Abstract: Certain examples described herein control an amount of a functional agent that is deposited in a three-dimensional printing system. In certain examples, an amount of a functional agent is controlled based on a distance function, wherein the distance function is associated with a distance between a particular portion of an object to be fabricated and a surface of the object. The functional agent may be a binder, a fusing agent or a detailing agent, amongst others.

Abstract: There is provided a forming apparatus for constraining a composite charge and forming the composite charge into a highly contoured composite structure. The forming apparatus includes a first die and a second die between which the composite charge is formed. The first die has pairs of first die portions spaced apart to define a die cavity into which the composite charge is formed into a contoured hat section having a cap. The forming apparatus includes a constraining assembly having a constraining device positioned in the die cavity. The constraining device is designed to constrain a cap portion, and to apply an upward resistive force against the cap portion, and against a downward compressive force applied by the second die, to provide wrinkle prevention in the cap as the contoured hat section is formed. The constraining assembly has a retaining element to retain the constraining device.

Abstract: An article of apparel including insulation material includes an insulating layer formed of waterfowl fibers and synthetic fibers. The waterfowl fibers can be present in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is generally free of waterfowl plumage.

Abstract: A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for joining pipes includes a plate for melting mating surfaces of the pipes to be joined. Additionally, the apparatus utilizes a vacuum in order to push the first and second pipes together in lieu of hand or mechanical pressure which may be inconsistent. Additionally, the vacuum allows the pipes to be joined to settle on each other in order to create a pressure about a periphery of the end of the pipe being joined to the other pipe. The consistent pressure creates a very strong joint between the first and second pipes.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole including a polymeric bladder element enclosing a fluid-filled interior cavity, a first outsole component secured to a bottom surface and to a side surface of the polymeric bladder element, and a second outsole component. The first outsole component includes a first base, and a wall integral with the first base. The second outsole component includes a second base secured to the first base, and a wall integral with the second base and secured to the outer surface of the wall of the first outsole component. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes thermoforming the bladder element and the first outsole component, and securing the second outsole component to the first outsole component.

Abstract: In an embodiment a transfer tool includes an adhesive stamp having an adhesive surface configured to pick up a semiconductor chip and a device configured to adjust a surface area of the adhesive surface, wherein the adhesive stamp is deformable, wherein the adhesive surface is formed by a part of an outer surface of the adhesive stamp, wherein the surface area of the adhesive surface is adjustable by deformation of the adhesive stamp, and wherein the adhesive surface is free of interruptions.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system has a controller configured to operate a spool valve to open and close nozzles in a multi-nozzle extruder while the extruder moves in an X-Y plane and rotates about an axis perpendicular to the XY plane to form swaths in the X-Y plane. The controller operates one actuator to rotate the multi-nozzle extruder so a longitudinal axis of a nozzle array in the extruder remains perpendicular to a movement path for the extruder and to operate another actuator to move a cylindrical member of the spool valve.

Abstract: A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

Abstract: A bonding device has two chucks, two gas pressure regulators and a control unit. The chucks each have a holding surface with pressure ports fluidically connected to the respective gas pressure regulator. The control unit is electrically and/or wirelessly connected to the gas pressure regulators and configured to control gas pressure regulators independently from each other. Support elements movably mounted within the pressure ports, are provided to measure the amount of substrate deflection and adjust the respective gas pressures and also to apply additional mechanical pressure to the substrates. The two chucks may be mounted on corresponding support structures so as to be thermally isolated therefrom. The temperature of the two chucks may be equalised by moving the chucks into contact. A chuck tempering device may be used for equalising the temperature of the two chucks. The bonding device is used for bonding two substrates by bonding wave propagation.

Abstract: A container, such as a roll-out cart, includes a body portion and a lid. The body portion includes an outer wall extending upward from a base wall to a mouth of the body portion. The lid is secured to the body portion and pivotable between a closed position over the mouth and an open position. The lid includes an upper lid portion and a lower lid portion. The upper lid portion extends downward to an outer lip. The lower lid portion extends downward to an inner lip. The inner lip is inward of the outer wall of the body portion when the lid is in the closed position. The outer lip is outward of the outer wall of the body when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: In a the vacuum forming machine having a pre-blowing lower chamber, a lower space located at the lower side of a raw material which is thermally expanded in a heating process for vacuum forming is sealed and the preset amount of air is introduced into the lower space of the raw material by a blowing device installed to communicate with the sealed lower space of the raw material such that the sagging of the raw material is prevented, whereby the vacuum forming of the raw material whose entire portion is uniformly heated is performed, thereby securing even thickness of the raw material.

Abstract: A floor may include a substrate having a top side and a bottom side. A top layer may be provided on the substrate. The top layer may consist of a printed thermoplastic film and a thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer provided on the printed thermoplastic film. The top layer may be directly adhered to the substrate by heat welding the printed thermoplastic film and the top side of the substrate, in the absence of a glue layer. The substrate may be a synthetic material board including a filler. The substrate at least at two opposite edges may include coupling means provided in the synthetic material board. The thermoplastic transparent or translucent layer may be provided with a structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pulling rib and a pulling rib manufacturing process thereof and an inflatable product, relating to the technical field of inflatable products. The pulling rib manufacturing process includes the following steps: weaving a dense weaving region and a patterned weaving region in sequence according to preset sizes, wherein a weaving density of the patterned weaving region is lower than that of the dense weaving region; applying glue locally along a surface of the dense weaving region; and after applying the glue, cutting the dense weaving region according to requirements to form pulling ribs, wherein the patterned weaving region between any two adjacent sections of the dense weaving regions is the height of the pulling ribs.

Abstract: A foam pad structure having a protective film includes a substrate layer, a hot glue layer, a printed pattern layer, and an adhesive film. The substrate layer is made of a foam material. The substrate layer has two surfaces arranged oppositely on its upper and lower sides. The hot glue layer is coated on at least one of the two surfaces of the substrate layer. The hot glue layer has an adhesive surface facing away from the substrate layer. The printed pattern layer is composed of a pigment containing the same composition as the hot glue layer. The printed pattern layer is printed on the adhesive surface of the hot glue layer. The hot glue layer and the printed pattern layer are melted between the substrate layer and the adhesive film.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of making at least a portion of a garment that includes at least one three-dimensional contour. The disclosed method includes providing a fiber and solvent mixture that includes fibers and a solvent capable to causing a plurality of covalent bonds to be created between the fibers. In many embodiments, the plurality of covalent bonds form when a catalyst, such as heat, is provided to the fiber and solvent mixture. The process can be performed using, for example, either a 3D printer or mold form. The fibers used can be natural, synthetic, or a blend of natural and/or synthetic fibers. The solvent preferably includes ionic salts in water.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a self-molding composite system for insulation and covering operations. The self-molding composite system may be cured to form any desired shaped for insulation and covering operations. The composite system comprises one or more layers that may create a rigid layered composite when cured. The one or more layers of the composite system may include a base layer that is a braided, knit, or non-woven fiber based substrate, an interstitial matrix layer, and customizable top coat. The customizable top coat may be a solvent based polymer solution that includes various additives that may include color pigments, additives for additional abrasion protection, additives for thermal protection, and/or additives for creating various textures or visible appearances to the composite system.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite product, comprising: —applying a binder composition, notably in the form of an aqueous solution, to non or loosely assembled matter to provide resinated matter, wherein the binder composition consists of a binder composition prepared by combining reactants comprising at least 50% by dry weight reducing sugar reactant(s) and at least 5% by dry weight nitrogen-containing reactant(s); and—arranging the resinated matter to provide loosely arranged resinated matter; and—subjecting the loosely arranged resinated matter to heat and/or pressure to cure the binder composition and to form the composite product; —wherein the nitrogen-containing reactant(s) comprise TPTA triprimary triamine(s), notably wherein the nitrogen-containing reactant(s) comprise at least 5% by dry weight of TPTA triprimary triamine(s).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an impregnated fibrous material including a fibrous material made of continuous fibers and at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix, the method including pre-impregnating the fibrous material while it is in the form of a roving or several parallel rovings with the thermoplastic material and heating the thermoplastic matrix for melting, or maintaining in the molten state, the thermoplastic polymer after pre-impregnation, the at least one heating step being carried out by means of at least one heat-conducting spreading part (E) and at least one heating system, with the exception of a heated calendar, the roving or the rovings being in contact with part or all of the surface of the at least one spreading part (E) and partially or wholly passing over the surface of the at least one spreading part (E) at the level of the heating system.

Abstract: A large-area wrinkled graphene substrate capable of being manufactured in a large-area, and a method for manufacturing the same is provided. A method for manufacturing a wrinkled graphene substrate includes: i) providing a graphene unit; ii) inserting a carrier film and a graphene unit between a pair of rolls and rotating the pair of rolls in opposite directions to attach a carrier film on the graphene unit, iii) immersing the graphene unit in an etching solution to provide graphene, iv) between a pair of rolls, graphene and poly(4-styrene sulfonic acid)/polystyrene (PSS/PS) substrate attaching graphene onto the PSS/PS substrate, v) attaching an ethylene vinyl acetate/polyethylene terephthalate (EVA/PET) substrate to wrinkled graphene on PSS/PS substrate by inserting EVA/PET and WGr/PSS/PS stack between the rolls, viii) removing the PSS/PS substrate by immersing PET/EVA/WGr/PSS/PS stack in water, and ix) providing a wrinkled graphene substrate on the EVA/PET substrate.