An apparatus is disclosed for coating a 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 at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent 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 the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the surface, so as to leave only a substantially single particle layer adhering to the surface on exiting the apparatus.

An apparatus is disclosed for coating a 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 at least one spray head for directly or indirectly applying to the surface a fluid stream within which the particles are suspended, a housing surrounding the spray head(s) and defining an interior plenum for confining the fluid stream, the housing having a rim adjacent the surface that is configured to prevent 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 the sprayed fluid and particles suspended in the sprayed fluid. In operation, the suction source extracts substantially all particles that are not in direct contact with the surface, so as to leave only a substantially single particle layer adhering to the surface on exiting the apparatus.

A dental appliance having an integrally formed reservoir and/or an ornamental design integrated thereon. The ornamental design can be selected or customized by a patient. The design can be created by directing energy to the dental appliance to alter a material property of at least a portion of the appliance to create the design. Alternatively, a groove or recess can be formed on a surface of the appliance to either mechanically retain an ornamental design or the groove or recess can be filled with ink to form the design. The appliance, including the integrally formed reservoir, can be formed using direct fabrication techniques.

A dental appliance having an integrally formed reservoir and/or an ornamental design integrated thereon. The ornamental design can be selected or customized by a patient. The design can be created by directing energy to the dental appliance to alter a material property of at least a portion of the appliance to create the design. Alternatively, a groove or recess can be formed on a surface of the appliance to either mechanically retain an ornamental design or the groove or recess can be filled with ink to form the design. The appliance, including the integrally formed reservoir, can be formed using direct fabrication techniques.

A method for manufacturing a personalized or customized decorative surface (103) having decorative laminate panels (119) including the steps of: segmenting a digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103) into a plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108), wherein each decorative laminate panel image (108) is sized to fit on a decorative laminate panel (119); assigning a positioning code (109) to a decorative laminate panel image (108) for identifying its position in the digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103); creating a non-staggered digital layout (110) of the plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108); inkjet printing the non-staggered digital layout (110) on a substrate (112); heat pressing the inkjet printed substrate with a protective layer (115) into a decorative laminate (113); dividing the decorative laminate (113) into decorative laminate panels (119), wherein the front side of a decorative laminate panel (119) includes one of the plurality of inkjet printed decorative laminate panel images (108) and the back-side of decorative laminate panel (119) includes the positioning code (109) of the decorative laminate panel image (108) inkjet printed on the front side of the decorative laminate panel (119).

A method for manufacturing a personalized or customized decorative surface (103) having decorative laminate panels (119) including the steps of: segmenting a digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103) into a plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108), wherein each decorative laminate panel image (108) is sized to fit on a decorative laminate panel (119); assigning a positioning code (109) to a decorative laminate panel image (108) for identifying its position in the digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103); creating a non-staggered digital layout (110) of the plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108); inkjet printing the non-staggered digital layout (110) on a substrate (112); heat pressing the inkjet printed substrate with a protective layer (115) into a decorative laminate (113); dividing the decorative laminate (113) into decorative laminate panels (119), wherein the front side of a decorative laminate panel (119) includes one of the plurality of inkjet printed decorative laminate panel images (108) and the back-side of decorative laminate panel (119) includes the positioning code (109) of the decorative laminate panel image (108) inkjet printed on the front side of the decorative laminate panel (119).

A magnetic bead sorter and magnetic based bead sorting work station. The magnetic bead sorter is configured to receive and store therein one or more beads. The magnetic bead sorter includes a main body having an upper end and a lower end. The main body may be defined by a continuous side wall having a side wall exterior surface and a side wall interior surface. The continuous side wall encircles a magnetic bead sorter inner surface, thus defining an interior region configured to receive and store beads therein.

A magnetic bead sorter and magnetic based bead sorting work station. The magnetic bead sorter is configured to receive and store therein one or more beads. The magnetic bead sorter includes a main body having an upper end and a lower end. The main body may be defined by a continuous side wall having a side wall exterior surface and a side wall interior surface. The continuous side wall encircles a magnetic bead sorter inner surface, thus defining an interior region configured to receive and store beads therein.

A method for manufacturing a personalized or customized decorative surface (103) having decorative laminate panels (119) including the steps of: segmenting a digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103) into a plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108), wherein each decorative laminate panel image (108) is sized to fit on a decorative laminate panel (119); assigning a positioning code (109) to a decorative laminate panel image (108) for identifying its position in the digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103); creating a non-staggered digital layout (110) of the plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108); inkjet printing the non-staggered digital layout (110) on a substrate (112); heat pressing the inkjet printed substrate with a protective layer (115) into a decorative laminate (113); dividing the decorative laminate (113) into decorative laminate panels (119), wherein the front side of a decorative laminate panel (119) includes one of the plurality of inkjet printed decorative laminate panel images (108) and the back-side of decorative laminate panel (119) includes the positioning code (109) of the decorative laminate panel image (108) inkjet printed on the front side of the decorative laminate panel (119).

A method for manufacturing a personalized or customized decorative surface (103) having decorative laminate panels (119) including the steps of: segmenting a digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103) into a plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108), wherein each decorative laminate panel image (108) is sized to fit on a decorative laminate panel (119); assigning a positioning code (109) to a decorative laminate panel image (108) for identifying its position in the digital image of the personalized or customized decorative surface (103); creating a non-staggered digital layout (110) of the plurality of decorative laminate panel images (108); inkjet printing the non-staggered digital layout (110) on a substrate (112); heat pressing the inkjet printed substrate with a protective layer (115) into a decorative laminate (113); dividing the decorative laminate (113) into decorative laminate panels (119), wherein the front side of a decorative laminate panel (119) includes one of the plurality of inkjet printed decorative laminate panel images (108) and the back-side of decorative laminate panel (119) includes the positioning code (109) of the decorative laminate panel image (108) inkjet printed on the front side of the decorative laminate panel (119).