A system is provided that includes an adjustable surface that can be quickly adjusted through use of a plurality of actuators. The surface can be used as a dynamic decoration or a haptic visualization tool for the blind. The system uses special couplings between the actuators and the adjustable surface that allow the actuators to control the shape of the surface, while still allowing the surface to be deformed by outside pressure without forcing or damaging the actuators. These couplings formed by a selection of springs, flexures, cables, and ball joints allow the surface to be quickly adjusted to a new shape. The adjustable surface can be used to shape plastic, metal, or glass sheets or as composite layup forms. A frame of the system engages actuators in a way that allows the actuators to move in axial directions of the actuators and adjust the shape of the surface.

A system is provided that includes an adjustable surface that can be quickly adjusted through use of a plurality of actuators. The surface can be used as a dynamic decoration or a haptic visualization tool for the blind. The system uses special couplings between the actuators and the adjustable surface that allow the actuators to control the shape of the surface, while still allowing the surface to be deformed by outside pressure without forcing or damaging the actuators. These couplings formed by a selection of springs, flexures, cables, and ball joints allow the surface to be quickly adjusted to a new shape. The adjustable surface can be used to shape plastic, metal, or glass sheets or as composite layup forms. A frame of the system engages actuators in a way that allows the actuators to move in axial directions of the actuators and adjust the shape of the surface.

According to an aspect, a lid includes a circular top portion, a fitting portion, and a skirt portion. The top portion has a drinking hole. The fitting portion includes an inner fitting portion protruding upwardly from a peripheral end of the top portion and adapted to contact a rim-side inner circumferential surface of a container body, and an upper fitting portion thicker than the inner fitting portion and adapted to be fitted onto a rim of the container body. An upper end of the fitting portion is at a level higher than the drinking hole. The skirt portion at its upper end is continuous with an outer-side lower end of the fitting portion. The skirt portion extends downwardly away from the rim. The skirt portion is adapted to cover a rim-side circumferential surface of the container body.

According to an aspect, a lid includes a circular top portion, a fitting portion, and a skirt portion. The top portion has a drinking hole. The fitting portion includes an inner fitting portion protruding upwardly from a peripheral end of the top portion and adapted to contact a rim-side inner circumferential surface of a container body, and an upper fitting portion thicker than the inner fitting portion and adapted to be fitted onto a rim of the container body. An upper end of the fitting portion is at a level higher than the drinking hole. The skirt portion at its upper end is continuous with an outer-side lower end of the fitting portion. The skirt portion extends downwardly away from the rim. The skirt portion is adapted to cover a rim-side circumferential surface of the container body.

A fluid chamber for a shoe may be formed using pressure channels in a forming mold, eliminating the need to insert a nozzle or needles into the chamber for inflation. A fluid chamber so formed may have a smaller seal area than a chamber formed using an inflation needle, making the chamber more visually pleasing. Apparatus and methods for forming a fluid chamber in this fashion are also disclosed.

A fluid chamber for a shoe may be formed using pressure channels in a forming mold, eliminating the need to insert a nozzle or needles into the chamber for inflation. A fluid chamber so formed may have a smaller seal area than a chamber formed using an inflation needle, making the chamber more visually pleasing. Apparatus and methods for forming a fluid chamber in this fashion are also disclosed.

An arrangement supplies a semi-finished product to a thermoforming machine as a starting material. The arrangement has a deposition device, on which cuttings of the starting material can be provided in each case, and a loading device having a table device and a movable loading unit. The loading unit has a first section and a second section that are each arranged to receive one of the cuttings at the section. At least one cutting can be deposited on the table device. The first section receives one of the cuttings from the deposition device and the second section receives another of the cuttings from the table device, and then the first section for depositing one cutting received from the deposition device on the table device and the second section for depositing the other cutting received from the table device can be positioned in a working region of the thermoforming machine.

An arrangement supplies a semi-finished product to a thermoforming machine as a starting material. The arrangement has a deposition device, on which cuttings of the starting material can be provided in each case, and a loading device having a table device and a movable loading unit. The loading unit has a first section and a second section that are each arranged to receive one of the cuttings at the section. At least one cutting can be deposited on the table device. The first section receives one of the cuttings from the deposition device and the second section receives another of the cuttings from the table device, and then the first section for depositing one cutting received from the deposition device on the table device and the second section for depositing the other cutting received from the table device can be positioned in a working region of the thermoforming machine.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge. The methods can be performed incrementally and/or in a reciprocating fashion.

The disclosure relates to forming shaped thermoplastic articles having smooth peripheries. Many thermoplastic articles have sharp edges formed upon molding or cutting the article from a feedstock sheet. Such sharp edges can damage thin plastic films or flesh which they contact, and smoothing the edges is desirable. Described herein are methods of forming a smooth periphery for such sharp-edged articles by rolling over the sharp edge. The smoothing operation is performed by forming a deflectable flange including a bend region separated from the potentially sharp peripheral edge by a spacer, deflecting a portion of the deflectable flange, and softening at least one bent portion of the deflectable flange to yield a smooth periphery upon cooling. The deflection can include curling the spacer at or near the peripheral edge. The methods can be performed incrementally and/or in a reciprocating fashion.