Abstract: A flexible optical disk, includes a disk substrate, wherein a rigidity of the disk is equal to or more than 5 Pa and equal to or less than 5000 Pa where the rigidity is defined as Young's modulus of the disk×(thickness of the disk/radius of the disk)3.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of resurfacing a cylindrical member in a printer having a fuser member that is externally heated by a heater roller. The method includes providing a cylindrical member having an outer surface of a high temperature fluorothermoplastic. When it is determined that the outer surface is in need of resurfacing, the fuser member is removed from the printer, and the cylindrical member is mounted in the place of the fuser member. The cylindrical member is rotated at a speed of at least 1 rpm while engaging the outer surface of the fuser member with the heating roller normally used to heat the fuser member at a pressure of at least 5 psi at a temperature of at least 10° C. below the fluorothermoplastic melting temperature for a time sufficient to resurface of the outer surface of the cylindrical member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hand access laparoscopy device having a gelcap, a retainer, a sleeve and a retention ring. The gelcap includes gel that is bonded to a cap. The cap includes an inner cylindrical wall to which the gel in bonded, thereby providing a sealing area between the device and the wound in a body wall. By securing the gel to the inner cylindrical wall, the thickness of the gel and corresponding cap is minimized along with the overall footprint of the device. With the gel thickness reduced and able to be substantially flush, the “doming” phenomenon produced by insufflation of a patient's abdomen is reduced.

Abstract: A method of making a radially expandable fluid delivery device includes providing a tube of biocompatible fluoropolymer material with a predetermined porosity based on an extrusion and expansion forming process, applying a radial expansion force to the tube expanding the tube to a predetermined diameter dimension, and removing the radial expansion force. The tube is radially inelastic while sufficiently pliable to be collapsible and inflatable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration upon introduction of an inflation force, such that the expanded configuration occurs upon inflation to the predetermined diameter dimension. The fluid delivery device is constructed of a microporous, biocompatible fluoropolymer material having a microstructure that can provide a controlled, uniform, low-velocity fluid distribution through the walls of the fluid delivery device to effectively deliver fluid to the treatment site without damaging tissue proximate the walls of the device.

Abstract: Necked nonwoven webs having improved cross-directional uniformity are made by a process which includes the step (prior to neck stretching) of corrugating the nonwoven web to reduce its width from an initial width A to a reduced corrugated width B. The cross-directional uniformity is optimized as the corrugated width B approaches the ultimate width C of the necked nonwoven web.

Abstract: Methods and equipment for forming beveled edge(s) around the core opening in a concrete block are disclosed. The formation of the beveled edge(s) minimizes feathering along the block edges that are beveled as the block is stripped from a mold. Any feathering that does occur is shifted away from the bottom surface of the block to allow the block to lay flat on other blocks when dry stacked in a wall.

Abstract: According to the invention, a shoe is produced by firstly forming a shoe upper piece (8), made up of an upper (7) and an inner sole (5), sewn to the upper (7), which is bonded to a sole (4) in the assembled shoe. A sole tread (2) is introduced into a casting mould (1) and then filled with a cork/latex mixture in a pasty state. A fillet (9) is then introduced into the shoe upper piece (8) and the unit thus produced, placed from above into the casting mould (1), such that the casting mould (1) is sealed thereby. It is important that only the sole edge (10) rests on the edge of the casting mould (11) and the fillet (7) is fixed internally to the inner sole (5), such that the shoe base material presses the inner sole (5) against the edge of the upper (12), lying on the fillet (9).

Abstract: A fabricated microstructure comprising at least one protrusion capable of providing an adhesive force at a surface of between about 60 and 2,000 nano-Newtons. A stalk supports the protrusion at an oblique angle relative to a supporting surface. The microstructure can adhere to different surfaces.

Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of beadlet preparations of fat-soluble substances in a water-soluble or water-dispersible non-gelling matrix, an aqueous emulsion of the fat-soluble substance(s) and the matrix component are fed through a spray nozzle in the upper section of a vertical spray tower. Through separate inlets powderous starch and a stream of hot air are also fed in the upper section of the vertical spray tower. A stream of cold air is fed in the lower section of the spray tower so as to form a fluidised bed of starch-covered beadlets comprising the matrix component as well as the fat-soluble substances. The beadlets are collected from the fluidised bed and are discharged to a dryer.

Abstract: A method for aligning a disk with an imprinting surface is described. In one embodiment, the method includes passively aligning an imprinting surface with the disk and imprinting the disk with the imprinting surface. A first air-bearing mandrel freely guides a first centerline of the disk into coincident alignment with a second centerline of the imprinting surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of vibration. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of vibration for tooling in a structure, such as, for example, a fuselage. In one implementation, the tooling comprises at least two conductors that create a force to vibrate the media in the tooling, which improves the compaction of the media in the tooling and the extraction of the media from the tooling. Other implementations may be used for compaction and/or extraction of the media in the tooling.

Abstract: A method of pre-applying a bolster assembly to an interior trim part includes the steps of applying a base skin layer to a groove of a first nest, applying a bolster skin layer to a second nest, positioning the first nest in an open position, and inserting a leading edge of a bolster skin layer in the groove of the first nest when the first nest is in the open position until the bolster skin layer engages the base skin layer. The bolster assembly can be attached to the interior trim part by a Foam-In-Place (FIP) or Low-Pressure Molding (LPM) operation. The interior trim part may comprise a dashboard garnish, an instrument panel (IP), a door panel, and the like. A boss locating portion can be integrally formed within the base skin layer and is used for locating the bolster assembly on the interior trim piece during the manufacturing process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a manufacturing operation at a plurality of locations along the length of a previously fabricated flexible conduit. The apparatus comprises a driving mechanism, a manufacturing station, and a support device. The conduit is first fed through the manufacturing station. The manufacturing station then performs the manufacturing operation at a plurality of locations along the length of the conduit. The support device within the conduit is not attached to any other structure and provides structural support at the manufacturing station during the manufacturing operation and remains at a generally fixed axial and functional location while the conduit continues to move axially.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus and methods of vibration. In particular, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods of vibration for tooling in a structure, such as, for example, a fuselage. In one implementation, the tooling comprises at least two conductors that create a force to vibrate the media in the tooling, which improves the compaction of the media in the tooling and the extraction of the media from the tooling. Other implementations may be used for compaction and/or extraction of the media in the tooling.

Abstract: A method for producing a machine direction and cross-machine direction elastic laminate includes the steps of providing a one direction elastic laminate material including at least one elastic layer and one facing layer and having a single direction of elasticity and coursing the one direction elastic laminate material through at least one stretching apparatus, such that the stretching apparatus stretches the laminate material in a direction perpendicular to the single direction of elasticity of the elastic laminate material, thereby producing a material that extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of elasticity and also extends the elastic performance of the laminate in the single direction of elasticity.

Abstract: A solid surface sheet includes visible, elongated, shredded cuttings uniformly distributed throughout a matrix wherein the cuttings and the matrix have substantially the same specific weight and wherein a majority of the cuttings are substantially elongated. Related methods are also disclosed including shredding a first mix while in a gel state, curing the cuttings, sorting by size, and using as a filler in a base material to form a blend having a unique appearance and high internal strength. The preferred material is polyester or acrylic. The solid surface sheet can be used as a countertop, floor or wall panel, furniture, and in similar applications.

Abstract: A method of making drainage elements from recycled thermoplastic plastics materials comprising the steps of: providing chopped waste plastics to a screw extruder having a screw. In the extruder, the waste is compressed and delivered to a twin-plate agglomerator. One plate is closely adjacent to, and rotates with respect to, the other plate. Between the plates the waste plastics is agglomerated and the mechanical energy imparted by the extruder screw and plates heats the plastics material to about the melting point of the thermoplastic material. Hot noodles of melted plastics material extrudes from an outlet of the plates. The noodles are conveyed to a chute of a compactor funnel which has an outlet disposed closely above an output conveyor belt.

Abstract: In a casting process of a film production, a casting dope is discharged through an outlet of a casting die. In the casting die, lip plates and inner deckle plates are arranged such that a lower end of each inner deckle plates may be form a protrusion at a side edge of the outlet of the casting die. Each protrusion length from a bottom of the lip plate is at most 9 ?m. Thus the retaining of the casting dope near the outlet through a dope passage in the casting die is reduced, and therefore the skinning doesn't occur in the casting dope.

Abstract: An ice-carving machine comprises a framework, an ice block positioning system, at least one feeding system, and at least one heating mold. The ice block positioning system is fixed on the workbench of the framework for positioning the ice block to be processed. The feeding system drives the heating mold to heat and press the ice block in a mold cavity with a predetermined shape. By the pressure and heat of the heating mold, the ice block is made into the shape identical to the shape of the mold cavity, thus simplifying the process of carving ice blocks, and also saving carving time and cost, being especially suitable for a mass production of ice sculptures.

Abstract: A turning bar draw-off device for a tubular film extrusion installation, with a plurality of turning bars which can be rotatingly driven around a common axis of rotation or in reverse by rotary drive mechanisms. For the rotating or reversing guidance of the turning bars around the axis of rotation, the ends of each turning bar are connected with guide carriages, which are guided on guide rails arranged in a circle.