A method for producing an object made of a polymeric material, said polymeric material having a melting temperature (T.sub.F), comprises the steps of: melting the polymeric material; after the step of melting, cooling the polymeric material below the melting temperature (T.sub.F) in a cooling zone; severing a dose from a flow of polymeric material coming from the cooling zone by means of a severing element (5); obtaining said object by shaping the dose between a male forming element and a female forming element (10) which move towards one another with a mutual movement speed, the dose having a temperature lower than said melting temperature (T.sub.F). Between a start-of-forming configuration, in which the dose is in contact with both the male forming element and the female forming element (10), and a start-of-deceleration configuration, in which the male forming element and the female forming element (10) begin to decelerate relative to one another, the mutual movement speed is greater than 10 mm/s.

A method for producing an object made of a polymeric material, said polymeric material having a melting temperature (T.sub.F), comprises the steps of: melting the polymeric material; after the step of melting, cooling the polymeric material below the melting temperature (T.sub.F) in a cooling zone; severing a dose from a flow of polymeric material coming from the cooling zone by means of a severing element (5); obtaining said object by shaping the dose between a male forming element and a female forming element (10) which move towards one another with a mutual movement speed, the dose having a temperature lower than said melting temperature (T.sub.F). Between a start-of-forming configuration, in which the dose is in contact with both the male forming element and the female forming element (10), and a start-of-deceleration configuration, in which the male forming element and the female forming element (10) begin to decelerate relative to one another, the mutual movement speed is greater than 10 mm/s.

An apparatus for producing reinforcing elements for shoes, bags or orthopedic applications comprises a first powder application apparatus, at least one downstream first compounding device, another second powder application apparatus as well as a second compounding device. Such a modular structure allows for producing different types of reinforcing elements in a simple manner.

Methods and systems that can produce light weight reinforced thermoplastic articles are described. In some embodiments, a method includes heating and pressing a core layer and then cooling and pressing the core layer to maintain the thickness of the core layer during cooling. Automotive articles, building articles and recreational vehicle articles that can be produced using the methods and systems are also described.

Methods and systems that can produce light weight reinforced thermoplastic articles are described. In some embodiments, a method includes heating and pressing a core layer and then cooling and pressing the core layer to maintain the thickness of the core layer during cooling. Automotive articles, building articles and recreational vehicle articles that can be produced using the methods and systems are also described.

The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a press-molded body, the method having a step for disposing an X material inside a mold, a step for closing the mold and extruding a Y material, which is a kneaded material, into the mold after pressure has begun to be applied to part of the X material, and a step for cold-pressing and integrally molding the X material and the Y material inside the mold, wherein: the X material includes reinforcing fibers FA, having a weight-average fiber length Lw.sub.A, and a thermoplastic resin R.sub.X; the Y material includes reinforcing fibers FB, having a weight-average fiber length Lw.sub.B, and a thermoplastic resin R.sub.Y; Lw.sub.B<Lw.sub.A; Lw.sub.A is 1 mm or greater and 100 mm or less; the X material has a spring-back amount greater than 1.0 and less than 14.0; the press-molded body has an vertical plane part and a top plane part; during the cold pressing, the Y material is caused to move from a region other than a vertical plane portion to the vertical plane portion; and a thickness t1 of the vertical plane portion and a thickness t2 of the top plane portion satisfy t1>t2.

A molded product production system includes a powdery material mixing and feeding device configured to feed mixed powdery materials including at least two types of powdery materials, a filler configured to fill, with the mixed powdery materials fed by the powdery material mixing and feeding device, a die bore of a compression-molding machine, a sensor configured to measure a mixing degree of the mixed powdery materials fed by the powdery material mixing and feeding device, and a molded product removal mechanism configured to distinguish a molded product obtained by compression molding mixed powdery materials having a mixing degree measured by the sensor out of a predetermined range from a molded product obtained by compression molding mixed powdery materials having a mixing degree within the predetermined range.

A molded product production system includes a powdery material mixing and feeding device configured to feed mixed powdery materials including at least two types of powdery materials, a filler configured to fill, with the mixed powdery materials fed by the powdery material mixing and feeding device, a die bore of a compression-molding machine, a sensor configured to measure a mixing degree of the mixed powdery materials fed by the powdery material mixing and feeding device, and a molded product removal mechanism configured to distinguish a molded product obtained by compression molding mixed powdery materials having a mixing degree measured by the sensor out of a predetermined range from a molded product obtained by compression molding mixed powdery materials having a mixing degree within the predetermined range.

A feeding device for a press comprising: a first belt (2), movable in advancement along a conveying direction (X) and passing through a press (11, 12); depositing means (3), predisposed for spreading in a layer an amount (L) of loose material (L) on a movable plane. The device comprises a second belt (4), on which the depositing means (3) operate, located upstream of the first belt (2), which is movable along the conveying direction (X) and is substantially aligned and contiguous to the first belt (2). The first belt (2) and second belt (4) are movable independently of one another.

Resin pellets (7) supplied to a resin block forming space (150) are heated and melted by a heater unit (300) and the melted resin pellets (7) are cooled and solidified to form a resin layer. Since a lifting mechanism (230) of a lifting unit (200) lowers a bottom surface plate (215) whenever forming each of the resin layers, the resin layers formed by the resin block forming space (150) are sequentially laminated to form a large resin block.