A mold conveyance roller unit includes: a rotatable roller main body on which a mold is to be placed; a roller support member that rotatably supports the roller main body; a base member to which the roller support member is attached together with the roller main body in a manner capable of vertical motion; and a resilient member that is fitted between the base member and the roller support member to elastically press the roller support member toward above the base member.

A method of forming an electrospun prosthetic valve includes utilizing a rotatable and angularly adjustable prosthetic valve mold. The prosthetic valve mold is set to a first angle. The prosthetic valve mold is rotated at a first rotational velocity and a first layer of electrospun fibers is deposited on the prosthetic valve mold. The prosthetic valve mold is stopped and a frame is positioned over the first layer. The prosthetic valve mold is set to a second angle. The prosthetic valve mold is rotated at a second velocity and a second layer of electrospun fibers is deposited on an outer surface of the first layer and an outer surface of the frame.

The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a plurality of wind turbine blades. The method comprises first, second and third stationary moulds (64a, 64b, 64c), moulding respective first upper and lower shell halves (74a, 76a), removing and turning the first upper shell half (74a), and positioning and bonding it on the first lower shell half (76a) to form a closed wind turbine blade shell. This is repeated for continuously manufacturing a plurality of wind turbine blades.

The disclosure relates to method and system for managing production of molded polymer or polyurethane products. In the various embodiments, a plurality of autonomous mobile platforms (AMPs) are interchangeably engageable with mold-carrying trolleys to provide self-propelled trolleys. Each self-propelled trolley is advanced through production station(s) and curing station to complete a production cycle. Between production cycles, the trolley may be diverted away for non-production task, e.g. mold replacement, without delaying subsequent or other trolleys. During curing, an AMP may be disengaged from a trolley and redeployed to other trolleys.

A system for the continuous extrusion, molding, and curing of tread rubber is provided. A plurality of discrete mold sectors are arranged adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis between an in-feed and an out-feed of a mold sector transport mechanism that extends through a heated press. As the mold sectors are continuously advanced along a process direction in steps, rubber material is extruded and placed onto at least one of the mold sectors near the in-feed end such that an elongated strip of rubber material extends over multiple mold sectors along the longitudinal axis. As the strip of rubber material exits the press, the mold sectors are sequentially removed from the rubber material and returned to the in-feed. An extruder outlet positioned near the in-feed can be moved towards or away from the mold sectors to supply rubber material and prevent backflow.

A device for turning over molds is provided that can reduce the wear of turning over wheels and supporting rollers even when the speed for transporting a flask or the speed for turning it over increases. A pair of turning over wheels (5) are attached to respective sides of a turning over roller conveyor (4), on which a metal flask (3) is mounted. The outer surfaces of the wheels are supported by respective pairs of supporting rollers (6). A driving roller (9) is provided on one or both of the wheels. The supporting rollers are flangeless. Two pairs of side rollers (10) abut the side surfaces of the wheels so as to prevent them from moving in the direction in which the flask is transported. The side rollers are preferably configured so that their surfaces that contact the wheels are formed as arcs.

A device for turning over molds is provided that can reduce the wear of turning over wheels and supporting rollers even when the speed for transporting a flask or the speed for turning it over increases. A pair of turning over wheels (5) are attached to respective sides of a turning over roller conveyor (4), on which a metal flask (3) is mounted. The outer surfaces of the wheels are supported by respective pairs of supporting rollers (6). A driving roller (9) is provided on one or both of the wheels. The supporting rollers are flangeless. Two pairs of side rollers (10) abut the side surfaces of the wheels so as to prevent them from moving in the direction in which the flask is transported. The side rollers are preferably configured so that their surfaces that contact the wheels are formed as arcs.

A midsole molding apparatus which enables production of a high-quality midsole is provided. The apparatus includes a through hole, which passes laterally through a midsole used for a shoe, to be integrally formed, preventing traces of forming the through hole from being left in the through hole and on the periphery of the through hole and a shaft mold crossing the inner space of upper and lower molds, forming extending portions such that the ends of the shaft mold extend beyond the boundary of the inner space, and seating the extending portions in press recesses of the upper and lower molds to seal the insides of the molds so as to prevent raw material from leaking from inside the molds when foaming and forming a midsole, to prevent parting lines and burrs from forming on the inner surface of the through hole passing laterally through the midsole.

A method of moulding (10; 20) and apparatus (108; 208; 308) therefor, in which a workpiece (100) is preheated and/or post-cooled before and/or after a moulding process, allowing optimal use of the tool for high precision moulding operations.

A method and apparatus for curing a composite workpiece to form a part. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise an object, a portable structure, and a heating system. The object may have a shape selected for a part. The portable structure may comprise a retaining structure configured to hold the object. The retaining structure may have a first side and a second side. The heating system may be configured to cover the object at the first side of the retaining structure and the second side of the retaining structure. The heating system may be further configured to generate heat for use in curing a workpiece placed over the object to form the part.