The invention relates to a method for producing rotomolded products, and to an installation for carrying out such a method. The method is characterized by the simultaneous use of a plurality of spherical receptacle members, each without a dedicated rotary drive, each of which containing at least one molding die that is suppliable with raw material, and by the simultaneous use of a plurality of processing devices which are operated in a mutually independent manner, each for carrying out at least one of a plurality of production steps, using in each case one of the spherical receptacle members, wherein a plurality of processing devices which are configured as rotating stations are used in a temporally parallel or temporally overlapping manner, and/or wherein a plurality of processing devices which are configured as cooling stations are used in a temporally parallel or temporally overlapping manner, and/or wherein a plurality of processing devices which are configured as supply stations are used in a temporally parallel or temporally overlapping manner, and/or wherein a plurality of processing devices which are configured as retrieval stations are used in a temporally parallel or temporally overlapping manner, and wherein the spherical receptacle member conjointly with the content thereof and without the rotary drive is in each case retrieved from the processing device which has just terminated a processing step, said spherical receptacle member thereafter being fed to a processing device that is immediately vacant for the respective next processing step.

A process produces an electrical line which extends in the longitudinal direction and the line has a line core and an outer shell. In a continuous shaping process, individual shell portions of the outer shell are formed successively by surrounding the line core with a curable plastic substance. In at least one portion, the outer shell is produced having a cross-sectional geometry which can be varied in the longitudinal direction of the line.

A process produces an electrical line which extends in the longitudinal direction and the line has a line core and an outer shell. In a continuous shaping process, individual shell portions of the outer shell are formed successively by surrounding the line core with a curable plastic substance. In at least one portion, the outer shell is produced having a cross-sectional geometry which can be varied in the longitudinal direction of the line.

Pipe corrugators having opposed series of pushed mold blocks forming a moving mold tunnel are subject to significant thermal expansion and are designed with a thermal expansion gap. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring changes in this expansion gap and preferably recognizing potential thermal issues before serious problems occur. A sensor is provided adjacent a mold block drive that preferably detects a time duration between sensing a trailing portion of a lead mold block and a leading edge of a following mold block separated from the lead mold block by the thermal expansion gap. This time duration in combination with a speed of the pushed mold blocks is used to calculate the size of the thermal expansion gap.

Pipe corrugators having opposed series of pushed mold blocks forming a moving mold tunnel are subject to significant thermal expansion and are designed with a thermal expansion gap. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for measuring changes in this expansion gap and preferably recognizing potential thermal issues before serious problems occur. A sensor is provided adjacent a mold block drive that preferably detects a time duration between sensing a trailing portion of a lead mold block and a leading edge of a following mold block separated from the lead mold block by the thermal expansion gap. This time duration in combination with a speed of the pushed mold blocks is used to calculate the size of the thermal expansion gap.

A process and assembly for producing a structural article, as well as an article produced according to any process and assembly. A mold has a base and a hinged lid, either or both of which include a cavity interior which defines a negative of the structural article to be produced. A structural insert placed within the mold, prior or subsequent to a plasticized and structural forming foam material also being placed within the mold. The foam cures and sets in encapsulating fashion around the insert so that, upon removal, the insert is coated within the formed material.

A process and assembly for producing a structural article, as well as an article produced according to any process and assembly. A mold has a base and a hinged lid, either or both of which include a cavity interior which defines a negative of the structural article to be produced. A structural insert placed within the mold, prior or subsequent to a plasticized and structural forming foam material also being placed within the mold. The foam cures and sets in encapsulating fashion around the insert so that, upon removal, the insert is coated within the formed material.

A shape forming system according to one embodiment includes a mold assemblies; a heating unit; a pressing unit; a cooling unit; an isolation chamber configured to accommodate therein the heating unit, the pressing unit, and the cooling unit arranged in parallel with each other; and a conveyance unit configured to move the plurality of mold assemblies each of which is arranged on a plate provided in each of the heating unit, the pressing unit, and the cooling unit to thereby convey the mold assemblies in sequence.

A shape forming system according to one embodiment includes a mold assemblies; a heating unit; a pressing unit; a cooling unit; an isolation chamber configured to accommodate therein the heating unit, the pressing unit, and the cooling unit arranged in parallel with each other; and a conveyance unit configured to move the plurality of mold assemblies each of which is arranged on a plate provided in each of the heating unit, the pressing unit, and the cooling unit to thereby convey the mold assemblies in sequence.

A method of removing an ophthalmic lens from a lens mold portion is provided and includes reciprocally displacing a region of the mold portion and thereby causing an edge portion of the ophthalmic lenses to become detached from the mold portion. Related apparatus, methods of manufacturing ophthalmic lenses, delensing stations, and manufacturing times are provided.