Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to an inkjet printing platform. The inkjet printing platform is utilized for fabrication of optical films and optical device structures. The inkjet printing platform includes a transfer chamber, one or more inkjet chambers, a plurality of auxiliary modules, a substrate flipper, and load ports. The inkjet printing platform is operable to perform an inkjet printing process on a substrate to form an optical film and/or an optical device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a faux wood grain finish to plastic architectural plastic boards. The method employs a climate-controlled area for denibbing of boards to prepare a surface and a sprayer to achieve a desired depth of color. A wiper spreads the sprayed on material to form a faux grain finish which may include faux wood knots. The boards are directed through a combination infrared and convection oven having independent curing zones providing specific drying profiles. Once cured, the boards are cooled with forced air cool down fans and transferred into a climate-controlled area for applying a topcoat. The topcoat board is passed through an oven set to a defined temperature for curing and cooled down with forced air cool down fans before packaging and shipping.

Abstract: An application method of applying a liquid agent includes determining any one of positions of the liquid agent at a halfway part between a first end portion and a second end portion in a state in which an application is completed as each of an application start position and an application end position. The method includes applying the liquid agent from the application start position to the first end portion. The method includes turning back from the first end portion and applying the liquid agent to the second end portion, including superimposing, in a height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent. The method includes turning back from the second end portion and applying the liquid agent to the application end position, including superimposing, in the height direction, the liquid agent on previously applied liquid agent.

Abstract: Systems and methods to initiate and perform the painting of an area of interest on a finger are herein disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of capturing an image of the finger in response to receiving a request to paint the area of interest on the finger and using the image of the finger to ascertain an area of interest of the fingernail to be painted. One embodiment includes, in response to determining that the user is satisfied with the area of interest that has been determined, initiating the painting of the area of interest and/or depicting, in real time, the painting of the area of interest to the user.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for applying coating to nails are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, to performing image processing on an image of the nail to locate a boundary of the nail. The method can further include determining a path along which to move the nail relative to an applicator, the applicator being used to coat the nail. In a further embodiment, using the located boundary of the nail, a dispensing procedure for the applicator to follow to coat the nail is determined.

Abstract: Systems and methods to initiate and perform the painting of an area of interest on a finger are herein disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, of capturing an image of the finger in response to receiving a request to paint the area of interest on the finger and using the image of the finger to ascertain an area of interest of the fingernail to be painted. One embodiment includes, in response to determining that the user is satisfied with the area of interest that has been determined, initiating the painting of the area of interest and/or depicting, in real time, the painting of the area of interest to the user.

Abstract: Systems and apparatuses for applying coating to nails are disclosed. In one aspect, embodiments of the present disclosure include a method, which may be implemented on a system, to performing image processing on an image of the nail to locate a boundary of the nail. The method can further include determining a path along which to move the nail relative to an applicator, the applicator being used to coat the nail. In a further embodiment, using the located boundary of the nail, a dispensing procedure for the applicator to follow to coat the nail is determined.

Abstract: An admixture including at least one copolymer having a backbone. The backbone including at least one electrically charged monomer. The at least one copolymer is a grafted copolymer having mean molecular weight within a range between 600 g/mol and 3000 g/mol on side chains of the grafted copolymer. An additive manufacturing ink, Filament of the additive manufacturing ink, and inkjet printing ink including the admixture.

Abstract: A system that can paint a user's nail. The system can utilize a user's smartphone and use the touch screen and camera to detect the position of the user's nail. The device can move an applicator to an appropriate position or instruct the user to move their finger relative to the applicator to paint the nail.

Abstract: A painting system that makes use of drones such as modified quadrotors. The drone includes a support arm that carries a paint nozzle configured for pan and tilt motion. A power supply line is connected from an external power supply to the drone to allow extended flight time. A paint supply line is also connected from an external paint supply to the drone to allow extended painting time and/or surface coverage with each flight. The drone has an onboard controller so painting is autonomous with no human input being required. The drone stores a 3D model of the target structure annotated with the drone trajectory plus commands to control the pan-tilt paint nozzle to perform the painting. At runtime, the controller uses a sensor to view the target structure and localizes itself. The drone then traverses the stored trajectory and implements the painting commands to paint the 3D structure's surfaces.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for a fuel system including a fuel filler pipe, an anti-siphoning device, and a fuel tank. In one example, a manufacturing method may include internally welding an anti-siphon device to a fuel filler pipe, applying a metal coating to the welded device and pipe including the internal welds, and externally welding the coated pipe including the device to a fuel tank. The metal coating to the filler pipe, the device and the internal welds may be applied by an electroless plating process but the electroless plating may not be applied to the external welds.

Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming a three-dimensional object is provided. The forming apparatus includes: a data storage, storing multiple pieces of slice data; a discharge head, discharging a forming material; a forming platform; a main scan driver, i.e., a first direction scan driver, driving the discharge head to perform a main scan as a first direction scan; and a material-accumulating direction driver, changing a head-platform distance between the discharge head and the forming platform. The main scan driver, based on a respective one of the multiple pieces of slice data, drives the discharge head to perform a plurality of the main scans at the same position in the three-dimensional object currently formed.

Abstract: A method for providing electrically-conductive silver-containing metal in a thin film or one or more thin film patterns on a substrate. Electrically-conductive metallic silver is provided from a non-hydroxylic-solvent soluble silver complex represented by the following formula (I): (Ag+)a(L)b(P)c??(I) wherein L represents an ?-oxy carboxylate; P represents an oxime compound; a is 1 or 2; b is 1 or 2; and c is 1, 2, 3, or 4, provided that when a is 1, b is 1, and when a is 2, b is 2. A photosensitizer can also be present. The reducible silver ions in the photosensitive thin film or photosensitive thin film pattern can be photochemically converted to electrically-conductive metallic silver in the thin films or thin film patterns by irradiation with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength within the range of at least 150 nm and up to and including 700 nm.

Abstract: A method for the formation of channels on a metallic substrate is described. The method includes the steps of applying at least one layer of a metallic coating material onto a surface of the substrate by a cold spray technique, so as to define boundary walls for the channels, and to build the boundary walls to a desired height. Additional coating material is then applied on one or more surfaces of the boundary walls by the cold spray technique, so as to modify the shape of the channels. The substrate can be any type of high-temperature component or hot gas path component. In some instances, the substrate is a gas turbine engine wall.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a substrate for a liquid ejection head including an ejection port forming member which has formed therein ejection ports, includes the steps of: forming a first layer by using a first layer forming member; forming a second layer on the first layer by using a second layer forming member; and hardening a partial region of each of the first layer and the second layer and removing a region different from the partial region so as to form the ejection ports, resulting in that the first layer and the second layer constitute the ejection port forming member, and a member containing a solvent to dissolve the first layer forming member and a photo-acid-generating agent having an acid strength weaker than an acid strength of the photo-acid-generating agent contained in the first layer forming member is used as the second layer forming member.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a substrate for transfer printing using a concave-convex structure and a substrate for transfer printing fabricated thereby. The method includes preparing a handling substrate having a concave-convex structure formed thereon; forming a sacrificial layer along the concave-convex structure on the handling substrate; coating a polymer on the handling substrate having the sacrificial layer formed thereon to form a polymer substrate having bumps filling a concave portion of the concave-convex structure; and removing the sacrificial layer from the handling substrate. The substrate includes a handling substrate having a concave-convex structure formed thereon; and a polymer substrate placed on the concave-convex structure and having bumps filling a concave portion of the concave-convex structure of the handling substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a coating, in regions, on a substrate, said coating being based on a formulation, in the form of an active color-change motif, which contains bacteriorhodopsin color-changing pigment, and to coatings produced using a method of this type and to articles having coatings of this type. Here, the method comprises the following steps: a) printing of the substrate with the formulation, in the form of a motif, containing bacteriorhodopsin color-changing pigment; b) partial drying of the printed substrate; c) optionally repetition of steps a) and/or b); calendering of the printed and partially dried substrate; e) complete drying of the coating.

Abstract: A printed material includes a first printed layer and a second printed layer. The first printed layer is produced by printing using a first curing ink which is provided in a first processing region for deformation process and contains at least a monofunctional polymerizable compound. The second printed layer is produced by printing using a second curing ink which is provided in a second processing region for shear processing and contains at least a multifunctional polymerizable compound. In the first curing ink, y1/x1 is 0.5 or less, where x1 and y1 are respective masses of the monofunctional polymerizable compound and the multifunctional polymerizable compound in the first curing ink. In the second crying ink, y2/x2 is 1 or greater, where x2 and y2 are respective masses of the monofunctional polymerizable compound and the multifunctional polymerizable compound in the second curing ink.

Abstract: Provided is a treatment agent used for forming an image on fabric, containing a resin emulsion and a metal salt. A pH of the treatment agent is in a range from 5.5 to 9. The pH may be adjusted using a pH adjuster. Examples of the pH adjuster include sodium bicarbonate, potassium carbonate, calcium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, triethanolamine, and N-butyl diethanolamine.

Abstract: An image recording method includes applying an ink containing a pigment and polymer particles to a region of a recording medium, and applying a liquid composition capable of destabilizing the dispersion of the pigment in the ink to the recording medium so as to cover at least part of the region of the recording medium. The liquid composition contains 6.0% by mass or more of at least one surfactant selected from the group consisting of the compounds expressed by General Formula (1) and the compounds expressed by General Formula (2) relative to the total mass of the liquid composition. The content of the polymer particles in the ink is 1.0% by mass or more relative to the total mass of the ink.

Abstract: A method is provided for marking a tool. The method includes the steps of providing a dented mark in the tool, providing a first protection layer on the tool except the dented mark, and providing a second protection layer on the first protection layer. The first and second protection layers are made of colors that are selected so that when there is a scratch in the second protection layer, a color shown in the scratch is similar to the color of the second protection layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit creation technology that improves conductive line manufacture by adding active and elemental palladium onto the surface of a substrate. The palladium is disposed in minute amounts on the surface and does not form a conductive layer by itself, but facilitates subsequent deposition of a metal onto the surface, according to the pattern of the palladium, to form the conductive lines.

Abstract: Techniques for CNT solubilization and surface-selective deposition via polymer-mediated assembly are provided. In one aspect, a method for self-assembly of CNTs on a substrate is provided. The method includes the following steps. One or more surfaces of the substrate are coated with a thiol-reactive compound. The substrate is contacted with carbon nanotube-polymer assemblies dispersed in a solvent, wherein the carbon nanotube-polymer assemblies include the carbon nanotubes wrapped in a polymer having side chains with thiol groups. Wherein by way of the step of contacting the substrate with the carbon nanotube-polymer assemblies, the carbon nanotube-polymer assemblies selectively bind to the surfaces of the substrate based on an interaction between the thiol groups in the polymer and the thiol-reactive compound on the surfaces of the substrate and thereby self-assemble on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention relates in part to a print method for an arbitrary grey scale image on a transparent substrate such as glass. The present invention makes use of a printer that can print in continuous grey tones. The printed material should be transparent and resistant to the light which passes through it in a projection system. The present invention also provides a continuous grey scale filter made by a printing techniques using liquid inks or toners. Such a continuous grey scale filter can be used for blending multiple images in a multichannel projector system. The present invention also provides a multichannel projector system using the continuous grey scale filter.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a coated low-friction medical device, such as low-friction medical tubing, including applying a coating to one or more selected portions of a surface of low-friction medical tubing to indicate at least one marking formed along the surface of the low-friction medical tubing, and simultaneously or substantially simultaneously: (a) curing the applied coating to a designated temperature (which is above the temperature at which the low-friction medical tubing begins to decompose and shrink) to adhere the applied coating to the surface of the low-friction medical tubing, (b) utilizing one or more anti-shrinking devices to counteract or otherwise inhibit the shrinking of the low-friction medical tubing, and (c) exhausting any harmful byproducts resulting from curing the low-friction medical tubing to a temperate above the temperature at which the low-friction medical tubing begins to decompose.

Abstract: A mechanical component for an internal combustion engine includes a mechanical component body made of one of aluminum and aluminum alloy and used for the internal combustion engine, a nickel plating layer formed to cover a surface of a predetermined portion of the mechanical component body, and a reforming layer formed between the surface of the predetermined portion of the mechanical component body and the nickel plating layer.

Abstract: A method of bonding a metal to a substrate is disclosed herein. The method involves forming a nano-brush on a surface of the substrate, where the nano-brush includes a plurality of nano-wires extending above the substrate surface. In a molten state, the metal is introduced onto the substrate surface, and the metal surrounds the nano-wires. Upon cooling, the metal surrounding the nano-wires solidifies, and during the solidifying, at least a mechanical interlock is formed between the metal and the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for preparing crosslinked polyelectrolytes, in particular crosslinked polyelectrolytes multilayer films. The invention also relates to a method of coating a surface, and the obtained coated article.

Abstract: A method and a device for direct printing onto plastic containers, where an intermediate layer is in a first step using a first device applied onto the container to be printed and the container is in a second step using a second device printed in certain areas, and the intermediate layer enters into a bond with the container and the print layer that is insoluble in aqueous solutions having a pH value between 3 and 10, and is very soluble in aqueous solutions having a pH value in a range less than 3 and/or greater than 10; and a recycling method for a plastic container having an intermediate layer applied.

Abstract: A security paper for manufacturing value documents has a planar substrate equipped on one surface with an anti-forgery means based on a carrier foil having an optically variable security feature. The anti-forgery means and a partial substrate area surrounding the anti-forgery means is furnished with a dirt-repellent radiation-curing first lacquer substantially not influencing the perceptibility of the optically variable security feature. The layer thickness of the lacquer lying is in a range of 0.7 to 2 micrometers. The radiation-curing first lacquer is may be a UV-cross-linking lacquer which after cross-linking is high-gloss. The substrate can be furnished on its surface lying outside the anti-forgery means with a dirt-repellent second lacquer and optionally partly overlaps the first lacquer in the region of the partial substrate area surrounding the anti-forgery means.

Abstract: A tire printing device includes a printer head (2), positioned near a rotating tire (1), that ejects and applies coating material, an unevenness detection sensor (3) that detects a predetermined raised/recessed character on the surface of the rotating tire (1) and a PC (10) that sets the origin of rotation of the tire (1) based on a signal detected by the unevenness detection sensor (3) and synchronizes the operation start time of the printer head (2) with the origin of rotation in order to maintain a constant relationship between the position of the raised/recessed character and the position of application of the coating material. Desired printing is performed by the printer head (2) ejecting and applying the coating material onto a surface of the rotating tire (1) after the rotating tire is mounted on a rim and inflated to a regular shape by being applied with an internal pressure.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanoporous film pattern on a substrate comprising imparting differential surface energy to a surface of a substrate to define first areas having a first surface energy conducive to maintenance of a nanoporous film thereon and second areas having a second surface energy non-conducive to maintenance of a nanoporous film thereon, said first and second areas defining a differential surface energy pattern on the substrate; depositing a nanoporous film precursor onto the differential surface energy pattern; and curing the nanoporous film precursor to form the nanoporous film pattern.

Abstract: Thermal energy guiding systems and methods for fabricating thermal energy guiding systems are provided. A thermal energy guiding system includes a thermal energy source and an anisotropic thermal guiding coating in thermal communication with a surface of the thermal energy source. The anisotropic thermal guiding coating includes a plurality of layers including a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a first thermal conductivity and the second layer has a second thermal conductivity. The plurality of layers are non-uniformly arranged on the surface of the thermal energy source in order to guide thermal energy from the thermal energy source according to a thermal energy management objective.

Abstract: An embossing die is created by printing multiple ink layers (530, 540) in superposition thereby to build up a printed relief pattern (510) in accordance with received design data specifying a design to be embossed. The design data is modified after receipt to introduce into the printed relief pattern to be built, one or more channels (610) which extend depth-wise through multiple ink layers of the printed relief pattern (510) and serve to fully or partially segment the printed relief pattern.

Abstract: A camouflage system includes a layer of an adhesion promoter so paint will adhere to the surface of an article and a first layer of paint applied to the surface on top of the adhesion promoter. A second layer of paint of a different color is applied to a portion of the first layer of paint. The second layer of paint may be in the form of a design, symbol, brand, logo, mark, and/or name. A multi-color layer is then applied to the surface of the article over the layers of paint. The multi-color layer may be a camouflage ink pattern. A clear coat may be applied over the multi-color layer. The multi-color layer affects the visual appearance of the second layer of paint. The second layer of paint may be visible at one viewing angle and may be less visible or non-visible at a different viewing angle.

Abstract: Polymer films comprising crosslinked random copolymers and methods for making the films are provided. Also provided are polymer films comprising random copolymers that are covalently linked to an underlying substrate. The polymer films can be incorporated into structures in which the films are employed as surface-modifying layers for domain-forming block copolymers and the structures can be used for pattern transfer applications via block copolymer lithography. The crosslinks between the random copolymer chains in the polymer films or the links between the random copolymer chains and the substrate surface are characterized in that they can be cleaved under relatively mild conditions.

Abstract: An assembly includes a substrate, a film on the substrate, and a coating on the film. The film includes a material permeable to organic solvents, and the coating includes a material reactive with the film. Alternatively, the assembly may include a substrate including a textured region, and a coating on the textured region. The coating mimics the texture of the textured. In an alternative embodiment, a laminate includes a film including a material permeable to organic solvents, a coating on the film, and an adhesive on a second surface of the film. The coating includes a material reactive with the film. In another embodiment, a method for reducing drag on a substrate includes applying a film on a substrate, and applying a coating on the film. The film includes a material permeable to organic solvents, and the coating includes a material reactive with the film.

Abstract: Absorbent structures for CO2 capture include a honeycomb substrate having partition walls that extend through the honeycomb substrate. The partition walls have channel surfaces that define a plurality of individual channels including a plurality of reaction channels and a plurality of heat-exchange channels. The reaction channels and the heat-exchange channels are arranged such that individual reaction channels are in thermal communication with individual heat-exchange channels. Surfaces of the reaction channels surfaces include a sorbent material, and surfaces of the heat-exchange channels include a coating layer. The coating layer includes a water-impermeable layer formed from a polymer material. The polymer material of the water-impermeable layer does not substantially penetrate into the sorbent material of the partition walls or of the reaction-channel surfaces.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a non-woven fabric having on its surface distributed elements having a physical dimension, comprises screen printing on wet fabric a desired shape using a paste that expands under heating by virtue of a puffing agent contained therein.

Abstract: Crosslinkable random copolymers comprising atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiators and crosslinked copolymer films formed from the copolymers are provided. The random copolymers, which are polymerized from one or more alkyl halide functional inimers and one or more monomers having a crosslinkable functionality, are characterized by pendant ATRP initiating groups and pendant crosslinkable groups.

Abstract: In a method, a response sheet is provided to a user. The response sheet includes a machine-readable form having a number of response areas where the user can provide responses. After being received from the user, the response sheet has ones of the response areas marked by the user with a non-reflective fluid and also has other ones of the response areas being marked by the user with a reflective fluid. The received response sheet includes response areas marked with the non-reflective and the reflective fluid that were not marked in the provided response sheet. Responses provided by the user can be determined using an optical reading apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of mitigating ice build-up on a substrate, comprising applying to the substrate curable film-forming compositions comprising isocyanate-functional curing agents, film-forming compositions with functional groups reactive with the isocyanates, acrylic polymers having polysiloxane side chains, and polysiloxanes.

Abstract: A method is provided for surface treating a substrate utilizing powder coating so that the substrate can be adorned with a decorative pattern and/or color, and can have a durable, aesthetically appealing finish. The decorative pattern can be applied via transfer printing processes, for example, by a sublimation process or a hydrographic process. The method optionally can be used to produce a visually perceivable transition between a decorative pattern, for example, a camouflage pattern, and a generally solid color on the substrate. The transition can be gradual, so that the decorative pattern appears to fade into the generally solid color to provide an appealing visual effect on a product. The method can be used to surface treat a variety of products, for example, archery products and/or firearm products.

Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a liquid discharge head, the liquid discharge head includes a substrate provided on a surface with a first energy generating part and a second energy generating part for generating energy utilized for discharging a liquid; a first discharge port provided corresponding to the first energy generating part so as to face the surface; a second discharge port provided corresponding to the second energy generating part so as to face the surface; a first wall member which has a wall of a first liquid flow path which communicates with the first discharge port; and a second wall member which has a wall of a second liquid flow path which communicates the second discharge port, wherein a distance between the second energy generating part and the second discharge port is greater than a distance between the first energy generating part and the first discharge port.

Abstract: Precoated color chips having a reference colored basecoat and at least one reference effect appearance midcoat partially covering a portion of the basecoat are used to verify the colors of multi-layer automotive coatings when they are applied to automotive components. Visual characteristics of multi-layer automotive coatings may be verified by comparing an applied colored basecoat to the corresponding reference colored basecoat of the precoated color chips, followed by comparing an applied effect appearance midcoat to the corresponding reference effect appearance midcoat of the precoated color chips. Methods of making the precoated color chips are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of printing, onto a substrate (12), an array (14) of spots of reagent compositions for use in a chemical and/or biochemical analysis. The method includes displacing an array of reagent composition containing capillary tubes (22) arranged alongside one another from an inoperative position to an operative position in which open ends of the capillary tubes (22) simultaneously impinge against a substrate and thereafter displacing the array of tubes (22) from the operative position back to the inoperative position. The invention extends to a printing apparatus (10), a method of printing a layered array of spots of reagent compositions, a method of introducing reagent compositions into the tubes, a reagent introducing device for introducing reagent compositions into the tubes and a printing installation which includes the printing apparatus (10) and the reagent introducing device.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling printed ink horizontal cross-sectional areas using fluoropolymer templates. The method initially forms a fluoropolymer template overlying a substrate. The fluoropolymer template has a horizontal first cross-sectional dimension. Then, a primary ink is printed overlying the fluoropolymer template having a horizontal second cross-sectional dimension less than the first cross-sectional dimension. In the case of a fluoropolymer line having a template length greater than a template width, where the template width is the first cross-sectional dimension, printing the primary ink entails printing a primary ink line having an ink length greater than an ink width, where the ink width is the second cross-sectional dimension. In one aspect, the method prints a plurality of primary ink layers, each primary ink layer having an ink width less than the template width. Each overlying primary ink layer can be printed prior to solvents in underlying primary ink layers evaporating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic honeycomb structure comprising a honeycomb body and a multilayered outer layer formed of a thick core layer applied and rapidly dried and a thin clad layer dried more gently to form a crack free dual skin layer. The core layer may have properties that are closer to those of the ceramic honeycomb body in service than the clad layer that may provide a tough outer shell to withstand handling and assembly.

Abstract: A consumable material for use in an additive manufacturing system, the consumable filament comprising a polyamide blend of at least one semi-crystalline polyamide, and at least one amorphous polyamide that is substantially miscible with the at least one semi-crystalline polyamide, and a physical geometry configured to be received by the additive manufacturing system for printing a three-dimensional part from the consumable material in a layer-by-layer manner using an additive manufacturing technique. The consumable material is preferably capable of printing three-dimensional parts having good part strengths and ductilities, and low curl.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft includes the steps of providing an endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft having an inner wall surface, an outer wall surface, and a wall thickness and forming a pattern design into the endoluminal implantable surface, stent, or graft. At least one groove is created in the inner surface of the intravascular stent by applying a laser machining method to the inner surface.