Patents Examined by Emmanuel Luk
  • Patent number: 6533564
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously forming thermoplastic adhesive cartridges. A molten thermoplastic adhesive supply provides a supply of molten adhesive to a pump downstream from the molten thermoplastic adhesive supply. The pump then provides a molten thermoplastic adhesive melt stream which passes through a screen filter downstream from the pump to prevent the discharge of impurities in the molten thermoplastic adhesive melt stream from the pump. A temperature-controlled conduit downstream from the pump then lowers the temperature of the molten plastic melt stream to closely above its softening point. A continuous molder located downstream from the melt pump for receives the molten plastic melt stream from the melt pump to form the thermoplastic adhesive cartridge continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Jowat Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard H. Haas, Anthony Saenz, Timothy R. Sumner
  • Patent number: 6530766
    Abstract: An auxiliary device is disclosed for use with an injection molding apparatus for manufacturing disc-like information carriers. The device includes a holding device for holding an insert plate in a desired position, and a transporter, with at least two heads, for transporting successive insert plates between a plate supply holder and the mold. Each head centers and properly positions each plate within the mold using a tapered centering pin which extends from the head and into the mold wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: Axxicon Moulds Eindhoven B.V.
    Inventor: Jan Leendert Johannes De Graaff
  • Patent number: 6524092
    Abstract: A middle liner of a slide guide device for a machine press has a spherical shaped side which fits into a sliding gib attached to a slide. The middle liner slides along a fixed gib at first and second linear surfaces that are at an angle with each other. The combination of self-alignment and smooth movement of the slide is achieved in the presence of an eccentric load acting on the slide. A machine press equipped with such a slide guide device has excellent eccentric load resistance and high working precision. In a further embodiment, a press machine is further equipped with a knockout device having knockout block moving between a pair of guide rails. A plurality of middle liners, each having at least one spherical surface, are positioned between the knockout block and the guide rails. The resulting knockout device provides a stable knockout load with low noise and low energy consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Aida Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ito, Hisanobu Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6521165
    Abstract: A stripper assembly is provided for stripping a mold part from a core, extending from a core part of an injection mold where the core part has core lock wedges which is disposed thereabout for engaging a corresponding mold cavity and resisting outward movement of an outer edge of the mold cavity. The core lock wedges are spaced apart to provide respective openings between adjacent ends of the adjacent wedges. A stripper plate extends about the core and has acutator attachment regions extending through the openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Stackteck Systems Limited
    Inventor: Robert F. Rick
  • Patent number: 6517336
    Abstract: The injection molding machine comprises a cylinder member; an injection member disposed within the cylinder member such that the injection member can advance and retract; an injection motor (82); and a transmission shaft which is connected to the injection member such that the transmission shaft can rotate relative to the injection member. The transmission shaft has a rotation transmission portion, to which rotation of the injection motor (82) is transmitted, as well as a motion conversion portion for converting rotational motion to linear motion. The injection motor (82) and the transmission shaft are disposed on the same axis, and the transmission shaft is advanced and retracted inside the rotor (92) of the injection motor (82). Since the transmission shaft is advanced and retracted inside the rotor (92) of the injection motor (82), the injection molding machine can be reduced in axial length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Emoto, Noritsugu Hiraga
  • Patent number: 6511626
    Abstract: A machine and a method to manufacture soap bars. The machine and method involve a die assembly (10) having a pair of die blocks (11, 12) which support co-operating dies (13, 14). Liquid nitrogen is delivered to the two dies (13, 14) via a throttling passage (18) to cool the soap material being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Central West Packaging & Storage Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan Bruce Hutcherson
  • Patent number: 6503075
    Abstract: The present invention relates to stack mold carriers in an injection molding machine with a rotating turret. Services to the rotating turret are provided by a rotary union attached to the translating mold carrier at the turret's axis of rotation. Hence, services such as oil, water, air and electrical power are provided to the rotating turret thereby allowing the turret to rotate in either direction. The rotating turret is attached to linkages which open and closed the molds through connection to a moving and a stationary platen which interface with the rotating turret to form molded articles therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert D Schad, Bruce F Coxhead
  • Patent number: 6503430
    Abstract: An injection molding system for molding a hollow plastic article employs a hollow mold core having a longitudinal axis and a core runner cavity that has a uniform cross section throughout and which extends to the open end of the mold core. The mold core includes at least one core ejection gate and at least one core inlet gate leading from the outer surface of the core wall to the core runner cavity. When molding is performed in stages, there is it least one core ejection gate for each stage of molding. The core is clamped in between separate sets of molding blocks for each stage of molding. A core end closure cap having a core extension cavity aligned with the core runner cavity is used to close the open end of the mold core. A molten plastic is injected into the outer molding blocks and is confined to travel through the core inlet gate of the core without entering the mold cavity directly so that the molten plastic is forced to pass through the core runner cavity in order to reach the core ejection gates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Philip Downey
  • Patent number: 6488490
    Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a plasticating unit for plasticating a thermoplastic resin, and an injecting unit connected to the plasticating unit through a connecting passage to inject the plasticated resin into a mold. The injecting unit A includes a rotary pump having a suction port connected to the plasticating unit through the connecting passage and a discharge port connected to the mold. The plasticated resin is intermittently injected into the cavity of the mold through the injection port by means of the rotary pump. In the connecting passage, an accumulator is provided which reserves the resin plasticated in the plasticating unit in an amount equal to or more than the shot capacity, and feeds the resin to the rotary pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihito Seta, Takeshi Takeda
  • Patent number: 6481996
    Abstract: A tapered running block and corresponding tapered cavity blocks are utilized in a mold for fabricating relatively thin, flat plastic cards, such as used for pre-paid telephone cards and the like. The mating surfaces of the runner block and the cavity block are angularly tapered; so that metal-to-metal contact is made between the runner block and the cavity block when the mold is in the plastic injection position. As soon as relative movement of the runner block and the cavity block is effected to part the blocks and separate the cards from the runners, the tapered 1surfaces move away from one another without any sliding contact, thereby significantly reducing wear in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: The Tech Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard C. Graham
  • Patent number: 6478572
    Abstract: An energy efficient drive system is provided for use on typical injection molding machines whereby a single electric motor drives both the extruder screw and a hydraulic motor that continuously charges a hydraulic accumulator during the extrusion process. During the injection cycle, the charge in the accumulator is directed to stroke the extruder screw and inject melt into the mold cavities. Another embodiment utilizes a similar arrangement on the clamp mechanism of the injection molding machine whereby the charge in the accumulator is directed to hold the mold closed during the injection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert D. Schad
  • Patent number: 6461140
    Abstract: A system for injecting a composite substance inside a forming mould comprising a supplying device and at least one measuring device and which includes at least one line formed of articulated tube sections which are double-sheathed so as to enable a heat exchanging fluid to circulate therein. The system enables limitation of head loss and control of temperature of the composite substance. A device injecting the substance inside the mould can be mounted on a movable part of the mould.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: INOPLAST of Le Berlioz Domaine de la Gare
    Inventors: Patrick Bosg, Laurent Vergne
  • Patent number: 6458297
    Abstract: Method for producing pressure die-cast or injection moulded articles having a unit for producing salt grains, a press for forming salt filler cores by compressing the said salt grains, a pressure die-casting machine for making the said articles by injecting a material in the liquid state into a mould having at least one salt filler core, and a salt removal and washing unit designed to remove the salt filler cores that have been trapped within the said articles; the said unit for producing salt grains being designed to atomize a saline solution which is supersaturated with salt into a plurality of drops so as subsequently to cause the salt present in solution/suspension in each drop of solution to solidify into a corresponding salt grain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Magneti Marelli S.p.A.
    Inventor: Renzo Moschini
  • Patent number: 6447283
    Abstract: An injection molding heater (38) having one or more melt bores (78) extending therethrough to be removably mounted between the melt distribution manifold (26) and each nozzle (10) in a multi-gate injection molding system. The heater (38) has a plate-like body (92) made of a thermally conductive material and heat is provided to it by a heating element (98) which can be electrical or a heat pipe or by a heated fluid flowing through a passage (126) in the plate-like body (92). Each one or more of the heaters (38) can be connected to separately controlled power sources to separately adjust the heat provided by the heaters (38).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Jobst Ulrich Gellert
  • Patent number: 6443723
    Abstract: A cam slide retainer for injection molds includes a hardened wear plate with an elongated latch groove, mounted in a corresponding recess formed in the lower surface of the cam slide. The wear plate is aligned in the direction of travel of the cam slide and has a length that is no less than the length of stroke of the slide. A conventional spring-loaded plunger mounted adjacent the wear plate remains in contact with the wear plate throughout the stroke of the slide, so that the slide itself is not subject to wear from contact with the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: D-M-E Company
    Inventor: Joseph Buttigieg
  • Patent number: 6440350
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for injection molding includes a first melt passage for the flow of a first material, and a second melt passage in communication with the first melt passage for the flow of a second material. The apparatus and method for injection molding also includes a valve pin that passes through the second melt passage. The valve pin has a first portion allowing the flow of the second material, but not the first material, through the second melt passage, and a second portion restricting the flow of the first material and the second material through the second melt passage. The valve pin may also be used to restrict material flow from a melt channel into a cavity. In addition, a back-flow control valve may be combined with a melt passage of the apparatus and method for injection molding. The back-flow control valve has a first portion for permitting flow of material through the melt passage, and a second portion for restricting flow of material through the melt passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
    Inventors: Jobst U. Gellert, Denis L. Babin, Itsuto Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 6435856
    Abstract: The invention relates to blow molding of an article having an inwardly projecting hollow boss with a closed end. A portion of a molten parison conforms to the shape of a fixed pin projecting from the face of a mold part to thereby form the hollow boss. The invention includes an apparatus comprising a reciprocable sleeve slidably received within the mold part over the pin. It has been found that by blow molding the parison with the sleeve initially extended with its end substantially flush with the end of the pin, followed by retracting the sleeve to a retracted position after a predetermined delay time, a boss with a thicker end results. Consequently, the boss end has greater structural integrity, and thus minimizes or eliminates the possibility of penetration and/or cracking of the boss end when a screw is threadedly received in the hollow boss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Dale A. Zellers, Jimmie L. Dean, Thomas O. Morton, Matthew P. Clark, Don L. Peters
  • Patent number: 6428301
    Abstract: A lens molding apparatus basically includes a lens molding tool in which a pair of lens forming molds for forming outer shapes of both surfaces of a molded lens are oppositely arranged on both sides of an annular forming frame in the thickness direction to form a target space therebetween, and a molding resin is injected in the target space to form an unhardened molded lens, wherein the unhardened molded lens is hardened by irradiating the unhardened molded lens with ultraviolet rays, to form a hardened molded lens. This lens molding apparatus is characterized in that optical characteristics of the unhardened molded lens are measured by a measuring system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukuma, Takeyuki Kato
  • Patent number: 6422856
    Abstract: There is provided a hot runner system comprised of a cylindrical runner block (4) which has a hot runner (12) extending through a core portion thereof to communicate between a gate formed on a lengthwise central portion of a side surface of the runner block (4) and the interior of each of a plurality of nozzle members (3), the runner block (4) being enclosed by band heaters (15), blocking members for the hot runner (12), and support plates (6) standing on a base plate (8) and fitted to both end portions of the runner block (4). The blocking members (16) are fitted into both the end portions of the runner block (4). Heaters (22) and (23) are arranged into the core portion and around the periphery of each blocking member, respectively, for compensating for heat loss due to heat radiation and heat transfer to the support plates (6) and for keeping the temperature of each end portion of the runner block in a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: A.K. Technical Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Takekazu Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6419476
    Abstract: An improved injection molding runnerless manifold and nozzle system, method and apparatus in which the fluid plastic molding material transfer conduits, such as the manifold runner channels and cavity injection nozzle passageway, are constructed of a low thermal conductivity, non-metallic heat insulation structural material to thereby heat insulate the liquified molding material or resin, whether thermosetting or thermoplastic, while resident in the manifold runners and/or nozzle passageways. The heat transfer and other physical parameters of the conduit material and structure are such that this molding material remains at a reasonable uncured molding temperature while resident in the transfer conduit for the duration of at least one injection cycle due to the heat insulation characteristics of these fluid flow conduits of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph P. Ouellette