The present invention is a transfer device for unloading a resin molded article from one mold provided with a resin injection unit, the resin molded article being unloaded by the transfer device from one mold provided with a resin injection unit having a member projecting between at least part of the resin molded article and another mold, wherein the resin injection unit has a member projecting between at least part of the resin molded article and the other mold, and the transfer device is equipped with a holding member for holding the resin molded article and a horizontal movement mechanism that causes the holding member holding the resin molded article to move in the horizontal direction to separate the resin molded article from the resin injection unit.

In an example method, a NWM molding blank, including a non-woven material held in compression by a binder, is placed in a separable mold, and heated to a melting temperature of the binder. The molding blank expands, forming as an intermediate NWM object a NWM molded object with a 3D geometric form. The intermediate NWM object is cooled through a temperature band with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, and further cooled to a solidifying temperature of the binder. The upper boundary is above the solidifying temperature and the upper boundary is lower than the binder melting temperature. While in the temperature band, the mold is separated, rendering accessible an exposed surface of the intermediate NWM object. The object is then transported to a contoured forming surface of a forming base, by an actuatable arm having an end effector gripping the exposed surface via vacuum suction, lifting the object from the mold and placing the object on the contoured forming surface. Optionally, the end effector contact surface includes a final forming feature. The actuatable arm compresses the intermediate NWM object against the contoured forming surface, and the optional end effector final forming feature and continues compressing until cooling to the solidifying temperature.

Fixtures and related system and methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, a method includes applying a resin onto a substrate and positioning the substrate on over a chuck of a base of a fixture. The method also includes moving a mold into engagement with the resin and curing the resin. The method also includes detaching the mold and the resin and, while detaching the mold and the resin, determining a detachment force applied as a function of a distance of detachment between the mold and the resin.

Station (7) and method of curing for a tread strip (2); provided are: a flat curing mold (9) which is composed of a lower shell (10) and an upper cover (11); and an extractor element (17) which is suitable for extracting the cured tread strip (2) from the lower shell (10) after the curing operation; the cured tread strip (2) has a first wall (13), which has a relief design and is in contact with the lower shell (10), and a second wall (14) which is opposite the first wall (13), and is in contact with the upper cover (11); the extractor element (17) is suitable for adhering to the second wall (14) of the tread strip (2) along the entire length of the second wall (14) itself; and the extractor element (17) is movable perpendicularly with respect to the second wall (14) of the tread strip (2) in order to simultaneously raise the whole tread strip (2) from the lower shell (10).

Station (7) and method of curing for a tread strip (2); provided are: a flat curing mold (9) which is composed of a lower shell (10) and an upper cover (11); and an extractor element (17) which is suitable for extracting the cured tread strip (2) from the lower shell (10) after the curing operation; the cured tread strip (2) has a first wall (13), which has a relief design and is in contact with the lower shell (10), and a second wall (14) which is opposite the first wall (13), and is in contact with the upper cover (11); the extractor element (17) is suitable for adhering to the second wall (14) of the tread strip (2) along the entire length of the second wall (14) itself; and the extractor element (17) is movable perpendicularly with respect to the second wall (14) of the tread strip (2) in order to simultaneously raise the whole tread strip (2) from the lower shell (10).

A rotary tablet press having a rotatably driven rotor and a die plate with a plurality of die bores. A plurality of upper and lower punches are configured to produce tablets in the plurality of die bores. The tablets are monitored for one or more characteristics and are sorted by an ejection apparatus according to the one or more characteristics into a reject channel and a satisfactory channel.

Process and station (99) for forming a thermoplastic material, the process comprising: making a semi-finished product (10) in the thermoplastic material, the semi-finished product (10) being air permeable; closing a mould (90) with the semifinished product (10) interposed between the conformation surfaces (3, 4) for compressing the semifinished product (10) between the conformation surfaces (3, 4); heating the mould (90) for heating the semi-finished product (10), subsequentlyopening the mould (90); with the semi-finished product (10) coupled to a second half-mould (2) of the mould (90), contacting a free surface of the semi-finished product (10) with a coupling surface (80) of a catching device (71); generating an air flow (200) which passes through the coupling surface (80) in a distributed way, the air flow being directed from the semi-finished product (10) to the coupling surface (80), for constraining the semi-finished product (10) to the catching device (71); while keeping the airflow (200), removing the semi-finished product (10) from the mould (90) by movement of the catching device (71); interrupting the air flow (200) for releasing the semi-finished product (10) from the catching device (71) and obtaining a finished article.

In an example method, a NWM molding blank, including a non-woven material held in compression by a binder, is placed in a separable mold, and heated to a melting temperature of the binder. The molding blank expands, forming as an intermediate NWM object a NWM molded object with a 3D geometric form. The intermediate NWM object is cooled through a temperature band with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, and further cooled to a solidifying temperature of the binder. The upper boundary is above the solidifying temperature and the upper boundary is lower than the binder melting temperature. While in the temperature band, the mold is separated, rendering accessible an exposed surface of the intermediate NWM object. The object is then transported to a contoured forming surface of a forming base, by an actuatable arm having an end effector gripping the exposed surface via vacuum suction, lifting the object from the mold and placing the object on the contoured forming surface. Optionally, the end effector contact surface includes a final forming feature. The actuatable arm compresses the intermediate NWM object against the contoured forming surface, and the optional end effector final forming feature and continues compressing until cooling to the solidifying temperature.

In an example method, a NWM molding blank, including a non-woven material held in compression by a binder, is placed in a separable mold, and heated to a melting temperature of the binder. The molding blank expands, forming as an intermediate NWM object a NWM molded object with a 3D geometric form. The intermediate NWM object is cooled through a temperature band with an upper boundary and a lower boundary, and further cooled to a solidifying temperature of the binder. The upper boundary is above the solidifying temperature and the upper boundary is lower than the binder melting temperature. While in the temperature band, the mold is separated, rendering accessible an exposed surface of the intermediate NWM object. The object is then transported to a contoured forming surface of a forming base, by an actuatable arm having an end effector gripping the exposed surface via vacuum suction, lifting the object from the mold and placing the object on the contoured forming surface. Optionally, the end effector contact surface includes a final forming feature. The actuatable arm compresses the intermediate NWM object against the contoured forming surface, and the optional end effector final forming feature and continues compressing until cooling to the solidifying temperature.

Fixtures and related system and methods are disclosed. In accordance with an implementation, a method includes applying a resin onto a substrate and positioning the substrate on over a chuck of a base of a fixture. The method also includes moving a mold into engagement with the resin and curing the resin. The method also includes detaching the mold and the resin and, while detaching the mold and the resin, determining a detachment force applied as a function of a distance of detachment between the mold and the resin.