparatus has a scraping member having: side edges each of which contacts an edge surface of one of the plate cylinders so as to be approximately aligned along the radial direction of the gravure roll and scrapes a coating solution on the edge surface; a groove-like passage for discharging the coating solution, the groove-like passage being formed in a generally central portion of the inner peripheral surface along the bottom surface of the groove so as to be aligned along the rotation direction of the gravure roll; and a tapered surface which guides the coating solution from the edges to the groove-like passage. The scraping member is disposed in the groove, whereby the coating film formed by the plate cylinders is made uniform over the entire surface using a simple configuration.

Abstract: A spray painting tool for painting key caps is disclosed, which comprises: a platform, having a plurality of columns formed on a top surface of the same; a panel, having a plurality of holes formed thereon at positions corresponding to the plural columns for allowing the plural columns to pass through the panel therefrom; a diaphragm, disposed on the panel while aligning a plurality of holes formed thereon with the plural columns for allowing the plural columns to pass through the diaphragm therefrom; and at least a holding unit, each being arranged on the panel at a position corresponding to one of the plural column for fixedly securing a key cap. As the diaphragm can be easily replaced, the spray painting tool can be used repetitively without worrying the stacking of residue paint on its panel. Moreover, as the spray painting tool is simple in structure and ease to use, painting key caps can be achieved with lower cost and less time.

Abstract: A self-retained paint shield configured to shield an exterior roof structure while spray painting exterior side walls of a home or building. The paint shield includes a shield portion and an exterior-roof attachment portion. The shield portion is configured to shield at least a portion of the roof structure from paint spray. The exterior-roof attachment portion is connected to the shield portion and includes two upwardly extending attachment side walls extending at a lower end from each other. With this arrangement, the exterior-roof attachment portion is configured to attach to the end of the roof structure in a self-retained manner while the shield portion shields at least a portion of the roof structure from paint spray.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a liquid to a moving web has an applicator element having a surface extending transverse to the web-travel direction and positioned to contact the moving web. Liquid applied to the surface is transferred to the moving web where the moving web contacts the surface. A support spaced in the web-travel direction from the applicator element has a plurality of guides extending transverse to the web-travel direction, with at least some of the guides overlapping others of the guides. Respective shields slidable in the guides transverse to the direction extend between the web and the surface so that where the shields extend between the moving web and the surface there is generally no transfer of the liquid from the surface to the moving web. Respective adjusters connected to the shields shift same in the respective guides between positions spaced from one another to positions at least partially overlapping one another.