Abstract: A method of producing a catheter includes a step of arranging a lead wire in the lumen of a thermoplastic outer-layer tube such that the lead wire extends in the longitudinal direction of the outer-layer tube; a step of exposing one end of the lead wire out of an opening of the outer-layer tube; a step of joining the one end of the lead wire exposed out of the opening with the inner wall of a ring electrode; a step of covering the opening of the outer-layer tube with the ring electrode; an step of inserting a thermoplastic inner-layer tube in the lumen of the outer-layer tube; and an integrating step of heating the outer-layer tube and the inner-layer tube to integrate the outer-layer and the inner-layer tubes to form an electrode tip such that the lead wire is interlaminarly embedded and fixed between the outer-layer and the inner-layer tubes.

Abstract: A smart factory system for an electrified vehicle includes a components supplying section in which a drive-motor and a one-kit module of speed reducer component parts for forming a speed reducer to be assembled to the drive-motor are supplied to an upper portion of an autonomous mobile robot, a stator assembling section in which a stator to be assembled to the drive-motor is assembled, a speed reducer assembling section configured to sequentially assemble the speed reducer component parts to the drive-motor, a sub-assembling section in which the drive-motor, the stator, and the speed reducer component parts are electrically interconnected, and a test section in which an assembly quality of the drive-motor, the stator, and the speed reducer component parts is checked.

Abstract: A mandrel for holding and positioning an intraocular lens blank during manufacturing includes a shank portion having a central axis and a lens blank holding section configured to hold the lens blank. The holding section includes a central cavity formed concentrically with the central axis of the mandrel. Projections are formed on a surface of the central cavity and are configured to support a first surface of the lens blank at a fixed distance from the surface of the central cavity. A ring fits within a peripheral portion of the central cavity to hold a second opposing surface of the lens blank. A method for making an intraocular lens using the mandrel includes filling the space formed under the first surface of the lens with a liquid, such as water, freezing the liquid, and then machining and/or milling the second surface of the lens blank.

Abstract: A chemical pump assembly useful for negative pressure therapy includes a chemical pump housing having an inner chamber, a reactor located within the inner chamber, an opening provided in the chemical pump housing, a first pull tab which extends from the inner chamber to ambient through the opening, and a removable layer connected to the first pull tab. The reactor is configured to react with a selected gas found in air so as to consume the selected gas when exposed to air in the inner chamber. The removable layer shields the reactor from air in the inner chamber atmosphere until the removable layer is removed.

Abstract: A method of applying a braze component to a honeycomb structure may comprise: applying at least a partial vacuum within a chamber, the chamber defined at least partially by a vacuum device and a cover, the honeycomb structure disposed within the chamber, the braze component disposed between the honeycomb structure and the cover; pulling the cover towards the braze component in response to applying the partial vacuum; and pulling the braze component into a plurality of hexagonal cells defined by the honeycomb structure in response to pulling the cover towards the braze component.

Abstract: Automatic disassembly and assembly system and method for plunger pumps are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of working members, a first robotic arm, a first driver and a second driver. The working members include a rotary puller, a lever, and a gripper; the first robotic arm includes a working end and a connection end, the working end of the first robotic arm is respectively detachably connectable with the plurality of working members; the first driver is connected with the connection end of the first robotic arm and drives the first robotic arm to move in a three-dimensional space; the second driver drives the working member connected with the working end to operate.

Abstract: A mobile liquid tank is disclosed that includes an insulated tank body and two heating elements. Also disclosed is a liquid heating system comprising the mobile liquid tank, as well as methods of heating a liquid using the mobile liquid tank.

Abstract: Methods of fastening are provided. A method comprises contacting a fastener with a first layer of an assembly at a first location. The assembly comprises the first layer, a third layer, and a second layer positioned intermediate the first layer and the third layer. The first layer, the third layer, and the fastener are electrically conductive. The second layer defines a gap and the first location is in communication with the gap. Electrical communication is formed between the assembly and the fastener. The first layer is fastened to the third layer through the gap in the second layer with the fastener. The fastening comprises resistance welding the fastener to the third layer.

Abstract: Presented are metalworking systems for forming metallic workpieces, methods for making/operating such metalworking systems, and battery module cell tabs bent by a multistage cluster-and-bend press. A metalworking system includes a grouping tool and a contouring tool that both align adjacent a workpiece support structure, such as a base plate of a battery module housing buttressing a stack of battery pouch cells. The grouping tool, which may include a first reciprocating plunger or plunger head, presses together a stack of metallic workpieces to thereby form a workpiece set having a first bend profile and a first length. The contouring tool, which may include a second reciprocating plunger or a pair of plunger fingers mounted on the plunger head, is attached to the grouping tool and bends the workpiece set to a second bend profile, distinct from the first bend profile, and a second set length, shorter than the first set length.

Abstract: A vehicle headliner assembly system is provided. The system includes an articulated mounting robot having multiple degrees of freedom, an assembly jig fastened to the mounting robot, a vehicle headliner coupled to the assembly jig, a gripper provided in the assembly jig and configured to engage the headliner, a pressurization unit provided and configured to pressurize the headliner to couple the headliner to a vehicle body; and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the mounting robot to move the assembly jig, to control the gripper to attach or detach the assembly jig to or from the headliner, and to control the pressurization unit to couple the headliner to the vehicle body.

Abstract: A method and system for an automated modular construction factory is presented. A plurality of pre-cast construction panels, a quality control zone, a transportation system, a general stockyard, a sequencing system, an assembly zone, an assembly system, a transit system, a finishing zone, and a plurality of finishing stations are provided. The pre-cast construction panels undergo quality control under the quality control zone and are transported and ordered to the general stockyard through the transportation and sequencing systems. The panels are then assembled into a constructed room in the assembly zone through the assembly system. The constructed room is transported by the transit system to the finishing zone where the constructed room is furnished and completed by the plurality of finishing stations.

Abstract: A device is suitable for inserting sealing pads into one of the sectors of a turbine stator of a turbine, wherein the turbine stator includes a plurality of sectors with adjacent side faces abutting each other and slots arranged opposite each other in the adjacent side faces of two successive sectors. Each stator is configured to receive a predefined sealing pad. The device includes a support for supporting the sector; a robot arm configured to grip the sealing pads, each predefined in accordance with the slot intended to receive it. The robot arm is configured to insert each predefined sealing pad into the slot intended to receive it of one of the side faces of the sector.

Abstract: A method for assembling a fuel cell humidifier can include steps of providing a first humidifier plate and a humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can have a first top plate surface. The humidifier membrane can have a bottom membrane surface. The bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane can be disposed on the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate. The first humidifier plate can be partially melted. This can permit the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate to permeate into the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane. The first humidifier plate can be cooled, which can fuse the first top plate surface of the first humidifier plate with the bottom membrane surface of the humidifier membrane.

Abstract: A method utilizing cold welding to prepare grain boundaries having different included angles includes using a device including a support member. Two bent members are arranged opposite to each other in the support member. One ends of the two bent members are both fixedly connected to the support member, one end, away from the support member, of any bent member is fixedly connected to a first sample, one end, away from the support member, of the other bent member is fixedly connected to a second sample, and the first sample and the second sample are arranged corresponding to each other. The bent member includes a first metal sheet and a second metal sheet having different thermal expansion coefficients. An angle between the first sample and the second sample during butt welding can be controlled by changing an included angle of a bimetallic sheet.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for supplying bolts having an improved bolt supply mechanism so as to enhance work speed and productivity as well as to prevent various interferences and troubles caused by driving a robot. The device for supplying bolts comprises a rotary magazine that indexes a plurality of bolts; and a nut runner having a driving bit that picks up a bolt in the rotary magazine one by one and performs a driving operation, wherein the rotary magazine has a turret that houses a plurality of bolts in a circumferential direction and positions a bolt in the nut runner by rotation.

Abstract: A method for installing a wrap spring includes providing a first sleeve with a first longitudinal axis extending in an axial direction and a lateral surface, and the wrap spring designed to frictionally abut the lateral surface. The wrap spring includes a nominal diameter and a central axis. The method includes applying the wrap spring in a relaxed state to the lateral surface at an angle ? between the central axis and the first longitudinal axis, elastically twisting the wrap spring to change the nominal diameter while the wrap spring contacts the lateral surface, reducing the angle ?, threading the wrap spring onto the first sleeve, and relaxing the wrap spring to establish frictional contact with the lateral surface.

Abstract: A guard for providing a cut-resistant pathway through a body orifice or incision to circumferentially protect tissue at the margin is provided. The guard is made of flexible, cut-resistant mesh material having a plurality of interwoven thermosetting filaments. The guard has a central lumen and at least one flared end. The flared end, which serves to anchor the guard in the body opening, is deformable into a reduced configuration to facilitate its insertion and removal. The layer of mesh stretches laterally to increase the diameter of the central lumen. The flexibility and expandability of the guard allows the guard to conform to body openings of different sizes. The guard may include a drawstring to cinch the flared distal end from the proximal end. The guard is thermoset with the flared distal end that is biased to spring back to its normal, undeformed configuration when released from a deformed configuration.

Abstract: A gold leaf processing device separates gold leaf from a gold leaf fabric having a first base material attached thereto, and attaches the separated gold leaf to a second base material, the gold leaf processing device comprising: a gold leaf attaching part which dips the gold leaf fabric in an aqueous solution to allow the first base material to be sunk and separated from the gold leaf, and attaches the second base material to the gold leaf remaining, in a floating state, on the surface of the aqueous solution; and a gold leaf fabric transfer part which transfers the gold leaf fabric to the gold leaf attaching part. An associated method of using the device is also provided.

Abstract: A guide device (10) is disclosed for constructing a wire or cable fence. The device (10) is arranged for contact with, and movement along, strands of pretensioned wire or cable (64) which form the fence wires. The guide device (10) has a number of rotatable members (16) on a generally horizontal axis of rotation, which are each arranged in use to support one of the strands (64) at a respective, pre-determined elevation above surrounding ground (8). A plurality of fence posts (66) having through-holes (68) that are arranged for receipt of the respective strand(s) (64) can then be caused to slide along the strands (64) in use without contacting the surrounding ground (8), and be spaced apart along those strands (64) to form the posts of the fence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for assembling a roller conveyor having rollers for products, each having a cylindrical roller body and a first and second support element on opposite ends of the roller body, the second support element having pulley means; providing a frame having a first and second frame part for mounting therebetween the rollers; and, for the purpose of mounting a roller to the frame: mounting the first support element to a first mounting provision of the first frame part; passing a drive element and a further drive element over the pulley means of the roller; tensioning the drive element by exerting a force on the roller by means of a tensioning device; mounting the second support element of the roller to a second mounting provision of the second frame part while keeping the drive element tensioned; and removing the tensioning device from the roller.