Abstract: The present invention is to improve a laminate molding method and a laminate-molding apparatus for manufacturing molded products that have an external appearance of excellent quality. For this purpose, according to a molding method, by which a mold clamping device (3) laminates sheet of skin material (Mm) and a core resin (200), the tension of the sheet of skin material Mm, which is inserted into a cavity (9) between a clamped fixed metal mold (11) and a clamped movable metal mold (12) and is laminated by the movable metal mold (12), is varied, continuously or in a stepped manner, in consonance with the insertion amount of the sheet of skin material (Mm).

Abstract: A supercritical fluid (SCF) or near SCF is used in a cleaning process for cleaning a spin pack of a melt spinning apparatus. The SCF enables cleaning of the spin pack without requiring spin pack disassembly. In an exemplary embodiment, the SCF is recirculated to a recirculating chamber where polymer residue can be precipitated from the SCF, and the SCF can be re-purified for subsequent cycling through the same or a next assembled spin pack.

Abstract: A method, and an article produced according to the method, for embedding conductors in a structure having a signal distribution function associated therewith such as a vehicle instrument panel. The method includes embedding a conductor in a film, and molding a material to the film such that the material and the film integrally form the structure. The method also includes attaching a connector to the integral structure so that the connector is provided in communication with the conductor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a vibrational enhancement to the recoating process in stereolithography are disclosed. The formation of a thin layer of building material over a previous layer of structure of a partially completed three-dimensional object, in preparation for formation of an additional layer of structure, is enhanced by the use of vibrational energy imparted to the building medium. In a first preferred apparatus, vibration is induced into the surface of the material by a plurality of vibrating needles that penetrate below the working surface to a sufficient depth to ensure adequate coupling but not deep enough to come into contact with the surface of the partially completed part. In a second preferred apparatus, vibration is coupled directly to the object support. The vibrational energy is then transmitted through the part to the surface of the building material.

Abstract: Lining tube material including a curable latent resin system for lining underground pipelines and passageways is prepared as a large supply. Measured lengths are taken from the supply as needed by measuring the length (for a particular length of passageway to be lined) followed by curing the resin of the material along a short section between the length and the remainder of the supply, and by cutting through the cured section to sever the length from the remainder of the supply leaving a cured and sealing end portion on said length by which the insertion of the length in the pipeline or passageway can be controlled.

Abstract: In color printing, and in the fine arts, cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) color inks are known to possess much higher color saturation and brightness than conventional pigment and dyed based inks. However, prior art CLC ink formulations are inconvenient because in the liquid phase they have to be confined in cells, and in the solid phase, they have to be applied at high temperature, and have to be aligned by some means to produce the optimum color. This invention solves the problem encountered in the CLC prior art, by making pre-aligned CLC platelets or flakes of appropriate thickness and size and mixing them in appropriate host fluids producing a novel CLC ink which can be applied at room temperature and without the need for alignment. The new pre-aligned room temperature CLC ink can be used as a substitute for conventional inks in almost all printing and plotting, and manual drawing and painting. Using the notch filter CLC platelets, the brightness is further enhanced.

Abstract: An ultrasonic transducer assembly for hygienic ultrasonic sealing is disclosed. The assembly includes a hygienic ultrasonic sealing area and a non-hygienic area, separated by a barrier wall. The barrier wall has an opening which allows an ultrasonic converter to move back and forth ("reciprocate") through the opening. The ultrasonic converter is also vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency by machinery located in the non-hygienic area of the machine, and transmits those vibrations to the hygienic area of the machine. The converter has a null area at which the converter is vibrated substantially minimally and other areas which are much more vigorously vibrated. A generally cylindrical sealing surface is fixed with respect to the null area of the transducer. The sealing surface is wiped by a wiping seal mounted to the edge of the opening. These two parts may also be reversed.

Abstract: A spherical body having at least a surface portion made of a thermoplastic resin, typically golf ball is prepared by molding the resin in a split mold consisting of a pair of mold halves. The spherical body as molded has a ring-shaped fin on its surface along the parting line between the mold halves. The fin is removed from the spherical body surface by means of a ultrasonic cutter. The method can remove only the fin at the parting line while minimizing any damage to the proximity of the fin and resurfacing the deburred area as smooth as possible. The method is suited for the manufacture of golf balls and golf ball cores.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonically welding a transparent semi-rigid lid onto a molded cellulose egg tray employs a compound sonotrode which includes a holding block and a plurality of individual sonotrodes coupled to the holding block. Each of the individual sonotrodes has a respective welding surface gridded by an array of square-base pyramids. The adjoining pyramids have contiguous angled surfaces that form substantially a 90-degree angle therebetween for effectively welding plastic to cellulose. The welding surfaces preferably have an imprint outline that is rectangular or circular.

Abstract: A thin soft film material having fibers and/or particulates embedded therein is disclosed. A process for effecting such embedding utilizing hydrosonics is also disclosed.

Abstract: A three-dimensional object is fabricated from a light curable liquid resin by repeating the following process to superimpose a plurality of cured resin layers. The process utilizes a vessel containing a volume of the liquid resin and a vertically movable platform. In the process, the platform is immersed in the liquid resin in the vessel to dispose an overlay surface of an immediately previously cured layer sufficiently below the liquid level of the liquid resin. The platform is then raised such that the overlay surface is slightly higher than the liquid level of the liquid resin in the vessel, while keeping the liquid resin on the overlay surface connected with the surrounding liquid resin in the vessel by the effect of surface tension acting on the liquid resin. An excess amount of the liquid resin on the overlay surface is removed to form a liquid resin layer having a desired thickness.

Abstract: A method of evacuating uncured resin from internal passages of semi-hollow stereolithographically produced objects includes, subjecting the object to air flow for between about 0.5 hours and about 2 hours, at a temperature greater than about 75.degree. F.; externally cleaning the object with alcohol; submerging the object in a bath of alcohol, wherein the bath is internally agitated; removing the object from the bath and repeating the above steps to displace any residual resin, wherein total object exposure time to alcohol does not exceed three hours.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of distributing opening devices and preparing the opening devices for application individually to a packaging containers. The opening devices are positioned, closed and marshalled together to form a web or a sheet. The prefabricated opening devices are arranged in rows of length x. Two or more of the opening devices in each row are provided with projections which are placed against corresponding opening devices in a neighboring row and are welded together using ultrasonic means.

Abstract: A method which includes a flashing process and a process for extruding thermoplastic plastics is provided for achieving more thorough devolatilizing of the solutions of thermoplastic plastics, to ensure that the solutions of thermoplastic plastics are able to be worked continually, wherein the accoustic treatments are introduced into both processes to increase the efficiency of removing volatile components and thus leads to the decrease of the processing time for extruding thermoplastic plastics. In the flashing process, the ultrasonic horns are arranged to scatter the feed stream of the solution which increases the devolatilizing surface of the polymer fluid and, simultaneously, to enhance bubble formation and produce strong agitation in the polymer fluid, thereby increasing the devolatilizing efficiency. In the process of extruding thermoplastic plastics, the ultrasonic horns are arranged in the extruder to enhance both formation and rupture of bubbles, thereby increasing the devolatilizing efficiency.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of this invention entraps liquids within wax and transforms naturally occurring or synthetic waxes into a state characterized by the fact that when the waxes solidify, they do so in forms different from those forms into which they would solidify except for the transformation. The entrapment and transformation is achieved by subjecting the waxes to force. As examples of apparatuses which can supply the force to effect the transformation, a piston apparatus and an ultrasonic apparatus are disclosed. The triglyceride waxes are one type of wax which may be transformed by the method and apparatus of this invention. Transformed triglyceride waxes are superior hosts for liquids entrapped within their matrix. The subject method is particularly effective for minimizing loss of liquids due to volatilization the entrapment process.

Abstract: An improved valve assembly having a valve housing of cobalt-nickel or cobalt-chromium-tungsten based alloy or of titanium/titanium alloys, a sewing ring component of polyester held to the outer surface of the valve housing a disc accruder tiltably held on suitable supports within the housing, the valve disc being made of modified ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. The manufacture of the valve disc and modification of the UHMW-PE takes place simultaneously and comprises cryo machining of a blank of UHMW-PE, solid state compaction, annealing of the compact followed by further cryo machining, annealing and cleaning steps.

Abstract: An analytical device determines the analytes in a liquid sample. This device includes a layer of flat material which has a sample application area and a detection area thereupon. The detection area includes a reagent for determining the analyte, and the absorbent sample application area and the absorbent detection area are disposed within a liquid impermeable boundary. The layer of flat material also includes an absorbent connector which is disposed such that the sample application area and the detection area are connected by the absorbent connector. The liquid impermeable boundary and the absorbent connector prevents liquid from being transported between the sample application area and the detection area, except through the absorbent connector.