A process for producing a polymeric stiffened sheet-like component, for example a panel, for aircraft construction. Production includes integration of hollow stiffening profiles, for example closed omega stringers, onto a sheet-like component, for example an external skin, where the stringers and external skin are produced from thermoplastic composite material. The stringers are integrated onto the external skin by establishing contact between the stringers and the external skin and melting thermoplastic composite material with exposure to heat and pressure at the areas of contact between external skin and stringers. Melting of the other sections of the stringers is avoided with a pressurized cooling fluid with a temperature significantly below the melting point of thermoplastic composite material, the fluid flowing through the airtight enclosed space in the stringers. Use of closed airtight thermoplastic omega stringers allows integration of the stringers onto the external skin in absence of any flexible tube within the stringers.

A process for producing a polymeric stiffened sheet-like component, for example a panel, for aircraft construction. Production includes integration of hollow stiffening profiles, for example closed omega stringers, onto a sheet-like component, for example an external skin, where the stringers and external skin are produced from thermoplastic composite material. The stringers are integrated onto the external skin by establishing contact between the stringers and the external skin and melting thermoplastic composite material with exposure to heat and pressure at the areas of contact between external skin and stringers. Melting of the other sections of the stringers is avoided with a pressurized cooling fluid with a temperature significantly below the melting point of thermoplastic composite material, the fluid flowing through the airtight enclosed space in the stringers. Use of closed airtight thermoplastic omega stringers allows integration of the stringers onto the external skin in absence of any flexible tube within the stringers.

A molding apparatus that adsorbs thermoplastic resin extruded in a sheet form from an extruding machine, onto a cavity of a mold, and shapes the thermoplastic resin into a shape according to the cavity is provided. The molding apparatus may include a frame that is positioned on a periphery of the mold and is movable relative to the mold, wherein a suction part for suctioning the thermoplastic resin is provided in a contact surface of the frame to contact the thermoplastic resin, and the suction part is provided in a linear shape along with a longitudinal direction of the frame positioned on the periphery of the mold.

A process is disclosed for making seats, for example bicycle seats, which include at least one shell, at least one covering sheet or covering, and at least one gel padding element, which adheres to at least one intermediate adhesion sheet made of a material having micro holes or holes or a woven fabric, which in turn adheres to a surface of the at least one covering. Equipment configured to implement such process is also disclosed.

An article of footwear has an upper that is direct attached with the sole. The sole has a film extending up sidewalls of the sole to a film edge that is prior to the sidewall and the upper joining. Method of manufacture of the article of footwear includes steps of positioning a film over a mold cavity and then securing the film to the mold. The film is heated and then drawn into the mold cavity under a vacuum. The film forms a liner of the mold cavity. A foam composition is injected into the lined mold cavity. As the foam composition expands, the foam composition interacts with and mechanically engages with the upper that is positioned at the mold cavity to allow for the mechanical engagement that results in the direct attach of the sole to the upper. The film is then trimmed from the sole sidewalls.

In a stacked workpiece molding method, a second mold 30 includes through-holes 32 that extend to be opened at a peripheral edge of a workpiece body 42, the through-holes 32 are connected to a first suction device 51 that sucks a sheet material 44, a first mold 20 includes suction holes 22 that extend to be opened at a portion that contacts the workpiece body 42, the suction holes 22 are connected to a second suction device 52 that sucks the workpiece body 42, and in a bonding step of bonding the sheet material 44 to the workpiece body 42, a suction force in the through-holes 32 by the first suction device 51 is set stronger than a suction force in the suction holes 22 by the second suction device 52.

In a stacked workpiece molding method, a second mold 30 includes through-holes 32 that extend to be opened at a peripheral edge of a workpiece body 42, the through-holes 32 are connected to a first suction device 51 that sucks a sheet material 44, a first mold 20 includes suction holes 22 that extend to be opened at a portion that contacts the workpiece body 42, the suction holes 22 are connected to a second suction device 52 that sucks the workpiece body 42, and in a bonding step of bonding the sheet material 44 to the workpiece body 42, a suction force in the through-holes 32 by the first suction device 51 is set stronger than a suction force in the suction holes 22 by the second suction device 52.

A method for manufacturing a composite includes providing a first template including a cutout for a first layer of the composite, disposing the first layer in the cutout, and disposing a tablet, provided with an adhesive, on the first layer such that the first layer adheres to the tablet. Next, the tablet is removed, together with the first layer adhered thereto, from the cutout, and an adhesive is applied to a side of the first layer facing away from the tablet. A second template is provided that includes a cutout for a second layer of the composite, and then the second layer is disposed in the cutout. The tablet, together with the first layer adhered thereto, is disposed on the second layer disposed in the cutout of the second template, and the tablet is removed, together with the composite produced from the first and second layers, from the second template.

A process is disclosed for making seats, for example bicycle seats, which include at least one shell, at least one covering sheet or covering, and at least one gel padding element, which adheres to at least one intermediate adhesion sheet made of a material having micro holes or holes or a woven fabric, which in turn adheres to a surface of the at least one covering. Equipment configured to implement such process is also disclosed.

A stacked workpiece molding device 1 includes: a first mold 20 configured to suck and hold a workpiece body 42; and a second mold 30 having on an inner surface a pattern that can be transferred to a surface of a sheet material 44 stacked on the workpiece body 42 and press the sheet material 44 against the workpiece body 42. The inner surface of the second mold 30 includes a groove portion 31 that is positioned at a peripheral edge portion of the workpiece body 42, the second mold 30 includes a through-hole 32 extending to open into the groove portions 31, the through-hole 32 is connected to a first suction device 51 that sucks the sheet material 44, and the first mold 20 includes a suction hole 22 for sucking the workpiece body 42, and the suction hole 22 is connected to a second suction device 52.