Patent classifications
B29L2031/703
Soft robotic actuators and grippers
A method of making an actuator having a complex internal shape includes providing a core of a shape that defines an internal cavity of an actuator; molding an actuator around the core, wherein the core occupies the internal cavity of the actuator, the cavity having an opening; generating a pressure differential between an exterior surface of the actuator and the internal cavity of the actuator, wherein the external pressure is less than the internal pressure, to expand the actuator cavity; and removing the core through the opening of the expanded actuator cavity.
BELLOWS
A bellows excellent in durability has an accordion shape where crest parts with U-shaped cross sections and trough parts with U-shaped cross sections are repeatedly formed via slope parts, the slope parts leading to the crest part includes first portions, second portions, third portions and fourth portions which are continuously connected, in order, to one another from the crest part toward the adjacent trough parts, and in a free length state of the bellows, a separation distance between the second portions of the both slope parts is longer than separation distances between the first portions and between the third portions.
MULTI-LAYERED SHEET MATERIAL COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING WOVEN FABRIC, CROSSWAY ELEMENT COMPRISING SUCH A MULTI-LAYERED SHEET MATERIAL, AND VEHICLE, AIR PASSENGER BRIDGE OR STAIRCASE COMPRISING SUCH A CROSSWAY ELEMENT
A multi-layered sheet material (1) including a reinforcing support (2) having a polymer coating (3) on at least one side, alternatively on both sides, wherein the reinforcing support (2) includes at least one textile fabric (6), such as a supporting woven fabric (6a), wherein the fabric (6), has at least two surface regions (13a; 13b; 34a; 34b) that differ from each other in at least one mechanical property, as well as a crossway element, such as a crossway bellows, for components, vehicles, building connections, or for flight passenger bridges or staircase bridges, including at least one such multi-layered sheet material, and a vehicle, a building connection, and a flight passenger or staircase bridge including such a crossway element
METHOD AND ASSOCIATED TOOLING FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF A SLEEVE BY INJECTION MOULDING, AND RESULTING SLEEVE
An injection-molding method for manufacturing a sleeve (1) comprising a cylindroconical body comprising at least one deformable bellows portion (2) arranged in line with a base (3), by means of tooling comprising a mold (8) formed of at least two portions (81, 82) defining a mold cavity and a core that can be inserted into the mold cavity, and comprising a first cylindroconical portion (11) provided externally with a helical thread that is complementary to a helical thread of the mold (8) and a second portion (15) that is complementary to a recessed portion of the mold (8), said method comprises a step of filling the mold spaces left free between the core and the inside of the mold cavity (9), a step of opening the mold (8) during which, or at the end of which, the second portion (15) of the core is moved axially in a direction parallel to the winding axis (XX) of the threads of the helical thread going away from the first portion (11) of the core, and a step of driving relative turning movement of the sleeve (1) and of the first part (11) of the core.
Method and apparatus for welding 3D bellows, and bellows
The present invention relates to a method for welding a 3D bellows. The method includes: repeatedly laminating a unit cell material, a second adhesion-preventing film, a different unit cell material, and a first adhesion-preventing film; forming ventilation holes on the unit cell materials by pressing a hole-processing cutter on which a hole-circumference welding heater is installed onto the laminated unit cell materials and the first adhesion-preventing films, and then heating the circumference of the ventilation holes; finishing two sides of the unit cells by positioning, on two outermost surfaces of the laminated unit cell materials, a first finishing unit cell material and a second finishing unit cell material provided with an air injection port; and cutting the first finishing unit cell material, the unit cell materials, and the second finishing unit cell material and heating the periphery of the cut area by pressing a contour-processing cutter.
SOFT ROBOTIC ACTUATORS AND GRIPPERS
A method of making an actuator having a complex internal shape includes providing a core of a shape that defines an internal cavity of an actuator; molding an actuator around the core, wherein the core occupies the internal cavity of the actuator, the cavity having an opening; generating a pressure differential between an exterior surface of the actuator and the internal cavity of the actuator, wherein the external pressure is less than the internal pressure, to expand the actuator cavity; and removing the core through the opening of the expanded actuator cavity.
BELLOWS
A bellows comprises a unitary bellows body extending from a first end to a second end in an axial direction. The stiffness of the bellows body varies in at least an axial direction.
Bellows fluid seal
A bellow seal of a fluid dispensing system is disclosed. The bellow seal having a generally circular cross section includes a first end having a first diameter. The bellow seal further includes a second end having a second diameter that is smaller than the first diameter of the first end. The bellow seal further includes a contoured external surface extending between the first end and the second end. The external surface includes a cylindrical portion extending from the first end, an undulating portion, (which includes a convex portion extending from the cylindrical portion and a concave portion extending from the convex portion), and a tapered portion extending from the concave portion to the second end. The bellow seal further includes a flexible region defined between a first point located on the cylindrical portion and a second point located on the concave portion.
Method and device for making silicone rubber cupping appliance
A device for producing a silicone rubber cupping appliance is provided. The device includes a nozzle, an internal mould core, a separable slide comprising at least two separable slide blocks; and a blowing-demoulding unit. A mould cavity used for moulding the silicone rubber cupping appliance is formed between the slide and the internal mould core. One end of the nozzle is connected to a channel that transports liquid silicone rubber material, and another end of the nozzle is connected to the mould cavity. The blowing-demoulding unit is connected to the mould cavity through a blow duct opening which is set at a contact surface of the internal mould core and the mould cavity.
System for injection molding and related method
A system for injection molding a part includes a plate, first and second primary mold slides, first and second secondary mold slides and at least a first core post. The first and second primary mold slides define an exterior of a first portion of a molded part and are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. The first and second secondary mold slides define an exterior of a second portion of the molded part and are movable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. A first core post defines an interior of the first portion of the molded part. The first and second secondary mold slides are operative to secure the molded part as the first and second primary mold slides are moved from their closed position to their open position, as the molded part is expanded under a source of pressurized air and as the first core post is withdrawn from an interior of the molded part.