Abstract: Described herein are transducers and their fabrication. The transducers convert between mechanical and electrical energy. Some transducers of the present invention include a pre-strained polymer. The pre-strain improves the conversion between electrical and mechanical energy. The present invention provides methods for fabricating electromechanical devices including one or more electroactive polymers.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus for a fired body includes a transporting member for transporting a firing jig in which a ceramic fired body is housed; a plurality of blowers for cooling the ceramic fired body; and a suction mechanism for changing the atmosphere inside the firing jig from an inert gas atmosphere to an air atmosphere.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for spinning fibers, or fiberizers, using a rotary fiber-making die system made up of thin plates, embodied by a housing fixture, configured and stacked to define slots, channels and/or grooves through which the material used to make the fibers will flow. The die system allows for the production of different size and types of fibers, including nanofibers having a diameter of less than 1 micron, and facilitates a variety of cost effective methods for extrusion. The use of plates means the dies can be manufactured cost effectively, with easier clean-outs, replacements and/or variations.

Abstract: A method of making cleaning or water-softening tablets involves making a premix of cleaning or water-softening particulates and a lubricant, for example a sucrose ester or sorbitan ester; feeding the premix into a feed port of an extruder; feeding a binder, for example polyethylene glycol, into the extruder at or downstream of the feed port, the binder being a solid at room temperature but being mixed with the cleaning or water-softening particles as a liquid or becoming a liquid inside the extruder; and extruding the resulting mixture into strands which are separated into tablets.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for integrated curing and cooling of golf ball cores. A plate die is used to separate hot golf ball cores from a post-mold matrix. The hot golf ball cores are held in an insulated unit to maintain the elevated temperature of the golf ball cores to achieve additional curing or cross-linking. The hot, cured golf ball cores are then passed through a cooling section where ambient, turbulent air is passed over the golf ball cores to achieve the desired level of cooling. The cooled golf ball cores are delivered to a pneumatic delivery system for additional processing. A cueing hopper is also provided between the insulated unit and the cooling section to serve as a buffer or accumulator in the system.

Abstract: A method for producing sucker elements consisting in thermoforming a layer of plastic material by means of two mold parts, which form at least one impression that has a frustum-like peripheral shape, the mold parts forming means for blanking the peripheral rim of each thermoformed element with a substantially flat central shape surrounded by a frustum-shaped portion.

Abstract: A compression molding machine includes a wheel mounted for rotation around a horizontal axis and a plurality of angularly spaced molds disposed around the wheel. Each of the molds includes a first mold segment and a second mold segment disposed radially outwardly of the first mold segment. Each of the second mold segments is movable radially with respect to the associated first mold segment between a radially inner closed position with the first mold segment for compression molding a plastic article, and a radially outer open position spaced from the associated first mold segment for removing a molded article from the mold and placing a mold charge into the mold.

Abstract: To provide a balloon catheter having a flexible and highly expandable balloon so as to prevent the inner wall of the blood vessel from being damaged by the passage of the balloon In a balloon catheter aimed to be stayed in a blood vessel and to be used mainly for the occlusion of a blood vessel, the balloon comprises a material selected from materials which have sufficient flexibility for preventing a blood vessel blocking operation from giving a damage to a vascular wall, have sufficient elasticity with its shrink characteristics when removing the catheter, and prevent a thrombus due to a direct contact to blood; and a maximum stretching of the material of said balloon in the state stayed in the blood vessel is defined so as to exceed a maximum stretching of said balloon itself.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system for forming a composite perform by passing resin through the composite preform. The system includes a resin flow chamber and a first chamber, which may be a vacuum or pressure chamber. The resin flow chamber includes first and second ends integrally formed with first and second sides. The first end includes a first outlet tube. The composite preform is positioned within the resin flow chamber so that resin may pass through the fiber preform. The first chamber is positioned on the first side of the resin flow chamber and includes a second outlet tube. The resin flow chamber and the first vacuum chamber are separated by a first gas permeable film that allows gases to pass therethrough, but prevents resin from passing therethrough.

Abstract: A method for forming shaped parts from polycarbonate that results in parts having substantially increased chemical resistance. The method includes providing a mold having at least one cavity, such that the mold has a means for cooling the area adjacent to the cavity. Molten polycarbonate is then mixed with a supercritical fluid to form a mixture. This mixture is injected into the mold while using the cooling means to cool the cavity so that its temperature is no more than 150 degrees F. Further improvement in chemical resistance is achieved when fluid pressure is held on the cooling part for a short period.

Abstract: A drying apparatus including a conveying member configured to convey an item to be dried, a plurality of microwave irradiation portions disposed alternately at an upper side and a lower side of the conveying member, and a plurality of hot air blowing portions. The microwave irradiation portions are configured to irradiate the item to be dried with microwaves in an alternating manner from the upper side and the lower side. The hot air blowing portions are configured to apply hot air to the item to be dried in parallel with irradiation of the microwaves by the microwave irradiation portions.

Abstract: A nanofiber and fabrication methods thereof. The method for fabricating the nanofiber includes preparing an electrospinning composition and performing an electrospinning process employing the electrospinning composition. Particularly, the electrospinning composition includes a polymer and an additive as a uniform solution in an organic solvent, wherein the additive renders the electronic characteristic of the polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed, amongst other things, is a molding apparatus and related method for producing aseptic preforms, and a molding apparatus and related method for a controlled crystallization of a molded article, amongst other things.

Abstract: In a method for producing three-dimensionally structured surfaces of objects as a reproduction of an original surface, the topology of the original surface is determined, and the data are used for controlling a machining tool. The determined topology and a random topology of a reproduction surface are brought closer to one another via a series of proximity comparisons until all items of height information of the reproduction surface are successively replaced by items of height information from the original surface, and that once an established similarity between the topologies of the reproduction surface and the original surface is obtained, the items of height information of the reproduction surface are provided for controlling the machine tool serving to machine the surface of the object.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method with inductive heating of an electrically conductive workpiece such as a barrel used in molding or extrusion, having a layer of thermal insulation interposed between the induction windings and the workpiece, and using alternating current (AC) at an elevated frequency. Further, variable pitch induction windings may be used to generate a non-uniform and calculated heat input profile, such as to compliment the configuration of a screw for transporting material through the barrel.

Abstract: A method of producing an injection-molded plastics article having a hollow interior, such as a pipe section comprising the steps of forming a mold cavity having outer dye parts and an inner mandrill to define an annular mold cavity. Then introducing plastics material into the mold cavity and delivering a pressurized fluid to the interface between the mandrill and the inner surface of the molded article through passages in the mandrill opening to the surface thereof, and withdrawing the mandrill while maintaining the outer dye parts in a closed condition. In addition, an apparatus for producing such hollow molded article, the hollow molded article itself, and a method of lining an aged, broken or damaged pre-existing pipeline are also described.

Abstract: Heat is extracted from compressed gas used in a blow-molding process by expansion cooling the exhausted gas and/or passing the exhausted gas through a vortex tube, which supplies cold gas at an exit thereof. The cold gas is then routed through cooling channels in the mold. This obviates the need for recirculating or externally chilling a coolant and saves energy.

Abstract: Even a very small amount of air plasma can reduce the dross during melting. A method and device is shown, whereby substantial saving in the cost of melting aluminum and the energy to melt aluminum is possible by the technique of introducing a small amount of air plasma in the melting environment. In this manner even though the air contains oxygen, and the common practice is presently directed at air being eliminated from the melting environment, an air plasma is able to very effectively be utilized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a refractory ceramic gas bubbling element for a metallurgical crucible and to a corresponding gas bubbling system comprising such a gas bubbling element.

Abstract: An elastomeric tie rod end isolator or an elastomeric cartridge isolator that includes an outer metal sleeve defining a generally cylindrical socket, a generally cylindrical inner metal sleeve disposed coaxially within the socket in radially spaced relationship with the outer metal sleeve, and an elastomeric isolator disposed therebetween. The elastomeric isolator is a unitary annular body formed of an elastomer material and having a radially inboard surface in contact with the inner metal sleeve and a radially outboard surface in contact with the outer metal sleeve. The unitary elastomer body has a generally conical primary load-carrying section and a generally cylindrical secondary load-limiting section, each disposed coaxially about the axis of the socket. The load-limiting section includes a snubber gap formed by an axially extending groove.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pneumatic spring (1) comprising a roll bellow (3) which is secured to an unrolling tube (7) and which forms a spring space therewith (9). The unrolling tube (7) is connected to a base part (11) by means of a ball joint (13) which comprises a spherical bearing element (15) contained in the bearing shell. The bearing shell (17) can be adjusted in relation to the spherical bearing element (15) by means of a clamping element (25).

Abstract: A device for damping oscillations in a steering wheel or in a gas bag module includes an absorption mass, a damping means (14) which is connected to the absorption mass and comprises a damping element (16), and a control means for changing the mechanical oscillating properties of the device and which is coupled to the damping means (14). The control means includes a shiftable mechanical control element (22) which cooperates with the damping element (16). The shifting of the control element (22) permits the adjustment of the intrinsic frequency of the device.

Abstract: In an active vibration isolation support system, an actuator case is constituted by a resin member and holds an outer peripheral portion of an actuator in an upper housing and a lower housing which accommodate therein an elastic body, first and second liquid chambers, a movable member, and the actuator. The plastic actuator case is easily broken by an impact applied thereto upon collision, thereby easily breaking the upper housing apart from the lower housing. Therefore, an engine can move with respect to a vehicle body frame, thereby securing a clash stroke. Also, as compared with the case where the actuator case is constituted by an iron-based member, weight of the active vibration isolation support system is reduced.

Abstract: A coned disc spring is arranged between a second component and a third component provided inside a tubular first component and movable in an axial direction. The coned disc spring comprises a body having a circular dish shape, teeth closely fitting into spline grooves formed on an inner peripheral surface of the first component and projecting to a radial outer side on an outer periphery of the body, and a stress relaxation portion formed by notching a base of the tooth in an approximately circular arc shape in a direction at least one of a circumferential direction and a radial direction of the body.

Abstract: A jounce bumper assembly includes a bumper and a support member for supporting the bumper. The support member is made of a flexible material and is stiffer than the bumper. As the bumper is compressed, the support member is flexibly deformed and expands radially and at the same time limits the radial expansion of the bumper. The support member may have a base portion with a varied thickness. The base portion is also compressed as the bumper is compressed. The support member has the advantages of increasing the spring rate of the bumper to improve the load-carrying capability and providing a softer feel for occupants in a vehicle to which the jounce bumper assembly is mounted.

Abstract: A bar clamp includes a slide bar having forward ratchet teeth; first and second moveable jaws slidably put on the slide bar; a slotted trigger handle; first and second linkages at opposite sides of the slide bar in a cavity of the second moveable jaw, each linkage comprising first, second, and third links wherein one ends of the links are pivotably secured together, and the other ends thereof are pivotably secured to the second moveable jaw, the trigger handle, and the slide bar respectively; a release lever fastened in the slot and comprising a well at one end, a trigger at the other end, and a resilient member interconnecting the slot and the bottom of the trigger; and a pivotal pawl comprising pawl teeth at one end being in mesh with one end of the ratchet teeth, and a projection at the other end being moveably received in the well.

Abstract: A positioning apparatus includes a stage base, a stage moving along a surface of the stage base, a cable having one end connected to the stage, and a straightening structure configured to straighten air currents around the cable. The straightening structure is provided to at least one of the stage and the cable.

Abstract: An elongated element for the frame of a panel system comprising a flexible sheet material includes a main profile to which an auxiliary profile is associated. The auxiliary profile is provided with means for anchoring an edge of the sheet material and it can be moved with respect to the main profile as a result of the driving of position control screws. The main profile is adapted to be fixed on the surface of a wall by connection means engaging a connection portion associated to it. The position control screws have a control formation which can be reached from the outside of the frame, when the main profile of the elongated element is fixed to a wall and the sheet material is anchored to the auxiliary profile.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a structure to lift or lower a paper loading tray without a separate drive source while preventing damage to constituent elements even under an abnormal situation in that excessive force is transmitted to the paper loading tray. The image forming apparatus includes a paper feeding cassette including a paper loading tray and a lifting member to lift or lower the paper loading tray, the paper feeding cassette being detachably coupled to the body, a power intermittence device to intermit power to be transmitted from a drive source provided in a body of the image forming apparatus to the lifting member, and a power transmission device to transmit the power transmitted through the power intermittence device to the lifting member by use of at least one worm gear. The image forming apparatus further includes a safety lever having one end to cooperate with a pickup roller assembly.

Abstract: A broadsheet newspaper printing press has at least one print unit printing at least one web of material and a folder. The folder has a cross-cutter to cut the web of material into broadsheet newspapers, a tucker cylinder having a gripper gripping the broadsheet newspapers at a lead edge and a tucking blade for forming a cross-fold in the broadsheet newspapers, and a jaw cylinder or fold rollers to receive the cross-folded broadsheet newspapers from the tucker cylinder at the cross-fold, the gripper being located with respect to the tucking blade so that the cross-fold is located at between 33% and 45% or 55% and 67% of the height of the newspaper.

Abstract: A gatherer stitcher includes an endless gatherer chain for gathering and transporting folded sheets astride the chain. The gatherer chain has chain roof segments and driving elements being adjustable in position. In an inactive position, a driving element that can be folded forms part of the roof of the gatherer chain and, in another, active position, projects out of the roof of the gatherer chain transversely relative to the conveying direction. The driving element can be driven by a control device. A method for adapting the endless gatherer chain to a format of a product is also provided.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes: a buffer unit which stores plural supplied sheets with upstream edges in a conveying direction thereof aligned; a processing tray on which sheets discharged from the buffer unit are stacked; and an oscillation roller pair and a return roller which convey the sheet stacked on the processing tray to bring the sheet into abutment against a stopper for receiving the upstream edge of the sheet. The buffer unit is adapted to align the upstream edges of only sheets to be stored before a sheet to be supplied last among the sheets to be stored.

Abstract: An automatic document feeder for electric equipment includes an input tray, a driving mechanism, and a block mechanism. The input tray has a receiving end, a discharge end, and a first path extending from the receiving end to the discharge end. The driving mechanism includes a separating-roller shaft disposed above the input tray and in proximity to the discharge end, and a separating roller sleeved fixedly on the shaft. The blocking mechanism includes a blocking member pivotable between a blocking position whereat the blocking member is disposed on the first path, and a non-blocking position whereat the blocking member is removed from the first path. A driven arm is connected to and co-rotatable with the separating-roller shaft so as to pivot the blocking member between the blocking position and the non-blocking position.

Abstract: A sheet conveyance apparatus having; a conveyance roller, wherein a surface roughness Ra of a surface layer remains in a range from 8 ?m to 30 ?m, at a stage where a total length of sheets conveyed reaches at 42,000 m.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating and aerating sheets of material arranged in a stack include a stack support member on which the stack is retained in a generally flat condition, and a clamping member which clamps onto an edge portion of the stack. Upper and lower rollers are positioned above and below the stack of sheet material, and an adjustment member converges and diverges the same into and out of engagement with the stack. A conveyor member shifts the stack of sheet material between the upper and lower rollers. The upper roller and lower roller are arranged in a staggered relationship, such that an imaginary plane extending between the two rollers is disposed at an angle with respect to both the horizontal and the vertical.

Abstract: Feed rollers, stopper rollers situated on both outer sides with respect to the feed rollers, each of the stopper rollers having part of the periphery being a highly frictional portion compared with other peripheral portions, and a flexible, radial member in a position on an inner side with respect to the stopper rollers are disposed on a feed roller shaft; and the highly frictional portions of the stopper rollers are in positions at which phases of the highly frictional portions are the same as phases of highly frictional portions of the feed rollers in a rotational direction respectively. On a pick roller shaft, pick rollers, which have highly frictional portions for passing a paper sheet to a paper sheet running-out section, and have flexible, radial members in positions at a side opposite to the highly frictional portions, are disposed in the same or inside positions in an axial direction with respect to both the outside stopper rollers disposed on the feed roller shaft.

Abstract: A sheet flipping device including a receiving member for receiving a sheet, a flipping volume defined by the flipping movement of the sheet when in operation, a flipping element for flipping the sheet around an axis of rotation within the flipping volume onto the receiving member, and a discharge element arranged adjacent to said flipping volume, the discharge element having a base extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the axis of rotation and having multiple electrodes with an end portion extending in a direction towards the flipping volume. The sheet flipping device is useable in a sheet stacking device and an image reproduction apparatus.

Abstract: A paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus to execute an accumulating processing, in which paper sheets conveyed by a conveyance unit are accumulated in an accumulating unit in a direction of accumulation, and a feeding processing, in which paper sheets accumulated in the accumulating unit are fed to the conveyance unit, comprising a rotating member including one or more pieces, which spread radially from an axis thereof, the rotating member being provided in the vicinity of a connection between the conveyance unit and the accumulating unit to enable the piece or pieces to slap and move a paper sheet in the accumulating unit in the direction of accumulation at the time of accumulating processing, and a guide member provided to guide the piece or pieces to enable the same to be stored toward the axis of the rotating member, whereby the paper sheet accumulating/feeding apparatus is able to readily set the piece or pieces long and endures an operation over a long term and frequent operations.

Abstract: A finishing-compiling station or structure is disclosed where marked copies of paper or other media are transported into a compiling tray for paper registration by paddle wheels or other such deflection loaded compiler drive elements. These sheets of paper after registration are then processed and finished as desired. The pressure applied by the paddle wheels is substantially constant where as prior art pressures varied depending upon the height of the paper stack. A sensor and appropriate software controller gauges the speed of the paddle wheel drive shaft and controls the height of the drive shaft from the stack and thereby equalizes the resulting pressure to a continuous fixed pressure throughout this stacking operation.

Abstract: A sheet of material is received at a sensor assembly, which includes a sensor operable to measure a property of the sheet. An air flow is generated that is substantially tangential to the sheet in order to at least partially control a position of the sheet relative to the sensor assembly. For example, the sheet may be associated with an upstream boundary layer of air and a downstream boundary layer of air. At least part of the air from the upstream boundary layer could be removed and used to provide an air flow forming at least part of the downstream boundary layer. Also, the air flow could be provided between a surface of the sensor assembly and the sheet to at least partially control a distance of the sheet from the surface of the sensor assembly and/or an angle at which the sheet passes the surface of the sensor assembly.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing sheet registration are described. A device having a plurality of drive rolls may receive a sheet. Each drive roll may operate with an associated angular velocity. A state vector, including a plurality of state variables, may be identified. Error-space state feedback values may be determined based on a difference between each state variable and a corresponding reference state variable based on a desired sheet trajectory. Control input variable values may be determined based on the error-space feedback values and one or more gains. A motor control signal for a motor for each drive roll may be determined based on the control input variable values and the state variables. Each motor control signal may impart a desired angular velocity for at least one drive roll. The identifying step and each determining step may be performed repeatedly to register the sheet to the desired trajectory.

Abstract: There are provided a thickness detecting apparatus which can restrain erroneous detection even though a sheet or the like overlaps with only a part of a rotary body, and, which can enhance the degree of accuracy of detection, comprising a cylindrical displaceable rotary body and a cylindrical stationary rotary body which are opposed to each other, the thickness detecting apparatus detecting a thickness of the sheet or the like to be transferred in accordance with a displacement by which the displaceable rotary body is separated from the stationary rotary body, when the sheet or the like passes through between the displaceable rotary body and the stationary rotary body, and the center of a load with which the displaceable rotary body presses the sheet or the like is biased from the center of the displaceable rotary body in one of center axial direction.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing sheet registration are described. A device having a plurality of drive rolls may receive a sheet. Each drive roll may operate with an associated angular acceleration. A state vector, including a plurality of state variables, may be identified. Error-space state feedback values may be determined based on a difference between each state variable and a corresponding reference state variable based on a desired sheet trajectory. Control input variable values may be determined based on the error-space feedback values and one or more gains. A motor control signal for a motor for each drive roll may be determined based on the control input variable values and the state variables. Each motor control signal may impart a desired angular acceleration for at least one drive roll. The identifying step and each determining step may be performed repeatedly to register the sheet to the desired trajectory.

Abstract: A device for conveying a sheet through a typographic or printing technology machine reliably transfers a sheet from a cylinder to a trailing-edge gripper system and includes a chain conveyor, grippers for holding and taking over the leading margin of the sheet from a cylinder and grippers fixed to endless chains for holding the trailing, rear margin of the sheet. When the grippers for the trailing margin pass the cylinder, the grippers are guided in a closed state along a path outside a revolution contour of a support surface and, having passed the cylinder, the grippers are guided in an open state along a path to a radial level of the rear margin held in auxiliary grippers.

Abstract: A stacker wheel is described which has two different types of slots defined by the tines. The first type of slot has an end which is positioned closer to the centre of the stacker wheel than the second type of slot such that the first type of slot can hold media closer to the centre of the stacker wheel than the second type of slot.

Abstract: A paper ejection apparatus of a multifunctional business machine having a driving wheel installed on a rotatable inner door allows the driving wheel to move with the inner door, and therefore provides sufficient space for cartridge replacement when the inner door is opened. A height difference between a platform and an end of a slit of the housing of the multifunctional business machine allows the driving wheel and an exit roller to have an interfering pre-stress in between when the inner door is closed. The driving wheel is not interfered by the exit roller when the inner door is opening, which prevents the driving wheel from deviating, imprecise homing, or even falling when the inner door is opening or closing.

Abstract: The present invention is added to a puzzle corresponding to No. 2001-0007848 of the Korea Utility Model Application, making the user fit desired pieces of the puzzle by putting fixing projections on inner sides of the pieces and putting fixing flat boards having rubber property between upper and lower chains, in addition to the existing method of combining chains to rotational shafts on the center of the pieces. Thus, the gatherings of each piece can be stably fixed through internal pressure actions. According to the present invention, triangular, rectangular, and hexagonal upper and lower pieces are solved by using pressure of the fixing flat boards in order to prevent thin upper and lower chains from shaking, while the respective fixing projections fix the chains by surrounding empty spaces or the exterior of the chains.

Abstract: Interactive jigsaw puzzles have jigsaw pieces with verbiage thereon, such as letters or words. The pieces are assembled to form verbal expressions such as words, sentences, phrases, quotations, nursery rhymes, poems, stories or books. Puzzles may be designed for toddlers, children, young adults and adults who will assemble jigsaw puzzle pieces to complete a word, sentence or story, etc., pertinent to their age, ability and interest levels. Pieces may be color and shape coded with increasing difficulty as readers advance. Puzzles may have interchangeable pieces, allowing the reader/assembler to also become the author by varying the expression. Simple sentences and stories will be completed in one puzzle assembly. Chapter books will have one puzzle per chapter. Pieces may also include illustrations, tactile components to increase sensory involvement, or Braille printing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a game apparatus and a corresponding method, where the game apparatus comprises a game board (1, 4) comprising a plurality of rows (R) and a plurality of columns (CO), said rows and columns defining fields (2) on said game board (1, 4), and a plurality of playing pieces (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12), one set of playing pieces for each individual player of said game and furthermore a plurality of 3D-members (9) for providing different three-dimensional structures or landscapes on said game board (1, 4), the 3D-members (9) comprising a bottom face (32) for placement on said board or on an adjacent 3D-member, a top surface (22, 31) for placement of an adjacent 3D-member or one of said playing pieces (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12) and side faces (30), where the side faces (30) during a play can represent fields (2) that according to specified rules of the game are able to affect permitted movements of said playing pieces (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12).

Abstract: An interactive, entertainment floor game with a singular traverse path from which players attempt to possess an indicia when the music stops, repeating this process until all, except for one player, is eliminated from the game and the remaining player is declared the winner.