3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

3m Espe Ag

3m Deutschland Gmbh

Robert M Biegler

Darin J Meyertholen

Terence D Neavin

Dean K Reidt

William T Fay

John R Cheney

Robert H Lee

Robert L Lee

Marc Peuker

Thomas J Blong

Bruce R Broyles

Robert J Ryther

Naimul Karim

Arno Hohmann

Jay M Jennen

Erik A Aho

Michael Knee

Kevin M Cummings

Jeffrey M Maki

David V Mahoney

Jennifer J Sahlin

Derek W Patzman

James R Kvitrud

Mark A Hoisington

Anton F Jachim

Steven W Sorensen

John A Svendsen

Robert E Brunsell

Lance C Gore

Daniel T Scott

Andrew John Ouderkirk

John J Allen

Adam D Haag

Matthew B Johnson

Kristopher J Derks

Dwight W Jacobs

Robert W Peterson

Craig R Hoff

Michael P Juaire

Ryan B Quast

Rosanne E Gronseth

Yaoqi Joe Liu

Edward J Kivel

James A Wilson

Bruce E Nelson

David J McDaniel

William B Black

John Orlin Kirkwold

Larry D Humlicek

Anila Prabhu

Thomas F Gotich

James R Preston

David J Colburn

Roger H Muntifering

Youngtzung Shih

Curtis D Ronnander

Steven C Keck

This disclosure describes co-extruded multilayer articles including at least one continuous layer and one discontinuous layer, as well as systems and techniques for the manufacture of co-extruded multilayer articles. For example, a co-extruded multilayer article is described that includes a body having a plurality of layers, where a first layer of the plurality of layers is formed from a first material and is continuous along a longitudinal axis of the body, and a second layer of the plurality of layers is formed from a second material and is discontinuously co-extruded along the longitudinal axis.

Co-extruded multilayer articles including continuous layer and discontinuous layer

A multilayer optical film includes a plurality of polymeric layers arranged sequentially adjacent to each other. A difference in thickness between spaced apart first and second polymeric layers in the plurality of polymeric layers is less than about 10%. Each polymeric layer that is disposed between the first and second polymeric layers has a thickness less than about 400 nm. Each layer in a group of at least three polymeric layers in the plurality of polymeric layers that are disposed between the first and second polymeric layers has a thickness greater than an average thickness of the first and second polymeric layers by about 20% to about 500%. The group of at least three polymeric layers includes at least one pair of immediately adjacent polymeric layers.

Multilayer optical film

A feedblock including a first packet creator that forms a first packet including a first plurality of polymeric layers, the first plurality of layers including at least four first individual polymeric layers; and a second packet creator that forms a second packet including a second plurality of polymeric layers, the second plurality of layers including at least four second individual polymeric layers, wherein the first and second packet creators are configured such that, for each packet creator, respective individual polymeric layers of the plurality of polymeric layers are formed at approximately the same time. The feedblock may include a packet combiner that receives and combines the first and second primary packets to form a multilayer stream. In some examples, at least one of the first and second primary packets may be spread in the cross-web direction prior to being combined with one another.

Feedblock for manufacturing multilayer polymeric films

Apparatus for manufacturing multilayer polymeric films

A method is disclosed that includes forming a plurality of polymer layers via a plurality of slots, wherein the plurality of layers are combined to generate a multilayer polymer flow stream; and controlling heat flow to the plurality of slots in conjunction with the formation of the plurality of polymer layers. The multilayer polymer flow stream may be used to generate a multilayer film. In some embodiments, the cross-web layer thickness profile may be controlled by controlling heat flow to the plurality of slots that form the plurality of polymer layers.

Controlling cross-web layer profile of a multilayer polymer film

Capsule () for two or more components of a material which are to be mixed together, comprising a cartridge () comprising an outlet (), a first component chamber () for containing a first component, and a second component chamber () for containing a second component, the two chambers () opening into the outlet (); and a piston () which at least with its front end sits in the cartridge (), lies with its rear end outside the component chambers () and, when it is pushed forwards, presses the two components out of their component chambers ().

Capsule for two-component materials

Methods of manufacturing hardenable dental articles, packaged hardenable dental articles, and methods of packaging hardenable dental articles are disclosed. In various embodiments, the manufacturing may involve molding a hardenable dental material in a mold cavity that may be lined with a mold liner. The mold body may also form the package of the hardenable dental article formed within the mold cavity. In other embodiments, the hardenable dental articles may be provided in mold cavities located in sacrificial mold bodies that may be torn, stretched, softened, dissolved, etc. to release the hardenable dental articles in the mold cavities.

Packaged hardenable dental article

Method of manufacturing a hardenable dental article

A mill blank assembly for a dental prosthesis includes a milling section and a support section for supporting the assembly in a milling machine. In certain embodiments, the milling section is adhesively bonded to the support section by a direct chemical bond that provides enhanced resistance to unintentional detachment of the milling section from the support section during a subsequent machining operation. Optionally, the support section includes a passageway that receives a quantity of flowable dental restorative material used to make the milling section, such that the restorative material that is located in the passageway provides additional resistance when hardened to unintentional detachment of the milling section from the support section.

Dental mill blank assembly

Methods and apparatuses are provided for the manufacture of coextruded polymeric multilayer optical films. The multilayer optical films have an ordered arrangement of layers of two or more materials having particular layer thicknesses and a prescribed layer thickness gradient throughout the multilayer optical stack. The methods and apparatuses described allow improved control over individual layer thicknesses, layer thickness gradients, indices of refraction, interlayer adhesion, and surface characteristics of the optical films. The methods and apparatuses described are useful for making interference polarizers, mirrors, and colored films that are optically effective over diverse portions of the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra.

Apparatus for making multilayer optical films

An offset clip for use with light fiber has a base including a hole for accommodating a fastener. The clip also includes an insert with a light fiber retaining member. The light fiber retaining member may take any of several forms and may be either rigid or flexible. The insert and the base are held rotatably together by a locking mechanism. The insert and the base are arranged such that when the insert is inserted into the base, the insert hides the fastener from view.

Support clip for use with light fiber

Growing community of inventors

Woodbury, MN, United States of America

Robert M Biegler