A system and a method allow for the removal of excess material from a dental appliance. The system includes at least one 5-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine and at least one administrative computing system. The administrative computing system is used to determine the trim line for the dental appliance. The administrative computing system is also used to determine a tool path for an automated tool that is an integrated part of the 5-axis CNC machine. The tool path is then relayed from the administrative computing system to the 5-axis CNC machine. The 5-axis CNC machine is used to machine off the excess material from the dental appliance along the trim line, while the automated tool follows the tool path.

A polymeric article includes a body and encoded visual indicia formed on the body. The encoded visual indicia may be scanned to generate instructions. A method of providing the polymeric article includes applying polymeric materials to a mold to provide an article-blank web having formed therein an article preform of a desired shape with encoded visual indicia formed in the article preform.

A polymeric article includes a body and encoded visual indicia formed on the body. The encoded visual indicia may be scanned to generate instructions. A method of providing the polymeric article includes applying polymeric materials to a mold to provide an article-blank web having formed therein an article preform of a desired shape with encoded visual indicia formed in the article preform.

The device includes a mold block having at least one thermoforming chamber (28) having an inside surface (29), an axial opening (28A) through which a decorative wrap-around label (38) can be inserted into the chamber, and a moving end-wall (40) opposite from the opening. The end-wall is suitable for moving in an end segment (28A) of the chamber (28) between a positioning high level and at least one thermoforming low level, and the device has at least one tongue-and-groove set comprising a fin (42) on the end-wall (40) that is engaged in a notch (44) in the inside surface of the end segment (28B).

The utilization of heat in the manufacturing of footwear may be accomplished through microwave energy. The microwave energy is conveyed to the footwear components through a microwave transparent window of a tool. The microwave transparent tool window forms as least a portion of a part-contacting surface of the tool. Another surface of the tool is formed from a microwave reflecting material, such as aluminum. The footwear component(s) are exposed to microwave energy while within the tool such that the microwave energy passes through the tool window to cause a dielectric heating of one or more materials within a tool cavity of the tool.

The utilization of heat in the manufacturing of footwear may be accomplished through microwave energy. The microwave energy is conveyed to the footwear components through a microwave transparent window of a tool. The microwave transparent tool window forms as least a portion of a part-contacting surface of the tool. Another surface of the tool is formed from a microwave reflecting material, such as aluminum. The footwear component(s) are exposed to microwave energy while within the tool such that the microwave energy passes through the tool window to cause a dielectric heating of one or more materials within a tool cavity of the tool.

A thermoforming mold trimming system, apparatus, and method of use are disclosed. The thermoforming mold trimming apparatus includes a robot support structure with at least one robot secured to the robot support structure. The apparatus also includes a contact probe removably secured to the robot, the contact probe being configured to generate a trim path for a thermoformed molded part. The robot is programmed to follow the trim path generated by the contact probe. The robot then uses a blade to trim excess material of a finished molded part within the housing by following the trim path.

A thermoforming mold trimming system, apparatus, and method of use are disclosed. The thermoforming mold trimming apparatus includes a robot support structure with at least one robot secured to the robot support structure. The apparatus also includes a contact probe removably secured to the robot, the contact probe being configured to generate a trim path for a thermoformed molded part. The robot is programmed to follow the trim path generated by the contact probe. The robot then uses a blade to trim excess material of a finished molded part within the housing by following the trim path.

The present invention provides a receptacle molding apparatus, a receptacle and a receptacle molding method. The receptacle molding apparatus, which is for molding a receptacle by means of heat molding, comprises: a first mold portion comprising a body molding part, which is for molding a body of a receptacle, a skirt molding part, which extends upward from the body molding part so as to mold a skirt of the receptacle, and a flange molding part which extends in the direction from the upper end of the skirt molding part toward the outside so as to mold the lower surface of a flange of the receptacle; and a second mold portion which is provided above the first mold portion, can move vertically and enable pressure-molding of the upper surface of the flange, and has a pressing surface for pressing a sheet which is to be molded into the flange from above at a position corresponding to the flange molding part. The pressing surface comprises an extension part which is a part extending further than the inner end part of the flange molding part in the direction toward the center of the body molding part.

The present invention provides a receptacle molding apparatus, a receptacle and a receptacle molding method. The receptacle molding apparatus, which is for molding a receptacle by means of heat molding, comprises: a first mold portion comprising a body molding part, which is for molding a body of a receptacle, a skirt molding part, which extends upward from the body molding part so as to mold a skirt of the receptacle, and a flange molding part which extends in the direction from the upper end of the skirt molding part toward the outside so as to mold the lower surface of a flange of the receptacle; and a second mold portion which is provided above the first mold portion, can move vertically and enable pressure-molding of the upper surface of the flange, and has a pressing surface for pressing a sheet which is to be molded into the flange from above at a position corresponding to the flange molding part. The pressing surface comprises an extension part which is a part extending further than the inner end part of the flange molding part in the direction toward the center of the body molding part.