A winding device includes: a separation unit that separates sheets layered and simultaneously transported; a winding unit that winds one of the sheets separated by the separation unit; and a pressure contact unit that presses the one of the sheets wound by the winding unit from outside of the wound sheet toward the winding unit.

An upper electrode for a plasma processing apparatus includes a body portion having a plurality of through-holes, a showerhead disposed below the body portion and having a plurality of jet holes connected to the plurality of through-holes, and a buffer layer interposed between the body portion and the showerhead.

A dry etching apparatus plasma processes a wafer held by a carrier having a frame and an holding sheet. The carrier is placed on an electrode unit of a stage provided in a chamber. The electrode unit is cooled by a cooling section configured to cool the electrode unit. An upper face of the electrode unit is at least as large as the back side of the carrier. The holding sheet and the frame are cooled effectively by the heat transfer to the stage.

A surface machining method for a single crystal SiC substrate, including: a step of mounting a grinding plate which includes a soft pad and a hard pad sequentially attached onto a base metal having a flat surface, a step of generating an oxidation product by using the grinding plate, and a step of grinding the surface while removing the oxidation product, wherein abrasive grains made of at least one metallic oxide that is softer than single crystal SiC and has a bandgap are fixed to the surface of the hard pad.

Provided are a substrate chuck and a substrate bonding system including the substrate chuck. The substrate bonding system includes a lower substrate chuck and an upper substrate chuck disposed on the lower substrate chuck. The lower substrate chuck has a non-flat lower substrate contact surface, and the upper substrate chuck has a flat upper substrate contact surface.

There are provided an adhesive for a solar-cell back sheet having an excellent curing rate and being capable of exhibiting excellent adhesive performance by short-term aging, and also a polyol composition used for the adhesive, a solar-cell back sheet using the adhesive, and a solar-cell module using the sheet. The adhesive for a solar-cell back sheet contains, as essential components, at least one hydroxyl group-containing resin (A) selected from a polyester polyurethane polyol (A1), a polyester polyol (A2), a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylic resin (A3), and a hydroxyl group-containing fluorocarbon resin (A4), a polyisocyanate (B), and a cyclic amide compound (C).

A pattern-forming method includes providing a first ion beam at a first incidence angle and a second ion beam at a second incidence angle to a surface of an etch target layer formed on a substrate. Patterns are formed by patterning the etch target layer using the first and second ion beams. The first ion beam and the second ion beam are substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to a normal line that is perpendicular to a top surface of the substrate. Each of the first and second incidence angles is greater than 0 degrees and smaller than an angle obtained by subtracting a predetermined angle from 90 degrees.

A transfer system includes an expander roll for removing a wrinkle in a separator original sheet, and (i) the expander roll and (ii) a transfer roller immediately followed by or following the expander roll are spaced from each other at a distance of not less than 1 m and not more than 10 m.

A prepreg provided with a first resin layer and a second resin layer which is formed on this first resin layer, wherein the first resin layer is formed by a first resin composition, the second resin layer is a layer which comprises a resin layer which is formed by a second resin composition which is different from the first resin composition and in which a fiber base material is contained, the second resin layer is provided with a fiber base material-containing layer which contains the fiber base material, an A layer which is positioned at an opposite side of the first resin layer side of the fiber base material-containing layer and which does not contain the fiber base material, and a B layer which is positioned at the first resin layer side of the fiber base material-containing layer and which does not contain the fiber base material, and said B layer has a thickness which is smaller than the thickness of the first resin layer, is provided.

A method of verifying removal of peel ply material from a composite structure is provided. The method includes doping a layer of peel ply fabric with an identifier. The method also includes curing the composite structure with the layer of peel ply fabric disposed on a surface of the composite structure. The method further includes removing the layer of peel ply fabric from the surface. The method yet further includes scanning the surface of the composite structure for the identifier.

An apparatus and related method of utilizing articulating vacuum plates to manipulate a film or polymeric sheet and form a three dimensional article is provided. The apparatus can be in the form of an articulating vacuum plate system which includes one or more plates or mold parts that are configured to support a sheet, constructed for example, from a polymeric film, in a two dimensional configuration or a three dimensional configuration in a first mode. The apparatus is constructed so that the plates and/or mold parts can articulate or move so as to reconfigure the sheet from a generally planar configuration into a second three dimensional configuration in a second mode for further forming, optionally while the plates and/or mold parts apply vacuum to the sheet while the plates and/or mold parts articulate, so that the plates and/or mold parts bend or otherwise manipulate the configuration and shape of the sheet.

The invention relates to compositions comprising composite materials comprised of discontinuous fibers and one or more polymers and/or oligomers. The invention relates to methods of making the same. The composite materials can be in the form of compositions, composite sheets, laminates, pellets, and/or shaped composite products.

A method and a device for heat sealing multiple plies of a laminate from which gable top packaging can be produced, wherein the laminate has a carrier layer made of electrically non-conductive material and a sealing layer made of thermoplastic material on at least one surface of the laminate. To heat seal multiple plies of a laminate in a high-frequency alternating electric field, the alternating electric field is generated by a first lead of an HF voltage supply in a first sub-region of the sealing region and is generated by a second lead of the HF voltage supply, differing from the first lead, in at least a second sub-region of the sealing region, so that a different heat distribution is obtained over the sub-regions of the sealing region.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

Apparatuses and methods for applying a transfer material onto the surface of an article are disclosed, including apparatuses and methods of transfer printing on and/or decorating three-dimensional articles, as well as the articles printed and/or decorated thereby. In some cases, the apparatuses and methods involve providing a deposition device, such as a printing device; providing a transfer component; depositing a material onto a portion of the transfer component with the deposition device; modifying the portion of the transfer component with the transfer material thereon to conform the transfer component to at least a portion of the surface of the three-dimensional article; and transferring the transfer material onto the surface of the article.

A device for producing a strip-shaped composite sheet may comprise at least two outer metal cover sheets and at least one plastic layer disposed between the two outer metal cover sheets. The device may further comprise at least one first laminating device for laminating the metal cover sheets with the at least one plastic layer arranged between the metal cover sheets, with the first laminating device comprising at least two laminating rolls forming a laminating gap. One object of the present disclosure is to provide methods and devices for producing composite sheets, with which the economy, in particular the production speed, of the production method can be significantly increased and at the same time the risk of delamination of the composite sheets during the further processing can be reduced.”

A machine (1) and a method for thermobonding using an emission of electromagnetic waves (13), for example microwaves, to activate one or a plurality of adhesive layers located between a support and one or a plurality of layers of flexible covering, through a bed of particles (4) fluidized by a humidified gas. A multi-layer upholstery item including at least one non-permeable layer and produced in a single operation is also described.

Method and apparatus for lamination of substrates, e.g. rigid plastic layers, to manufacture laminated products. The methods include the sequential application of vacuum and mechanical force through a two-stroke process performed by a lamination apparatus having one or more force-producing stroke cylinders. Actuation of a cylinder to produce a first stroke creates a sealed chamber within the apparatus, enclosing a stack of substrates to be laminated. The sealed chamber may be evacuated of air by application of a vacuum. Subsequent actuation of a cylinder to produce a second stroke applies mechanical force to the sealed chamber, which compresses the substrates into a laminated product substantially free of air bubbles or voids.

The present invention relates to novel thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) compositions that contain linear monohydric alcohols. The present invention provides for TPU compositions which may be applied at relatively low temperatures, but upon activation (e.g., activation by ultraviolet light), exhibits higher temperature and melt resistance.

The present invention relates to a process for detaching a component from an electronic assembly. In particular, the present invention relates to a process for detaching a component bonded with a liquid optically clear adhesive (LOCA) in a display module by using electromagnetic radiation (EMR).

The disclosed composite wood particulate products, adhesives contained in such wood particulate products, and methods of making the adhesive and the wood particulate products employ an aldehyde-free adhesive, and more specifically a formaldehyde-free adhesive. The aldehyde-free adhesive includes an inert additive that extends a resin, such as an isocyanate resin, and forms an evenly dispersed, less expensive polymeric adhesive admixture. The extender-filler of the resin is mixed with water to form a slurry. The slurry can then be mixed with a resin, like the isocyanate resin, to form the adhesive. Various rheology modifiers can be added, if desired, to the extender-filler or the slurry. The adhesive can be blended with wood particles to form a mat that is then pressed into a composite wood particulate product.

A self-masking label and method of use for wrapping about elongate articles. The label includes a series of label sections positioned end-to-end along the length of the label and supported on a carrier strip during printing. A first label section is configured to be marked or printed with indicia; a second label section may be transparent; a third label section is arranged to overlap the first and second sections and to cover and protect the indicia, during for example, an over-coating procedure; and a fourth label section includes a non-sticky tab section.

A plasma system includes a source electrode, an RF source power generation unit, an RF source power output unit, and a source power output managing unit. The source power output managing unit determines an amplitude and a duty cycle of a pulse RF source power based on information on an amplitude of a continuous wave RF source power.

The present invention provides a temperature adjusting apparatus for a focus ring, wherein heat radiated from the plasma onto the focus ring is transferred downward to a base through the first heat conducting pad contacting a lower surface of the focus ring, an insulating ring contacting a lower surface of the first heat conducting pad, and the second heat conducting pad contacting a lower surface of the insulating ring, so as to be cooled by a cooling system provided at the base; turning on a heater disposed in a grounded shielding ring to generate a controllable external heating source, heat from the heater being transferred to the focus ring through the shielding ring, a third heat conducting pad contacting the shielding ring, the insulating ring contacting the third heat conducting pad, and the first heat conducting pad, so as to perform controllable warming to the focus ring. By providing a good heat conduction path in conjunction with controllable heating power, the present invention achieves a fine control of the working temperature of the focus ring such that it is tunable in processing such as etching, thereby satisfying processing demands.

The present invention discloses a multi-zone active-matrix temperature control system, the control system having a temperature control matrix and a gate driver; the temperature control matrix comprising: N*M temperature control modules forming a N-row M-column matrix, a power supply line, and a power return line; each temperature control module comprising: a temperature control unit adapts to be heated up by electrical power for temperature controlling; a semiconductor switch provided with a gate electrode connected with the gate driver, two ends of the gate, which turn on or off, being connected with the power supply line, and with the power return line through the temperature control unit, respectively. In the temperature control matrix, one ends, which are connected with a power return line, of the temperature control units of temperature control modules in a same row or same column are serially connected, and connected with the power supply line; one ends, which are connected with the power supply line, of the semiconductor switches of the temperature control modules at a same row or a same column are serially connected, and connected with the power supply line. The present invention may precisely perform temperature control to each zone of the electrostatic chuck and significantly reduces the number of electrostatic chuck lead-out lines.

A refrigeration system includes: a compressor arrangement for compressing gaseous refrigerant from a first pressure to a second pressure, wherein the second pressure comprises a condensing pressure; a plurality of condenser evaporator systems, wherein each condenser evaporator system comprises: (1) a condenser for receiving gaseous refrigerant at a condensing pressure and condensing the refrigerant to a liquid refrigerant; (2) a controlled pressure receiver for holding the liquid refrigerant from the condenser; and (3) an evaporator for evaporating liquid refrigerant from the controlled pressure receiver to form gaseous refrigerant; a first gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding the gaseous refrigerant at the second pressure from the compressor arrangement to the plurality of condenser evaporator systems; and a second gaseous refrigerant feed line for feeding gaseous refrigerant from the plurality of condenser evaporator systems to the compressor arrangement.

An evaporator and methods of using the same are described herein. A vapor-compression refrigeration apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology utilizes a fluid refrigerant and can include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in succession and in fluid communication within a closed loop in order to circulate the fluid refrigerant. The apparatus can include at least one line within the closed loop in operable communication with the condenser for reducing temperature of at least a portion of the fluid refrigerant coming from the condenser prior to the fluid refrigerant entering the expansion device.

Apparatus for and method of rapidly chilling a beverage in which a vessel having high thermal mass relative to the amount of beverage to be introduced into the vessel is cooled through contact with a cooling module to a temperature low enough that a volume of beverage introduced into the vessel is rapidly cooled.

An apparatus for separating and storing liquid refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including a housing configured as a refrigerant collection container, the housing having a refrigerant outflow line disposed therein. The refrigerant outflow line extending from an inlet opening, which is disposed in a gas refrigerant region and above a level of the liquid refrigerant, via a liquid refrigerant region to the outside, and has a through-opening formed in the liquid refrigerant region. The housing includes a boiling element for liquid refrigerant disposed therein. The boiling element is connected to the refrigerant outflow line in the region of the through-opening, such that a liquid passing through the through-opening from the housing passes through the boiling element by suction of a gas refrigerant.

A container treatment installation having a refrigeration installation, and a method for starting the operation of a refrigeration installation of a container treatment installation, are provided. The refrigeration installation comprises a refrigerant vessel for receiving a refrigerant which can be used for cooling a component of the container treatment installation, and a control device for controlling an amount of the refrigerant in the refrigerant vessel such that, after operation of the refrigeration installation, only a predetermined residual amount of refrigerant remains in the refrigerant vessel for the transport of the refrigerant installation, and after the transport of the refrigeration installation, the predetermined residual amount is filled up with a predetermined replenishment amount of refrigerant.

An evaporator assembly for an ice-making apparatus having a vertical, substantially flat freeze surface, a refrigerant circuit, and a freeze template. The freeze template is thermally coupled between the freeze surface and the refrigerant circuit, and is formed of a plurality of regions arranged in a plane and interconnected by strips having a smaller dimension in the plane than the regions. Interface locations between the freeze template and the freeze surface define where on the freeze surface ice is to be formed. During a freeze cycle, expanded refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, and water is run over the freeze surface. During a harvest cycle, compressed refrigerant is passed through the refrigerant circuit, wherein heat transfers from the refrigerant circuit to the freeze surface until the freeze surface is warmed to a temperature sufficient to allow ice formed on the freeze surface to fall from the freeze surface by a force of gravity.

Disclosed are a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator according to one aspect includes a main body having a storage chamber; a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; a condenser configured to condense the refrigerant compressed by the compressor; an evaporation expander configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; a first evaporator configured to evaporate the refrigerant depressurized by the evaporation expander and thus to cool the storage chamber; a condensing expander installed between the condenser and the evaporation expander and configured to depressurize the refrigerant condensed by the condenser; and a subsidiary condenser installed between the condensing expander and the evaporation expander and configured to condense the refrigerant depressurized by the condensing expander.

Apparatus for and method of rapidly chilling a beverage in which a vessel having high thermal mass relative to the amount of beverage to be introduced into the vessel is cooled through contact with a cooling module to a temperature low enough that a volume of beverage introduced into the vessel is rapidly cooled.

Systems and methods for recovering light hydrocarbons from refinery waste gas using a back-end turboexpander to generate a higher recovery of the light hydrocarbons for use as petrochemical feedstock and to remove the liquid light hydrocarbons before entering the turboexpander.

A process is described herein for removing high freeze point hydrocarbons, including benzene compounds, from a mixed feed gas stream. The process involves cooling process streams in one or more heat exchangers and separating condensed compounds in multiple separators to form a methane-rich product gas stream. Select solvent streams from a fractionation train and/or separate solvent streams are employed to lower the freeze point of one or more streams that contain high freeze point hydrocarbons. A corresponding system also is disclosed.

An apparatus and method for flow management and CO2-recovery from a CO2 containing hydrocarbon flow stream, such as a post CO2-stimulation flowback stream. The apparatus including a flow control zone, a gas separation zone, a pretreatment zone, and a CO2-capture zone. The CO2-capture zone is in fluid communication with the pretreatment zone to provide CO2-capture from a pretreated flowback gas stream and output a captured CO2-flow stream. The CO2-capture zone includes a first CO2-enricher and at least one additional CO2 enricher disposed downstream of the first CO2 enricher and in cascading relationship to provide a CO2-rich permeate stream, the CO2-capture zone further including at least one condenser to condense the enriched CO2-stream and output the captured CO2-flow stream.

A charge air cooler for an internal combustion engine, includes a charge air inlet and a charge air outlet which are fluidly connected with each other via multiple charge air channels which are arranged parallel to each other and arranged parallel to each other and subjectable to a coolant flow; and at least one flow guide element arranged upstream of the charge air channels, wherein the flow guide element at least in one operating state of the internal combustion engine deflects charge air entering through the charge air inlet the direction of a condensate accumulation volume of the charge air cooler.

A desiccant air conditioning system for treating an air stream entering a building space, including a conditioner configured to expose the air stream to a liquid desiccant such that the liquid desiccant dehumidifies the air stream in the warm weather operation mode and humidifies the air stream in the cold weather operation mode. The conditioner includes multiple plate structures arranged in a vertical orientation and spaced apart to permit the air stream to flow between the plate structures. Each plate structure includes a passage through which a heat transfer fluid can flow. Each plate structure also has at least one surface across which the liquid desiccant can flow. The system includes a regenerator connected to the conditioner for causing the liquid desiccant to desorb water in the warm weather operation mode and to absorb water in the cold weather operation mode from a return air stream.

A rotary valve mechanism includes a stator valve member furnished with one of either a dome-shaped high-pressure recess area made of a polymer or a high-pressure flow path made of metal, and a rotor valve member furnished with the other of either the dome-shaped high-pressure recess area made of a polymer or the high-pressure flow path made of metal, and seals a high-pressure region being the high-pressure flow path communicated with the dome-shaped high-pressure recess area and is disposed adjoining the stator valve member such as to isolate the high-pressure region from its low-pressure surrounding environs.

The present invention provides for a system for calibrating operation of a compressor unit in a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A measuring device measures an operating parameter of the HVAC system at a position where the measuring device is mounted on a refrigerant line of the HVAC system. The measuring device switches states when the value of the measured operating parameter reaches a switching value. A controller estimates a value of the first operating parameter at the position where the first measuring device is mounted on the refrigerant line, and the controller determines whether the estimated first operating parameter is within a threshold percentage of the switching value.

A system for adaptive cooling and energy harvesting comprising at least one thermoelectric device capable of acting as a thermoelectric cooler and as a thermoelectric generator, a hierarchical multiple-level control system, and electronics controlled by the control system and connected to the thermoelectric device. The electronics selectively configure the thermoelectric device in at least in a thermoelectric cooler operating mode and in a thermoelectric generation operating mode. The thermoelectric device can incorporate quantum-process and quantum-well materials for higher heat transfer and thermoelectric generation efficiencies. The invention provides for thermoelectric devices to additionally operate in temperature sensing mode. The hierarchical control system can comprise a plurality of control system, each of which can operate in isolation and can be interconnected with additional subsystems associated with other hierarchical levels. The hierarchical control system can comprise linear (additive) control, bilinear (additive and multiplicative) control, nonlinear control, and hysteresis.

Theatre Royal Winchester’s Beauty And The Beast manages to tell the romantic tale while still being a traditional panto.

Despite a surge in support for independence in the last few weeks, the Better Together campaign came through with a majority sufficient to put to bed the question of independence for Scotland, at least for now.

FIRST the good news: someone has suggested charging for the sick to stay in hospital.

Oakley Hall offers a spectacular backdrop to the most memorable day of your life.

News you don't want to miss for April 8:

1. Schools in Alameda County, and five other Bay Area counties, will not re-open this academic year, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.…

News you don't want to miss for Easter Weekend:

Oakland will temporarily close 74 miles of city streets to automobile traffic in an effort to give ample space for pedestrians, bike riders, and runners during the covid-19 shelter in place, The Guardian reports.…

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1. Six of the 15 confirmed covid-19 cases at Santa Rita Jail have recovered, the East Bay Times reports.…

News you don't want to miss for April 17-19:

1. "The good news: California has an $18 billion rainy day fund, the biggest in its history.…

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1. Oakland is looking at a potentially historic $80 million budget shortfall over the next year, Bay City News reports.…