Abstract: A thermoforming station and method for molding a sheet-like plastics material provide to use a bell element including a cover which can be opened on a sidewall in order to provide a large opening for ventilating and cooling the molded plastics material thereby reducing up to 50% the time conventionally required for making a thermoformed evenly cooled product.

Abstract: A modular molding system having: an upper frame assembly configured for receiving a cavity module therein; a lower frame assembly configured for receiving a core module therein, the lower frame assembly including a two-stage master ejector system; a cavity module positioned within the upper frame assembly; and a core module positioned within the lower frame assembly, the core module including a two-stage ejector system having a plurality of ejection elements associated therewith; wherein the core and cavity modules together define a molding cavity for molding a workpiece therein, and wherein the master ejector system is operable to drive the ejection elements of the core module.

Abstract: In a knife used in an underwater cutting granulating device for cutting and granulating a fused resin extruded from a die to a water chamber by a cutter rotated in the state where the knife is opposed to the die, the knife of the cutter has a convex guide surface for guiding a water flow in the direction of drawing it toward the die, which is formed on the surface opposite to the surface facing the die and a curved concave guide surface on the side facing the die.

Abstract: An electron beam as a curing technique with dynamic beam control technology in order to produce arbitrarily shaped parts. The result of this is equipment which can create prototypes and parts rapidly without additional tooling. The electron beam from a low divergence gun is accelerated towards uncured monomer in vacuum. Deflection of the beam combined with a grid which is used to turn the beam on and off, creates a two dimensional curing path with a depth of approximately five (5) thousandths of inch. Successive layers of this type, built up as monomer is added, creates a three dimensional pattern. The layers can either be of uniform thickness, or can be varied in thickness by varying the energy of the beam.

Abstract: A metal mold for molding a slider of a slide fastener is provided. The metal mold comprises upper and lower mold cavities for molding portions of the slider, with the upper and lower molds moving up and down relative to each other in order to open and close the mold. The mold further comprises at least two sliding molds for molding portions of the slider not molded by the upper and lower molds. The sliding molds are capable of being removably introduced into the upper and lower molds from their front and rear sides when the upper and lower molds are in tight contact with each other.

Abstract: An extruder die head, preferably a blown film head, comprises an internal cylindrical mandrel and a jacket, which envelops concentrically said mandrel. Between said mandrel and jacket an annular channel is formed that empties into a die slit. The invention also comprises at least one line, which empties into the annular channel in the area opposite the die slit and which feeds a melt. To prevent a slit between the central mandrel and the jacket, enclosing said mandrel, where the polymer melt could accumulate and deposit, the mandrel is made as one piece with a flange-shaped foot. The jacket rests with its bottom face sealingly on the annular surface of the flange-shaped foot and is connected, for example fastened, to the same. The annular channel extends from the peripheral surface of the mandrel to the flange-shaped foot up to and into the transition region. The line, feeding in a melt, empties into this transition region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rear shelf trim and speaker grill panel (12) for an automotive vehicle (10) includes steps of punching a substrate layer (16) of a polypropylene and flax material with a punch set (46) and placing a decorative carpet layer (18) over the substrate layer (16) and molding the two layers into a combined speaker grill and rear shelf trim panel (12).

Abstract: Method for making polymer particulates, such as spherical powder and whiskers, by melting a polymer material under conditions to avoid thermal degradation of the polymer material, atomizing the melt using gas jet means in a manner to form atomized droplets, and cooling the droplets to form polymer particulates, which are collected for further processing. Atomization parameters can be controlled to produce polymer particulates with controlled particle shape, particle size, and particle size distribution. For example, atomization parameters can be controlled to produce spherical polymer powders, polymer whiskers, and combinations of spherical powders and whiskers. Atomizing apparatus also is provided for atoomizing polymer and metallic materials.

Abstract: A filter-replacement cassette for an extruder. A housing (1) has at least one bore. The bores (2 & 3) extend above and below and at a right angle to the horizontally flowing plastic. A cartridge (4 or 5) that accommodates a replaceable filter (5) slides back and forth inside each bore. The object is to facilitate start-up operation. The cartridge accordingly has at least one tap (7, bore 15, or bore 45) permanently integrated into it in addition to the replaceable filter. The housing accommodates either a cartridge or a start-up outlet bore (16, 36, or 47). While the cartridge is in a prescribed position, the start-up outlet bore can communicate with the cartridge's tap and with an intake channel (13 or 31) for the extrudate.

Abstract: A method for making aerated concrete blocks includes dispensing materials for making aerated concrete into a mold and allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body. The body may be divided into an array of blocks which are then cured. At least one passageway may be formed in each block, such as by drilling. The drilling may include drilling a plurality of spaced apart passageways through each block, and each passageway may have a circular cylindrical shape. The passageways permit easier grasping by the mason, reduce the weight without significantly compromising strength, and facilitate positioning of blocks during construction of a wall to facilitate the placement of vertical reinforcing members in aligned passageways. The positioning of the passageways in each of the blocks may assist alignment of adjacent passageways, especially at wall corners.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming thermoplastic adhesive cartridges. A molten thermoplastic adhesive supply provides a supply of molten adhesive to a pump downstream from the molten thermoplastic adhesive supply. The pump then provides a molten thermoplastic adhesive melt stream which passes through a screen filter downstream from the pump to prevent the discharge of impurities in the molten thermoplastic adhesive melt stream from the pump. A temperature-controlled conduit downstream from the pump then lowers the temperature of the molten plastic melt stream to closely above its softening point. A continuous molder located downstream from the melt pump for receives the molten plastic melt stream from the melt pump to form the thermoplastic adhesive cartridge continuously.

Abstract: The invention is a compact disc manufacturing mold which permits the mold to be used to produce a variety of non-standard sizes and shapes. A replaceable flat cavity ring which fits between the conventional mold pieces encloses the outer boundary of the disc and has an inner shape which defines the non-standard disc shape. The cavity ring includes a cylindrical projection extending from its surface which is in contact with the face of the mold piece. The extension is inserted into a groove in the mold face and is locked into the mold by threaded plugs screwed through the cylindrical sides of the mold piece.

Abstract: A casting tool for an air intake duct includes a mold and exchangeable extractable cores for the formation of a cavity. The exchangeable extractable cores are provided for the mold, by which, while retaining the mold as such, different air intake duct geometries, especially different air intake channel cross sections, can be produced. In this manner a plurality of intake duct variants can be produced at substantially constant tool costs. This permits the economical use of injection molded synthetic resin air intake ducts, since the very expensive casting tools can be provided for a sufficient number of air intake ducts.

Abstract: An injection molding machine is equipped with a drive mechanism which reciprocates a movable member, such as a screw or a mold clamping mechanism, by use of a servomotor and a ball screw mechanism. In the injection molding machine, an end portion of a rotor shaft of the servomotor is connected directly to an end portion of a ball screw (or a nut) of the ball screw mechanism for reciprocating the movable member. This structure enables rotation of the servomotor to be transmitted directly to the ball screw (or the nut) of the ball screw mechanism without intervention of a rotation transmission mechanism.

Abstract: A system for making aerated concrete blocks produces such blocks having at least one passageway therein. The system may include a molding station for receiving materials for making aerated concrete and for allowing the materials to rise and stiffen into a body, a dividing station downstream from the molding station for dividing the body into an array of blocks, and a curing station downstream from the dividing station for curing the array of blocks. Moreover, the manufacturing system also preferably includes a drilling station downstream from the curing station to drill the at least one passageway extending through each of the blocks. The passageways provide easier grasping by the mason, reduce the weight without significantly compromising strength, and may be aligned in a wall during construction at a building site to facilitate the placement of vertical reinforcing members in the wall. The drilling station may drill a plurality of spaced apart passageways through each block.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus is provided for extruding ePTFE tube for use in medical applications. A tube of PTFE is extruded, preferably in an extrusion process, using counter-rotated die components. The die component is maintained at a constant temperature during processing. The resulting green tube has enhanced fibrous state formation in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extrusion. The PTFE green tube is then subjected to secondary operations such as stretching and expansion to yield medical product. The ePTFE tube structure is defined by nodes interconnected by elongate fibrils. Both the nodes and fibrils are substantially randomly tilted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tube. This particular structure yields a tube which exhibits a high degree of radial tear strength useful in medical applications.

Abstract: A concrete product molding machine has a mold removal and replacement mechanism which includes a transfer carriage movable from a location remote from mold supports on the machine along a pathway leading longitudinally abeam of the mold supports. Motor mechanism is activatable for moving a transfer carriage longitudinally adjacent to the machine, moving a cross carriage transversely inward, raising an elevator platform to deposit a mold thereon, returning the cross carriage transversely, and moving the transfer carriage longitudinally to remove the mold to a position adjacent to a mold deposit and replacement station. The mold is deposited at the mold deposit and replacement station and a replacement mold is deposited on the removal and replacement mechanism to be transferred to the concrete molding machine.

Abstract: A method of forming an article of manufacture which includes an undercut therein comprises the steps of providing a tool, removably positioning at least one consumable form adjacent to the tool, providing settable material from which to mold a finished part, molding the material onto the tool and on the form so as to encapsulate the form within the material to thereby form an undercut therein, allowing the material to set to form the finished part and separating the tool from the finished part and the encapsulated form. A method is also provided for forming articles of manufacture of various configurations utilizing a single generic tool by repeating the steps with differently shaped forms removably affixed to the single generic tool in different locations to produce a plurality of finished parts of varying configurations with the single generic tool.

Abstract: An auxiliary device is disclosed for use with an injection molding apparatus for manufacturing disc-like information carriers. The device includes a holding device for holding an insert plate in a desired position, and a transporter, with at least two heads, for transporting successive insert plates between a plate supply holder and the mold. Each head centers and properly positions each plate within the mold using a tapered centering pin which extends from the head and into the mold wall.

Abstract: A molding die having satisfactory releasability, a sol-gel composition produced using the molding die, and a process for producing a sol-gel composition. The molding die which is to be pressed against a sol-gel material for producing a sol-gel composition has a release film, e.g., a thin gold (Au) film, formed on the molding surface of the molding die through a buffer layer made of metals and/or inorganic oxides.