Abstract: A storage system for storing samples, such as frozen biological samples in RFID-tagged vials. The storage system has (i) a storage device having a device antenna and (ii) a plurality of storage components adapted to be stored within the storage device, each storage component having a component circuit. Each storage component is configured to store one or more samples. The storage device is configured to (i) transmit electrical power and downlink data signals wirelessly to each storage component via the device antenna and the corresponding component circuit and to (ii) receive uplink data signals from each storage component wirelessly via the corresponding component circuit and the device antenna such that a control system located outside of the dewar can identify any specified storage component stored within the storage device.

Abstract: A laboratory specimen tray for the organization of medical and scientific specimens for improving continuity of case/patient identification and reduction in the mislabeling or mixing of specimens between patients is provided. The specimen tray may be an elongated body of material that forms various voids for securing various types of specimen containers and associated paperwork. An upper surface of the specimen tray provides a distinct demarcation, such as one of a plurality of colors, so that two specimens of the same type are never next to each other in a laboratory setting, further preventing the possibility of specimen/patient mix ups. This separation makes sure that a cassette during sectioning by the technologist is not accidentally cut and placed on the wrong patient slide.

Abstract: A tooth shroud for a demolition tool is disclosed wherein forces produced during demolition operations may be dissipated so as to avoid excessive forces at stress points. A tooth block for a demolition tool comprises a first tooth shroud and a second tooth shroud. The first and second tooth shroud each comprising a body having a front wall and an end wall wherein a cavity is enclosed by the front wall and the end wall; an impact member extending longitudinally from the body; and a cut-out disposed on the end wall, wherein the first tooth shroud is connected to the second tooth shroud.

Abstract: A paper shredder having shredder cover and a motor coupled to shredder blades includes a shredder throat in proximity to shredder blades. The shredder throat has a moveable blade, and a fixed blade. A shredder jam grip has a projection in communication with a power switch plunger. When the shredder is in the NORMAL position, a throat gap is in its normal position and the projection positions the plunger to power to the motor. When the shredder is in the JAM CLEAR position, the throat gap is in its wide position and the projection positions the plunger to remove power from the motor.

Abstract: A method for fragmenting and/or weakening of pourable material by means of high-voltage discharges is disclosed. Thereby, a material flow of the pourable material is, immersed in a process liquid, guided past a high-voltage electrode assembly with one or more high-voltage electrodes, while high-voltage punctures through the material are produced by means of charging of the high-voltage electrodes with high-voltage pulses. The zone of the material flow in which the high-voltage punctures through the material are produced is delimited laterally by substantially unmoved zones of the same material as viewed in a guiding-past direction. With the disclosed method, it becomes possible to fragment and/or weaken pourable material in a continuous process by means of high-voltage punctures in a low-wear and low-contamination manner.

Abstract: A movable shredder for metal materials that includes a movable assembly (1) and a drive unit (2), so that the movable assembly shreds the metal material into fragments by means of a shredding element (7), and the drive unit supplies energy to the movable assembly. The energy supplied by the drive unit is used by the shredding element to shred the metal material into fragments. The movable assembly includes a frame (3) and a system of caterpillar tracks (4) which make the movable assembly movable. The movable assembly also includes a feeding conveyor belt (11), a dosing roller (6), the shredding element (7), a metal extraction conveyor belt (8) and an outgoing conveyor belt (9).

Abstract: Hydraulic classifiers are provided for sorting material using injected water. Some embodiments include upper and lower housings having different cross-sectional shapes. In some embodiments, certain improvements are provided for cleanout and/or removal or replacement of teeter bars.

Abstract: Magnetic filter systems may be constructed with various arrangements of permanent magnets, including but not limited to checkerboard and spiral arrangements. When coupled to a conventional filter, exemplary magnetic filter systems capture ferrous particulates against the outer wall of the conventional filter by magnetic attraction, thereby reducing the number of particulates in a fluid stream and improving the quality of the filtered fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a precipitation tube (1; 1?) and to a precipitation tube bundle (100; 100?) for a wet electrostatic precipitator, in particular for separating dusts, gases, and/or aerosols from exhaust gases. The precipitation tube (1; 1?) is distinguished in that the precipitation tube is designed as a modular tube system, comprising at least two wall parts (2, 3), which each form a periphery segment (4, 5) of the inner periphery (6) of the precipitation tube (1; 1?) and are connected to each other so as to form at least part of the inner circumference (6) of the precipitation tube (1; 1?), and/or comprising at least two wall parts, which each form a length segment of the precipitation tube and are connected to each other so as to form at least part of the length of the precipitation tube.

Abstract: The invention is related to a flotation process using an improved collector to remove alkaline earth metal carbonate impurities from phosphate ores. The flotation feed may be conditioned with the improved carbonate collector at acidic pH, and subjected to a reverse flotation. The cell overflow may be collected as waste in which carbonate minerals dominate, and the cell underflow may be the phosphate concentrate. The collector may be a combination of chemicals, comprising: (1) any kind of fatty acids, either conventional fatty acid, saponified fatty acid, or modified fatty acid; (2) chemicals with sulfonate or sulfate groups, such as dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DDBSA) or its salt, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium coco sulfate (SCS), etc.; and (3) phosphorous-bearing chemicals, such as sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), sodium hexametaphosphate (SFMP), trisodium phosphate (TSP), Tetrasodiumpyrophosphate (TSPP), etc.

Abstract: A particle separating system for supplying a cam shaft phase adjuster with cleaned lubricating oil. The phase adjuster includes a stator, a rotor connectable to a cam shaft, and a control valve for hydraulically adjusting the rotational angular position of the rotor relative to the stator. The particle separating system includes an oil separator arranged in the flow of the lubricating oil, upstream of an oil gallery of an engine supplied with the lubricating oil, exhibiting a separation efficiency of at least 50% for particles having a size P1 and a separation efficiency of at least 90% at a size P2>P1; a particle separator arranged downstream of the oil separator and upstream of the phase adjuster or control valve, to clean the lubricating oil for the phase adjuster. The particle separator exhibits a separation efficiency of 50% at a size P3, where P1<P3<100 ?m.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a disc-like apparatus and method of its use allowing for the one-step concentration and separation of therapeutic factors found in mammalian body fluid.

Abstract: Spraying heads may be used in spray guns for applying a pressurized aerosol material in the form of jets or spray. A spraying nozzle for spraying a polyurethane material includes a cylindrical body provided, on a first end, with a base having a mounting aperture extending into the cylindrical body, forming a cavity for arranging a head of a gun. The base of the nozzle is in the form of oppositely-disposed leaves. A second end of the body is provided with a cylindrical shoulder, a through-bore of which is communicated with a V-shaped and laterally non-closed recess at the region of an outlet of the sprayed material. Oppositely arranged plate-like protrusions adjoin a lateral surfaces of the cylindrical shoulder. A mounting aperture end which adjoins the base has a circumferential cut. The spraying nozzle is provided with an attachment means used when in an inoperative position.

Abstract: A water outlet mechanism, includes at least two diversion waterway sets connected to the water source and an outlet, each diversion waterway set has at least two diversion waterways and at least two water diversion passages; water from the at least two diversion waterways impact and converge and then enter the water diversion passages, the flowing direction of the at least two water diversion passages intersect, and water from the at least two water diversion passages impact and then spray out of the outlet. Water from at least two diversion waterways impacts and converges and then enters the water diversion passage, the water particles are refined and shaken; the direction of the at least two water diversion passages intersect, and water in the cavity of the inlet impact again to form wavy water type and then sprays out of the outlet.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a plastic spray gun nozzle having an orientable spray pattern achieved by rotational movement of the repositionable plastic nozzle.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a plastic spray gun nozzle having an orientable spray pattern achieved by rotational movement of the repositionable plastic nozzle.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a plastic spray gun nozzle having an orientable spray pattern achieved by rotational movement of the repositionable plastic nozzle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for two-component mixing in a jetting dispenser are provided herein. A jetting dispenser includes a fluid chamber having a first fluid inlet providing a first fluid and a second fluid inlet providing a second fluid, wherein the first fluid and the second fluid mix within the fluid chamber into a mixed fluid. A method for dispensing a mixed fluid from a dispenser having a fluid chamber in fluid communication with first and second fluid inlets is also provided. A first fluid is provided to the fluid chamber via the first fluid inlet and a second fluid is provided to the fluid chamber via the second fluid inlet. At least a portion of a valve element is moved relative to a valve seat to cause dynamic mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid within the fluid chamber to produce the mixed fluid that is dispensed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a handheld aroma diffuser having a body. The body has a body housing, a protective rear casing and a battery protecting casing that are respectively connected to the body housing in a detachable manner. A placing groove and a battery groove are disposed on the body housing. An atomizing device is contained in the placing groove. A battery device is contained in the battery groove, and the battery device is electrically connected to the atomizing device. The protective rear casing covers the placing groove, and the battery protecting casing covers the battery groove. A mist discharge orifice communicated with the placing groove is disposed on the body housing and connected to the diffusion orifice of the atomizing device in an abutted manner. The atomizing device of the present invention is replaceable to lengthen the service life of the aroma diffuser and reduce use cost.

Abstract: A pump system may include a blown-in dip tube connected to a valve body and having a connection which may include an improved blown-in dip tube connector having one or more of a lip for sealing with a blown-in dip tube, a seal ring configured to mate with a blown-in dip tube and seal therewith, a dip tube lock for mating with a blown-in dip tube, or an o-ring for providing an improved seal with a blown-in dip tube.

Abstract: An electrically-actuated variable pressure control system for use with flow-controlled liquid application systems. Direct acting solenoid valves are pulsed at varying frequencies and duty cycles 0000 change the resistance to flow encountered by the flow-controlled liquid application system. This pulsing solenoid valve technique preserves a high degree of accuracy and uniformity through a wide range of pressure control. This wide range of pressure control indirectly allows the flow-controlled liquid application system to operate over a wider range of flow control, yielding indirect benefits to performance and productivity. When the solenoid valves are attached to pressure-atomization spray nozzles, control over spray pattern and droplet size is further achieved.

Abstract: This method allows a coating product to be applied to a component (13) being moved by a conveyor (12), along which conveyor at least one spray (62.1, 62.2) is arranged.

Abstract: A UAV includes a body and rotor coupled to the body. The UAV may include a boom coupled to the body, and a nozzle coupled to a distal end of the boom, wherein an operational configuration of the nozzle is responsive to a second control signal. The rotor, boom, and nozzle are arranged such that the nozzle is disposed further away from the body than the rotor. The UAV may further include a sensor disposed on either the body or the boom, wherein the sensor is configured to generate a detection signal associated with a distance between the sensor and a surface disposed proximate to the sensor.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a transfer plate pre-processing device. The transfer plate comprises first and second surfaces, and recesses in an array are arranged on the first surface. The transfer plate pre-processing device comprises: a cylinder having a bearing surface that can be attached to the second surface of the transfer plate and to support the transfer plate; and a pressurization structure having a pressurizing surface. The cylinder can roll along the pressurizing surface, and when the cylinder is rolling, the first surface of the transfer plate is brought into contact with and pressed against pressurizing surface. Accordingly, the disclosure also provides a transfer plate pre-processing method and an alignment film preparation system. According the disclosure, the wettability of the transfer plate can be improved.

Abstract: An improved pneumatic jetting valve includes a housing with first and second chambers. A pneumatic piston is enclosed between the chambers. First and second solenoid valves are configured to respectively supply air pressure to the chambers and to exhaust the chambers. A controller is operable to regulate the pressurization and venting of the chambers. The controller controls the timing of control signals for the first and second solenoid valves to control the overlap time during which both the first and second chambers are pressurized. By controlling this overlap time, the controller controls the speed of the drive pin of the jetting valve and thereby the speed at which the valve closes to jet a droplet of material. This allows a valve speed to be selected that is most appropriate for the viscosity of the material being jetted. Numerous new methods for utilizing the improved jetting valve and system are disclosed.

Abstract: The principles and embodiments of the present invention relate generally to an apparatus, system, and methods for coating and calcining a catalytic substrate inline, reducing the processing time to prepare a substrate coated with catalytic material. For example, the disclosure describes a multi-station coater system comprising: a raw weight station, wherein an initial weight of a substrate is measured; a first catalytic substrate coating station, wherein a first wet coating comprising a first catalytic coating and a first carrier liquid is introduced into longitudinal cells of the substrate; a first wet weight station, wherein a wet weight of the substrate is measured; a first inline calciner module, wherein a heating fluid is introduced into the substrate to calcine the catalytic coating; and a first calcined weight station, wherein a calcined weight of the substrate is measured.

Abstract: A retractable nozzle assembly is configured for dosing or dispensing highly viscous materials. The retractable nozzle assembly may be fitted to a delivery device containing a highly viscous chemical product to be dispensed. The retractable nozzle assembly may be actuated by hand, by mechanical action, or by any electromechanical device such as a dispenser. The retractable nozzle assembly includes a first path through a central bore in which the material moves at relatively slower flow rate and a secondary flow path in which the material moves at a relatively faster flow rate. The difference in flow rates at the outlet of the nozzle between the two flow paths helps to eliminate stringing and tailing of the high viscosity chemical product during dispensation.

Abstract: A paint tape system is provided having a base tape and a base tape liner for accurately mounting on a surface to be painted and applying paint on said surface utilizing a paint cavity formed by use of the system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to method to make a spray skin from an aqueous polyolefin dispersion composition comprising a an olefin block copolymer, a dispersing agent, preferably an ethylene acrylic acid, and water, wherein said aqueous dispersion preferably has a pH less than 12 and is derived from the melt blending. The method comprises the steps of spraying the aqueous polyolefin dispersion onto a heated mold forming the skin and then allowing it to dry.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for treating a substrate. The system includes a pretreatment composition for treating at a least a portion of the substrate, the pretreatment composition comprising a Group IVB metal cation; and a sealing composition for treating at least a portion of the substrate treated with the pretreatment composition, the sealing composition comprising a Group IA metal cation. Also disclosed are methods of treated a substrate with the system. Also disclosed are substrates treated with the system and method.

Abstract: An integrated liquidjet system capable of stripping, prepping and coating a part includes a cell defining an enclosure, a jig for holding the part inside the cell, an ultrasonic nozzle having an ultrasonic transducer for generating a pulsed liquidjet, a coating particle source for supplying coating particles to the nozzle, a pressurized liquid source for supplying the nozzle with a pressurized liquid to enable the nozzle to generate the pulsed liquidjet to sequentially strip, prep and coat the part, a high-voltage electrode and a ground electrode inside the nozzle for charging the coating particles, and a human-machine interface external to the cell for receiving user commands and for controlling the pulsed liquidjet exiting from the nozzle in response to the user commands.

Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic transducer including: at least one piezoelectric wafer having two parallel planar main faces: a front face and a posterior face; at least one posterior plate having two parallel planar main faces: an anterior face and a rear face, the anterior face of the posterior plate extending facing, and in contact with, the posterior face of the piezoelectric wafer. The posterior plate has a thickness between three and seven times the thickness of the piezoelectric wafer. The posterior plate has an acoustic impedance between 10 MPa·s·m?1 and 35 MPa·s·m?1. Also disclosed is a method for assembling such a transducer as well as a flowmeter including at least one such transducer.

Abstract: A vibratory system for a screening and/or feeder machine, the vibratory system including shaft lines, each shaft line having an unbalance module, the vibratory system also having a drive device configured to drive the shaft lines in rotation in synchronous manner and in the same direction. The vibratory system also includes an angle modifier device configured to modify the angular position of the unbalance module of one shaft line relative to the angular position of the unbalance module of the other shaft line or of one of the other shaft lines.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and method for sorting and sequencing articles in a processing facility are disclosed. Delivery endpoints are divided and grouped into stop groups. A first sorter sorts items according to stop group and outputs the items to trays. The output trays from the first sorter are loaded to a second sorter in stop group order. The second sorter sorts items for each stop group into separate lanes. Each lane can then be sorted into output bins in delivery sequence order.

Abstract: The invention provides a cleaning blade 1, having an elastic body 11 formed of a rubber base material molded product, and a surface treatment layer 12 on at least an area of the elastic body 11 to be brought into contact with a cleaning object. The surface treatment layer 12 is formed by impregnating a surface portion of the elastic body 11 with a surface treatment liquid containing an isocyanate compound and an organic solvent, and hardening the liquid. The surface treatment layer 12 has an indentation elastic modulus of 21 MPa to 56 MPa. The elastic body 11 has an indentation elastic modulus greater than 20 MPa and 35 MPa or less. The difference in indentation elastic modulus between the surface treatment layer 12 and the elastic body 11 is 1 MPa to 21 MPa.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cleaning blade 1, having an elastic body 11 formed of a rubber base material molded product, and a surface treatment layer 12 on at least an area of the elastic body 11 to be brought into contact with a cleaning object. The surface treatment layer 12 is formed by impregnating a surface portion of the elastic body 11 with a surface treatment liquid containing an isocyanate compound and an organic solvent, and hardening the liquid. The surface treatment layer 12 has an indentation elastic modulus of 21 MPa to 56 MPa. The elastic body 11 has an indentation elastic modulus greater than 20 MPa and 35 MPa or less. The difference in indentation elastic modulus between the surface treatment layer 12 and the elastic body 11 is 1 MPa to 21 MPa.

Abstract: Wands are used as parts of cleaning systems to conduct cleaning agents into gas turbine engine cores. Wands according to the present disclosure include inlet assemblies adapted to connect to cleaning agents, dispensers adapted to discharge cleaners into gas turbine engines, and conduits that extend from the inlet assemblies to the dispensers.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a fluid conduit in a hydrocarbon production installation is described. The method comprises introducing a flexible hose into a fluid conduit system through a pressure control device, and running the flexible hose into a conduit to be cleaned while a fluid stream flows in the conduit. At least one substance is cleaned from the conduit by pumping a cleaning fluid into a bore of the flexible hose and expelling the cleaning fluid from the flexible hose into the conduit through at least one outlet in the flexible hose. The substance is carried the at least one substance in the fluid stream to a conduit outlet.

Abstract: A fume extraction apparatus having an outer conduit with a first elongated open area extending at a first angle and an inner conduit configured for connection to a venting system and received within the outer conduit. The conduits are rotatable relative to one another. The inner conduit has a second elongated open area extending at a second angle different from the first angle. Overlapping portions of the open areas defines an extraction aperture providing a fluid communication between an environment of the outer conduit and an interior of the inner conduit. Different relative orientations of the conduits define different positions of the extraction aperture, so that the extraction aperture is movable upon relative rotation of the inner and outer conduits. A method of extracting fumes during operation of a laser head is also discussed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a cleaning system for machine-cleaning workpieces and/or machine components received in at least one partly open cleaning chamber. A first aspect of the invention relates to a method for machine-cleaning workpieces or machine components received in at least one partly open cleaning chamber, wherein the workpieces or machine components to be cleaned are introduced into the cleaning chamber on a workpiece support and/or a rotary arrangement; at least one cleaning flow is generated by at least one lance device. The cleaning flow being supplied to at least some sections of the outer contour of the workpieces or machine components to be cleaned; and where the lance device can be moved along the outer contour of the workpiece or machine component to be cleaned in a controlled manner by a guiding and moving device dependent on a control routine which is executed in a control unit.

Abstract: A site remediation system for remediating a site including a liquid recirculation mechanism for taking liquid to be remediated from the site, heating the liquid along the liquid recirculation mechanism, optionally treating the liquid using a bioremediation mechanism, and then returning the liquid to the site at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric field intensity compensation method for constructing a non-uniform electric field through an auxiliary electrode, comprising the following steps: in a matrix electrode unit, designing auxiliary electrode arrangement position according to the spatial distribution of the pollutant concentration; designing the polarity of the auxiliary electrode according to the position relationship between the auxiliary electrode and matrix electrodes; and constructing a non-uniform electric field by the auxiliary electrode and the matrix electrodes to implement space compensation of the electric field intensity, In the present invention, a non-uniform electric field matching a pollutant concentration field is constructed by setting the space arrangement and polarity of the auxiliary electrodes on the basis of the matrix electrodes according to the spatial distribution of the pollutant concentration, the contradiction of consistency between the heterogeneity of the spatial distribut

Abstract: The present invention relates to a potential difference-based diversion electrode arrangement and field intensity compensation method, comprising the following steps: the arrangement positions of paired diversion electrodes are determined according to the difference of potential around a position of field intensity to be compensated and the direction of an electric field line, and the paired diversion electrodes are inserted; and the field intensity enhancement rate of the position of field intensity to be compensated and the compensated field intensity value are calculated according to the difference of potential and arrangement positions of the paired diversion electrodes.

Abstract: A temperature calculation method includes: dividing a cross section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of a steel plate to be hot-rolled into a plurality of rectangular elements; and calculating a temperature of each of the rectangular elements using a finite difference method. A first region 31 that includes an edge part of the cross section is divided such that a plurality of the rectangular elements are lined up in a plate-thickness direction and such that a plurality of the rectangular elements are lined up in a plate-width direction. A second region 32 that includes a center of the cross section and is wider than the first region 31 is divided such that a plurality of the rectangular elements are lined up in the plate-thickness direction but the second region 32 is not divided in the plate-width direction.

Abstract: Provided are a method and a device for descaling that make it possible to effectively remove oxide scale from the surface of a metal wire. The descaling includes spraying the surface of a metal wire (W) with a mixture (9) of water and hard particles from a plurality of nozzles (8). The plurality of nozzles (8) include a plurality of self-cleaning nozzles that spray at a spray angle (?) of 90° or smaller with respect to the metal wire (W). The spray angle (?) is the angle formed by the central axis (X) of the spraying and a vector (Vt) indicating a conveyance direction that originates at the intersection (P) of the central axis (X) and the metal wire surface.

Abstract: A system and method provide a material with uniform micro-structure. In an embodiment, an equal channel angular extrusion system includes an interior mandrel. The interior mandrel includes an expanding shear material section and a contracting shear material section. In addition, the system includes a material. The material is disposed about a portion of the interior mandrel. Moreover, the system includes a pressure application device. The pressure application device applies pressure to the material to force the material to contact the expanding shear material section to provide an expanded post-shear material section. Pressure from the pressure application device applies pressure to the material to force the expanded post-shear material section to contact the contracting shear material section to provide a contracted shear material section.

Abstract: A method for induction bend forming of a compression-resistant pipe (1) having a large wall thickness and a large diameter, in particular, for use in power plants and pipelines, comprises: horizontal placement of the unprocessed pipe (1); feeding the pipe (1) to the passage of a front pipe section through an annular inductor (20) of an electrical induction unit; clamping the front pipe section in a bending lock (31) that is mounted on a bending arm (30), which is pivotable around a vertical axis of rotation (32) arranged laterally to the pipe; current supply to the induction unit for heating a pipe section; and deflecting the bending arm (30) by longitudinal feeding of the pipe (1) until the completion of the pipe bend (3). The pipe (1) is compressed vertically in a pressing unit (50) prior to introduction into the inductor (20), such that a cross-section of the pipe (1) is forced into the shape of a lying oval, and a temperature profile with a lower temperature at an outer side of the bend (3.

Abstract: A bent product having a three-dimensionally bent portion intermittently or continuously in the lengthwise direction is manufactured by supporting a steel pipe at a first position A while feeding it in the lengthwise direction, locally heating the steel pipe being fed at a second position B, cooling the heated portion of the steel pipe at a third position C, and varying the position of a gripping means, which grips the steel pipe in a region ID downstream of the third position C, in a three-dimensional direction including the feed direction of the steel pipe in a workspace including a space on the upstream side of the third position C in the feed direction of the steel pipe to impart a bending moment to the heated portion of the steel pipe.

Abstract: In performing burring processing on a sheet-like member, the following processes are performed: a punching process of performing punching processing of the sheet-like member; a hole expansion process of performing hole expansion processing of a punched hole formed by the punching process; a re-punching process of performing punching processing again on a portion surrounding the punched hole expanded by force in the hole expansion process; and a burring process of pushing a portion surrounding a re-punched hole that is a punched hole formed by the re-punching process and forming a vertical wall.

Abstract: A press-forming die (1) includes a die (2) having a die corner (21), which follows along an inward-facing corner (41) of a blank sheet (4), and a punch (3) having a punch corner (31). A corner groove (6) extends along a portion of the punch corner at which leading surfaces (33) and a side surface (34) intersect in a relative stroke direction (X) of the punch. The corner groove is shaped such that its groove width (W) decreases in the stroke direction and converges at a punch corner center (C1). A shoulder radius (Rps) of punch shoulders (3S), which are portions along which the corner groove and the leading surfaces intersect with the side surface, a sheet thickness (t) of the blank sheet (4), and a flange length (Ls) at both ends of the inward-facing corner preferably satisfy the relationship t?Rps?Ls.