The present invention describes a method (600, 600a) of forming bitumen bags (605) for packaging bitumen products into blocks or slabs. Each block/slab of bitumen (200,200a,200b,200c) is encapsulated in the bitumen bag, which is composed of a bitumen compound (160). The bitumen compound (160) is made up of about 10-30% by weight of natural bitumen and about 5-25% by weight of a synthetic rubber polymer and copolymers. The bitumen compound (160) is melted with the bitumen content and is fully miscible with the molten bitumen, leaving no residue but enhances the physical properties of the resultant bitumen mixture.

The present invention describes a method (600, 600a) of forming bitumen bags (605) for packaging bitumen products into blocks or slabs. Each block/slab of bitumen (200,200a,200b,200c) is encapsulated in the bitumen bag, which is composed of a bitumen compound (160). The bitumen compound (160) is made up of about 10-30% by weight of natural bitumen and about 5-25% by weight of a synthetic rubber polymer and copolymers. The bitumen compound (160) is melted with the bitumen content and is fully miscible with the molten bitumen, leaving no residue but enhances the physical properties of the resultant bitumen mixture.

A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug or gripper that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug or gripper is expanded to engage an inner surface of the elongate molded part.

A column or other elongate molded part is molded using an elongate tubular mold having a closed end, an open end and a flexible sidewall. After the column or other molded part is formed, it is extracted from the mold by pulling the column or other molded part axially through the open end of the mold. The column may be extracted using an expandable plug or gripper that is inserted into the interior of the column or other molded part through the open end of the mold. The expandable plug or gripper is expanded to engage an inner surface of the elongate molded part.

Embodiments of the mold for making the Chemical Resistant Composite Support Pad are comprised of a top and bottom molds where the top mold is comprised of a mold lip, a pneumatic ejection port, a lid aperture, a magnetic cover for the pneumatic ejection port, and a lid. The method of making a chemical resistant composite support pad comprises the steps of spraying a coating of polymer agent into the top mold and the bottom mold. A controlled run of an agent is sprayed into the joined top and bottom molds along the joint of the top mold and the bottom mold. Polymeric foam is injected through the lid aperture, the lid is replaced, and the foam is allowed to cure. The molds are separated, and compressed air is used to eject the support pad out of the mold. Any irregularities are repaired by spraying the coating of polymer agent.

Embodiments of the mold for making the Chemical Resistant Composite Support Pad are comprised of a top and bottom molds where the top mold is comprised of a mold lip, a pneumatic ejection port, a lid aperture, a magnetic cover for the pneumatic ejection port, and a lid. The method of making a chemical resistant composite support pad comprises the steps of spraying a coating of polymer agent into the top mold and the bottom mold. A controlled run of an agent is sprayed into the joined top and bottom molds along the joint of the top mold and the bottom mold. Polymeric foam is injected through the lid aperture, the lid is replaced, and the foam is allowed to cure. The molds are separated, and compressed air is used to eject the support pad out of the mold. Any irregularities are repaired by spraying the coating of polymer agent.

A method of forming a three-dimensional object (17), is carried out by: (a) providing a carrier (18) and an optically transparent member having a build surface, with the carrier and the build surface defining a build region therebetween; (b) filling the build region with a polymerizable liquid; (c) irradiating the build region with light through the optically transparent member to form a solid polymer from the polymerizable liquid; and (d) advancing the carrier away from the build surface to form the three-dimensional object from the solid polymer; (e) wherein the carrier has at least one channel (32) formed therein, the method further including supplying pressurized gas into the build region through the at least one channel during at least a portion of the filling, irradiating and/or advancing steps. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

An air ejector of a resin molding device includes air passages, air outlets through which air is injected, movable valves biased by bias members to close the air outlets, accommodation spaces in which the movable valves are movably contained, an air supply path through which air is supplied from an air supply source, and a pressure sensor to detect air pressure. After completing the mold removal, the air is supplied via the air supply path to the air passages at an air pressure smaller than the bias force of the bias members, and the air pressure is detected by the pressure sensor.

An air ejector of a resin molding device includes air passages, air outlets through which air is injected, movable valves biased by bias members to close the air outlets, accommodation spaces in which the movable valves are movably contained, an air supply path through which air is supplied from an air supply source, and a pressure sensor to detect air pressure. After completing the mold removal, the air is supplied via the air supply path to the air passages at an air pressure smaller than the bias force of the bias members, and the air pressure is detected by the pressure sensor.

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.