A method for manufacturing a breast implant includes producing an elastic filler material including foam, by applying a source of gas bubbles to a silicone monomer to create a mixture. The mixture is inserted into a sealed chamber. After inserting the mixture, a pressure inside the sealed chamber is set to a first pressure, and a temperature of the mixture inside the sealed chamber is set to a first temperature. Then, following a preset time duration, the pressure is lowered to a second pressure that is lower than the first pressure, and after a given time, the temperature is lowered to a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. A flexible shell, configured for implantation within a breast of a human subject, is filled with the elastic filler material.

A system for supplying a liquid. A reservoir tank has a low level and a high level of the liquid. A pump is submerged in the liquid within the reservoir tank. The pump has an inlet to receive the liquid from a source outside of the reservoir tank and an outlet to deliver the liquid to a destination outside of the reservoir tank. A bleed path places the pump outlet in fluid communication with the reservoir tank. The bleed path has a bleed valve controlling the flow of liquid through the bleed path to maintain the liquid level in the reservoir tank above the low level. A recirculation path places the pump inlet in fluid communication with the reservoir tank. The recirculation path has a recirculation valve controlling the flow of liquid through the recirculation path to maintain the liquid level in the reservoir tank below the high level.

A method of fabricating a composite structure includes laying at least one composite ply about a bladder, the bladder comprising a phase change material in a first phase having a first volume, positioning an outer mold about the bladder and the at least one composite ply, and curing the at least one composite ply to form the composite structure. Curing causes the phase change material contained within the bladder to change to a second phase to expand from the first volume to a second volume and apply a pressure to an interior surface of the composite ply and press an outer surface of the composite ply against the outer mold to form an interior cavity. The bladder is not removable from the formed interior cavity.

An apparatus for forming flexible containers from a film web, dispensing fluid into the containers, and enclosing the fluid within the containers. The film web comprises a pair of juxtaposed film plies, a closed longitudinal edge at which the plies are joined, and an open longitudinal edge at which the plies are not joined.

A system holds a roll of film that includes a core and film wound around the core. The system includes a rod having an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the core, a proximal wing located on the rod and configured to rotate about the rod, and a distal wing located on the rod and configured to rotate about the rod. Each of the proximal and distal wings includes contact surfaces configured to contact diametrically-opposed locations on a side of an inner surface of the core and non-contact surfaces that span between the contact surfaces of the wing. The non-contact surfaces of the wings do not contact the core if the core has a cylindrical shape. The distal wing is capable of rotating around the rod independently of the proximal wing.

An integral skin foam molded article includes: a skin formed by sewing a plurality of skin pieces in a bag shape; and a resin foam which is molded inside the skin integrally with the skin, wherein: at least one skin piece among the plurality of skin pieces has a surface material made of a natural leather, and includes a wadding material stacked on a back side of the surface material in a non-surface joined state and a lining material stacked on the wadding material; and in a shrinkage rate with respect to an in-plane compression load, a shrinkage rate of the lining material is smaller than a shrinkage rate of the wadding material.

A method for filling a cavity with an expanding insulating foam component includes the following. First, providing a closed cavity comprising at least one elongated wall surface that extends along a first direction and includes first and second opposite sides, a top side and a bottom side. Next, forming a plurality of openings in the elongated wall surface arranged along the first direction and being alternating close to the first or the second opposite sides. Next, inserting a dispense tube through a first opening of the plurality of openings, and injecting a first portion of the expanding insulating foam into the closed cavity. The first opening is located close to the bottom side and close to the first side of the elongated wall surface. The injected foam expands along the bottom side and the first side and forms a first sloped top surface that has a positive slope angle. Next, inserting the dispense tube through a second opening of the plurality of openings located close and above the first opening and close to the opposite second side, and injecting a second portion of the expanding insulating foam into the closed cavity. The injected foam expands along the first sloped top surface and the second side and forms a second sloped top surface that has a negative slope angle.

A system for opening and closing a mixing manifold includes a drive motor, a cam plate, and a valving rod connector. The drive motor imparts movement in first and second directions. Movement imparted in the first direction causes the cam plate to move linearly in a third direction and movement imparted in the second direction causes the cam plate to move linearly in a fourth direction. Movement of the cam plate in the third direction causes the valving rod connector to move linearly in a fifth direction and movement of the cam plate in the fourth direction causes the valving rod connector to move linearly in a sixth direction. Movement of the valving rod connector in the fifth direction causes retraction of a valving rod of the mixing manifold and movement of the valving rod connector in the sixth direction causes extension of the valving rod.

A machine produces foam-in-bag from foam precursors mixed within the bag. The machine comprises a base and a shell. The base and shell are moveable relative each other between a base/shell disengaged position and a base/shell engaged position. In the base/shell engaged position, the base and shell divide the bag so that a mixing chamber is isolated from the remainder portion of the bag. First and second nozzles inject foam precursors into the mixing chamber. A mixer engages the mixing chamber to provide mixing energy to facilitate the foam reaction.

Various embodiments are directed to sensor apparatuses configured to detect the presence of foam forming composition in various regions within a foam dispensing apparatus. In various embodiments, the foam dispensing apparatus comprises a dispensing nozzle positioned between at least two container-forming layers and configured to dispense foam forming composition into a container interior formed by the container-forming layers. The sensing apparatus may be positioned external to the container interior, on an opposite side of a container-forming layer relative to the nozzle, and the sensing apparatus may be configured to detect whether foam forming composition is present within a field of view of the sensing apparatus, which encompasses a portion of the container interior. The sensing apparatus may comprise a contactless temperature sensor configured to detect the presence of foam forming composition based on the detected temperature of a surface within the field of view of the sensor apparatus.