Abstract: The present invention relates to a dough processing device, for use on a dough line, comprising dough processing means, such as a flour dispenser, a roller, a cutter, a folding shoe, for processing the dough on a conveyor; arranged in a frame, arranged for being placed as a bridge over a dough conveyor and thereto having supports at opposite ends; provided with fastening means, for fastening the supports on either side to a dough conveyor housing; wherein at least one support is provided with transport means, for transporting the dough processing device directly over a conveyor while supporting the dough processing device on said conveyor. The invention further relates to a dough processing line comprising such a dough processing device.

Abstract: An electric sheeting machine for forming a sheet from a food dough, including: a supporting frame; two sheet forming rollers supported in the frame; a first scraper blade and a second scraper blade supported in the frame, staggered from each other in height and having a respective beveled edge. The machine further has: first and second articulated connection elements which connect the scraper blades with respect to the frame, in an oscillating manner; first and second elastic members which each stress a respective scraper blade to maintain an oscillated position, in which the respective beveled edge is arranged in sliding contact against the cylindrical lateral surface of the corresponding forming roller.

Abstract: A device (1, 1?) is depicted and described for processing concrete blocks (2), including: a transport device (3) for the transport of concrete blocks (2), and means (4, 4?) for the mechanical processing of the edges of the concrete blocks (2), wherein the means (4, 4?) for the mechanical processing are arranged above the transport device (3). In order to be able to process the concrete blocks (2) in a constructively simple manner with low mechanical stress, it is proposed, to pivot-mount the means (4, 4?) for the mechanical processing. In addition, a method for processing concrete blocks (2) is depicted and described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to apparatus and methods for processing food materials such as dough. The apparatus includes (1) a frame formed with a trough hole and a slot; (2) a motor obliquely attached to a side wall of the frame; (3) a rear roller positioned in the slot and operably coupled to the motor by a driving gear; (4) a front roller positioned in the slot and operably coupled to the rear roller via a transmission gear set; and (5) a cam component operably attached to the frame and positioned adjacent to the front roller. When the cam portion is rotated, the front roller is moved toward or far away from the rear roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a microporous plastic film comprising a pair of vertical columns; a pair of stationary frames each fixed to each vertical column such that they are positioned inside the vertical columns; a pair of movable frames rotatable under the stationary frames; a pattern roll rotatably supported by the stationary frames at a fixed position; an anvil roll movable up and down along first vertical guide rails of the stationary frames; and a lower backup roll movable up and down along second vertical guide rails of the movable frames; the pattern roll being in parallel with the anvil roll; the first and second vertical guide rails being distant from the vertical columns on one side, such that rotating movable frames and lower backup roll do not come into contact with the vertical columns; with the lower backup roll inclined to the anvil roll in a horizontal plane, large numbers of fine pores being formed on the plastic film by the high-hardness, fine particles of the pattern roll.

Abstract: A system for use in producing a nanotube mesh structure is provided. The system includes a first nanotube collection apparatus including a first substrate configured to collect a plurality of nanotubes substantially aligned in a first orientation on an attachment surface thereof, and a second nanotube collection apparatus including a second substrate configured to collect a plurality of nanotubes substantially aligned in a second orientation on an attachment surface thereof. The first and second nanotube collection apparatuses are configured to combine the pluralities of nanotubes at an interface. The system also includes a first energy source configured to direct energy towards the interface between the pluralities of nanotubes, wherein the energy is configured to join the pluralities of nanotubes to form the nanotube mesh structure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a curved prepreg strip or sheet, especially for use in fabricating a composite component. The method includes providing a strip or sheet of prepreg material having reinforcing fibers and drawing or conveying the prepreg material in a travel direction, wherein the material is drawn or conveyed in the travel direction at a speed which differs across a width of the strip or sheet transverse to the travel direction. Similarly, the invention relates to an apparatus for forming a curved prepreg strip or sheet, having: a mechanism for drawing or conveying a strip or sheet of prepreg material in a travel direction, wherein the mechanism is configured to draw or convey the strip or sheet of prepreg material in the travel direction at a speed which differs across a width of the strip or sheet transverse to the travel direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatic and hands-free threading of an elastomeric mix into a calender set of rolls comprising one or more pairs of rolls that have a nip between them. A stripper roll is positioned next to one of the rolls forming the nip and is rotated so that the outer surface of the stripper roll moves in a direction opposite to the outer surface of the adjacent roll. The stripper roll removes all or a desired portion of the elastomeric mix from the adjacent roll and causes the same to transfer to another roll. Variables such as e.g., the relative surface speed of the stripper roll, diameter of the stripper roll, and distance of the outer surface of the stripper roll from the adjacent roll can be manipulated to control the amount of the elastomeric mix that is stripped by the stripper roll.

Abstract: The present invention leads to a method for preparing a dough piece rolled up with separator sheet, comprising supplying in a transport direction, a dough piece positioned on a separator sheet, the dough piece and the separator sheet having a length and a width, wherein a leading edge of the separator sheet exceeds the dough piece at least a first side, rolling up the at least one side of the dough paper that exceeds the dough piece, thus forming a cylinder of separator sheet, extending in a width direction of the dough piece and rolling up the rest of the separator sheet with the dough piece around the cylinder. The invention further relates to a device for performing the method and a roll formed by the method and/or device.

Abstract: A material layering device may include a first pinning roller and a second pinning roller. A distance between the first pinning roller and the second pinning roller is less than a diameter of a substrate. The device also includes a return system, wherein the return system comprises a plurality of rollers. The device also includes a belt, which may have a first loop portion disposed between and protruding beyond the first pinning roller and the second pinning roller. The first loop portion also wraps about an intended substrate along an arc greater than about 180 degrees. The device further includes a feed portion coupled to the first loop and extending outwardly from the second pinning roller opposite the first loop and providing a surface upon which a sheet can be placed. Furthermore, the device also includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to one of the rollers.

Abstract: In an apparatus for manufacturing a microporous plastic film roll by conveying a microporous plastic film by conveying rollers and then winding the microporous plastic film in a roll shape while being brought close to a near roller or being brought into contact with a touch roller, a part of the touch roller to be in contact with the plastic film has a Vickers hardness of 100 to 2,000, and the microporous plastic film is conveyed so that a side of the microporous plastic film opposite the side being in contact with the conveying rollers is in a noncontact state in a range being in contact with the conveying rollers.

Abstract: A dimpled fabric creation system and method is provided to form a dimpled fabric using a mold or machine having a plurality of protrusions and grooves, while avoiding the repetitive steps to manually shape each protrusion individually by tying portions of fabric individually. The protrusions may be of complex three dimensional shapes to form dimples in the fabric having corresponding complex three dimensional shapes. The system and method provide for creation of a dimpled fabric container, wherein the dimpled fabric container may be utilized in gift wrapping.

Abstract: A forming apparatus for forming a formable material. Each forming tool of a second forming tool set is adapted to co-act with one or more forming tools of a first forming tool set, or vice versa, to form a co-acting forming tool in a pressure forming zone. There is a first forming tool set guide or guides about which the first forming tool set can be moved about a first circuit. There is also a second forming tool set guide or guides about which the second forming tool set can be moved about a second circuit. A drive drives the tools in a machine direction. At least on part of the circuit, adjacent forming tools of one the forming tool sets are movably supported such that the only relative movement of the adjacent forming tools is towards or away from the forming tools of the other forming tool set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for making shaped food chip products (2) including hotplates (3) (4) that are arranged in such way that, when in use, food snacks are hold between the hotplates and where at least one hotplate surface is covered with a steam permeable membrane (5). Also a method for making food chip product (2) including feeding slices of food in a monolayered between hotplates (3, 4) where at least one of the hotplate surfaces pressing on the food snack is covered with a membrane (5) that guidance the steam away.

Abstract: A powder molding device, including: a pre-molding unit (6) for molding a sheet-form powder (14) having a first density higher than a density of the powder and not having fluidity by compressing a powder; and a molding roll (8) for molding a sheet-form molded product (16) having a second density higher than the first density by compressing the sheet-form powder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a food-form-apparatus with: a rotating drum (5) which comprises product cavities in which a food product is formed from a food mass and a food mass feed member (23), which comprises a housing with an infeed channel (24) and at least one upstream sealing area (25) and/or a downstream sealing area (26) and a flexible pressure plate (7) which is pressed against the outer surface of the drum and thereby provides a seal between the food mass member and the drum. The drum has at its outer surface a multitude of rows of cavities.

Abstract: A film patterning system includes: a first rotary member having a first shaft that defines a first axis, and a cylindrical first screen mold that is rotatable about the first axis; a second rotary member spaced apart from the first rotary member, having a second shaft that defines a second axis parallel to the first axis, and rotatable about the second axis; a second screen mold trained on the first and second rotary members and circumferentially stacked on the first screen mold; and a suctioning box mounted in the first rotary member for suctioning the film that is guided onto the second screen mold.

Abstract: A method of continuously producing an opened fiber bundle for a cleaning member while conveying a fiber bundle, includes the steps of applying a tensile force to the fiber bundle; relaxing the tensioned fiber bundle to open the fiber bundle; and blowing air in a direction intersecting with the machine direction of the belt-shaped fiber bundle through an air outlet of an air feeder, to further open the belt-shaped fiber bundle and widen the belt-shaped fiber bundle in the width direction. An outer portion in the width direction of the air outlet is disposed downstream in the machine direction, compared with an inner portion in the width direction of the air outlet.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dough roller device (2) comprising a first roller pair unit (21) and a second roller pair unit (22) situated below the first roller pair unit (21), wherein the relative position of the first and second roller pair units is adjustable. Preferably the rollers (31,32) of the first roller pair unit (21) define a passage for dough between the rollers, and wherein the relative position is adjustable for placing one of the rollers (33, 34) of the second roller pair unit (22) more or less below the passage. The invention further relates to an assembly for dough treatment, comprising a dough roller device (2) as disclosed above and a supply device for supplying dough, wherein the supply device comprises a conveyor (12) extending to an upper side of the dough roller device (2). The belt onto which the dough is deposited has flour dusted onto it before the dough is laid on the belt.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a curved prepreg strip or sheet, especially for use in fabricating a composite component. The method includes providing a strip or sheet of prepreg material having reinforcing fibres and drawing or conveying the prepreg material in a travel direction, wherein the material is drawn or conveyed in the travel direction at a speed which differs across a width of the strip or sheet transverse to the travel direction. Similarly, the invention relates to an apparatus for forming a curved prepreg strip or sheet, having: a mechanism for drawing or conveying a strip or sheet of prepreg material in a travel direction, wherein the mechanism is configured to draw or convey the strip or sheet of prepreg material in the travel direction at a speed which differs across a width of the strip or sheet transverse to the travel direction.

Abstract: There is provided a mold for a tape-shaped optical recording medium with which precise cutting can be performed along a cutting guide groove, the mold forming a recording groove in a tape-shaped optical recording medium, and having a plurality of recording and reproduction bumps that form a recording and reproduction groove, and a guide whose shape is different from that of the recording and reproduction bumps.

Abstract: A sailor roll includes pressing rolls and a center roll provided between the pressing rolls the center roll configured to press a central region of a web. The portions of the web pressed down by the pressing rolls serve as a fold origin from which the web is folded. Each of the pressing rolls has a tapered shape in which the diameter becomes smaller toward the outer side in the cross direction CD. In other word, the pressing rolls respectively have tapered surfaces tapered toward a side region of the web.

Abstract: Provided is a food molding apparatus which performs all steps from forming to conveyance and storage in one housing and which is small in size and inexpensive. A conveyance section 500 which holds a formed cooked rice product (a rice ball 10) by use of holding arms 510 is provided, within a housing, with an X-axis moving unit 570 which moves the formed cooked rice product in an X-axis direction and a Z-axis moving unit 550 which moves the formed cooked rice product in a Z-axis direction. A storage section 600 provided with a tray 610 on which the rice ball 10 is to be placed is further provided, within the housing, a Y-axis moving unit 630 which moves the tray 610 in a Y-axis direction, whereby the rice balls 10 are spread over on the tray 610.

Abstract: A die tool for forming a C-section component having radiused shoulders, the includes a cylindrical inner die and an outer die having a cylindrical central portion connected to opposing end flanges by respective radiused concave portions. A portion of the inner die is arranged to be disposed between the end flanges of the outer die and spaced apart therefrom to define a cavity corresponding to the desired cross-section of the C-section component to be formed. The radiused convex and concave portions have a radius of curvature that varies about the circumference of the respective inner and outer dies. The inner and outer dies are rotatable such that the radius of curvature of the radiused convex and concave portions where the inner and outer dies are adjacent to one another varies as the inner and outer dies are rotated.

Abstract: For producing a creped material, especially a sealing material for connections and transitions on buildings, with this material being provided with crepe folds, wherein the crepe folds run in different directions, a method is disclosed with the steps of: a) preparing a deformable material web (9) with a main expansion direction (90); b1) forming a longitudinal profile (91) in at least one region of the deformable material web (9), wherein the longitudinal profile runs essentially parallel to the main expansion direction (90); c) forming a transverse profile (94) in at least one region of the deformable material web (9), wherein the transverse profile (94) runs at an angle other than 180° relative to the main expansion direction (90); and d) pressing at least one section of the deformable material web (9) that has at least one region with a longitudinal profile (91) and a transverse profile (94), so that the material web (9) is provided with the crepe folds.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatic and hands-free threading of an elastomeric mix into a calender set of rolls comprising one or more pairs of rolls that have a nip between them. A stripper roll is positioned next to one of the rolls forming the nip and is rotated so that the outer surface of the stripper roll moves in a direction opposite to the outer surface of the adjacent roll. The stripper roll removes all or a desired portion of the elastomeric mix from the adjacent roll and causes the same to transfer to another roll. Variables such as e.g., the relative surface speed of the stripper roll, diameter of the stripper roll, and distance of the outer surface of the stripper roll from the adjacent roll can be manipulated to control the amount of the elastomeric mix that is stripped by the stripper roll.

Abstract: A method of continuous curing and post-curing of a plurality of extruded strands is provided. A plurality of extruded strands is wrapped through a plurality of spindle units rotatably connected to a rigid frame structure. A plurality of dual spindles are provided in a plurality of upper and lower spindle units, wherein each dual spindle comprises a free spinning roller and a driven roller. A chamber that comprises a dual function chamber configured for heating and cooling is supported on the rigid frame structure. The plurality of extruded strands is continuously transferred between the upper spindle units and the lower spindle units such that the plurality of extruded strands runs in a vertical fashion that continuously alternates between the lower spindle units and the upper spindle units. Each of the plurality of strands is transferred independently of each other and continuously passed through the chamber for continuous curing and post-curing.

Abstract: A die tool for forming a C-section component having radiused shoulders has first and second outer dies, each outer die having a truncated conical portion connected to a flange portion by a radiused portion and being symmetrically disposed to one another along a common axis such that each flange portion is outermost, and a cylindrical outer support die located between the first and second outer dies.

Abstract: A fine structure formation apparatus includes a preheating heater to heat up the surface of belt-like mold alone, right before contacting the belt-like mold to heating and pressurizing rollers, the temperature of the surface of the belt-like mold is made equal to that of the heating and pressurizing rollers, enabling to reliably obtain a predetermined temperature, and cooling rollers or a cooling blower are arranged right after the heating and pressurizing rollers, enabling cooling by a forced cooling and pressure holding, and to transfer a pattern.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for a making a formed fibrous article and more specifically to method and apparatus for making a formed fibrous article useful as an absorbent core structure in a disposable sanitary article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or the like. The present invention also relates to a disposable sanitary article including a formed fibrous article according to the present invention as a core structure thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for periodically forming slant, linear easy-to-tear portions on a long plastic film, comprising a hard roll on which the long plastic film passes, pluralities of pattern rolls each having a slant, linear stamp means on a rolling surface, a motor-driven shaft to which the pattern rolls are fixed, and a mechanism for pushing the pattern rolls toward the hard roll, the movement of the pressure rolls toward the hard roll causing the pattern projections of the stamp means to be pressed onto the plastic film on the hard roll, thereby periodically forming the slant, linear easy-to-tear portions on the plastic film.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for making shaped food chip products (2) comprising hotplates (3) (4) that are arranged in such way that, when in use, food snacks are hold between the hotplates and where at least one hotplate surface is covered with a steam permeable membrane (5). Also a method for making food chip product (2) comprising feeding slices of food in a monolayered between hotplates (3, 4) where at least one of the hotplate surfaces pressing on the food snack is covered with a membrane (5) that guidance the steam away.

Abstract: The device for satinizing and embossing metallized or surface-treated packaging foils comprises three embossing rolls, all three embossing rolls cooperating with one another and the packaging foil being capable of being passed under pressure between the first and the second and between the first and the third embossing rolls in order to produce a satin-finish and a pattern. The first, driven embossing roll has a tooth array composed of individual teeth that are arranged in a homogenous grid, and the other two embossing rolls each have a surface structure that differs from that of the first embossing roll. At least one of the additional embossing rolls has structural elements that are arranged individually or in groups but not in the same grid as on the first roll, the structural element being composed of individual teeth and being arranged circularly on the embossing roll. Such an arrangement provides an effective breaking of the paper substrate of the foil and thus a surface having improved properties.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus for a making a formed fibrous article and more specifically to an apparatus for making a formed fibrous article useful as an absorbent core structure in a disposable sanitary article such as a sanitary napkin, panty liner, diaper or the like.

Abstract: A stretching apparatus capable of optimally inhibiting neck-in of a film when the film is stretched in an MD (Machine Direction), has an advancing mechanism, a take-in mechanism, and film-holding unit placed at both end portions in a TD (Transverse Direction) of a transfer path of film between the mechanisms. The film-holding unit has a plurality of upper holding rollers placed in parallel at intervals in the MD of the film above the transfer path of film, and a plurality of lower holding rollers placed opposite to upper holding rollers below the transfer path of film such that the plurality of lower holding rollers work together with the plurality of upper holding rollers to sandwich the film vertically between the rollers. Upper holding rollers and lower holding rollers are rotatably supported such that their rotational axes are inclined outward in the TD of film toward a downstream side of the MD of film.

Abstract: A permeable material compacting method includes positioning permeable material around a mandrel, rotating the permeable material about an axis of the mandrel, longitudinally moving at least one tapered surface against the permeable material and reducing a radial thickness of the permeable material between a surface of the mandrel and the at least one tapered surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which uses activation members for incrementally stretching a web at a low strain rate. The activation members include an activation belt and a single activation member wherein the activation belt and single activation member comprise a plurality of teeth and grooves that complement and engage one another at a depth of engagement in a deformation zone. The depth of engagement can be controlled to increase linearly over at least a portion of the deformation zone such that a web interposed between the activation belt and the single activation member in the deformation zone is incrementally stretched at a low rate of strain.

Abstract: A method and machine for sealing at least one cut edge of a foam board is disclosed. The foam board has a top surface, a bottom surface and at least one cut edge extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The cut edge is passed over a heated roller to soften the edge and then passed over a second roller having a temperature that is lower than the temperature of the first roller which seals the edge. The cut edge may be milled to square the edge relative to the top and bottom of the board before the cut edge is passed over the heated roller. Additional pairs of rollers may be provided to seal the top surface and the bottom surface of the foam board.

Abstract: The invention describes an apparatus for the longitudinal stretching of a film web (1) comprising: at least one heater (4) in which the film web (2) can be heated, at least one cooling device (15) in which the film web (2) can again be cooled down, and at least a stretching unit (8) in which the film web (2) is stretched in its longitudinal direction, whereby the stretching unit (8) has a first transport roller (9, 10, 11, 12) that has a first peripheral speed in the stretching operation, followed by a second transport roller having a second peripheral speed as seen along the transport path of the film web (2) from the first transport roller, whereby the second peripheral speed is higher than the first transport roller speed, It comprises a pressing device (22) with which the film web (2) is pressed against the first transport roller along a line which is in the area of the release line of the film web (2) from the first transport roller.

Abstract: A crosslaminate is formed from two oriented plies of thermoplastic polymer material, arranged so that their orientation directions cross one another, the plies being heat sealed together. Each ply is semi-fibrillated, that is consist of linear thin regions of biaxially oriented material and thicker linear bosses between the thinner regions. The webs are sealed primarily through bonds formed at the intersection of the bosses (thicker regions). The array of bosses has a division less than 2 mm. The laminate has improved aesthetic and strength properties. A method for forming the crosslaminate involves segmental stretching of the material to form the thinner regions, and apparatus comprising intermeshing grooved stretching rollers having sharp-edged crests is described.

Abstract: A sailor roll includes pressing rolls and a center roll provided between the pressing rolls the center roll configured to press a central region of a web. The portions of the web pressed down by the pressing rolls serve as a fold origin from which the web is folded. Each of the pressing rolls has a tapered shape in which the diameter becomes smaller toward the outer side in the cross direction CD. In other word, the pressing rolls respectively have tapered surfaces tapered toward a side region of the web.

Abstract: The invention provides a roll assembly including a pair of cylindrical rolls that are positioned in an opposing cooperating relation for receiving a sheet material therebetween. A plurality of projections on at least one of the rolls extending radially outward from a surface thereof and a plurality of corresponding recesses is provided on the other roll. The projections and corresponding recesses are positioned and arranged on the rolls for contacting and engaging a sheet passing between the pair of rolls. The projections each include an outermost surface portion that is positioned for contacting a discrete portion of the sheet and for entering a corresponding recess on the opposite roll. When rolls rotate about their axes, the projections engage the discrete portion of the sheet material which results in the discrete portion entering the recesses with the projections so as to stretch the sheet in multiple directions.

Abstract: A laminate nanomold includes a layer of perfluoropolyether defining a cavity that has a predetermined shape and a support layer coupled with the layer of perfluoropolyether. The laminate can also include a tie-layer coupling the layer of perfluoropolyether with the support layer. The tie-layer can also include a photocurable component and a thermal curable component. The cavity can have a broadest dimension of less than 500 nanometers.

Abstract: A material layering device. A material layering device may include a first pinning roller and a second pinning roller. The distance between the first pinning roller and the second pinning roller is less than a diameter of an substrate. The device also includes a return system, wherein the return system comprises a plurality of rollers. The device also includes a belt, which may have a first loop portion disposed between and protruding beyond the first pinning roller and the second pinning roller. The first loop portion also wraps about an intended substrate along an arc greater than about 180 degrees. The device further includes a feed portion coupled to the first loop and extending outwardly from the second pinning roller opposite the first loop and providing a surface upon which a sheet can be placed. Furthermore, the device also includes an adjustment mechanism coupled to one of the rollers.

Abstract: A roofing panel, a roof, an array of roofing panels, and a method of manufacturing a roofing panel by transporting a capstock layer of the roofing panel through a moving belt mold, and forming a polymeric material in situ against the outer layer while in a mold cavity of the moving belt mold. The capstock layer is vacuum formed to shape and form a plurality of roofing shingles and to impress the shingles with surface topography features simulating natural materials.

Abstract: An apparatus enables forming extruded plastic material into a strip that may be formed into an irrigation pipe. The apparatus includes a pair of juxtaposed rollers which when rotated, the linear velocity of a contact surface of one of the rollers of the pair is different from the linear velocity of a contact surface of the other roller of the pair. Thus, extruded material that passes between the rollers is concurrently stretched and flattened.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a clay slab includes a frame, a front panel supported on the frame and a rear panel supported on the frame. An outer cable is attached to the rear panel at one end and to the rear panel and to the front panel at another end. A rotatable drive axle is configured to simultaneously wind and unwind the outer cable and thereby move the front panel and the rear panel from an initial position to an intermediate position to draw a block of prepared clay into a gap defined by the front panel and the rear panel. The drive axle is further configured to simultaneously wind and unwind the outer cable in the opposite direction and thereby move the front panel and the rear panel from the intermediate position back to the initial position to remove the clay slab from the slab roller.

Abstract: A system for providing shape and/or surface features to a moldable material includes, in an exemplary embodiment, at least two first opposed flat endless belts spaced apart a first distance, with each having an inner surface and an outer surface. The system also includes at least two second opposed flat endless belts disposed substantially orthogonal to the first two opposed endless belts and spaced apart a second distance. A mold cavity is defined at least in part by the inner surfaces of the at least two opposed flat endless belts. The system further includes a drive mechanism for imparting motion to at least two of the opposed flat endless belts.