Patents Examined by Jill L. Heitbrink
  • Patent number: 7901601
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of fluid material through an injection molding flow channel leading to a mold cavity, the apparatus comprising: a pin having a longitudinal length being adapted for back and forth axial movement through the flow channel; the pin having a protrusion at a selected position along its length, the protrusion having an upstream end and a downstream end and a maximum diameter circumferential surface intermediate the upstream and downstream ends; the channel having an interior surface area portion which is complementary to the maximum diameter circumferential surface of the protrusion of the pin; and the pin being slidable to a position within the channel such that the maximum diameter circumferential surface of the protrusion forms a seal with the complementary interior surface portion of the channel to stop flow of the fluid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Synventive Molding Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Vasapoli, Sergio Antunes, Mark Moss, Christopher W. Lee, Mark Doyle
  • Patent number: 7897092
    Abstract: Provided are a process for efficiently producing a non-foamed molded body by impregnating an amorphous thermoplastic resin with 0.3 to 3.0% by mass of carbon dioxide and/or 0.05 to 1.0% by mass of nitrogen and then supplying the amorphous thermoplastic resin thus obtained which is impregnated with carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen to an uppermost stream part of a cylinder in an injection molding machine and molding it and a non-foamed molded body produced thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Shinsei Kagaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Shikuma, Masayuki Yamamoto, Naoto Kubo
  • Patent number: 7892462
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling the delivery of polymer material in a sequential injection molding process. In one embodiment, the method provides: delivering a first shot of a first material simultaneously to a plurality of mold cavities; independently sensing for each cavity a property that is indicative of a volume or flow of material that is delivered to the corresponding cavity during the step of delivering the first shot; independently stopping the step of delivering the first shot to one or more cavities according to a program that uses as a variable a signal indicative of the property sensed for the corresponding cavity during delivery of the first shot; and delivering a second shot of a second material simultaneously to the cavities subsequent to the step of stopping the step of delivering the first shot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Graham Packaging Company, LLP
    Inventors: Thomas E. Nahill, Sam Kalmouni, Nikhil Mani, Keith Barker, Brian Lynch
  • Patent number: 7887737
    Abstract: A method for producing a one-piece catheter comprising a hub (3) and a tube-shaped flexible part (4) wherein the tube shaped flexible part (4) has an interior which is divided in two region one being cone-shaped (7-8) and one being cylindrical (5). A one-piece catheter of the above mentioned kind and a mould for moulding such catheter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Unomedical, A/S
    Inventors: Signe Thorning Mejlhede, Steffen Gyrn
  • Patent number: 7879279
    Abstract: The invention relates to a nucleating agent for polyethylene terephthalate and injection molding method thereof. The nucleating agent comprises a SiO2 core grafted with bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, which accelerates the crystallization of polyethylene terephthalate for injection molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hsun-Yu Li, Chih-Hsiang Lin, Chi Lung Wu, Hsin-Ching Kao
  • Patent number: 7879280
    Abstract: The invention provides a mold insert system that includes an insert for insertion into an injection mold apparatus and an actuator. The insert includes a movable imprint plate with a predetermined pattern of protrusions configured to form grooves in an article molded by the mold apparatus. The insert also includes a stationary piece with a pattern of slots configured to correspond to the predetermined pattern of protrusions in the imprint plate. The actuator moves the imprint plate from a first position in which the protrusions on the imprint plate do not extend beyond the slots in the stationary piece to a second position in which the protrusions on the imprint plate extend temporarily beyond the slots in the stationary piece. An injection mold apparatus including the mold insert system, as well as a method of making a molded article including the mold insert system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Boshoku America, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis Scott Randall, Daniel Thomas Sudd, Martin Thomas Milburn
  • Patent number: 7875222
    Abstract: A method of making an injection moulded container for housing information storage media, e.g. a DVD, the container having a base portion (10) and a lid portion (11) moveable about a spine portion (12) between open and closed configurations and holding means (15) for holding the media within the container, the method involving the use of an injection moulding tool comprising two carrier units (40, 41) each adapted to receive a plurality of inserts therein which define a cavity for forming the container: a first set of the inserts (50-59) for forming a first set of features of the container being formed of a first material, e.g. steel, and a second set of inserts (42-45) for forming a second set of features of the container being formed of a second material, e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Dubois Limited
    Inventor: Robert Johnston
  • Patent number: 7867415
    Abstract: Used in a method of this invention is a die clamping unit, which comprises a tie bar movably attached to a stationary platen, a halfnut positioning servomotor which advances and retreats to the tie bar, a halfnut which is provided on a movable platen and fixes the movable platen and the tie bar together by engaging the tie bar, an engaging mechanism which engages the halfnut with the tie bar, a hydraulic die clamping cylinder which presses the stationary platen and the movable platen, and a control device which controls the halfnut positioning servomotor and the hydraulic cylinder. The control device drives the halfnut positioning servomotor to remove a clearance between the halfnut and an engaging groove of the tie bar before a die clamping process carried out by the hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Koike, Takaki Miyauchi, Makoto Nishizawa, Nobuyuki Muroi, Haruyuki Matsubayashi
  • Patent number: 7867430
    Abstract: Provided is an injection mold which can reduce the amount of resin that is separated from injection-molded parts and then thrown away. The injection mold includes for an embodiment an extension cylinder coupled to an upper clamp plate and having a nozzle at an end thereof; a nozzle positioner disposed under the nozzle, the nozzle positioner having a nozzle insertion groove adapted to receive the nozzle; a gate-lock-pin holder disposed under the extension cylinder and the nozzle positioner, comprising a gate lock pin which has a first end coupled to a gate molded part and a second end coupled to the gate-lock-pin holder, and adapted to separate the gate molded part from an injection-molded part; a gate stripper plate disposed under the gate-lock-pin holder and adapted to separate the gate molded part from the nozzle; and a cavity plate and a core plate disposed under the gate stripper plate and having a cavity which is shaped like the injection-molded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Su-Dong Shin, Myoung-Jin Kim, Jeong-Hun Heo
  • Patent number: 7850895
    Abstract: A method for connecting and disconnecting an injection molding machine to and from a shutoff assembly includes the steps of mating a nozzle of the injection molding machine to a seat in an exterior wall of a chamber of the shutoff assembly, advancing an elongate stem through a first opening into the chamber, and flowing molten polymer into the chamber and out a second opening in the chamber and on to a mold or sprue bar. The mold may be decompressed by maintaining a movable body disposed in the chamber in a forward position with the elongate stem and allowing the molten polymer to flow out the first opening. The injection molding machine may be disconnected from the shutoff assembly by withdrawing the stem of the nozzle from the chamber through the first opening, allowing molten polymer downstream of the movable body to push the movable body into engagement with a sealing surface of a interior entry wall of the chamber, and disconnecting the nozzle from the seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Panos Trakas
  • Patent number: 7850891
    Abstract: A suction cup includes a suction cup main body, an attachment surface and a gel layer. The surface of the gel layer serves as a suction surface. In a method of manufacturing a suction cup, a cavity is formed in the inside of a common mold and a primary mold. Next, a synthetic resin material is injected into the cavity, to mold the suction cup main body. Subsequently, the primary mold is opened, to obtain the suction cup main body. Next, a secondary mold is mated to the common mold, whereby a cavity is formed in the inside of the common mold and the secondary mold. Subsequently, a gel is injected into the cavity, to mold the gel layer. Next, the secondary mold is opened, to obtain a suction cup composed of the gel layer and the suction cup main body, on the common mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Ilda, Makoto Kawabata, Fumio Hara
  • Patent number: 7846358
    Abstract: When the number of rotations of a drive motor (3) driving a hydraulic pump (2) is variably controlled and thus each operation process in a molding cycle is controlled, as the hydraulic pump (2), a hydraulic pump (2) that can set at least a high fixed discharge flow rate (Qm) and a low fixed discharge flow rate (Qs) lower than the high flow rate is used, limit conditions for a threshold for the load condition of the drive motor (3) are preset and, during a molding operation, by setting a predetermined operation process at the high fixed discharge flow rate (Qm), the operation process is controlled and, when the load condition of the drive motor (3) is monitored and the load condition reaches the limit conditions, the flow rate is switched to the low fixed discharge flow rate (Qs) to control the predetermined operation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Shimizu, Hideo Sakai
  • Patent number: 7833445
    Abstract: The invention provides a foamed body of thermoplastic resin having a high expansion ratio, desired shape and cells of desired diameter, especially fine cells. The foamed body of thermoplastic resin is produced by filling the thermoplastic resin containing a foaming agent into a cavity 31 of a mold 2a and thereafter enlarging the cavity 31 to expand the resin. In this process, the cavity 31 is completely filled with the resin as melted and containing the foaming agent, then held in its shape as filled with the resin and enlarged to an increased final cavity width upon the average temperature filled in the cavity 31 reaching the range from the melting point of the resin to the melting point plus 30° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Harada, Hitoshi Kawauchi, Hiroyuki Hirano, Satoshi Shimura
  • Patent number: 7829007
    Abstract: An injection-moulding system for an injection-moulding machine including a clamping assembly, a temperature-adjusting system, and an ejector. The clamping assembly comprises two horizontal beams for mounting on the platens of the injection-moulding machine and two vertical beams for crosswise mounting on the horizontal beams in multiple positions. The clamping assembly allows dies of various sizes to be clamped in one and the same machine. The temperature-adjusting system includes at least one cooling tube for detachable insertion into a blind hole formed in the die. The cooling tube is attached to coolant conduits which are permanently attached to a source of coolant. Dies can thereby be replaced quickly and easily without spilling any coolant. The ejector is adapted to eject the cooled product after opening of the die. The injector pins are in an inexpensive way glued to the ejector plate. Use of the injection-moulding system provides considerable cost savings over conventional devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Etervind AB
    Inventor: Robert Axelsson
  • Patent number: 7824584
    Abstract: A stamper manufacturing method comprises: forming a stamper body so as to have a concave/convex pattern on one surface and a crystalline structure on at least a side toward the other surface; forming a layer having an amorphous structure on the other surface side of the stamper body; and polishing a surface of the layer having the amorphous structure. A resin molded article manufacturing method includes an injection molding process using the stamper as a prototype so as to transfer the concave/convex pattern of the stamper to a resin material. A stamper comprises a stamper body which is formed so as to have a concave/convex pattern on one surface and have a crystalline structure on at least a side toward the other surface. In the stamper, a layer having an amorphous structure and a surface of which is polished is formed on the other surface side of the stamper body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yuuichi Kawaguchi, Shuichi Okawa, Katsumichi Tagami
  • Patent number: 7815840
    Abstract: A modular mold system includes a hot half and a cold half. The hot half has a heated distributor assembly to receive molding material from an injection molding machine. The distributor assembly has a forward side that is opposite a side of the distributor assembly that faces the injection molding machine. A plurality of heated multi-nozzle units may also be provided. Each multi-nozzle unit has a manifold and a plurality of forward-extending nozzles. Each multi-nozzle unit is individually forwardly removably fastened to the forward side of the distributor assembly and removable from the distributor assembly while the distributor assembly is fastened to the first platen. The cold half includes a mounting plate and a plurality of cold-side units associated with the multi-nozzle units. Each cold-side unit is removably fastened to the mounting plate and engagable with one of the multi-nozzle units to define the one or more mold cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ace Mold Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: James Welsh, Graham Goodge
  • Patent number: 7790070
    Abstract: A mold assembly that is adapted to clamp fixed mold and movable mold together while making temperature adjustment and inject a molding material into a molding cavity provided therebetween, thereby producing an optical part. The mold assembly is one including fixed platen supporting fixed mold, provided on a part of its mold-side surface with locating hole and including ring of configuration with external and internal surfaces, fitted at its external surface in the locating hole, wherein the fixed mold is provided with a locating projection protruding toward the fixed platen, fitted in the internal surface of the locating hole, and wherein the ring consists of a material whose linear expansion coefficient is smaller than those of the material of the fixed platen and the material of the locating projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Kanji Sekihara, Akihiko Matsumoto, Yoshihiro Okumura
  • Patent number: 7790077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and process for injection molding polymer articles that reduces deposition of additives on the apparatus. Specifically, pressurizing of the mold cavity with a pressurized gas reduces the deposition of low molecular weight additives on the apparatus. Embodiments of the invention also include an apparatus for injection molding polymer articles comprising at least one pressurized gas inlet for introducing a pressurized gas into the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Yu Shi, Chantel Walters, L. Robert Deardurff, Mikell Schultheis, Robert Kriegel, Christopher W. White
  • Patent number: 7785523
    Abstract: Mold (20) for manufacturing plastic products provided with a bottom and a sidewall, wherein the mold comprises at least a first (21) and second (22) mold part which jointly define at least partly at least one mold cavity (100) and are movable in a first direction, wherein the at least one mold cavity comprises at least one first, in particular bottom-forming part (101) and one second (102), in particular sidewall-forming part, wherein on the first mold part at least one fixed wall part (24) is provided which supports a first movable wall part (20) which is movable relative to the respective fixed wall part (24) in at least a second direction which includes an angle with the first direction, wherein in said first movable wall part a second movable wall part (35) is provided, on the side facing the mold cavity, which is movable between a forwardly moved position and a retracted position relative to the first movable wall part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: ECIM Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Hendricus Antonius Hoogland
  • Patent number: 7785521
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing shoe outsoles from waste plant fibers includes steps of: bleaching plant fiber powders; activating the plant fiber powders through a graft reaction process; mixing the plant fiber powders and recycle rubber powders to enhance physical properties of the plant fiber powders; adding a homogenizing agent to fully blend the hydrophilic plant fiber powders and the lipophilic recycle rubber powders to form a recycled material; mixing the recycled material and thermoplastic rubber into a mixture; aging the mixture for an aging time; granulating the mixture; and producing a shoe outsole through an injection molding process. Thus a novel approach is provided to produce shoe products. Waste plants or rubber can be recycled to improve environmental conservation and protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Sung-Ho Chen