Abstract: An apparatus for separating a sheet of print media from a stack of porous sheets includes a sheet conveyor for conveying a topmost sheet of print media which has been separated from the stack to a printing station of a printer. A separator is associated with the sheet conveyor for separating the sheet of print media from the stack. The separator includes a fluid delivery arrangement for blowing fluid on to a top surface of the stack for effecting separation of the topmost sheet of print media from the stack. A capturing arrangement is carried by the sheet conveyor for capturing at least a part of the topmost sheet and for facilitating conveyance of the topmost sheet by the sheet conveyor to the printing station.

Abstract: A polishing pad used in a method for polishing a semiconductor device is made by combining a polymeric matrix and a dissolvable substance that dissolves upon contact with a polishing slurry.

Abstract: An article or polishing pad for altering a surface of a workpiece includes a polymeric matrix having a work surface and a subsurface proximate to the work surface. When the article is in contact with a working environment, the work surface is made relatively softer than the subsurface as a result of exposure to the working environment. As the work surface wears during use, the subsurface immediately adjacent to the work surface becomes exposed to the working environment and becomes the relatively softer work surface. As a result, the relatively softer work surface is continuously regenerated. In an alternative embodiment, an article for altering a surface of a workpiece includes a work surface having a texture, and the texture includes artifacts arranged in a fractal pattern.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a sheet of print media from a stack of porous sheets includes a sheet conveyor for conveying a topmost sheet of print media which has been separated from the stack to a printing station of a printer. A separator is associated with the sheet conveyor for separating the sheet of print media from the stack. The separator includes a fluid delivery arrangement for blowing fluid on to a top surface of the stack for effecting separation of the topmost sheet of print media from the stack. A capturing arrangement is carried by the sheet conveyor for capturing at least a part of the topmost sheet and for facilitating conveyance of the topmost sheet by the sheet conveyor to the printing station.

Abstract: A method of separating a sheet of print media from a stack of sheets, the sheets being porous, includes blowing fluid on to a top surface of a topmost sheet of the print media on the stack so that the fluid passes through at least the topmost sheet of the stack and capturing at least a part of the topmost sheet for conveyance to a printing station of a printer.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head having improved thermal characteristics. The read/write head includes a read element and a write element formed there over. The read element includes a read sensor embedded within a dielectric material and sandwiched between first and second shields. The write element includes first and second poles joined to form a yoke. The yoke is closed at one end and defines a write gap at the other. A coil having windings which extend through the yoke generates a magnetic flux within the yoke. This magnetic flux causes a magnetic fringe field at the location of the write gap, the fringe field being capable of imparting a magnetic signal onto a passing magnetic medium. The coil sits atop a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material which electrically isolates the coil from surrounding structure. When a current flows through the coil, heat will be generated.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes aligned pole tips and a coil proximally disposed between a pair of first and second magnetic yoke layers which define a closed magnetic path with a transducing gap. The second magnetic yoke layer includes a flat geometry with a substantially level cross-sectional profile. The second yoke layer with less curvature results in less mutual inductance with the coil. Furthermore, the coil can be closely positioned between the first and second yoke layer, thereby allowing the coil to be more efficient in inducing magnetic flux in the yoke layers during data writing, and allowing the intercepted flux to induce current into the coil during data reading if the magnetic head is used as an inductive head.

Abstract: The door vent of the present invention includes an elongated tube mounted in a lower wall of the door of a horizontal axis washing machine, providing fluid communication between the interior chamber of the door and the interior of the tub, when the door is in a closed position. The tube projects upwardly within the door to form a standpipe, to prevent water from entering and becoming trapped within the door. A fine mesh screen is mounted in the vent to prevent suds from entering the door. A fan may be mounted to a compartment on the detergent receptacle on the washing machine housing, to draw air through the fluid dispensing system and out into the housing of the washing machine.

Abstract: A boot drain for horizontal axis washing machines includes an elongated hollow tube with a forward end disposed within a lower portion of the boot, and a rearward end disposed within the tub to drain fluid from the lower portion of the boot into the tub. Preferably the tube has an inverted U-shape which creates a siphon to remove pooled liquid within the boot and to transfer the liquid to the tub.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing vibration has a mount for attaching to a vibrating body, such as the frame of an aircraft. A plate is spaced from the mount with a mass there between. A first elastomeric ring is compressed between the mass and the mount, and a second elastomeric ring is compressed between the mass and the plate. The rings act as a spring having a stiffness that defines a resonant frequency at which the mass oscillates. Vibration in the body is reduced by the mass movement absorbing vibrational energy and the energy absorption is maximized when the mass resonates at the vibration frequency. A controller senses body vibration and operates a mechanism that alters the spacing between the mount and the plate thereby adjusting the spring stiffness. The stiffness of the spring is changed until the resonant frequency of the mass is tuned to the vibration frequency of the body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an article of manufacture or polishing pad for altering a surface of a workpiece, such as polishing or planarizing a semiconductor device. The article includes a polymeric matrix impregnated with a plurality of polymeric microelements, each polymeric microelement having a void space therein. The article has a work surface and a subsurface proximate to the work surface. When the article is in contact with a working environment, polymeric microelements at the work surface of the article are less rigid than polymeric elements embedded in the subsurface. As the work surface of the article is abraded during use, the work surface of the pad may be continuously regenerated. In alternative preferred embodiments, the work surface may further include a minitexture and/or a macrotexture. Preferably, the minitexture is formed by fractal patterning at least a portion of the work surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed an automated hemodialysis filtration system comprising one or a plurality of the following improvements, including a supply-regulated pump, an inverted drip chamber, a filtrate system communicating with a hemofilter and comprising a filtrate reservoir, a filter pump and pressure sensors, and a means for adding dry pellets to water to form the dialysate.

Abstract: A hemodialysis system has a blood circuit and a hemofiltrate circuit interconnected at a hemofilter and an air collection chamber. If an infusion of sterile fluid to the returning blood is needed during the dialysis treatment, filtrate in the filtrate circuit is pumped back into the blood circuit. This is also done to purge the blood circuit of blood and return it to the patient at the conclusiion of a dialysis treatment. A blood pump in the blood circuit incorporates a flexible vessel in conjunction with pinch valves which self expand in a controlled manner from a compressed condition to fill with blood from the patient in a suction stroke controlled by the patient's blood delivery rate. Compression of the vessel by an external member then forces the blood through the rest of the blood circuit.

Abstract: A negative working resist composition and medium for microlithographic recording comprises a vinyl polymer having aromatic quaternized nitrogen-containing pendant groups. The resist undergoes a transformation from high to low solubility in polar solvents such as water or low molecular weight alcohols upon exposure to electron beams, ultraviolet light, or X-rays. A method for patterning substrates by employing the resist composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A negative working resist composition and medium for microlithographic recording comprises a vinyl polymer having aromatic quaternized nitrogen-containing pendant groups. The resist undergoes a transformation from high to low solubility in polar solvents such as water or low molecular weight alcohols upon exposure to electron beams, ultraviolet light, or X-rays. A method for patterning substrates by employing the resist composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A thin, sheet material substantially aids in absorbing a mechanical impact or shock--useful in widely disparate applications, e.g., on handle/grips of sports equipment such as bats, rackets, paddles, clubs or the like. The material is formed of a three layer laminate including a central resilient fabric embedded in a low solid-content, large pore polyester or polyether urethane elastomer, bounded by large pore polyurethane of open and closed surface pore configuration, respectively.In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, grip enhancement is effected by providing mating open surface pore urethane surfaces--as by a glove cooperating with a handle wrapping or the like.