Abstract: An injection molding machine is provided with a nozzle touch mechanism configured to press a nozzle attached to an injection device against a mold, a drive unit configured to move the injection device, a drive compression member connected to the drive unit, an injection compression member connected to the injection device, at least one resilient member interposed preloaded between the drive compression member and the injection compression member, and at least one strain sensor mounted on the drive compression member.

Abstract: A head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a housing, and a matrix reservoir disposed inside of the housing. The head may also include at least one roller located inside of the housing and configured to engage at least one of a ribbon and a sheet of reinforcement passing through the head. The head may further include a nozzle fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir, and a cure enhancer located outside of the housing and adjacent the nozzle.

Abstract: A process for the production of a polymeric article directed to (a) forming a ply having successive layers, namely, (i) a first layer made up of strands of an oriented polymer material; (ii) a second layer of a polymeric material; (iii) a third layer made up of strands of an oriented polymeric material, wherein the second layer has a lower peak melting temperature that of the first and third layers; (b) subjecting the ply to conditions of time, temperature, and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the firsts layer to melt the second layer entirely, and to melt a proportion of the third layer, and to compact the ply; and (c) cooling the compacted ply. The resultant articles have good mechanical properties yet may be made at a lower compaction temperature than articles not employing the second layer, leading to a more controllable manufacturing process.

Abstract: An installation for fabricating a thermal protection covering of a body or of a rear assembly for a thruster, includes an extruder presenting a die having an outlet orifice through which a strip of elastomer material is to be extruded, the extruder having a die control system to vary the size of the outlet orifice; a mandrel to be set into rotation about its axis; a deposition head to deposit the strip on the mandrel; a conveyor system to convey the strip from the outlet orifice of the die of the deposition head; and a thickness monitoring system to measure the thickness of the strip on the deposition head and on the mandrel and to compare each measured thickness value with a predetermined value, the thickness monitoring system to control the die control system so as to cause the size of the outlet orifice of the die to vary.

Abstract: A head is disclosed for use with an additive manufacturing system. The head may include a matrix reservoir, and a plurality of nozzles simultaneously fluidly connected to the matrix reservoir. The head may also include at least one hinge connecting the plurality of nozzles.

Abstract: A method for the production of a vehicle body element is disclosed, wherein the vehicle body element is provided as a component composite comprised of at least one carrier profile part having a hollow structure, and a lightweight material, for example plastic. A liquid starting component of the lightweight construction material is introduced into the hollow structure of the carrier profile part and is then cured to forms the component composite.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and techniques relating to computer numerical control (CNC) additive manufacturing. According to an aspect, a tooltip for an additive manufacturing machine includes: an input end configured to receive light from an optical system; and an output end configured to deliver the light to a workpiece on a build platform in the additive manufacturing machine; wherein the output end of the tooltip is configured to be immersed in a liquid resin in a tank of the additive manufacturing machine, and the output end defines a linear opening through which the light is delivered to the workpiece on the build platform.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for producing an extruded protein product. In particular, a system for making an extruded protein product using a system that includes a die including channel having a transverse cross section that is a continuous loop along at least a portion of the length of the die is disclosed.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure relates a food processing machine utilizing components using a variety of servo motors. The combination of the servo motors provides for a food processing machine without the need for complex hydraulics or gearboxes such that durability and compactness can be realized.

Abstract: Disclosed is an additive manufacturing device, comprising: a vessel for containing a material which is polymerisable on exposure to radiation; a build platform having a build surface, the build platform being mounted or mountable for movement relative to the vessel; and a programmable radiation module comprising an array of individually addressable radiation emitting or transmitting elements, the array being configurable to produce radiation having a predetermined pattern by selective activation of elements of the array; wherein the programmable radiation module is positioned or positionable to irradiate uncured material adjacent the build surface, or adjacent a previously cured structure on the build surface, with the predetermined pattern without magnification. Also disclosed is an additive manufacturing method which employs the additive manufacturing device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are drawn to an additive manufacturing system, which may include a nozzle having an inlet for receiving a flowable material and an outlet for depositing the flowable material. An applicator head may surround at least a portion of a proximal region of the nozzle. The applicator head may include a housing, a cooling inlet for receiving a coolant into the housing, a cooling outlet configured to allow the coolant to exit the housing, and an air inlet. A roller may be mounted on the applicator head to one side of the outlet of the nozzle. The roller may include an air outlet, wherein a flow path connects the air inlet and the air outlet so that air enters the air inlet and exits the air outlet. The roller may also include a plurality of holes located on an external surface of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating a ribbon of uncooked embossed dough into separated pieces patterned/shaped like the embossed pattern. The apparatus includes a pair of spaced apart rollers for receiving a ribbon of dough there between. One of rollers has a pattern embossed on its surface to emboss the ribbon of dough with the pattern. The surface embossing and the spacing between the rollers maintains the structural integrity of the embossed ribbon of dough. The apparatus has a two spaced apart rotating arms to receive the embossed dough ribbon there between. A plurality of spaced apart fingers extend outward along the length of each of the arms and are configured to tear the dough, without sticking, into dough pieces reflecting shapes embossed in the dough ribbon. The dough pieces can be dried, and patterned shaped pieces are separated out for expansion to three dimensions by cooking.

Abstract: The present invention is in the field of ice cream shaping, in particular it is relating to a heated tool to imprint a pattern a frozen confectionery product, and especially a heated tool that melts away a channel of an outer coating layer of a frozen confectionery, thereby creating a peelable frozen confectionery product. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shaping tool that is suitable for making cleaner grooves in frozen confectionery products. We have found that a shaping tool that comprises of at least one heated element provides a molten channel in the outer surface of a frozen confection.

Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure relates to an electrical servo knock out assembly for use with knock out cups in a food forming machine using an electrical linear servo motor and a return spring. The combination of the linear servo motor and return spring provides for a knock out assembly without the need for complex hydraulics or gearboxes.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an object holder for securely retaining an object while it is being printed in a direct-to-object print system and a direct-to-object print system configured to use various embodiments of the object holder of the present invention. In one embodiment, the object holder comprises a metallic shuttle mount configured to slideably traverse a support member positioned parallel to a plane formed by at least one printhead configured to eject marking material on to a surface of an object. A plurality of magnetic retainers are each shaped to physically secure the object to the metallic shuttle mount while the object is being moved.

Abstract: A mould tool (100) defining a workpiece profile has a first fluid-based temperature control assembly configured to control the temperature of the mould tool (100) which exhausts to a peripheral chamber (160) proximate the periphery of the workpiece profile (100) to reduce a temperature difference between the mould tool (100) and the surrounding environment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an equipment and method for producing polymer pellets which comprise one or more polymer components and one or more further components, wherein in said process at least one of said one or more further components is incorporated into pellets by applying a liquid, which comprises said at least one component, onto said pellets.

Abstract: One variation of a system for forming a meat patty includes: a cylinder operable in a upright position and an inverted position; a piston running within the cylinder and defining a set of gas ports; a grinder configured to grind meat and to dispense a quantity of ground meat into the cylinder, in the upright position, during a grind cycle; an actuator system configured to transition the cylinder from the upright position to the inverted position during a dispense cycle to dispense the quantity of ground meat from the cylinder; and a gas supply configured to supply gas to the cylinder behind the piston at a first pressure during the grind cycle to limit ingress of ground meat into the gas ports and at a second pressure greater than the first pressure during the dispense cycle to dislodge the quantity of ground meat from the piston.

Abstract: A shaping device for producing a profiled component includes a lay-on unit, a press-on unit and a pressure application unit. The lay-on unit has a support surface for laying on a semi-finished product to be shaped. The press-on unit presses a semi-finished product to be shaped onto the support surface. The pressure application unit has, at least on the side that faces the semi-finished product, a bendable shell for lying on the semi-finished product in an unshaped first state and for lying thereon in a shaped second state, as well as a pressure-transmitting and deformable filling. The pressure application unit can be arranged between the press-on unit and a semi-finished product to be shaped. The press-on unit has a bendable surface lying on the pressure application unit, which bendable surface transmits the force for the shaping onto the pressure application unit. The semi-finished product to be shaped may be a fibre-reinforced composite material.