Abstract: Card-handling devices may include a card-shuffling apparatus, a card output portion, and/or a card input portion. The card input portion may include a card rotation device. The card rotation device may be configured to receive and rotate cards about a minor axis of the cards. The card-handling device may include a card-shuffling apparatus including a carousel having at least one hundred compartments each configured to hold between one and ten cards and arranged radially about the carousel. The card-handling device may be positioned at a gaming structure with a playing surface. The card-handling device may include a card output portion for receiving shuffled cards from the card-shuffling apparatus. The card output portion may be configured to receive the cards where major faces of the playing cards are oriented in a plane substantially transverse to the playing surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for roll coating are provided. The roll coating system (100) includes a coating roll (110) having a deformable inner layer (12) with a surface thereof covered by a deformable outer layer (14), the inner layer being softer than the outer layer. A substrate (3) is conveyed to the nip (12) between the coating roll and a back-up roll (120). A metered coating material is transferred from the coating roll to a patterned surface structure (40) of the substrate at the nip to form a conformal coating on the patterned structure of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for applying coatings on a moving web are provided. A coating die and a back-up roll engage with each other. The back-up roll includes a shell rotatably supported by a pressurized air layer. When a coating material is dispensed from the coating die onto the web to form a liquid coating, the pressure of the air layer is controlled such that the shell translates in space to balance forces from the air layer and the coating bead, while the web is being translated to drive the shell.

Abstract: A diagnostic device includes a sensor stack with multiple panels of a porous material disposed in planes parallel to one another and in face-to-face contact with each other. At least a portion of the panels of the porous material include hydrophobic regions and hydrophilic regions configured to provide a sample flow path for migration of a fluid sample through the sensor stack from one panel to another in the hydrophilic regions. A wicking layer is on a major surface of the sensor stack.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for applying coatings on a moving web are provided. A coating die and a back-up roll engage with each other. The back-up roll includes a shell rotatably supported by a pressurized air layer. When a coating material is dispensed from the coating die onto the web to form a liquid coating, the pressure of the air layer is controlled such that the shell translates in space to balance forces from the air layer and the coating bead, while the web is being translated to drive the shell.

Abstract: An idler roller having a fixed shaft with at least one spherical bearing and a second bearing which may, but need not be, a spherical bearing. In some embodiments, the second bearing is slidably-mounted on a central shaft. A shell is mounted between these bearings. Any changes in dimensions resulting from changes in temperature may them be accommodated by sliding movement of the second bearing, sparing the shell from distortion by bending or buckling. In other exemplary embodiments, the spherical bearing includes a first housing element fixedly-mounted on a central shaft and a complementary first free element disposed against the first housing element. A second bearing element is mounted on the central shaft, and a shell is attached to the first free element and rotatably-mounted to a second bearing element with a biasing element mounted on the central shaft urging a second free element away from the first free element.

Abstract: There is provided a barrier film including a barrier layer having two opposing major surfaces, wherein the barrier layer comprise buckling deformations and non-buckling regions; a first organic layer in direct contact with one of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; a second organic layer in direct contact with the other of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; and a substrate in direct contact with the first organic layer or the second organic layer.

Abstract: Web handling apparatuses and methods are provided to passively control a lateral position of a moving web. The web wraps around support rollers adjacent opposed web edges. One or more guide rollers are positioned adjacent to the support rollers. The guide rollers are in rolling contact with the web edge to guide the moving, misguided web back into its desired lateral position.

Abstract: There is provided a barrier film including a barrier layer having two opposing major surfaces, a first organic layer in direct contact with one of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; a second organic layer in direct contact with the other of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; and a substrate in direct contact with the first organic layer or the second organic layer; wherein the barrier layer comprises buckling deformations with average spacing smaller than average spacing of the buckling deformations in the first or second organic layer.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling curl in multi-layer webs. The method can include providing a coated web, curing the coating to form a multi-layer web, and stretching the web during curing of the coating. Some coatings shrink at least partially when cured such that curing the coating induces a strain in the multi-layer web. Stretching the web occurs during curing to induce an opposing strain that at least partially counteracts the strain induced by curing to form a multi-layer web having a desired curvature. The system can include a curing section configured to cure the coating, and can further include a web stretching section, which can be located proximate the curing section and can be substantially coincident with the curing section, such that the web is stretched while the coating is cured.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method may include engaging a first edge region on a first surface of a substrate with a first support roller; engaging a second edge region on the first surface of the substrate with a second support roller; transporting the substrate over the first and the second support rollers; repeating the following sequence of steps to form a thin film on the substrate: (a) exposing the substrate to a first precursor; (b) supplying a reactive species to the substrate after exposing the substrate to the first precursor; and depositing a vapor on the thin film to form a coating on the thin film.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering a web, including a web path having at least one steering roller and an exit roller, each having a mount; wherein the steering roller(s) each have an axis of rotation and wherein the mounts for the steering roller(s) can pivot those axes with a total of two degrees of freedom. An array comprising a plurality of sensors for monitoring the position of the web is present connected to a controller so as to determine the position and angular orientation of the web. The controller adjusts the pivot(s) of the mount(s) so as to control the angular orientation and the lateral position of the web at a particular point along the web path.

Abstract: There is provided a barrier film including a barrier layer having two opposing major surfaces, a first organic layer in direct contact with one of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; a second organic layer in direct contact with the other of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; and a substrate in direct contact with the first organic layer or the second organic layer; wherein the barrier layer comprises buckling deformations with average spacing smaller than average spacing of the buckling deformations in the first or second organic layer.

Abstract: There is provided a barrier film including a barrier layer having two opposing major surfaces, wherein the barrier layer comprise buckling deformations and non-buckling regions; a first organic layer in direct contact with one of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; a second organic layer in direct contact with the other of the opposing major surfaces of the barrier layer; and a substrate in direct contact with the first organic layer or the second organic layer.

Abstract: A web path for conveying a web material includes at least two support rollers contacting a single major surface of the web material, wherein the web material is of indefinite length and has a first and a second edge. A first support roller contacts a first edge region of the web material, and a second support roller contacts a second edge region of the web material such that the web material has a substantial un-contacted region between the first and the second support roller including at least about 50% of the width of the web material. At least one of the first support roller and the second support roller are supported on a bowed shaft such that at least one of the first and second support rollers is angled with respect to the direction of motion of the web.

Abstract: An apparatus for steering a web, including a web path having at least one steering roller and an exit roller, each having a mount; wherein the steering roller(s) each have an axis of rotation and wherein the mounts for the steering roller(s) can pivot those axes with a total of two degrees of freedom. An array comprising a plurality of sensors for monitoring the position of the web is present connected to a controller so as to determine the position and angular orientation of the web. The controller adjusts the pivot(s) of the mount(s) so as to control the angular orientation and the lateral position of the web at a particular point along the web path.

Abstract: A web path for conveying a web material includes at least two support rollers contacting a single major surface of the web material, wherein the web material is of indefinite length and has a first and a second edge. A first support roller contacts a first edge region of the web material, and a second support roller contacts a second edge region of the web material such that the web material has a substantial un-contacted region between the first and the second support roller including at least about 50% of the width of the web material. At least one of the first support roller and the second support roller are supported on a bowed shaft such that at least one of the first and second support rollers is angled with respect to the direction of motion of the web.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for steering a web (22), including a web path having at least one steering roller (24) and an exit roller (26), each having a mount; wherein the steering roller(s) (26) each have an axis of rotation and wherein the mounts for the steering roller(s) (26) can pivot those axes with a total of two degrees of freedom. An array (30) comprising a plurality of sensors (30a) for monitoring the position of the web (22) is present connected to a controller so as to determine the position and angular orientation of the web (22). The controller adjusts the pivot(s) of the mount(s) so as to control the angular orientation and the lateral position of the web (22) at a particular point along the web path.

Abstract: A web-handling machine frame, at least partially built from reconfigurable interconnected blocks having precision alignment points. From such blocks, modular equipment web-handling lines for web-handling operations can be constructed ad hoc with their shaft mounted web-contacting devices in tram without the need for separate alignment procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for steering a web (22), including a web path having at least one steering roller (24) and an exit roller (26), each having a mount; wherein the steering roller(s) (26) each have an axis of rotation and wherein the mounts for the steering roller(s) (26) can pivot those axes with a total of two degrees of freedom. An array (30) comprising a plurality of sensors (30a) for monitoring the position of the web (22) is present connected to a controller so as to determine the position and angular orientation of the web (22). The controller adjusts the pivot(s) of the mount(s) so as to control the angular orientation and the lateral position of the web (22) at a particular point along the web path.