A molding die device is provided for bringing a resin sheet into close contact with a pair of dies by vacuum suction from a cavity surface to perform molding. An outer frame portion is formed integrally with an outer peripheral portion of the respective dies arranged to face each other. Moreover, one of the dies has a recessed portion formed at the position of the one of the dies facing the outer frame portion of the other die and configured so that the outer frame portion of the one of the dies can be housed in the recessed portion. The outer frame portion is formed to protrude most in each die. Upon molding, the dies are clamped together after vacuum suction has been performed with the resin sheet being arranged in contact with the outer frame portions.

A molding die device is provided for bringing a resin sheet into close contact with a pair of dies by vacuum suction from a cavity surface to perform molding. An outer frame portion is formed integrally with an outer peripheral portion of the respective dies arranged to face each other. Moreover, one of the dies has a recessed portion formed at the position of the one of the dies facing the outer frame portion of the other die and configured so that the outer frame portion of the one of the dies can be housed in the recessed portion. The outer frame portion is formed to protrude most in each die. Upon molding, the dies are clamped together after vacuum suction has been performed with the resin sheet being arranged in contact with the outer frame portions.

An apparatus and method are provided for forming a pouch case with improved forming quality and minimized surface contact between the forming apparatus and the pouch case in the forming process to form a pouch cup. The apparatus includes a mold on which a pouch case with a plate shape can be placed, wherein the mold bulges upwards, a chamber open at bottom to the pouch case and the mold, the chamber having an inner space in which the mold can be received by lift-up of the mold or lift-down of the chamber, wherein the chamber is seated on an edge portion of the pouch case, and the chamber is equipped with a fluid input valve at top and a fluid output valve at bottom, and a fluid supply unit configured to supply a fluid via the fluid input valve to carry out pressure forming of the pouch case.

An apparatus and method are provided for forming a pouch case with improved forming quality and minimized surface contact between the forming apparatus and the pouch case in the forming process to form a pouch cup. The apparatus includes a mold on which a pouch case with a plate shape can be placed, wherein the mold bulges upwards, a chamber open at bottom to the pouch case and the mold, the chamber having an inner space in which the mold can be received by lift-up of the mold or lift-down of the chamber, wherein the chamber is seated on an edge portion of the pouch case, and the chamber is equipped with a fluid input valve at top and a fluid output valve at bottom, and a fluid supply unit configured to supply a fluid via the fluid input valve to carry out pressure forming of the pouch case.

An armor production tool including a housing having at least two housing portions that form a substantially air-tight chamber when closed. The tool can include a lower thermal diaphragm forming at least a portion of a mold, and an upper thermal diaphragm forming at least a portion of the mold and capable of engaging the lower flexible membrane. The thermal diaphragms may comprise a thermal transfer membrane, a pressure bearing membrane and a fluid dispersion layer between the thermal transfer membrane and the pressure bearing member. A heating or cooling fluid can be circulated through the fluid dispersion layer to apply heat or to cool the armor part during the molding process. The tool can include a pressure port for pressurizing the chamber and to move the thermal diaphragm towards each other to apply compression on the molded armor part, and a locking mechanism for locking the two housing portions.

An armor production tool including a housing having at least two housing portions that form a substantially air-tight chamber when closed. The tool can include a lower thermal diaphragm forming at least a portion of a mold, and an upper thermal diaphragm forming at least a portion of the mold and capable of engaging the lower flexible membrane. The thermal diaphragms may comprise a thermal transfer membrane, a pressure bearing membrane and a fluid dispersion layer between the thermal transfer membrane and the pressure bearing member. A heating or cooling fluid can be circulated through the fluid dispersion layer to apply heat or to cool the armor part during the molding process. The tool can include a pressure port for pressurizing the chamber and to move the thermal diaphragm towards each other to apply compression on the molded armor part, and a locking mechanism for locking the two housing portions.

A method of vacuum forming an object includes heating a plastic sheet. After heating the plastic sheet, a vacuum is applied to pull the sheet against an outer surface of a flexible mold so that the plastic sheet has a formed shape that conforms to a contoured shape of the outer surface of the flexible mold. A rigid core is withdrawn from a cavity in the flexible mold. The flexible mold is then withdrawn from the plastic sheet by applying force to the flexible mold in a single direction, thereby causing flexing of the flexible mold past the undercut. An apparatus for vacuum forming a plastic sheet includes the flexible mold.

A method of vacuum forming an object includes heating a plastic sheet. After heating the plastic sheet, a vacuum is applied to pull the sheet against an outer surface of a flexible mold so that the plastic sheet has a formed shape that conforms to a contoured shape of the outer surface of the flexible mold. A rigid core is withdrawn from a cavity in the flexible mold. The flexible mold is then withdrawn from the plastic sheet by applying force to the flexible mold in a single direction, thereby causing flexing of the flexible mold past the undercut. An apparatus for vacuum forming a plastic sheet includes the flexible mold.

A web for use in disposable absorbent articles is disclosed herein. The web has a first surface and an opposing second surface. A plurality of discrete extended elements and a plurality of macro apertures arranged in a staggered pattern are provided. A plurality of web regions between adjacent macro apertures has a top plane having a length less than or equal to about 0.9 mm between the two adjacent macro apertures.

The present disclosure is directed methods for manufacturing spar caps for wind turbine rotor blades. In certain embodiments, the method includes forming an outer frame of the spar cap via at least one of three-dimensional (3D) pultrusion, thermoforming, or 3D printing. As such, the outer frame has a varying cross-section that corresponds to a varying cross-section of the rotor blade along a span thereof. The method also includes arranging a plurality of structural materials (e.g. layers of pultruded plates) within the pultruded outer frame of the spar cap and infusing the structural materials and the outer frame together via a resin material so as to form the spar cap. The resulting spar cap can then be easily incorporated into conventional rotor blade manufacturing processes and/or welded or bonded to an existing rotor blade.