Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Ronald G Tye

Ranjan C Patel

John H Stibbard

Donald J Newman

A thermal imaging assembly for imaging a heat-sensitive material comprising:

Thermal imaging system with a transparent pinch roller

Method and apparatus for producing a color image on a photosensitive medium having low sensitivity in which color separation image masks are sequentially generated in a smectic liquid crystal device which may be controlled by a computer and the photosensitive medium is exposed through the image mask. The separation image masks may be altered during exposure to compensate for uneven illumination and to achieve tonal scales.

Imaging slow photographic media with liquid crystal shutters

A non-woven, non-tufted skeletal mass of fibrous members in a mat-like structure for reducing liquid splash and/or spray in a region likely to be subjected to liquid impact is provided. The mat-like structure contains 75-98 percent by volume of voids and is particularly useful on motor vehicles as a material for mud flaps, mud guard lining, and wheel valances. The mat-like structure may be provided with a gutter or deflector so that water draining from the skeletal structure is deflected to one side. The mat-like structure may be made by needle-puching a fibrous web and the fibrous members may randomly be bonded to each other by use of an adhesive or welds.

Device for reducing splash and spray from vehicles

A normally-open pressure actuatable switchmat comprising first and second electrically conductive members separated by non-conductive material having a failsafe safety switch is provided. When the switchmat is subjected to an actuation load, there is relative movement between the first and second electrically conductive members to complete an electrically conductive path therebetween. The safety switch comprises a bridging member which includes an electrically conductive spring which is held in a compressed state by frangible restraining element such that, when the switchmat is subjected to a predetermined minimum overload, the frangible restraining element is broken allowing the spring to relax thereby completing an electrically conductive path between the conductive members. This path is maintained after removal of the overload thereby allowing the switchmat to failsafe.

Growing community of inventors

Bishop's Stortford, United Kingdom

Ronald G Tye