Abstract: An additive manufacturing apparatus is provided. The additive manufacturing apparatus may include a stabilizing system; a build platform on the stabilizing system; and a build unit positioned over the build platform, wherein the build unit comprises a powder dispenser and a recoater blade. Methods are also provided for making an object from powder.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for additive manufacturing of three-dimensional objects (2) by successive, selective layer-by-layer exposure and thus successive, selective layer-by-layer solidification of construction material layers of construction material (3) that can be solidified by means of an energy beam in a process chamber (7) of the apparatus with a defined process chamber height (H), comprising a flow device (8) provided for generating an, especially inert, gas flow (11) flowing through the process chamber (7) between an inflow section (9) and an outflow section (10), wherein the gas flow (11) flows through the process chamber (7) across the entire process chamber height (H), wherein the gas flow (11) is subdivided into several partial gas flows (11a-11c) flowing through the process chamber (7) parallel on top of each other, which differ in at least one flow parameter affecting the flow characteristics of the respective partial gas flows (11a-11c).

Abstract: A motion transmitting device comprising: a slider movable along a slider guide; and a connecting body movable along a connecting body guide, wherein the slider and the connecting body are disposed in contact with each other, each of the slider and the connecting body has a contact surface that is slidable, and the amount of displacement and/or the speed of displacement of an output end relative to an input end can be reduced or can be made equal to each other or increased through setting of the angle of a center axis line of the slider guide about a center axis line of the connecting body guide and/or the inclination angle of the contact surface.

Abstract: A diagonal knock out system that is designed to remove mold food portions from a mold plate in a direction other than vertical.

Abstract: A plant for making containers of thermoplastic material in continuous cycle comprises: a rotary moulding machine (1) configured to make parisons (2) of thermoplastic material having a body (3) with a closed bottom and a neck (4) which defines an opening; an oven (5) for heating the parisons (2), connected to the moulding machine (1) and equipped with heating means (6) operating on the body (3) of the parisons (2); a rotary blow-moulding machine (7) configured to receive the parisons (2) heated in the oven (5) and to blow-mould them in moulds (8) to make the containers; and a management unit (9) for the plant (10), configured to switch off the oven (5) heating means (6) during a shutdown period of the blow-moulding machine (7) but without interrupting the operation of the moulding machine (1), so as to enable the parisons (2) located in the oven (5) to cool down during their transit through the oven (5).

Abstract: An injection moulding apparatus for injection moulding articles from plastic, has a guide that extends along a plurality of stations, including at least one injection moulding station, and along the guide at least one slide can be driven successively through the stations, wherein the or each slide transports the article to be produced from station to station. The slide or the plurality of slides altogether have associated therewith a plurality of motors which are seated on the slide or the slides. The motors have associated and moved therewith lines for supplying electrical power and/or at least one line for signalling, which are coupled with a stationary electrical power source or a stationary controller, respectively. At least one of the lines is guided from one motor to another. The motors are coupled with the at least one line in respect of the transfer of electrical power and/or signals.

Abstract: An automatic circle forming apparatus adapted for automatically forming OPP (O-phenylphenol) plastic circles includes a lower equipment cabinet, a first base plate, a transmitting module, an automatic separating module, an automatic tearing film module, a sucking waste mechanism, a displacement module, an automatic forming module and an upper equipment cabinet. The upper equipment cabinet is positioned on the first base plate for installing the transmitting module, the automatic separating module, the automatic tearing film module, the sucking waste mechanism, the displacement module and the automatic forming module therein.

Abstract: A selective laser solidification apparatus including: a powder bed onto which a powder layer can be deposited, a gas flow unit for passing a flow of gas over the powder bed along a gas flow direction, a laser scanning unit for scanning a laser beam over the powder layer to selectively solidify at least part of the powder layer to form at least one object and a processing unit for selecting a scanning sequence of the laser beam based on the gas flow direction.

Abstract: A method of forming an oral product includes extruding a mixture, conveying the extruded mixture through one or more pairs of forming rollers, and cutting the extruded mixture into one or more oral products. The mixture can include polymer and at least one flavorant, sweetener, active ingredient, or combination thereof. The extruded mixture forms an extrudate having a predetermined cross-sectional shape. The one or more pairs of forming rollers abut to define a passage there between as each forming roller rotates. The passage has a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the predetermined cross-sectional shape. The method can be performed using a machine including an extruder, one or more pairs of forming rollers, and a cutting device.

Abstract: A system for injection molding a part includes a plate, first and second primary mold slides, first and second secondary mold slides and at least a first core post. The first and second primary mold slides define an exterior of a first portion of a molded part and are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. The first and second secondary mold slides define an exterior of a second portion of the molded part and are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A first core post defines an interior of the first portion of the molded part. The first and second secondary mold slides are operative to secure the molded part as the first and second primary mold slides are moved from their closed position to their open position, as the molded part is expanded under a source of pressurized air and as the first core post is withdrawn from an interior of the molded part.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping plastics material preforms into plastics material containers includes a plurality of shaping stations each having two blow mould parts which are movable with respect to each other and which can be moved between a closed and an opened state. In the closed state the shaping station form a cavity, inside which the plastics material pre-forms are shaped. The shaping stations have a stressing device which acts upon the preforms with a gaseous medium to expand them, and stretch bars which are capable of being inserted into the preforms to stretch them in the longitudinal direction. The shaping stations each have at least one drive device which drives a movement necessary for the shaping procedure, as well as a control device for controlling this drive device. The control device is arranged on the apparatus through a damping device.

Abstract: An automatic circle forming apparatus adapted for automatically forming OPP (O-phenylphenol) plastic circles includes a lower equipment cabinet, a first base plate, a transmitting module, an automatic separating module, an automatic tearing film module, a sucking waste mechanism, a displacement module, an automatic forming module and an upper equipment cabinet. The upper equipment cabinet is positioned on the first base plate for installing the transmitting module, the automatic separating module, the automatic tearing film module, the sucking waste mechanism, the displacement module and the automatic forming module therein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrospinning device for fabricating a membrane, in particular, to an electrospinning device for fabricating membrane by using spinnerets aligned in machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD) in a high-voltage DC electric field, and to method for using the same. In addition to producing a single-layer nanofiber membrane from a polymer composite, the electrospinning device according to the present invention can also conveniently produce a multilayer composite nanofiber membrane from more than one polymer composites. The electrospinning device comprises a control section, an electrospinning section and an ancillary section. The electrospinning section comprises a MD spinnerets set and a TD spinnerets set that are alternately arranged and moves above a membrane collecting device in a to-and-fro scanning manner so as to improve the evenness and strength of the obtained membrane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controller for a machine with a number of functional units, wherein the controller comprises at least one input and output device for setting or displaying the movement sequences and/or state variables of the functional units of the machine and operator control elements for selecting specific input and display functions. The input and display functions are arranged in groups on various levels, all the functional units of the process are depicted by means of associated operator control elements on a first, upper input and display level. All the input and display functions associated with a functional unit are respectively depicted on in each case one or more further levels, which can respectively be activated directly by actuation of the corresponding operator control element of the first level.

Abstract: To provide a mold apparatus for resin encapsulation, which is small in number of components, has a simple driving mechanism, is easy in assembly or disassembly work, requires no labor for maintenance and has good workability; and a resin encapsulation method. Therefore, of a lower cavity bar 51 and an upper cavity bar 26, a plurality of groove-shaped pots 52 are provided in parallel at a predetermined pitch in a region where a substrate board is disposed, and each groove-shaped pot 52 is individually provided with a plurality of cavities 54 in parallel through runners. Then, a plunger plate 60 inserted in the grooved-shaped pot 52 in a manner so as to be able to move up and down is driven by a plunger 76, whereby a resin for encapsulation inserted into the pot 52 is melted with the plunger plate 60, and the melted resin is filled in the cavities 54 through the runners.

Abstract: A support material for use with a digital manufacturing system, the support material comprising at least one inorganic ionic compound and is configured to be deposited with the digital manufacturing system using a layer-based additive technique to form a support structure for supporting at least one overhanging region of a three-dimensional model built with the digital manufacturing system.

Abstract: An injection molding machine conventionally includes a hydraulic circuit that communicates energy from a first motor. The hydraulic circuit typically includes pumps that regulate, in a conventional fashion, the flow of hydraulic fluid to control molding sub-assembles and functions, such as clamp up, stroke and injection. Additionally and conventionally, a dedicated electric drive is coupled to an extruder to effect rotation and operation thereof. According to the invention, the hydraulic circuit is extended to include a hydraulic motor drive whose operation is to rotate the extruder, thereby permitting the dedicated electric drive and its associated frequency and power control circuitry to be eliminated.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control system of an injection molding machine in which a controller mounted on a main body side of an injection molding machine comprises a data memory having a memory area to always reflect information regarding a plurality of operation conditions and operation situations corresponding to peripheral devices, and a program to give a desired command to the peripheral devices, and a control section of the peripheral devices and the controller on the injection molding machine main body side comprise a data transmission line to always reflect information regarding the operation conditions and the operation situations, and a transmission control section equipped with a protocol regarding a signal transmitted through the transmission line.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve favorable injection molding with reduced mold clamping force required for molding and with suppression of weld line occurrence without repeating trial and error manually, by prompt calculation of adequate production parameters, when conducting injection molding of resin products. When the injection molding is conducted using a mold having a plurality of resin inflow conduits N, R, G1, G2, and G3 to the cavity CV, the combination of a numerical analysis method for calculating the injection molding process and a computer-aided optimization method, derives the production parameters which determine time-sequentially the inflow of resin material through resin inflow conduits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing an edible product in the form a viscous to pasty mass (1), especially an edible product based on a fat mass, such as chocolate, or based on water, such as ice cream. Said device comprises a dosing unit (2) for the dosed delivery of a specific volume of the mass (1) to shaping units (13). The movement of the displacement element (6) determining the dosage volume is performed via servo drive (9) while an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) are closed and opened via servo drive or pneumatic drive, respectively. Preferably, the displacement element is embodied as a combined lifting/rotating plunger (6) which can perform a linear movement for a suctioning lift and a dosing lift while being able to perform a rotary movement for opening and closing the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), i.e. a valve function.

Abstract: A rotary injection molding apparatus and method for manufacturing products containing elastomeric material within multi-section single cavity molds. The apparatus includes a modular frame supporting an injection molding operation station having an injector assembly with a pressure sensitive nozzle assembly. The injector assembly is engaged with an extruder assembly at a check valve assembly. A mold servicer assembly is provided for assembly and disassembly of multi-section single cavity molds. A robotic arm assembly is supported on the modular frame and positioned for inserting and removing products or product components from disassembled molds. Finally; a rotating table is provided on the frame which has a plurality of work station positions supporting clamping assemblies for clamping single cavity molds around the periphery of the rotating table.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a water management chamber from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is then blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material having a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite is then extruded to form a flow of composite material gravitating onto a lower portion of a mold for forming the water management chamber. The lower portion of the mold is then moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold. Finally, the upper portion of the mold is pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closed on the lower portion of the mold to form the water management chamber.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded structure in a press that includes a first mold and a second mold is provided. The second mold has a plurality of pressure actuators, with each pressure actuator capable of independent operation. The method includes the steps of positioning a preform having a thickness in the first mold, placing a quantity of resin adjacent the preform so as to create a resin reservoir, and then selectively actuating one or more of the pressure actuators apply pressure to the resin reservoir to force at least a portion of the resin reservoir to infuse through the thickness of the preform. The method may also include curing the resin-infused preform, and then removing the cured resin-infused preform from the first mold.

Abstract: A resin sealing mold for semiconductor devices, which is designed to thoroughly accommodate board thickness variations and prevent formation of burrs and which is easy to maintain. To this end, a plurality of pistons (42) supporting, at one of their respective ends, lower mold cavities (56) have the other ends thereof slidably inserted in hydraulic cylinder blocks installed on lower mold sets (40).

Abstract: A system and method for forming an article from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material for blending with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material having a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite material may then be extruded through dynamic dies to deliver discrete controlled material that is gravitated onto a lower portion of a mold. The lower portion of the mold may be moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold. The upper portion of the mold may be pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closing on the lower portion of the mold to form the article.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an injection-molding machine capable of accurately and conveniently setting operational conditions in the filling and pressure-holding steps. A curve showing the position of a screw versus time in the filling and pressure-holding steps is displayed on the same screen as that displaying settings for a forward speed and a back-pressure of the screw in the filling and pressure-holding steps. The operator can change settings while monitoring the data indicated by a curve displayed on the screen.

Abstract: A thermoplastic molding process uses the thermoplastic molding apparatus to mold a part of variable thickness from a slab of material heated during extrusion. The thermoplastic molding system includes a thermoplastic extrusion die for the extrusion of a thermoplastic slab. The extrusion die has adjustable die gate members for varying the thickness of the extruded material in different parts of the extruded slab. A plurality of molds are mounted to the platform to feed one mold into a loading position while a second mold is in a release position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded structure in a press that includes the steps of positioning a preform (24) having a thickness in the lower mold (20), placing a quantity of resin adjacent the preform (24) so as to create a resin reservoir, and then selectively actuating one or more of the pressure actuators (28) to apply pressure to the resin reservoir to force at least a portion of the resin reservoir to infuse through the thickness of the preform (24). After the step of positioning, a top cover (32) may be placed upon the preform (24). The step of selectively actuating one or more of the pressure actuators (28) attached to an upper platen (60), may include a computer for controlling the pressure actuators (28).

Abstract: A pedestal for inverting a soft contact lens has been invented. The pedestal of the invention has an inner surface, an outer surface, a dome shape capable of supporting the back surface of the contact lens or the front surface of that contact lens which has been inverted, is made from an elastic material which allows a negative pressure gradient to be generated from the outer surface to the inner surface, and has an elastic top which is capable of collapsing in to invert the contact lens.

Abstract: An installation for the treatment and further processing of thermoplastics comprises a screw-type compounding unit, downstream of which is disposed an intermittently drivable processing unit. Provision is made for a control unit which is connected with a drive of the screw-type compounding unit and with the drive of a metering device and with a drive of the processing unit. The control unit is designed for triggering the drives by the cycle time of the processing unit, the drives having identical run-up times and identical deceleration times.

Abstract: A machine for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine is a single apparatus having an indexing table with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The manufacturing path of the machine is a series of stations which are mechanical devices for carrying out the manufacturing steps necessary to produce tubes from thermoplastic blank sleeves. The stations of the manufacturing path are modular so that they may be removed, added or rearranged; may be optionally connected to a process logic controller and may optionally have sensors for information feedback to the PLC device.

Abstract: A reusable die for the manufacture of molded seat cushions that includes a first device for forming a positive profile of a contoured surface, such as a seating support surface, from data obtained for defining the positive surface profile; and a second device for forming a negative profile of the contoured surface, whereby the first surface is adapted to be maintained in contact with the second surface. The first device includes a plurality of rods adapted to define the positive profile. The second device also includes a plurality of rods and a deformable member, such as a wire mesh, that coact with the rods of the first device to form the negative profile. The rods of both the first device and the second device are adapted to be locked in place. A sealing surface is vacuum formed over the negative profile, which then forms a wall of a foam mold. Liquid foam material is then injected in the mold and permitted to cure thereby forming a contoured seat cushion.

Abstract: An open tube apparatus and method for continuously producing a rotating elongate strip of material are disclosed. An extrusion die continuously extrudes flowable material to form an open tube with a central longitudinal cavity and a transport mechanism includes a plurality of drive rollers which engage and pull the tube downline. A driver rotates the extrusion die and transport mechanism. A tube cutter, which is offset at an angle with respect to the downline direction and defines the open end of the tube, cuts the tube into a continuous elongate web of the desired width as the tube moves downline. An air seal seals the tube cavity to prevent air from escaping through the open end of the cavity, and a tube pressurizer controls air pressure in the central longitudinal cavity of the tube to expand the tube laterally outwardly.

Abstract: To automate the roughening of the peripheral surface of a shoe upper in the region to be soled, the application of adhesive along such surface and a final deburring operation, prior to injection molding the last supported shoe upper in the region of lateral side mold elements is measured at the peripheral curvature to determine a curved line of spacial coordinates and angles of curvature starting at a preselected null point, and the values are stored. Another last supported shoe upper is moved by a rotary turntable to be scanned at selected points along its periphery for comparing the selected points to the spacial coordinates and angles of curvature. Any deviation therefrom is adapted to a second preselected null point, after which the shoe upper is guided by a computer controlled robotic device along the curved line starting from the second null point.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the production of ribbed pipes. According to the method a plastic material is fed through an extruder into a pipe molding space (12) defined by an extrusion sleeve (4), a mandrel (9) and chill molds (1, 2) moving in the direction of the central axis of the mandrel. When the pressure of the molding space (12) deviates from a desired value, a gap is formed between the chill molds (1,2), and plastic material is squeezed into the gap, or grooves (13) of the chill molds are filled up incompletely. In order to restore the pressure to the proper value, the pressure of the material contained in the molding space is directly measured by means of a pressure sensor (14) which adjusts the speed of the extruder or the chill molds.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a main structure formed of a pedestal including a top cover, a mold clamping unit supported on the pedestal; and an injecting unit supported on the pedestal. The injection molding machine further includes a control cabinet situated in the rear zone of the main structure; an input unit situated in an operator's control zone of the main structure. The input unit includes a data display device and an input keyboard. A cable connects the input unit with the control cabinet. To a bracket arrangement on the pedestal there is pivotally mounted a swivel arm swingable in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis. The input unit is secured to the swivel arm at a top side thereof such that the data display device is approximately at eye-level height. The input unit has, dependent upon pivotal positions of the swivel arm, a working position situated externally of the area occupied by the main structure and a position of rest within such area.

Abstract: A hot press device has a pair of hot press rollers for heating and pressing a treatment object therebetween while rotating, and pairs of delivery rollers are arranged before and after the pair of hot press rollers. The treatment object passes back and forth through the pair of hot press rollers, and a controller controls the delivery rollers so that the circumferential speeds of the respective delivery rollers located downstream in the forward or reverse passing direction of the treatment object can be increased.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus wherein the nozzle on the forward end portion of a sealing gun on a programmable industrial robot includes a nozzle holder and a nozzle body made of a flexible material. The forward inner end of the nozzle body can gradually diverge and a reinforcement pipe can be provided in the nozzle holder. The nozzle body can be in the form of a tubular brush made of nylon bristles, a solid tubular body of polyurethane foam or a solid tubular body of silicone rubber.

Abstract: Folding elements for forming gussets in a tubular film are provided in the mutually opposite open areas between a pair of flattening plates and the plates are reciprocable in the axial direction of the tubular film for an adjustment of the depth of the gussets. The folding elements are mounted to be pivotally movable in all directions and are guided to be transversely displaceable relative to the axis of the tubular film. Adjacent to their mutually opposite, upstream ends the folding elements are provided with adjusting means for imparting a pivotal movement which is transverse to the direction in which the depth of the gussets is adjusted and/or about their longitudinal axes in dependence on a measured deviation of the outer fold lines from their desired position. Sensors are provided for detecting the location of the outer fold lines of the gussets formed in the tubular film.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pneumatically powered automatic apparatus and method for subdividing one or more loaves of dough supported in a partitioned single use, nonmetallic tray at a processing station intermediate the opposite ends of a conveyor. A tray of dough is introduced into the apparatus as a tray of subdivided dough exits onto the conveyor. The dough divider functions to draw the skin of the roll of dough from the upper and lower sides thereof permanently into closely spaced relation between adjacent subdivisions of dough thereby leaving the subdivisions connected solely by a web which is readily frangible when the dough is baked. The dough subdivider operates dry and free of lubricant. Trays of dough exiting from the apparatus are maintained frozen and wrapped until ready for the oven at either a local or a distant consumption site.

Abstract: A food shaping apparatus is disclosed which is capable of automatically forming boiled rice into a shaped food such as oval-shaped sushi or the like with good repeatability and reliability. The apparatus comprises a transfer mechanism capable of forcedly downwardly carrying boiled rice while compressing, a dividing mechanism capable of dividing boiled rice to form rice blocks of a fixed quantity and allowing the rice blocks to be received in forming cylinders without deflecting, a turntable capable of readily forming a shaped food different in size and/or configuration and easily cleaning the forming cylinders incorporated therein, a pressing mechanism capable of forming the rice block into a finsihed shaped food, and a control mechanism capable of controlling the linked actions among the transfer mechanism, dividing mechanism and turntable.

Abstract: There is described herein a method of operating an extruder for thermoplastic material to automatically control the output of the extruder. The extruder includes a kneader screw, a hopper having a feed screw for feeding the thermoplastic material in dry particulate form to the kneader screw and an outlet feed screw for removing the plastic material in molten form from the kneader screw. Each of the screws is operated by a separate electric motor. The method includes monitoring the current of the motor for the kneader screw. Variations in the current indicate variations in the opertion of the kneader screw. Upon any variation in the current of the kneader screw motor, the speed of the hopper feed screw and/or the outlet feed screw is varied to compensate for the variation in the operation of the kneader feed screw and return the current to its original value.

Abstract: In a screw-type cold feed extrusion molding apparatus is provided a size control device adapted to control the sizes of extrusion molded articles through detection of the load current of the motor for driving the feed screw and take-off conveyor of the extrusion molding apparatus at speeds which vary in such a manner as to enable a molding material to be fed smoothly from the inlet toward the extrusion die of the apparatus so that fluctuations which would otherwise be caused in the sizes of the extrusion molded articles due to the presence of a molding material stagnant in the inlet of the apparatus are precluded reliably.

Abstract: An adjustable die mechanism (10) for extruding a profiled strip of plastic or elastomeric material wherein a plurality of adjacent segments (44) is located upstream and in spaced relation from a final extrusion die assembly (32), having a predetermined profiled opening (38), with this plurality of segments (44) being mounted for individual and independent adjustment thereof, each segment having one end (46) capable of extending into the extrudate flow channel (26). Means for actuating (64) move the segments (44) relative to the profiled opening (38) in a predetermined manner such that moving the segments (44) into the profiled opening (38) modifies the flow of the extrudate material downstream of the segments (44) as the profiled strip emerges from the die assembly (32). The die mechanism includes control means (82) for selectively operating the means for moving the segments so as to produce a strip of material having the desired characteristics.

Abstract: An internally-cooled blown-film system, for producing plastic tubing, in which the flow rate of the continuous flow of internal cooling air, by non-contacting, energy beam sensor means, is made directly dependent upon the deviation in position of the tube wall.

Abstract: The procedure is actuated by the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, part B of the mold of which, relatively movably, holds an elastically deformable chamber C which is caused to expand by a fluid under pressure. Into cavity A1 of relatively fixed mold A textile reinforcement D and some liquid resin is placed. If the product to be molded has projecting parts A1, part B is provided with pushers 12 having shaped ends 14, actuated by a pressurized fluid to push forward a part of woven armor D into cavity A4 before causing chamber C to expand. When this condition occurs, the liquid resin is pressed into the structure of reinforcement D and, in solidifying, takes on the shape of cavity A1 of the mold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously forming tubing by extrusion wherein selected positions of the length of the tubing are irregularly shaped with a formation such as a pipe or tube thread and wherein such forming occurs while the tubing is passing from the extrusion die. The apparatus also includes means for predeterminately cutting the extruding tube to lengths with each length containing a thread-like formation in its wall at either or both ends thereof. As a result the necessity of post operating on the extrusion in a secondary threading operation to form threads at its ends, is eliminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting imperfections in a semi-conductive strand shield applied to an electrical conductor. The method comprises the steps of applying AC current between a bare portion of the conductor and apparatus applying a jacket of insulating material over the strand shield, as the conductor and shield move through the apparatus. The current and the voltage applying the current are measured to determine the impedance of the circuit of the conductor and apparatus applying the insulating jacket. Changes in the impedance are then monitored, such changes being indicative of changes in the quality of the strand shield applied to the conductor.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing thermoplastic corrugated tubing having substantially uniform thickness throughout comprises extruder and step of forming hollow smooth-walled extrudate. Corrugating structure immediately adjacent extruder is arranged to receive extrudate and to form corrugations therein. Such structure includes continuously moving cooperating mold blocks configured to form alternating annular peak portions, valley portions and interconnecting side wall portions in extrudate when it is blown into intimate engagement with configured mold blocks. Thickness of extrudate being corrugated is controlled to provide relatively thin extrudate portions during formation of annular valley portions and relatively thick extrudate portions during formation of annular peak and interconnecting side wall portions.

Abstract: A machine for making cement blocks is provided which may be conveniently used on the site of a building construction. The device provides female dies into which fluid cement or flowable concrete mix is distributed whereupon male dies are lowered to properly form the cement into blocks. The male and female dies are then conveniently lifted above the height of the blocks and the entire machine moves forward a specified amount whereupon the female dies are lowered and the process begins again. The entire procedure may be carried out automatically in response to a preprogrammed sequence of events, or the process may be carried out by manual manipulation of a control panel.