An apparatus including a device which moves a first portion of a soft, damp, and/or wet slab out of alignment with a majority of the slab and thus introduces a first crack in the slab; and a device for spraying a first colored material into the first crack of the slab. The device which moves the first portion of the slab out of alignment with the rest of the slab may include a first lift bar. The device for spraying the first colored material in the first crack of the slab may include a first spray bar having a plurality of nozzles fixed thereto, arranged in a substantially straight line. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus may also include a device which moves a second portion of the slab out of alignment with the majority of the slab and thereby introduces a second crack in the slab.

An object surface treatment system facilitates the treatment of articles of manufacture before they are printed. The system includes a chamber having walls and a lid configured to close the chamber, a flexible member mounted to the lid of the chamber, a vacuum source operatively connected to an interior volume of the chamber, and a plurality of actuators. A controller is configured to operate the actuators and vacuum source to move the applicator to apply a chemical to the flexible member, move the lid to close the chamber, produce a vacuum within the chamber and move a portion of the surface of the flexible member into engagement with a surface of an object within the chamber, cease operation of the vacuum source to enable the flexible member to return to a position adjacent the lid, and remove the lid from the chamber for removal of the object from the chamber.

Provided is an apparatus for treating a workpiece, in particular a plate-shaped workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a coating device configured to apply a coating material, in particular a strip-shaped coating material, to a workpiece; a lacquer application device configured to apply a lacquer to the coating material; and a structuring device configured to adjust a gloss value and/or a haptic property of the surface provided with the lacquer.

Provided is an apparatus for treating a workpiece, in particular a plate-shaped workpiece, said apparatus comprising: a coating device configured to apply a coating material, in particular a strip-shaped coating material, to a workpiece; a lacquer application device configured to apply a lacquer to the coating material; and a structuring device configured to adjust a gloss value and/or a haptic property of the surface provided with the lacquer.

An apparatus for processing yarns includes a first roller set for extending yarn bean; a node generator installed after the first roller set for forming node section of the yarn beam; a first cleaning chamber installed after the node generator for cleaning the yarn beams; a material chamber for adding additive to the yarn beam; a second roller set installed after the material chamber for extending the yarn beam; a first heating chamber installed after the second roller set for thermally setting additives to the yarn beam so that the additives are firmly secured to the yarn of the yarn beam; a third roller set installed after the heating chamber for controlling the heating time of the yarn beam in the first heating chamber; and a fourth roller set installed after the third roller set for winding the yarn beam to a desired shape.

A powder treatment method includes loading powder into a fluidized bed vessel. At least some of the powder is fluidized in the fluidized bed vessel using an inert gas. While fluidized, the powder is heated in the fluidized bed vessel. A surface treatment coating is then applied to the powder.

A powder treatment method includes loading powder into a fluidized bed vessel. At least some of the powder is fluidized in the fluidized bed vessel using an inert gas. While fluidized, the powder is heated in the fluidized bed vessel. A surface treatment coating is then applied to the powder.

A method of manufacturing an electrowetting device. An emulsion is dispensed on a surface of a first support plate comprising an electrode. The emulsion comprises a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, and, dispersed within the first fluid, a third fluid immiscible with the first fluid. The method includes coalescing the first fluid to form a layer of the first fluid on the surface of the first support plate.

A method of manufacturing an electrowetting device. An emulsion is dispensed on a surface of a first support plate comprising an electrode. The emulsion comprises a first fluid dispersed in a second fluid immiscible with the first fluid, and, dispersed within the first fluid, a third fluid immiscible with the first fluid. The method includes coalescing the first fluid to form a layer of the first fluid on the surface of the first support plate.

According to one embodiment, a system for manufacturing a fully impregnated thermoplastic prepreg includes a mechanism for moving a fabric or mat and a drying mechanism that removes residual moisture from at least one surface of the fabric or mat. The system also includes a resin application mechanism that applies a reactive resin to the fabric or mat and a press mechanism that presses the coated fabric or mat to ensure that the resin fully saturates the fabric or mat. The system further includes a curing oven through which the coated fabric or mat is moved to polymerize the resin and thereby form a thermoplastic polymer so that upon exiting the oven, the fabric or mat is fully impregnated with the thermoplastic polymer. During at least a portion of the process, humidity in the vicinity of the coated fabric or mat is maintained at substantially zero.