An apparatus comprises a nozzle for supplying a flow of polymeric material, a separating element for separating a dose of polymeric material from the flow supplied by the nozzle, at least one mould for making an object by compression moulding the dose, at least one conveying element for conveying the dose separated by the separating element towards the mould. The conveying element is movable along a path in an atmospheric environment. The apparatus further comprises a recycling device intended for receiving a polymeric material to be recycled and for providing at its outfeed a melted regenerated polymeric material suitable for being moulded. The nozzle is connected to the recycling device so that the nozzle is fed with the regenerated polymeric material coming from the recycling device.

An apparatus for forming an object comprises an extruding device (2) for supplying a continuous extrudate of polymeric material, at least one separating element for cutting the continuous extrudate thereby separating a dose (6; 106) of polymeric material from the continuous extrudate, at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) comprising a first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and a second mould part (8; 108; 508) which are movable relative to one another between an open position, in which the dose (6; 106) is rested on a receiving part selected from the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), and a closed position, in which a forming chamber is defined between the first mould part (9; 109; 209; 309) and the second mould part (8; 108; 508), the forming chamber having a shape corresponding to said object. The apparatus further comprises a thermal conditioning device (11; 111; 211; 311; 411) configured to act on the dose (6; 106) while the dose (6; 106) is positioned in said at least one mould (5; 105; 205; 305; 405) and before the closed position is reached, by thermally conditioning at least one surface portion (20; 120) of the dose (6; 106) which is distinct from a resting portion (17; 117) of the dose (6; 106) which is resting on the receiving part.

Various embodiments related to three dimensional printers, and reinforced filaments, and their methods of use are described. In one embodiment, a void free reinforced filament is fed into an conduit nozzle. The reinforced filament includes a core, which may be continuous or semi-continuous, and a matrix material surrounding the core. The reinforced filament is heated to a temperature greater than a melting temperature of the matrix material and less than a melting temperature of the core prior to drag the filament from the conduit nozzle.

The present invention provides an imprint apparatus that forms a pattern of an imprint material on a substrate using a mold, the apparatus comprising: a supplier configured to supply the imprint material as a plurality of droplets onto the substrate; and a controller configured to control the supplier based on information indicating a target arrangement of the imprint material to be supplied as the plurality of droplets onto a predetermined region of the substrate, wherein the plurality of droplets in the target arrangement include a first droplet group including a plurality of first droplet arrays, a second droplet group including a plurality of second droplet arrays, and a third droplet array.

A nozzle for a three-dimensional printing apparatus, comprising a main nozzle body (2) having an inlet end (4), an outlet end (6) and a central conduit (8) arranged there between, wherein the main nozzle body (2) is made of an electrically non-conductive body material. The main nozzle body (2) is provided with an electrically conductive first layer (10) and/or an electrically non-conductive second layer (12) arranged around the main nozzle body (2).

An apparatus including a co-extrusion device for extruding a multi-layer structure having at least one primary layer and at least one secondary layer, so that the multi-layer structure leaves the co-extrusion device along an exit direction; a mould provided with a pair of elements, at least one of the elements being movable towards the other in a moulding direction, so as to compression mould an object from a multi-layer dose which was severed from the multi-layer structure; a transport device for carrying the dose towards the mould; an arrangement for modifying orientation of the dose while the dose is being transported by the transport device, so that the dose is introduced into the mould with an orientation in which the secondary layer extends transversely to the moulding direction.

A method and an apparatus for forming annular doses provides a flow of plasticised material supplied by an extruder which passes through a channel that is first cylindrical and then annular. The material exits from an annular outlet in front of which a cutting element passes that separates an annular dose of material. The dose is deposited on a surface of a capsule having a capacity to adhere to the dose that is greater than the cutting element. The surface and the cutting element are distanced from one another in such a manner that the annular dose remaining adhering to the capsule is detached from the element. Detachment can be promoted by a flow of air.

Systems, feeder devices and methods for moving particulate hot melt adhesive from an adhesive supply to an adhesive melter. A feeder device includes a body having an inlet and an outlet, and an interior communicating with the inlet and the outlet. The inlet is configured to receive particulate hot melt adhesive from an outlet of the adhesive supply, and the outlet is configured to provide particulate hot melt adhesive to an inlet of the adhesive melter. The feeder device further includes a mechanical agitator positioned in the interior for urging the particulate hot melt adhesive in a flow direction toward the outlet.

Methods and devices for sizing and positioning fluid material, machine comprising the device and method for manufacturing a container closure are disclosed. A device for portioning and positioning a flowable sealing material, the device (100) having a flange-like portion (110) and a cylindrical portion (130), wherein (a) the flange-like portion (110) is connected to the cylindrical portion (130); (b) the cylindrical portion (130) has an end side (133) located at an end of the cylindrical portion (130) that faces away from the flange-like portion (110); and (c) the end side (133) has a face (134) that is inclined relative to an axis of the device (100) such that an angle (α) between the face (134) and the axis is less than 90°, and the face is inclined upwards and outwards.

A method for applying a sealing compound to a lid base and an inside of an annular wall of a lid comprises applying a first annular structure to the lid base with an applicator. The first annular structure comprises the sealing compound. The first annular structure of sealing compound is pressed against the lid base to form a second annular structure. The pressing is performed using an annular first press ram surrounding an inner forming part. The second annular structure of sealing compound is pressed into a transition area with an end face of the first press ram. The sealing compound is pressed through a gap defined between the end face of the first press ram and the lid base. The second annular structure is pressed flat against the lid base and into the gap between the lid wall and the first press ram using a second press ram.