An example of a method of manufacturing a component from a composite prepreg includes collecting a specimen from the composite prepreg and quantifying an amount of surface resin of the specimen by submerging the specimen in a container containing a fluid to determine a fluid pickup percentage. Responsive to a determination that the fluid pickup percentage exceeds a predefined threshold value, forming a component from the composite prepreg.

A reinforced preform includes a sheet of reinforced material having opposed first and second edges, with each edge having a respective first connection point located therealong. The preform also includes first and second tethers, with each tether being attached at a respective first end thereof to a respective one of the first connection points and having a respective second end thereof terminating in at least one of: a respective loop tied at the respective second end, a respective knot tied at the respective second end, a respective graspable member to which the respective second end is connected, and an attachment to a respective second connection point located along a perimeter of the sheet. A method and mold for molding a reinforced preform are also disclosed.

A reinforced preform includes a sheet of reinforced material having opposed first and second edges, with each edge having a respective first connection point located therealong. The preform also includes first and second tethers, with each tether being attached at a respective first end thereof to a respective one of the first connection points and having a respective second end thereof terminating in at least one of: a respective loop tied at the respective second end, a respective knot tied at the respective second end, a respective graspable member to which the respective second end is connected, and an attachment to a respective second connection point located along a perimeter of the sheet. A method and mold for molding a reinforced preform are also disclosed.

A container sealing machine comprising: a rotary turret having a plurality of sealing heads arranged to rotate about an axis of the rotary turret, each sealing head comprising: an inductive heater arranged to inductively heat a foil closure of a container, and a sealing surface arranged to exert pressure on the closure, and a plurality of gripper assemblies arranged to rotate about the axis of the rotary turret, each gripper assembly being arranged for engaging a neck of a container; a bottle and a closure for use in such a machine; and a machine and method for manufacturing such a closure.

The invention concerns a machine for manufacturing plastic items comprising, in series, along the manufacturing line: a rotatable roll (1) of plastic material in the form of at least one strip; a shaper (4) for forming tubes from said strips and means (5) for longitudinally welding said tubes; means (6) for cutting the tubes transversely, arranged so as to form tube sections (10); means for transferring and depositing said sections in holding and moving means; an oven (8) in which said tube sections move; a first turret (9) supporting moulds; means for processing the tube sections in the first turret; means for blowing a pressurised fluid into the moulds; a second turret (14) for discharging the bottles from said moulds.

A reinforced preform includes a sheet of reinforced material having opposed first and second edges, with each edge having a respective first connection point located therealong. The preform also includes first and second tethers, with each tether being attached at a respective first end thereof to a respective one of the first connection points and having a respective second end thereof terminating in at least one of: a respective loop tied at the respective second end, a respective knot tied at the respective second end, a respective graspable member to which the respective second end is connected, and an attachment to a respective second connection point located along a perimeter of the sheet. A method and mold for molding a reinforced preform are also disclosed.

To provide a prepreg excellent in storage stability and capable of obtaining a fiber-reinforced molded product excellent in impact resistance, and a method for its production, as well as a fiber-reinforced molded product excellent in impact resistance. The prepreg comprises reinforcing fibers and a matrix resin, wherein the matrix resin comprises a thermoplastic resin (but excluding the following fluororesin) and a melt-formable fluororesin having a melting point of from 100 to 325 C. and having functional groups of at least one type selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group-containing groups, hydroxy groups, epoxy groups and isocyanate groups, and in 100 mass % of the total of the thermoplastic resin and the fluororesin, the proportion of the thermoplastic resin is from more than 30 to 99 mass % and the proportion of the fluororesin is from 1 to less than 70 mass %.

To provide a prepreg excellent in storage stability and capable of obtaining a fiber-reinforced molded product excellent in impact resistance, and a method for its production, as well as a fiber-reinforced molded product excellent in impact resistance. The prepreg comprises reinforcing fibers and a matrix resin, wherein the matrix resin comprises a thermoplastic resin (but excluding the following fluororesin) and a melt-formable fluororesin having a melting point of from 100 to 325 C. and having functional groups of at least one type selected from the group consisting of carbonyl group-containing groups, hydroxy groups, epoxy groups and isocyanate groups, and in 100 mass % of the total of the thermoplastic resin and the fluororesin, the proportion of the thermoplastic resin is from more than 30 to 99 mass % and the proportion of the fluororesin is from 1 to less than 70 mass %.

A method of forming an insulated structure for an appliance includes forming a structural enclosure having an outer wrapper and an inner liner and an insulating cavity defined therebetween, forming an insulating powder material, compacting the insulating powder material to form a pre-densified core material, disposing the pre-densified core material within an insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner and expressing at least a portion of the gas contained within the insulating cavity, wherein the insulating cavity is hermetically sealed to define a vacuum insulated structure.

A molding method for a composite sheet used for manufacturing a thermosetting resin prepreg sheet in which a thermosetting resin material is impregnated into a fiber sheet includes: bringing a resin transfer sheet in which the thermosetting resin material of a predetermined thickness is carried on one surface of a transfer sheet into contact with one surface of the fiber sheet to be stacked on the fiber sheet. The resin transfer sheet and the fiber sheet in the stacked state are subjected to a heating treatment or heating and pressurizing treatment. The resin transfer sheet and the fiber sheet in the heated and stacked state is subjected to a cooling treatment or cooling and pressurizing treatment so that the thermosetting resin material is transferred to the fiber sheet and the thermosetting resin material is made to adhere to one surface side of the fiber sheet.