Abstract: A dielectric roller for a corona treatment system consists of a self-supporting tubular body of a dielectric material having a conductive layer bonded on its inner wall and a pair of end plugs with hubs closing the ends of the body. At least one of the end plugs is of conductive material and makes electrical contact with the conductive layer so that the roller can be grounded.

Abstract: An apparatus, for determining the degree of tackiness of a surface of a body, comprises a closed chamber with inlet and outlet openings; a support for the body within the chamber; a fan for providing an airflow directed toward the surface of the body within the chamber; a powder dispenser for releasing powder into the path of the airflow upstream of the body surface, the powder being adapted to be carried by the airflow thereby to permit the powder to impinge against the body surface; whereby the amount of powder adhering to the body surface after a period provides a measure of tackiness of the surface.

Abstract: In a papermaking process, improved drainage and retention are obtained when ionic, organic microbeads of less than about 1,000 nm in diameter if crosslinked or less about than 60 nm in diameter if noncrosslinked are added either alone or in combination with a high molecular weight organic polymer, and/or polysaccharide. Further addition of alum enhances drainage formation and retention properties in papermaking stock with and without the present of other additives used in papermaking processes.

Abstract: Plastic ophthalmic lenses are coated with a scratch-resistant coating using a spin coating process. The lenses are separated from lens mold pieces, and the lenses are routed through a coating system where the lens coating is applied. A conveyor moves the lens mold pieces toward an inspection station while the corresponding lenses are moving through the coating system. The operation of the lens coating system and the conveyor are coordinated so that the coated lens and the lens mold pieces from which that lens was made are delivered as a group to the inspection station.

Abstract: A vertically-reciprocating coating apparatus is constructed by means of setting one end of a first arm on a first pivot, setting one end of a second arm on a second pivot connected with a drive which moves on a linear rail, setting the other end of the first arm on a third pivot provided in a middle part of the second arm, and connecting a coater with a fourth pivot provided at a free end of the second arm.

Abstract: A drive mechanism which permits both rotational and vertical translation of a fluid dispense arm within a wafer processing system. A motor drives a brake/clutch coupling which, through selective actuation and the utilization of two drive gears, causes selective rotation and/or translation of an output shaft attached to the fluid dispense arm. Selective rotation and/or translation of the output shaft and the fluid dispense arm permits the use of the apparatus without modification of the spin deflector and associated baffling in the wafer processing area.

Abstract: A flow restrictor (12) for a fluid comprising, an elongated conduit (26) having a lumen (28), and a restriction member (32) snugly received in the lumen (28) of the conduit (26), and having a pair of opposed ends (38) and (40), an entry port (33) adjacent one end (38) of the restriction member (32), and an exit port (35) adjacent the other end (40) of the restriction member (32), and a device (42a-j) and (46a-i) defining a tortuous path (48) between the entry port (33) and exit port (35) to restrict passage of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A method for electrostatically coating plaster mandrels by making the mandrels electrically conductive, thereby facilitating electrostatic painting or spraying, by embedding a ground strap into the mandrel which is in an electrically conductive "green" or uncured state due to its free water content after it was slosh formed in a rotating mold. The plaster mandrels are then electrostatically coated before the green plaster dries and cures.

Abstract: Objects to be coated enter an enclosure and a coating product with specific characteristics is sprayed onto the objects while in the enclosure. There is a respective enclosure for each of a plurality of coating products adapted to be removably attached to an external framework. Changing the coating product entails changing the enclosure.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a pulp suspension in a screening plant of a pulp mill wherein impurities are separated from defibered pulp by screening and/or cleaning, the cleaned pulp is thickened, the impurities are further treated in the screening plant by screening and defibering the accept fiber material for further screening and thickening and further impurities are removed from the screening plant after various screening stages, the apparatus including means for effecting one or both of the pulp screening and cleaning stages in a closed, pressurized space in the screening plant and preventing the access of air to the pulp treated by effecting the thickening stages in a pressurized state and at the initial pressure of one or both of the preceding screening and cleaning stages.

Abstract: The jet velocity along a slice opening of a papermaking machine is monitored at plural locations to provide a jet velocity profile. This jet velocity profile may be adjusted to more closely match a reference velocity profile for the jet. Preferably, microwave doppler-effect velocity sensors are utilized for sensing a jet velocity. In one specific embodiment of the invention, preamplifier and automatic gain control circuitry is used to minimize variations in the sensed signal due to changing conditions of the jet.

Abstract: Articles to be sprayed are supported for rotative movement by article holders disposed in tiered rows that extend generally horizontally in parallel relationship to each other at different elevations. Rotative movement is imparted to the article holders and articles by endless-loop drive members that are associated with respective ones of the rows of article holders, and that are driven by a common drive motor. An adjustable assembly permits simultaneous adjustment of the tension of each of the endless-loop drive members.

Abstract: A fluidization and conveyor arrangement for electrostatic powder coating devices. The arrangement includes a container pivotable by 180.degree. on a carrying frame, and a cover, having a fluidization plate. A powder discharge tube and a compressed air tube pass through the cover and into the container. A transport package, for example a sack filled with powder, is introduced into the container. The container is then closed with the cover, and is pivoted by 180.degree. to an operating position, in which fluidization and discharge of the powder may be affected.

Abstract: An automated multi-purpose analytical chemistry processing center and laboratory work station having a movable table for supporting microtiter plates and other fluid receptacles, a movable arm, and a modular mobile pod affixed for reciprocal movement along the arm. The workstation combines into a single programmable system the capabilities for automation of a wide range of bioanalytical procedure including, not only sample pipetting, serial dilution, reagent additions, mixing, reaction timing and similar known manual procedures, but also programmable spectrophotometric measurements and other physical parameters, further processing based on these measurements and automatic data recording. The work station is adapted to transfer, dispense, and aspirate liquid from one location to another automatically in accordance with user programmed instructions.

Abstract: A web charging apparatus, for use in a coating system for applying various coating liquids onto a web which has been previously charged by a static field in which conductive wires form a corona discharge electrode. The diameter of the wires is in a range of 100-200 .mu.m, and the tension of the wires is not less than 1 kg. Intermediate holding frames for holding the wires are also provided. The web charging apparatus reduces the voltage irregularities in the width direction of the web and the irregular thickness of the coating liquid in the transfer direction.

Abstract: A coating apparatus in which a series of substrates are conveyed along a predetermined path for receiving coating solution in which coating is carried out stably and coatings of uniform thickness are formed. A solution supplying unit is arranged above the path of the substrates. A flexible, elastic solid curtain member made of a water-impermeable material is attached to an outlet of said solution supplying unit, a front edge of which elastically contacts the substrates as they pass beneath the solution supplying unit so that coating solution flowing out of said solution supplying unit is applied to the substrates from the curtain member. A vertically movable solution receiver is positioned below the front edge of the curtain member with the solution receiver contacting the front edge of the curtain member when no substrate is located between the curtain member and the solution receiver so as to allow the coating solution to smoothly flow down the solution receiver.

Abstract: A method for making a shaped product comprising exploded bark. Preferably the shaped product comprises exploded softwood bark having at least 23% cellulose and at least 18% lignin and polyphenols content, based upon the dry weight basis of the bark. One of the methods to make the shaped product comprises exploding softwood bark to obtain exploded softwood bark having at least 23% cellulose and at least 18% lignin and polyphenols content, compressing that exploded bark into a shaped product, while removing in part water, and drying the shaped product to remove the remaining water.

Abstract: A nail drying apparatus by which any commercially available nail polish of any color can be dried after being applied to a person's finger or toe nails. The apparatus consists of a photo-reactive coating and a device that generates ultraviolet radiation. The photo-reactive coating is applied over the wet nail polish and then irradiated with safe dosages of ultraviolet radiation causing the nail polish to dry in a few minutes.

Abstract: An automated pipeline rehabilitation apparatus (10) is disclosed. The apparatus employs a centering assembly (24) with pivoting arms (26, 28) which can pivot between an operating position and an installation/removal position to allow the unit to be removed from a pipeline. Arcuate rings (38, 40) are mounted on the arms. Spray nozzles (44) are mounted on the arcuate rings for reciprocating arcuate motion along the rings to treat the pipeline. The nozzles (44) can be used to clean the pipeline and prepare the outer surface of the pipeline with high pressure water jets with entrained abrasives. The nozzles (44) can also be used to apply a coating, preferably a polyurethane coating to the pipeline. A nozzle assembly (200) can be used to mount a spray gun (204) on the apparatus. The nozzle assembly permits easy adjustment of the nozzle position in two different directions to insure a consistent spray pattern. The nozzle assembly also provides for reversal of the tip of the nozzle for cleaning.

Abstract: A developer material coating apparatus for electrostatically coating developer material on each of various kinds of support members having different thicknesses and surface conditions under various environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity in a developer material coating region to form a developer sheet, comprising a support member feeding unit for feeding each of the support members to the developer material coating region at a feeding speed while carrying the support member thereon, a developer material coating unit for triboelectrically charging the developer material while carrying the charged developer material thereon, and electrostatically supplying the charged developer material therefrom to the support member through a gap between the feeding unit and the coating unit to thereby form a developer sheet, and a control unit for controlling an amount of the developer material to be coated on the support member so that the developer material coated on the support member has a predetermined