A method and apparatus for delaminating a polymer film from a carrier plate is disclosed. The carrier plate is at least partially transparent and has deposited on it a pixelated pattern layer of light-absorptive material, upon which is deposited a layer of light-reflective material. A polymer film, which is to be delaminated, is deposited on the light-reflecting material layer. Next, a pulsed light source is utilized to irradiate through the carrier plate from the side opposite the polymer film to heat the light-absorptive material layer. The heated areas of the light-absorptive material layer, in turn, heat the polymer film through conduction at the interface between the light-absorptive material layer and the polymer film, thereby generating gas from the polymer film by its thermal decomposition, which allows the polymer film to be released from the carrier plate.

A thread forming apparatus for forming threads in a rotational molding apparatus comprising a molding pin having a generally elongate shape, at least a portion of the molding pin having a threaded portion, the molding pin adapted to rotate along with the mold and receive the plastic material on at least the threaded portion, the molding pin being releasable relative to the mold such that once the plastic material coats the threaded portion of the molding pin and forms a threaded portion on the molded product, the molding pin is completely removed from the mold.

A thread forming apparatus for forming threads in a rotational molding apparatus comprising a molding pin having a generally elongate shape, at least a portion of the molding pin having a threaded portion, the molding pin adapted to rotate along with the mold and receive the plastic material on at least the threaded portion, the molding pin being releasable relative to the mold such that once the plastic material coats the threaded portion of the molding pin and forms a threaded portion on the molded product, the molding pin is completely removed from the mold.

A dental article includes at least one segment defining a complex three-dimensional shape configured to follow contours of an oral anatomy, in which the at least one segment includes a core component including a majority of parylene.

A dental article includes at least one segment defining a complex three-dimensional shape configured to follow contours of an oral anatomy, in which the at least one segment includes a core component including a majority of parylene.

Composite materials with adjustable spectral properties comprised of IR-reflecting micro-domains overlaying an IR-transparent elastomeric matrix, and capable of dynamically controlling IR radiation transmission are described, as well as methods of fabrication thereof. Systems with capabilities to regulate IR radiation (including heat) transmission based thereon, and methods of regulating IR radiation transmission (including thermal regulation) using the same are also provided.

A method of and fixture for molding a product with an embedded ring. A system for molding a ring into a product including a rotational molding mold with an opening formed in the rotational molding mold sized to fit a ring. A fixture is removably couplable to the ring, wherein the ring and the fixture when coupled are removably couplable in the opening. The fixture is removed from the ring after the ring is molded into a product. A method of manufacturing a product with an embedded ring includes: coupling a ring to a fixture; clamping the fixture and the ring in an opening in a mold top; clamping the mold top to a mold bottom; rotomolding a product; unclamping the fixture from the mold top; uncoupling the fixture from the ring; unclamping the mold top and the mold bottom; and removing the product from the mold.

A method of and fixture for molding a product with an embedded ring. A system for molding a ring into a product including a rotational molding mold with an opening formed in the rotational molding mold sized to fit a ring. A fixture is removably couplable to the ring, wherein the ring and the fixture when coupled are removably couplable in the opening. The fixture is removed from the ring after the ring is molded into a product. A method of manufacturing a product with an embedded ring includes: coupling a ring to a fixture; clamping the fixture and the ring in an opening in a mold top; clamping the mold top to a mold bottom; rotomolding a product; unclamping the fixture from the mold top; uncoupling the fixture from the ring; unclamping the mold top and the mold bottom; and removing the product from the mold.

A glove stripping apparatus (15) for fully stripping a partially stripped elastomeric dip-moulded glove (2) from a hand-shaped dip-moulding former (4) comprises a gripping device (25) relatively movable with respect to a downwardly hanging cuff end portion (10), a gripping actuator (32), a stripping actuator (35) and a controller for controlling the operation of the actuators. The relative movement of the gripping device and the downwardly hanging cuff end portion is driven by the stripping actuator. The gripping device has first and second gripping members (24, 26) movable relative to each other by the gripping actuator. The gripping members provide opposed gripping surfaces (34, 36) for gripping the cuff end portion. The first gripping member and the second gripping member initially provide a horizontally extending gap between the gripping surfaces which receives the cuff end portion. The gripping members are moved to reduce the gap (40′) until the cuff end portion is restrained between the gripping surfaces with a beaded cuff end (3) of the glove being below the gap. The gripping members are moved downwardly (46) together towards the beaded cuff end so that the cuff end portion moves upwards relative to the gap until the beaded cuff end (3) is caught by the gap (40′). The downward movement is then continued until the glove is fully stripped from the dip-moulding former.

A glove stripping apparatus (15) for fully stripping a partially stripped elastomeric dip-moulded glove (2) from a hand-shaped dip-moulding former (4) comprises a gripping device (25) relatively movable with respect to a downwardly hanging cuff end portion (10), a gripping actuator (32), a stripping actuator (35) and a controller for controlling the operation of the actuators. The relative movement of the gripping device and the downwardly hanging cuff end portion is driven by the stripping actuator. The gripping device has first and second gripping members (24, 26) movable relative to each other by the gripping actuator. The gripping members provide opposed gripping surfaces (34, 36) for gripping the cuff end portion. The first gripping member and the second gripping member initially provide a horizontally extending gap between the gripping surfaces which receives the cuff end portion. The gripping members are moved to reduce the gap (40′) until the cuff end portion is restrained between the gripping surfaces with a beaded cuff end (3) of the glove being below the gap. The gripping members are moved downwardly (46) together towards the beaded cuff end so that the cuff end portion moves upwards relative to the gap until the beaded cuff end (3) is caught by the gap (40′). The downward movement is then continued until the glove is fully stripped from the dip-moulding former.