3m Innovative Properties Company

Lars A Smeenk

Kenneth L Smith

Gary W Maier

Conrad V Anderson

Nelson D Sewall

Michael Albert Haase

Terry Lee Smith

James M Nelson

Alexander R Mathews

Karl K Stensvad

Michael R Harms

Lance E Behymer

Luis A Aguirre

Justin W Wilhelm

Mark Hyland Smith

Felix Bierbaum

An optical connector () includes a housing () configured to contain one or more optical ferrules () disposed within the housing and accessible through an opening at a mating end of the housing. A cover () is disposed at the mating end, the cover configured to be rotated about a pivoting axis between a closed position an open position. An actuator () is configured to cause the cover to rotate about the pivoting axis from the closed position to the open position.

Optical connector with dust ingress mitigating cover

A coating system and method including a web path moving a substrate past a contacting element including a distribution manifold having a cavity, and a multiplicity of needle tubes in fluid communication with the cavity, the needle tubes each having a needle tip dispensing a coating material towards a point of contact between the substrate and the contacting element. In some embodiments, the distribution manifold separates into a manifold containing the internal cavity, and a removable cartridge having the plurality of needle tubes. The coating system and method can be used to apply a pre-metered coating material to the substrate.

Coating system with multiple dispensing needles

A distribution manifold having a manifold and a removable cartridge with a plurality of needle tubes extending from the removable cartridge is disclosed. The distribution manifold can be used with a pre-metered coating system to apply coating material to a substrate.

Distribution manifold with multiple dispensing needles

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

A dead-shaft roller having a shaft and a roll with a fluid circulation passage therein, and at least two bearings support the roll on the shaft. A rotary union is positioned at at least one end of the roll, possibly both. The rotary union has a rotatable sleeve and a non-rotating sleeve. The rotatable sleeve has a fluid conducting path therein, such that the fluid conducting path is in fluid communication with the fluid circulation passage in the roll. The non-rotating sleeve is positioned adjacent and internal to the rotatable sleeve. The non-rotating sleeve has a first fluid port therein such that the fluid conducting path is in fluid communication with the first fluid port at a first fluid transfer zone. At least two air bearings are present, mounted between the rotatable sleeve and the non-rotating sleeve, such that the air bearings are on opposite sides of the first fluid transfer zone.

Dead-shaft roller with aerostatic rotary union

The present invention relates to methods of making microstructured laminae for replication and apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to machining V-shaped grooves on individual lamina forming cube-corner microstructures.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Lars A Smeenk