A cap for an additive manufacturing recoater rake includes a clip portion defining a slot configured to receive a side edge portion of a recoater rake, and an angled surface extending from the clip portion. The angled surface is configured to contain powder pushed by the recoater rake on the powder bed.

A substrate treatment apparatus includes: a substrate holding unit which horizontally holds a substrate; a substrate rotating unit which rotates the substrate held by the substrate holding unit about a vertical axis; a treatment liquid supplying unit which supplies a treatment liquid to an upper surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit; an opposing member to be located in opposed spaced relation to the upper surface of the substrate held by the substrate holding unit in contact with a film of the treatment liquid formed on the upper surface of the substrate so as to receive a lift force from the liquid film; a support member which supports the opposing member; and an opposing member holding mechanism which causes the support member to hold the opposing member in a vertically relatively movable manner.

Provided is an application device for applying and spreading an application liquid to and on a predetermined application area of a target surface, which is capable of smearing the application liquid on the application area. The application device (D) includes a brush unit (4) having a brush bristle bundle (41a), and performs a step of causing, while moving a nozzle orifice (32a) of a dispenser (3) along at least a portion of the surface of a rivet (S11) and an area of a wall (Sp) surrounding the base of the rivet (S1), a sealing liquid to be ejected from the nozzle orifice (32a) and to adhere to the portion, and thereafter, a step of spreading the adhering sealing liquid by causing the brush bristle bundle (41a) to slide on the surface of the rivet (S1) and the area of wall (Sp) surrounding the base of the rivet (S1).

A dimensionally stable universal floor covering includes a tufted textile substrate and a reinforcement layer to provide dimensional stability for the entire floor covering. Vacuum, mixing, and injection of compressed air assists in preparing an adhesive and fiber composition to be in the preferred condition and position before the application of pressure to form the reinforcement layer. The universal floor covering is selectively cut and transported in a roll for installation, and it can be conveniently recycled if necessary.

A sliding device configured to perform a sliding process on a surface of an object to be slid includes a sliding part including sliding bodies each having a flat working surface; a first driving mechanism configured to regularly move the sliding bodies in parallel with the working surfaces of the sliding bodies; and a second driving mechanism configured to regularly move the sliding part in parallel with the working surfaces in a direction different from a moving direction by the first driving mechanism while the first driving mechanism moves the sliding bodies. This enables uniform supply of the sliding process material onto the surface of the object to be slid or clean the surface of the object to be slid.

An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of metallic particles or particles having a metal-like appearance and reflectivity, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

An apparatus for coating a donor surface that is movable relative to the apparatus with a layer of thermoplastic particles, the particles adhering more strongly to the surface than to one another. The apparatus comprises an application device to apply to the donor surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounds the application device forming an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing prevents egress of particles from a sealing gap defined between the rim of the housing and the surface to be coated, and a suction source connected to the housing to extract from the plenum excess fluid and particles. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the donor surface, leaving substantially a single particle layer adhering to the donor surface upon exiting the apparatus.

A sealant dispensing tool for a robot. The tool includes a rod having a first end and a second end, and a chamber extending from the first end to the second end. The tool also includes a skive coupled to the first end of the rod, where the skive includes an opening and a hollow portion in communication with the opening and the chamber in the rod. The tool further includes a dispensing nozzle positioned with the opening in the skive, and an applicator coupled to the nozzle and extending through the hollow portion of the skive and the chamber in the rod.

A vehicle assembly system for sealing and skiving vehicle seams. The assembly system includes an upstream seam sealant station that determines offsets between vehicle reference points and the seams using a vision sensors and sends the offsets to a downstream seam skiving station. The assembly system also measures the size of the sealant bead and controls the sealant dispense pressure to maintain the desired size.

A marking system for springs comprises: an arranging apparatus for arranging a spring; and a marking apparatus for applying an identification mark on the spring. The marking apparatus comprises: a frame having a space for marking therein; a pad unit for applying a mark on the spring located in the frame; and an ink unit for supplying ink to the pad unit.