Abstract: An apparatus for molding hollow composite articles having a plurality of internal webs. A mandrel assembly apparatus includes slidable sidewall members, an inflatable pressure membrane surrounding the length of the slidable sidewall members and actuator means mounted on the interior of the sidewall members for lateral displacement thereof together with the inflatable membrane. Adjacent mandrel assemblies accurately position the internal webs of the composite article mechanically, while the inflatable membranes serve to compact the web laminates. The expandable sidewall members also prevent bridging or tearing of the pressure membrane associated with the formation of inner corner radii.

Abstract: Sailboards having a tucked rail are made from a flexible, resilient mold so that the seam of the board is along its bottom edge instead of at its point of greatest breadth. A flexible mold part having the contour of the sailboard to be produced has an opening smaller than the greatest breadth of the board. The mold is first flexed so that its opening is sufficiently wide to receive the blank that forms the body of the sailboard. Secondly, the blank is inserted into the flexed mold, and thirdly, the mold is released and its resiliency returns it to its original shape. A conventional rigid mold part closes the open end, and a vacuum is applied to form the final product. The flexible mold part is flexed a second time to remove the product.

Abstract: The die essentially comprises a top chain and a bottom chain entrained between horizontal parallel axis gear wheels and having corresponding sliding portions contacting one another.The top chain defines at a central position, by inner and outer links thereof, substantially dihedral structures, forming open seats therealong can slide the two portions of a sugar drop forming die.The bottom chain, in turn, defines like dihedral structures the corner portions of which are adapted to cut a sugar bead, means being moreover provided for clamping the two portions of the die.

Abstract: This invention is generally accomplished by providing continuous self-adhesive strands of elastic to a substrate having retractable supports extending therefrom. The retractable supports in a convex pattern are contracted with the self-adhering elastic and the substrate bearing the elastic and supports is brought into contact with the web to which the elastic is to be transferred. The series of supports around which the elastic contacts are forced to retract as the self-adhering elastic is pressed against the web causing the elastic to transfer to the substrate thereby creating an elastic band on the substrate. In a preferred form the substrate is fed two strips of self-adhering elastic that are applied on each side of a series of a convex pattern of pins and then pressed together around opposing sides of the convex pattern of pins to seal the elastic to itself and sever the elastic, creating a contoured closed loop around the pins.

Abstract: A method for the shaping of a sheet of preform material. A flat planar (heated) sheet of preform material is held tightly between two elastomeric sheets, the sheets and preform material forming a laminate assembly. The laminate assembly is then formed about a mold having the desired contours. The elastomeric sheets maintain the preform material parallel to the surface contours of the mold as the molding process proceeds. A fluid such as air is flowed between the mold surface and the laminate assembly during the forming process to prevent the elastomeric sheets from binding on the mold surface. Wrinkles are eliminated in the final shape of the preform material, and fiber distortion of tears or rips in the material are minimized due to the fluid lubrication between the mold surface and the laminate assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the shaping of a sheet of preform material. A flat planar (heated) sheet of preform material is held tightly between two elastomeric sheets of the apparatus, the sheets and preform material forming a laminate assembly. The laminate assembly is then formed about a mold having the desired contours. The elastomeric sheets maintain the preform material parallel to the surface contours of the mold as the molding process proceeds. A fluid such as air is flowed between the mold surface and the laminate assembly during the forming process to prevent the elastomeric sheets from binding on the mold surface. Wrinkles are eliminated in the final shape of the preform material, and fiber distortion or tears or rips in the material are minimized due to the fluid lubrication between the mold surface and the laminate assembly.

Abstract: A corrugator for molding externally ribbed and corrugated thermoplastic pipes, including two trains of moldblock halves circulating respectively in two endless paths and cooperating with each other to form a travelling mold for the thermoplastic pipes. The halves of one train are biased in relation to and overlap those of the second train along the travelling mold and are provided with intermeshing elements hooking the halves of the two trains together.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous production of pipes with cross-profiled walls from a pipe strand of thermoplastic plastic emerging in still plastic state from an extrusion nozzle.

Abstract: This invention is generally accomplished by providing continuous self-adhesive strands of elastic to a substrate having retractable supports extending therefrom. The retractable supports in a convex pattern are contracted with the self-adhering elastic and the substrate bearing the elastic and supports is brought into contact with the web to which the elastic is to be transferred. The series of supports around which the elastic contacts are forced to retract as the self-adhering elastic is pressed against the web causing the elastic to transfer to the substrate thereby creating an elastic band on the substrate. In a preferred form the substrate is fed two strips of self-adhering elastic that are applied on each side of a series of a convex pattern of pins and then pressed together around opposing sides of the convex pattern of pins to seal the elastic to itself and sever the elastic, creating a contoured closed loop around the pins.

Abstract: A molding and/or vulcanizing press that is provided with two adjacent sites for containing two corresponding vulcanizing molds, each mold comprising at least two opposite sections, lower and upper sections respectively, that are reciprocally shiftable axially, defining a cavity inside which a product is molded and/or vulcanized, each section being mounted on corresponding tables. A device is provided for coupling the molds integral with a beam and a base and interposed respectively between the beam and an upper table and between the base and a lower table. The device is provided with coupling surfaces with corresponding matching surfaces provided on the tables for allowing each mold relative shifting between the closed and pressurized mold and a frame.

Abstract: Separable mold sections of a tire forming machine are brought together to form a tire cavity within which a preformed tire band is continuously expandable toward and against the inner surface of the cavity side wall. During the tire shaping operation, air is forced by the expanding tire band from the cavity and into the atmosphere through vents having vent opening and closing valve units. As the expanding tire band moves into conforming engagement with the inner surface of the cavity side wall, the final residual air in the cavity is forced therefrom concurrently with the valve units at the terminal cavity ends of the vents being engaged and moved by the expanding tire band to vent closing positions wherein the velve units form a smooth surface continuous with the inner surface of the tire cavity.This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 363,037, filed Mar. 29, 1982, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 181,461, filed Aug. 20, 1980, now issued as U.S. Pat.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming an end finish on a hollow article having a plastically deformable tubular end portion terminating in an open end of the article. A mold surface surrounds the end portion in juxtaposition with its outer surface, and an expandable tubular membrane is received within the end portion in juxtaposition with the inner surface thereof. The interior of the membrane is sealed from the ambient, elongation of the membrane is restricted, and expansion of the membrane is limited to a lateral zone thereof coextensive with the end portion. The outer surface of the end portion is conformed to the mold surface by subjecting the interior of the membrane to a fluid under pressure to expand the membrane laterally in engagement with the inner surface of the end portion.

Abstract: A bent pipe of reinforced synthetic resin is produced by supporting a flexible and elastic tubular mandrel in a stiff and straight position, forming layers of fiber impregnated with thermo-hardening synthetic resin about the mandrel, releasing the mandrel from the straightly stiffened position, bending the mandrel in the desired curvature, heat hardening the synthetic resin, and then extracting the mandrel from the bent pipe thus formed and hardened.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating molded articles includes a turntable rotatable about an axis and having an edge. A number of independent diaphragm presses are supported for rotation with the turntable and are spaced from its axis of rotation. A fixed high-frequency heating station is positioned above and in the vicinity of the edge of the turntable, the station including a hood which defines a cavity into which the presses are sequentially positioned. A cooling device is positioned either to the side of the turntable or mounted on the turntable coaxially with its axis of rotation. Conduits connect or couple the cooling device to the presses to effect cooling of the presses subsequent to removal from the heating station as they advance to a parting station.

Abstract: This invention relates to blow molding apparatus for making plastic articles. It circulates cooling fluid through core rods for cooling blown articles from the inside, preferably with the blown article on the outside of a balloon that is permanently connected with the core rod. The connection of the balloon to the core rod is constructed so that there is no axial pull on the balloon during stripping of the blown article from the core rod and balloon. The invention provides constructions for admitting air between the balloon and a blown parison to break the vacuum when the balloon is to be collapsed. Fluid is also circulated over the outside of the blown parison to cool it, and this can be done in a perforated shroud that serves as a blowing mold, particularly for flexible wall containers.