A method for conveying a concave object having a lateral wall away from a mould comprises the steps of: providing a removing element, movable along a path, and a guiding element; extracting the object from the mould and releasing the object onto a supporting surface in a position interposed between the removing element and the guiding element, while the removing element is at a distance from the object; displacing the removing element towards the object, so that the removing element makes contact with the lateral wall; moving the removing element along a portion of the path, to convey the object towards a delivery position.

A strip-shape softened resin sheet (S) which is continuously extruded from a molten resin extruder is cut to a unit resin sheet and a press molded product is manufactured by press-molding the unit resin sheet in a press-molding machine 20. Prior to press-molding the unit resin sheet (U) by the press-molding machine, the unit resin sheet (U) is heated by a heating machine 16. The heating machine 16 comprises a first heating furnace 84 and a second heating furnace 86. The first heating furnace 84 includes a series of heaters 84-3 and 84-4 whose heat source is infrared ray in a far-infrared region and the second heating furnace 86 includes a series of heaters 86-3 and 86-4 whose heat source is the infrared ray in a middle-infrared region. In the first furnace 84, the unit resin sheet (U) is continuously conveyed with a low velocity and is gradually heated by the far-infrared ray up to temperature which is slightly lower than the temperature which is suitable for press-molding the unit resin sheet (U). In the second furnace 86, the unit resin sheet (U) is stopped and is rapidly heated by the middle-infrared ray. By efficiently heating the unit resin sheet (U), a cycle time can be shortened and the production speed can be improved.

A tread extraction assembly is provided. The tread extraction assembly includes a base frame, a first clamping assembly, and a second clamping assembly. The base frame defines a leading edge. The first clamping assembly includes a first clamp movable relative to the base frame. The second clamping assembly is coupled to the base frame and includes a second clamp positioned proximate to the leading edge. The tread extraction assembly also includes a linear rail and a linear bearing. The first clamping assembly is coupled to the linear bearing and movable along the linear rail by a linear actuator.

A strip-shape softened resin sheet (S) which is continuously extruded from a molten resin extruder is cut to a unit resin sheet and a press molded product is manufactured by press-molding the unit resin sheet in a press-molding machine 20. Prior to press-molding the unit resin sheet (U) by the press-molding machine, the unit resin sheet (U) is heated by a heating machine 16. The heating machine 16 comprises a first heating furnace 84 and a second heating furnace 86. The first heating furnace 84 includes a series of heaters 84-3 and 84-4 whose heat source is infrared ray in a far-infrared region and the second heating furnace 86 includes a series of heaters 86-3 and 86-4 whose heat source is the infrared ray in a middle-infrared region. In the first furnace 84, the unit resin sheet (U) is continuously conveyed with a low velocity and is gradually heated by the far-infrared ray up to temperature which is slightly lower than the temperature which is suitable for press-molding the unit resin sheet (U). In the second furnace 86, the unit resin sheet (U) is stopped and is rapidly heated by the middle-infrared ray. By efficiently heating the unit resin sheet (U), a cycle time can be shortened and the production speed can be improved.

An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoplastic resin material, including: a mold for molding a base material containing a thermoplastic resin into a predetermined shape; and a transfer mechanism that places the base material in the mold, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a detection mechanism that detects a state of the base material, and a controlling unit that controls operation of the mold and the transfer mechanism.

A method for conveying a concave object having a lateral wall away from a mould comprises the steps of: providing a removing element, movable along a path, and a guiding element; extracting the object from the mould and releasing the object onto a supporting surface in a position interposed between the removing element and the guiding element, while the removing element is at a distance from the object; displacing the removing element towards the object, so that the removing element makes contact with the lateral wall; moving the removing element along a portion of the path, to convey the object towards a delivery position.

An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoplastic resin material, including: a mold for molding a base material containing a thermoplastic resin into a predetermined shape; and a transfer mechanism that places the base material in the mold, wherein the transfer mechanism includes a detection mechanism that detects a state of the base material, and a controlling unit that controls operation of the mold and the transfer mechanism.

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.

Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.

A system including a rail assembly and a tread extraction assembly coupled to the rail assembly is provided. The tread extraction assembly includes a base frame and a first clamping assembly. The first clamping assembly has a first clamp movable relative to the base frame. The first clamp is configured to clamp a portion of a tire tread in a tread mold. Further, a system for removing a tire tread from a tread mold is provided. The system includes a tread extraction assembly coupled to a rail assembly. The rail assembly is configured to translate along a rail positioned adjacent the tread mold. The rail assembly is pivotably coupled to the base frame by a first linkage arm and a second linkage arm and configured to pivot the tread extractor assembly from a position adjacent the tread mold to a position over the tread mold.