Method for controlling the operation of a device for producing a particle foam component, wherein the device includes at least one function unit, which is controllable during its operation in respect of at least one target value. The method includes selecting, selection, on the basis of at least one selection criterion, of a control parameter set from a data storage unit, in which a plurality of control parameter sets are stored, which each has at least one control parameter for controlling the operation of at least one function unit of the device in respect of at least one target value; and applying the at least one selected control parameter set to control the operation of the device, in particular to control the operation of the function unit of the device affected by the particular control parameter set.

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.

Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity.

An expansion device includes: an irradiation unit configured to irradiate a thermally-expandable sheet with light; a movement unit configured to relatively move the thermally-expandable sheet and the irradiation unit; an air-blowing unit configured to cool the irradiation unit by blowing air to the irradiation unit; and a control unit configured to execute a distension process of distending the thermally-expandable sheet by causing the irradiation unit to emit light while relatively moving the thermally-expandable sheet and the irradiation unit by the movement unit, wherein the control unit controls the air-blowing unit to stop or weaken blowing air toward the irradiation unit while the irradiation unit is caused to emit light in the distension process.

An expansion device includes: an irradiation unit configured to irradiate a thermally-expandable sheet with light; a movement unit configured to relatively move the thermally-expandable sheet and the irradiation unit; an air-blowing unit configured to cool the irradiation unit by blowing air to the irradiation unit; and a control unit configured to execute a distension process of distending the thermally-expandable sheet by causing the irradiation unit to emit light while relatively moving the thermally-expandable sheet and the irradiation unit by the movement unit, wherein the control unit controls the air-blowing unit to stop or weaken blowing air toward the irradiation unit while the irradiation unit is caused to emit light in the distension process.

Method for determining at least one layer property of a layer to be determined, in particular a foam layer, in an extrusion process, where a supply material is at least partially foamed and an extrusion product with the foam layer is put out (in other words, is output). The method has at least the steps of irradiating the extrusion product using electro-magnetic radiation, and electro-magnetically measuring at least one radiation having travelled through the foam layer. Measuring at least one feed-in rate or feed-in volume of the supply material, and determining the at least one material property of the layer to be determined from the measured feed-in volume and the electro-magnetic measurement.

Method for determining at least one layer property of a layer to be determined, in particular a foam layer, in an extrusion process, where a supply material is at least partially foamed and an extrusion product with the foam layer is put out (in other words, is output). The method has at least the steps of irradiating the extrusion product using electro-magnetic radiation, and electro-magnetically measuring at least one radiation having travelled through the foam layer. Measuring at least one feed-in rate or feed-in volume of the supply material, and determining the at least one material property of the layer to be determined from the measured feed-in volume and the electro-magnetic measurement.

A system including an injector, a press, and a robotic conveyance is used to form a physically foamed article of footwear component from a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid. The parameters and features of the system are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner with enhanced throughput by the system.

A system including an injector, a press, and a robotic conveyance is used to form a physically foamed article of footwear component from a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid. The parameters and features of the system are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner with enhanced throughput by the system.