A method for producing a reinforcement member of composite material. The method includes producing a planar preform by stacking sheets of pre-impregnated fibers, heating the preform, and deforming the preform on a mold surmounted by an upper die whose shape confirms to a central portion of the reinforcement member to be obtained. The reinforcement member wings are in contact with the mold at two opposite lateral sides of the upper die after deformation. The deformed preform is also baked. Prior to deformation of the preform, a coating is applied promoting a sliding between the preform and the mold during the deformation. The coating comprises two tear-off strips superimposed on each other. A first tear-off strip is in the form of a pre-impregnated material in contact with the preform and a second tear-off strip is in the form of a dry material superimposed on the first tear-off strip.

A rotary thermoforming apparatus including a rotatable drum having a plurality of cavity flats positioned on an outer surface of the drum together defining a mold cavity section of the drum, each cavity flat having one or more mold cavities, a plug assist assembly positioned adjacent each corresponding cavity flat when in a first retracted state, the plug assist assembly secured to, and rotatable with, the outer surface of the drum, each plug assist assembly having one or more plug assist members corresponding to the one or more mold cavities in the adjacent corresponding cavity flat, wherein each plug assist member is extendable into its corresponding mold cavity, and retractable from its corresponding mold cavity, wherein each plug assist assembly is extendable from the first retracted state to an extended state positioned over the corresponding cavity flat, and wherein each plug assist assembly is retractable from the extended state back to the first retracted state.

A multilayer thermoformable film to protect the surface of a workpiece includes an underlayer having first and second faces. The underlayer is made from an adhesive material configured to adhere to the surface of the workpiece by the first face. At least one layer of polymer material is attached to the second face of the adhesive underlayer. The layer of polymer material is resistant to erosion by solid particles and to erosion by liquid particles. It is formed from a polymer material chosen from a polyurethane, a polyether ether ketone and a polyethylene having a very high molecular weight, with a Shore D hardness of between 50 and 65 D. A method of surface protection of the workpiece includes thermoforming the film in a shape adapted to match the shape of at least a portion of the workpiece and applying the film thermoformed onto the surface of the workpiece.

A method of manufacturing a plastic container having a curled rim (320) comprises the steps of providing a sheet of plastic material; drawing a portion thereof into a mould (120) to form a bottom and wall (310′) of the container, leaving a surrounding portion of material to form a rim (320) of the container; cutting the rim loose from a remaining portion of material; and curling the rim. In the curling step, an inner part of the rim is supported by a supporting member while an outer part is pressed by a pressing member (230) moving relative to the supporting member for the rim to be bent around the supporting member.

A method for beautifying a balsa wood model aircraft with a thermal shrink covering film, so that the balsa wood model aircraft with a thermal shrink covering film is obtained. This method makes a model aircraft colorful, reduces labor costs, improves the beautifying and painting effect of the model aircraft, and also improves the pneumatic performance of the model aircraft.

The objects of this invention are to set a predetermined height position for the portion of parison or preform that is the first to come in contact with body molding planes of a split mold and to prevent air from being trapped between in-mold labels and the container which is blow molded from the parison or the preform. In-mold labels are fixed to the entire outer surface of body of main container. An annular thinnest wall portion is formed in the wall of the body so that the thinnest wall portion is the first to come in contact with the body molding planes of a split mold. Under this construction, no bulge of air is formed between the body and the in-mold labels fixed to the entire surface of the body.

The present disclosure is directed to dunnage bags formed using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and processes for manufacturing these PET dunnage bags. Generally, the PET dunnage bags of the present disclosure include a PET outer bag, an inner bladder enclosed within the PET outer bag, and a valve assembly that enables air to be introduced into (or escape out of) the inner bladder to inflate (or deflate) the inner bladder, thereby inflating (or deflating) the PET dunnage bag.

Bone tissue biomimetic materials, biomimetic constructs that can be formed with the materials, and methods for forming the materials and constructs are described. The bone tissue biomimetic materials include electrospun nanofibers formed of polymers that are conjugated with peptides that include acidic amino acid residues. The materials can incorporate high levels of mineralization so as to provide mechanical strength and promote osteogenesis and/or osteoconductivity on/in the bone tissue biomimetic materials. The materials and constructs can be utilized in forming tissue engineered structures for in vitro and in vivo use. Macroscopic bone tissue biomimetic scaffolds formed from the materials can be seeded with osteogenic cells and utilized to develop bone graft materials that can exhibit strength and osteoconductivity similar to the native bone and that exhibit uniform distribution of nutrients in the scaffolds.

Methods and apparatus are provided for forming a patient-specific surgical implant based on mold system. The apparatus comprises a forming tool and a mold that may be generated using imaging and processing techniques and rapid prototyping methods. The mold apparatus includes at least two non-adjacent surface features for securing an implant forming material (such as a titanium mesh) during the forming process, enabling the implant forming material to be stretched beyond its elastic and thus permanently deformed with the correct patient-specific curvature. The implant may include one or more anatomic surface features for guidance and registration when transferring the implant to a patient.

The invention relates to a method for producing hollow bodies from thermoplastic material and to an apparatus for carrying out the method. The method comprises the molding of at least two sheet-like preforms in web form of thermoplastic material into two complementary shells in a multi-part tool, which in a closed position forms a mold impression, and the joining together of the shells to form an essentially closed hollow body, the preforms being brought between the parts of the tool in an opened receiving position of the parts of the tool and the preforms being placed into the part-cavities by applying differential pressure and being at least partially molded in them into shells. The shells are joined together to form an essentially closed hollow body by closing the tool to form a closed mold impression. The method is distinguished by the fact that the preforms are molded in the part-cavities while the parts of the tool are located in the opened receiving position.