Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a tubular thin film of thermoplastic resin in a melted state is described. The apparatus is capable of cooling the thin film from both the inside and the outside thereof while setting its diameter by interposing the film between the mandrel and an external circular coolant storage tank. The mandrel has a cylindrical shape and is connected with the lower side of a circular-shaped extruding die wherein the film is extruded downward from a circular slit in the die. The mandrel includes an air-injecting nozzle for injecting compressed air that maintains the shape of an upper bubble part of the thin film formed between the die and the mandrel. A coolant injecting nozzle which can inject the coolant toward the inner surface of the thin film is provided, the coolant injecting nozzle being formed into a single stage of circular slit or two or more stages of circular slits.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for molds used for casting sanitary fixtures including at least one female die which is capable of defining the molding cavity of the item as well as at least one male die which is designed to be introduced into and withdrawn from said molding cavity, and which is provided with a mating surface capable of interacting with an associated mating surface of at least one female die. The sealing assembly includes a tubular elastic body of annular shape which is placed within a peripheral groove recessed in the mating surface of at least one male die, and which is connected to an assembly capable of alternately deflating and inflating said elastic tubular body so that the latter assumes a first transverse shape which is completely accommodated within the corresponding transverse-shape of the groove, and a second transverse shape which projects beyond the mouth of the groove, where it comes to rest against the facing associated mating surface of at least one female die.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of three-dimensional fiber-reinforced ceramics, which apparatus contains a foundation open at an upper end thereof and enclosing an empty space and a cylinder disposed on the foundation, the empty space of the foundation and an open space of the cylinder integrally forming a continuous empty space, and the continuous empty space having an empty region at a lowermost portion thereof having a filter plate set fast therein and having a pressure piston set fast above said filter plate to form between the pressure piston and the filter plate an empty region for accommodating a slurry for the production of the three-dimensional fiber-reinforced ceramics;wherein the filter plate contains a porous sintered metallic plate and a filter paper having holes not more than 0.3 .mu.

Abstract: A continuous manufacturing line for preparing gypsum fiberboard is provided. The manufacturing line includes equipment for admixing hydratable gypsum, paper, and a quantity of water to form a substantially homogenous slurry, dewatering apparatus for removing a portion of the excess water from the slurry to produce a substantially continuous wet web, pressing equipment for configuring the wet web with a compression means to form a substantially continuous green board, a cutting station for cutting the substantially continuous green board into individual uncured lengths, and a heating station for curing the individual uncured lengths to form gypsum-dihydrate-containing fiberboards.

Abstract: An apparatus for slip casting includes a pouring pipe for supplying slip, to which each mold is connected by way of a pouring hose having a pouring valve. A slip discharge pipe is provided in the vicinity of the pouring pipe. The pouring pipe and the slip discharge pipe are connected by a by-pass pipe which includes a rising pipe, a traverse pipe, a connecting pipe and an atmosphere pipe. Slip is fed from the pouring pipe to each mold. After a body is formed with a predetermined thickness in each mold 1, pressurized air is fed to the slip discharge spaces to discharge surplus slip to the slip discharge pipe. The height of the rising pipe is set so that the pressure of discharging the surplus slip and the head pressure of the slip within the rising pipe balance each other when the surplus slip is discharged to the slip discharge pipe. This allows the pressure within the slip discharge spaces to be stabilized.

Abstract: A mold is disclosed for producing a pulp molding. The mold includes a reticulate resin mold part (1) of a three-dimensional shape. The resin mold part (1) is metallized for reinforcement and mounted on a support member (3) made of a resin, metal, or aggregate. The support member has substantially the same three-dimensional shape as that of the reticulate resin mold part, and has openings (3A, 3A) to discharge water from the openings (1A, 1A) of the metallized resin mold part (2).

Abstract: Apparatus for cooling a tubular thin film of thermoplastic resin in a melted state is described. The apparatus is capable of cooling the thin film from both the inside and the outside thereof while setting its diameter by interposing the film between the mandrel and an external circular coolant storage tank. The mandrel has a cylindrical shape and is connected with the lower side of a circular-shaped extruding die wherein the film is extruded downward from a circular slit in the die. The mandrel includes an air-injecting nozzle for injecting compressed air that maintains the shape of an upper bubble pan of the thin film formed between the die and the mandrel. A coolant injecting nozzle which can inject the coolant toward the inner surface of the thin film is provided, the coolant injecting nozzle being formed into a single stage of circular slit or two or more stages of circular slits.

Abstract: An apparatus having a vacuum chamber or chamber, wherein the changing manner of the mold can be improved, the sealing structure of the vacuum chamber or an injection nozzle is simple, and the cost of the apparatus is reduced and preservation of the apparatus is improved. The apparatus has a vacuum chamber for surrounding a mold into an airtight situation. The vacuum chamber includes an upper casing and a lower casing, and they are being divided by a parting line defined by mating peripheral edge surfaces which incline upwardly from an operator-side to an opposite-side. An O-ring as a sealing member of the vacuum chamber is positioned between the peripheral edge surfaces.

Abstract: Production of plasterboard includes spreading of a mixture formed of gyps fibers and water onto a continuously moving belt to form a spread layer subsequently precompressed to 110% to 180% of a final board thickness and successively wetted from both sides and thereafter compressing the wetted layer to the final board thickness.

Abstract: A washable, water and dust binding service mat having a nap and a rubber or plastics backing layer, whereby the nap and a woven ground fabric for the tufting is fastened in the backing layer material, the ground fabric for the tufting comprising a layer of woven primary fabric of synthetic split fibers being calendered together by a heat setting operation with a layer of a nonwoven fiber fleece which prior to this heat setting operation has been needled together with the woven primary fabric by a needle technique. The nonwoven fiber fleece has an area weight of 80-150 grams/m.sup.2, consists of two or more kinds of synthetic fibers, with one having a softening temperature lower than the other synthetic fiber.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing containers that are suitable for containing materials that are to be heated by microwave radiation or other heating equipment includes making a dilute liquid dispersion of quartz and/or glass fibers (very preferably microfibers), depositing them on the interior of a permeable female mold or form, from the dispersion by way of a pressure differential across the female mold, with the liquid passing through the mold, moving a male mold or form which matches the female mold, into and against the container in the female mold, terminating the pressure differential across the female mold, applying a pressure differential across the male mold to release the container from the female mold and press it against the male mold exterior, withdrawing the male mold, with the container held to it, releasing the container from the male mold and sintering the container, to make it form retaining.

Abstract: A porous mold for manufacturing ceramics comprises a porous mold body including a mold central portion and a mold outer peripheral portion and having mold surface of a shape corresponding to an outer shape of a suspension insulator and other similar ceramics to be manufactured having a small diameter hollow cylindrical central core portion with a closed head portion and a large diameter shed portion extended from the core portion in a radial direction, wherein water absorption percentage of a mold surface side portion of the mold outer peripheral portion is larger than that of the mold central portion. The water absorption percentage of the mold surface side portion of the mold outer peripheral is 20-30%, and that of a mold head portion of the mold central portion is 10-20%. A difference of the water absorption percentage between the mold surface side portion of the mold outer peripheral portion and the mold head portion is 5-20%.

Abstract: A mold for molding an industrial product from a powder by slip casting, which has good water-absorptivity, long life, high strength and excellent mold-releasability and is constituted from a composite base material of boron nitride and other ceramic constituents. With this mold, molding of ceramic products and the like can be performed with high efficiency without causing clogging.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating the outer surface of an elongated body (10), such as a rod or tube, with a layer of concrete (30) includes a frame structure (21). Pipe or tube sections (10) may be supplied to a tilting device (27) in a horizontal position on a carriage (12) and tilted to a vertical position within the tower-like frame structure (21). The apparatus comprises means (24, 27) for retaining the elongated body (10) in the upright position within the frame structure and an annular mould (26) for surrounding the upright elongated body so as to define an annular space between the elongated body and the annular mould, and concrete may be fed to the annular mould space by feeding means (28, 29). The mould may include an upper funnel-like part, which is rotatable about the axis of the annular mould relative to the remaining part of the mould so as to distribute the concrete mixture peripherally in the annular mould space.

Abstract: A roller vacuum apparatus removes cement slurry from a freshly laid exposed aggregate surface. In one embodiment, the exposed aggregate surface is applied to a cement substrate which is worked to compact the aggregate and draw the portland cement in the mixture to the surface of the coating. Subsequently, the surface coating is washed to remove excess portland cement. The roller vacuum removes the cement slurry without disturbing the freshly laid exposed aggregate surface by wicking the slurry into a transfer medium of the vacuum roller. A vacuum is applied to the transfer medium to remove the cement slurry from the roller.

Abstract: A mold for forming a molded body from a slurry including an impermeable mold part having a cavity for retaining the slurry and a permeable mold provided on a side of a molding surface with a membrane filter. A method of forming a molded body from a slurry includes steps of introducing the slurry into a cavity of a mold including an impermeable mold part and a permeable mold part provided on a side of a molding surface with a membrane filter, and removing a solvent medium of the slurry through the permeable mold part. A pressure casting molding method of forming a high dense ceramic molded body by pouring a ceramic slurry into a mold through a pouring portion thereof and pressurizing the ceramic slurry on a side of the pouring portion while removing a solvent medium of the slurry on the other side of the mold through a permeable mold part of the mold.

Abstract: A slip casting device has a molding station for molding a casting with a mold, and a releasing station separate from the molding station, for separating the casting from mold members of the mold which carry the casting. The device may include a pair of vertically spaced molds and a common clamping cylinder interposed between the pair of molds.

Abstract: A light-weight fiber brick is formed from a water-fiber suspension including ceramic fibers. A molding device is introduced into the suspension and has plurality walls including at least three walls each of which extends perpendicular to the other two of the three walls. Water is withdrawn simultaneously from the interior of the molding device through at least the three walls, thus causing the fibers of the suspension to tend to align longitudinally within the interior of the molding device in three spatial coordinate directions (X, Y, Z). Thereby there is formed a brick having fibers thereof aligned with longitudinal directions thereof having directional components in three spatial coordinate directions.

Abstract: A pressure casting mold used to mold sanitary earthenware, including a porous layer composed mainly of resin material, a filler, a curing agent and water, the filler being formed of fibers and particulates of glass material, an average diameter of the fiber filler being 1 through 10 .mu.m, and an average length of the fibers being 20 through 100 .mu.m, and the diameter of the particulate filler being 10 through 50 .mu.m, thereby obtaining a porous layer which in use is hard to clog and is high in durability.

Abstract: A curd and whey mixture is drained of loose whey on a conveyor and the dry curd fed into the top of a tubular perforated column (48,49) maintained under sub-atmospheric pressure to form a pillar of curd. A mass of curd severed from the lower end of the pillar is deposited in a mould (14) mounted on a turntable (13) rotatable to index the mould in succession at six pressing stations at each of which the curd is compressed for 45-120 seconds at a pressure of at least 4 bar in order to form a block of cheese with a rind firm enough to permit handling of the cheese block after ejection from the mould. At the first pressing station the curd is subjected to a sub-atmospheric pressure of -0.9 to -1.0 bar prior to compression. After the cheese block is ejected from the mould, the turntable returns the empty mould to the column for reception of another mass of curd.

Abstract: A mold, used in pressure casting ceramic articles, includes a plurality of mold parts set and clamped in combination. Each of the mold parts includes: a porous body forming a filter layer with a generally even thickness and a plurality of channels formed in the inside or outside surface thereof and most running in parallel with the molding surface of the mold for allowing water and air to flow therethrough; a reinforcing iron frame for fitting the porous body therein; and a filler filling up the space between the porous body and the iron frame.

Abstract: A divisible slip-casting mold has filter layers which incorporate a combination of different types of fluid-flow conduits to achieve improved fluid-flow properties. The conduits include major portions of porous ropes arranged in curved lines and minor portions of blind holes installed in straight lines. The porous ropes are essentially installed in those portions of the filter layer where the ropes are readily or uniformly arranged, and the blind holes are essentially installed in those portions of the filter layer which exhibit poor fluid-flow properties and in which installation of porous ropes is difficult. Thus, substantially uniform fluid-flow properties are provided in the filter layers of the mold to enhance mold casting performance.

Abstract: A pressurized slurry casting machine is provided which includes a feed tank with an agitator, a vertical conduit extending from the feed tank to a mold. The machine operates by creating pressure in the feed tank with the agitator propeller whereby the ceramic slurry will be forced to move up the straight conduit into the mold so as to be formed into the desired article. The respective connections of the conduit to the mold and the feed tank are each air-tight connections such that no air bubble-like contamination will result in the finished ceramic product. There is also provided a vacuum system capable of producing a negative pressure in the feed tank.

Abstract: A divisible slip-casting mold has filter layers which incorporate a combination of different types of fluid-flow conduits to improve the mechanical strength of the mold while providing the filter layers with substantially uniform fluid-flow properties. The conduits include major portions of blind holes installed in straight lines and minor portions of porous ropes arranged in curved lines. The porous ropes are essentially installed in those portions of the filter layer having a mechanical strength which is inferior to the predominant portions of the filter layer, and the blind holes are essentially installed in the predominant portions of the filter layer. Thus, improved mechanical strength and substantially uniform fluid-flow properties are provided substantially throughout the filter layers of the mold.

Abstract: Agglomeration of particles of a pulverulent water-soluble material is achieved by conveying a layer of the material on a porous surface towards which a laminar flow of heated humid air is directed. A reduced pressure is applied from beneath the porous surface for drawing the heated humid air to contact the conveyed material for a time sufficient for fusing particles of the material at micropores formed at points of contact between the surfaces of the particles.

Abstract: A process for producing a green composite structure by isostatic compression and filtration. A suspension of colloidal size matrix powders is established in a carrier liquid. The suspension is incorporated into a die chamber having a filter opening containing a filter which is permeable to filtrate from the suspension under applied pressure but substantially impermeable to the matrix powders. An elevated pressure is isostatically imposed on the colloidal suspension within the die chamber. The pressure is maintained for a period of time to expel at least 20% of the liquid originally in the colloidal suspension through the filter opening. A specific die chamber comprises a rigid cage structure and an expandable bladder within the cage structure into which the colloidal suspension is introduced. The cage structure is disposed within a pressure vessel which can be initially evacuated to cause the bladder to conform to the cage structure and then pressurized with fluid for the isostatic compression procedure.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the production of building units from an afterhardening mixture containing cement and/or lime as binding material. The raw mixture is continuously fed and pressed by stamping into a die with CO.sub.2 gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric being passed through the raw mixture in the die space. Through an instantaneous reaction of carbonation, the material is hardened to a formed body. The CO.sub.2 gas is prevented from escaping by a gastight seal in the vicinity of the inlet port of the die. Further towards the outlet port, the pressure of the CO.sub.2 gas is decreased. In the vicinity of the outlet port only as much CO.sub.2 gas is fed as is necessary for the completing of the chemical reaction. Thus, any loss of gas will be minimized. The continuously discharged body is cut to size by using a saw.

Abstract: Device for the continuous manufacture of manufactured articles reinforced with mixtures of hydraulic binders and consisting of:a conveyor belt;a plurality `A` of process stations for the formation of superimposed thin and uniform layers of a net of a hydraulic binder mix, each station consisting of:a feeder of the reinforced net 4;a wetting and degassing device 5 of the net 4;a means 2 for metering the binders mix;a section 7 for feeding and laying the net 4 on the conveyor belt 1;compacting elements 16;a means 6 for the extraction of water during the compacting state; anda second metering device 2' for the hydraulic binders mix;a levelling and sizing station 23;a final water-extracting station 26;a pressing station 27;a longutudinal and cross-cutting station 35, anda gathering station 36 for the produced plates.

Abstract: A method of making a porous mold for pressure slip casting. A surface porous layer is cast which has an average pore diameter of at most 20 microns and a thickness of 5 to 40 mm. An adhesive is applied in a pattern to the rear surface of the surface porous layer to leave an unapplied portion on the rear surface. A coarse porous layer is applied to the adhesive applied and unapplied portions of the rear surface of the surface porous layer which is made of a mixture of liquid resin and a filler of a particle diameter of 0.1 to 5.0 mm at a volume ratio of 15 to 50:100. The coarse porous layer has a thickness of 5 to 30 mm. A sealing adhesive is applied to the surface of the coarse porous layer and means is applied for passage of water from and air into the coarse porous layer.

Abstract: A mold (1) for cast-molding a slip is provided, which comprises a divsible casting mold including a plurality of mold portions to form a mold cavity (4) when mated together; each mold portion including an air-tight housing (2), an intermediate layer (5) of coarsely porous structure adjacent to the air-tight housing (2), and a solid synthetic resin filter layer (3) of fine open-cell structure; a slip supply duct (8) being connected with said mold cavity (4) and communicated with the outside of the air-tight housing (2); a fluid-flowing duct (9) being connected with said coarse intermediate layer (5) and communicated with the outside of the air-tight housing (2); said filter layer (3) being permeably joined to the coarse intermediate layer (5), and having substantially precise shape and dimension of substantially uniform fine open-cell structure.

Abstract: A process for producing a filter with multiple folds from an aqueous fiber mixture that is applied to a porous form, in which a paper-like filter mat is produced on the form under the action of pressure, and it is carried out without mechanical deformation of the rough casting. This is achieved pursuant to the invention by the fact that the aqueous fiber mixture is deposited on the porous form having the contour of the filter, from loading chambers separate from one another, and the filter is built up of adjacent fold sections in layers on the form by separate introduction of the fiber mixture to the fold sections connected to one another.

Abstract: A process for casting slip into a ceramic product using at least one unique casting mold. The casting mold is formed of a plurality of separate porous mold parts, each of which has a fluid-tight outer face, an inner molding surface and a plurality of channels therein. The mold parts are combined so that the inner molding surfaces define a molding cavity in the mold. The casting mold is positioned within a pressure container such that a space is established surrounding the casting mold within the pressure container. This space is in fluid communication with the molding cavity of the mold.

Abstract: A cheese press for a plurality of rows of cheese moulds is constituted by a plurality of individual cassette shaped pressing units (30) each adapted to receive a row of moulds or mould batteries and each ceilingwise provided with pressing means (68) for pressing the moulds. Each of these units can be made as a lightweight construction e.g. of stainless sheet steel and is preferably made as a heat insulated tube, which is endwise closable so as to be vacuum resistent. Especially the production of Cheddar cheese is highly accelerated when the pressing is effected under vacuum. The cassette units may be arranged in a conveyor system for consecutive cooperation with a loading and unloading station, or they may be arranged more or less stationarily for cooperation with means for transporting the moulds to and from the cassette units.

Abstract: A casting installation for casting slip into ceramic product by use of at least one unique casting mold. The casting mold is formed of a plurality of separate mold parts each having a plurality of channels therein and having its respective outer face treated to be fluid-tight and inner molding surface. The casting installation includes a pressure-resisting container having a surrounding wall formed along the inner surface thereof so as to define an opening through the container, the mold parts, when assembled, being dimensioned to define a molding cavity of the casting mold; the space being in communication with the molding cavity of the mold. The casting installation further includes a clamp for clamping the casting mold firmly; the channels are operatively connected for depressurizing the channels; a source of slip operatively connected to the molding cavity of the casting mold; and a source of fluid operatively connected to the space surrounding the casting mold.

Abstract: Device for the continuous manufacture of manufactured articles reinforced with mixtures of hydraulic binders and consisting of:a conveyor belt;a plurality `A` of process stations for the formation of superimposed thin and uniform layers of a net of a hydraulic binder mix, each station consisting of:a feeder of the reinforced net 4;a wetting and degassing device 5 of the net 4;a means 2 for metering the binders mix;a section 7 for feeding and laying the net 4 on the conveyor belt 1;compacting elements 16;a means 6 for the extraction of water during the compacting state; anda second metering device 2' for the hydraulic binders mix;a levelling and sizing station 23;a final water-extracting station 26;a pressing station 27;a longitudinal and cross-cutting station 35, and a gathering station 36 for the produced plates.

Abstract: A sculptured structural fiberboard product is formed using a mold that includes porous forming areas which, in one embodiment, are porous forming mandrels movably mounted on the mold, and liquid impervious thimbles which removably cover the porous areas. A fiber network is formed as water is drained off through the porous areas and the thimbles are moved to gradually unveil the porous areas during the mat formation. When mandrels are used, the mandrels are withdrawn in cooperation with a pressing force applied to the mat to consolidate and dry the web. The porous areas can also act as heat and mass transfer means during consolidation and drying. An alternative embodiment permits formation of laminated products and another alternative embodiment permits close control over the product density during consolidation and drying.

Abstract: A foam mold equipped with a self-cleaning mold vent assembly constructed of a rigid apertured plate member and a sacrificial filter member for molding a unitary foamed article.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing three-dimensional structural members having one flat side from wood fibers utilizing flow deposition of the fibers onto a support. The support includes resilient deformable mold inserts. The mold inserts are formed of silicone rubber and may be blocks of the material, or may be a membrane which can be inflated to form the mold inserts. Pressing is done with a force normal to the support, and the mold inserts create response forces at varying directions to thus shape and hold the three-dimensional finished part. Heat drying also may be used.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a laminated unit of ceramic green sheets comprises an endless belt, and an applying apparatus provided at a predetermined position on the running path of the endless belt. The applying apparatus includes a reservoir for storing a ceramic slurry and a moveable blade. When the belt runs with the blade spaced a predetermined distance from the top surface of the endless belt, the ceramic slurry flows out through a gap between the blade and the belt and, thus, is applied on the belt to a predetermined thickness. The applied ceramic slurry is dried by a drier so as to form a ceramic green sheet. A conductive paste is printed on the top surface of the ceramic green sheet by a printing apparatus. The printed conductive paste is dried by a drier.

Abstract: In the continuous vacuum forming of articles from a fibrous slurry, e.g. from paper pulp, a plurality of two-piece hinged moulds are mounted on a transport apparatus 1 which transports the moulds stepwise in a loop. The internal surfaces of the moulds are defined by wire gauze of mesh 107,109 and the moulds are connected to a source of suction.The moulds, with the suction applied, are moved through the fibrous slurry contained in a tank 43, whereupon fibres are deposited on the mesh 107,109, much of the water being drawn off by the suction. The mould passes through a drying station, where warm air is sucked through the mould, further drying the article.The transport apparatus 1 is movable pivotably about an axis 6 by means of a fluid-operated ram 25. At the top of the path, the mould and the article therein are lowered onto a pin 61, a plurality of which are situated on an endless conveyor 59.

Abstract: An apparatus for drain-casting a slip comprises a mold including at least two divisible mating mold portions to form a mold cavity, a slip tank, a pump, air compressors, suction pumps, valves and tubings to connect them accordingly, supporting means of the mold portions, and a moving stand to receive the molded article thereon. The mold portion includes an air-tight vessel and a filter member inside the vessel, the filter member contains a water-drainage means, and the drainage means is communicated with the outside of the vessel. One of the mold portions has a slip supply duct and one other mold portion has an overflow duct, which ducts are communicated with the outsides of the vessels.

Abstract: A cheese press, for pressing cheese in a plurality of cheese moulds having covers through which pressure is applied to the cheese, has a tunnel with walls defining roof, floor and sides and along which the spaced-apart cheese moulds are moved by conveyor means intermittently. Mounted on the tunnel are a plurality of pressing cylinders having pressing members actuated by the respective cylinders to press said mould covers downwardly. So that the cheese press is cheap to make and maintain, and easy to clean, the tunnel walls are smooth and have no internal or external reinforcing ribs, pressing cylinders are mounted spaced-apart on the tunnel roof outside the tunnel chamber and that each cylinder is releasable and removable from its pressing member without the need for access to the interior of the chamber.

Abstract: A flexible, microporous, hydrophobic and oleophobic protective handcovering and a process for its manufacture. The process generally comprises the steps of immersing a fabric shell having the configuration of a human hand in a liquid slurry comprised of inorganic, reinforcing microfibers and a polymeric binding agent in the form of a continuous matrix and drawing a vacuum in the interior of the fabric shell to cause the binding agent and fibers from the slurry to be deposited on the outer surface of the shell. The resulting composite structure is then cured to set the matrix in the desired shape. A treating agent, preferably a fluorinated hydrocarbon, is applied to the composite structure in an amount sufficient to render the handcovering both hydrophobic and oleophobic.

Abstract: Cheese curd is fed into the top of a hollow perforated column in a tower at a sub-atmospheric pressure so as to form in the column a pillar of curd supported on a guillotine blade which closes off an opening in the bottom of the tower. A former unit below the tower has an upright open-ended cylinder sealed against the bottom of the tower, and an elevator within the cylinder. The guillotine blade is withdrawn, the pillar of curd lowered into the cylinder by the elevator, and the guillotine blade returned to its closed position so as to cut off a block of curd from the bottom end of the pillar of curd. The elevator is then forced upwards to compress the block of curd within the cylinder. The former unit is subsequently lowered, pivoted into a horizontal position, and the elevator driven along the cylinder to eject the block of curd.

Abstract: An apparatus for the production of reconstituted tobacco foil comprises a uble sheet former with two movable endless screens in a y-shaped arrangement. A wedge-shaped box fills most of the space where the screens approach one another and with its upper side forms a reservoir for the aqueous suspension, from which the foil is precipitated.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding curd in calibrated portions, a mixture of curds and whey, introduced into a hopper, fills perforated tubes in which the whey is separated from the curd and becomes compact. A plate closing off the base of the tubes retracts periodically and the curd drops abruptly by a predetermined height onto a subjacent plate, which is sliced by the first plate returning to its original position. The slices of curd are then transferred into one of the molds with a plurality of cells. This is applicable to the manufacture of cheeses of small size.

Abstract: The installation comprises a rectangular, parallelepipedal, leaktight steam chamber (1) provided with a gate (2) on one of the short sides, inside which a tubular fixed mold (4) of perforated steel plate is attached at a distance from the walls of the chamber, the shape of the mold corresponding to the external shape of the panel to be obtained. A first set of fixed, parallel, perforated metal tubes (5), inside the mold (4), possesses lateral holes (9) for the passage of a second set of perforated or non-perforated metal tubes (10) firmly fixed to a movable external support (11), passing through one of the short walls of the steam chamber (1) and capable of moving perpendicular to the tubes (5) of the first set, passing through the latter. The chamber (1) is provided with inlet valves (13) for the partially expanded synthetic material, an inlet (14) for steam and an inlet (15) for a cooling fluid.

Abstract: A closure assembly especially adapted for use with the mould of cheese block forming machines, includes structure defining an opening and a closure member mounted to the structure for movement to and from a position in which it closes the opening. Co-operable locking means on the structure and closure member include a first element fixedly mounted to a shaft for rotation with the shaft, which is in turn rotatably supported on the closure member, and a second element defining a seat for the first element in a particular rotational position of the shaft. Seated engagement between the elements at this position physically locks the closure member in its closed position. Drive means coupled between the structure and the shaft is reversibly actuable to execute a first motion in which it drives the closure member from an open condition to its closed condition and then a succeeding second motion in which it causes rotation of said shaft to effect seated engagement of the co-operating locking means.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading cosmetic material into a hollow space includes a porous absorbent block arranged to define at least a part of a closed hollow space. A cosmetic material is injected into the closed hollow space, the cosmetic material being prepared by mixing powder cosmetic material with a binder and solvent. The absorbent block is separated from the cosmetic material solidified in the hollow space. Solvent which is absorbed by the absorbent block is removed therefrom after separating the block from the solidified cosmetic material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for producing a continuously molded thermoplastic sheet from heat expandable granules in a heated zone within a molding channel. The disclosed invention includes introducing a predetermined amount of water into the molding channel to wet the granules either prior to or contemporaneously with the introduction of a hot gas into the granules to expand the granules into a continuous thermoplastic sheet. The water is drained from the channel subsequent to the expansion of the granules.