Abstract: An extruder screw that enables mixing of viscous materials, such as rubber mixtures and thermoplastic materials, is disclosed. The screw includes a core extending from a sealing end to a nose cone end. At least one flight extends radially from the core in a quasi-helical pattern, wherein flights adjacent one another form channels therebetween. A plurality of elongate lugs extend radially from the core and are disposed in the channels. The shape as well as the number of lugs can be varied to ensure the requirements for a thorough and turbulent deflection and mixing of the material stream.

Abstract: A mold assembly for insert-molding a heterogeneous object includes an upper mold and a lower mold. The upper mold includes a cavity for accommodating an insert object. The lower mold includes a rigid body and a resilient contact member for resting the insert object. The resilient contact member absorbs dimensional variations of the insert object during the insert molding process.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for producing silicone hydrogel lenses. The methods involve introducing into a mold a water-based lens-forming composition, curing the lens-forming composition in a mold to form the lens, and removing the lens from the mold. The lens-forming composition comprises (i) a polysiloxane-containing vinylic monomer or macromer, (ii) at least one hydrophilic vinylic monomer, (iii) a surfactant, and, and (iv) water. The surfactant is polysiloxane-containing surfactant that is free of actinically-polymerizable groups and is a copolymer having from about 10% to about 40% by weight of one or more polysiloxane segments and from about 90% to about 60% by weight hydrophilic units and/or segments. The methods permit the use of water as a solvent and reduce the need for organic solvents. Additionally, the lenses produced by the methods can have improved properties such oxygen permeability.

Abstract: A molding device for molding a resin composition into a sheet shape by pressurizing the resin composition has a pair of rollers arranged parallel to one another. Each of the rollers has a columnar or cylindrical core portion and an outer layer provided on an outer periphery of the core portion. The outer layer is constituted of the ceramic material. A thickness of the outer layer is in the range of 0.2 to 100 nm. Further, an arithmetic mean deviation of a profile Ra of an outer peripheral surface of each of the rollers defined by JIS B 0601 is in the range of 0 to 2 ?m.

Abstract: A battery module and methods for bonding cell terminals of battery cells together are provided. The battery module includes a first battery cell having a first cell terminal, and a second battery cell having a second cell terminal. The battery module further includes an exothermal reactive layer having first and second sides. The first and second sides are disposed adjacent to the first and second cell terminals, respectively. The exothermal reactive layer is configured to ignite to form a bonding joint between the first and second cell terminals in response to a laser beam contacting at least a portion of the exothermal reactive layer.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing plastic containers includes a heating module that heats plastic preforms and a molding module for molding the preforms into containers. The heating module includes a first transport unit that transports the preforms during the heating and a first interface. The molding module is downstream of the heating module in the transport direction and includes a blow molding unit for applying a flowable medium onto the preforms for expansion thereof, a second transport unit that transports the preforms during the expansion, and a second interface. The first and second interfaces allow a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the modules such that the molding module may be disposed on the heating module and at least one further module integrated between the heating and molding modules. The further module treats the preforms following the heating and prior to the molding.

Abstract: A method of manipulating particles suspended within a fluid droplet using a microfluidic system including a piezo-electric substrate (1) and a wave generation means (3) for generating a wave within the piezoelectric substrate (1), and a working surface (2) through which the wave can be distributed and upon which fluid droplets (9) can be located, the method including locating one or more droplets of fluid on the working surface (2), varying the power applied to the wave generation means (3) or varying the distribution of the wave across the working surface (2), such that particles (1 1) suspended within the fluid droplet (9) are either dispersed within the droplet or concentrated in an area within the droplet in dependence on the power or wave distribution applied by the wave generation means (3) to the piezoelectric substrate (1), or to facilitate rotation of the fluid within said fluid droplets (9) located jn the path of the wave.

Abstract: Stereolithography machine (1) comprising: a supporting frame (2); a tank (3) suited to contain a liquid substance; a supporting plate (4) associated with the supporting frame (2), suited to support the tank (3); a stopping unit (5) suited to firmly hold the tank (3) on the supporting plate (4) in a resting position; emitter means (6) suited to direct a predefined electromagnetic radiation (6a) towards the tank (3); a holding unit (7) of the tank (3) operatively associated with the supporting plate (4) through first actuator means (8) configured so as to move the tank (3) with respect to the supporting plate (4) according to a predefined trajectory of movement. The stopping unit (5) comprises second actuator means (17) that define for the stopping unit (5) an active configuration for holding the tank (3) and a rest configuration for releasing the tank (3).

Abstract: A resin infusion apparatus and system, layup system comprising the same, and methods of using these are provided. The resin infusion apparatus comprises a hollow cylinder having a plurality of pores perforating an arcuate surface thereof. The interior of the cylinder is provided with one or more flow restrictors that assist in controlling the flow out of the pores of the cylinder. Laminates made of prepregs prepared using the apparatus and/or system may thus be essentially free of voids.

Abstract: A plasticizing system (100) for plasticizing a solidified-resin particle (202), the plasticizing system (100), comprising: (A) opposite-facing surfaces (104) being spaced apart from each other, and defining, at least in part, a convergence channel (105) being configured to receive the solidified-resin particle (202), and (B) a plunger assembly (124) being movable, at least in part, relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104), the plunger assembly (124) being configured to move, at least in part, the solidified-resin particle (202) relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104) along, at least in part, the convergence channel (105).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accelerating food product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.

Abstract: A slot nozzle assembly for extruding a fluid material includes a slot for extruding a fluid material, a plurality of material exit ports, and a plurality of material dispersion passages communicating with the slot and the plurality of material exit ports, respectively. The widths of the plurality of material dispersion passages in the longitudinal direction of the slot widen from the plurality of material exit ports toward the slot for extruding a fluid material essentially uniformly in the longitudinal direction of the slot.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accelerating food product and decreasing pressure of the product in order to cause the product to be stretched aligning the fibers of the product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing composite articles such as laminate ballistic protection and structural reinforcements. The method involves placing a composite assembly in a sealable membrane system, e.g. a vacuum bag and placing the vacuum bag in a pressure vessel to apply heat and pressure to the composite assembly, thereby manufacturing a composite article. The apparatus comprises: a pressure vessel; a source of processing liquid to apply isostatic pressure to the vacuum bag; processing liquid heating, cooling, pressurizing and circulating means; and a control system to control the heating, cooling and pressurizing means. The sealable membrane system may preferably comprise: a sealable membrane to separate the composite article from the processing liquid and maintain the composite article below atmospheric pressure; and a membrane to cushion the composite article and resist adhesion of the article to other membranes. The processing liquid is preferably silicone oil.

Abstract: A process for producing a honeycomb structure includes: a mixing step where forming raw materials including a ceramic raw material are mixed to obtain a forming blended material, a kneading step where the forming blended material is kneaded to obtain kneaded clay, a forming step where the kneaded clay is formed into a honeycomb shape to obtain a honeycomb formed article, and a firing step where the honeycomb formed article is fired to obtain a honeycomb structure. The ceramic raw material is a cordierite forming raw material, and a magnetic powder contained in the kneaded clay is at a ratio of 400 ppm or less with respect to solid content conversion mass of the whole kneaded clay. There is provided a honeycomb structure capable of improving trapping efficiency, in particular, initial trapping efficiency by reducing the number of coarse pores in the partition walls.

Abstract: The apparatus for injecting slurry contains the first member having the cavity therein; and the second member having a plurality of convex sections, each of the convex sections having the injection hole formed therein communicating with the cavity, wherein the protrusion length of the convex section is in a range from 3 to 5 mm, and the distance between centers of adjacent convex sections is in a range from 3 to 13 mm.

Abstract: A fabricating apparatus and a method of a flat plate display are disclosed. A fabricating apparatus of a flat plate display includes a stage on which a substrate having liquid resin formed thereon is seated, a imprinting mold bonded with the liquid resin of the substrate to form a thin film pattern on the substrate, the imprinting mold comprises projections and grooves, and a planarization layer formed between the stage and the substrate to planarize a surface of the stage.

Abstract: An additive manufacturing system comprising a platen assembly configured to restrain and release a film, a head gantry configured to retain a print head for printing a three-dimensional part on the restrained film, and a removal assembly configured to draw the film having the printed three-dimensional part from the platen assembly and to cut the drawn film.

Abstract: An inner mold body includes a first pair of side walls opposite one another, each of the first pair of side walls having a pair of engagement members attached thereto, a second pair of side walls opposite one another; wherein each of the second pair of side walls is adjacent to each of the first pair of side walls, and a separation mechanism in contact with each of the second pair of side walls.

Abstract: A mobile plastics extrusion plant 10 for manufacturing an extruded plastics product in a remote location. The mobile plant 10 comprises the following components: a transportable container 16 for storing raw plastics material prior to extrusion, and a transportable extruded product forming assembly (in the form of a die and former assembly 12) for forming an extruded plastics product from the raw plastics material. The mobile extrusion plant 10 further comprises a transportable delivery system 18 for delivering the raw plastics material from the transportable container 16 to the die and former assembly 12 whereby, in use, the entire plant can be transported to a remote location and operated to manufacture an extruded plastics product.