End of arm tooling system and a method for manufacture is provided. The end or arm tooling system provides automated material handling, part manipulation, preforming and transferring of a pre-impregnated carbon fiber material. A robot is connected to end of arm tooling for automated material handling and transfer operations from at least a lower preform tool system where light compression is applied to a molding press. The end or arm tooling system includes a cured silicone membrane as well as vacuum and air blow off, allowing for robotically preforming, picking up and dropping-off pre-impregnated carbon fiber materials which are notoriously sticky and difficult to handle.

An apparatus for forming a pouch-shaped secondary battery case is provided. The apparatus for forming a pouch-shaped secondary battery case includes a die having a forming recess formed therein, a punch configured to be brought into tight contact with an inner surface of the forming recess while moving upwards and downwards above the die, and a pouch sheet fixing unit configured to fix an edge of the pouch sheet while moving upwards and downwards above the die. The punch is provided with a plurality of air channels configured to blow outside air in a direction toward the forming recess or to suction air. The apparatus is capable of determining whether a pouch sheet is defective and preventing cracks from being formed in a receiving recess. A forming method using the same is also provided.

An imprint apparatus includes a mold holder that holds a mold, a substrate holder that holds a substrate by suction, a driving device that brings the mold into contact with an imprint material on the substrate by relatively bringing the mold holder and the substrate holder close to each other, and a controller. The controller controls the driving device so as to bring the mold into contact with the imprint material in a state in which the substrate is deformed into a convex shape with respect to the mold by controlling pressures inside the plurality of suction regions based on surface shape data of the substrate held by the substrate holder.

A tool for curing a composite layup comprises a tool body having a surface adapted to support a composite layup thereon. The tool includes an integrated breather for allowing removal of air from the layup during curing.

An apparatus includes a matched die mold including a male die mold and a female die mold wherein the male die mold includes a first contoured surface and the female die mold includes a second contoured surface. The apparatus further includes a frame which defines an opening wherein the frame is positioned between the male die mold and the female die mold such that the frame is adapted to position a film layer across the opening and the opening is positioned in alignment with at least one of the first contoured surface and the second contoured surface.

Apparatuses, devices, systems and methods for resin transfer moulding of composite articles are disclosed. A mould enclosure enclosing a fibre pack is provided and one or more resin ports are provided along a resin flow path within the fibre pack. Resin ingress into the fibre pack is controlled via valves or a flow control mechanism, each being operable to impose a flow rate on resin passing into the fibre pack.

End of arm tooling system and a method for manufacture is provided. The end or arm tooling system provides automated material handling, part manipulation, preforming and transferring of a pre-impregnated carbon fiber material. A robot is connected to end of arm tooling for automated material handling and transfer operations from at least a lower preform tool system where light compression is applied to a molding press. The end or arm tooling system includes a cured silicone membrane as well as vacuum and air blow off, allowing for robotically preforming, picking up and dropping-off pre-impregnated carbon fiber materials which are notoriously sticky and difficult to handle.

There is provided an apparatus for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape, the apparatus comprising: (a) a main body (110) comprising a first opening (112), a second opening and a hollow bore (116) connecting the first opening (112) with the second opening, the hollow bore (116) being adapted to receive a separation foil shaped to cover at least a part of the hollow bore surface; (b) a piston (120) adapted to fit moveably into the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil; (c) a base plate (130) comprising a protrusion, wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to be inserted into the first opening (112) in such a manner that the protrusion extends into a part of the hollow bore (116) containing the separation foil, and wherein the base plate (130) is adapted to transfer heat from a heating unit to a thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion (132); (d) a vacuum connector (142) adapted to be connected to a vacuum source; (e) a lid (140) adapted to fit moveably into the second opening and adapted to apply a force to the piston (120) when the vacuum connector (142) is connected to the vacuum source such that the piston (120) applies a compressing force to the thermoplastic material (150) resting on the protrusion. There are further provided a method and a system for molding a thermoplastic material into a homogenous sample body having a predetermined shape.

A removable component for use with an earphone is disclosed. As an example, the removable component can be an ear tip. According to one aspect, an improved ear tip can be provided for use with a headphone. The ear tip is suitable for in-ear operation and can have a cosmetic deformable outer member. The deformable outer member can enable the ear tip to readily conform to a user's ear. The ear tip can also include an inner member to structurally support the outer member and to facilitate attachment to a headphone. Methods for forming such ear tips are also disclosed.

Apparatuses and methods for forming a joggle and a longitudinal ridge in a multi-ply composite charge are disclosed. Charges may be formed in a forming press that comprises a joggled die, with a longitudinal ridge and a joggle that crosses the longitudinal ridge, and a conforming die, with a series of longitudinally-spaced die fingers. The die fingers include pairs of die members configured to move laterally between a closed position and an open position, with each die member configured to tilt longitudinally.