A fiber reinforced composite member molding apparatus including a lower mold with a cavity, an upper mold with a core for clamping layered prepreg to the cavity, cartridge heaters for heating the layered prepreg via the lower mold and the upper mold, and cooling medium passages for cooling the layered prereg via the lower mold and the upper mold, the lower mold and the upper mold being brought nearer to each other according to shrinkage of thermoplastic resin contained in the layered prereg during cooling, further includes pins moved into and out of the cavity, cylinders for moving the pins into and out of the cavity, and a controller for causing the pins to project into the cavity to come into contact with and apply pressure to the layered prepreg during cooling. The apparatus can mold a fiber reinforced composite member without producing delamination in a thicker end portion of the layered prepreg without an increase in molding time.

A system for making blocks for gravity energy storage includes an extrusion press machine with a receiving chamber for receiving raw material, a compaction chamber and a pressing wall driven by a piston to push the raw material into the compaction chamber to compact the material to form a block. One or more of a top wall, opposite side walls and the pressing wall are moved away from the a center of the compaction chamber to allow the block to elastically expand prior to exiting the compaction chamber.

A system for making blocks for gravity energy storage includes an extrusion press machine with a receiving chamber for receiving raw material, a compaction chamber and a pressing wall driven by a piston to push the raw material into the compaction chamber to compact the material to form a block. One or more of a top wall, opposite side walls and the pressing wall are moved away from the a center of the compaction chamber to allow the block to elastically expand prior to exiting the compaction chamber.

An example system is configured to photocure a photocurable material to form a polymer film. The system includes a first chuck configured to support a first substantially planar mold, a second chuck configured to support a second substantially planar mold, and an actuable stage coupled to the first chuck and/or the second chuck. The actuable stage is configured to position the first chuck and/or the second chuck so that the first and second molds are separated by a gap. The system also includes a sensor arrangement for obtaining measurement information indicative of a distance between the first and second molds and/or a pressure between the first and second chucks at each of at least three locations. The system also includes a control module configured control the gap between the first and second molds based on the measurement information.

A molding apparatus (1) includes: a servomotor (11) for pressing a resin component (W) by moving an upper mold (MU) in a direction in which the upper mold (MU) is made close to a lower mold (ML); servomotors (12a and 13a) each of which retains X-coordinate and Y-coordinate positions of the lower mold (ML); and a position detection section (41) which determines whether or not the resin component which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured, the servomotors each terminating the retention of the lower mold when the resin component has been cured. This makes it possible to obtain a molded product while preventing positional displacement caused by a decrease in volume of a resin which is being cured.

A molding apparatus (1) includes: a servomotor (11) for pressing a resin component (W) by moving an upper mold (MU) in a direction in which the upper mold (MU) is made close to a lower mold (ML); servomotors (12a and 13a) each of which retains X-coordinate and Y-coordinate positions of the lower mold (ML); and a position detection section (41) which determines whether or not the resin component which is sandwiched between the upper mold and the lower mold has been cured, the servomotors each terminating the retention of the lower mold when the resin component has been cured. This makes it possible to obtain a molded product while preventing positional displacement caused by a decrease in volume of a resin which is being cured.

An optical element includes a base having a curved depression formed in a front surface thereof and a formed layer arranged on the base. The formed layer includes a main part in the depression as viewed from a depth direction of the depression and an overhang on the front surface of the base while connecting to the main part. An opposite surface of the main part to a surface thereof on a side of an inner surface of the depression is formed like a concave curve that is concave in a same direction as the inner surface of the depression. A predetermined surface of the main part that is opposed to the inner surface of the depression is provided with an optical function part.

An optical element includes a base having a curved depression formed in a front surface thereof and a formed layer arranged on the base. The formed layer includes a main part in the depression as viewed from a depth direction of the depression and an overhang on the front surface of the base while connecting to the main part. An opposite surface of the main part to a surface thereof on a side of an inner surface of the depression is formed like a concave curve that is concave in a same direction as the inner surface of the depression. A predetermined surface of the main part that is opposed to the inner surface of the depression is provided with an optical function part.

An optical element includes a base having a curved depression formed in a front surface thereof and a formed layer arranged on the base. The formed layer includes a main part in the depression as viewed from a depth direction of the depression and an overhang on the front surface of the base while connecting to the main part. An opposite surface of the main part to a surface thereof on a side of an inner surface of the depression is formed like a concave curve that is concave in a same direction as the inner surface of the depression. A predetermined surface of the main part that is opposed to the inner surface of the depression is provided with an optical function part.

Devices, methods, and mold apparatuses for forming devices facilitate consumption of a plurality of liquids by a user, such as a first liquid followed by a second liquid. In some cases, the first liquid is a relatively harsh liquid and the second liquid is a relatively mild liquid.