Abstract: The aerosol-generating article (1) comprises a tobacco element and a mouthpiece element. The tobacco element comprises an aerosol-forming substrate (2), a support element (3) arranged downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate (2) and an aerosol-cooling element (4) arranged downstream of the support element. The mouthpiece element comprises a filter segment (5) and a hollow tube (6). The aerosol-cooling element (4) has a length of at most 15 millimeter. A length of the mouthpiece element is adapted according to the length of the aerosol-cooling element (4) such that a total length of the aerosol-generating article (1) is kept at a predefined total length. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing aerosol-generating articles.

Abstract: A preform suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final-shaped container comprises: a neck portion; a base portion; and a body portion extending between the neck portion and the base portion; the body portion being defined between an inner surface having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape and an outer surface also having a circular transverse cross-sectional shape, the inner and outer surfaces being non-concentric, such that a wall thickness of the body portion varies circumferentially around the preform. A preform handling apparatus for retrieving a preform from a mold comprises a take-off device having a preform carrier and a take-off device alignment mechanism for maintaining the preform carrier in alignment with a contact surface of a body portion of the preform regardless of any offset between a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical outer surface of the body portion and a longitudinal axis of a cylindrical inner surface of the body portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a conductive element is disclosed. The method being executed by an additive manufacturing system and comprises: dispensing a modeling material on a receiving medium to form a layer, and dispensing a conductive ink on the layer of modeling material to form a conductive element. In some embodiments of the invention the modeling material comprises a sintering inducing agent, and in some embodiments of the present invention a sintering inducing composition is dispensed separately from the modeling material and separately from the conductive ink.

Abstract: A filter support sheet extruded from a fluoroplastic material includes a base section having spaced-apart ribs extending outwardly from at least one surface thereof. Segments between spaced-apart ribs provide flow channels and apertures are punched through the sheet in a predetermined pattern unaffected by the structure of the support sheet. A method includes the steps of: (1) extruding a thermoplastic, fluoroplastic material to form of a sheet; (2) passing the sheet through a nip region provided by opposed rollers; at least one having an outer surface with counter-sunk grooves. Counter-sunk grooves in one roller are aligned with an outer surface or counter-sunk grooves of the other roller in the nip region to form a ribbed sheet having ribs upstanding from at least one surface of said sheet; (3) setting the ribbed sheet and (4) punching apertures through the ribbed sheet in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: There is provided a machine for producing an aerosol-forming composition for an aerosol-generating system, the machine including a plurality of reservoirs configured to contain components of an aerosol-forming composition; a mixing mechanism in communication with the plurality of reservoirs; a controller connected to, and configured to control, the mixing mechanism; a user interface connected to the controller for a user to operate the machine, the mixing mechanism being configured to mix selective quantities of components from the plurality of reservoirs according to specified ratios to create an aerosol-forming composition; a testing mechanism including a heater assembly configured to vaporize a test sample to form an aerosol, and at least one outlet configured to deliver the aerosol to the user; and a transfer mechanism configured to deliver the test sample to the testing mechanism. There is also provided a machine and process for producing and delivering the test sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to a powder application unit (8) for a PBLS system (1), wherein the powder application unit (8) comprises an application medium which is movably mounted parallel to a working plane of the PBLS system (1) in order to be able to move powder along the working plane, wherein a distance of the application medium to the working plane can be modified in that the application medium is mounted about a swivel axis (S) in a swiveling manner in order to be able to swivel the application medium away from the working plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods involving a mechanism for feeding in a desired amount of fresh recoater blade. This can be accomplished by, for example, spooling the fresh blade material from a spool. This helps prevent work stoppage when a portion of a recoater blade becomes damaged. As such, the present disclosure also relates to a system and method for detecting whether a recoater blade is damaged, and if there is damage, then causing a fresh blade portion to be fed in.

Abstract: An atomizer and an electronic cigarette are provided. The atomizer comprises an atomizing chamber and a heating assembly, the heating assembly includes heater, the heater is in the form of a sheet, the two opposite sides of the heater form air flow passages, the two opposite side walls of the heater respectively form the side walls of the air flow passages, the air flow passages are in communicate with the atomizing chamber, the number of the heater is at least one. Since the heating assembly located in the air flow passages is configured to heat the air entrance into the air flow passages, so that the air has a higher temperature when it reaches the atomizing chamber. The hot air heats the tobacco, and the contact area between the hot air and the tobacco is more uniform, and the heating can be completed quickly without waiting, generating more smoke and improving the taste.

Abstract: Damage of the outer surface of a rubber hose due to friction can be prevented while the sealing performance and the productivity are ensured. The following components are provided: a pipe 11 whose one end is connected to a vulcanization pipe and in which pressed liquid is pumped from an inlet 11a disposed at the side face of the other end side; an annular member 12 which is attached to the pipe 11 so as to close an opening of the other end side of the pipe 11, and includes a hole 12a whose diameter is larger than the outer diameter of a rubber hose and in which the rubber hose passes through; and a pump which pumps more liquid than the liquid discharged outside the pipe 11 through the gap between the hole 12a and the rubber hose into an inlet 11a.

Abstract: A smoking article (10) comprises a tobacco rod (11) and a filter (12) in axial alignment with the tobacco rod (11). Tipping wrapper (16) circumscribes at least a portion of the filter (12) and at least a portion of the tobacco rod (11) to secure the filter (12) in axial alignment with the tobacco rod (11). The filter (12) comprises a hollow tubular element (13) at the upstream end of the filter (12) adjacent to the tobacco rod (11) and a first segment of filtration material (15) downstream from and adjacent to the hollow tubular element (13). The tipping wrapper (16) comprises a line of weakness (17) disposed at, or within 5 millimetres upstream of, the interface between the hollow tubular element (13) and the tobacco rod (11). The tobacco rod (11), the first segment of filtration material (15) and the inner surface of the hollow tubular element (13) together define a cavity (14).

Abstract: According to one implementation, a composite material shaping device includes three rollers and an angle adjusting structure. The three rollers apply pressures on a laminated body of prepregs, from different directions. The prepregs are laminated in a bar shape. The angle adjusting structure continuously changes an angle of a rotating axis of at least one roller out of the three rollers. Further, according to one implementation, a composite material shaping method includes applying pressures on a laminated body of prepregs laminated in a bar shape, from different directions, using three rollers; and producing a shaped laminated body of the prepregs by continuously changing an angle of a rotating axis of at least one roller out of the three rollers.

Abstract: An injection molding machine device includes at least two guide rods. One end of each guide rod is fixed to a rack, and the other end of each guide rod is fixed to a fixed base body. A movable base body is provided opposite to the fixed base body. The movable base body slides along the guide rods relative to the fixed base body. At least one correction mechanism is located between the movable base body and the guide rail to adjust a movement of the movable base body in a vertical direction. A predetermined clearance value and/or a predetermined contact force value exist between the components. At least one sensor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller correspondingly controls the correction mechanism by determining whether corresponding detecting values of the sensor match with the predetermined clearance values and/or the predetermined contact force values.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system including at least one positioning mechanism, and at least one end effector movably connected to the at least one positioning mechanism. The at least one end effector includes at least one mixing head configured to dispense a material, and at least one subtractive tool configured to subtract at least a portion of the material such that a desired design is achieved.

Abstract: An injection molding system capable of easily calculating relative position information between a movable part of an injection molding machine and a movable part of a peripheral device is provided. A first control unit 110 of an injection molding machine 2 calculates first relative position information which is relative position information of a first movement position M1 set to a movable part 50 in relation to a first reference position K1 set to a first connection portion 80. A second control unit 210 of a robot 3 calculates second relative position information which is relative position information of a second movement position M2 set to a hand 65 in relation to a second reference position K2 set to a second connection portion 85.

Abstract: An apparatus arranged to heat smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material has a housing. The housing has a first opening at a first end through which smokable material can pass so as to be received within and removed from the apparatus in use. The housing has a second opening at a second end opposed from the first end. The housing further has a chamber between the first and second openings. At least one heater is arranged within the housing for heating smokable material removably received within the chamber in use. A user can access the chamber through at least the second opening to clean within the apparatus.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method may comprise heating a composite material into a viscous form, wherein the composite material comprises a thermoplastic and a plurality of reinforcement fibers, wherein the plurality of reinforcement fibers is randomly arranged within the thermoplastic. The method may further comprise extruding a plurality of strands of the composite material, wherein extruding the plurality of strands causes the plurality of reinforcement fibers within each strand to align. The method may further comprise arranging the plurality of strands of the composite material to form a mold tool, wherein the mold tool is configured to mold a composite structure at a heated temperature, and wherein the mold tool comprises an anisotropic thermal expansion property, wherein the anisotropic thermal expansion property is based on an orientation of the plurality of reinforcement fibers within the mold tool.

Abstract: An organic microgel system as support material for 3D printing of soft materials such as silicone and methods for manufacturing and using the organic microgel system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the organic microgel system comprises a plurality of microgel particles formed by blending a di-block copolymer and a tri-block copolymer in an organic solvent. The organic microgel system may allow high precision 3D printing of silicone objects with complex shapes.

Abstract: A shaping method for a three-dimensional shaped product, including the following steps: 1. Setting a traveling distance of the squeegee to be a short distance that does not reach a chamber wall section, 2. Establishing location of wall layers connecting both ends at the chamber wall sections in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the squeegee, within a traveling range based on the set traveling distance, or connecting to the ends on a powder feeder side at inner side of the chamber wall sections by a region to be sintered, from both sides of the region, 3. Forming powder layers by movement of the squeegee over the set traveling distance, 4. Forming sintered layers by irradiation with a beam on the formed powder layers, and forming wall layers by irradiation with a beam at the locations of the established wall layers, 5. Repeating steps 3 and 4.

Abstract: A uniform temperature roller system for uniform temperature exchange by supercritical fluid is revealed. The system includes a roller body, a pair of rotary shafts, a plurality of heating/cooling modules and a supercritical fluid. The roller body includes a first chamber, a second chamber and a third chamber. The second chamber is a closed space and the two rotary shafts are formed on two lateral plates of a housing of the roller body correspondingly. The heating/cooling modules are mounted in the second chamber and the supercritical fluid is filled in the second chamber for transferring temperature between the heating/cooling modules and the roller shell. Thereby the uniform temperature roller system achieves heating or cooling quickly with uniform heat exchange so as to improve quality and yield rate of the product as well as extend service life of the roller.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a mold includes a substrate clamping surface, a cavity, a suction part, a vent, an intermediate cavity, and an opening/closing part. The substrate clamping surface contacts a surface of a processing substrate. The cavity is recessed from the substrate clamping surface. The suction part is recessed from the substrate clamping surface. The vent is provided on a path between the cavity and the suction part, communicates with the cavity, is recessed from the substrate clamping surface to a vent depth. The intermediate cavity is provided between the vent and the suction part on the path, communicates with the vent, and is recessed from the substrate clamping surface to an intermediate cavity depth deeper than the vent depth. The opening/closing part opens and closes the path and is provided between the intermediate cavity and the suction part on the path.