Abstract: An example apparatus for producing a part from a powder using a powder sintering process can include a build chamber including one or more walls and a build piston configured to support the powder and the part. Additionally, the build chamber can enclose a build cylinder and a build surface, and the build piston can be arranged at least partially within the build cylinder. The apparatus can also include a plurality of heat sources distributed in the walls of the build chamber, the build cylinder and/or the build piston, an energy source arranged outside of the build chamber and configured to produce and direct an energy beam to the build surface, and a controller configured to control the heat sources.

Abstract: An optical disc device includes a first optomechanical mechanism, a second optomechanical mechanism, and a positioning mechanism. The first optomechanical mechanism is located under an optical disc insertable into the optical disc drive to optically access a bottom surface of the optical disc. The second optomechanical mechanism is located over the optical disc insertable into the optical disc drive to optically access a top surface of the optical disc. The positioning mechanism is to precisely locate the second optomechanical mechanism over the optical disc for optically accessing the top surface of the optical disc and to prevent the second optomechanical mechanism from interfering with movement of the optical disc during insertion and removal of the optical disc into and from the optical disc drive.

Abstract: An optical disc device has a first optomechanical mechanism, a second optomechanical mechanism, and a sled mechanism. The first optomechanical mechanism is located under an optical disc insertable into the optical disc device to optically access a bottom surface of the optical disc. The second optomechanical mechanism is located over the optical disc insertable into the optical disc device to optically access a top surface of the optical disc. The first and the second optomechanical mechanism are disposed on the sled mechanism. Movement of the sled mechanism results in both the first and the second optomechanical mechanism moving radially in relation to the optical disc.

Abstract: A solution is provided that includes a non-aqueous organic solvent within which a solute has been dissolved. A thermal-fluid ejection mechanism is provided that has fluid-ejection nozzles and that is capable of thermally ejecting the solution. A device medium is provided that has a three-dimensional surface on which the solution is to be ejected. The fluid-ejection nozzles of the thermal fluid-ejection mechanism are controlled to eject the solution onto the three-dimensional surface of the device medium in accordance with a desired pattern.

Abstract: A recordable medium having a data side and a label side has one or more template patterns printed on the label side, and has at least first indicia including a template-reference-position mark.

Abstract: An optical disc device has a first optomechanical mechanism, a second optomechanical mechanism, and a sled mechanism. The first optomechanical mechanism is located under an optical disc insertable into the optical disc device to optically access a bottom surface of the optical disc. The second optomechanical mechanism is located over the optical disc insertable into the optical disc device to optically access a top surface of the optical disc. The first and the second optomechanical mechanism are disposed on the sled mechanism. Movement of the sled mechanism results in both the first and the second optomechanical mechanism moving radially in relation to the optical disc.

Abstract: A solution is provided that includes a non-aqueous organic solvent within which a solute has been dissolved. A thermal-fluid ejection mechanism is provided that has fluid-ejection nozzles and that is capable of thermally ejecting the solution. A device medium is provided that has a three-dimensional surface on which the solution is to be ejected. The fluid-ejection nozzles of the thermal fluid-ejection mechanism are controlled to eject the solution onto the three-dimensional surface of the device medium in accordance with a desired pattern.

Abstract: An optical disc device includes a first optomechanical mechanism, a second optomechanical mechanism, and a positioning mechanism. The first optomechanical mechanism is located under an optical disc insertable into the optical disc drive to optically access a bottom surface of the optical disc. The second optomechanical mechanism is located over the optical disc insertable into the optical disc drive to optically access a top surface of the optical disc. The positioning mechanism is to precisely locate the second optomechanical mechanism over the optical disc for optically accessing the top surface of the optical disc and to prevent the second optomechanical mechanism from interfering with movement of the optical disc during insertion and removal of the optical disc into and from the optical disc drive.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a direct smelting plant and a direct smelting process for producing molten metal from a metalliferous feed material, such as ores, partly reduced ores, and metal-containing waste streams, the latter of which comprising the steps of (a) pretreating metalliferous feed material in a pretreatment unit and producing pretreated feed material having a temperature of at least 200° C., (b) storing pretreated metalliferous feed material having a temperature of at least 200° C. under pressure in a hot feed material storage means, (c) transferring pretreated metalliferous feed material having a temperature of at least 200° C. under pressure in a hot feed material transfer line to a solids delivery means of a direct smelting vessel, and (d) delivering pretreated metalliferous feed material into the direct smelting vessel and smelting metalliferous feed material to molten metal in the vessel.

Abstract: A solids feed means for a direct smelting plant is disclosed. The solids feed means includes 2 or more pairs of lances for injecting solid feed materials for a direct smelting process into a direct smelting vessel. The solids feed means also includes a main supply line and a pair of branch lines for supplying solid feed material to the lances of each pair of lances with the branch lines interconnecting the main supply line and the lances of the pair of lances. The lances are arranged around the vessel in pairs of diametrically opposed lances. At least one pair of lances is provided for injecting metalliferous feed material (such as iron-containing materials, particularly iron ore fines) and at least one of the other pairs of lances is provided for injecting solid carbonaceous material (such as coal) and optionally fluxes. The pairs of lances are arranged around the vessel so that adjacent lances are lances that are provided to inject different materials.

Abstract: A direct smelting plant that includes an effective and reliable solids feed means for injecting solid feed materials, particularly carbonaceous material, into a direct smelting vessel of the plant is disclosed. The solid feed means is characterised by independent supply of carbonaceous material to injection lances. The independent supply of carbonaceous material minimises the possible adverse impact of a a breakdown of one or more than one lance or a breakdown of the carbonaceous material injection means for that lance or lances.

Abstract: A process for forming nanostructures comprising the step of applying on localised regions of a smooth thin film of bistable or multistable molecules an external perturbation with preset magnitude thereby said film undergoes a collective morphological transformation and nanostructures are formed by selforganisation of said molecules, said nanostructures having preset number, size, interspacing and shape. The nanostructures can be used as storage medium in storage devices.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for supplying solid feed materials for a direct smelting process to solids injection lances of a direct smelting vessel is disclosed. The feed materials supply apparatus includes a supply line (L) for conveying iron-containing material and solid carbonaceous material under pressure to solids injection lances (7), and the supply line includes a main feeder line section (15) and a plurality of branch line sections (17) extending from the main feeder line section. Each branch line section is connected to one solids injection lance for supplying iron-containing material and carbonaceous material to that lance. The apparatus further includes an assembly for dispensing iron-containing material under pressure into the main feeder line section of the supply line and an assembly for dispensing carbonaceous material under pressure into the main feeder line section of the supply line.

Abstract: A photorefractive composite comprises a charge transport matrix and an electrooptic dye having an aliphatic group of four or more carbon atoms.