Abstract: A method for producing a three-dimensional object by stereolithography. A solid reinforcing material is mixed with the fluid medium so that at least a part of said solid reinforcing medium is located in the layer of the fluid medium between the top surface of the most recently formed lamina and the top surface of the fluid medium. An acoustic field is then established in the fluid medium such that this acoustic field exists in at least part of the layer of the fluid medium between the top surface of the most recently formed lamina and the top surface of the fluid medium. The solid reinforcing material is thereby moved with said acoustic force field. A three-dimensional reinforced object is thereby produced.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method, for drying ceramic molded articles, are disclosed. A drying apparatus (1) comprises a drying chamber (10) for accommodating ceramic molded articles (8), a plurality of microwave generators (20) for supplying microwave energy into the drying chamber, and a conveyor (30) for charging the ceramic molded articles (8) continuously into the drying chamber (10), conveying the ceramic molded articles through the drying chamber, and delivering the ceramic molded articles from the drying chamber. The drying chamber (10) has arranged therein a plurality of the microwave generators (20) and at least a sensor (40) for detecting the distribution of the ceramic molded articles (8) in the drying chamber (10). Each microwave generator (20) is adapted to change the output thereof in accordance with the distribution of the ceramic molded articles (8) detected by the sensor (40).

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing a molded body, in which a preferably powdered, pasty, or granular molding material is heated and compressed in a pressing cavity, and the molding material is heated by producing ohmic heat in it.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of and a mold for arranging features on a substrate to replicate the features with minimal dimensional variability. The method includes arranging features on a layer to minimize thickness variations in the layer that are attributable to density variations of the plurality of features on the layer. The features are transferred into an underlying substrate. It is believed that by forming the features so as to define a uniform fill factor in the layer, the thickness variations may be reduced, if not abrogated. To that end, one method in accordance with the present invention includes forming a flowable material on the substrate. Thereafter, a plurality of features is formed in a region of the flowable material. The plurality of features are arranged to provide a substantially uniform fill factor in the region.

Abstract: An improved method of imprint lithography involves using fluid-induced pressure from electric or magnetic fields to press a mold onto a substrate having a moldable surface. In essence, the method comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a moldable surface, providing a mold having a molding surface and pressing the molding surface and the moldable surface together by electric or magnetic fields to imprint the molding surface onto the moldable surface. The molding surface advantageously comprises a plurality of projecting features of nanoscale extent or separation, but the molding surface can also be a smooth planar surface, as for planarization. The improved method can be practiced without mechanical presses and without sealing the region between the mold and the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for casting, handling, or storing assay matrices. In one embodiment, an assay matrix casting system comprises a gel matrix frame sandwiched between two films, forming a “gel matrix mold,” two plates sandwiching the gel matrix mold, one or more devices for delivering gel material into a chamber formed by the gel matrix mold, and a device for pressing the plates toward each other. An assay matrix is cast by applying pressure to the, injecting a liquid gel material into the chamber of the gel matrix mold, and allowing the gel material to form a gel matrix inside the chamber. The gel matrix may be handled or stored using the gel matrix mold, which is removable from the other components of the gel casting system.

Abstract: Fine particles (23) are oriented and dispersed in a polymer medium to obtain a composite material (24), which is high-density compression molded to such a size that a photonic band gap develops, thereby obtaining a photonic crystal element (26). The orientation of the fine particles (23) in the polymer medium can be carried out on a scale (tens of micrometers to several millimeters) where required manipulations can be done with ease.

Abstract: A device for producing freely formed products through a buildup of layers of powder-form material that is solidified according to specification, comprises a (relatively) lowerable table on the one hand, and a powder feed above the table, a distribution device that spreads the powder in a predetermined thickness over the table, and an energy source that solidifies the powder of each layer on the other hand, that are horizontally movable with respect to each other. In particular, the horizontal movement of the table consists in a rotational movement around an vertical axis, which movement is combined with the descending movement into a spiral movement having a pitch corresponding to the layer thickness, the powder feed, the distribution device, and the energy source being arranged radially around the axis and being continuously active.

Abstract: The invention is an apparatus and a method for drilling holes in a work piece with a laser. A laser beam is received by the optical system and directed along an optical path. The system directs the laser beam through a moveable mask aperture creating a sub-beam, that is reduced in size by a lens system as it is imaged onto a work piece. Multiple features are formed in the work piece by moving the mask.

Abstract: A system for fluid processing is provided to control shear, point velocity and pressure in either a Newtonian or non-Newtonian fluid which includes creation of three fields, namely a dynamic microshear field, a dynamic velocity field and a dynamic pressure field, with the fields being created by the injection of energy between 1 KHz and 10 MHz into the fluid. Control is achieved by control of the angle at which mechanical energy is delivered, steering and/or focusing of the energy, control of the amplitude of the energy waveform, of the energy, and control of the frequency of the energy in one embodiment to eliminate standing waves. By controlling the three fields, the system is able to control overall fluid behavior. In one embodiment, energy is injected into a fluid at any angle to the direction of flow assuming the fluid is flowing, with the injected energy providing a predetermined controllable zone of energy in the fluid at the region of energy injection.

Abstract: A raw tire-preheating method and apparatus for preheating a raw tire uniformly over all the areas with a reduced running cost. The raw tire-preheating apparatus comprises a tread section-preheating mechanism (16) including a front coil (21) disposed so as to face a tread section (4a) for generating a high frequency magnetic field and for applying it to the tread section (4a); and a core mechanism consisting of center cores (24), separation cores (25) and side cores (26) for providing an intensity distribution of the high frequency magnetic field that the tread section (4a) is uniformly preheated overall in the tire width direction. A movement mechanism for moving at least one of the tread section-preheating mechanism (16) and the raw tire (4) is provided in order to move the tread section-preheating mechanism (16) relative to the tread section (4a).

Abstract: The apparatus for treating the inside surface of a bottle (1) in a plasma enhanced process comprises a vacuum chamber (2), a microwave confinement (3) with a microwave generator (4), evacuation means and gas feed means (5). The microwave confinement (3) is substantially cylindrical and adapted to the shape of at least the body portion of the bottle (1) to be treated as closely as possible. The microwaves are coupled into the microwave confinement (3) form the bottom side of the bottle (1) and the microwave confinement is excited in a TM mode of resonance. The inventive apparatus is very compact and very simple. It can be integrated into a stretch-blow-moulding apparatus or into a filling apparatus. For upscaling, a plurality of one-bottle apparatuses is arranged in a row or in a matrix and all the one-bottle apparatuses are connected to a net of energy, vacuum and gas supply lines.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for thermosetting thermoplastic tubes in a predefined shape having at least one bend. The apparatus includes an oven with an interior chamber which is heated to a temperature approaching that at which the tube thermally deforms. An elongated former has a channel dimensioned to receive the tube, and this channel has the predefined shape. A thermally absorbent coating is disposed only on a surface of the former adjacent to and extending across each bend of the former. This thermally absorbent coating locally adds the thermal energy required to reset the memory of the tube at the bend location. A conveyor extends through the oven chamber from an inlet end and to an outlet end of the oven, and the former is attached to the conveyor.

Abstract: A cavity-preventing type reactor and a method for fabricating a preform for a plastic optical fiber using the same, wherein post-process charging of additional monomer or prepolymer into rotationally-induced central cavities is avoided by forming void-free plastic fibers using special geometric flow controllers combined with special materials combinations, pressures, and rotational techniques.

Abstract: A method for ultrasound treatment of at least one fabric. The fabric is passed through a working gap between a sonotrode connected with an ultrasound vibration unit and a counter-tool, and is exposed to an ultrasound effect in the working gap. The fabric or fabrics to be treated are subjected to pretreatment in a device before passing through the working gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for thermoforming an article of fiber packaging from a fibrous slurry is provided. The apparatus includes first and second co-operable dies being adapted to receive the fibrous slurry therebetween. The apparatus includes at least one thermal mass mounted to at least one of the first and second dies. The apparatus includes at least one radio-frequency induction coil mounted to at least one of the first and second dies. The apparatus includes a power source in electrical communication with the at least one radio-frequency induction coil to supply radio-frequency energy thereto and wherein the coil is adapted to induce an electromagnetic field within one or more thermal masses to heat a respective die and thermoform the fibrous slurry into the article of fiber packaging. At least one of the first and second dies can include at least one sensor for measuring the temperature of the respective die.

Abstract: A method and system for curing reactive material. The system includes an inlet port adapted to receive radiation from a source, at least one emitter port, and transmission means operatively coupling the inlet port to each emitter port. The transmission means is adapted to conduct radiation from the inlet port to the emitter ports. Preferably, the emitter port is configured in a shape approximating the surface area of the curable material. The method includes the steps of providing a curing system made in accordance with the present invention, positioning the reactive material proximate the emitter port, and directing radiation within the absorption spectrum of the reactive material into the inlet port until the reactive material is sufficiently cured.

Abstract: A method and device for generating solid particles using focused acoustic energy are provided. A solution of a compound of interest is provided in a solvent, which may be an aqueous fluid, a nonaqueous fluid, or a supercritical fluid. Focused acoustic energy is used to eject a droplet of the solution, which is then directed into or through an antisolvent that upon admixture with the solution droplet causes the compound in the droplet to precipitate. In a preferred embodiment, the solvent is an aqueous or organic liquid, and the antisolvent is a supercritical fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for curing silicone rubber is constructed so as to perform a heating process and a curing process in a very short time without degradation of characteristics in piezoelectric elements so as to improve productivity. A piezoelectric component having uncured silicone rubber coated on the external peripheral surface thereof is held in a jig having a property of reflecting far infrared rays. The uncured silicone rubber coated on the external peripheral surface of the piezoelectric component is irradiated with far infrared rays by a far infrared panel heater so as to cure the silicone rubber.

Abstract: An apparatus for charging fibers that contain a nonconductive polymer. A polar liquid 32, 34 is sprayed onto free-fibers 24, and the free-fibers 24 are then collected to form an entangled nonwoven fibrous web 25 that may contain a portion of the polar liquid. The nonwoven web 25 is then dried 38. By applying an effective amount of polar liquid 32, 34 onto the nonconductive free-fibers 24 before forming the nonwoven web 25, followed by drying 38, the individual fibers 24 become charged. The apparatus can enable the fibers 24 to be charged during web manufacture without subsequent processing.

Abstract: This invention is related to a method for encapsulating bond regions in electronic components comprising, for example, metallic bond regions, the method comprising the steps of exposing an electronic component having at least one bond region through a primary gas atmosphere comprising unstable or excited gaseous species, the gaseous species being substantially devoid of any electrical charges, the primary gas atmosphere having a pressure ranging from about 0.5×105 Pa to about 3.0×105 Pa, thereby forming a treated, non-encapulated electronic component, then encapsulating the electronic component.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for manufacturing a magnet roller makes it possible to remarkably reduce defects on the surface or the inside of a magnet roller and also to control “warp” of the magnet roller sufficiently so that it does not adversely affect the functions of the magnet roller. A metal mold for magnetic field injection molding is composed of two fixed mold counterparts and a movable mold counterpart. The movable mold counterpart is moved to increase the volume of the cavity of the metal mold as a resin-bonded magnet material is injected into the mold.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multi-layered web uses contoured honeycomb drums for the manufacture of non-woven webs used to make the multi-layered web. The method can use spunbonded, melt blown, or electro-static spun techniques for depositing solidifying filaments on outer collection surfaces of a multi-drum system. The multi-drum system may be employed to improve multi-layered web uniformity and the overall quality of the multi-layered web by presenting a single optimal collection surface for each independent web layer being produced.

Abstract: A vibration applying apparatus associated with an injection molding machine for applying vibrational repetitive movements to a melt of molding materials includes a rod having a tip end received inside a heating cylinder and disposed in the proximity of a nozzle of the heating cylinder, a stationary guide supporting the rod such that the rod is movable back and forth, a rotating shaft being orthogonal to the rod, a drive motor for rotating the rotating shaft, and a cam mechanism acting between the rotating shaft and the rod so as to convert rotary motion of the rotating shaft into linear reciprocal motion of the rod. With the apparatus thus arranged, the tip end of the reciprocating rod applies vibrational repetitive movements to the melt of molding material, thereby lower the viscosity of melt. The frequency of vibrational repetitive movements can be varied by changing the rotational speed of the drive motor.

Abstract: A process of monolithically forming one-piece reflective pavement marker or delineator, including at least one retro reflective face. The process is based on molding the pavement marker or delineator with means to integrally form cube-corner reflective elements and internal hollow cavity air gaps simultaneously. The pavement marker also provides means to enhance agglutination to the roadway. The open ends of hollow cavities at the marker base can be sealed, thereby maximizing the base area for adhesive wetting parameter.

Abstract: Fine particles (23) are oriented and dispersed in a polymer medium to obtain a composite material (24), which is high-density compression molded to such a size that a photonic band gap develops, thereby obtaining a photonic crystal element (26). The orientation of the fine particles (23) in the polymer medium can be carried out on a scale (tens of micrometers to several millimeters) where required manipulations can be done with ease.

Abstract: A treatment method for the internal surface of a moulded polyethylene plastics material container such as a drum, comprising the steps of: introducing an ionisable gas, such as argon, into the container; generating a plasma of the introduced gas by applying electric field of sufficient strength to the container and introduced gas, so as to cause an interaction with the internal surface of the container; coating the internal surface of the container with a curable epoxy-based first polymeric composition; and then curing the polymeric composition to form a coating on the internal surfaces of the container. A second coating, preferably with electrical conductive properties, may be applied and cured over the first coating. Conductive properties may provided by including conductive particles such as antimony doped tin dioxide, graphite or metal powders, in the second composition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming composites comprising filler materials and thermoactive materials, particularly waste cellulosic materials and waste thermoplastics, are described. One embodiment of the apparatus includes either a batchwise or continuous mixer, such as a cyclone, for forming mixtures comprising filler and thermoactive material. The mixtures are conveyed to a continuous consolidation apparatus. Alternatively, the mixtures may be densified in a densifying apparatus before entering the consolidation apparatus. The consolidation apparatus includes a hot-gas distribution system having plural paired gas cells, such as rollers or hoods, for applying hot air to the charge. A first cell of each pair applies gas to the mixture. The second cell of each pair operates at a pressure less than that of the first cell, thereby creating a pressure differential across the charge.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming polycrystalline particles by gas phase condensation employing arc plasma evaporation. The disclosed method and apparatus may be employed to form polycrystalline particles from high-melting temperature, low evaporation pressure materials such as transition metals. Arc discharge is sustained by the evaporated species, therefore, there is no need for a plasma sustaining gas. Evaporation may be sustained from either the cathode or anode. A reaction gas may be provided to form products with the evaporated species.

Abstract: In making thermoset and photo-set polymer-matrix composite parts, curing is the key process step that transforms the molecular structure of the composite material, stabilizing it in the desired shape. This curing system applies carefully controlled ultraviolet (UV) radiation dosages, appropriately distributed over the entire surface of the composite part, thereby rapidly curing the material while enabling direct monitoring and control of the curing energy. Previous photo-curing methods have applied generalized radiation to a part with conventional UV lamps. We provide great benefits in cure depth, speed and process control by precisely controlling all parameters of UV dosage, by computed control, by markings on the part, or by dynamic feedback control from embedded sensors or non-contact sensors. This system can apply greater radiation dose to areas of increased quantities of resin, such as support ribs, and lesser radiation dose to areas of decreased quantities of resin.

Abstract: A voltage is applied to a feeder plate (29) from a power source section (2) including an alternating power source for dielectric heating, whereby an electric field in a direction crossing a direction in which a mold (8) is moved is applied to an incoming plate (28) which is not in contact with the feeder plate (29), so that molded object materials (9) are heated and expanded. By doing so, arc discharge caused by contact of the mold with an electrode is prevented from occurring during the heating and molding of a biodegradable molded object by dielectric heating.

Abstract: A process and installation are provided for making an extruded sintered ceramic product. The method involves extruding a moist profile and simultaneously drying it with microwave radiation as it is extruded. As the profile is extruded and dried, it is supported at a position where it has been at least partially dried. The installation comprises extrusion means for extruding a moist profile, support means for supporting the extruded profile at an at least partially dried part thereof, and a microwave radiation source for directing microwaves at the profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for the rapid preparation of electrophoresis gels comprises: (a) a housing; (b) a support fixture removably disposed within the housing and adapted to receive a gel holder having an internal gel compartment, the support fixture being optionally adapted to permit filling of the gel holder within the housing; (c) an optional injection system, which is connectible to a reservoir for holding a polymerizable solution; (d) an optional solution injection connector adapted to couple the injection system to a gel holder placed within the filling fixture, (e) an optional controller for the injection system, which causes the injection system to inject polymerizable solution from the reservoir into the gel compartment; and (f) a radiation source disposed within the housing in a location effective to irradiate polymierizable solution within the gel compartment of a gel holder in the support fixture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for devulcanizing cured or cross-linked elastomers. The method includes subdividing elastomeric raw material into small particle form, confining the particles of elastomer under high force, as in a screw extruder or the like and, as the particles remain confined, imparting ultrasonic energy to the mass to effect devulcanization. Energy is fed to the confined particles transversely of the axis along which they are advancing, and energy from a source is reflected off a portion of the apparatus and back into the treatment zone so as to achieve maximum energy utilization. In particular instances, reflection of energy is achieved by providing opposed, powered ultrasonic horns that resonate in phase with each other. In another embodiment, oppositely directed, resonantly tuned horns are used, with less than all such horns being powered and the remainder being passive or unpowered reflecting horns who resonant frequency is tuned to that of the powered horn.

Abstract: A rapid prototyping method utilizing a powder sintering process and an apparatus for fabricating a product, utilizing the method. The rapid prototyping method includes steps of slicing an image of a product to be fabricated into a number of layers, preparing a mold sheet for each of the slices of the product with a cavity adapted to the profile of the corresponding slice, laying the mold sheet in place on a one-on-the-other basis, feeding the cavity of the mold sheet with a powdery material, pressurizing the material, repeating the preceding steps for each slide to form a multilayer structure for a complete product, and sintering the multilayer structure to produce a finished product. The rapid prototyping method according to the invention provides major advantages over comparable known methods in terms of cost, processing time, and profiling accuracy.

Abstract: A method for continuously producing panels (7) of lignocellulose-containing particles (2). According to the invention, binder is continuously applied to the particles (2) which are continuously shaped to form a mat (4). The mat (4) is continuously precompressed and at the same time continuously preheated by the effect of a high-frequency high-voltage field. The mat (4), which is guided in a plane, is compressed to form the panels (7) under the effect of further heat.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of making a reinforced composite structure wherein a reusable mold closure is mated to a mold to close off a mold cavity in which a reinforcement is positioned. The mold closure or mold includes a plurality of collapsible resin supply ports through which resin is pumped into the mold cavity from a source of resin to infuse or impregnate the reinforcement with resin. After the resin is introduced into the mold cavity, the resin residing in the resin supply ports is selectively cured to form respective cured resin plugs on which the resin supply ports collapse to seal them in air-tight manner. The resin residing in the mold and infused in the reinforcement is not cured at that time.

Abstract: A polymer injection molding unit is disclosed having a mold wall which includes a portion made of an infrared transmissible material which is radiated by an external infrared radiation source. Due to the passage of the infrared radiation through the infrared transmissible material, the infrared radiation is not absorbed by the mold wall and the mold wall is not substantially heated. The infrared radiation passes through the mold wall and is absorbed by the molten polymer material near the mold wall. As a result, the temperature of the molten polymer material rises and its viscosity is lowered to thereby enhance the shape transcription of complicated or fine shapes present on the mold wall, without increasing the temperature of the mold wall.

Abstract: A plastic magnet injection molding machine comprising a pair of exciting coils respectively embedded into a fixed plate and a movable plate along with respective seats and a metal mold including ferromagnetic central members and non-magnetic peripheral members is provided. With such an arrangement, the machine can anisotropically process magnet powder with enhanced efficiency by energizing the coils. Both the fixed plate 2 and the movable plate 4 of the machine are made of ferromagnetic metal. The exciting coils 7, 8 are respectively embedded into the plates at the oppositely disposed sides thereof along with the non-magnetic annular seats 9, 10 surrounding the respective exciting coils. The fixed mold 12 and the movable mold 13 of the metal mold 11 of the machine include respective central members 14, 15 made of ferromagnetic metal. The central members 14, 15 of the fixed and movable molds are respectively made to abut corresponding central portions 2a, 4a of the fixed plate 2 and the movable plate 4.

Abstract: A material powder is packed in a cavity of a mold with high and uniform density to manufacture a powder molding a material powder in a shoe box 12 is fed into a cavity 6 formed in a mold 1 by moving the shoe box 12 over the cavity 6 while oscillating the shoe box until the density of the powder in the cavity increases to at least 1.1 times the apparent density. The powder is then compression-molded.

Abstract: A process for joining solid compositions, comprising placing a first solid composition having a first joining zone and a second solid composition having a second joining zone in a chamber; positioning a first gas phase, which comprises a substance that decomposes to a material that adheres to the first and second solid compositions during the process, proximate the target area; directing an energy beam to the first and second joining zones to selectively deposit material from the first gas phase on the first joining zone and the second joining zone until a joint is formed between the first and second solid compositions wherein the joint adheres to the first and second compositions at the first and second joining zones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for injection molding. The injection molding machine includes a mold formed by a fixed mold half and a movable mold half cooperating with the fixed mold half for defining a mold cavity of the mold and a gate channel leading to the mold cavity. An injection piston is operatively associated with the mold cavity for pressing a melt via the gate channel into the mold cavity. A sensor device detects a melt front of the melt rising upstream of the mold cavity in a conveying direction of the melt at a predetermined detection height. The sensor device includes walls defining a measurement gap disposed at the detection height and extending transversely to the conveying direction of the melt. The measurement gap is at least partially penetrated by a fraction of the melt from the melt front when the melt front rises toward the mold cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for the rapid filling and polymerization of electrophoresis gels comprises:(a) a housing;(b) a filling fixture removably disposed within the housing and adapted to receive a gel holder having an internal gel compartment;(c) an injection system, which is connectible to a reservoir for holding a polymerizable solution;(d) a solution injection connector adapted to couple the injection system to a gel holder placed within the filling fixture,(e) a controller for the injection system, which causes the injection system to inject polymerizable solution from the reservoir into the gel compartment; and(f) a radiation source disposed within the housing in a location effective to irradiate polymerizable solution within the gel compartment of a gel holder in the filling fixture. The filling fixture may be mounted on a base which is slidable between a position inside the housing, and a position outside the housing to permit easy placement of a gel holder into the filling fixture.

Abstract: A photo-solidification modeling apparatus and a photo-solidification modeling method, wherein the reliability of an operation for coating the upper surface of a solidified layer with an unsolidified liquid is improved and the time required to carry out the same operation is reduced. To meet the purpose, a clearance is formed between the lower surface of a recoater travelling on a solidified layer and the upper surface of the solidified layer. When this condition is satisfied, an unsolidified liquid is introduced onto the solidified layer by virtue of both the force of the lower surface of the recoater which drags the unsolidified liquid and the nature of the unsolidified liquid entering the clearance. When recesses are provided in the lower surface of the recoater, the liquid adsorbed to the surfaces of the recesses is also introduced onto the unsolidified layer.

Abstract: A magnetic plastic rotor disk manufacturing apparatus, includes an injection device for injecting a magnetic plastic material containing a synthetic resin matrix and a magnetic powder; a mold for molding the magnetic plastic material injected thereinto from the injection device, and a device for generating a magnetic field and magnetizing the magnetic powder in a direction along a diameter of the magnetic plastic rotor disks. The mold includes a three-plate type mold constructed of two retainer plates and a single runner stripper plate. One of the retainer plates is formed with a plurality of pin gates corresponding to the cavities so as to supply the magnetic plastic material through the pin gates into the cavities.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for supporting at least a portion of an article while the article is being formed. A source of self-adhering particles is directed by a particle jetting device, or the like, to a predetermined position in a controlled environment to form the article. A support structure is carried in the controlled environment for substantially rigidly supporting at least a portion of the article during the formation of the article (by build-up of the self-adhering particles). The support structure is a fluid which changes state to a solid responsive to an electrical charge and reverts back to a fluid responsive to removal of the electrical charge.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for obtaining toner particles with improved dispersion of additive components therein comprised of a toner extrusion device containing therein a blending chamber, a screw mixing means, a heating means, a toner supply means, and a means for injecting the additive components into the extrusion device enabling a decrease in the melting temperature of the toner resin particles contained therein.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for treating the interior surfaces of hollow plastic objects to improve their adherency to and compatibility with another component, such as polyurethane foam. The invention consists of creating a vacuum in the object and drawing a conductive gas inside the object. A pair of electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and a source of electricity is provided thereto of sufficient intensity to produce an electrical discharge across the gap between the electrodes when an object is in the gap between the electrodes. The electrodes are arranged with regard to the size and configuration of the object to provide ionization of the conductive gas inside the object to surface treat the inner walls.

Abstract: The present invention teaches an apparatus for producing an article in a mold tool having electrically isolated dies, an electric field generator, and a sleeve made from a material having a very low dielectric loss factor and being operable between an extended and retracted position. The sleeve separates the dies when it is in an extended position and permits an electric field produced by the generator to be coupled between the dies.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a three-dimensional object (10, 70) from coordinates generated on a computer machine (12) is disclosed wherein the object has improved dimensional accuracy. Control signals (20b) are generated for controlling a servo (20) that controls a reaction or interaction of material (20a) at the coordinate points to form the object while a second servo (22) serves to build up a three-dimensional support system (42) in response to support control signals (22b). Support control signals (22b) are generated at the same time the coordinate points of the design are generated to specify strategic points of the object at which a support environment need be placed in order to insure the dimensional accuracy of the object avoiding warpage or other dimensional distortion. As a support environment, a series of webs (50, 52, 54) or columns (76), or encapsulation (44, 92) may be provided for providing a support environment for the object.