The present invention relates to a CVD-coated cutting tool insert with a TiC x N y -layer with a low tensile stress level of 10-300 MPa and an ±-Al 2 O 3 -layer with a high surface smoothness of <0.1 µm as measured by AFM-technique. This is obtained by subjecting the coating to a first intensive wet blasting operation with a slurry consisting of F80 grits of Al 2 O 3 followed by a second wet blasting treatment with a slurry of F320 grits of Al 2 O 3 .

A method for controlling a production line for the manufacture and/or packaging of contact lenses which production line simultaneous by processes at least two lots, the method comprising dividing at least a portion of the production line into a series of cells through which the contact lens pass sequentially, and providing a control system comprising at least three shifts registers each containing information about each of said cells, including: (a) a location shift register which indicates whether a cell should be empty or occupied, (b) a lot data shift register which is a non-binary shift register and contains manufacturing and/or prescription data about the contact lens which should be in the cell and (c) a condition shift register which provides an indication of the condition of the product in the cell, and simultaneously indexing all of said shift registers as a lens passes down the production line from one cell to the next cell.

A stackable insulating foam panel which has a top side and a bottom side. Each of the panels has a median row of alternating projections and recesses with a similar complementary shape. The median row is disposed between two coplanar edge surfaces. Each projection of the top side is opposed to a recess of the bottom side whereby the top side and/or the bottom side of the panel can be interconnected with either the top side or the bottom side of a like panel. The present invention also concerns a wall form assembly which comprises opposed foam panels disposed in parallel relationship to make a wall form for receiving a flowable material such as concrete and a plurality of connectors for tying the opposed foam panels together.

A stackable insulating foam panel which has a top side and a bottom side. Each of the panels has a median row of alternating projections and recesses with a similar complementary shape. The median row is disposed between two coplanar edge surfaces. Each projection of the top side is opposed to a recess of the bottom side whereby the top side and/or the bottom side of the panel can be interconnected with either the top side or the bottom side of a like panel. The present invention also concerns a wall form assembly which comprises opposed foam panels disposed in parallel relationship to make a wall form for receiving a flowable material such as concrete and a plurality of connectors for tying the opposed foam panels together.

A bulk material processing apparatus (10) which comprises: a longitudinally extending main frame (11); a supply conveyor (23) mounted on, and extending lengthwise of the main frame (11), and operative to convey a supply of bulk material from a forward lower end of the conveyor to an upper and rearward discharge end (24); a material processing device (13) mounted on the main frame (11) and arranged to receive material from the discharge end (24) of the supply conveyor (23), to process the material, and to discharge processed material; a discharge conveyor (32) mounted on the main frame (11) below the processing device (16) so as to be able to receive processed material discharged by the processing device, and to discharge the material to a discharge point located rearwardly of the apparatus; means (16, 17, 18) mounting the processing device (13) on the main frame (11) for movement between a raised operating position to a lowered transport position; and, means (34) mounting the discharge conveyor (32) on the main frame (11) for movement between a raised operative position and a lowered inoperative position; in which the discharge conveyor (32) has a first part (32a) which is mounted on the main frame, and a second part (32b) which is adjustable between an operative position in which it forms a prolongation of the first part, and a folded transport position in which it extends below the first part.

An apparatus and method for selecting and dispensing coverglasses over specimens on slides for the purpose of viewing specimens through a microscope. The selecting device contains a suctioning mechanism for picking up a coverglass from a stack of coverglasses. It also contains the ability to bend the coverglass to assist in separating the coverglasses. The apparatus further contains a matched barrier to eliminate any coverglasses that may stick to the selected coverglass. The selecting device also contains spring members which aid in the dispensing of the coverglass. After the suctioning mechanism releases the coverglass, the spring members exert a force onto the coverglass to insure that it is released from the selecting device and placed onto the slide. After placement of the coverglass onto the slide, capillary action pushes air bubbles out from underneath the coverglass.

A method and a device for applying a filler-containing plastics layer to even a shaped surface, in which a mixture containing a binder or a binder mixture and a filler is sprayed onto the surface, a free jet for application by spraying first being generated from a binder or binder mixture and the filler then being added to the free jet of the not yet polymerized binder or binder mixture. The method is particularly suitable for the spray application of heavy layers such as those used in conventional mass-spring systems.

A method of providing a surface of a material with an image, includes applying to the surface an image sheet included (i) a flexible layer of a Shape Memory Polymer, and (ii) an image bonded to said layer by means of an image key coat. The image sheet is bonded to the surface by means of an adhesive and a process which involves heating of the Shape Memory Polymer to a temperature above its Glass Transition Temperature.

The invention relates to a method for straightening a metal strip (1) which is guided in the direction of transportation (R) through a straightening machine (2) and is straightened. In the straightening device (2), the metal strip (1) is impinged upon by a straightening force (F) which is applied by a plurality of straightening rollers (3) in the direction (N) which is perpendicular to the surface of the metal strip (1). According to the invention, prior to the metal strip (1) entering into the straightening machine (2), the thickness (d) of the metal strip (1) is determined and the position (a) of the straightening rollers (3) in the direction (N) which is perpendicular to the surface of the metal strip (1) is taken into account according to the determined thickness (d).

The invention relates to a method for coating a substrate with a layer of a material, such as a metal, in which a quantity of electrically conductive material is vaporized in a space with a low background pressure and energy is supplied to the material which is to be vaporized in order to vaporize this material. According to the invention, the material which is to be vaporized, while it is being vaporized, is kept floating, without support, in the space and is enclosed in an alternating electromagnetic field, the alternating electromagnetic field being generated with the aid of a high-frequency alternating current. The invention also relates to a device for coating a substrate and to a substrate.