Abstract: A support cushion for supporting the feet of a patient above a bed mattress. The support cushion includes a cushion with a transverse cross section having a pair of generally circular end regions and a generally rectangular middle region interposed between the end regions. The end regions each form a generally end portion of the cushion having a generally cylindrical configuration. The middle region forms a middle portion of the cushion having a generally rectangular configuration. A pair of a flexible flaps outwardly extend from the cushion for draping over a upwardly extending side rail located adjacent each side of a bed mattress of the patient to suspend the bottom face of the cushion above the bed mattress.

Abstract: A seat cushion with a carrying handle has a multi-cellular foam interior structure for holding and releasing air encased within an air impermiable covering and at least one valve member secured to the covering and having a conduit extending through the covering into the foam. The handle may span a front indented portion in which the valve is located so as to span the valve. The cushion may have a second valve permitting air to enter into but not exit from the foam so as to re-inflate the cushion gradually. The first valve permits air to exit the foam when it is open while a compressible force is applied to the foam. Thus, when a person sits on the cushion and opens the valve, air within the cellular structure of the foam is expelled in accordance with the force applied and the foam is shaped to that of the user's compression applying members. The second valve permits re-inflation of the cushion gradually if the user fails to open or actuate the first valve when removed from the cushion for an extended time.

Abstract: A bunting bag, particularly well suited for use with children and child carriers, has a top portion detachably coupled to a bottom portion so that the top portion may be completely removed from the bottom portion. The bottom portion is configured or shaped to nest or mate in the child carrier without folds or substantial overhangs. The bottom portion has a head, back, seat, leg, left and right portions and surface area. The top portion has a head, body, and leg portion and preferably covers the bottom portion. The top portion has a surface area less than the surface area of the bottom portion. A first and second two-way zipper couples the bottom end and left and right side of the top and bottom portions. The zippers allow the head portion to fold over the body portion to expose the child's head. In addition, the head and body portions may fold over the leg portion. Furthermore, the leg portion may fold up over the body portion to expose the child's legs.

Abstract: A body support moveable between unfolded and folded positions comprises: serially interconnected body, cavity and seat sections defined by respective upper and lower grids and including resilient members. The body, cavity and seat sections have their upper and lower grids positioned to be substantially coplanar in the unfolded position, and the seat section overlies the body section in the folded position. The resilient members of the seat section are generally planar and are arranged in a plurality of transverse rows. The resilient members are pivotally attached to the seat section upper and lower grids such that, in the unfolded position, the resilient members of the seat section are erect and extend substantially normal to the seat section upper and lower grids, and in the folded position, the resilient members of the seat section pivot relative to the seat section upper and lower grids to bring the seat section upper and lower grids adjacent each other.

Abstract: A suspension bridge housing high rise buildings located at opposite ends of the bridge and integrally sandwiched within the supporting pylons of the bridge. The suspension bridge supports an observation pod at its center and a continuous series of tetrahedron members forming a lattice structure within which is located a hexagonal tube. A pedestrian transportation system is included within the hexagonal tube.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus which includes a substrate retention mechanism having retention rollers, including a plurality of driving rollers, for holding a substrate by abutting the retention rollers against different peripheral edge portions of the substrate, and a rotative driving mechanism for rotating the plurality of driving rollers. The plurality of driving rollers preferably include a pair of driving rollers generally opposed to each other diametrically of the substrate to be held. Further, the retention rollers preferably all serve as the driving rollers.

Abstract: Both the front and rear surfaces and side of a disc-shaped workpieces W transferred along a transfer path 2 are washed by forward-rotating rollers 15a that contact the workpieces while rotating in a forward direction and backward-rotating rollers 15b that contact the workpieces while rotating in a backward direction, the respective types of rollers being located on the respective sides of the transfer path.

Abstract: A paint brush handle for comfortably fits in the hand of a user. The handle includes first and second faces, opposite first and second ends, first and second sides, and a longitudinal axis extending between the first and second ends. An insertion portion is located adjacent the first end. The insertion portion is designed for insertion into the ferrule. The insertion portion has a generally rectangular cross section taken transverse the longitudinal axis, and a thickness defined between the first and second faces. The first and second faces have generally flat regions along the insertion portion. A butt portion is located adjacent the second end. The butt portion is designed for positioning in the palm of a user. The butt portion has a generally circular cross section transverse the longitudinal axis. The butt portion has a maximum thickness defined between the first and second faces. A middle portion is interposed between the insertion portion and the butt portion.

Abstract: An applicator system with interchangeable heads. The system comprises a pair of strap handles which are capable of engaging any one of a variety of different attachment heads. Once engaged, the strap handles may be reciprocated back-and-forth across a region of the user's body so that the attachment head washes, massages or applies lotion to that region. The attachment head in the preferred embodiment has a pouch cavity so that, upon disengaging the attachment head from the strap handles, the user may insert his hand into the pouch cavity and independently employ the attachment head as a hand applicator.

Abstract: A paint roller incorporates a free end cap having a tab or tabs capable of being rotated into a position that prevents the paint roller's cylindrical brush from sliding over the end cap when painting.

Abstract: A wiper blade assembly for a windshield wiper system of a motor vehicle is described in which a carrier yoke system which interconnects the wiper arm with the blade element is constructed of cascadingly interconnected yokes or bows. Pivot joints interconnecting the various yokes includes an opening formed in one or both of opposed yoke surfaces near the joint to expel solid foreign objects such as ice lodged there between.

Abstract: A paint apparatus is disclosed having a plurality of trays for use with a paint roller. A paint reservoir within each tray retains the paint. A grid portion is integrally formed in a lower surface of the paint apparatus, and has a plurality of channels and/or projections. The channels are curved, thereby providing increased surface area for the paint roller. The paint apparatus is also included in a kit containing paint application devices, practice paper, and instructional materials. The paint apparatus is further provided with a metering system which includes a plurality of grids and a mesh structure. The stackable grids are placed within the paint reservoir and permit the paint to wick up to a top surface of the stackable grids. During use of the apparatus, a user fills the paint reservoir with paint to a point below the top surface of the stackable grids. The user the rolls the rolling device over the grids, thereby loading the nap portion with paint.

Abstract: A vacuum system for machine shop dust, particulate matter, and the like. Blast gates control the flow of vacuum generated by a dust collector to individual machines that may or may not accommodate vacuum ductwork and the like. The blast gate has a rotating blade inside a chassis with a DC motor effectively using a slip clutch or an increased current feedback system to limit the rotation driving of the rotating blade. Importantly, a small aperture serves to allow air flow into the chassis gap through which the rotating blade rotates in order to ensure the particular matter does not lodge inside the chassis thereby preventing the proper operation of the rotating blade. A central controller having a microprocessor or the like may be programmed or programmable and serve to individually control a selected number of blast gates based upon a feedback mechanism.

Abstract: An upright vacuum cleaner includes a nozzle base (12) with at least one suction opening (60) formed therein. A rotatable brushroll (64) is positioned adjacent to the suction opening (60) for agitating a surface being cleaned. A suction source (54) is housed within the nozzle base (12). A dust cup assembly (70) is releasably connected to the nozzle base (12). The dust cup assembly (70) connects the suction source (54) and the suction opening (60) in fluid communication. A filter assembly (90) including a handle (101) is positioned between the dust cup assembly (70) and the suction source (54) to block the passage of dirt and dust to the suction source (54). A handle (10) is pivotally connected to the nozzle base (12) and includes an upper handle grip (22) including a hooked portion (24) for hanging the upright vacuum cleaner. First and second wings (74a, 74b) extend from opposite lateral sides of the dust cup cover (72) to facilitate the separation of the dust cup assembly (70) and the nozzle base (12).

Abstract: A door hinge pad (12) and body hinge pad (14) are respectively mounted on the door and body of an automotive vehicle, and interrelated for relative swinging movement by a pivot pin (16). A pair of spaced apart camming surfaces 30 integral with the door hinge pad (12) are resiliently tracked by first and second rollers (68) connected to opposite ends of a compression spring (66) integrally related to the body hinge pad (14). Swinging movement of the door hinge pad (12) away from the closed position moves the rollers (68) over a camming raised portion into a dwell (34) serving as a limit stop at a predetermined door opening angle.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a textile machine, particularly a stretch machine with a can agitation apparatus (7) and/or a can exchange apparatus (4) which is situated in a first chamber (3), which chamber (3) communicates with the space surrounding the textile machine (1). The drive mechanism (72 or 43) of the can agitation apparatus (7) and/or the can exchange apparatus is located in an additional chamber (8 or 5) which is separated from the first chamber (3) by an aerodynamic separative element (6 or 60). Through the separation elements (6 or 60), connection elements (71 or 42) extend from the drive mechanism (72 or 43) to the can agitation apparatus (7) and/or the can exchange apparatus (4). A cleaning element (9) is made available to the first chamber (3) which cleaning element (9) (not shown) is able to be brought into action at specified times.

Abstract: An assembly includes a socket member, a post element, a stud member, and a decorative element. The socket member is secured to a fashion article, such as clothing, accessories (e.g., belts, hats, purse, shoes, etc.) or undergarments using the post element. The decorative element is secured to a front side of the stud member to produce an adornment and may include, but is not limited to, rhinestones, acrylic stones, precious and semi-precious stones, beads, button heads, and crystals. An opposite side of the stud member is structured and configured for releasable, snap fit engagement within the socket member, wherein various individual ones of the assembled adornments may be attached, removed and interchanged on the fashion article in accordance with a desired color scheme, arrangement, and overall appearance.

Abstract: One preferred embodiment includes an elongate tubular body having a passage for insertion of a rope therethrough along the lengthwise axis of the body. A V-shaped or tapered notch is defined through a walling structure of the body with a wider open mouth portion of the notch open through a first end of the body, the notch extends in a narrowing fashion toward a second end of the body. Secured to the exterior of the walling of the body near the second end is a rope holding structure, the rope holding structure sized for receiving and holding a portion of the rope. A preferred embodiment the rope holding structure is a slotted tube or hook.

Abstract: A method for making a textile product from a web of fibers and/or filaments moving in a feed direction. The method comprises a pre-looping step in which the fibers and/or filaments are individually transversely looped relative to the feed direction and optionally transversely stretched, whereafter they pile up in the form of a crimped pseudo-yarn in which the fibers and/or filaments are parallelized. Prior to the pre-looping step, the method comprises a crimping step in which the fibers and/or filaments are crimped with a spacing and a depth that are a multiple of the spacing and depth of the "crimp" formed in the pre-looping step.

Abstract: An apparatus to produce a spun-like synthetic yarn which employs a filament loop breaker which is periodically and automatically opened to break the vacuum pressure to allow lint collected therein to be released and collected. The apparatus includes cantilever suspended rolls to open up the interior of the filament loop breaker to provide more efficient lint removal resulting in the ability to run at higher speeds.

Abstract: A piezoelectric transformer has a plate shaped piezoelectric member including a driving section disposed at one portion of the piezoelectric member including one end thereof and a power-generating section at the other portion of the piezoelectric member including the other end thereof. The driving section includes driving electrodes and a portion of the piezoelectric member which is polarized in the thickness direction. The power-generating section includes a power-generating electrode and a portion of the piezoelectric member polarized in the longitudinal direction. At least one polarization electrode which is exposed in part on a surface of the piezoelectric member is provided between the driving section and the power-generating electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a novel machine tool system provided with selectively energizable magnets for selectively moving a support for a work piece clamping plate into a floating condition and for changing the disposition of the clamping plate relative to operating tools. The floating condition permits movement of the clamping plate substantially without frictional engagement between the clamping plate support and structure such as a machine bed on which the support is movably mounted.

Abstract: A tool for inserting a flexible O-ring in a connector having a recess including a lip. The tool includes a base. A ram is mounted on the base for pushing the O-ring toward the recess. A sleeve is mounted adjacent the ram. At least one chamfered edge is positioned on either the ram or the sleeve for engaging the O-ring to cause the O-ring to flex inwardly during pushing by the ram to allow the O-ring to pass the lip and enter the recess.

Abstract: An LED jig for securing a plurality of individual light emitting diodes to a circuit board module. The LED jig comprises a disk shaped structure having a plurality of openings in which the light emitting diodes are positioned. Flanges on each end of the openings serve to secure the light emitting diodes therein. The LED jig also comprises structures which protect the light emitting diodes from possible damage, structures which serve to secure the LED jig to the circuit board module, structures which serve as guides for properly mounting the LED jig to the circuit board, and structures which serve to offset the LED jig from the circuit board module.

Abstract: A wheel pulling apparatus and method for removing vehicle wheels by pushing against the mounting studs of a motor vehicle wheel assembly. The invention is designed to remove or break uni-mount wheels from large wheel assemblies. A push plate is positioned onto the wheel by at least one receiver. At least two threaded grappling hooks are affixed to the wheel, and the threaded portion of the grappling hooks are slid through slots in the push plate. Washers are inserted and nuts are tightened onto the threaded portion. The nuts are then alternately tightened causing the push plate to snug onto mounting studs and to pull the wheel from the wheel assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus requiring storage of a liquid that needs agitation includes a plastic tank that is rotationally molded around an agitation portion. In a preferred embodiment, an asphalt sealcoat application system has such a plastic rotary molded tank mounted on a powered vehicle or trailer and utilizes a pump connected to a hose and spray wand for application of sealcoat on an asphalt surface. The tank is preferably formed of low density polyethylene resin and the agitation portion includes a plurality of paddles and a shaft extending from the interior of the tank for mixing the sealcoat liquid. The polyethylene tank is rotary molded around the assembled agitation portion. The invention includes the methodology of molding the tank, a tank molded by said methodology, and the apparatus for accomplishing said methodology.

Abstract: Methods for forming a rib on a cannula for cooperation with a safety cover which securably and reliably locks the tip of a cannula in an interior chamber within the safety cover. The cover comprises an elongate body having the interior chamber and an axial through hole which extends along the entire length of the body, through the interior chamber and through which the cannula is slidably received. Displacing elements are positioned within the interior chamber, each of which includes a hole for receiving the cannula therethrough, and which displaces upon retraction of the tip of the cannula, thereby preventing subsequent advancement of the cannula tip. The cannula includes a thickened rib adjacent to the tip, and the safety cover should correspondingly include an annular section in the rear portion thereof. The through hole extending through the rear portion has a diameter which is smaller than the thickened rib of the cannula whereby the cannula tip may not be retracted from the safety cover.

Abstract: In order to improve a folding machine for joining the edges of two sheet-metal parts forming an angle between them by means of a folding procedure, comprising a machine frame, a folding carriage movable on the machine frame by a drive in a guide means extending along a folding direction, this carriage having at least one pair of folding rollers for folding the edges of the sheet-metal parts, and holding devices arranged on the machine frame for fixing the sheet-metal parts in position during the folding procedure, such that large, in particular, long sheet-metal parts can be handled in a simple manner on this machine and are easy to insert into it, it is suggested that the guide means be movable in an essentially vertical direction, and that the folding machine have support surfaces arranged on a supporting plane extending at right angles to the folding direction, the sheet-metal parts being placeable on these support surfaces with edges which extend transversely to the edges resulting in the fold.

Abstract: A device for inserting multiple self clenching fasteners into a sheet of material with a press machine is disclosed. The press machine includes a ram and an anvil. In one embodiment, the device comprises a cylindrical member having a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end contains a bore and the second end is mounted to the anvil. The first end of the cylindrical member has formed thereon a shoulder. The device further includes a sleeve disposed about the shoulder and a spring for biasing the sleeve upward in the first position. In one embodiment, the sleeve is biased by the spring at a height above one end of the cylindrical member. The spring may be a urethane band or mechanical spring placed about the cylindrical member. The device further comprises a cylindrical cover attached to the sleeve, with the cylindrical cover being disposed over the compression spring. Also disclosed herein is a method for inserting self clinching fasteners into a sheet of material with a press.

Abstract: A semi-automated machine for singulating individual surgical needles from an bulk supply and attaching a suture to the surgical needle is described. Each of the surgical needles has a suture receiving opening formed therein for receiving a suture. The machine includes a singulation station having a sliding surface that assists an operator in singulating needles and depositing them in a pair of drop locations for subsequent automatic handling. Indexing conveyors, an articulated robot and a precision conveyor are used with a precise positioning station for orienting each needle for automatic handling. A universal gripper mounted on a rotary indexing device automatically receives each individual needle in a predetermined orientation and conveys the needle for sequential processing from station to station to form the needle-suture assembly.

Abstract: A motor stator comprises a first stator frame part, a second stator frame part including first and second pole portions separated by a stator bridge, and two magnetic arms. Each of two bobbins is wound with a coil and situated on a respective one of the arms. The first and second stator frame parts are coupled by the arms so as to leave an opening between the two bobbins and the first and second frame parts for insertion of a rotor.

Abstract: The invention provides a thin film magnetic head including an upper core layer 9 which comprises a front first core layer 91a formed on a gap spacer layer 6 and having the same width as a track width on the recording medium at least in the vicinity of the face to be opposed to a recording medium, and a second core layer 92 extending from the medium-opposed face over the upper surface of the front first core layer 91a and further over the upper surface of an upper insulating layer 72. The upper core layer 9 has a thickness greater in a region extending from the medium-opposed face to a depth end restricting face DE of a lower insulating layer 71 than in a region extending over the upper surface of the upper insulating layer 72. The front first core layer 91a has an upper surface flush with the upper surface of the lower insulating layer 71. This structure gives an accurate track width and assures production with a high yield.

Abstract: Electronic parts, such as an inductor, of improved connectivity between magnetic and conductive materials are made by sintering magnetic material under a condition in which no accumulation is developed, by forming a hollow-core of a shape different from an external shape of said conductive material through said magnetic material to be molded by an extrusion-molding means while inserting said magnetic material into said hollow-core, or by providing an erasable means to be removed by a heat treatment in said conductive material and conducting extrusion molding so as to embed said conductive material into said magnetic material, said erasable means being removed during a sintering treatment to form a space between said conductive material and said magnetic material, and a method for making same.

Abstract: A fixture for supporting a heat exchanger coil within a tube expander apparatus. The back wall of the fixture contains a series of spaced apart vertically disposed stationary slats. A moveable frame is slidably mounted in the back wall which contains a series of vertically disposed spaced apart moveable slats that are interspaced between the stationary slats. The slats coact to present an adjustable flat support surface to a coil mounted in the fixture that can be adjusted to accommodate different size coils. The front door of the fixture contains a similarly adjustably wall that coacts with the back wall to fully support a coil in the fixture as the tubes of the coil are being expanded.

Abstract: A novel method for bonding a flexible circuit to a substrate is provided. The method uses an adhesive that is curable upon exposure to actinic radiation of a preselected wavelength, and a flexible circuit that comprises a dielectric layer made from a material that is transmissive to actinic radiation of the preselected wavelength and at least one conductive layer disposed on a surface of the dielectric layer. The conductive layer has at least one opening therethrough to allow passage of the actinic radiation through the flexible circuit. The method also employs a substrate which comprises a top surface defining a mating region and at least one channel, and a side surface defining at least one port which is in communication with the channel.

Abstract: A mounting head, a mounting apparatus, and a mounting method which are capable of contacting an electronic component with a substrate with a small contact load and mounting the component on the substrate, are provided. A suction device 120 is fit on a splined axis portion 118 of a support shaft 84 via a ball spline 126, is biased downward by a first spring 130, and is biased upward by a second spring 134. A suction nozzle 124 is attached to a nozzle holder 122 by engaging engagement ridges 172 of sheet springs 166 fixed to the suction nozzle 124 with engagement grooves 144 of the nozzle holder 122, respectively. Prior to the mounting of electronic components 178, a relationship between contact load and position of lift 28 is obtained, and a position to which the lift 28 is moved downward for mounting each electronic component 178 is pre-determined. Thus, each component 178 is contacted with a printed circuit board with an appropriate load.

Abstract: A process for mounting a surface-mount component(12), such as a stick-leaded device, to a circuit board (10) having a pair of plated through-holes and at least one additional through-hole (20), each of which extends through the circuit board (10). The leads (16) of the component (12) are then inserted into the plated through-holes so as to position the component (12) on a first side of the circuit board (10), after which a material (14) is applied to the second (opposite) side of the circuit board (10) so that the material (14) flows through the second through-hole (20), contacts the component (12), and bonds the component (12) to the first side of the circuit board (10). For this purpose, the material (14) preferably contacts the entire surface (18) of the component (12) facing a near surface region of the circuit board (10) and bonds the component surface (18) to the surface region.

Abstract: The present invention provides an interconnection scheme having compliant contacts arranged in an array to connect conductive surfaces on a microelectronic device and a supporting substrate, such as a printed circuit board. This invention accommodates for the difference in thermal coefficients of expansion between the device and the supporting substrate. Typically, an area array of conductive contact pads are connected into rows by conductive leads on a flexible, intermediate substrate. Each of the conductive leads bridges a bonding hole in the intermediate substrate which is situated between successive contact pads. Each of the conductive leads further has a frangible portion within or near each bonding hole. A stand-off between the intermediate substrate and the device is create by compliant dielectric pads, typically composed of an elastomer material, positioned under each contact pad.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing a reliable compressive electrical connection between an electronic package and surface mount pads (6) of the printed circuit board (4) are disclosed. Contact pads (2) are solderable to pads (6) of the printed circuit board (4) and have electrically compatible metallurgy on the contact surface (10). These contact pads (2) are solderable to the pads (6) on their mounting surface (12). The contact pads (2) are assembled to the printed circuit board (4) by first adhesively attaching an array of contact pads to a film (20) and then placing the array over the pads (6) of the printed circuit board (4) and finally reflowing solder (7) which was previously attached to the pads (6) to complete the attachment.

Abstract: A single-piece outer race ring 3, a sleeve-like spacer 11, a plurality of first balls 4, a conventional ball bearing unit 7, a stepped-diameter shaft 1 and the like are assembled into a compound bearing assembly by a bearing maker with high accuracy to enable a user to be free from a cumbersome assembling work of rotating portions or cylindrical rotary shaft and its bearing means of a computer and its peripheral devices. In use, the compound bearing assembly is coaxially mounted in the cylindrical rotary shaft and the like at the user's end to rotatably support the cylindrical rotary shaft and the like in the computer and its peripheral devices.

Abstract: Tool for obtaining materials out of a cylindrical container includes an elongated handle attached to or integrally formed with a generally pie-shaped end plate. The end plate has a downwardly projecting edge for use as a scraping edge when the tool is rotated within the container. The end plate has an edge in the shape of an arc to conform to the inside radial surface of a cylindrical container during use.

Abstract: A new color coded football yardage measuring sleeve for showing an exact distance a football team must move to achieve a first down when measuring chains are brought onto a football field. The inventive device includes a cylindrical sleeve portion having opposed open ends for receiving an existing yardage chain therein. The sleeve portion has a length of ten yards. The cylindrical sleeve portion is divided into one yard increments of alternating colors.

Abstract: A combined leveling device and laser pointer includes a support body which holds a bubble tube and a rotary seat. The rotary seat extends from a front face to a rear face of the support body and has a through-hole which extends from the front face to the rear face and which includes a tapered clamping hole section that is tapered in a direction from the rear face to the front face. The rotary seat is graduated adjacent to the front face, and a clamp is movably provided in the through-hole. The clamp has a plurality of resilient clamp members which are resiliently movable toward or away from one another when the clamp moves into or outward from the tapered clamping hole section. A detachable laser light source unit is insertable into the clamp from the rear face so as to be clamped removably by the resilient clamp members. A hologram is mounted to the rotary seat adjacent to the front face to produce a one-dimensional linear projection image from the laser light source unit.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring machine carries a modular touch trigger probe 100, via an adaptor 200, on its movable arm 10. The probe 100 consists of a retaining module 102 which is mounted to the adaptor 200, and a stylus module 104 which is magnetically connected to the retaining module 102 in a manner which enables the exchange of one stylus module 104 for another. The adaptor consists of a pair of coupling members 202,204 which are urged into mutual engagement by magnets 212. Automatic exchange of stylus modules occurs by using movement of the arm 10 to disengage a stylus module 104 from the retaining module 102. Similarly, the exchange of one probe for another is carried out by using movement of the arm 10 to disengage the lower coupling member 204 from the upper coupling member 202.

Abstract: Solder paste is deposited using a solder stencil with an aperture having a concave edge in order to reduce the formation of solder balls. The solder deposit may be formed on a pad such that the paste has a concave edge. Solder paste deposits may be made on adjacent pads with the concave surfaces facing one another.

Abstract: Described is a through-flow cup which can be filled with a granule material and through which a liquid to be treated can flow, having side walls and sieves which are disposed at the ends thereof and by means of which the liquid can flow through the granule material in the interior of the through-flow cup and the granule material is substantially non-losably held.To improve such a through-flow cup to the effect that the incoming flow of liquid and at the same time any discharge flow of gases are offered the lowest possible level of resistance, it is provided in accordance with the invention that at least one sieve has a flat textile article in which plastic fibres of at least two different kinds are connected together to form a hybrid, wherein the one kind of plastic fibres contains hydrophilic components and the other kind of plastic fibres contains hydrophobic components.

Abstract: When drying of garbage is started, the opening and closing valve 61 is opened, and at the same time the processing tank 21 is heated by the heater 31. Due to the foregoing, temperatures in the processing tank 21 and the heating chamber 30 are raised and water contained in garbage in the processing tank 21 starts evaporating. At a point of time when the heating chamber 30 and the condensing chamber 40 are filled with this steam, the opening and closing valve 61 is closed, and the fan 50 is operated, so that steam in the condensing chamber 40 is cooled and condensed. Therefore, steam generated in the heating chamber 30 flows into the condensing chamber 40, and pressure in the heating chamber 30 becomes negative and the boiling point is lowered. Accordingly, it is possible to evaporate water at a low temperature.

Abstract: A machine for drying a continuous web is provided. At least one drying cylinder around which the web is dried is provided. The cylinder includes a sleeve which transfers heat from steam in the cylinder to an outer surface which contacts the web. The sleeve includes, on an inner periphery thereof, circumferential grooves separated from each another by ribs. At least one of the grooves has a width at its radial outer end which is wider than a width at its mouth at a radial inner end. At least one of the ribs has a width at its radial outer end which is smaller a width at its radial inner end.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus having vacuum processing chambers the insides of which must be dry cleaned, and to a method of operating such an apparatus. When the vacuum processing chambers are dry-cleaned, dummy substrates are transferred into the vacuum processing chamber by substrates conveyor means from dummy substrate storage means which is disposed in the air atmosphere together with storage means for storing substrates to be processed, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber is dry-cleaned by generating a plasma. The dummy substrate is returned to the dummy substrate storage means after dry cleaning is completed. Accordingly, any specific mechanism for only the cleaning purpose is not necessary and the construction of the apparatus can be made simple.

Abstract: An innerboot, particularly for sports shoes, made of thermoformable material, includes, at its inner lateral surface, one or more channels advantageously connected to the outside through one or more holes, the innerboot allowing ventilation of the foot arranged inside the innerboot, improving user comfort.