Abstract: A moulding machine for the production of caciocavallo, provola, scamorza and similar plastic curd cheeses, comprising a thrust section for the plastic curd, and an actual moulding section fed by the thrust section and comprising: (a) a fixed plate provided with apertures for receiving the plastic curd supplied by the thrust section; and (b) a stepwise-rotating plate provided with a series of moulds which have an inlet alignable with said aperture and are removably connected to the relative plate to allow extraction of the moulded whole cheese.

Abstract: There is provided a hydraulic motor-driven extruder having raw rubber stock fed from coiled continuous strips into the extrusion portion thereof. The extruder includes a screw shaft and housing having decreasing diameter as material is transported toward the discharging extremity thereof. Surrounding this screw extruder there is provided heating bands of controlled temperature to impart additional heat. On discharge from the extruder the prepared rubber is deposited within an expandable cavity for selecting the desired volume of prepared rubber material. Once measured the prepared rubber is lifted from the cavity for insertion into the molding press.

Abstract: A plastification and injection device for an injection molding machine includes a plunger rod on the pressurized piston coupled to a spindle on which the valve body of a directional control valve is guided axially. The spindle is axially rotatable and is coupled to a stepping motor controlled in accordance with the injection pressure and/or the injection rate. The shaft of a hydromotor driving the plastification and injection screw is guided by means of another directional control valve, the valve body of which is guided so as to slide axially on the shaft. And, this shaft is further coupled to another stepping motor. This, upon completion of the plastification process, the direction of rotation of the hydromotor is reversed in order to close the backflow and, because of the interaction of the other stepping motor and the other directional control valve, the screw moves axially by a predetermined amount to close the backflow.

Abstract: A contact sensing system senses the contact of two parts, such as the closure of two die parts in a molding machine, and controls a subsequent event such as the introduction of fluent molding material into the mold when closure of the die parts is sensed. One of the die parts is provided with an orifice which is covered by the other die part when the mold is closed. Sensing is achieved by delivering air through the orifice using an air line and sensing the pressure increase in the line when the orifice is closed by the other die part. A control module houses the components of the sensing system and protects the components in hostile environments.

Abstract: A machine has a nozzle formed with an annular passage centered on an axis and having at an outer axial end an annular mouth. A plastic mass is introduced under pressure into the inner axial end of the passage at two diametrally opposite locations and mixes and passes outwardly along the passage to emerge from the mouth as a tube. The axial outward flow of the mass along the passage is impeded upstream of the mouth to pressurize the mass with a pressure substantially greater than atmospheric. Such flow is impeded either by restricting the passage or by allowing the volume of the passage to increase against a predetermined counterforce. The mass will form when it leaves the nozzle a tube of almost perfectly uniform wall thickness.

Abstract: A hydraulic press for non-refractory material consisting of a rigid framework and a vertically moveable press pad and horizontally moveable box section. A mold cavity is defined within framework and the press pad is contained within. Moveable box section delivers stock to mold cavity, forms cover over mold cavity during manufacture, and ejects formed unit from framework. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for movement of press pad during compression of unit and to raise unit for ejection from framework. A separate hydraulic cylinder is provided for movement of box section through framework. Both cylinders are fixedly connected to the framework. Hydraulic fluid, directed by solenoid-activated valves, provides movement of cylinders. Control means include an electrical circuit using relays, timmer, pressure actuated valve, and mechanical trip switches.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus having an extrudate outlet nozzle, an extrudate receiver, the nozzle and receiver being movable to discharge extrudate in a preselected two dimensional line configuration on the receiver, and a programmable controller for controlling the movement to achieve the configuration.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for forming hollow articles from plasticized materials are disclosed. A preform is partially formed under substantially no pressure on a preform core by introducing the core into a void-free charge of plasticized material that is placed in a preform cavity from a source of the plasticized material. After the preform core and preform cavity have moved together to define a preform mold space, the charge of plasticized material is subjected to a pressure forming step to form a completely packed preform on the core. The preform is then blow-molded in a blow cavity by introducing blowing gas into the preform through the preform core. Neck mold structure that strips and releases the formed article from the core is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for injection-molding a foamed article including a foamed core and an outer solid skin layer of unfoamed synthetic resin are provided. A first molten flow of the unfoaming synthetic resin is at first injected into a mold to form the outer solid skin layer. Subsequently, a second molten flow of a synthetic resin containing a foaming agent is fed into the first molten flow without stopping the first flow and is then mixed and kneaded to form a kneaded mass. The kneaded mass is then injected into the mold to form the core portion. Since the first flow is continuously fed during one operation cycle, the product molded article has no hesitation marks.

Abstract: A shot cylinder controller for injection molding machines comprises a valve connected with one side of the shot cylinder and including a valve head which is movable with respect to a seat. The valve head is connected with at least two, lineally extensible actuators, interconnected in an end-to-end relationship. The actuators are independently extended and retracted, whereby selective manipulation of the actuators varies the position of the valve head, and thereby controls the extension of the shot cylinder and regulates the speed of die injection.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for preparing a thermosetting resin for further processing. The resin is poured from a batch reactor onto a continuously moving conveyor belt to form a layer of about 2 to 4 inches thick. After the batch is received on the conveyor, the conveyor is stopped for several hours to permit the batch to cool and solidify. Thereafter, the conveyor is restarted and a chopper at the downstream end of the conveyor chops the solidified batch into small chunks and flakes. The conveyor has a rigid trough support under the upstream end of the conveyor's upper run and roller assemblies holding the conveyor in a trough configuration at its downstream end.

Abstract: A building block having at least one chamber therein which is filled with a foamed plastic material consisting of particles interconnected at their surfaces to form gas-permeable interstices. The block is formed by filling the chamber with a loose fill of the foamed plastic material and then fusing the particles to each other by blowing hot gas through an injection lance inserted in the fill.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding and curing liners in cap closures includes a molding head having a plurality of molding stations, a feeding mechanism for feeding unlined caps with charges of lined material to the molding head and a take-off mechanism for removing the completed liner. The feeding mechanism consists of a dispensing unit which is capable of dispensing more than one-thousand charges of material per minute and includes a gun having a lining compound receiving chamber with a needle reciprocated therein. The needle is normally biased to a closed position and is electrically moved to an open position through a solenoid and a photosensing mechanism which accurately senses the position of a rotating wheel of the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for multiple cavity injection molding which permits individual variation of gate opening time for mold shut-off bushings. The gate pins for the shut-off bushings are controlled by individual double-acting fluid motor, the bushings being fed by a common manifold. Gate opening is thus not dependent upon attainment of a predetermined injection pressure. Closure of the gate for each cavity will permit material to be fed faster to the other cavities. Novel means is provided for securing each gate pin to its actuating cylinder, which minimizes heat transfer to the motor, accommodates expansion of the material manifold and permits gate opening adjustment. The fluid motors are end-mounted on an actuating fluid manifold, allowing close juxtaposition. A cycle counter may be used to control inventory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, and an apparatus, for the production of articles which consist of filler-containing synthetic material, in particular a foam, wherein flowable reactants, at least one of which has previously been charged with filler, are injected into a mixing zone under predetermined injection pressures, wherein the reaction mixture is subsequently introduced into a mold.Cellular materials such as flexible, semi-rigid, rigid or structured foam based, for example, on polyurethane or isocyanurate, and also non-cellular materials such as elastomers, may be produced by methods of this type.

Abstract: An injection molding machine having a ram for injecting a settable material into an associated mold includes a hydraulic actuator formed by a piston and cylinder assembly which displaces the ram during the injection operation. The piston is an unbalanced area piston which permits the ram to be displaced in both a regenerative and a nonregenerative feed mode. Fluid controls for operating the piston and cylinder assembly include a regeneration valve in fluid communication through the cylinder with opposite sides of the unbalanced piston to permit regenerative feed of the piston and ram in one valve position or to permit nonregenerative feed in another valve position. Displacing the ram in the regenerative or nonregenerative modes of operation allows the mold to be filled at different rates or pressures.

Abstract: A lower mold half is horizontally placed. The top surface of the lower mold half is provided with a first groove of any desired shape, one end of which is closed with the other end having a notch for allowing air to be blown in. An upper mold half has a bottom surface which matches with the top surface of the lower mold half and which is provided with a second groove corresponding to said first groove. Thus, when the upper and lower mold halves are in contact, there is formed a mold cavity defined by the first and second grooves. A nozzle for discharging a parison is disposed above the lower mold half. The relative positional relation between the nozzle and the lower mold half is changed in such a manner that the nozzle follows the first groove without changing the distance therefrom so that a parison can be properly placed in the first groove. If at least two lower mold halves are provided, it is possible to carry out molding operation continuously.

Abstract: Molten synthetic resin material containing foaming agent in an amount of 0.05 to 5 percent by weight is injected into a pre-pressurized mold cavity in a mold which is closed by a relatively low clamping force having a coefficient in the range of 10 to 40, said coefficient being represented as a ratio of clamping force to maximum injection shot volume. The above injection step is carried out for at least 3 seconds. After the injection step has been initiated, the pre-pressurized mold is released to atmosphere during the injection step at the soonest. At least two molds may be used to be alternately charged with said material.

Abstract: An injection control apparatus for controlling the quantity of extrudable material dispensed by the screw of an extruder into a series of molds includes a code device attached to each mold or the mold carrier, the code device including magnets indicative of the volume of the mold cavity to be filled; sensors in the form of Hall effect switches for triggering by the magnets when in close proximity thereto and for generating a code signal which is fed to and stored in a controller; a rectilinear position transducer mechanically coupled to the screw of the extruder for sensing the position of the screw and producing a position signal; a logic circuit for receiving the code signal from the memory; potentiometers for receiving a signal from the logic circuit and feeding a reference signal via the logic circuit to a null point detector for comparison with the position signal from the transducer to produce a command signal, which controls dispensing of extrudable material by the screw, i.e., the shot size.

Abstract: This invention reduces the time that a core rod must remain at an injection station of a plastic blow molding machine. The injection operation is usually performed by a plasticizer, and while the injection operation itself requires very little time, the plasticizer performs other roles that must be complete before the next injection. This invention uses two plasticizers alternately so that one can inject while the other recovers for its next injection operation. A plastic pump is used to relieve the plasticizers of some of the operations that they previously performed.

Abstract: In a pressure moulding machine, particularly a die casting machine, detection of locking together of the die parts by the applied pressure is effected by detecting the resulting mechanical stretch in the machine frame; the die parts are opened and closed together by an air motor associated with a hydraulic motor that damps the opening and closing movement of the dies, the die parts being locked together by the hydraulic motor; full closing of the die parts is determined by applying pressurized air to bores therein and to a controlling pressure switch, the pressure switch not being operable if air is leaking from the bores.

Abstract: An improved dough scaler for preshaping and cutting a predetermined amount of dough comprising: a dough pressure chamber; a movable pressure plate slidably engaging the upper end of pressure chamber for compressing the dough; equalizing compression springs connected between the pressure plate and the pressure chamber to maintain constant dough pressure throughout the chamber; switching means to control the proper amount of dough pressure for the dough to be extruded through sizing ports on an extrusion plate mounted at the lower end of the pressure chamber; and valve-like cutting means connected to the extrusion plate to cut the extruded dough to the proper size. Consistent dough quality, size, and shape are produced at a rapid rate with a fewer number of intermediate operational steps.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the injection of material through two or more gates into the cavity of injection-molding apparatus. In this system, a sensor develops an indication of unbalanced flow conditions produced by the injection of the material into the cavity of the mold. A regulator also forms part of the system and serves to adjust the relative amounts of material passing through the gates. The method includes sensing unbalanced flow conditions produced by the material injected into the cavity and adjusting the relative amounts of materials injected into the cavity through the various gates.