Method and apparatus for air flow regulation comprise a vertically oriented conduit, a sail assembly positioned in the conduit and moveable therewithin responsively to air flow through the conduit to regulate rate of air flow through the conduit and to stop air flow through the conduit upon air flow rate through the conduit exceeding a preselected value with a detector for sensing when the sail assembly has stopped air flow thought the conduit as a result of air flow rate exceeding said pre-selected value.

An additive-manufacturing build-material container comprises a reservoir to hold build material, a build-material outlet structure to allow build material to exit the reservoir through an outlet opening in a top portion of the reservoir, a longitudinal collection unit (313a) to collect build material from the bottom and guide the build material to the outlet opening at the top, and bottom-venting structure to admit vent gas into a bottom portion of the reservoir. The bottom-venting structure may include a vent tube to admit venting gas into the bottom portion of the reservoir. A concentric collection tube structure may be employed including the longitudinal collection tube nested within a vent tube (333A, 354A). The concentric collection tube structure may be mounted along the central axis of the reservoir.

It is provided a charging system for feeding processing material, in particular granular processing material to at least one extruder screw, comprising a hopper that is adapted to guide the processing material along a feed direction to the extruder screw and extends along a hopper axis, which in the properly mounted state of the charging system extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the extruder screw.

In the proposed charging system, the hopper includes a plurality of recesses each extending axially with respect to the hopper axis on a hopper wall extending around the hopper axis.

It is provided a charging system for feeding processing material, in particular granular processing material to at least one extruder screw, comprising a hopper that is adapted to guide the processing material along a feed direction to the extruder screw and extends along a hopper axis, which in the properly mounted state of the charging system extends parallel to a longitudinal axis of the extruder screw.

In the proposed charging system, the hopper includes a plurality of recesses each extending axially with respect to the hopper axis on a hopper wall extending around the hopper axis.

A self-cleaning dosing apparatus includes a material hopper for containing pellets of material, a feed screw, a first material outlet through which pellets of material fall by gravity onto a first end of the feed screw for the feeding of pellets to a process machine. A second material outlet is located beneath the first end of the feed screw, with a slide gate blocking the second material outlet. A pneumatic piston is provided for pulling the slide gate to unblock the second material outlet, and a Venturi pump is located under the second material outlet for pulling pellets through the second material outlet when the slide gate is opened.

A self-cleaning dosing apparatus includes a material hopper for containing pellets of material, a feed screw, a first material outlet through which pellets of material fall by gravity onto a first end of the feed screw for the feeding of pellets to a process machine. A second material outlet is located beneath the first end of the feed screw, with a slide gate blocking the second material outlet. A pneumatic piston is provided for pulling the slide gate to unblock the second material outlet, and a Venturi pump is located under the second material outlet for pulling pellets through the second material outlet when the slide gate is opened.

A tubular molded body that can reduce restrictions on attachment to another member to be easily attached to another member. The tubular molded body 10 includes a tube main body 11 formed in a tubular shape and an attachment flange 100 formed in a flange shape to project from the tube main body 11. The attachment flange 100 includes a thin-walled hinge 130 and is rotatable by the hinge.

A tubular molded body that can reduce restrictions on attachment to another member to be easily attached to another member. The tubular molded body 10 includes a tube main body 11 formed in a tubular shape and an attachment flange 100 formed in a flange shape to project from the tube main body 11. The attachment flange 100 includes a thin-walled hinge 130 and is rotatable by the hinge.

An additive manufacturing build material container (15) comprises a reservoir to hold build material and a build material outlet structure (13).

There is provided a 3D printing build material container. The container comprises a reservoir, a build material outlet structure, and an outer structure disposed around the reservoir. The reservoir is to hold build material. The build material outlet structure is to allow build material to exit the reservoir. The outer structure forms an external surface of the container and includes a recessed portion in the external surface. The recessed portion supports the outlet structure.