A device for moulding plastic parts, which comprises a first element (100) with at least one cavity (101) configured to receive and shape a portion of plastic material, and at least one second element (200) configured to cover the at least one cavity (101) of the first element (100), wherein the device is configured to shape the portion of plastic material by suction and/or blowing of a gaseous fluid, wherein the first element (100) comprises: a coolant inlet (108); at least one coolant pipe (107) connected to the coolant inlet (108) with a plurality of spray orifices (110) configured to spray the coolant fluid against the bottom face of the at least one cavity (101); and at least one drain (109) configured to allow the discharge of the coolant coming from the at least one coolant pipe (107).

An instrumented mold formed by an assembly of strata includes, within the assembly of strata, a measurement structure provided with at least one pressure sensor and/or at least one temperature sensor or any other sensor capable of measuring a physical quantity, the structure typically being in the form of a flexible support housed between two strata.

An article of footwear includes a sole having a lower surface, and a reactive element disposed on the lower surface of the sole. The reactive element has an exposed surface, and the reactive element is configured to transition the exposed surface between a first state and a second state in response to a compression force applied to the reactive element by an external ground surface in a user activity, to prevent accumulation of ground surface material, such as mud, dirt, clay, sand, slush, etc., compacting on the sole of the article of footwear in the user activity. The reactive element may include an elastomeric dome shaped popper that compresses flat in response to a compression force and then pops back to a non-compressed state in response to release of the compression force.

A method for thermoforming synthetic paper is provided, more concretely for thermoforming holding strips of synthetic paper, the strips being used to produce sheet-holding devices of a specific configuration. The devices can be used in the assembly of sheet holders such as calendars, white sheet dispensers or information cards.

A microprotrusion device (1A) according to the present invention includes a needle-like and hollow first protrusion portion (3) that is formed so as to protrude from one surface (2a) of a substrate sheet (2) and a hollow second protrusion portion (4) that is formed so as to protrude from a vicinity of the first protrusion portion (3) on the one surface (2a) of the substrate sheet (2) and has a protrusion height lower than that of the first protrusion portion (3). The first protrusion portion (3) has an opening at its tip end portion, and a hollow portion (30) of the first protrusion portion (3) is in communication with the outside via the opening portion (31). The opening portion (31) is formed at the tip end of the first protrusion portion (3).

A method for making a structural sandwich panel includes the steps of positioning a first and second thermoplastic skin elements in overlying relationship with respect to a heated male and heated female die molds respectively. A first pressure reduction is applied between the first thermoplastic skin element and the heated male die mold and a second pressure reduction is applied between the second thermoplastic and the heated female die mold. A core panel element is positioned between the heated male die mold and the heated female die mold wherein the core panel element has a first adhesive on a first side and has a second adhesive on a second opposing side. The male and female die molds are closed and exert a pressure onto the core panel element to secure the first and second thermoplastic skin elements to the core panel element and form the core panel element.

Described herein are microplates having wells with ultra-thin walls and methods of forming thereof. The microplates can be made by thermoforming processes that use ultrasound, electricity, etc., to heat a thin polymer sheet or film prior to molding. Vacuum can be optionally applied to help form or shape the wells.

A method for making a containment element that has a bottom wall (3), a lateral wall (4) connected at the bottom to the bottom wall (3) and a shaped perimetric flange that extends outwards from an upper part of the lateral wall (4), wherein the method comprises a thermoforming operating step in which a flat sheet is thermoformed and the bottom wall (3), the lateral wall (4) and an annular band (2) that projects outwards from the upper part of the lateral wall (4) are created and, subsequently, a hot bending operating step for bending the annular band (2), dividing the annular band (2) into a first annular portion (6) and a second annular portion (7) which are concentric and are not coplanar, after the hot bending the annular band (2) constituting the shaped perimetric flange. An apparatus and a machine able to implement all or part of that method are also claimed.

A composite skin is attached to an underlying structure by fasteners that are countersunk into the structure. The composite skin comprises a thermoplastic material that has been melted and formed into a countersink in the structure using a heated tool.

A thermoforming device is described. It relates to a mold assembly including a first and second mold, and to a mold that can be used in a thermoforming device. It also relates to a method for thermoforming a product. The thermoforming device is characterized in that the thermoforming device comprises a second pre-stretcher, in addition to a first pre-stretcher and a calibration element, and that the second pre-stretcher is at least partially and moveably arranged in a second mold body. A movement relative to the second mold body and towards the same forming cavity of the first pre-stretcher, the second pre-stretcher, and the calibration element, can be individually controlled, and the second pre-stretcher at least partially surrounds the first pre-stretcher and the calibration element.