An object processing machine for processing a plurality of objects, the machine comprising: a plurality of processing modules, each processing module having a modular structure co-operable with the modular structure of another processing module to form a modular assembly constituting the object processing machine; each processing module being operable to perform a corresponding processing operation on an object and being provided with at least one transfer unit located at a respective port of the processing module; each transfer unit being arranged to transfer an object to or from the corresponding processing module and/or to or from a transfer unit of another processing module of the modular assembly; the transfer units being arranged to co-operate with one another and/or with another processing unit such that objects can be guided from an input of the machine to an output of the machine via a plurality of different transport pathways through the machine, wherein the transport pathway taken by a said object being processed corresponds to the pre-determined processing operations to be performed on the said object. A method of processing a plurality of objects using such a machine is also described.

An apparatus that couples a first substrate and a second substrate of an electrowetting display panel, the apparatus comprising a first chuck provided with a first support surface and a second chuck provided with a second support surface opposite to the first support surface and positioned beneath the first chuck. The second support surface is smaller than the first support surface and is positioned in a plane parallel to a plane that includes the first support surface.

Polarization state in retro-reflective arrays may be controlled throughout the optical path of a retro-reflective retro-imaging setup to enhance system efficiency. A polarization beam splitter layer and a retarder layer placed in front of the retro-reflector array may be oriented such that polarized light is used as source, source input light is efficiently reflected at the polarization beam splitter layer toward the retro-reflective layer, and polarization is converted to circular upon first pass through retarder layer. The polarization may also be oriented at or near 45° with respect to input polarization state, light may be retro-reflected and reconverged at the retro-reflective layer, and converted to linear polarization state. The light may then be rotated about 90° with respect to input linear state, and/or passed through the polarization beam splitter layer upon second pass to form the reconvergent image.

An eyeglass lens processing apparatus for processing a periphery of an eyeglass lens includes: a lens chuck shaft configured to chuck the eyeglass lens; a shaft angle changing portion configured to change a shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft; a first processing tool unit including at least one spindle at which a first processing tool is provided; a second processing tool unit that is disposed to oppose the first processing tool unit and that includes at least one spindle at which a second processing tool is provided; and a controller configured to change one of the first and second processing tool unit to be used for processing the eyeglass lens to the other of the first and second processing tool by controlling driving of the shaft angle changing portion to change the shaft angle of the lens chuck shaft.

An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotary rail car dumper includes a rotational frame supporting at least one baffle. The rotational frame is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion of the rotational frame between an upright position wherein the entire load is in the rail car and a dumping position wherein the load can exit the rail car. A backside airflow diverter is located beneath the rotational frame and includes a curved upper surface. A lower margin of the at least one baffle contacts the curved upper surface during at least part of the rotational motion of the rotational frame.

A tool configuration 91 for producing an improved locking system of a floor panel 1′ and a method incorporating such tool configuration. The tool configuration 91x, 91y, is a non-rotating tool configuration profiling certain surfaces of the joint edge of the floor panel, resulting in that the tolerances can be kept on a low level.

A system for additive manufacturing of a three-dimensional object, comprising: a controller for identifying a set of planar cross-sectional shapes of the three-dimensional object, the set extending in a sequence from a first end of the three-dimensional object to a second end of the three-dimensional object; a three-dimensional scanner, associated with the controller, configured to scan a prototype of the three-dimensional object to generate a computer-aided design model; at least one cutting station for cutting at least one barbed metal sheet into a plurality of individual planar barbed metal pieces corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes; and for cutting at least one substrate sheet into a plurality of individual planar substrate pieces corresponding to the cross-sectional shapes, wherein the at least one substrate is penetrable by the barbs; and a binding station for receiving and pressing the individual barbed metal pieces and the individual substrate pieces together.

A method for installing a device into a crude oil service operation, the method may include installing the device into a section of the crude oil service operation, wherein the device comprises a surface comprising a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Phosphonate (SAMP) coating, and may also include contacting the surface with the contaminant, wherein the contaminant is selected from the group consisting of paraffins and asphaltenes. Various systems include one having a liquid environment of paraffins and asphaltene, and a surface residing within the environment comprising a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Phosphonate (SAMP) composition. Systems also include pipelines and vessels having an internal surface therein comprising a Self-Assembled Monolayer of Phosphonate (SAMP) composition, and with hydrocarbon liquids present in the pipeline or vessel.

A method for treating surfaces of equipment comprising applying a Self Assembled Monolayer of a moiety to at least one surface of the equipment, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of level sensors, sucker rods, turbine meters, Coriolis meters, magnetic flow meters, down hole pumps, check valves, valves, cables, drill bits, wire lines, and pigs, and the moiety may be present in mono, di or tri headed form or as a bis, gem-bis or tris headed form, and is selected from the group consisting of thiols, amines, silanes, siloxanes, selenides, tellurides, isocyanides, or heterocycles, and equipment having at least one surface comprising such a treated surface.

An apparatus for rotary dumping of rail cars, including a material receiving pit. A rotary rail car dumper includes a rotational frame supporting at least one baffle. The rotational frame is configured to dump a load from a rail car during rotational motion of the rotational frame between an upright position wherein the entire load is in the rail car and a dumping position wherein the load can exit the rail car. A backside airflow diverter is located beneath the rotational frame and includes a curved upper surface. A lower margin of the at least one baffle contacts the curved upper surface during at least part of the rotational motion of the rotational frame.