A method comprises using a three-dimensional additive manufacturing process to produce an interlocking volume, wherein using the additive manufacturing process includes depositing successive layers, each of which includes a first material distributed according to a first interlocking material pattern and a second material distributed according to a second interlocking material pattern, said second material differing from said first material.

Some embodiments relate to printing system is described that has an intermediate transfer member (ITM) in the form of a seamed endless belt for transporting an ink image from an image forming station, at which an ink image is deposited on ITM, to an impression station, where the ink image is transferred onto a printing substrate. Two drive members are provided for movement in synchronism with one another. Rotation of the drive members during installation of a new ITM serves to thread the strip through the printing system by pulling the strip from its leading end. Alternatively or additionally, indirect printing system comprising the ITM and an image forming station at which droplets of ink are applied to the ITM to form ink images thereon is disclosed. One or more blowing mechanisms (e.g. associated with the image forming station) are disclosed herein.

A belt carcass (1) comprising one, two, or more than two impregnated layers (21,22,23,24,25); characterised in that i) each impregnated layer (21,22,23,24,25) comprises, or consists essentially of, a non-wovenfabric (3,301,302,303,304,305,306,307,308) and an impregnation material (4,401,402,403,404,405,406,407,408) comprising, or consisting essentially of, a first thermoplastic, first thermoplastic elastomer, first elastomer or first thermoset and optional additives; whereby, if there are two or more such impregnated layers (21,22,23,24,25), they are adjacent to each other, ii) if the belt carcass (1) comprises one or more such impregnated layers (21,22,23,24,25), then reinforcing filaments extending at least in part in one given direction and being in the form of one filament layer (51) are embedded in the non-woven fabric (3) of exactly one of said impregnated layers (21); or if the belt carcass (1) comprises two or more such impregnated layers (21,22,23,24,25), then reinforcing filaments extending at least in part in one given direction and being in the form of one filament layer (52,53) are sandwiched between two adjacent such impregnated layers (21/22, 24/25), and iii) the belt carcass is devoid of woven fabrics. This belt carcass can be cut into longitudinal belts or into circular disks or corner belts.

A handrail has a thermoplastic body having a generally C-shaped cross section, a stretch inhibitor in the thermoplastic body above a T-shaped slot and a slider fabric layer. The handrail includes first and second end portions, each comprising a forward part extending from an end surface of the end portion and a rear part adjacent the forward part. A method of forming a joint can include: providing cuts to separate a top section of the thermoplastic body from a base section including shoulder portions; for each end portion, removing at least shoulder portions from the forward part thereof, to leave a central portion including a forward part at the slider fabric layer and a layer of thermoplastic; cutting the forward parts to a required shape; and assembling the first and second end portions together to form a spliced joint for moulding.

A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

A core mould element can be mounted between first and second mould parts. The first and second mould parts and the core mould element can be mounted between first and second thermal platens. The thermal platens can have generally planar faces for mounting in a press, for maintaining a desired pressure within the mould assembly. The thermal platens can provide for heating and cooling the mould assembly, and each can include a central portion and end portions, with thermal breaks between the central portion and the end portions. Bores can extend through the central and end portions, for receiving heating elements and pipes for cooling fluid. The end portions can include bores for a cooling fluid for cooling the end portions.

Provided is a moving handrail that can lengthen its lifetime. The moving handrail includes: a handrail main body portion; a fabric arranged on a guide surface of the handrail main body portion and extending in a handrail longitudinal direction; and a resin sheet arranged on the fabric so that the fabric is sandwiched between the handrail main body portion and the resin sheet, wherein a surface of the fabric facing a handrail guide has arranged thereon an end portion of the fabric in the handrail longitudinal direction, and wherein the end portion of the fabric in the handrail longitudinal direction is covered with the resin sheet.

A fabric clothing, in particular a press felt, for use in a machine for producing a fibrous web, contains a woven fabric strip having interwoven longitudinal threads and cross threads, as well as having a first and a second longitudinal end. The two longitudinal ends of the woven fabric strip are connected to one another in a connection zone. Provision is made that the two longitudinal ends are welded to one another by a transmission welding, in particular by a laser transmission welding.

A device for positioning in the body of an animal, the device comprising a first portion and a second portion that may be positioned in contact with one other, the first portion and the second portion each comprising a biocompatible conductive thermoplastic material, such that when the device is positioned in the body of an animal and electric current flows from the first portion to the second portion, heat is generated by electrical resistance at the point of contact between the first portion and the second portion so as to melt regions of the first portion and the second portion, and when the electric current is thereafter terminated, the melted regions of the first portion and the second portion re-solidify so that a weld is formed between the first portion and the second portion.

A method for manufacturing a tension member, in particular for use in a belt or in a belt segment, having the steps of: preparing a tension member which has a plurality of tension member strands and filling at least some of the intermediate spaces between the tension member strands with a filling material at least at one open end of the tension member, wherein the tension member remains free of the filling material toward the outside.