Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling apparatus and a method for cooling a continuous strip, wherein the cooling apparatus comprises a cooling drum and a guiding device for guiding the strip in a plurality of windings around the cooling drum, wherein the guiding device comprises first and second guiding elements, wherein each one of the first guiding elements forms a set with one of the second guiding elements, wherein the first guiding element of the set receives the strip from a first winding in a first winding direction and directs the strip in a first transition direction towards the second guiding element which receives the strip in a second transition direction and directs the strip into a consecutive winding in a second winding direction, wherein the first transition direction is different from the first winding direction and the second transition direction is different from the second winding direction.

Abstract: A three-dimensional printing system for fabricating a three-dimensional article includes a resin vessel, a motorized build plate, an imaging bar, and a movement mechanism. The resin vessel is for containing a photocurable resin, the photocurable resin having an upper resin surface. The motorized build plate is for supporting the three-dimensional article in the photocurable resin. The imaging bar includes a plurality of light emitting devices arranged along a transverse axis for emitting light generally downwardly and a transparent sheet disposed below the plurality of light emitting devices. The transparent sheet has a lower surface to contact the resin and define a build plane below the upper surface of the resin. The movement mechanism is for imparting movement of the imaging bar along a scan axis.

Abstract: An interface device, coloring agent and method for imparting color to food material during the decorating of foods. This interface device, coloring agent and method for imparting color to food material during the decorating of foods can be used to impart color from solid, liquid or semi-liquid coloring compounds to a wide variety of food material such as frosting and icing.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, an escape hole generator creates escapes holes designed to facilitate removal of support and/or unprinted material generated inside enclosed hollows of three-dimensional (3D) digital models during 3D printing. In operation, the escape hole generator identifies a hollow included in the three-dimensional model and then selects optimized locations for escape holes. Notably, the escape hole generator selects the locations to optimize placement heuristics, such as favoring locations closer to the bottom of the 3D model, while satisfying escape hole constraints (e.g., hole size and spacing requirements). The escape hole generator then perforates the hollow at the selected locations with geometries that provide channels from the outer surface of the hollow to the outer surface of the hollow.

Abstract: Compression molded foam articles are provided having a closed cell foam structure comprising a plurality of cells having an anisotropic cell shape. The disclosed compression molded foam articles can be used as components or parts of a variety of articles, including articles of footwear and athletic equipment. Methods are disclosed for making the disclosed compression molded foam articles from a foamed preform having an elastomeric closed cell foam with substantially isotropic cell shape. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Abstract: Method and device for the extrusion of thermomechanically deformable materials, as well as a compact screw extruder. The configuration of the material infeed in a screw extruder, has a significantly smaller length-diameter ratio than known solutions from the fields of injection moulding and additive manufacturing and a crushing tool, located in the funnel-shaped infeed region of the vertically arranged screw extruder which prevents the rotational movement of the material in the funnel, and also thereby forces movement in the conveying direction of the screw extruder in combination with the gradient of the screw flanks. In addition, a portion of the coarse material is crushed, whereby the bulk material density is increased in the region of the screw and less air must be pressed out of the material in the region of the plasticization and homogenization zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for simultaneously manufacturing a plurality of plastic molds comprises: an injection molding tool comprising a first and second molding tool halves and —a gripper tool comprising a plurality of gripper members to which suction can be applied. The first and second molding tool halves are movable into the closed position and into an open position. A front surface of the first molding members comprises recesses to allow the formation of pins projecting from the rear surface the plastic mold into the recesses to make the plastic molds adhere to the first molding members. The gripper tool is movably arranged only in a direction parallel to the first surface into the space formed between the first and second surfaces for transferring the plastic molds to the gripper members and out of this space again.

Abstract: The invention relates to a print head (10) for a 3D printer (1), comprising a feed section (11) having a feeder (12) for a starting material (21) that is variable in the viscosity thereof; a plasticizing zone (14) having a heater (15) and an outlet opening (16) for the liquid phase (22) of the starting material (21); and a conveying device (30) for conveying the starting material (21) from the feed section (11) to the plasticizing zone (14), wherein the conveying device (30) comprises a piston (31) that can be inserted into the feed section (11). The invention is characterized in that the piston (31) has a first piston portion (5) facing the plasticizing zone (14) and having a guide surface (9), through which the piston (31) is guided in a bore (7) of the print head (10).

Abstract: This flexible mandrel for molding a composite material containing a thermosetting resin includes: a main body containing a first material; and a thermally conductive layer containing a second material having a higher thermal conductivity than the first material, the thermally conductive layer being formed so as to cover at least a portion of the main body. The thermally conductive layer extends from a contacting surface of the flexible mandrel, which comes into contact with the composite material during molding, to a non-contacting surface which does not come into contact with the composite material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rapid mold tooling fabrication using active self-shaping non-Newtonian fluids is provided. The rapid mold fabrication system includes one or more molding units between which molds are formed using compression or injection molding process. Each molding unit includes an array of hydraulic pillars that controllably adjust the position of mold preform layers, and an expandable fluid chamber between the end of the pillars and the preform layer against which a mold is formed. A control system is also provided for controlling the volume of STF within the chamber and for transitioning the STF from a liquid to a solid phase through application of an electrical stimulus. A method is also provided for manufacturing a mold using the system. A method is also provided for measuring the geometric properties of objects using the rapid mold fabrication system.

Abstract: A blow mold provided with a locking system for mutually locking each half-mold with the related half-mold holder, thus allowing a simpler and quicker replacement of the side half-impressions of the mold. The blow mold of the invention provides for the side half-impression of each half-mold to be fixed in a cavity of the corresponding mold holder by actuating at least one quick coupling device comprising a bar (23) inserted in one of the two longitudinal edges of the half-mold holder (3) and adapted to move only by rotation about an axis thereof; actuation means (22) adapted to actuate a rotation of said bar; and at least one locking fin (21) fixed along said bar (23) and adapted to move, by rotating the bar (23), from an unlocking position to a locking position in which said locking fin interacts with the respective half-mold (2).

Abstract: A recyclable polyethylene man-door comprises an interior panel and an exterior door panel, each panel having a horizontal pattern of cut-outs and optionally comprising a blend of mineral additives that do not adversely affect the recyclability of the finished product.

Abstract: A method for preparing an electron donor biofilm carrier includes proportioning organic polymer basic raw material and functional modifiers in a range of set-point, mixing the materials, feeding the mixtures into a screw extruder, processing them into a bar-type material, and then cut the bar-type material into granules with the cutting machine, and feeding the granules into the screw extruder, processing them into pipes of various shapes according to the selected screw extruder heads, and then cutting the pipes according to the required size. The electron donor biofilm carrier is mainly used in anaerobic or anoxic suspended carrier biofilm technologies. Electron donors with a standard electrode potential below 100 Mv are used as the functional material for preparation of electron donor biofilm carrier.

Abstract: A method of a coating by additive manufacturing on a turbomachine casing includes depositing on an internal surface of the turbomachine casing a filament of an abradable material to create a three-dimensional scaffold of filaments. A filamentary material deposition system is positioned from the internal surface of the casing; a first layer of the coating is deposited over 360?; a rotation of the filamentary material deposition system is carried out by a first predetermined angle and the filamentary material deposition system is positioned from the deposited layer; a second layer of coating is deposited on the first coating layer, on a sector of the casing; a displacement is carried out corresponding to the first sector already covered, then for the following sectors until 360° is covered; and after having carried out a rotation of the filamentary material deposition system.

Abstract: Disclosed are 3D printing equipment, a system, and a method for food design and production. The 3D printing equipment has a bipolar microwave heating antenna for focusing heating on a material in an extrusion nozzle. The extrusion nozzle is between the anode antenna and the cathode antenna of the bipolar microwave heating antenna. The anode antenna and the cathode antenna limit a microwave electric field between them, thereby implementing focused heating on the material.

Abstract: A machining centre comprising a machining plane; a subtractive unit for performing chip removal on a workpiece positioned on the machining plane; the subtractive unit comprising a first carriage that is slidable parallel to an operating axis; an additive unit arranged to perform machining by additive production techniques on the machining plane; the additive unit comprising a second carriage that is slidable along the operating axis. The additive unit is provided with a first coupling portion and said subtractive unit is provided with a second coupling portion couplable with the first coupling portion. In one step, the subtractive unit adopts a pick-up configuration in which the first coupling portion is coupled with the second coupling portion to connect the subtractive unit to the additive unit at least along the operating axis. In the pick-up configuration, the subtractive unit, connected to the additive unit, is configured to move the additive unit.

Abstract: A single-screw extruder (100), and a method. The extruder (100) comprises—a cylindrical rotor member (1) having diameter (D) and length (L) and comprising a feeding zone (14), —the rotor member (1) arranged in a barrel (2), —the cylindrical surface of the rotor member (1) carrying cavity/cavities and/or projection(s) (5) arranged in helically extending rows, —the helically extending row(s) of the rotor member (1) having a pitch (P) and depth (d) in the feeding zone (14) of the rotor member, and the extruder (100) further compris-ing—a drive system (4) for the rotation of the rotor member (1) in the barrel (2). The relation of the depth (d) to the diame-ter (D) of the rotor member, i.e. d:D, is not more than 1:20, and the relation of the pitch (P) of the rotor member to the di-ameter (D) of the rotor member, i.e. P:D, is not more than 1:4.

Abstract: We disclose a component of an injection molding tool that includes a one piece side of a mold built up by additive manufacturing using a polymer, the side of the mold defining part of an injection cavity. The side of the mold further includes an injection port coupled to the injection cavity and a heating fluid manifold separated from the injection cavity by a heat transfer wall. The heat transfer wall is reinforced against pressure in the injection cavity by a backing of engineered supports. Inlet and outlet ports are coupled to the heating fluid manifold, configured to channel a thermally conductive fluid into and out of the heating fluid manifold. Additional additive manufacturing features and material properties are described. Complementary methods of manufacturing also are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for transferring molten proteinaceous extrudate material from the exit of an extrusion cooker barrel to a cooling die whilst promoting or maintaining laminar flow of said molten extrudate.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a part includes fabricating an object in an additive fabrication stage, the object including a solid mold forming a cavity in the shape of a part with uncured or incompletely cured build material disposed therein. The build material in the cavity is cured in a curing stage that occurs at least partially after the additive fabrication stage. The build material undergoes a phase change mechanism occurring during the additive fabrication stage and a distinct polymerization mechanism occurring during the curing stage and at least partly after the additive fabrication stage of the object and cures the build material by a polymerization process.