Technologies are provided herein for processing edible materials using tools associated with a fabrication system. In one aspect, a fabricator includes a control module and a drive assembly controlled by the control module. The fabricator also includes at least one food processing tool head coupled to the drive assembly that can process material for fabricating an edible structure on a build surface.

Technologies are provided herein for a modular deposition tool design that allows for both, the fast interchanging of materials and for easy cleaning of all wetted surfaces. A drive assembly for use in a solid freeform fabrication system, includes a drive module having a drive mechanism and a detachable material bay assembly that is detachable from the drive module. The material bay assembly includes a material bay holder, a material deposition tool, and a corresponding material bay actuation mechanism that can engage with the drive mechanism of the drive module when the material bay assembly is coupled to the drive module such that when the drive mechanism of the drive module is actuated, the material bay actuation mechanism is actuated, which causes the material deposition tool to deposit material from a material bay inserted in the material bay holder.

Technologies are provided herein for a modular deposition tool design that allows for both, the fast interchanging of materials and for easy cleaning of all wetted surfaces. A drive assembly for use in a solid freeform fabrication system, includes a drive module having a drive mechanism and a detachable material bay assembly that is detachable from the drive module. The material bay assembly includes a material bay holder, a material deposition tool, and a corresponding material bay actuation mechanism that can engage with the drive mechanism of the drive module when the material bay assembly is coupled to the drive module such that when the drive mechanism of the drive module is actuated, the material bay actuation mechanism is actuated, which causes the material deposition tool to deposit material from a material bay inserted in the material bay holder.

To obtain an integrated foam-molded product whose manufacturing cost is reduced and which makes an effective use of a property of an integration target. Foaming heat generated at the time of the foaming of a polyurethane foam raw material, whose influence has been conventionally prevented by contriving a special measure, is positively used. The integration target is influenced by foaming heat generated at the time of the foaming of the polyurethane foam raw material in a mold, to thermally deform into a desired shape along a mold shape. Consequently, it is possible to mold the integration target into an arbitrary shape in a step of integrating the integration target with a polyurethane foam layer in the mold by integrated foaming, and therefore, there is no need to work the integration target to a state closer to a final shape in a step before it is disposed in the mold, which can simplify manufacturing steps and reduce manufacturing cost.

To obtain an integrated foam-molded product whose manufacturing cost is reduced and which makes an effective use of a property of an integration target. Foaming heat generated at the time of the foaming of a polyurethane foam raw material, whose influence has been conventionally prevented by contriving a special measure, is positively used. The integration target is influenced by foaming heat generated at the time of the foaming of the polyurethane foam raw material in a mold, to thermally deform into a desired shape along a mold shape. Consequently, it is possible to mold the integration target into an arbitrary shape in a step of integrating the integration target with a polyurethane foam layer in the mold by integrated foaming, and therefore, there is no need to work the integration target to a state closer to a final shape in a step before it is disposed in the mold, which can simplify manufacturing steps and reduce manufacturing cost.

An upper shell panel may be placed between first and second sections of a mold. The first section may include one or more expansion cavities and the second section may include one or more pour cavities. A foam-producing chemical mixture may be delivered into the one or more pour cavities and the mold may be closed. The delivered foam-producing chemical mixture may be allowed to expand within the closed mold and to force regions of the upper shell panel into the one or more expansion cavities. The upper shell panel may then be removed from the mold subsequent to the expansion of the delivered mixture.

An upper shell panel may be placed between first and second sections of a mold. The first section may include one or more expansion cavities and the second section may include one or more pour cavities. A foam-producing chemical mixture may be delivered into the one or more pour cavities and the mold may be closed. The delivered foam-producing chemical mixture may be allowed to expand within the closed mold and to force regions of the upper shell panel into the one or more expansion cavities. The upper shell panel may then be removed from the mold subsequent to the expansion of the delivered mixture.

An upper shell panel may be placed between first and second sections of a mold. The first section may include one or more expansion cavities and the second section may include one or more pour cavities. A foam-producing chemical mixture may be delivered into the one or more pour cavities and the mold may be closed. The delivered foam-producing chemical mixture may be allowed to expand within the closed mold and to force regions of the upper shell panel into the one or more expansion cavities. The upper shell panel may then be removed from the mold subsequent to the expansion of the delivered mixture.

An upper shell panel may be placed between first and second sections of a mold. The first section may include one or more expansion cavities and the second section may include one or more pour cavities. A foam-producing chemical mixture may be delivered into the one or more pour cavities and the mold may be closed. The delivered foam-producing chemical mixture may be allowed to expand within the closed mold and to force regions of the upper shell panel into the one or more expansion cavities. The upper shell panel may then be removed from the mold subsequent to the expansion of the delivered mixture.

An assembly for molding a composite article including a foam core and a layer is disclosed. The assembly includes a mold. The mold has an inner surface and at least partially defines a cavity, one or more gas discharge ports, and one or more retaining elements. Each of the one or more gas discharge ports has a passageway opening in fluid communication with the cavity of the mold the mold. The assembly further includes one or more sealing elements moveably engaged with the mold. Each of the one or more sealing elements includes a head and is shaped to engage the retaining element on the mold in a vented position. Further, each of the one or more sealing elements corresponds with each of the one or more gas discharge ports.