Abstract: Customizable articles and a method of customization are disclosed. The method produces customizable articles having a graphic or pigment arrangement sandwiched between a film transfer layer and an exterior surface of the customizable articles. The process involves aligning a customizable article and a graphical transfer assembly on a press assembly, heating the press assembly, and applying pressure to the customizable article using the press. After removing the customizable article from the press assembly, the process comprises removal of the carrier layer and inspection of the resulting customizable article.

Abstract: A medical device consists of a stent having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; a single expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) layer contacting the first surface of the stent; and an elastomeric layer applied to at least one surface of the stent. In at least one embodiment, the elastomeric layer is silicone. In at least one embodiment, the medical device is manufactured by positioning the ePTFE layer such that a first surface of the ePTFE layer contacts a first surface of the stent to form a stent-ePTFE assembly; and applying an elastomeric solution to the first surface of the ePTFE layer and at least one surface of the stent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a printed wiring board (10) includes the steps of: forming a core including carbon fiber reinforced plastic having a primary through hole (3a); forming a first adhesive member (4a) on a lower surface of the core to cover the primary through hole (3a); charging an insulating member into the primary through hole (3a); forming a second adhesive member (4b) on an upper surface of the core; forming a third adhesive member (6a) below the first adhesive member (4a); forming a fourth adhesive member (6b) on the second adhesive member (4b); and forming interconnections on the core.

Abstract: A mounting device and method for mounting a component is disclosed. The mounting device includes a component carrier and an adapter. The adapter is insertable into a guide of the component carrier. The method uses the mounting device to mount a component on the mounting device.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing a flexible substrate with uniformly spaced images and corresponding physical or virtual registration marks at regular intervals, applying an energy curable coating to the flexible substrate either uniformly or in selected spots, and providing a master web carrying uniformly spaced impressing images and corresponding registration marks at regular intervals, where accurate alignment of the registration marks of the flexible substrate and the master web is achieved by stretching the master web to align the registration marks.

Abstract: A fusion splicing apparatus includes discharge electrodes 13 and 15 to discharge-heat and fusion-splice end faces 5a and 7a of optical fibers 1 and 3, fiber holders 17 and 19 to hold the optical fibers 1 and 3, V-groove blocks 21 and 23 to receive, position, and fix parts of the optical fibers 1 and 3 on the end face sides of the fiber holders 17 and 19, V-groove-block moving mechanisms 33 and 35 to move the V-groove blocks 21 and 23 so as to shift an axial center of the optical fibers 1 and 3 from a straight line between the discharge electrodes 13 and 15, and holder moving mechanisms 37 and 39 to move the fiber holders 17 and 19 so as to shift the axial center of the optical fibers 1 and 3 from the straight line between the discharge electrodes 13 and 15.

Abstract: A first process for making labels comprises the steps of feeding a laminated combination of a face stock and a process liner to a cutting station such as a microperforator or die-cutter and thereafter stripping the process liner from the face stock and further processing the face stock. The process liner may be recycled and reused. A second method includes all of the steps described above along with the further step of laminating the cut or perforated face stock, immediately after stripping off the process liner, to a second lighter liner which carries the face stock, minus the web or matrix of waste material, to a roller. A complete description of the machinery is given herein.

Abstract: A composite stencil for applying designs to walls and other surfaces is disclosed. The stencil includes a porous textile support layer to which a flexible stencil mask is bonded by an adhesion layer. The support layer supports unconnected parts of the stencil mask without bridges common with traditional stencils. Further, the textile support layer in the open areas of the stencil can be colored with a sublimation dye to suggest to a user the colors that should be applied in the various areas of the stencil. A pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to the back of the stencil. In use, the stencil is removably adhered to a surface by the pressure sensitive adhesive, whereupon paint or other pigment is applied through the textile support layer to the surface. The lack of bridges permits the entire design to be applied with a single stencil in a single session. The stencil is cleanable and reusable to apply additional designs.

Abstract: A cable assembly having a first cable component with a length and at least a first conductive element extending in a lengthwise direction, and a second cable component with a length and at least a second conductive element extending in the lengthwise direction. The first and second cable components are separately pre-formed and thereafter releasably bonded together through a separately applied composition at discrete locations between the first and second cable components at spaced intervals along the lengths of the first and second cable components. The first and second cable components are capable of being drawn, one away from the other, to selectively break the bond between the first and second cable components at at least one of the discrete locations to thereby separate the first and second cable components.

Abstract: Multi-layer printed wiring boards may be produced by: (1) conveying an adhesive sheet from an adhesive sheet roll wherein an adhesive sheet having a prepreg formed on a support film is wound in a roll and placing the adhesive sheet such that a prepreg surface contacts one or both of the surfaces of a circuit board, (2) partially adhering the adhesive sheet to the circuit board by heating and pressing a part of the adhesive sheet from the support film side, and cutting the adhesive sheet according to the size of the circuit board with a cutter, (3) heating and pressing the temporarily fitted adhesive sheet under reduced pressure to laminate the adhesive sheet on the circuit board, (4) forming an insulating layer by thermally curing the prepreg, and (5) detaching the support film after the thermal curing step.

Abstract: A medical device consists of a stent having a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; a single expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) layer contacting the first surface of the stent; and an elastomeric layer applied to at least one surface of the stent. In at least one embodiment, the elastomeric layer is silicone. In at least one embodiment, the medical device is manufactured by positioning the ePTFE layer such that a first surface of the ePTFE layer contacts a first surface of the stent to form a stent-ePTFE assembly; and applying an elastomeric solution to the first surface of the ePTFE layer and at least one surface of the stent.

Abstract: Novel methods for extending electrostatic chuck lifetimes are provided. The methods involve providing a chuck having a metal cooling plate attached to a ceramic top plate, and after a period of use, disassembling the chuck, and providing a new chuck including the used metal cooling plate. In certain embodiments, the use of a low temperature bond material uniquely allows the described disassembly and reassembly without damage to other parts of the chuck.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board includes laminating a first core substrate and a second core substrate, forming a first upper buildup layer on a surface of the first core substrate, forming a second upper buildup layer on a surface of the second core substrate, separating the first core substrate and the second core substrate from each other, laminating the first upper buildup layer formed on the first core substrate and the second upper buildup layer formed on the second core substrate, forming a first lower buildup layer on the opposite surface of the first core substrate, forming a second lower buildup layer on the opposite surface of the second core substrate, and separating the first upper buildup layer and the second upper buildup layer.

Abstract: Provided is an optical functional film in which air bubbles can be effectively prevented from forming during lamination, and preferably in which a carrier film does not tear readily. Also provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device using this optical functional film. A belt-shaped optical functional film is used in order to cut away the optical functional film at predetermined intervals from the belt-shaped optical functional film to which a carrier film is bonded, with the carrier film remaining uncut; to subsequently turn over the carrier film by an edge-shaped member and peel away the optical functional film; and to laminate the exposed surface of the optical functional film to a sheet member while the optical functional film is being peeled away, wherein the optical functional film is characterized in that the flexural rigidity of the carrier film per unit length in the longitudinal direction is from 5.0×10?5 N·mm2 to 8.

Abstract: The system and method for manufacturing the composite candle wick includes a mechanism for feeding the cotton wick and wood wick at substantially the same speeds. The wood wick is heated in order to cause a melting of a wax coating around the cotton wick and pressure is applied to the wick materials through a compression wheel and drive belt which carries the wick materials. Once the pressure is applied to form the composite wick the wicks are then sent through a cutting tube where a cutting blade will cut the wick to its desired length.

Abstract: The present patent application relates to a wafer support arrangement, comprising a wafer (1), a support layer system (5, 6) and a separating layer (4), which is arranged between the support layer system (5, 6) and the wafer (1), wherein the support layer system (5, 6) (i) comprises a support layer (6) and (ii) a layer (5) from a through hardened, partially hardened or hardenable elastomer material on the separating layer side or consists of these two layers and wherein the separating layer (4) (iii) is a plasma polymer layer and (iv) the adhesive bond between the support layer system (5, 6) and the separating layer (4), after the elastomer material has through hardened, is greater than the adhesive bond between the wafer (1) and the separating layer (4).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing filtration units (2), for example for biomedical use and the like, constituted by a box-like enclosure (3) and a filtration element (4) which can be mutually assembled, comprising a step of injecting a retention element (6) in the fluid state in a seat (5), which is associated with the box-like enclosure, for accommodating the filtration element (4); a step of embedding an end of the filtration element (4) in a portion of the retention element (6) kept in the fluid state; and a step of consolidation of the retention element (6) in order to lock the filtration element (4) in the seat (5), the retention element (6) being a thermoplastic polymeric material which can be applied by hot injection in a preset closed volume of the seat (5).

Abstract: A tool defines a piston/cylinder with first and second chambers on either side of the piston. A sealable port couples the first chamber to ambient environment. One end of the tool (i) defines a volume that is open to ambient environment, and (ii) has a cartridge coupled thereto such that the volume remains open to ambient environment. The cartridge defines (i) a chamber filled with a meltable material, and (ii) a channel coupling the material-filled chamber to ambient environment. A melting device in thermal communication with the meltable material simultaneously heats an air/water mixture in the second chamber and melts the meltable material. An element releasably coupled to the tool spans a region within the cartridge that lies within the channel. The element incorporates a check valve separating the volume defined by the tool and ambient environment.

Abstract: A high bulk laminated board is produced using one or more embossed plies. A method of producing the laminated board comprises: embossing first and second plies to produce first embossed projections extending from first sides of the first and second plies; placing adhesive on the first embossed projections on the first side of each of the first and second embossed plies; bringing the first and second plies together such that the first embossed projections on the first and second embossed plies are aligned; applying pressure to the first side of each of the first and second embossed plies to cause the first and second embossed plies to adhere together to form a composite ply; and adhering first and second flat outer plies onto first and second sides of the composite ply. Corresponding apparatus is provided.

Abstract: A composite for on demand release of fragrance, comprising a foam layer imbibed with fragrance; a top polymer layer, impermeable to said fragrance but containing perforations; and a bottom double sided film adhesive layer with a releaser liner on the outside surface; such that said foam layer is in between said top and bottom layer and when compressed by a user said fragrance is released thru the perforations in said top layer. Related method of manufacture and use of the composites in a book are also provided.