Abstract: A pizza die includes an outer die ring and a plate ring. The outer die ring and an inner die plate are spring-biased away from the die mount plate. The outer die ring includes a plurality of axial ridges located on a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer die ring. The inner die plate includes a step on which a flexible seal is seated. A spring-biased plate ring compresses the flexible seal on the seat. The flexible seal includes axial grooves on its outer circumference. The axial grooves engage with the corresponding axial ridges on the outer die ring. The axial grooves act as passageways to vent trapped air within the pizza die. The axial ridges provide a self-cleaning mechanism to remove pizza dough lodged in the axial grooves.

Abstract: The device is used for rolling an edge of a dough piece. It comprises a first mechanism for making a friction engagement with the edge of the dough piece and a second mechanism for moving the first mechanism inwards relative to the edge of the dough piece so that the edge is forced to roll on itself. For instance, this can be realised by a first plate having a plurality of elongated guiding slots. A plurality of followers are slidably mounted in corresponding slots of the first plate. A dough-engaging finger is connected to each follower. The fingers are located under the first plate and moved relative to the dough piece. The device mechanically rolls the edge or edges of a dough piece to form an elevated peripheral portion that prevents the toppings from falling or flowing out of the dough piece during the preparation or when cooked and served by the customers. It also gives a better appearance to the final products.

Abstract: A pair of form keys and a method for forming reverse drafts in foam parts are disclosed. A male form key is reciprocally mounted in a first mold half in a retracted position. A female form key is rotatably mounted in a second mold half in a neutral position. The first mold half includes a first drive pin that when engaged, moves the male form key into engagement with a foam sheet to form an undercut as the first and second mold halves are closed. The first mold half also includes a second drive pin that engages the female form key as the first and second mold halves close rotating the female form key into engagement with the foam sheet and the male form key. After closure of the mold and the product is formed, the mold is opened. As this occurs, the drive pins are disengaged and the male form key retracts and the female form key rotates to their neutral positions. The formed product may then be stripped from the mold while maintaining the reverse draft or undercut.

Abstract: The machine of the present invention is a means 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 of the present invention 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: An improved porous mold for fabricating a formed mold pulp structure to protectively support at least one roll of web material. The mold has a forming surface that contains a first molding cavity surrounded by a periphery. The molding container has sidewalls extending from at least a portion of the periphery into the molding cavity. Within the molding cavity is at least one generally semi-cylindrical hump and land formation areas positioned adjacent the hump and one land formation areas at an end of the hump. A first mold forming surface on the hump is smooth and dished longitudinally such that a transverse cross-section of the first mold forming surface across the hump in the molding cavity is generally concave between the respective sidewalls. The first molding cavity also has a chamfered portion between the hump and an adjacent sidewall and the first molding cavity can have a plurality of humps separated by land formation areas.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a composite forming/curing fixture for fabricating beam members which have a web, at least one outer flange extending from the web and a first web inner radius formed between the web and the outer flange. The fixture is used for forming and curing beam members having a variety of cross-sectional configurations with variable web sizes, flange sizes and first web inner radii. The fixture is provided with a mandrel having opposing first and second mandrel surfaces. The mandrel has first and second positions which facilitate the formation of the various beam sizing and configurations. The fixture is further provided with a web forming space which is adjacent the mandrel for forming the web of the beam member therein. The fixture is further provided with a first and second outer flange forming spaces adjacent the mandrel.

Abstract: There Is provided: (1) a thermoforming mold having a surface roughness (Ra) of not more than 0.

Abstract: A caul is used in an autoclave process for consolidating a composite, multi-ply, gas turbine fan blade preform having first and second opposite sides and a varying thickness therebetween. The caul includes a body having fibers situated in a matrix. The caul is complementary in shape to the preform first side and has a bending flexibility varying over the body for correspondingly varying consolidation of the preform. The second side of the preform is shaped by a bottom mold in the autoclave chamber.

Abstract: A stamping die includes a substrate stamping surface comprising a base matrix of open structure having a coating of elastomeric material applied thereon. The resulting surface is a composite comprising predominantly elastomer having matrix protruding through the elastomer in places.

Abstract: Provided is a resin guiding device for an inflation molding apparatus, which guides a molten resin extruded and blown into a tubular resin from an inflation molding die, to a pair of take-up rolls, wherein said resin guiding device comprises a pair of guiding members placed between said inflation molding die and said pair of take-up rolls, and said guiding members respectively have curved contact faces which are in contact with the tubular resin where said curved contact faces are mutually outward curved, and each of said curved contact faces has a shape corresponding to a rein shape so as to fold the tubular resin into a flat shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a matrix for the production of a package trough having at least one undercut, consisting of a bottom part, side parts oriented transversely and side parts oriented parallel to the direction of package trough feed, wherein at least one side part oriented parallel to the direction of feed serves as a mold for the undercut, and wherein said side part is fixed in its spatial position in relation to the machine frame whereas the other parts of the matrix can be displaced vertically downwards.

Abstract: A pizza rice molding apparatus enhances the efficiency of molding a pizza rice having a substantially true circular disc-like shape and a highly valuable quality. The apparatus comprises a feed conveyer belt which can be longitudinally moved back and forth, for intermittently feeding a square planar rice food which has been compressed and fed onto the belt conveyer, a molding frame composed of a pair of molding dies which are curved outward symmetrically, and which are arranged so as to be openable and closable in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the feed conveyer belt, and an opening and closing mechanism and an elevating mechanism for the pair of molding dies, wherein the pair of molding dies have parts which correspond to side parts of a square planar rice food and which are formed into arcuate side molding parts, and parts which correspond to corner parts thereof, and which are formed into corner molding parts which are convex inward from the arcuate side molding parts.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing thermoplastic tubes from hollow thermoplastic sleeves by a variety of different manufacturing processes. The machine used in the method is a single apparatus having an indexing device with a plurality of mandrels for holding hollow thermoplastic sleeves for the purpose of transporting the same around a closed manufacturing path. The method involves advancing sleeves around the closed manufacturing path to form tubes from the sleeves.

Abstract: An apparatus for conferring a cup shape to the terminal junction segment of pipes that are bi-axially oriented longitudinally and circumferentially and hence very sensitive to diameter and length reduction through heat. The apparatus includes a furnace which heats the segment to a differentiated temperature, increasing towards the end of the segment such that the inner diameter of the terminal segment progressively drops down to a controlled value as temperature increases (whilst length is simultaneously reduced, with a corresponding increase in thickness of the wall of the terminal segment). Preferably then, in an appropriate station, an additional heating is executed to a plastic deformation temperature suited to obtain a correct preliminary dilation of the terminal segment upon introducing a rigid element which acts as inner contrast, thereby inhibiting any retraction thereof.

Abstract: A bending table upon which lengths of plastics material rendered flexible by heating, may be set to determine a desired curvature thereof, particularly for producing arched UPVC window and door frames, the table including an unslotted ferro-magnetic top (1) and a plurality of bobbins (3) each mounted at the end of a radially extending arm (6,7) the arms being mounted upon independently rotatable spindle members (4) such that the angles subtended by each adjacent arms (6,7) is adjustable and wherein the spindles (4) are themselves may be positioned selectively along a locating strip (16) fixed to the table top. Further arms (17) are adjustable along the strip (16) and extend transversely across the table top to support one or more fences (18). The table enables an arched profile (32) having, if required, straight sections, to be produced to any desired shape, and the magnetically attractive bobbins (3) retain the positions of the arms but can be readily adjusted to suit any desired profile.

Abstract: An assemblage for bonding the skin of an airfoil to the core of the airfoil includes a hybrid caul plate assembly for covering the surface of the airfoil assembly which is exposed to bonding pressure. The hybrid caul plate includes a central elastomeric component and peripheral semi-rigid metal components. The semi-rigid metal components are formed from a steel sinusoidal mesh and are axially elongated. The mesh is flexible in the direction of elongation, but are rigid in the transverse direction. The peripheral semi-rigid caul componnents will thus closely conform to the contours of the core in the axial direction, and will, at the same time, provide support for the edges of the core so that the core edges will not be crushed or deformed by bonding pressure applied to the assemblage during the skin-to-core bonding process. The result of using the hybrid caul plate assembly is an improved skin-to-core bond wherein bridging or voids in the bond line at the periphery of the airfoil are avoided.

Abstract: A continuous thermoplastic wire is heated and fed into a coil forming apparatus having a rotative drum holding an injection nozzle so that it registers with and be linked in a common rotative movement to a threaded mandrel also supported by the drum. The wire discharged by the nozzle slidably engages the threads of the mandrel into a helical pattern, the mandrel being radially and coaxially surrounded by a cooled sleeve. The wire will thus solidify along the helical thread of the mandrel, to form a continuous plastic coil being discharged at the downstream extremity of the mandrel and sleeve assembly. Due to the fact that the drum, mandrel and nozzle all rotate in a common rotative movement, it is possible to select the direction and speed of rotation of the three last-mentioned elements so that the coil being discharged have an ouput discharge translational speed, while being exempt of any absolute rotational movement about its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of heat-setting garments by boarding the garment and subjecting it to preselected temperatures that are different for different parts of the garment and an apparatus for carrying out this method are provided.

Abstract: A method of diametrally expanding an elastic tube (6), which includes the steps of inserting a distal end portion of a expansion member (1) into an elastic tube (6), the expansion member (1) being provided at least at a surface thereof with a solidified layer of a low melting point material, and the distal end portion (4) of the expansion member (1) being tapered, a tip end of which having a diameter which is equal to or smaller than an inner diameter of the elastic tube (6), and moving the elastic tube (6) over the solidified layer to diametrally expand the elastic tube (6), the surface of the solidified layer being made into a low frictional surface due to a melting of the low melting point material.

Abstract: A mold is disclosed for forming a freezable and thawable bag of uniform thickness, especially useful for cryopreservation of thermolabile substances. The mold features one or more recessed planar surfaces, including radiused peripheral walls about the recesses, a planar top surface, and means for conforming a blank sheet to the mold. Two mold halves combine to form a completed bag. The mold halves may be complimentary.

Abstract: A headed thermoplastic tube is formed solely from a thermoplastic extruded, stretched, sleeve by positioning the sleeve over a forming mandrel so the sleeve has an exposed portion. While rotating the forming mandrel which holds the sleeve, the inner surface of the exposed portion of the sleeve is heated above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic material to render the inner surface molten while the outer surface provides support for the exposed portion of the sleeve. The heated exposed portion is then shaped into a conical shape, such as by heating the outer surface, the rotation of the mandrel is stopped and pressure applied to the conical shaped exposed portion to form a headed thermoplastic tube. The headed tubes produced have a body portion, shoulder portion and neck portion, without any seams, all of which are formed from the starting thermoplastic extruded, stretched sleeve.

Abstract: A headed thermoplastic tube having a closure member is formed solely from a thermoplastic extruded, stretched sleeve by positioning the sleeve over a forming mandrel with an exposed portion and heating the exposed portion. The heated exposed portion is shaped into a head in a single step by contacting the exposed portion with a closure means which is later retained on the head after initial contact. The internal cavity of the closure means, which may have threads or grooves formed in the internal cavity, is made of an incompatible material to facilitate the forming of a head in said cavity. The closure means may also have tamper evident features.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus in which decorative ribbons of varying thickness, width, and material can be automatically curled. The apparatus serves to impart a tendency to curl the strand in a helical formation by drawing the ribbon in a helical path around a curling tube. The tube is divided into two parts, so that the first part heats the ribbon while in a helical configuration and the second part cools the ribbon while still in the helical configuration, thereby setting into the ribbon material a tendency to curl. The helical path on the tube is defined between convolutions of a helically-wound fin on the exterior of the tube. The tube is hollow and has apertures opening into the helical path, so that temperature-controlled air may be blown into the two parts of the path through the hollow interior of the tube.

Abstract: A mold for shaping a skin sheet has a three-dimensional body including a top surface and side surfaces that work as a shaping surface, respectively. The top surface and the side surfaces have a plurality of small holes communicating with a suction unit for drawing the skin sheet thereon by suction force generated by the suction unit. Each of the side surfaces has a product portion and a non-product portion parted at a trimming line, the portions corresponding to those of the skin sheet that are used as a product and not used as the product, respectively. The body has a plurality of guidance plates, each projecting outside at an edge line of the body. An upper edge of each of the guidance plates forms a ridge line in a shape of a wave. The ridge line descends from a position in the vicinity of an intersection point of the edge line and the trimming line to a direction of the bottom of the body so as to form a valley and thereafter ascends to an opposite direction so as to form a mountain.

Abstract: An improved pipe belling process is shown which features a mandrel having spring loaded detents at one circumferential position on an outer working surface. A gasket is installed on the outer working surface in abutment with the exposed detents. The heated socket end of a thermoplastic pipe is forced over the mandrel exterior and over the gasket with the detents in an extended position. This action causes the heated socket end of the pipe to flow over the gasket and form a retention groove for retaining the gasket before again contacting the working surface of the mandrel. The heated end of the pipe is cooled and retracted from the working surface of the mandrel. The retraction step serves to force the spring loaded detents to the retracted position to allow travel of the thermoplastic pipe over the working surface of the mandrel with the gasket being retained within the formed groove.

Abstract: A tooling concept uses a compliant forming surface for forming composite parts. The tooling concept utilizes a rigid support substructure that has a thin compliant forming surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tooling concept is used to form a composite sine wave spar. A preferred embodiment of the tooling concept includes upper and lower tool inserts and side tool inserts. The upper tool insert has a compliant forming surface that is located in between a rigid support substructure and the composite material used to form the composite part. Composite prepreg is laid up over a sine wave contour on the upper and lower tool inserts to form upper and lower U-shaped composite workpieces. The upper and lower tool inserts and workpieces are then brought together to form a sine wave I-beam. Radius fillers are then applied to the intersections between the upper and lower composite workpieces and cap strips are placed over the flanges of the joined composite workpieces.

Abstract: A machine for pressing and forming food products has a die including an inner die plate surrounded by an outer die ring. The inner die plate is axially movable relative the outer die ring, between an extended state and a compressed state. A circumferential flexible seal connects the inner die to the outer die ring. During operation, when the inner die moves from the extended state to the compressed state, the seal creates a groove for the formation of a ridge, or crust of pizza dough. The die is more easily manufactured, has a longer useful life, improves the reliability of the machine, and allows for making rising crust pizzas.

Abstract: Sequential pieces of bakery dough are floured using a moving belt positioned beneath an elongated flour dispensing mechanism. The belt runs through a stationary guide that transiently forms the belt into a tubular enclosure which embraces the dough pieces, thereby producing a more complete flour coating on the pieces.

Abstract: The forming surface of a forming mold (5) for postforming of a shaped cord (2) in the shape of a frame extruded onto a glass (1) is slightly curved in the direction of the length of shaped cord (2). In the final position of forming mold (4) during the postforming operation, lateral edges (11, 12) are thus slightly above the surface of shaped cord (2). This avoids the creation of imprints in the form of lines or edges on the shaped cord, and a smooth transition is achieved between the postformed length of the shaped cord that attaches there.

Abstract: A mandrel of a high frequency heating type, comprising a conductive layer comprising a metal member having an aspect ratio of at least 100, in a proportion of at least 60% by volume, and a surface layer formed thereon which is made from an organic polymer, and a method for producing a rubber hose using the mandrel. Inasmuch as the inventive mandrel enables heating the curable rubber extruded on the mandrel, from the inner surface side thereof, the curing time of the rubber can be drastically reduced. Moreover, since the surface layer of the mandrel is composed of an organic polymer, the mandrel can be easily pulled out from the cured rubber layer. The production method of the present invention is free of the difficulty in heating the inside of the rubber layer. The concurrent application of external heating has accomplished continuous production of rubber hose.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a screen useful for forming three-dimensional films, the screens and the three-dimensional films produced using those screens are disclosed. In forming a screen, a substrate material is applied to a base. A predetermined amount of portions of the substrate are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the substrate. A screen material is applied to the patterned substrate material. A predetermined amount of portions of the screen material are removed to form a predetermined pattern in the screen material. The predetermined pattern in the screen defines a plurality of first perforations in the screen material. The substrate material is removed from the screen material, such that second perforations are formed in the screen, whereby each first perforation is in communication with an adjacent second perforation.

Abstract: The invention utilizes forced air heating in which heated air is fed through tubes to a mold or form shaped substantially like a human foot. The mold or form has apertures or holes which are patterned to provide heat to the insole and/or tongue, heel, counter, midfoot, arch, and toe box. The size of the holes can vary in size as can the quantity depending upon how much heat is needed by a specific area. Panels may be provided in the mold or form to regulate the amount of air flow to a given area. Where insoles are the main item being formed, the insole must be beveled before it is molded because the material has a tendency to expand to its original thickness upon heating. Beveling the edges of the insole before it is premolded prevents the insole from expanding around the edges when the insole is molded to a person's foot.

Abstract: A tube reforming apparatus provides efficient mass production of reformed tube end portions. In a preferred embodiment, a tube reforming apparatus has a loading station, two heating stations, a forming station, and an unloading station. The loading station permits rapid loading of a series of laterally spaced apart tubes into clamping fixtures, and accurately meters a downwardly extending end portion of each tube. The heating stations permit accurate and evenly distributed heat to be applied to the end portions to make them pliable. The forming station reforms the end portions between a mating die pair, while compensating for any volume variation in the end portions. The unloading station automatically unloads the tubes from the clamping fixtures. Automation features of the apparatus permit these operations to be efficiently accomplished.

Abstract: A footwear fitting system employs a set of sample footwear items, e.g., shoes, provided in small increments of length and width. The sample shoes are tried on by the wearer and the one providing the best fit is chosen. Then, a fit component of a stock shoe is re-formed with a molding apparatus to provide a size and width identical to the selected sample shoe. A shoe store need only stock a relatively small number of standard size shoes in order to provide the wearer with a close "custom" fit. The footwear interior is re-formed by mounting the footwear on a last having a length and width corresponding to that of the selected sample shoe. The last is heated to the softening temperature of a moldable strip of material, e.g., ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), incorporated into the shoe upper, then allowed to cool, whereby the footwear interior shape and size is reformed to correspond to the last. In an alternative embodiment, the footwear item is a shoe insert, e.g., a shoe insole.

Abstract: A heat staking apparatus includes a workpiece support and a moveable support plate having a planar surface spaced from the workpiece support. A plurality of extensible components are supported on the support plate by holders that slideably engage the planar surface in a manner allowing horizontal adjustment in an infinite number of directions within a given area on the plane. The extensible components include staking tools configured to heat stake a workpiece located on the workpiece support. The hot staking apparatus further includes a plurality of adjustable hot air heater assemblies, one for each extensible cylinder. Each hot air assembly includes a holder adjustably secured to the support plate. The holder includes opposing members, one of which is spring-loaded for removably releasably engaging and holding the respective hot air heater assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mandrel for manufacturing a part made from a composite material according to the filament winding technique.The mandrel includes a composite material layer whose threads are wound circumferentially round a metallic casing.The overall thermal expansion of the mandrel according to the invention is close to the expansion of the reinforcing fibers of the parts manufactured on the mandrel.The invention further relates to a use of the mandrel for manufacturing curved elongated profiles.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a model includes the steps of stacking successive layers of aluminium honeycomb core to a desired height to form a block, machining the block to within a desired tolerance of the desired final contour, applying a layer of modeling material such as syntactic epoxy to the outer surface of the block, and machining the layer of modeling material to the desired contour. The result is a model from which a mold or composite parts can be fabricated, using high temperature and pressure processes if desired.

Abstract: A method of producing pretzels which are shaped from straight lengths of dough (S) of essentially circular cross-section which have been cut to length. A length of dough (S) is introduced into a shaping device so that it lies partly on a first surface at a first level and partly on a second surface at the same level. The two surfaces are subsequently rotated with respect to each other and one is then folded over on to the other. In addition, the length of dough (S) is guided in a clearly defined way from the moment it is delivered to the shaping device by a feed device to the time the shaped pretzel is deposited on a suitable surface. The shaping device is designed to enable a large number of very uniformly shaped pretzels to be produced within a short time.

Abstract: A plate for press-moulding dies of refractory bricks and the like, including a bearing metal slab to one face of which a lining of high wear-resistant material, normally hard metal, is applied, which is formed by a number of adjacent tiles arranged in an orderly way along parallel lines. The adjoining sides between adjacent tiles are at least in part curved.

Abstract: A pressure plate facing fabric is secured to the pressure plate of a bagel forming machine. The fabric is positioned to form an acute angle with the circulating belt of the machine to avoid build-up of dough at the feed-in end of the machine.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the processing of a continuous blown film undergoing collapsing in which a plurality of differential elements of the film follow respective streamline paths which are approximately equal in length to the path of the longest streamline thereby substantially equalizing circumferentially varying shape change induced machine direction stresses and reducing the residence time variations within higher thermal energy regions so as to significantly minimize the commonly rather large magnitudes of variations of gauge, energy to break and machine direction lengths of the solidified material. The method and apparatus provide the potential to structure more uniformly the macromolecular arrangements existing within the material and allow the blown film extrusion of higher modulus materials than have heretofore been possible.

Abstract: There is provided a stamper for producing a recording medium exhibiting excellent durability and capable of stably forming projections and pits and a method of producing the stamper. A stamper for producing a recording medium comprising projections and pits in a predetermined pattern on the surface thereof, wherein a value of tan .theta..sup.-1 obtainable from an enlargement angle .theta. of an output from a cartridge with respect to an enlargement of an output denoting a load measured by a test of scratching the surface having the projections and pits under conditions that a diameter of a stylus is 100 .mu.m and a loading speed of 1 .mu.m/second is 1.3 or more.

Abstract: A method of forming a nickel shell for a mold insert to reproduce an article surface, and a novel nickel shell insert are disclosed. The method comprises securing the article to be reproduced to a base having a perimeter, forming a dam about the perimeter, filling the interior of the dam with a silicone, mounting a register plate over the article within the dam in contact with the silicone, and allowing the silicone to cure whereby the silicone forms a negative master of the article surface, removing the negative master from the article and positioning a steel mandrel over the negative master to define a cavity therebetween, feeding a silicone which is not adherent to the negative master into said cavity to fill the cavity and allowing the silicone to cure whereby the silicone forms a positive master which adheres to the steel mandrel, removing the negative master from the positive master, and depositing a layer of nickel by nickel vapour deposition onto the positive master to form a nickel shell.

Abstract: A mechanism for forming a distal face of a fiber-optic core uses a motor to drive a lifter which has an upper protrusion and a lower protrusion. A first seat having a fiber-optic core-securing clamp provided thereon and a second seat having a heater are forced to move upward and downward, respectively, by the upper protrusion and the lower protrusion until the heater and core engage a mirror plate with a plurality of recesses provided therein. By virtue of moving the first seat and the second seat with the lifter, the heater heats the mirror plate and, after the first seat descends and engages the core with the mirror plate, a distal face of the fiber-optic core is formed as a male equivalent of the recesses of the mirror plate.

Abstract: A footwear fitting system employs a set of sample footwear items, e.g., shoes, provided in small increments of length and width. The sample shoes are tried on by the wearer and the one providing the best fit is chosen. Then, a fit component of a stock shoe is re-formed with a molding apparatus to provide a size and width identical to the selected sample shoe. A shoe store need only stock a relatively small number of standard size shoes in order to provide the wearer with a close "custom" fit. The footwear interior is re-formed by mounting the footwear on a last having a length and width corresponding to that of the selected sample shoe. The last is heated to the softening temperature of a moldable strip of material, e.g., ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), incorporated into the shoe upper, then allowed to cool, whereby the footwear interior shape and size is reformed to correspond to the last. In an alternative embodiment, the footwear item is a shoe insert, e.g., a shoe insole.

Abstract: A tooling concept having a compliant forming surface for forming composite parts. The tooling concept utilizes a rigid support substructure that has a thin compliant forming surface. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the tooling concept is used to form a composite sine wave spar. A preferred embodiment of the tooling concept includes upper and lower tool inserts and side tool inserts. The upper tool insert has a compliant forming surface that is located in between a rigid support substructure and the composite material used to form the composite part. Composite prepreg is laid up over a sine wave contour on the upper and lower tool inserts to form upper and lower U-shaped composite workpieces. The upper and lower tool inserts and workpieces are then brought together to form a sine wave I-beam. Radius fillers are then applied to the intersections between the upper and lower composite workpieces and cap strips are placed over the flanges of the joined composite workpieces.

Abstract: A press working machine includes base members having concave portions, slider members arranged in the concave portions, link arms attached to first ends of the slider members respectively, and cylinders attached to the arms, for bending and extending the same. Furthermore, press members having curved mold-facing surfaces are arranged on the slider members. Molds having deformable structures are arranged on the press members. A workpiece is inserted between the molds, to be press-worked. The slider members are actuatable to press the press members against the molds, so as to deform the molds into different mold shapes. Thus, it is possible to press-mold workpieces into a plurality of shapes with a single mold assembly, thereby reducing the cost for manufacturing the mold assembly, omitting an operation of exchanging the mold assembly, and reducing the manufacturing cost.

Abstract: A heating mechanism for zipper forming machines includes a mold base, a support seat, a seat cover, a screw sleeve and a heating element. The support seat has a clearance at a central portion and a heat insulation pad is fitted into the clearance for dividing the support seat into a heating area and a cooling area. The heating element is disposed in the heating area and a cooling element is disposed at the cooling area for enhancing heat energy efficiencies and reducing noise.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing highly-oriented polyester sheet comprises a two-stage drawing process. The first drawing stage is performed within a zero-gap milling and stretching roller assembly comprising a pair of opposed rollers defining a nip therebetween and wherein the rollers are rotated in opposite directions at different lineal surface velocities such that a predetermined draw ratio is defined therebetween. Amorphous polyester sheet is conducted through the nip of the opposed rollers, and as a result of the simultaneous milling and stretching of the polyester sheet, the amorphous polyester is transformed into crystalline polyester as a result of orientation-induced crystallization. The crystalline polyester sheet is heated above the glass transition temperature (T.sub.g) immediately downstream of the nip defined between the pair of opposed rollers, and an exit bridle assembly is disposed downstream of the pair of opposed rollers.

Abstract: A vinyl ester resin/filler composite is disclosed which has a glass transition temperature of at least 315.degree. C. when cured. One version of the composite includes tabular alumina as a filler. Another version of the composite includes a powdered base nickel alloy as a filler. The composite is especially advantageous when used to build tools for use in plastic molding machines and processes.