A system for forming a thermoplastic may comprise a mandrel configured to receive a thermoplastic charge. The mandrel may rotate about a mandrel axis. A series of rollers may be located circumferentially about the mandrel and configured to apply radially inward pressure. A heating element may be located upstream of the series of rollers.

A composite material 10 for forming custom fitted orthopedic and other products. The composite material is easily formable when heated to temperatures of about two hundred degrees Fahrenheit for a time of at least six to eight minutes and then is rigid at temperatures of about one hundred thirty degrees. The composite material can be sewn and formed in complex shapes when initially heated to about two hundred degrees. Closure attachments 60 can be secured to the composite material as needed on site rather than at the manufacturing facility. The composite material can be custom fitted to a patient in situ.

A heating module for heating at least one film element. The heating module has two or more heating segments with in each case one or more heating elements for heating a first area of the film element assigned to the respective heating segment, wherein the heating module and/or at least one of the heating segments includes at least one sensor for measuring the state of the heating of the film element.

A fluid chamber (20) for a shoe may be formed using pressure channels (190) in a forming mold (100A), 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 disclosed.

A method includes: (a.) providing a fabric comprising a first surface and a second surface; (b.) placing the fabric on a support structure adapted to permit gas circulation through at least a portion of a surface of the support structure, wherein the fabric is placed such that the first surface of the fabric faces the surface of the support structure and such that the fabric is arranged at least in part over a raised or embossed portion of the support structure; (c.) providing at least one coating comprising a first coating surface and a second coating surface opposite the first coating surface; (d.) placing the coating at least partially on the second surface of the fabric, such that the first coating surface faces the fabric; and (e.) applying a gas pressure differential between the second coating surface and the first surface of the fabric.

The invention relates to a workpiece having a shape produced by thermoforming from at least one sheet (3) of plastic material, such as polycarbonate, and at least one applied element (6, 8; 7, 9) that is applied to the at least one sheet and secured there, characterised in that the securing of the at least one applied element to the at least one sheet takes place at least partially by means of crimping.

Provided is a method for producing a molded article obtained by integrating a decoration layer onto a surface of a porous body including a reinforcing fiber. The method includes: a preheating process at which the decoration layer is preheated; and a shaping and integrating process at which the porous body is pressed to the decoration layer or the decoration layer is pressed to the porous body to shape the decoration layer, and the porous body and the decoration layer are integrated to each other.

An assembly and method for steaming and/or heating a trim cover of an upholstered article is disclosed. The assembly includes a stand having a bottom end and a top end, an open frame attached to the top end of the stand and adapted to receive at least a portion of the trim cover, and a steam supply system. At least a portion of the steam supply system is adapted to fit within the frame and the steam supply system applies steam towards at least one interior steam zone of the trim cover.

A PVB film for HUD, a forming mold and a forming method thereof are presented. The accuracy error of HUD imaging achieved by the PVB film for HUD is 0.1 mrad. The forming mold includes an upper mold and a lower mold, the two of which can form an enclosed mold cavity when clamped together, wherein protective films are disposed on inner surfaces of the upper mold and the lower mold, respectively, for supporting PVB material and preventing the PVB material from bonding with the upper mold and the lower mold, and wherein shapes of the protective films match shapes of the upper mold and the lower mold.

A plastic sheet supplying apparatus for a thermoforming machine having an adjustable pin is proposed. Such a plastic sheet supplying apparatus for a thermoforming machine having an adjustable pin according to the present invention has the technical feature in which in a process in which a plastic sheet adhering to a material of a door trim is heated, fixing pins supporting a lower portion of an edge portion of the plastic sheet are configured to have adjustable positions so as to be moved in response to the change of the size of the plastic sheet caused by heating, so that the entire portion of the plastic sheet is uniformly heated and is also uniformly stretched without wrinkling, whereby the quality of a molded product is improved, and fabric consumption is reduced.