3m Innovative Properties Company

Lance E Behymer

Smarajit Mitra

Alexander Chieruen Tsuei

Yonas Gebrewold

Jerald W Hall, Jr

Daniel J Stepan

Dwayne D Daugaard

Michael K Domroese

Matthew H Frey

Mikhail L Pekurovsky

Philip G Martin

Thomas G Skulley

Karl K Stensvad

Jonathan J O'Hare

Michael R Harms

Erik J Johnson

Richard W Greger

Daniel P Meehan

Tracie J Berniard

Lars A Smeenk

Luis A Aguirre

Justin W Wilhelm

Mark Hyland Smith

Felix Bierbaum

An apparatus and method for microcontact printing are described. The microcontact printing apparatus includes a planar stamp and a pressurized roller. The pressurized roller includes an inflatable bladder that can be inflated by a fluid to a pressure that reduces printing defects such as voids and stamp collapse. A substrate is disposed between the pressurized roller and a stamp coated with an ink of functionalizing molecules. As the pressurized roller moves over the substrate, at least a portion of the functionalizing molecules are transferred from the stamp to the substrate in the desired pattern.

Apparatus and method for microcontact printing using a pressurized roller

Disclosed is an expandable envelope that comprises a light directing film this both transmits and reflects light. In its inflated form and along with a light source, the envelope forms a light balloon that due to the light directing film provides directed light to an area surrounding the balloon.

Light directing expandable envelope

Buckle and respirators having such buckles. The buckle has a movable cinch bar allowing a strap to be inserted into and be secured by the buckle by opening the cinch bar and inserting the strap. The cinch bar then returns to a closed position and supports the strap over the cinch bar. The cinch bar may be deformable through the use of a living hinge connecting the cinch bar to the body of the buckle. The cinch bar may be split into two members, each being deformably coupled to the buckle body, perhaps with living hinges.

Buckle and respirator using such buckle, having a deformable cinch bar, and method

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat comprises a harnessand a mask body. The mask bodyincludes a filtering structureand a support structure. The support structurehas first and second opposing side portionsthat each include a living hinge. The use of living hinges allows the mask body to respond dynamically to wearer jaw movement.

Filtering face-piece respirator support structure that has living hinges

A filtering face-piece respiratorthat comprises a mask bodyand a harness. The mask bodyincludes (i) a filtering structure, (ii) a plastic support structure, and (iii) a nose clipthat is secured to the plastic support structureby being molded therein. The inventive filtering face-piece respirator is beneficial in that it eliminates the need for an adhesive or welding step to secure the nose clip to the mask body.

Filtering face-piece respirator having nose clip molded into the mask body

An assembly and method for cleaning a conveyor belt system is disclosed. The cleaning assembly is for removing liquids and solids from an endless conveyor belt, the assembly includes a plurality of laterally extending liquid absorbent material sheets disposed adjacent the belt, with the sheets collectively defining a contact face that is engageable with the belt for wiping liquids from the belt.

Conveyor belt cleaning system

An assembly for cleaning a conveyor belt system is disclosed. The cleaning assembly is for a conveyor belt system with the type having first and second endless belts which each traverse a separate belt travel path and together define a generally upright article transport path between opposed top faces of the belts. The cleaning assembly includes a belt wiping blade assembly for moving liquids and debris from a belt, an absorbent material downstream from the blade assembly for wiping excess liquid from the belt, and belt edge seals disposed between the opposed top faces of the belts along the article transport path.

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Lance E Behymer