A forming apparatus is equipped with (i) a conveyance unit configured to convey a formation sheet, that expands due to irradiation with electromagnetic waves, along a conveyance path in a state in which tension for causing bending in accordance with a conveyance path that is convexly bent is applied, and (ii) an irradiation unit configured to irradiate with the electromagnetic waves the formation sheet during conveyance by the conveyance unit in the state in which the tension is applied.

A forming apparatus is equipped with (i) a conveyance unit configured to convey a formation sheet, that expands due to irradiation with electromagnetic waves, along a conveyance path in a state in which tension for causing bending in accordance with a conveyance path that is convexly bent is applied, and (ii) an irradiation unit configured to irradiate with the electromagnetic waves the formation sheet during conveyance by the conveyance unit in the state in which the tension is applied.

A shaping system includes: a printing device that prints an image using predetermined ink on a thermal expansion sheet having a thermal expansion layer on one side; and an expansion device that performs: a drying process of heating the thermal expansion sheet to an extent that allows the thermal expansion layer to maintain a non-expansion state, to dry the image printed by the printing device using the predetermined ink; and an expansion process of, after the drying process, heating the thermal expansion sheet to an extent that allows the thermal expansion layer to expand, to expand the thermal expansion layer.

A shaping system includes: a printing device that prints an image using predetermined ink on a thermal expansion sheet having a thermal expansion layer on one side; and an expansion device that performs: a drying process of heating the thermal expansion sheet to an extent that allows the thermal expansion layer to maintain a non-expansion state, to dry the image printed by the printing device using the predetermined ink; and an expansion process of, after the drying process, heating the thermal expansion sheet to an extent that allows the thermal expansion layer to expand, to expand the thermal expansion layer.

An expansion apparatus includes: a first expander for irradiating with electromagnetic waves emitted from a lamp a thermal conversion layer for conversion of the electromagnetic waves to heat, to cause at least a portion of a thermal expansion layer to expand, the thermal conversion layer being laminated to a molding sheet including a base and the thermal expansion layer laminated to a first main surface of the base; and a second expander for causing expansion of a region (C) of the thermal expansion layer that is smaller in size than a region (B) of the thermal expansion layer expanded by the first expander.

An expansion apparatus includes: a first expander for irradiating with electromagnetic waves emitted from a lamp a thermal conversion layer for conversion of the electromagnetic waves to heat, to cause at least a portion of a thermal expansion layer to expand, the thermal conversion layer being laminated to a molding sheet including a base and the thermal expansion layer laminated to a first main surface of the base; and a second expander for causing expansion of a region (C) of the thermal expansion layer that is smaller in size than a region (B) of the thermal expansion layer expanded by the first expander.

A three-dimensional image forming system according to the present invention includes a conveyance path along which a heat-expandable sheet is conveyed, a heating unit which heats the heat-expandable sheet by irradiating the heat-expandable sheet with light, a detection sensor which detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit by the conveyance of the heat-expandable sheet along the conveyance path, and a control unit which increases the conveying speed of the heat-expandable sheet whose rear end is detected when the detection sensor detects that the rear end of the heat-expandable sheet comes close to the heating unit.

A method for producing shape memory anti-counterfeiting identifier includes the following steps: a high polymer material with a shape memory function without the need of sunshine cross-linking or chemical cross-linking is directly extruded to become sheet in an extruder or is injected to be molded in an injection molding machine, and the extruded sheet can be a planar sheet or a sheet having a surface on which concave-convex patterns or characters are formed; the above sheet is then heated to the temperature higher than the vitrification temperature and lower than the melting point temperature, and the patterns or characters are pressed on the planar sheet, or the sheet on which the concave-convex patterns or characters are already formed is pressed to become planes or other patterns and characters; the sheet is then cut into small sheets, wherein one pattern or one group of characters is implied on every small sheet, and when the small sheets are again heated to the temperature higher than the vitrification temperature and lower than the melting point temperature, they will return to the extruded state.

A method for producing shape memory anti-counterfeiting identifier includes the following steps: a high polymer material with a shape memory function without the need of sunshine cross-linking or chemical cross-linking is directly extruded to become sheet in an extruder or is injected to be molded in an injection molding machine, and the extruded sheet can be a planar sheet or a sheet having a surface on which concave-convex patterns or characters are formed; the above sheet is then heated to the temperature higher than the vitrification temperature and lower than the melting point temperature, and the patterns or characters are pressed on the planar sheet, or the sheet on which the concave-convex patterns or characters are already formed is pressed to become planes or other patterns and characters; the sheet is then cut into small sheets, wherein one pattern or one group of characters is implied on every small sheet, and when the small sheets are again heated to the temperature higher than the vitrification temperature and lower than the melting point temperature, they will return to the extruded state.

An assembly useful for providing structural reinforcement and/or sound/vibration damping to a hollow member of a motor vehicle is provided which contains an injection-molded carrier made of a heat resistant thermoplastic composition, at least one of the first side and the second side of the carrier has at least one receptacle adapted to receive and retain an insert comprised of a heat-expandable resin composition. The carrier may have a plurality of openings in at least one of the first side or the second side forming a grid or lattice and the assembly may include a mounting member adapted to fasten the carrier to an interior wall of a hollow member.