Abstract: A method of forming a composite panel in-line is disclosed. The method includes the steps of forming a hot thermal plastic sheet of material and providing the hot thermal plastic sheet of material to a punch having punch members extending outwardly therefrom. The hot thermal plastic sheet of material is advanced through the punch in order to form apertures through the hot thermal plastic sheet of material such that each aperture extends from an outer surface of the hot thermal plastic sheet of material to an inner surface of the hot thermal plastic sheet of material. An outer metal sheet and an inner metal sheet, respectively, are coupled to opposing sides of the hot thermal plastic sheet of material.

Abstract: A leveling device for leveling a feeder platform relative to a die table of a tablet compression machine to a desired distance, the leveling device comprising a top plate, a bottom plate, and at least three distance sensors; the top plate and the bottom plate are attached and the top plate has a top plate surface and a proximate feeder platform surface; the bottom plate has a die table engaging surface and the at least three adjustable distance sensors are mounted in a non-linear fashion on the proximate feeder platform surface; the die table engaging surface and the proximate feeder surface are essentially flat and are parallel to the each other and the die table engaging surface and the proximate feeder surface are sized such that when mounted on the tablet compression machine the die table engaging surface is parallel and proximate to the die table and the proximate feeder platform surface is approximately parallel and proximate to the feeder platform.

Abstract: A system for forming a food product, the system includes a mould drum that includes a multitude of cavities; a feed channel that feeds the food mass into the cavities; a seal plate located downstream of the feed channel, which seals the cavities against leakage during and/or after filling; a valve provided in the seal plate, the valve includes a piston that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position to open and close a connection between the feed channel and the cavities in the mould member. The feed channel is tapered or includes an insert that is tapered in a direction opposite a flow direction of the food mass through the feed channel. The feed channel includes a sloped wall that tapers in a direction opposite a flow direction of the food mass, and the feed channel has a straight wall downstream of the sloped wall.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a form press includes three die assemblies which form press a meat product along the height, width and length thereof. Each die assembly includes a single proportional directional valve which operates a hydraulic cylinder under control of a controller. The three die assemblies are first operated under position control, and are thereafter operated under force/position control. The form press has a single hydraulic circuit which operates the die assemblies.

Abstract: A compact motorized tortilla forming machine utilizing rollers for forming a mass of dough or masa into a flat circular configuration prior to cooking or baking that is of a compact size, having a 2?×2? footprint and can easily fit on and be supported on a countertop or table. The machine includes a roller assembly, a forwardly extending conveyor near its bottom end, a drive motor having a drive sprocket connected with an electrical power source through a relay coupled with a limit switch that provides overload protection, a cover member having an on-off switch, a start button, and an emergency stop button mounted thereon and connected in a circuit between the power source and the drive motor, and an exhaust fan mounted inside of the cover member and connected in a circuit between the power source and the drive motor. A top lid and a rear door are maintained normally closed by magnetic latches and limit switches and when opened, the limit switches prevent electrical current from flowing to the motor.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus includes an environmentally sealed first chamber, a second chamber separated from the first chamber by a first valve, a platform positionable in the first chamber, a dispenser configured to deliver a plurality of successive layers of feed material onto the platform in the first chamber, at least one energy source to selectively fuse feed material in a layer on the platform in the first chamber, and an air knife assembly to direct a laminar flow of air across a layer of feed material on the platform in the first chamber. The air knife assembly includes an inlet module and an exhaust module that are movable through the first valve between the first chamber and the second chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming as extruded variegated plastic profile, including a multi-manifold slotted feed block assembly having a primary input manifold assembly, a secondary input manifold assembly, a flow distribution assembly in fluid communication with the primary input manifold assembly and the secondary input manifold assembly, a zone assembly having at least one restrictor and at least one mixer, and optionally, an extra line manifold assembly in communication with the flow distribution assembly.

Abstract: A system for forming a food product, that includes a mould member with cavities, each of the cavities have an opening with a geometrical shape; a feed channel that feeds the food mass into the cavities, the feed channel has an exit channel for each of the cavities in one of the rows, the exit channel has a cross section with a geometrical shape that corresponds with a geometrical shape of each of the cavities; and an exchangeable insert positioned inside of the feed channel that includes a sloped wall that tapers in a direction opposite a flow direction of the food mass so that the width of the feed channel, in a region of the feed channel where the insert is positioned, reduces along the flow direction of the food mass, and the insert has a straight wall downstream of the sloped wall in the flow direction.

Abstract: A machine for forming rissoles (2) has a hopper (3) for a food (4); a dispensing element (5) of at least a portion (6) of said food (4) taken from the hopper (3); a forming element (10) of each portion (6) having a shaped element (11) and a facing contrast element (12). The shaped element (11) includes a motor roller (13) provided with a pair of circumferential grooves (14) and the contrast element (12) includes a fixed guide (15) provided with two grooves (16) facing the recesses (14). Each recess (14) and each groove (16) form a channel (21) and internally have respectively a series of reliefs or notches (22) and a series of protrusions or cavities (23). The reliefs or notches (22) and the protrusions or cavities (23) interact with each portion (6) to help rototranslational movement thereof within the channel (21) to form a spherical shaped rissole (2).

Abstract: A food product includes a thread obtained from a tuber that is wound and twisted in such a way to form a spherical ball. A production method for the food product provides for placing the spherical ball in a perforated spherical mold. A device for producing the food product allows formation of the spherical ball inside the mold.

Abstract: Methods and devices for automatically cleaning a print head within a three-dimensional (3D) printer are disclosed. The methods generally include operating a measurement system (of a 3D printer) to measure an amount of material delivered to a print head of the 3D printer (on a per unit of time basis); detecting a disturbance in the material being delivered to the print head; and retracting the material and then re-introducing the material to the print head. The methods include having a first drive system and a second drive system being used to retract the material and, once the print head is cleaned, to re-introduce the material to the print head with increasing speed from zero to a pre-defined end point speed.

Abstract: The metal powder producing apparatus includes: a first gas jet nozzle that includes jet holes disposed in a bottom surface of a gas jet device so as to form first rings each, and jets gas against molten metal flowing down through the liquid nozzles; a second gas jet nozzle that includes jet holes disposed in the bottom surface of the gas jet device so as to form second rings each on an outer side of a corresponding one of the first rings, and jets gas to prevent scatter of metal particles; and a third gas jet nozzle that includes jet holes disposed in the bottom surface of the gas jet device so as to form a third ring on an outer side of the second gas jet nozzle, and jets gas against an inner wall surface of the spray chamber.

Abstract: A method cuts an extruded pipe to length using a separating device. The separating device includes a separator rotating about an extrusion axis of the extruded pipe, the separator being rotatably mounted in the separating device, and cutting tools being arranged on the separator. The cutting tools are configured to carry out the separation. The method includes transferring energy to move the cutting tools. The energy is transferred from a stationary outer region of the separating device to a movable inner region of the separating device. The energy is transferred continuously or cyclically and the transferred energy is buffered in an energy storage device. The energy is transferred inductively or capacitively. A discharge time of the energy storage device is between 2% and 25% of a total separation cycle.

Abstract: A variable-size fully-automatic 3D printing system based on a cylindrical coordinate system includes a base provided with a retractable work platform; the base is provided with a vertical support side plate on a side thereof; an upper end of the support side plate is connected to a top plate, and the top plate is located directly above the base; a lower side of the top plate is connected to a sleeve via a column seat; a lower end of the sleeve is provided with a protrusion; a lower end of the protrusion is connected with a cross beam; a lower side of the cross beam is provided with a ball screw a, one end of the ball screw a is connected to a power end of a first servo motor disposed at an outer end of the cross beam.

Abstract: Provided are a core and coil molding structure and a manufacturing method thereof which are capable of eliminating a void between coil layers to prevent foreign materials from entering therein, and which improve the vibration resistance and shock resistance of a reactor. A core and coil molding structure includes a coil that is a rectangular coil, a core yoke member in a block shape, and a resin member molding at least a part of those. The presence of a positioning member in a pin shape which positions the coil within a mold forms a groove in the inner circumference of the coil in the resin member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing gelled pearls includes: a housing with at least one opening into which a flavored liquid is provided; external components; and internal components. The external components include: a first ingress port through which a first refill pack is coupled; and a dispenser with tubing through which a processed solution is expelled into a gelling bath. The internal components include: a mixing tank for blending the flavored liquid with the first solution; a first flow valve fluidly coupled with the mixing tank and directing the flavored liquid into and out of the mixing tank; a second flow valve fluidly coupled with the mixing tank and directing flow of a proportional amount of the first solution into the mixing tank; and a microcontroller device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for guiding and supplying dough to a dough processing or transporting means comprising a receiving chamber with at least one belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt forming at least part of a side wall of the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber is further provided with at least two sealing strips mounted at opposing side ends of the conveyor, wherein the sealing strips create a seal between the conveyor belt and an adjacent stationary wall forming another part of the side wall of the receiving chamber. The invention further relates to a chunker for subdividing dough into smaller parts comprising said device.

Abstract: A CIPP liner feed roller for manipulating and feeding CIPP liner by pulling CIPP liner from a liner source and feeding it to where it is needed. The CIPP liner feed roller generally includes a main roller attached to a frame, a clamping roller attached to the frame and configured to be in parallel with the main roller, wherein the distance between the clamping roller and the main roller can be adjusted using one or more actuators, a drive unit comprising a motor configured to control the rotation of the main roller within the frame, a controller coupled to the drive unit and the one or more actuators, wherein the controller is configured to control the rotation of the main roller and the distance between the clamping roller and the main roller, and a support beam attached the frame and configured to be in parallel with the main roller.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an apparatus for forming a rolled food product, generally including a transport section and a rolling section. The transport section is configured to receive a food product in an unrolled configuration. The rolling mechanism includes rolling elements positionable between an active position in which the rolling elements are disposed over at least a portion of the transport section, and a retracted position in which the rolling elements are actuated away from the transport section. The transport section is configured to feed the food product in the unrolled configuration to the rolling mechanism. The rolling mechanism is configured to roll the food product into a partially rolled food product. Rolling of the partially rolled food product into a fully rolled food product is completed by the transport section.

Abstract: Methods for granulating a pharmaceutical powder in a single piece of equipment include at least the following: (a) continuously introducing the pharmaceutical powder and a granulating fluid to the single piece of equipment, (b) passing the pharmaceutical powder and the granulating fluid through a granulating zone of the single piece of equipment to form wet granules, (c) passing the wet granules through a drying zone of the single piece of equipment, (d) optionally passing granules through a discharge zone of the single piece of equipment, and (e) continuously discharging the granules from the single piece of equipment where the single piece of equipment is not a fluid bed processor.