Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for producing and treating plastic pellets. According to said method, a melt of the plastic material is granulated to give pellets, the pellets are cooled in a cooling fluid, the pellets are separated from the cooling fluid and the pellets are crystallized. The device according to the invention is characterized by comprising a control unit which monitors the crystallization step and controls the method in such a manner that, in case of a disturbance of crystallization, the pellets are supplied to an intermediate storage alter separation of the pellets from the cooling fluid and, as soon as the disturbance is removed, the pellets temporarily stored in the intermediate storage are supplied to crystallization and are crystallized.

Abstract: A compact deformation-based micro-texturing apparatus and method employ flexure bearing houses for rotatably supporting opposite ends of each of a first (e.g. upper) roll and a second (e.g. lower) roll to provide a working roll gap between the rolls, wherein at least one of the rolls has one or more micro surface features to plastically deform a surface of a workpiece deformed by rolling action in the roll gap. An electrical current may be passed through the workpiece to assist micro deformation. A roll gap adjusting device is operably associated with the first and second flexure bearing houses for adjusting the roll gap dimension to the final depth of the micro surface features to be imparted to the surface of the workpiece by the rolling action. A sheet material or antifriction element (e.g.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a work piece is provided. The method includes preparing fiberglass in a mold, preparing a closed mold cavity around the fiberglass, flushing the closed mold cavity with an oxygen-free gas, injecting resin in the closed mold cavity, and curing the casted work piece. Furthermore, a work piece manufactured by the above method is provided.

Abstract: A lightweight artificial stone system comprises a plurality of artificial stones, each of the artificial stones formed of at least some portion of cement, expanded glass, the lightweight artificial stones having a density in the range of between about 30 and 70 pounds per cubic foot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for multi-stage printing teaches means for removing and replacing a printed component during the printing process and accurately placing the component in the printer for continuation of the printing process. This can be accomplished through the use of a scanner, probe machine, or scanning Additionally, the present invention teaches the use of heating means in combination with a 3D printer to overcome additional issues with multi-sage printing.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for leveling a three dimensional printing platform. In one embodiment of the invention, the printer assembly is provided with a sensor for determining the distance between the sensor and the printing platform or plate. Inasmuch as printer assembly is movable about an X-Y plane above the plate, printer assembly may move to determine the distance between the sensor and printing plate at several different areas of the plate. A control system then calculates the relative adjustments necessary to move the corners of the plate to make the plate horizontally level. A set of four threaded rods with attached motors may be provided to move the associated four corners of the plate vertically to adjust the overall level of the plate.

Abstract: A method of designing and producing the spoke section of a vehicle wheel using chopped carbon fiber pre-impregnated composite material is provided, wherein the method allows wheel designers to machine several different wheel designs, wheel diameters, and wheels with different offsets without using different material molds for each, as is customary with traditional carbon fiber reinforced plastic wheels designed using a layup procedure. The present method greatly reduces material waste, engineering design effort for each wheel, and the cost of each wheel over existing methods by using a single mold that can accommodate different wheel designs.

Abstract: A determination method for determining a pattern of a mold is disclosed. The pattern of the mold is used in imprint processing of forming a pattern on imprint material by performing the steps of pressing the imprint material on a substrate against the pattern of the mold in an atmosphere containing condensable gas to be liquefied due to compression, curing the imprint material, and releasing the mold from the imprint material. A processor calculates a shrinkage amount of the pattern on the imprint material. The pattern on the imprint material shrinks by desorbing condensate liquid, which is produced through liquefaction of the condensable gas between the imprint material and the pattern of the mold in the pressing step and which is dissolved in the imprint material, from the imprint material after completion of the pressing step.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing road surface covering elements that can be mounted on rollers of chassis dynamometers, including detection of a surface contour of a road surface covering within an essentially strip-shaped section. The method also includes production of a digital image of the detected section and manufacturing of the road surface covering element according to the digital image by means of a three-dimensional manufacturing technique.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a composite part comprising fibre reinforced material in a mould (10a, 10b, 10c), the method comprising the steps of: depositing fibre material on a mould surface; covering the fibre material with a vacuum film to create a mould cavity that contains the fibre material and is substantially sealed; evacuating air from the mould cavity; detecting if there is an air leak into the mould cavity with an acoustic camera unit (31) during and/or after the step of evacuating air from the mould cavity.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing an irrigation pipe comprises an extrusion unit, a calibrator unit, a cooling unit for cooling the irrigation pipe in a cooling liquid, and a traction unit for drawing the irrigation pipe in the cooling unit. The cooling unit comprises a device for detecting holes in the wall of the irrigation pipe and arranged for being immersed in the cooling liquid. The device for detecting holes comprises at least one optical transmitter and at least one optical receiver which define an optical barrier. The device is arranged so that the holes in the irrigation pipe located below the device produce gas bubbles which modify the optical barrier.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous membrane including cellulose fibers, wherein the surface area determined by congo red coloring of the re-dispersed cellulose fibers after the cellulose fibers of the porous membrane are re-dispersed in accordance with the re-dispersion method for normal paper specimens according to JIS P 8120 is from 100 to 300 m2/g. The porous membrane according to the present invention can provide a separator for electrochemical devices with superior properties, at a reasonable cost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a beam melting installation and method for producing components thereof, in which a component to be produced is produced layer-wise, wherein, a coating slide moves across a build platform, a powder layer is applied onto the build platform and already produced component layers by a blade fastened on the coating slide, and melt traces are subsequently inscribed in the powder layer by means of a directed beam, so that the powder melts in the melt trace and bonds to underlying component layers, wherein, during the travel of the coating slide in order to apply a new powder layer, perturbations of the travel of the coating slide or components connected thereto are metrologically detected, and in particular the beam melting installation is controlled and/or regulated as a function of the detected measured values. The invention furthermore relates to a device for retrofitting beam melting installations.

Abstract: A device and a method for adjusting post-spacer height in production of liquid crystal displays (LCDs), and the device comprises a controller (11) and an extrusion panel (12), the controller (1) is configured to control the extrusion panel (12) to perform plastic deformation treatment; and the extrusion panel (12) is configured to perform plastic deformation treatment on post spacers on a substrate, of which a height is more than a predetermined height value, under the control of the controller (11) after a rubbing process and before a cell assembly process, so that the standard deviation of the post-spacer height on the substrate can fall in a range of the predetermined standard deviation required to be achieved by products. The device and the method can effectively improve the uniformity of the post-spacer height on the substrates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling commencement of an injection of a melt stream of moldable material from an auxiliary injection unit. A sensor is placed in an injection molding system to sense a condition related to an injection of a first melt stream of a first moldable material provided by a primary injection unit. Commencement of a second melt stream of a second moldable material from the auxiliary injection unit is initiated upon the sensed condition related to the injection of the first melt stream being detected at a preselected value. The sensed condition may be a pressure, velocity or temperature of the first melt stream as provided by a direct sensor, a force or strain on a hot runner component as provided by an indirect sensor or the occurrence of a function of the injection molding system as provided by a functional sensor.

Abstract: A molded, low moisture vapor transmission plastic container is provided. The container includes a sidewall including an inner surface, an outer surface, a thickness and a first layer formed from a high density polyethylene resin. The container includes a bottom wall located at a lower end of the sidewall, and the bottom wall includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surfaces of the sidewall and of the bottom wall define an interior contents cavity. The container includes a neck located at an upper end of the sidewall defining an opening into the interior contents cavity. The high density polyethylene resin acts as an effective moisture barrier limiting moisture transmission into or out of the container.

Abstract: An area of a composite laminate structure is reworked by scarfing the area, generating a 3-D map of the scarfed area, and installing a rework patch that is built based on the 3-D map.

Abstract: A method for bedding a brake disc and/or pad includes monitoring the temperature of the brake disc and/or brake pad throughout the bedding process wherein the monitored temperature is utilized for adjusting the force of the brake pad on the brake disc including the steps of: raising the temperature of the brake pads and/or discs at a controlled rate to a desired bedding temperature; and maintaining the brake pads and/or discs at the bedding temperature. A machine for bedding a brake disc and/or pad is adapted to conduct the method by including at least one temperature sensor monitoring the temperature of a brake disc and/or brake pad throughout the bedding process. The machine regulates the speed of the motor, the pressure of the caliper, or a combination thereof, based on the temperature monitored by the temperature sensors.

Abstract: A nozzle is attached to a heating cylinder via a nozzle adapter. A sensor for pressure measurement is attached to the nozzle adapter. A molten resin is injected into the air with a front of the nozzle open, and a resin pressure is measured by pressure measuring unit while the molten resin is being injected into the air. Based on the resin pressure, the viscosity of the injected molten resin is determined.

Abstract: A measuring device for determining at least one parameter value for the operation of a blow molding machine, a filling machine, and/or a labeling device, and having at least one measuring element for determining the at least one parameter value and a preform dummy, and disposing the at least one measuring element in and/or at the preform dummy.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament which, in various embodiments, comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the flakes through a PET crystallizer; (E) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 18 millibars; (F) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (G) forming the recycled polymer into bulked continuous carpet filament that consists essentially of recycled PET.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an imprint apparatus configured to form a pattern with an imprint material by bringing the imprint material on a substrate and a pattern of the mold into contact with each other including a drive unit to bring part of the pattern of the mold into contact with the imprint material, and bring the pattern into contact with the imprint material so a contact surface area between the pattern of the mold and the imprint material increases, an interference fringe detecting unit to detect an interference fringe generated by reflected light from the pattern of the mold and reflected light from the substrate, and a state detecting unit to detect a contact state between the pattern of the mold and the imprint material on the basis of the interference fringe.

Abstract: A method for fabricating custom surface reflectance and spatially-varying bi-directional reflectance distribution functions (BDRFs or svBRDFs). The 3D printing method optimizes micro-geometry to produce a normal distribution function (NDF) that can be printed on surfaces with a 3D printer. Particularly, the method involves optimizing the micro-geometry for a wide range of analytic NDFs and simulating the effective reflectance of the resulting surface. Using the results of the simulation, the appearance of an input svBRDF can be reproduced. To this end, the micro-geometry is optimized in a data-driven fashion and distributed on the surface of the printed object. The methods were demonstrated to allow 3D printing svBRDF on planar samples with current 3D printing technology even with a limited set of printing materials, and the described methods have been shown to be naturally extendable to printing svBRDF on arbitrary shapes or 3D objects.

Abstract: A method of recycling polymers and other plastics comprises: (A) grinding recycled PET bottles (or other suitable recycled polymer) into a group of flakes; (B) washing the flakes; (C) identifying and removing impurities, including impure flakes, from the group of flakes; (D) passing the group of flakes through an MRS extruder while maintaining the pressure within the MRS portion of the MRS extruder below about 5 millibars; (E) passing the resulting polymer melt through at least one filter having a micron rating of less than about 50 microns; and (F) preparing the polymer melt for recycling into a new product.

Abstract: A method and a machine that account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. If viscosity of the molten plastic material changes during an injection run, a controller alters an injection pressure to ensure that molten plastic material fills a mold cavity within a correct amount of time to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a fire resistant cellulose material. Such a method comprises processing cellulose fibers into a fiber mixture, and then forming a wetted mixture from the fiber mixture and a fire-retarding solution, wherein the wetted mixture has a solids content of the fire-retarding solution substantially uniformly and thoroughly dispersed therethrough. In some aspects, a cohesive mixture may be formed from the wetted mixture and a binding agent, and the cohesive mixture then formed into a formed cellulose product. An associated apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A kitchen tool in the form of one or more pairs of dough thickness guides used to roll out pastry, cookie dough, fondant and other doughs to a desired uniform thickness. At least a pair of guides having the same thickness or depth are spaced apart from one another less than a length of a rolling pin. The dough is rolled by the rolling pin until the rolling pin contacts the spaced apart guides, wherein the dough has been rolled evenly to the desired thickness.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for producing a workpiece using additive manufacturing techniques involve in-process measurement in order to determine individual characteristics of one or more workpiece layers. In particular, dimensional and/or geometrical characteristics of a workpiece layer are measured before the next workpiece layer is produced. Advantageously, the measurement results are fed back into the production process in order to increase accuracy and precision of the production process.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the production of a tube having, in sections, a non-circular profile by deforming, comprising: a) providing a tube, which has a circular initial profile; b) conveying the tube in a hot, malleable state through a nip, which is formed by squeezing rollers and has a first nip width, which is larger than or equal to an outer dimension of the initial profile; c) adjusting the squeezing rollers for setting a second nip width, which is smaller than the outer dimension of the initial profile, and deforming the initial profile in said hot, malleable state for obtaining said non-circular cross section; and d) adjusting the squeezing rollers for setting a third nip width, which is larger than or equal to the outer dimension of the initial profile, and severing said tube in a region having a circular cross section; so that respective end portions of said tube have a circular cross section According to the invention, the tubes can be connected reliably with connecting-members or other tube

Abstract: The invention describes a regulating device that adapts to the aerodynamic profile of a mold bed made of composite material offsetting the geometrical deviations occurring in the mold bed. The device comprises some stiffening ribs (20) supported on a surface of the bed (10) of the mold and is equipped with actuators (21) that modify the curvature of the bed (10) of the mold.

Abstract: Described are systems and methods for formation of templates having alignment marks with high contrast material. High contrast material may be positioned within recesses of alignment marks.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a mold manufacturing method includes obtaining a first distribution, obtaining a second distribution, generating a correction data, and forming a second mold. The first distribution is a distribution of level difference included in a first layer on a substrate. The obtaining the second distribution obtains the second distribution when a first mold having the concave-convex pattern is brought into contact with a photosensitive resin applied on the first layer and the resin is cured. The second distribution is a distribution of film thickness of the resin remaining between the substrate and a convex pattern feature of a concave-convex pattern. The correction data is a data for suppressing a difference between one of the first distribution and the second distribution, and a film thickness of a reference set beforehand. The second mold is different from the first mold using the correction data.

Abstract: A lithium-ion battery outer package material, provided with: a base layer, and a first adhesive layer, a metallic foil layer, a corrosion prevention treatment layer, a second adhesive layer, and a sealant layer sequentially layered on one of the surfaces of the base layer. When a tensile test (a sample of the substrate layer is stored for 24 hours in a 23° C. and 40% RH environment; a tensile test is subsequently performed in a 23° C. and 40% RH environment with the specimen width being 15 mm, the distance between gauge points being 50 mm, and the tensile speed being 100 mm/min; and the tensile elongation and tensile stress of the specimen are measured) is performed, the tensile elongation in a first direction, which is either the TD direction or the MD direction of the sample, relative to the length of the sample is from about not less than 50% to less than 80%, and the tensile stress in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, is from about not less than 150 to 230 MPa.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fabricating multi-functional articles comprised of additively formed gradient materials are provided. The fabrication of multi-functional articles using the additive deposition of gradient alloys represents a paradigm shift from the traditional way that metal alloys and metal/metal alloy parts are fabricated. Since a gradient alloy that transitions from one metal to a different metal cannot be fabricated through any conventional metallurgy techniques, the technique presents many applications. Moreover, the embodiments described identify a broad range of properties and applications.

Abstract: A method for production control in stretch blow molding of plastic containers in a blow molding machine, and a test preform for the use therewith, and a blow molding machine for performing the method. At least one test preform with a regular and/or in particular equidistant, printed test pattern is fed into a stream of product preforms entering the blowing molding machine. Furthermore, the product preforms and the test preform are in the continuous operation of the blow molding machine blown to form product containers and to form a test container and the test container is imaged with at least one camera. The product quality during the ongoing test operation can thereby with imaged test container be performed flexibly and selectively.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling velocity of a contact line and height profile between a template and a substrate during imprinting of polymerizable material are described.

Abstract: A tool (100) for manufacturing a component part from a flowable base material, wherein the tool (100) comprises a processing chamber (102) into which the flowable base material is introducible for manufacturing the component part, an acoustic sensor (104) configured for sensing an acoustic signal originating from the tool (100), particularly from the processing chamber (102), and being indicative of an interaction between the flowable base material and the tool (100), particularly the processing chamber (102), during the manufacturing, wherein the acoustic sensor (104) comprises a movable actuator (110), and a control unit (200) configured for controlling and/or documenting the manufacturing in the processing chamber (102) based on the sensed acoustic signal.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an obliquely stretched long film includes an oblique stretching step and a tension application step. In the oblique stretching step, a long film is stretched in an oblique direction with respect to a width direction into a stretched film (F). In the tension application step, while the stretched film (F) is being drawn along a longitudinal direction, a tension in a drawing direction is applied to the stretched film (F). Here, in the tension application step, the tension in the drawing direction of the stretched film (F) is changed in the width direction, and thus the stretched film (F) is drawn.

Abstract: A mold releasability evaluating apparatus includes a forming die that includes a bottom portion having a main surface, and a wall surface portion that is connected to the main surface of the bottom portion and has a wall surface in which an angle formed with the main surface of the bottom portion is an obtuse angle; an extrusion pin capable of protruding out from the main surface of the bottom portion in a direction that separates a compact from the main surface of the bottom; and a measuring device configured to measure a load applied to the extrusion pin when the extrusion pin pushes the compact away from the main surface of the bottom portion, after one surface of the compact is formed by the main surface of the bottom portion.

Abstract: Arrangement information regarding shot areas is obtained in an imprinting method. When a pattern is sequentially formed in the shot areas, the attraction force of a first attraction area is reduced to less than that of the second attraction area. After the pattern is formed in the shot area corresponding to the first attraction area, the attraction forces of the first and second attraction areas are changed. The position information regarding the shot area corresponding to the second attraction area is obtained, which is compared with the position information regarding the shot area corresponding to the second attraction area based on the arrangement information. If the difference between the compared position information is a threshold value or less, positioning of a substrate and a mold is achieved using the arrangement information. If the difference is greater than the threshold value, the arrangement information regarding the shot areas is obtained again.

Abstract: A processing system employs a processing tool to process workpieces, for example cold working holes and/or installing expandable members into holes. Sensors sense various aspects of the processing. Information regarding performance of the process and/or materials may be stored, for example a hole-by-hole or a workpiece-by-workpiece basis, allowing validation of processing. Information also allows dynamic operation of the processing tool. Analysis of response relationships (e.g., pressure or force versus position or distance) may provide insights into the process and materials, and/or facilitate the real-time feedback including control, alerts, ordering replacement for consumable components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling commencement of an injection of a melt stream of moldable material from an auxiliary injection unit. A sensor is placed in an injection molding system to sense a condition related to an injection of a first melt stream of a first moldable material provided by a primary injection unit. Commencement of a second melt stream of a second moldable material from the auxiliary injection unit is initiated upon the sensed condition related to the injection of the first melt stream being detected at a preselected value. The sensed condition may be a pressure, velocity or temperature of the first melt stream as provided by a direct sensor, a force or strain on a hot runner component as provided by an indirect sensor or the occurrence of a function of the injection molding system as provided by a functional sensor.

Abstract: A 5D printer, which additively manufactures an object, includes an extruder that can move linearly along three orthogonal axes and rotationally around at least one of the axes with respect to the object while depositing a material. A gantry is movable along X, Y and Z axes, and a trunnion table movable about A and B axes is mounted on the gantry. A platen is mounted on the trunnion table, and the extruder deposits the material on the platen while moving the gantry and trunnion table. A model of the object is analyzed to produce a stress tensor for the object, and the depositing is according, to the stress tensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to fabricate additive manufactured parts with in-process monitoring are described. As parts are formed layer-by-layer, a 3D measurement of each layer or layer group may be acquired. The acquisition of dimensional data may be performed at least partially in parallel with the formation of layers. The dimensional data may be accumulated until the part is fully formed, resulting in a part that was completely inspected as it was built. The as-built measurement data may be compared to the input geometrical description of the desired part shape. Where the part fails to meet tolerance, it may be amended during the build process or rejected.

Abstract: A reciprocating apparatus comprises a reciprocating member, a drive mechanism, an input device, a work-switch position calculating unit configured to calculate a work-switch position for the drive mechanism, a direction-switch position calculating unit configured to calculate a direction-switch position, a remaining-distance calculating unit configured to calculate a remaining distance that is a difference between the direction-switch position calculated by the direction-switch position calculating unit and a direction-switch position input at the input device, a target direction-switch position calculating unit configured to add the remaining distance, to the direction-switch position calculated by the direction-switch position calculating unit, thereby to calculate a target direction-switch position, and a corrected position calculating unit configured to calculates a corrected work-switch position for the drive mechanism so that the drive mechanism may cause the reciprocating member to start moving in the

Abstract: A cellulose acylate film that contains at least one kind of cellulose acylate that has a substitution degree of an acyl group that contains an aromatic group of from 0.1 to 2.0, or a substitution degree of an acyl group having from 2 to 4 carbon atoms of from 2.0 to 2.6, and has an in-plane retardation at a wavelength of 550 nm Re(550) of from 80 to 350 nm, and the number of bright spots caused from irregular retardation regions having a major axis diameter of from 0.01 to 0.05 mm of 500 or less per 1 cm2 causes less light leakage irrespective of Re of 80 nm or more, so as to enhance the display capability of IPS type and FFS type liquid crystal display devices.

Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus that applies a resin to several locations on a substrate, brings the resin and a mold into contact, and transfers a contoured pattern formed in the mold to the resin, comprising: a controller that sets a principal axis direction according to the contoured pattern and determines the application positions of the resin based on the principal axis direction that has been set such that the distances between resin drops that have been applied so as to be separated in the principal axis direction is larger than the distances between resin drops that have been applied so as to be separated in a direction that is perpendicular to the principal axis direction; and a dispenser that applies the resin based on the application position that has been determined.

Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus that applies a resin (drops) dispersed, at a plurality of locations on a substrate, brings the resin and a mold into contact, and transfers the contoured pattern that is formed in the mold to the resin comprising: a controller that sets a principal axis direction according to the contoured pattern and an array direction in which a plurality of resin drops are aligned, and determines application positions for the resin such that the array direction is angled with respect to the principal axis direction; and a dispenser that applies the resin based on the application positions that have been determined.

Abstract: A lithography apparatus comprises a projection system arranged to transfer a pattern from a patterning device onto a substrate, a carrier, and a drive system for moving the carrier relative to the projection system in a plane defined by reference to orthogonal axes X and Y. The drive system comprises a shuttle moving parallel to the Y-axis, a shuttle connector connecting the shuttle to the carrier, the shuttle connector allowing movement of the carrier in a direction parallel to the X-axis relative to the shuttle, and a shuttle driver driving movement of the shuttle parallel to the Y-axis. The shuttle is located to one side of the carrier in a direction parallel to the X-axis and it is desirable if only one of the shuttle is connected to the carrier.

Abstract: A pattern forming method includes: a first step of forming a first pattern to define a first shot arrangement; and a second step of performing an imprint process, thereby forming a second pattern on the imprint material on the first pattern and defining a second shot arrangement. In the second step, the second shot arrangement is defined so as to reduce an overlay error between the first and second shot arrangements by deforming the mold. In the first step, based on information of the estimated second shot arrangement definable on the substrate when the second step is performed after the second pattern formed on the mold is amended by deforming the mold, the first pattern is formed to make an overlay error between the first and second shot arrangements fall within an allowable range.