Abstract: Horizontal molding method and apparatus of an interior material of a vehicle are provided. The horizontal molding apparatus includes a preheating means for preheating a skin material; a transfer unit including fixing units for vertically attaching or detaching the preheated skin material on or from the transfer unit; a first mold disposed perpendicularly to a ground surface and including suction units for vacuum-sucking and fixing edges of the skin material, a base member having an embossed pattern printed on the skin material, fixing members for sealing an internal space between the skin material and the base member, and vacuum holes for vacuum-sucking the skin material onto the base member; a second mold disposed in parallel with the first mold and on which a base material is injected; and a mold moving means for horizontally moving the first or second mold and combining or separating the first and second molds to or from each other.

Abstract: Solid or semi-solid feedstock is melted in an open bottom electric induction cold crucible furnace. Directionally solidified multi-crystalline solid purified material continuously exits the bottom of the furnace and may optionally pass through a thermal conditioning chamber before being gravity fed into a transport mold where an ingot of the purified multi-crystalline solid material is transported to a remote holding area after the transport mold is filled with the multi-crystalline material and cut from the continuous supply of material. Cool down of the ingot is accomplished remote from the open bottom of the cold crucible furnace.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing inorganic nanofibers, without using an organic polymer, using a highly reactive metal alkoxide such as titanium alkoxide or zirconium alkoxide, in particular, a process in which inorganic nanofibers can be stably produced over a long period, is provided. It is a process of manufacturing inorganic nanofibers by electrospinning using a sol solution containing an inorganic component as a main component, characterized in that the sol solution contains a metal alkoxide having a high reactivity and a salt catalyst, and that the salt catalyst is an amine compound having an N—N bond, an N—O bond, an N—C?N bond, or an N—C?S bond.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for performing a UV nano-imprint lithography are provided. The process uses a polymer pad which allows a uniform application of pressure to a patterned template and an easy removal of a residual resin layer. The apparatus includes a tilt and decentering corrector which allows an accurate alignment of layers during the nano-imprint lithography process.

Abstract: A process for production of polyethylene terephthalate pellets includes the steps of: production of a melt of polyethylene terephthalate material; production of polyethylene terephthalate pellets from the melt by means of underwater pelletization into a process fluid; removal of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets from the site of underwater pelletization in the process fluid; crystallization of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets in the process fluid, wherein a surface of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets is crystallized and an interior of the polyethylene terephthalate pellets remains amorphous.

Abstract: An external breast prosthesis having a thin-walled outer shell and an air-filled interior cavity. The prosthesis is fabricated using a method and die set to form the two-part shell without internal supporting structure. The method provides a repeatable process which yields a prosthesis having durable air-tight seal between the anterior and posterior shell and a Class-A exterior surface which accurately replicates the visual and tactile characteristics of a human breast.

Abstract: A mechanical activation system has a first activation member, a second activation member, an activation zone, and a non-slip zone. The first activation member has a first plurality of teeth, and the second activation member has a second plurality of teeth. The first plurality of teeth is capable of intermeshing with the second plurality of teeth. The activation zone includes a first portion of the first plurality of teeth and a first portion of the second plurality of teeth. The first portion of the first plurality of teeth and the first portion of the second plurality of teeth include teeth having continuous tips. The first non-slip zone includes a second portion of the first plurality of teeth or a second portion of the second plurality of teeth. The second portion includes a tooth having a discontinuous tip.

Abstract: A method of forming a flat composite charge into a contoured composite part reduces wrinkles in the part as the charge is being formed. Dies are used to form a portion of charge to the steepest contour of the part, while tension is maintained on the charge as the remaining portions of the charge are formed.

Abstract: Methods for imparting a texture to a cured powder coated surface are provided. These methods involve heating the cured powder coating to a temperature greater than its glass transition point (Tg), then imparting a texture to the cured powder coating under pressure using a release medium having a replicative surface. After the texture is imparted to the cured powder coating, the release medium can be removed. Examples of suitable release media include, for example, engraved plates, engraved rolls, release papers, release films, and release webs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device with which it is possible to arrange complicated shapes with considerable differences in height in wood fiber board, and in particular but not exclusively so called MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard). The deformation of the wood fiber board which can be achieved is known in the art as extrusion, wherein a considerable plastic deformation takes place accompanied by flow and stretch of the material.

Abstract: A reverse molded, plant-on decorative panel component comprises a panel portion lying on a first plane, a skirt portion, and a contoured portion. The skirt portion has a first surface adapted to be exteriorly disposed and an opposite second surface adapted to be interiorly disposed in order to be adhesively secured to a planar surface. The contoured portion extends outwardly from and surrounds the panel portion and interconnects and is integral with the panel portion and the skirt portion. The skirt portion extends peripherally about the contoured portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and to a method for the production of a three-dimensional object by the consecutive layered bonding of a material that can be bonded by means of electromagnetic radiation, wherein in the so-called vat an at least n-phase system, where n>2, is present, of which at least one phase comprises the building material and at least one other a phase that cannot be mixed with the building material.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides embodiments of a releasable fastening arrangement that can include a first fastening strip secured to and extending over a substrate surface and having a first surface carrying first fastening elements extending from the surface. The releasable fastening arrangement can also include a second fastening strip having a second surface carrying second fastening elements that are engageable by the first fastening elements to form a releasable fastening. The first surface can include a flexible flap that is formed therein, and that is surrounded by other portions of the first surface. The flap can carry at least one of the first fastening elements, and can flap have a distal edge that is displaceable from the substrate surface under peel loads applied to the at least one first fastening element carried by the flap.

Abstract: A mold for fabricating an optical fiber connector is disclosed. The optical fiber connector includes a blind hole for accommodating an optical fiber and an aspherical lens portion for optically coaxial with the optical fiber. The mold includes a rod-shaped core for forming the blind hole and a plate-shaped core. The plate-shaped core includes an aspherical recess for forming the lens portion. The aspherical recess faces the rod-shaped core, and is adjustably movable relative to the first core so as to achieve alignment between the aspherical recess and the rod-shaped core.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating a low crystallinity polymer tube for polymers subject to strain-induced crystallization. The low crystallinity tube may be further processed to make an implantable medical device.

Abstract: Provided are methods of manufacturing microstructures, in which at least one viscous composition each containing at least one active ingredient is disposed directly or indirectly on a first substrate and/or a second substrate and the viscous composition(s) is elongated between the first and second substrates. The methods are simpler and more cost-effective.

Abstract: A mould system for manufacturing a container which includes a movable mould half and a stationary mould half which are positioned opposite to each other, wherein the movable mould half includes a core plate provided with a core, a plate-like seal ring that is movable relative to the core, a seal surface which surrounds the core, and a collar ring that is movable relative to the core and the stationary mould half includes a mould plate provided with a mould cavity and a seal surface, wherein in the mould system, a plate-like insert is connected to the seal surface of the seal ring, the insert including a recess which is in contact with a front edge of the seal surface, so that it is in flow communication with molten plastic material flowing from the direction of the collar ring.

Abstract: A mould system for manufacturing a container which includes a movable mould half and a stationary mould half which are positioned opposite to each other, wherein the movable mould half includes a core plate provided with a core, a plate-like seal ring that is movable relative to the core, a seal surface which surrounds the core, and a collar ring that is movable relative to the core and the stationary mould half includes a mould plate provided with a mould cavity and a seal surface, wherein in the mould system, a plate-like insert is connected to the seal surface of the seal ring, the insert including a recess which is in contact with a front edge of the seal surface, so that it is in flow communication with molten plastic material flowing from the direction of the collar ring.

Abstract: A method for curing a resin includes the steps of placing the resin into a reaction vessel, drawing a vacuum in the reaction vessel, positioning the reaction vessel in a gaseous coupling fluid, and applying ultrasonic energy to the coupling fluid.

Abstract: Laser machining polymer tubing sections to form stents such that the power of the laser machining is adjusted for each tubing section to obtain repeatable strut widths for stents formed from different tubing sections is disclosed. A threshold power for laser machining each section is determined and the power used for machining each section is based on the threshold power.