A method and apparatus for manufacturing a formed article of a composite material. The formed article is manufactured by heating and pressurizing a thermoplastic resin material and fabric material. The method includes a preforming process in which the material to be formed is put in a preforming mold with a release sheet arranged between the material and a part of the preforming mold. The material is heated and pressurized to impregnate the thermoplastic resin material into the fabric material, thus forming an impregnated intermediate material. Then, in a transport process the impregnated intermediate material in a heated state is taken out from the preforming mold with the release sheet left attached thereto, and transported. Finally there is a forming process in which the impregnated intermediate material is accommodated in the forming mold and the impregnated intermediate material is formed into the formed article of the composite material by pressurizing.

A method for rapid heat cycle compression molding comprises placing an assemblage of feed constituents in a mold, placing the mold between two hot platens of a hot press, heating the mold by pressing the two hot platens against the mold, placing the mold between two cold platens of a cold press, cooling the mold by pressing the two cold platens against the mold, and ejecting the part from the mold.

A method for rapid heat cycle compression molding comprises placing an assemblage of feed constituents in a mold, placing the mold between two hot platens of a hot press, heating the mold by pressing the two hot platens against the mold, placing the mold between two cold platens of a cold press, cooling the mold by pressing the two cold platens against the mold, and ejecting the part from the mold.

This disclosure provides economical and effective methods and apparatus for repairing scratches and scuffs on refillable bottle surfaces that minimally contaminates the bottle during the refurbishing process. In one aspect, the method comprises the steps of: a) adding at least one fluid into the polymeric packaging material such as a bottle to form at least a partially filled packaging material; and b) applying at least one heat source to an exterior surface of the at least partially filled packaging material to form a repaired polymeric packaging material. Apparatus and recycling systems that incorporate this method are also disclosed.

Devices, systems, and methods of improving heat transfer between a composite wind turbine blade surface are provided to reduce cure time. The assembly includes molds having heating wires disposed proximate the mold surface for delivering heat to the composite blade during layup and/or resin cure. Additionally, the vacuum bag disposed on top of the composite part includes a plurality of fluid channels for distributing a thermal fluid (e.g. heated/cooled water, air or oil) across the composite surface (opposite the mold surface).

The invention relates to a mold for small-sized parts, comprising a casing configured to be assembled on a press platen (101, 102) the casing comprising a housing receiving an insert; the insert comprising a housing for a die comprising a molding surface (121, 122); a device for heating the die, the device comprising a rod (131, 132) made of a material susceptible to induction heating mounted in the insert (350) and having one end in contact with the die, a coil (141, 142) surrounding the rod and connected to a high-frequency current generator (151, 152) such that when the coil is electrically powered, it generates an induced current in the rod (131, 132), heating the rod by induction, the rod transmitting heat to the die, wherein an outer diameter of the rod is greater than or equal to an outer diameter of a perimeter delimiting the molding surface (121, 122).

Machine (10) for the temperature control of part of an industrial plant adapted for the formation of a product, comprising at least one thermoregulating hydraulic circuit (11) adapted to be operationally connected with a part of an industrial plant adapted for the formation of a product, wherein a thermoregulating liquid circulates in said hydraulic circuit (11); said hydraulic circuit comprisinga recirculating pump (12) for the thermoregulating liquid, of the variable flow type,downstream of the pump (12), a section (13) for delivery of the thermoregulating liquid from the hydraulic circuit (11) to the product formation part (B) of an industrial plant,a section (14) for returning the thermoregulating liquid from the product formation part (B) of an industrial plant to the hydraulic circuit (11),a heat exchange unit (15) for the thermoregulating liquid, placed between said return section (14) and said pump (12), wherein the thermoregulating liquid is thermoregulated, said machine (10) further comprising an electronic control and management apparatus (30), in which there is set at least one value for the operating temperature of the thermoregulating liquid and at least one predetermined time-based pump flow rate variation profile, according to which, upon receipt of a synchronization signal at a predetermined moment of the industrial process of product formation in the part (B) of the plant to be thermoregulated, the pump (12) moves the thermoregulating liquid with a variable flow rate based on said predetermined time-based flow variation profile.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a formed article of a composite material. The formed article is manufactured by heating and pressurizing a thermoplastic resin material and fabric material. The method includes a preforming process in which the material to be formed is put in a preforming mold with a release sheet arranged between the material and a part of the preforming mold. The material is heated and pressurized to impregnate the thermoplastic resin material into the fabric material, thus forming an impregnated intermediate material. Then, in a transport process the impregnated intermediate material in a heated state is taken out from the preforming mold with the release sheet left attached thereto, and transported. Finally there is a forming process in which the impregnated intermediate material is accommodated in the forming mold and the impregnated intermediate material is formed into the formed article of the composite material by pressurizing.