A method for producing an optical coupling element made of elastomer includes filling a free-flowing elastomer formulation or its constituents into a mold so as to produce a flat sheet whose thickness is adapted to a thickness of the optical coupling element that is to be produced. The elastomer formulation or its constituents is cured to form an inherently stable elastomer. Individual optical coupling elements are cut out of the flat sheet.

A device for sealing sample tubes comprises a tool assembly configured to interface with a rack (10) holding a plurality of sample storage tubes (20), the tool assembly holding a plurality of punches (322) and a die plate (324) including a plurality of cutting holes, with each of the plurality of cutting holes accepting one of the plurality of punches (322). The tool assembly receives a foil sheet (131) between the punches (322) and the die plate (324). The device includes an actuator enabling linear movement of the tool assembly. Linear movement of the tool assembly towards the rack (10) engages the die plate (324) against the rack (10) and punches the punches (322) through the cutting holes of the die plate (324) to punch a plurality of sealing sections from the foil sheet (131) and to press and seal each of the sealing sections against a top end of each of the plurality of sample storage tubes (20) in the rack (10).

An apparatus for cutting off and joining a sheet element to a container includes an operating unit including a cutting device with a cutting edge surrounding a joining device. The operating unit and the container are movable with respect to one another along a movement axis between a spaced condition, in which a sheet material is interposed therebetween and is spaced therefrom, and a joined condition, in which the joining device joins the material to the container. A retaining device retains the material during joining and cutting. In the joined condition, the cutting device remains fixed relative to the joining device and the retaining device moves along the axis from tensioning to cutting positions, the sheet element being cut on the cutting edge from the material during movement of the retaining device from the tensioning to the cutting positions.

The method for producing a strip of material with an integrated electronic component comprises the following steps according to the present invention: feeding a material web, cutting a first piece of material from the material web, lifting the first piece of material, applying an electronic component to the material web, once again feeding the material web with the electronic component located on it, cutting a piece of material from the material web to obtain a second piece of material on which the electronic component is located, and applying the first piece of material to the second piece of material so that the electronic component is accommodated between the first piece of material and the second piece of material.

A hybrid dental tool is disclosed herein. The hybrid dental tool includes a flosser having a flossing head. The flossing head can include a filament stretching between the first arm and a second arm. The flossing head can include a pick receptacle. The hybrid dental tool can further include a pick that has a first end and a second end. The pick can be sized and shaped to fit within the pick receptacle such that the first and second ends are protected. The pick can releasably connect with the flossing head to allow the separation of the pick from the flossing head.

A therapeutic device includes a generally rigid but elastically deformable sheet body including a bridge portion, first and second support portions extending outwardly from the bridge portion in opposite directions along a longitudinal dimension, and adhesive or an adhesion member on a first surface along the bridge portion that is adapted for adhesion to skin of a user above a target site. The therapeutic device also includes first and second projections on the first surface proximate to lateral edges of the sheet body. The sheet body is configured to assume a neutral configuration in which the first and second projections space the bridge portion and the adhesive or the adhesion member apart from the target site by an air gap, a depressed position during affixation of the first surface to the target site, and an adhesion configuration after affixation of the first surface to the target site.

A process for packaging a product arranged on a support comprising unrolling a film, moving the film to a packaging assembly defining at its inside a packaging chamber, progressively moving a number of supports inside the packaging chamber of the packaging assembly, closing the packaging chamber with the film sheets held above the respective support, optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film to said support, wherein the heat sealing uses one or more heaters having heating surfaces which are heated for discrete and short time periods only. An apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed.

A process for packaging a product arranged on a support comprising unrolling a film, moving the film to a packaging assembly defining at its inside a packaging chamber, progressively moving a number of supports inside the packaging chamber of the packaging assembly, closing the packaging chamber with the film sheets held above the respective support, optionally causing one or both of: a gas withdrawal from the hermetically closed packaging chamber and gas injection of a gas mixture of controlled composition, heat sealing the film to said support, wherein the heat sealing uses one or more heaters having heating surfaces which are heated for discrete and short time periods only. An apparatus for performing the above process is also disclosed.

A hybrid dental tool is disclosed herein. The hybrid dental tool includes a flosser having a flossing head. The flossing head can include a filament stretching between the first arm and a second arm. The flossing head can include a pick receptacle. The hybrid dental tool can further include a pick that has a first end and a second end. The pick can be sized and shaped to fit within the pick receptacle such that the first and second ends are protected. The pick can releasably connect with the flossing head to allow the separation of the pick from the flossing head.

There is provided a method of manufacturing a combustible heat source having a barrier, the method including providing a mold defining a cavity; placing a particulate component in the mold cavity; placing a laminar component, adjacent the mold, to cover the cavity opening; and compressing the particulate component to form the combustible heat source, wherein, during the compression step, the barrier is formed by punching the laminar component using a punch and the mold, the punch acting on the barrier to compress the particulate component and affix the barrier to the combustible heat source.