Mineral-filled polymer compositions and methods of forming such polymer compositions into a thermally stable article are provided. Methods of forming a polymeric article include providing a polymer composition comprising a crystallizable polymer, a mineral filler in an amount of more than about 15 wt-% based on the total weight of the polymer composition, and an impact modifier, wherein the polymer composition is at a temperature less than a crystallization temperature of the crystallizable polymer. The methods further include disposing the polymer composition in a mold, forming the polymer composition into an article within the mold, and releasing the article from the mold. The methods can include thermoforming the polymer composition in a mold, or injection molding the polymer composition in a molten form in a mold.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (ii) at least one consolidated fibrous insert (14) having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier may be a mass of activatable material.

An apparatus for manufacturing a pouch-type battery case according to an embodiment may be configured to mold a pouch sheet. The apparatus for manufacturing the pouch-type battery case may include a forming device configured to mold a cup part in the pouch sheet, a first roller disposed behind the forming device in a moving direction of the pouch sheet and rotating in contact with one surface of the pouch sheet, and a second roller disposed to face the first roller with the pouch sheet therebetween and rotating in contact with the other surface opposite to the one surface of the pouch sheet. Any one of the first roller and the second roller may have an outer diameter that gradually decreases inward in a thickness direction, and the other one of the first roller and the second roller may have an outer diameter that gradually increases inward in the thickness direction.

A mouth guard senses impact forces and determines if the forces exceed an impact threshold. If so, the mouth guard notifies the user of the risk for injury by haptic feedback, vibratory feedback, and/or audible feedback. The mouth guard system may also remotely communicate the status of risk and the potential injury. The mouth guard uses a local memory device to store impact thresholds based on personal biometric information obtained from the user and compares the sensed forces relative to those threshold values. The mouth guard and its electrical components on the printed circuit board are custom manufactured for the user such that the mouth guard provides a comfortable and reliable fit, while ensuring exceptional performance.

A composite molded cargo body panel including a core, an interior skin secured to a first side of the core having a thickness, and exterior skin secured to a second side of the core, and a recess. The core thickness at the recess is reduced compared to a maximum core thickness, and the recess defines a support surface. A pocket is formed in the recess, with the core thickness at the pocket being less than the core thickness at the recess. A logistics insert is attached to the support surface of recess so that, at the recess, the logistics insert extends across the pocket.

A station for feeding closing seals for containers includes at least one fixed magazine of seals which is provided with an outlet from which the seals can be taken individually. The station further includes a carousel for feeding seals which can rotate with respect to a first central rotation axis and is provided with pickers which are radially spaced apart from the first rotation axis. The pickers are individually rotatable about a second rotation axis which is not parallel to the first axis of the carousel. During rotation of the carousel, at least one picker is configured to rotate about the second axis from a position for taking the seal from the magazine to a position for releasing the seal.

A method includes obtaining image(s) of a dental device, determining file(s) including at least one of a first model of the dental device or a second model of a mold, determining an intended property for the dental device based on at least one of the first model or the second model, and determining an actual property of the dental device from the image(s). The method further includes determining whether a cutline variation, an arch variation, and/or a bend of the dental device is detected between the dental device and the first model and/or the second model by comparing the intended property with the actual property. The method further includes determining whether there is a possible defect in the dental device based on whether the cutline variation exceeds a cutline variation threshold, the arch variation exceeds an arch variation threshold, and/or the bend exceeds a bend threshold.

A structural reinforcement for an article including a carrier that includes: (i) a mass of polymeric material having an outer surface; and (is) at least one consolidated fibrous insert having an outer surface and including at least one elongated fiber arrangement having a plurality of ordered fibers arranged in a predetermined manner. The fibrous insert is envisioned to adjoin the mass of the polymeric material in a predetermined location for carrying a predetermined load that is subjected upon the predetermined location (thereby effectively providing localized reinforcement to that predetermined location). The fibrous insert and the mass of polymeric material are of compatible materials, structures or both, for allowing the fibrous insert to be at least partially joined to the mass of the polymeric material. Disposed upon at least a portion of the carrier will be a mass of activatable material.

A cup having a cup opening surrounded by a rim, a bottom opposite the cup opening, a longitudinal axis extending from the cup opening to the bottom, an upper portion disposed closer to the rim than to the bottom and having an outer surface and an inner surface, the upper portion either having a constant diameter or the upper portion being frustoconical and tapering from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, an intermediate portion disposed between the upper portion and the base, the intermediate portion having an outer surface and an inner surface, the intermediate portion either having a constant diameter or the intermediate portion being frustoconical and tapering from an upper diameter to a lower diameter, each diameter of the upper portion being greater than each diameter of the intermediate portion, wherein a sequence of characters is provided on the outer surface of the upper portion projecting above other portions of the outer surface.

Systems and methods for forming 3D plastic parts that are cost effective in low volume, have excellent fit and finish, and use many components from 2D construction are disclosed. The systems and methods involve selecting a design and modelling the design. The design comprises 2D and 3D components of plastic parts. A 3D forming buck corresponding to the 3D component is manufactured. At least one of a 2D part and the 3D forming buck may be heated. The 2D part may be loaded onto the 3D forming buck for a predefined period of time. The 3D part formed after the loading may be separated from the 3D forming buck. The 3D part is the 2D part generally having taken the shape of the 3D forming buck. The 3D part may be cooled to obtain an end product.