Abstract: A tool for a thermoforming process to form a moulded product from wet pulp fibre material includes two or more moulds each having a moulding surface, an actuator assembly, and a fluid extraction system. At least one of the moulds is displaceable by the actuator assembly between first and second positions and has fluid extraction paths extending through the mould to transport fluid away from the moulding surface. One of the moulds has a first layer that is substantially rigid to form a support member and is in communication with a heating subsystem of the fluid extraction system, and a second layer that is, in use of the tool, between the first layer and the wet pulp fibre material. The second layer is formed of a material that has interconnected internal voids forming part of the fluid extraction paths and has a lower heat transfer coefficient than the first layer.

Abstract: A method is provided of applying a coating material to a concave surface of an article that has a rim around the concave surface, and a cavity between the concave surface and the rim. The method includes discharging coating material in a liquid form into the cavity, extracting a first amount of the discharged liquid coating material from the cavity, thereby leaving a residual amount of the liquid coating on the concave surface within the cavity, and maintaining the article in conditions appropriate to allow the residual amount of liquid coating material to cure on the concave surface.

Abstract: A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.

Abstract: A packaging material is provided including a substrate, and an oxygen transmission inhibiting layer that is carried by the substrate. The oxygen transmission inhibiting layer is formed of a composite material including a linear polysaccharide medium within which one or more additives are dispersed. The composite material is capable of forming a substantially continuous film to provide a barrier to transmission of oxygen gas. The oxygen transmission inhibiting layer is configured within the packaging material at a thickness that is efficacious in inhibiting the transmission of oxygen gas therethrough. A packaging device has two or more component parts, at least one of which is formed of the packaging material. The component parts of the packaging device are shaped and/or configured to be assembled to define an interior region within which goods are to be contained.

Abstract: A system for mounting a service component to a building structure has a plurality of elongate feet, and a plurality of connectors that each interconnect a respective one of the feet with the service component. Each foot is configured to affix to a surface of the building structure and then to resist disengagement from that surface. The connectors each interconnect a respective one of the feet with the service component, and secure the relative position of the respective foot and the service component. An elongate beam can be connected or connectable to the service component, such that in the installed system the beam is to be positioned to extend obliquely across the feet.

Abstract: In one example, a process for manufacture of a pulp-based dispensing capsule is disclosed. The process includes providing one or more mesh tool sets that are each contoured to one or more preform shapes of the dispensing capsule. Note that each preform shape is a partially shaped version of a final form shape of the pulp-based dispensing capsule. The process also includes providing a holding tank containing a suspension that includes water and pulp fibres; and arranging the mesh tool sets to allow immersion into and withdrawal of the mesh tool sets from the suspension. The process also includes applying a vacuum to the mesh tool sets so as to draw pulp fibres from the suspension onto the mesh tool sets while immersed in the suspension to form a preform pulp fibre mat; and in a second toolset, deforming each preform shape in the preform pulp fibre mat towards the final form shape by the application of pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed continuous thermoforming of pulp materials into pulp based products including a beverage dispensing capsule comprising a body having a side wall and a base formed entirely of moulded pulp fibres, said apparatus comprising a holding tank for water and pulp fibres in suspension, a continuous feed belt of articulated mesh toolsets contoured to the preform shape of said products, said belt being inclined to allow partial immersion and partial withdrawal from said suspension by continuous rotation of said belt, vacuum means applied to said mesh toolsets to draw said pulp fibres onto said mesh toolsets immersed in said suspension to form a preform pulp mat of said product.

Abstract: A tool for a thermoforming process to form a moulded product from wet pulp fibre material includes two or more moulds each having a moulding surface, an actuator assembly, and a fluid extraction system. At least one of the moulds is displaceable by the actuator assembly between first and second positions and has fluid extraction paths extending through the mould to transport fluid away from the moulding surface. One of the moulds has a first layer that is substantially rigid to form a support member and is in communication with a heating subsystem of the fluid extraction system, and a second layer that is, in use of the tool, between the first layer and the wet pulp fibre material. The second layer is formed of a material that has interconnected internal voids forming part of the fluid extraction paths and has a lower heat transfer coefficient than the first layer.

Abstract: A moulded pulp fibre product and a method of forming a moulded pulp fibre product are provided. The method involves forming two or more pulp fibre pre-forms that each include at least one mating surface. Each pre-form is made from a suspension of pulp fibres in liquid. The pulp fibre pre-forms are assembled into a set in which adjacent pulp fibre pre-forms have mating surfaces that are in contact with, or adjacent to one another. The set of pulp fibre pre-forms are then bonded to form a pulp fibre laminate.

Abstract: A process for forming a pre-form for a moulded pulp fibre product involves providing a porous mould that has one or more pre-form mould portions that each have an outer surface corresponding to a surface of the pre-form. Pulp fibre slurry is discharged from an outlet; each pre-form mould portion is coated with discharged pulp fibre slurry by moving the porous mould relative to the outlet. Thus, a slurry deposit for the pre-form is formed on the outer surfaces of the pre-form mould portions. Fluid from the slurry deposit is extracted through the porous mould to form the pre-form.

Abstract: A system for mounting a service component to a building structure has a plurality of elongate feet, and a plurality of connectors that each interconnect a respective one of the feet with the service component. Each foot is configured to affix to a surface of the building structure and then to resist disengagement from that surface. The connectors each interconnect a respective one of the feet with the service component, and secure the relative position of the respective foot and the service component. An elongate beam can be connected or connectable to the service component, such that in the installed system the beam is to be positioned to extend obliquely across the feet.

Abstract: An apparatus for high speed continuous thermoforming of pulp materials into pulp based products including a beverage dispensing capsule comprising a body having a side wall and a base formed entirely of moulded pulp fibres, said apparatus comprising a holding tank for water and pulp fibres in suspension, a continuous feed belt of articulated mesh toolsets contoured to the preform shape of said products, said belt being inclined to allow partial immersion and partial withdrawal from said suspension by continuous rotation of said belt, vacuum means applied to said mesh toolsets to draw said pulp fibres onto said mesh toolsets immersed in said suspension to form a preform pulp mat of said product.

Abstract: An article having a non-planar surface with a decoration, the article being molded from a wet pulp pre-form, wherein the article with the decoration is formed by applying a printing decoration in a distorted form to the wet pulp pre-form, and wherein moulding process of the article causes distortion of the printing decoration from the distorted form to a post distortion form corresponding with the decoration.

Abstract: A vehicle sliding door brake assembly configured for attachment to a sliding door mechanism of a vehicle may include a brake member connectable to the sliding door mechanism and configured to rotate about a pivot point, the brake member comprising one or more brake portions for selectively engaging a track of the vehicle so as to provide a braking force. The brake portions may be configured to form an inertial counterweight that urges the brake member to move from a neutral position in which the brake portions are not engaged with the track to an engaged position in which one or more of the brake portions are engaged with the track when a sliding door of the vehicle is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: A method of forming a molded and printed product from pulp material including the steps of: forming a wet pulp pre-form mold; applying printing decoration to the wet pulp pre-form via an intermediate transfer surface: transferring printed pre-form to a final mold; and molding or re-molding the printed pre-form into a final shape.

Abstract: A vehicle sliding door brake assembly configured for attachment to a sliding door mechanism of a vehicle may include a brake member connectable to the sliding door mechanism and configured to rotate about a pivot point, the brake member comprising one or more brake portions for selectively engaging a track of the vehicle so as to provide a braking force. The brake portions may be configured to form an inertial counterweight that urges the brake member to move from a neutral position in which the brake portions are not engaged with the track to an engaged position in which one or more of the brake portions are engaged with the track when a sliding door of the vehicle is subjected to an acceleration exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for measuring a property of a material such as the moisture content of cotton fiber. An embodiment is specifically adapted for determining an absolute value of the moisture content of the cotton fiber while being conveyed through ducts such as the ducts of the ginning machine. The embodiment combines large area capacitor plates with light detectors.

Abstract: A method of forming a molded and printed product from pulp material including the steps of: forming a wet pulp pre-form mold; applying printing decoration to the wet pulp pre-form via an intermediate transfer surface: transferring printed pre-form to a final mold; and molding or re-molding the printed pre-form into a final shape.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus (10) adapted to be run on a workstring in a well bore. The apparatus has a body (12) including ports (42) and a valve (26) which is rotatable to open and close the ports to selectively allow fluid flow through the body between regions of a well bore above and below the apparatus. The valve is rotated via a gearbox (28) and motor (30) in the apparatus. A sealing arrangement between the valve and body is also described. A method of running the apparatus in a well bore and monitoring pressure above the apparatus in order to control opening and closing of the valve under predetermined conditions is presented.