Process and relative machine for moulding a thermoplastic material for producing a finished article having a shape, wherein the process comprises: providing a mould (99) comprising a first (1) and a second half-mould (2) each having a respective conformation surface (3, 4) which define, with closed mould, a cavity (5) having, in a conformation configuration, the shape; making a semi-finished product (70) made of the thermoplastic material; closing the mould (99) with the semi-finished product (70) interposed between the conformation surfaces (3, 4); admitting a heating fluid into the cavity (5) for heating the semi-finished product (70) permeable to the heating fluid; arranging the cavity (5) in a compacting configuration in which the cavity (5) coincides with a sub-portion of the cavity (5) in the conformation configuration; with the cavity (5) in the compacting configuration and the heating fluid into the cavity (5), compressing the semi-finished product (70) between the conformation surfaces (3, 4); subsequently to compressing the semi-finished product (70), arranging the cavity (5) in the conformation configuration while keeping the heating fluid into the cavity (5), wherein the semi-finished product (70) elastically expands for completely occupying the cavity and assuming the shape; subsequently, evacuating the heating fluid from the cavity (5) for cooling the semi-finished product (70) for obtaining the finished article with the shape; opening the mould (99) and extracting the finished article from the mould (99).

A double belt press has at least one press device having at least one pressing plate and at least one counter-pressure element for the pressing plate each other. Portions of first and second endless and driven metal belt belts are guided, opposite one another, through a press gap located between the pressing plate sides facing one another and the plate-shaped counter-pressure element. The press device has at least one pressing stamp having a pressing surface movable toward the counter-pressure element and back again. The first and second endless metal belt portions guided through the press gap are guided between the pressing surface of the at least one pressing stamp and the at least one counter-pressure element, and the pressing surface of the pressing stamp is smaller than a surface of the side of the at least one pressing plate facing the at least one counter-pressure element.

A block is configured such that, when a composite material having a curved part in a cross-sectional shape cut by a plane orthogonal to an X-axis is deformed into a shape corresponding to a mold through pressure application while being kept in the mold, the block is brought into contact with the curved part of the composite material. The block includes: a first contact part which extends along the X-axis direction so as to be in contact with the curved part of the composite material; and a second contact part which is partially disposed along the X-axis direction, is in contact with the curved part of the composite material, and is of higher rigidity than the first contact part.

Compaction systems and methods of compacting components are provided. In one aspect, a laminate of a component can be laid up on a tool of a compaction system. The laminate defines a cavity. A noodle is positioned relative to or in the cavity. A noodle ring is then positioned relative to the noodle. For instance, the noodle ring can be placed over the noodle. A cross section of the noodle ring can be shaped complementary to a cross section of the noodle. A plunger of the compaction system is moved so that it engages the noodle ring. Particularly, the plunger is moved in such a way that a force is applied on the noodle ring so that the noodle ring compacts the noodle into the cavity.

A mould for forming a collapsible container from an expandable material, the container comprising, at least a base and two pairs of a side walls extending at right angles from opposing sides of the base, the mould comprising: a first mould member and a second mould member movable with respect to each other between an open and a closed moulding position to define a mould cavity; and a plurality of anvils mounted on a rear surface of at least one of the first mould member and/or second mould member, each anvil being movable so as to be extended into the mould cavity so as to form one or more hinges in the expandable material at predetermined locations within the mould cavity; wherein the mould cavity defined by the first mould member and the second mould member is a three-dimensional representation of an inside-out configuration of the assembled container.

The invention relates to a mold for manufacturing a plastic part, including a first element and a second element forming, in the closed position of the mold, a cavity corresponding to the part to be manufactured, in which the second element includes at least one system for making molding openings in said part, said system including at least one member forming a cavity of an opening for the finished part, said member being movable relative to the second element in the closing direction of the mold, between a retracted position and an position extending into the cavity. The system includes at least one positioning means for positioning the member in the extended position relative to the first element, said system being sized such that, in the extended position of the member, the distance between a surface of the member bearing on the plastic material and the first element enables the formation of a thin layer of plastic material having a repeatable thickness.

Described herein are methods and systems for forming composite stringer assemblies or, more specifically, for shaping composite charges while forming these stringer assemblies. A system comprises a bladder, having a bladder core, and a bladder skin. The bladder core is formed from foam. The bladder skin is formed from an elastic material and encloses the bladder core. When a composite stringer assembly is formed, the bladder is positioned over a charge base. The charge base later becomes a stringer base, such as a fuselage section or a wing skin. A charge hat is then positioned over the bladder and is conformed to the bladder. A combination of the bladder skin and the bladder core provides support during this forming operation and later while the stringer assembly is cured. In some examples, the bladder core is collapsible for the removal of the bladder from the cavity of the stringer assembly.

An apparatus (1) for processing cups (2), adapted to be filled with coffee or other products, whether solid or liquid, and to be closed with respective lids to form corresponding capsules, comprises: a plurality of pockets (50) for housing the cups (2); an infeed station (4) for receiving the cups (2) and placing them in respective pockets (50) of the plurality of pockets (50); at least one tool (31) for applying a process to a rear face (23B) of an annular flange (23) of a cup (2) housed a respective pocket (50), to form a sealing profile (230); an outfeed station (6) configured to release the cups (2) with the sealing profile (230) formed on them.

Compaction systems and methods of compacting components are provided. In one aspect, a laminate of a component can be laid up on a tool of a compaction system. The laminate defines a cavity. A noodle is positioned relative to or in the cavity. A noodle ring is then positioned relative to the noodle. For instance, the noodle ring can be placed over the noodle. A cross section of the noodle ring can be shaped complementary to a cross section of the noodle. A plunger of the compaction system is moved so that it engages the noodle ring. Particularly, the plunger is moved in such a way that a force is applied on the noodle ring so that the noodle ring compacts the noodle into the cavity.

Systems and methods are provided for compacting laminates. One embodiment is a method for compacting a laminate onto a surface of a forming tool. The method includes placing the laminate onto the forming tool, disposing a compaction device over the laminate, gripping the compaction device to the forming tool, compacting the laminate with a pressure foot of the compaction device, and removing the compaction device from the forming tool.