A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

A method of forming a vacuum insulated structure includes providing a structural envelope an insulating cavity defined within the structural envelope. An expanding device is attached to opposing outer walls of the structural envelope and the interior cavity is expanded by pulling the opposing outer walls away from one another to define an expanded state. An insulating material is disposed within the insulating cavity to occupy substantially all of the insulating cavity in the expanded state. Gas is expressed from the insulating cavity to collapse the structural envelope to a final state and a final interior volume that is less than the expanded interior volume. The final state of the structural envelope defines a densified state of the insulating material within the insulating cavity. The vacuum port is then closed to hermetically seal the insulating cavity.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. A liner sheet may be attached to the feedstock sheet prior to, during, or after forming and can be peelable therefrom.

A press forming method for continuous fiber composite sheets including the following steps is provided. Firstly, a plurality of continuous fiber composite sheets are provided. Then, the continuous fiber composite sheets are heated. Then, a mold having a plurality of cavities is provided. After that, the continuous fiber composite sheets are respectively placed into the cavities, and the continuous fiber composite sheets are molded respectively. A press forming apparatus for continuous fiber composite sheet is also provided.

Methods to produce thermoformed implants comprising poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer, copolymer, or blend thereof, including surgical meshes, have been developed. These thermoforms are preferably produced from porous substrates of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer or copolymer thereof, such as surgical meshes, by vacuum membrane thermoforming. The porous thermoformed implant is formed by placing a porous substrate of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate homopolymer or copolymer thereof over a mold, covering the substrate and mold with a membrane, applying a vacuum to the membrane so that the membrane and substrate are drawn down on the mold and tension is applied to the substrate, and heating the substrate while it is under tension to form the thermoform. The method is particularly useful in forming medical implants of poly-4-hydroxybutyrate and copolymers thereof, including hernia meshes, mastopexy devices, breast reconstruction devices, and implants for plastic surgery, without exposing the resorbable implants to water and without shrinking the porous substrate during molding.

Provided is a duct that does not cause defective molding and has a highly sound absorption inner surface which can effectively suppress noise. A duct includes a tubular duct main body and a sound absorption member disposed on the inner surface of the duct main body. The duct has at least one of configurations (1) to (3): (1) the duct main body has a sandwiching part having a pair of opposite wall surfaces, and a side edge of the sound absorption member is sandwiched between the wall surfaces of the sandwiching part; (2) the sound absorption member is pasted to the inner surface of the duct main body with a resin film therebetween; and (3) the sound absorption member and duct main body have parts which are not fused to each other.

A mold has a sealing surface bearing a sealing profile. A plenum has a sealing surface bearing a sealing profile. The mold and plenum together form an apparatus for reforming a sheet material. In the closed position of the apparatus, the sealing profile of the mold is in opposing relation to the sealing profile of the plenum and the sealing profiles of the mold and plenum together define a profiled sealing gap. When the sheet material is wedged into the profiled sealing gap, a direct seal will be formed between the sheet material and each of the mold and plenum, resulting in two forming areas within the apparatus.

An apparatus and method for manufacturing a container with a closure-release mechanism. The process in particular relates to thermoforming a plastic sheet to form a container with a clam shell locking system in order to facilitate a secure closure and easy opening packaging container. The clam shell locking arrangement comprises a post which is secured in an aperture when the container is in closed state. The post is a projection or protrusion in a vertical or nearly vertical sidewall of the cover of the thermoformed package and fits securely into the aperture, which is a cut-out made in the outer, and optionally also the inner, wall segments of the vertical or nearly vertical surfaces of the base section of the thermoplastic containers.

A method for printing on a multi-dimensional object may include creating a customized object holder for the multi-dimensional object via thermoforming. The customized object holder includes at least one datum point for providing registration information corresponding to one or more printable areas of the multi-dimensional object. The method may then include mounting the multi-dimensional object on the customized object holder, attaching the customized object holder to a moving sled of a print system, and controlling the movement of the moving sled relative to a plurality of print heads, and operating the plurality of print heads to eject marking material onto the multi-dimensional object. The movement of the moving sled may be controlled by determining a position of at least one printable area on the multi-dimensional object, and using the determined position to control the movement of the moving sled relative to the plurality of print heads.

A disposable container for the mass-rearing of insects can include a first layer, a mixture, and a second layer. The first layer can be molded to form a cavity and define an opening to allow the mixture to be positioned in the cavity. A quantity of the mixture can be positioned in the cavity and comprise insect larvae and food for the insect larvae. The second layer can be positioned over the opening and coupled to the first layer to seal the opening. The first layer or the second layer can include a disposable material and the second layer can couple to the first layer to form a disposable container.