A reinforced preform includes a sheet of reinforced material having opposed first and second edges, with each edge having a respective first connection point located therealong. The preform also includes first and second tethers, with each tether being attached at a respective first end thereof to a respective one of the first connection points and having a respective second end thereof terminating in at least one of: a respective loop tied at the respective second end, a respective knot tied at the respective second end, a respective graspable member to which the respective second end is connected, and an attachment to a respective second connection point located along a perimeter of the sheet. A method and mold for molding a reinforced preform are also disclosed.

A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2° C. to about 40° C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15° C. A system for improving the application of film by transfer of electrostatic charge is also described. The preheating system and/or electrostatic charge system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system and electrostatic charge system, and methods for their use, are described herein.

The present disclosure includes dental appliances and methods of making and using such appliances. One method for forming a dental appliance includes forming a liquid thermoset polymer material into a semi-solid first shape, thermoforming the semi-solid first shape of thermoset polymer material onto a dentition mold, and curing the thermoset polymer on the dentition mold with a curative trigger to complete a molecular cross-linking reaction.

A heating module for heating at least one film element. The heating module has two or more heating segments with in each case one or more heating elements for heating a first area of the film element assigned to the respective heating segment, wherein the heating module and/or at least one of the heating segments includes at least one sensor for measuring the state of the heating of the film element.

A heating apparatus that heats a thermoplastic resin sheet includes a vertically-movable heating wall that is indirectly heated with a saturated steam of a heat medium and heats the thermoplastic resin sheet above a melting point of the thermoplastic resin by bringing the heating wall into contact with the thermoplastic resin sheet.

A heating device with an oven into which a semi-finished product to be heated can be moved in and out, with a wire support formed from several wires spaced apart from one another, and on which the semi-finished product is able to be positioned, and with structure for moving the wire support into the oven and out therefrom. In order to both enable a method with high speeds of travel and at the same time able to use one and the same wire support for differently shaped semi-finished products. The wires can be electrically conductive and the selected wires can be acted upon with a voltage and thereby be heated, wherein the voltage is able to be set and/or controlled in such a way that the wires can adopt a predefinable temperature. Through suitable heating of the wires, the semi-finished product can be fixed on the wire support by fusing.

A system for controlling the temperature of a film before and/or during application, the system including: a heat source for heating a film; and stretch rollers; wherein the heat source heats the film from an ambient temperature to a temperature from about 2 C. to about 40 C. above the ambient temperature, wherein the film is heated prior to or simultaneous to being stretched by the stretch rollers, and wherein the ambient temperature is below 15 C. A system for improving the application of film by transfer of electrostatic charge is also described. The preheating system and/or electrostatic charge system may be used to enhance binding and sealing properties of stretch films used for wrapping palletized products in a reduced temperature environment. Other embodiments of the preheating film system and electrostatic charge system, and methods for their use, are described herein.

A method for producing a multi-component part (200) of a vehicle includes inserting an air-guiding device (10) having at least one contact portion (40) into a cavity (310) of a tool (300). The method then includes heating a composite part (100) having at least one mating contact portion (140) to a melting point of at least one material of the composite part (100), and heating the contact portion (40) of the air-guiding device (10) to a melting point of at least one material of the contact portion (40). The method further includes inserting the heated composite part (100) into the cavity (310) of the tool (300) and pressing the heated composite part (100) into a geometry of the part while simultaneously forming an integrally bonded connection between the mating contact portion (140) of the composite part (100) and the contact portion (40) of the air-guiding device (10).

A method and system for thermal forming an object. A mold is provided, a shape of which corresponds to a desired shape of the object. A material is inserted into a heating area, and the material is heated using a plurality of independently controllable heat sources that heat different areas of the material. The heated material is then disposed over or into at least a portion of the mold so as to deform the material. The deformed material may then be trimmed so as to form the object.

Provided is a method for producing a molded article obtained by integrating a decoration layer onto a surface of a porous body including a reinforcing fiber. The method includes: a preheating process at which the decoration layer is preheated; and a shaping and integrating process at which the porous body is pressed to the decoration layer or the decoration layer is pressed to the porous body to shape the decoration layer, and the porous body and the decoration layer are integrated to each other.