A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament from recycled polymer. In various embodiments, the method includes: (1) reducing recycled polymer material into polymer flakes; (2) cleansing the polymer flakes; (3) melting the flakes into a polymer melt; (4) removing water and contaminants from the polymer melt by dividing the polymer melt into a plurality of polymer streams and exposing those streams to pressures below 5 millibars; (5) recombining the streams; and (6) using the resulting purified polymer to produce bulked continuous carpet filament.

A heat-shrinkable multilayer film for being filled with contents, comprising an outer surface layer (A) comprising a heat-resistant thermoplastic resin, an intermediate layer (B) comprising a polyamide-based resin, an inner surface layer (D) comprising an ethylene-based copolymer, and adhesion strength between inner surface layers after treatment with 80 C. hot water being not less than 10 N/15 mm. The polyamide-based heat-shrinkable multilayer film obtained in this manner has optimal characteristics for applications that primarily require strength, and has greatly improved self-weldability demanded in packaging films for meat products such as fresh and processed meats.

A method of forming a thermoformed article may include melt extruding polyethylene to form an extruded sheet. The rheological breadth parameter of the polyethylene may change by no more than about 5% after extrusion relative to the rheological breadth parameter of the polyethylene prior to extrusion. The extruded sheet may be thermoformed within a mold to form the thermoformed article. During thermoforming, the extruded sheet may be subjected to solid-state stretching in one or more directions. The thermoformed article may be retrieved from the mold. The polyethylene may have a rheological breadth parameter of from 0.20 to 0.40, a multimodal molecular weight distribution, a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of from 5 to 18, a density ranging from 0.940 to 0.970 g/cc, may exhibit tensile strain-hardening, or combinations thereof.

Injection molding apparatuses and methods wherein a valve pin is controllably driven upstream and downstream along an axis between a first closed position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a full open position and one or more intermediate positions, wherein the valve pin is drivable to be disposed or held in a selected intermediate position for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

A film in which a decorative design layer is formed on a base film is positioned and locked relative to a cavity mold while the mold is open. A pressing portion includes a tip portion made of a soft material. The tip portion pushes the film toward the cavity mold and presses the film against a portion of the molding surface. In this state, vacuum suction causes the film to stick to the molding surface. After that, an article body is molded by injecting molten plastic into the cavity while the mold is clamped. The obtained decorative molded article includes the decorative design layer that decorates the design surface of the article body by causing the decorative design layer of the film to stick to the design surface of the article body.

The invention provides a heating head for a three-dimensional printing pen. The heating head includes a heating pipe, a heating member, a heat insulation pipe, a heat insulation sleeve, and a heat sink. The heating member is disposed on the heating pipe. The heat insulation pipe penetrates into the heating pipe. The heat insulation sleeve is sleeved on the heating pipe and opposite to the heating member. The heat insulation sleeve partly covers the heat insulation pipe, and the heat insulation pipe and the heat insulation sleeve are separated by the heating pipe. The heat sink and the heat insulation sleeve mutually lean against, wherein the heat insulation sleeve is located between the heating member and the heat sink, and the heat insulation pipe penetrates into the heat sink.

A system for manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament that is adapted for providing a polymer melt and dividing the polymer melt into a plurality of streams (e.g., at least six or eight streams) to increase a surface area of the polymer melt. The plurality of streams is then exposed to a pressure that is below approximately 5 millibars. The streams are then recombined into a single polymer stream and formed into bulked continuous carpet filament. In various embodiments, an extruder, such as a multi-screw extruder, is used to divide the polymer melt into the plurality of streams.

A method for manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament, the method comprising: (1) reducing a chamber pressure within a chamber to below about 5 millibars; (2) after reducing the chamber pressure to below about 5 millibars, providing a polymer melt to the chamber; (3) separating the polymer melt into at least eight streams; (4) while the at least eight streams of the polymer melt are within the chamber, exposing the at least eight streams of the polymer melt to the chamber pressure of below about 5 millibars; (5) after exposing the at least eight streams of the polymer melt to the chamber pressure of below about 5 millibars, recombining the at least eight streams into a single polymer stream; and (6) forming polymer from the single polymer stream into bulked continuous carpet filament.

Extrusion heads, methods of forming an extrusion head, and methods of forming an object are disclosed herein. An extrusion head may include a plurality of nozzles. Each nozzle may include a first opening configured to receive a solid material therein, a second opening configured to eject a molten material therefrom, a bore extending through the nozzle and connecting the first opening and the second opening, and an actuator positioned adjacent to the first opening and/or the second opening. The solid material may be heated to form the molten material. The additive manufacturing apparatus may further include a control device configured to signal each actuator to adjust an amount of the solid material received in the first opening and an amount of the molten material ejected from the second opening.

A method of manufacturing bulked continuous carpet filament that includes providing a polymer melt and separating the polymer melt from the extruder into at least eight streams. The multiple streams are exposed to a chamber pressure within a chamber that is below approximately 25 millibars, or another predetermined pressure. The streams are recombined into a single polymer stream. Polymer from the polymer stream is then formed into bulked continuous carpet filament.