The present invention provides a moldable mixture containing large portion of agricultural fibers and small portion of a binding agent and a flow-promoting filler material. The moldable mixture is substantially free of formaldehyde, with low moisture content and high draw ratio. The present invention also provides methods of manufacturing molded products and related parts, based on the claimed moldable mixture. Molded products (830) and related parts such as runner (810) and plank (820) with light weight, high density and more complex profile are manufactured by the claimed methods including steps of providing required materials for a moldable mixture, mixing the provided materials to form a moldable mixture, shaking the moldable mixture in preparing for compression molding and compression molding the moldable mixture to form molded products and related parts.

In methods and apparatuses for producing auxetic foam from conventional foam, conventional foam is compressed into a mold before thermal, chemical or thermo-chemical treatment processes are performed. A segmented mold is accommodated in a compressing apparatus. After compressing the foam between the mold segments, the mold is fastened shut and removed from the compressing apparatus. The forces applied to any given volume of foam and the amounts by which the foam is compressed while being processed are controlled to impart desired mechanical properties to the produced foam. Poisson's ratio and density of discrete portions of finished foam shapes are reliably predicted and controlled to achieve uniform and non-uniform mechanical properties within a single continuous quantity of foam.

Disclosed are methods for utilizing reclaimed carpet materials in the manufacture of high density composites. Also disclosed are products manufactured by the disclosed methods.

Disclosed is a materials handling system, a patterned product, and process of fabricating a patterned product, such as non-pvc thermoplastic, through-color, flooring product includes a narrow, long-grained, striated color pattern. The process includes mixing colored particles into a mixed composition, receiving the mixed composition between calendering rolls wherein a front calendering roll which is hotter than a back calendering roll, and forming a product with an elongated pattern. The materials handling system includes a mixing portion disposed to mix colored particles into a mixed composition. The system also include a processing portion disposed to receive the mixed composition, the processing portion having a front calendering roll which is hotter than a back calendering roll.

A powdery-material mixing degree measurement device includes a supplier configured to be fed with a mixed-powdery materials, a discharger configured to discharge to feed, with the mixed-powdery materials, a filling device configured to fill a die bore of the compression-molding machine with a powdery material, a rotator including a plurality of movable portions and configured to capture the mixed-powdery materials fed through the supplier and to transfer the mixed-powdery materials to the discharger a first sensor configured to measure a mixing degree of the mixed-powdery materials captured by the movable portions of the rotator, a second sensor configured to detect whether or not the mixed-powdery materials in the supplier have an upper surface level kept within a constant target range, and a controller configured to adjust rotational speed of the rotator such that the upper surface level of the mixed-powdery materials in the supplier is kept within the constant target range.

A powder spraying device has a first powder spraying tube and a second powder spraying tube arranged parallelly. The first powder spraying tube has a first opening formed on a bottom thereof. A first gate is mounted moveably on the first opening to selectively cover the first opening. The second powder spraying tube has a second opening formed on a bottom thereof. A second gate is mounted moveably on the second opening to selectively cover the second opening. When the first powder spraying tube and the second powder spraying tube are filled with different plastic particles, the first opening and the second opening are opened and closed at different times to spray different plastic particles so that the specific molding method requirements are met.

A powder application apparatus for an at least partially meltable powder to be applied onto a feeding element for producing reinforcing elements comprises a powder container. In the area of an outlet of the powder container a template for defining a basic shape of a reinforcing element to be produced is provided. Further, a closing device for opening and closing the outlet is provided. For producing reinforcing elements having different stiffness, barrier elements in particular connected with the template are provided. The barrier elements reduce the powder supply to the feeding element such that a reinforcing element with areas of different material thickness are created. A method for producing such a reinforcing element.

In methods and apparatuses for producing auxetic foam from conventional foam, conventional foam is compressed into a mold before thermal, chemical or thermo-chemical treatment processes are performed. A segmented mold is accommodated in a compressing apparatus. After compressing the foam between the mold segments, the mold is fastened shut and removed from the compressing apparatus. The forces applied to any given volume of foam and the amounts by which the foam is compressed while being processed are controlled to impart desired mechanical properties to the produced foam. Poisson's ratio and density of discrete portions of finished foam shapes are reliably predicted and controlled to achieve uniform and non-uniform mechanical properties within a single continuous quantity of foam.

A method and system for feeding a lubricating or releasing agent from a dosing station to one or more pressing tools arranged in a pressing chamber of a tablet press. The tablet press is configured with a feed pipe for feeding the lubricating or release agent from the dosing station to the one or more pressing tools of a pressing chamber of the tablet press and the feed pipe is configured with a shut-off valve disposed in-line with the feed pip for controlling the flow of the lubricating or release agent to the pressing chamber. The method comprises the steps of: producing a negative pressure with respect to the surroundings of the pressing chamber of the tablet press, measuring a pressure in one of the feed pipe and the pressing chamber, and issuing a signal indicative of the measured pressure and issuing an enable signal to open a valve in response to the pressure signal.

A powder application apparatus for an at least partially meltable powder to be applied onto a feeding element for producing reinforcing elements comprises a powder container. In the area of an outlet of the powder container a template for defining a basic shape of a reinforcing element to be produced is provided. Further, a closing device for opening and closing the outlet is provided. For producing reinforcing elements having different stiffness, barrier elements in particular connected with the template are provided. The barrier elements reduce the powder supply to the feeding element such that a reinforcing element with areas of different material thickness are created. A method for producing such a reinforcing element.