A method for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: supplying a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material to a forming mold according to a supplying direction, superimposing the second film on the first film, the forming mold including a lower half mold in which a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, which are movable in one direction that is perpendicular to the supplying direction; pre-heating to a softening temperature the first film of thermoplastic material, by a pre-heating device arranged upstream of the forming mold; closing the forming mold bringing the lower half mold and the upper half mold towards one another until they clamp between one another the first film of thermoplastic material and the second film of filtering material; simultaneously forming in the cavities the bodies of the capsules and the respective filtering elements, using the stretching elements. An apparatus for making a capsule provided with a body containing a filtering element suitable for receiving a product for preparing a beverage, including: one forming mold including a lower half mold wherein a plurality of cavities is obtained and an upper half mold provided with a plurality of stretching elements, one for each cavity, movable in one direction, a supplying means that is movable in one advancement direction that is perpendicular to the direction, to supply simultaneously to the forming mold and to keep taut a first film of thermoplastic material and a second film of filtering material, a pre-heating device for pre-heating at least the first film of thermoplastic material before it is supplied to the forming mold.

This thermoforming machine includes a thermoforming chamber having at least one heated air inlet through which heated air flows into the thermoforming chamber at a controlled pressure. The air inlet cooperates with a heated air flow distribution regulator located in the thermoforming chamber and through which the heated air flows out of the thermoforming chamber at a predetermined temperature. The regulator includes a heated air flow regulating mask receiving heated air flow, having a plurality of flow restricting elements providing different air flow restrictions.

A 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method based upon a 3D variable die system and including one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to continuously produce thermoplastic composite pultrusions with at least one of varying cross-section geometry and constant surface contours, varying cross-section geometry and varying surface contours, and constant cross-section geometry and varying surface contours. The 3D thermoplastic pultrusion system and method including at least one of one or more pairs of shapeable and flexible dual-temperature bands and a rotating assembly that rotates the one or more sets of 3D thermoplastic forming machines to impart a twist to the thermoplastic composite.

A system and method for forming plastic sheet into a three-dimensional shape. The plastic sheet may include one or more sheet-mounted components, such as electronics, that must be shielded from excessive heat, pressure, and/or crushing when the formation of the sheet occurs. A recess will be formed to protect against directly contacting sheet-mounted component. The recess may be aligned along the heating plate and/or the form core and/or along a protective blanket which may be set over (and under) sheet prior to heating/forming. The sheet is registered (with or without a blanket) onto a base plate, and preferably over a form core. The sheet is then raised to contact with a heating plate, and then placed downward over the (optionally heated) form core. Recess(es) align in locations corresponding to mounted component to protect same.

A system and method for forming plastic sheet into a three-dimensional shape. The plastic sheet may include one or more sheet-mounted components, such as electronics, that must be shielded from excessive heat, pressure, and/or crushing when the formation of the sheet occurs. A recess will be formed to protect against directly contacting sheet-mounted component. The recess may be aligned along the heating plate and/or the form core and/or along a protective blanket which may be set over (and under) sheet prior to heating/forming. The sheet is registered (with or without a blanket) onto a base plate, and preferably over a form core. The sheet is then raised to contact with a heating plate, and then placed downward over the (optionally heated) form core. Recess(es) align in locations corresponding to mounted component to protect same.

A pressure forming machine is provided. In one embodiment, the pressure forming machine integrates a heater in its pressure chamber, so the heater and pressure chamber are movable together with respect to a base of the pressure forming machine. The pressure chamber and base can contain locking mechanisms to create a seal between the pressure chamber and a plastic sheet used for forming. The base can also contain a separable air compressor component, so the air compressor can be physically distanced to reduce the noise experienced by a user. Other embodiments are provided.

A pressure forming machine is provided. In one embodiment, the pressure forming machine integrates a heater in its pressure chamber, so the heater and pressure chamber are movable together with respect to a base of the pressure forming machine. The pressure chamber and base can contain locking mechanisms to create a seal between the pressure chamber and a plastic sheet used for forming. The base can also contain a separable air compressor component, so the air compressor can be physically distanced to reduce the noise experienced by a user. Other embodiments are provided.

The present invention relates to a medical thread which has on one end thereof a stopper that has a polygonal cross-section, and which exhibits excellent end adhesive force and penetration resistance, and to a manufacturing method for same.

A method for producing a thermoformed product on a single machine with several stations and with different tools includes the following steps: (a) melting and homogenizing plastic granules and providing the plastic melt at a preform station; (b) producing a preform at the preform station in a preform cavity; (c) transferring the preform by a transfer carrier to a thermoforming station at the same machine, the thermoforming station having a thermoforming tool having a thermoforming cavity; (d) preferably heating the preform during the transfer; (e) thermoforming of the thermoformed product in the thermoforming cavity. Advantageously, the final thermoformed product is produced directly from the plastic granules using only a single machine, and in particular without any waste, when the preform is dimensioned in such a way that it does not present any excess with respect to the final shape of the product to be produced.

A method of placing a protective member on a workpiece includes a sheet producing step of heating a plate-shaped thermoplastic resin to soften or melt the same while gripping and pulling outer edges of the thermoplastic resin in at least four directions to produce a sheet-like protective member, and after the sheet producing step, an integrating step of heating and bringing the sheet-like protective member into intimate contact with the workpiece to integrate the workpiece and the protective member with each other.