Apparatus and method useful for, among other things, providing a layer by layer coating of materials on a substrate.

A printing apparatus includes a liquid absorption unit configured to absorb a liquid component from an ink image formed on a transfer member before transferring the ink image to a print medium. The liquid absorption unit includes a liquid absorbing member configured to absorb the liquid component, a support unit configured to support the liquid absorbing member to be movable cyclically, an applying unit arranged in a moving path of the liquid absorbing member and configured to apply a moisturizing liquid while contacting the liquid absorbing member, and a supply unit configured to supply the moisturizing liquid to the applying unit. The printing apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a supply amount of the moisturizing liquid to the applying unit by the supply unit.

An automated primer application system for producing attachment parts for means of transportation is disclosed. The system comprises an output reel, a take-up reel, an application head with a nozzle opening, and a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven. The high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is guided from the output reel over the application head to the take-up reel. The high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is arranged in front of the nozzle opening. A primer liquid can be fed through the nozzle opening such that the primer liquid can be applied to a surface of a part via the polymer-cellulose nonwoven.

An automated primer application system for producing attachment parts for means of transportation is disclosed. The system comprises an output reel, a take-up reel, an application head with a nozzle opening, and a high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven. The high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is guided from the output reel over the application head to the take-up reel. The high-pressure waterjet-consolidated polymer-cellulose nonwoven is arranged in front of the nozzle opening. A primer liquid can be fed through the nozzle opening such that the primer liquid can be applied to a surface of a part via the polymer-cellulose nonwoven.

A production facility for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates includes a hot stamping machine configured for the continuous application of ink to stamped plates by hot stamping. At least one first conveying component is provided to transport stamped plates through the hot stamping machine. The production facility includes at least one transfer arrangement having a buffer with a cashing component for at least two flat objects wherein the production facility includes a control unit for controlling the buffer for a successive deposition of flat objects from the buffer onto the first conveying component. In particular, with such a buffer, stamped plates and/or templates can be deposited on the first conveying component. The disclosure also relates to a process for operating such a production facility.

A production facility for manufacturing motor vehicle license plates includes a hot stamping machine configured for the continuous application of ink to stamped plates by hot stamping. At least one first conveying component is provided to transport stamped plates through the hot stamping machine. The production facility includes at least one transfer arrangement having a buffer with a cashing component for at least two flat objects wherein the production facility includes a control unit for controlling the buffer for a successive deposition of flat objects from the buffer onto the first conveying component. In particular, with such a buffer, stamped plates and/or templates can be deposited on the first conveying component. The disclosure also relates to a process for operating such a production facility.

Robotic surface-cleaning assemblies include a base configured to be operatively coupled to a robotic arm; a supply of cleaning fabric supported relative to the base; an applicator supported relative to the base, wherein the applicator is configured to support a portion of cleaning fabric from the supply of cleaning fabric and operatively and selectively position the portion into engagement with a surface to be cleaned; and a source of cleaning fluid supported relative to the base, wherein the source of cleaning fluid is configured to operatively and selectively (i) deliver cleaning fluid directly to the portion of cleaning fabric supported by the applicator and/or (ii) deliver cleaning fluid directly to the surface to be cleaned. Methods of cleaning a surface with a robotic surface-cleaning assembly also are disclosed.

A system and method is provided for creating a structure including a vasculature network. A film deposition device is configured to dispense droplets onto a surface of a substrate to form a curable fugitive pre-patterned liquid film on the surface of the substrate. An electrohydrodynamic film patterning (EHD-FP) device has a patterned electrode structure formed to generate an electric field and to subject the film on the surface of the substrate to the electric field. The film thereby being formed by the EHD-FP into patterned features in response to being subjected to the electric field. Then a casting system is configured to cover the patterned features in an epoxy to form patterned structures, wherein the patterned structures comprise a fugitive vasculature structure.

A system and method is provided for creating a structure including a vasculature network. A film deposition device is configured to dispense droplets onto a surface of a substrate to form a curable fugitive pre-patterned liquid film on the surface of the substrate. An electrohydrodynamic film patterning (EHD-FP) device has a patterned electrode structure formed to generate an electric field and to subject the film on the surface of the substrate to the electric field. The film thereby being formed by the EHD-FP into patterned features in response to being subjected to the electric field. Then a casting system is configured to cover the patterned features in an epoxy to form patterned structures, wherein the patterned structures comprise a fugitive vasculature structure.

An applicator for coating metal wire with resin, an associated method for coating resin on metal wire, and an installation containing the applicator while using the method. The apparatus that contains an applicator for applying an resin solution and a wiping section, wherein the distance between these two can be adjusted as well as the length of the wiping section. The applicator applies a surplus of resin solution, while the wiping section calibrates this to the desired amount in order to obtain the final amount of dried resin on the wire. Both applicator and wiping section are contained in an encasement with provisions to recuperate evaporated solvent thereby reducing harmful emissions. In the associated method the resin to solvent ratio is used to steer to the final amount.