Abstract: There is provided a method which reduces fines while maintaining the bulk handling advantages of granular or particulate elastomers such as those produced in gas phase processes and which affords continuous bulk handling of synthetic rubbers or elastomers such as those produced in solution and/or suspension processes. The method comprises (1) feeding an crumb form elastomer or a granular elastomer which contains fines along with optionally one or more filler materials to a mixer/extruder where it is masticated and melted into a compound; (2) pumping the compound through an orifice of the mixer/extruder, and (3) cutting and forming the compound into shaped pellets ranging in size from about 0.5 to 30 mm.

Abstract: A photo film cassette includes a spool core, on which the photo film is wound in a form of roll. A cassette shell contains the spool core in rotatable fashion. First and second flanges are respectively secured to ends of the spool core, for regulating positions of sides of the photo film roll. A first ring-like lip is formed integrally with a periphery of the first flange, is projected toward the roll, is contacted on one edge of an outermost turn of the roll, and prevent the roll from being loosened. The first and second flanges are formed from resin in accordance with injection molding. The resin has temperature of thermal deformation being 80° C. or higher under 18.6 kg/cm2, modulus in elasticity in flexure being 13,000-30,000 kg/cm2, surface hardness being 80 or more in Rockwell R-scale, and high fluidity in molds for the injection molding. The first and second flanges have an outer diameter of 15 mm or more, thickness of 0.

Abstract: A method of making a headliner assembly includes providing a porous member having first and second sides. A negative pressure is developed on the second side of the porous member, and particulate material is selectively deposited proximate the first side of the porous member to form a particulate layer having an outline that corresponds with a desired outline of the headliner assembly. The particulate material is drawn toward the first side of the porous member by the negative pressure developed on the second side of the porous member. The particulate layer is then thermoformed to form the headliner assembly.

Abstract: A container such as a bottle or the like consisting of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic material and capable of withstanding a relatively harsh use environment without noticeably losing its shape. Said container has an inwardly curved base (2) with an inwardly projecting convex portion as in a champagne bottle bottom, and a substantially greater thickness than the side wall (3) of the container. Said base (2) includes an outwardly-facing non-convex central portion (4).

Abstract: Plastic hoods and dividers are provided for use with row crop heads. The hoods and dividers are single walled and self-supporting. The single-walled hoods and dividers are preferably manufactured through a rotational molding process wherein a non-stick coating, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, is attached to portions of the mold.

Abstract: A film is placed over a mold cavity and molten plastic deposited thereon to form a combination of a film with molten plastic thereon. The film-molten plastic combination is then formed in said mold cavity into a molded article in the shape of the mold cavity.

Abstract: The cavity of a mold for making a plastics material part is lined using at least two, preferably decorative, pieces of film. The pieces of film are shaped and cut out so as to be accurately juxtaposed in the film cavity. Molten plastics material is introduced into the mold cavity in register with each piece of film in controlled manner so that the front of plastics material flowing within the mold cavity for the purpose of filling it advances within the mold so as to stretch each piece of film in centrifugal manner so that the film is neither displaced nor folded. The fronts of plastics material advancing over each piece of film meet either in locations of the mold where there is no film or else in register with the facing edges of two pieces of films, where appropriate, so that the entire surface of each piece of film is covered in a layer of plastics material. If necessary an additional quantity of molten plastics material is then introduced into the mold cavity so as to fill it completely.

Abstract: A modular, vacuum formed, unitary vanity which extends from floor to the ceiling, or near the ceiling. Alternatively, the vanity extends upwardly from the counter top level to the ceiling. The vanity is vacuum formed of a single piece of formable material, such as acrylic. The vanity has no joints or seals to deteriorate with use and time or to collect dirt. The modular and unitary vanity fits within a void formed in a wall during construction. The device is substantially maintenance free in ordinary use. The vanity is vacuum formed from a single piece of formable material using a vacuum form mold. The mold is a break apart mold which allows the vanity to be removed from the mold without interference from the sink bowl which is formed in the vanity.

Abstract: A method for molding short fiber/rubber composite articles having enhanced mechanical properties by aligning short reinforcing fibers during an injection molding process. The method comprises injecting a molding mixture through an injection gate arranged in a predetermined relationship to the molding cavity. The injection gate has a relatively small thickness in comparison to the thickness of the molding cavity. The fibers are associated with a first direction, generally parallel to the flow of the molding mixture as the molding mixture moves through the gate. As the molding mixture passes through the gate and into the cavity, the fiber direction is altered as the molding material fills the cavity.

Abstract: A plastic closure and method of making such a closure for a container that has a finish with a top surface portion, a cylindrical outer surface portion, and a curved portion at the juncture of the top surface portion and the outer surface portion. The closure includes a base wall, a peripheral skirt having an inner surface and threads on the inner surface of the skirt for engaging the container. The base wall has an inner planar surface and a compression molded liner is compression molded and bonded on the planar surface of the plastic closure. The peripheral portion of the liner has an outer annular inclined surface. The inclined surface tapers radially inwardly away from the base wall of the closure and is positioned for engaging the top surface portion of the finish and the inner surface of the container and is out of engagement with the outer surface of the finish of the container.

Abstract: A thermoforming method and apparatus is provided for a flat thin sheet plastic substrate having printed material thereon in the form of a matrix of a plurality of items. The substrate is clamped between a pair of clamp plates providing support for the substrate around the perimeter thereof and also in a matrix support pattern having a plurality of subperimeters providing individual support around the respective perimeter of each item. The assembly is heated, and then thermoformed into a contoured three dimensional workpiece by pushing a matrix of a plurality of tool faces into the substrate at respective items. The matrix support pattern of the clamp plates along the plurality of subperimeters prevents sagging across the substrate during heating, and isolates the items from each other during deformation of the substrate by the tool faces.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a multilayered object by molding having the steps of placing a lining sheet in a mould, injecting a thermoplastic resin material beneath the lining sheet, distributing the thermoplastic resin material beneath the lining sheet to form at least one thermoplastic resin based inner layer by creating a reserve of the thermoplastic resin material in a peripheral portion of the object, holding the extending portion of the sheet in place on the mold during the step of injecting and after the step of injecting so as to retain peripheral tightness of the thermoplastic resin material on a sliding holding point on the punch during movement of the die, pressing the extending portion of the lining sheet against the mold, and sandwiching the reserve in a liquid state between the lining sheet and a portion of the mold until the injected resin material sets to thereby form the multilayered object.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a skid-resistant surface on a thermoformed object such as a bed liner. The method includes forming a blank of extruded plastic material, abrading the surface with a wire brush, reheating the blank and thermoforming the blank to open the abraded surface of the blank. The apparatus includes an extruder delivery mechanism delivering a blank of sheet material to a wire brush which is turned by an electric motor at a speed slightly greater and in the same direction as the travel of the blank under the roller.

Abstract: A method for producing a sealing member for a battery includes integrally insert-molding a gasket on a peripheral edge of a metal sealing plate. The gasket is molded on the peripheral edge of the metal sealing plate by inserting the metal sealing plate between the female and male molds, the female mold having a concave surface conforming to the upper surface of the metal sealing plate and provided with a magnet or vacuum suction mouth to attract the metal sealing plate in its center, and the male mold having a surface conforming to the lower surface of the metal sealing plate, then injecting a molten resin into a cavity formed between the female mold and the male mold while pressing the female and male molds against each other by an elastic member.

Abstract: A method for forming the outer surface of a breast prosthesis is disclosed. A digital, three-dimensional image is formed of a patient's breast using a computerized scanner. A computer-controlled milling machine utilizes the image to form a solid model of the breast. A sheet of flexible, moldable material having a uniform, precise thickness is then vacuum-formed over the breast model. A hard, two-piece mold is cast from the flexible sheet. A soft, curable material is then either poured or injected between the two pieces of the mold to form the breast prosthesis outer surface. The breast prosthesis outer surface is then turned inside out to form a shape that is a mirror image of the patient's breast.

Abstract: Multiple legs elevate a central ring bearing, to which a ring-shaped rotatable plastic sheet support carousel is mounted. The carousel is fitted with a ring gear which engages with a drive system to position the carousel and the thermoplastic sheets supported from it. A multi-post vertical press is positioned with two posts extending upwardly interior to the ring bearing, and two posts extending upwardly exterior to the ring bearing. The ring bearing thus extends through the press, allowing the carousel to supply and remove plastic sheets to and from the press. An upper platen and a lower platen are mounted for vertical displacement to the posts, thereby ensuring a high degree of parallelism between the molds mounted to the platens, and accurate twin-sheet thermoforming.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a seal ring having a cut portion at one position on the circumference by injecting a molten molding material from a gate into a cavity of a forming die, the gate is provided at a position apart from the opposite position to the cut, portion of the seal ring. In the case of a seal ring with a weld portion, the weld portion is set away from the cut portion.

Abstract: Processes for producing durable three-dimensional bowls such as water basins comprising acrylic plastics heavily filled with alumina trihydrate, some embodiments including colorants and visible particles such as those used for simulating stone such as granite. A preferred process for manufacturing the bowls of such material includes defining a flat rigid blank in the approximate top outline shape of bowl to be formed, e.g., the blank being a flat oval for an oval bowl and circular for a circular bowl. The flat blank is provided a smooth side or sides which will be the concave finished side in use. The blank is heated to a point of softening and of uniform temperature throughout, and located within a molding die such as a matched molding die having a female cavity of the desired bowl shape. The heated blank is indexed to the die, but left generally unrestrained so that the heated blank and edges thereof are un-clamped, thereby allowing the edges to be moved inward to help minimize tension loads during forming.

Abstract: A compression mold and blow mold are provided in spaced relationship to each other. A preform is formed from a preform precursor in the compression mold and transferred to a blow mold while maintaining the spaced relationship between the compression mold and blow mold, and a container is formed from the preform in the blow mold.

Abstract: A process for producing deformable acrylic panels with increased resistance to abrasion and scratching preferably for sanitary articles to be produced by the deep-drawing process. Immediately prior to the deep-drawing step, a type of lacquer is applied to an acrylic panel. The lacquer contains dispersed nanoscale particles preferable of an inorganic material. The semifinished acrylic panel is heated and subsequently deep-drawn. The lacquer coating is applied to the semifinished acrylic panel with the help of rollers or a doctor blade. In addition, the lacquer coating can be applied by immersing or flooding the semifinished acrylic panel.