A method for producing components of an outer skin of a vehicle with a film, which is back-molded at least from one a front side or rear side with clear plastics material, includes subjecting the film to a thermoforming process in order to generate the desired three-dimensional form. The film is subjected to further steps for preparation of the back-molding, including providing the film at least partially with a color layer. The film includes regions, through which other colors are intended to show through and be visible from the front side, or electromagnetic waves are intended to pass. The film may be punched-out in the regions to define punched-out portion in which components are inserted. The components are attached to the film by adhesive and/or overmolding on the rear side.

A method of producing a sealed structure, the method including: preparing a substrate and a curable resin composition in a liquid form; and sealing the substrate with the curable resin composition, to form a sealed body including the substrate and a cured product of the curable resin composition. The sealing step includes: printing the curable resin composition onto the substrate, to cover the substrate with a first coating film of the curable resin composition; and compression-molding the first coating film and the substrate together using a mold, with a pressing surface of the mold abut against the first coating film, to convert the first coating film into a second coating film. A ratio of a projected area S1 of the first coating film onto the substrate to a projected area S2 of the second coating film onto the substrate: S1/S2 is 0.9 or more.

Method of making a blow molded article from a preform including: a) providing a preform of a thermoplastic material having a plurality of effect structures each having an effect surface having a normal with an orientation, the preform having a body with one or more walls and an opening, wherein at least a portion of the one or more walls of the preform has a three-dimensional pattern of cavities and/or protrusions thereon; and b) blow molding the preform to form a blow molded article, wherein the step of blow molding the preform changes the orientation of the normal of at least some of the effect surfaces of the effect structures to create a visual effect in at least one wall of the blow molded article.

A heating block assembly including one or more configurable insulator segments and a heater block having a first surface configured to removably receive the one or more configurable insulator segments, in which each of the one or more configurable insulator segments covers only a portion of the first surface. A method for sealing at least one portion of a package using such a heating block assembly is also disclosed.

A laser processing method includes: marking multiple concaves on a surface of a preform before blow molding.

A three-dimensionally shaped object forming sheet includes: a thermally expansive layer distending at a predetermined temperature or higher; a base laminated on one side thereof with the thermally expansive layer; and a photothermal conversion layer for converting absorbed light to heat, formed on at least one side, wherein the base includes a first base and a second base that are laminated; and the first base has an elasticity that is greater than an elasticity of the second base.

A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic container may include locally heating a middle zone of a thermoplastic tube; gripping the tube on either side by using retaining members; pulling the tube apart, causing a middle zone to narrow; pushing the inner wall of the middle zone against each other to obtain a closure; and cutting through the closed-off middle zone to obtain two separate tubular parts. Further is provided a system for pulling apart a tube, the system may include a first retaining member which is provided for insertion into the first zone via the first end and a second retaining member provided for insertion into the second zone via the second end, each retaining member being adjustable between a first position in which the retaining member fits inside the tube and a second position in which, in use, the retaining member exerts a pressure on the inner wall of the tube.

[Problem] To provide: a composite container which can be given various functions and characteristics; a method for producing such composite container; a preform; and a composite preform.

[Solution] A composite container according to the present invention includes: a container body which is made of a plastic material; and a plastic member disposed on the outer surface of the container body, wherein the container body and the plastic member are integrally inflated by means of blow molding, and wherein the plastic member includes a colored layer and/or a print layer where a print is made.

Apparatus for producing plastic containers has a heating device having a transport device for transporting the plastic preforms singly along a predefined transport path. The transport device has a plurality of holding devices for holding the plastic preforms, and at least one heating unit for heating the plastic preforms, wherein furthermore a rotating device is provided which rotates the plastic preforms held by the holding devices and is connected to a forming device, which transforms the plastic preforms transported by the heating device into plastic containers. The apparatus has an alignment device which enables alignment of the rotational position of the plastic preforms with respect to their longitudinal direction relative to the holding devices holding these plastic preforms and/or the apparatus has a rotational position alignment device arranged along the transport path which enables alignment of a rotational position of the holding devices with the plastic preforms arranged thereon.

A blow molded article having a body portion that includes one or more walls surrounding an interior space. The one or more walls have an article inner surface, an article outer surface, and a wall thickness. At least a portion of the one or more walls includes one or more effect structures each having an effect surface normal having an orientation. Further there is a first region including a plurality of first effect structures having a first Average Normal Orientation, a second region including a plurality of second effect structures having a second Average Normal Orientation which is different from the first Average Normal Orientation, and a visual effect resulting from the difference between the first Average Normal Orientation of the effect structures in the first region and the second Average Normal Orientation of the effect structures in the second region.