By Movable Ejector Means Entering Mold Cavity Patents (Class 425/444)
  • Patent number: 6516866
    Abstract: A simplified lost-core molding system that combines otherwise redundant features such as platens and hydraulic cylinders ordinarily found in separate core molding stations and product molding stations. The preferred system locates the core mold and the product mold between the platens of an injection molding machine and applies a common clamping force to the core mold and to the product mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Fastcore LLC
    Inventor: Kirk Jones
  • Patent number: 6499989
    Abstract: Disk removing device uses its disk pickup arm to remove or take out, from an injection mold unit, a disk having been molded by the mold unit. The disk removing device includes a rotary motor for rotating the disk pickup arm, and an arm support shaft which has the disk pickup arm at its distal end portion and which is rotated, together with the arm, by the rotary motor. The arm support shaft is coupled at its other end to a linear shaft of a linear motor so that the rotary and linear motors are coupled with each other in series via the arm support shaft. The disk removing device also includes a bearing member rotatable by the rotary motor, and the arm support shaft is supported by the bearing member for rotation and axial sliding movement relative to the bearing member. Such arrangements can effectively reduce the necessary number of component parts and overall size of the disk removing device, and thus the disk removing device can be installed snugly in a small space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Koide, Jun Nakazawa
  • Publication number: 20020197347
    Abstract: A rotary tableting press includes a turret with upper and lower carousels in which upper and lower punch assemblies are removably supported. The upper and lower punch assemblies include punch casings having a central opening and a punch slidably received in the central opening of the casing. The upper and lower punches are normally biased away from one another. Rollers are positioned on the tablet press and adapted to engage the punches to direct the upper and lower punches toward one another to compress material placed between the punches to form a tablet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Naresh C. Patel
  • Patent number: 6491512
    Abstract: A two-stage ejection system for an injection mold that allows the mold plates to move at the same time and then allows selected plates to be stopped in a locked position while the other plates continue to move. The system includes an external bushing, an internal bushing that carries cam retainers, and an ejector pin. The system may be used in an injection mold having in sequence a stationary plate, a stripper plate, a support plate and an ejection plate. The external bushing is secured to the support plate, the internal bushing is secured to the stripper plate, and the ejector pin is secured to the ejection plate. The cam retainers selectively engage grooves in the external bushing or ejector pin to lock their respective attached plates from moving with respect to each other while the other plates continue to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Inventor: Leo A. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 6485285
    Abstract: A removal apparatus is provided which includes a travelling frame, first and second carriages provided on the travelling frame, first and second cross frames provided on the first and second carriages, first and second cross carriages provided on the first and second cross frames, first and second vertical units provided on the first and second cross carriages, and first and second chucking units secured to the first and second vertical units. In addition, a control unit is provided for synchronously controlling the movement of the first and second carriages, the first and second cross carriages, and the first and second vertical units so as to enable the first and second chucking units to be moved in three dimensions for removal of a molded product from a molding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Star Seiki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yousuke Shiotani
  • Publication number: 20020167115
    Abstract: Molten resin is injected into a cavity 12 formed between a cavity mold 7 and a moving-side core mold 11 in an injection mold assembly 1 and is allowed to spread out into every corner. Next, after the resin has stopped flowing, punch pins 23 and 24 are pressed into the cavity by hydraulic cylinders 25 and 26 that are attached to the fixed-side mold part 2 side. After the molten resin has hardened, the punch pins 23 and 24 are withdrawn from the cavity, the mold assembly is opened and the molded product is removed. By using the punch pins 23 and 24, through-hole parts are formed in a plate-like product. When the molten resin is injected, inside the cavity there are no through-hole-forming protrusions that would cause the flow of the molten resin to branch, so that weld lines do not appear in the surface of the molded product. As a result, plate-like molded products that include through-holes can be accurately formed by injection molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Yoji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20020168443
    Abstract: Device for injection moulding of plastics, with a plasticizing and injection unit (3), that is provided with at least one electrical drive system (6) for turning a plasticizing screw and for injecting the plasticized plastics material between the mould halves (16), wherein the injection moulding device is provided with at least one additional drive unit that firstly moves a machine part in a linear manner, and subsequently presses it against a fixed stop, and the additional drive unit is configured as a pneumatically actuated piston-cylinder unit (8, 18, 28, 38) and the force exerted by the piston assumes different values at a given gas pressure according to the setting of the piston.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Inventor: Michael Bauer
  • Patent number: 6478566
    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: February 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Aida Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takao Ito, Hisanobu Kanamaru
  • Patent number: 6471505
    Abstract: A handling system for a plastic material injection molding machine comprises an arm for unloading plastic material articles from hollow cavities of a mold of the plastic material injection molding machine. The hollow cavities are arranged in a first plane and the arm essentially moves within the first plane. A conveyor system moves within a second plane for transporting away the plastic material articles. A transfer station is arranged between the mold and the conveyor system for transferring the unloaded plastic material articles from the first plane to the second plane. The transfer station comprises a transfer plate for the plastic material articles and is adapted to be moved along a predetermined trajectory from a first operational position within the first plane into a second operational position within the second plane. The trajectory extends essentially outside the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Hekuma Herbst Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Herbst
  • Publication number: 20020146479
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and the respective device for pulling cones or containers or similar supports containing an edible product, in particular ice-cream cones, out of the moulds. According to the invention at least one blast of air under pressure is played against the upper edge of the mould, just near the air-casing between mould and cone until it causes the lifting of the latter, after which the locking of pincers around the cone is controlled, which cone leans against the arms of said pincers and can be removed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Franco Albino Luigi Grigoli
  • Patent number: 6461141
    Abstract: An adjustable cam track for a mold assembly including a first mold portion, a second mold portion movable with respect to the first mold portion, a third mold portion movably interposed between the first and second portions and having at least one pair of space defining surfaces which together with the first and second mold portions defines in a closed position space for receiving plastic material to form at least one molded article. The adjustable cam track includes a guide coupled to the second mold portion, the guide defining a first portion of the adjustable cam track and a cam insert including a second portion of the adjustable cam track defining a point of release of the molded article from the space defining surfaces, the cam insert being adjustably positionable with respect to the guide to adjust the point of release.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Wentworth Mold, Inc., Electra Form Industries Division
    Inventors: Kevin R. Harrison, Jeffrey P. Roark
  • Publication number: 20020142063
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement (1) for a two-stage ejector (2) in a moulding tool (3), which comprises an actuator part (7) exhibiting connecting segments (5) capable of being caused to be displaced radially (4) and an attaching part (6) capable of detachable attachment to the aforementioned actuator part (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2001
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Hans Muller
  • Patent number: 6457968
    Abstract: An expandable ejector for injection moulds. The ejector includes a single-piece body in which a cylindrical rod (1) is defined, which, after a weakening portion (3) ends in an expandable head (2), by way of a pincer, centering its features on the fact that the head (2) adopts a configuration which is also cylindrical, coincident in diameter with that of the rod (1), allowing for easy machining of the ejector as well as the mould itself, in which an orifice which is also cylindrical and of constant section in its entire length will be necessary. The pincers of the head (2), after their obtainment, adopt, in a stable form, a divergent position, by a suitable thermal treatment, so that they close when the head penetrates the mould body and open automatically when the head (2) frees itself of the mould body and reaches the inside of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Inventor: Alberto Navarra Pruna
  • Patent number: 6435855
    Abstract: A resin-molding mold unit and a resin-molding apparatus having the resin-molding mold unit are capable of removing any air trap from a molten resin therein. This makes it possible to produce a molded product which is free from any void and therefore improved in appearance. In order to enhance demolding of the molded product from the resin-molding mold unit, this resin-molding mold unit has a pin hole in which an ejection pin is received to have its front end portion extend into a molding space from an inner wall surface thereof by a length which is adjustable, if necessary. The front end portion assumes a semispheric shape. In injecting the molten resin, the ejection pin is adjusted in position so as to have its outer peripheral edge portion aligned in level with the inner wall surface. Since the molten resin thus injected flows along the semispheric front end portion, any air trap is not formed in the vicinity of the ejection pin, particularly, in a downstream side thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sakurai
  • Publication number: 20020105104
    Abstract: The invention provides a removing apparatus for molded products and a method for cutting off gates of molded products, by which various types of molded products having different gate positions from each other are cut off to separate the product parts from runners with high accuracy by using a single cutting member and which contributes to downsizing of the apparatus itself. The invention further provides a removing apparatus for molded products and a method for cutting off gates of molded products, by which work for attaching the cutting unit is simplified and work for removing is made very efficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Applicant: STAR SEIKI CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Isao Adachi
  • Patent number: 6428730
    Abstract: For molding a synthetic resin-made hollow member with an intermediate element incorporated therein, the invention provides method and apparatus improved in assemblability, assembly precision and productivity. The molding apparatus for slide type injection molding includes: a stationary molding die having first and second hollow-member use stationary die portions and a stationary-side intermediate-element use die portion; a movable molding die having first and second hollow-member use slidable die portions and a movable-side intermediate-element use die portion; and intermediate-element moving mechanism for moving an intermediate element Wf longitudinally, wherein the stationary and movable molding dies are openable and closable to each other and the first and second hollow-member use slidable die portions are slidable longitudinally relative to the first and second hollow-member use stationary die portions, respectively, while the movable-side intermediate-element use die portion is non-slidable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: GP Daikyo Corporation
    Inventor: Michinori Nishida
  • Publication number: 20020098259
    Abstract: A two-stage ejection system for an injection mold that allows the mold plates to move at the same time and then allows selected plates to be stopped in a locked position while the other plates continue to move. The system includes an external bushing, an internal bushing that carries cam retainers, and an ejector pin. The system may be used in an injection mold having in sequence a stationary plate, a stripper plate, a support plate and an ejection plate. The external bushing is secured to the support plate, the internal bushing is secured to the stripper plate, and the ejector pin is secured to the ejection plate. The cam retainers selectively engage grooves in the external bushing or ejector pin to lock their respective attached plates from moving with respect to each other while the other plates continue to move.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Leo A. Vandenberg
  • Patent number: 6422850
    Abstract: An improved vent pin for a golf ball injection mold is characterized by a non-circular configuration so that a non-circular dimple can be formed at one or both poles of the golf ball. The vent pin is coaxially arranged within a passage in the injection mold which is aligned with a radius of the ball which passes through one of the poles thereof. The pin is operable between a normal position where the end of the pin closes the passage lower end and a retracted position where the pin end is withdrawn into the passage so that air from a cavity of the mold where the cover layer of the ball is formed can be vented during delivery of thermoplastic material to the cavity to form the golf ball cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Spalding Sports Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Shannon, Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Gary Tavares
  • Publication number: 20020090415
    Abstract: An apparatus for injection-molding plastic material articles comprises a mold having a plurality of mold portions. The mold portions are adapted to be displaced relative to one another along a first, horizontally extending axis between an open position and a closed position of the mold, An arm of a handling system is provided for unloading the plastic material articles from cavities in one of the mold portions. The arm is adapted to be advanced between the mold portions in the open position of the mold within a guide along a second, likewise horizontal axis extending essentially under right angles relative to the first axis The guide extends in the area of a lower side of the arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Inventor: Richard Herbst
  • Publication number: 20020086085
    Abstract: A robot for a production machine including a rotation drive unit disposed on a support base; a first arm having a proximal end portion fixed to a rotary shaft of the rotation drive unit; a first proximal-side pulley disposed coaxially with the rotary shaft and fixed to the support base; a second proximal-side pulley fixed to a distal end portion of the first arm; an intermediate shaft rotatably supported on the distal end portion of the first arm and penetrating a center portion of the second proximal-side pulley; a first distal-side pulley provided integrally with the intermediate shaft; a first rotation transmission section for drivingly connecting the first distal-side pulley and the first proximal-side pulley; a second arm having a proximal end portion fixed to the intermediate shaft; a distal-side shaft rotatably supported on a distal end portion of the second arm; a second distal-side pulley provided integrally with the distal-side shaft; a second rotation transmission section for drivingly connecting t
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Kazutoshi Takayama, Atsuo Matsui
  • Patent number: 6409945
    Abstract: In a method of controlling an apparatus for taking out an injection-molded product, and the apparatus for carrying out the method, a product holder is moved along a locus starting from a waiting position via an initial linear zone, a curve zone and a final linear zone to a holding position for holding the product. A complementary time required for the movement of the product holder by a distance equal to a difference between a length from the waiting position to the holding position in the clamping direction and the length of the final linear zone is determined. The complementary time is subtracted from a ingress time required for the movement of the product holder from the waiting position to a point on a straight line between the male and female molds. A linear distance that the product holder moves from the waiting position A1 toward the point on the linear line for the same period of time as obtained by the subtraction is adopted as the length of the final linear zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yushin Seiki
    Inventor: Koji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20020056933
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for precisely determining a separating force of a molded product from a mold by an ejector in an injection molding machine. A load exerted on an ejector mechanism in operation without a product molded in the mold is constituted by an inner resistance of the ejector mechanism. The inner resistance includes frictional force produced within the ejector mechanism and resilient forces of springs for returning ejector pins to retracted positions thereof. On the other hand, the load exerted on the ejector mechanism in operation with a product molded in the mold is constituted by the inner resistance and the separating force of the molded product from the mold. Thus, a difference between the loads detected in driving the ejector mechanism with and without a molded product at each ejector position precisely represents the separating force of the molded product from the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Applicant: Fanuc Ltd.
    Inventors: Masao Kamiguchi, Tatsuhiro Uchiyama, Hiroshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6387308
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming building blocks includes an upright compression chamber with an upper end which serves both as an inlet and an outlet. A sliding gate closes the inlet/output. A soil/cement mixture is loaded into the upper end of the compressing chamber, the gate is slide shut, and a ram then compresses the mixture against the gate. The gate is opened while the ram is still under pressure, smoothing the upper end of the block, and allowing it to be ejected through the common inlet/outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Hydraforms Developments (Pty) Ltd.
    Inventor: Joachim Kofahl
  • Patent number: 6386859
    Abstract: A mold-clamping unit accommodates an injection mold. The mold clamping unit includes a mold clamping chamber and a clamping mechanism. A crank element with a crank guide defines a guide path curved away from the clamping axis and has a longitudinal extension substantially parallel to the clamping axis. A drive unit moves the extractor along the crank guide and has a driving movement substantially parallel to the clamping axis. A guide unit is connected to the drive unit and the extractor and is guided at two locations on the crank guide. The first end of the drive unit is pivotably attached to the crank element and the second end of the drive unit is attached with hinges to the guide unit. The driving movement moves the guide unit along the guide path for moving the extraction mechanism in and out of the injection mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Inventor: Karl Hehl
  • Patent number: 6372171
    Abstract: Articles, such as components of an injection-molded multi-component product, are repositioned within a space, such as the space between mold parts, that is accessible for repositioning only during a series of periods, such as open-mold periods, that are separated by intervals of less accessibility for repositioning, such as closed-mold intervals by (a) moving a first article, such as a first component of a first multi-component product, from a first position within the space to outside of the space during a first such period; and (b) moving a second identical article, such as a first component of a second multi-component, from outside of the space to a second position within the space during the first such period. Both the movement of the first article and the movement of the second article are by means of a common vehicle, such as a common robot arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Universal Ventures
    Inventors: Jens Ole Sorensen, Paul Philip Brown
  • Patent number: 6348173
    Abstract: A mold core having an upper surface and at least one hole passing therethrough is provided. An ejector pin is disposed within at least one of the holes in the mold core. The ejector pin includes a bushing having an undercut portion protruding above the upper surface of the mold core for enhancing the adherence of a part molded on the mold core thereto. The bushing also has a hole passing laterally therethrough through which passes an ejector pin shaft. The ejector pin shaft, which includes a head, forces a part adhered to the mold core off of the mold core when so desired. The protruding portion of the bushing is undercut in the form of a back-drafted angle, a circumferential rib, either indented or projecting, and of a partially round or V-shaped cross-section, a series of dimples, or of any other shape which will cause the molded plastic to adhere tightly to it. The head of the ejector pin may be located out beyond bushing and may be dome-shaped, conical, or any of other various shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Custom-Pak, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Anderson
  • Publication number: 20020018825
    Abstract: An ejector is coated with a thin, hard, low friction, lubricous coating for use in a mold to eject molded articles from the mold without the use of liquid lubricants. The preferred ejector has a thin, low friction, coefficient coating with a thickness on the order of 0.00004 inch to 0.0001 inch. This coating provides long lasting, dry lubrication for low friction reciprocation of the ejector within a bore in the mold. The thin lubricous coating allows the ejector to be inventoried and sold in nominal sizes and cut down to the desired size by the mold builder to suit a specific application, and the cut ends are then deburred by the mold builder and finish ground to size, with the lubricous coating remaining intact at the cut end of the ejector. The coating is so thin that the nominal size of the ejector is essentially unchanged. The very thin coating does not chip or flake at the cut end, as would result in cavities into which the plastic could flow and form flashing on the plastic part being molded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventor: Glenn Starkey
  • Patent number: 6345974
    Abstract: An ejector pin with a pressure sensor is provided, of which the sensor output can be utilized without any correction even in different diameter thereof, so that no design changes are required according to loads to the ejector pin. The ejector pin has a bar portion for extruding a molded component and a sleeve portion slidably housing the bar portion. The end of the bar portion faces the cavity from the opening at the end of the guide portion. A housing room is defined by the step portion at the lower end of the sleeve portion. A strain producing portion with an U-shaped cross section fixed on the base end of the bar portion is disposed inside the housing room. A strain sensor is attached on the lower surface of the beam of the strain producing portion. Only the area of the end of the bar portion is related to the pressure detection. When the pressure of a resin is applied on the end of the bar portion, the downward load on the bar portion bends the beam down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawasaki, Yutaka Hiroshima, Chisato Akinari, Yasuo Ishiwata
  • Publication number: 20020006454
    Abstract: An ejection system for use with a compression molding apparatus includes one or more molds each having a core member and a cavity member, wherein the core member is provided with spring biased knock-out pins that are engaged by a cross member to extend the pins and release a molded article when the mold is in an open position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: Jay Machael, Anthony Joseph Cline, Dallas Scott Calvegage, Christopher Patrick Schrauth, Shannon Paul
  • Publication number: 20020001637
    Abstract: A mold assembly for a container closure includes a mold portion with a stripper ring adapted for engaging a shoulder of the closure, and a threaded core having an external, asymmetrical helical thread defining an internal, asymmetrical helical thread of the closure. The external, asymmetrical helical thread has a ramped surface defining a ramped surface of the internal, asymmetrical helical thread. Relative linear movement between the stripper ring and the threaded core causes withdrawal of the threaded core from the closure in a linear direction. The ramped surfaces of the internal and external, asymmetrical helical threads cooperate to facilitate the withdrawal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventor: Saad Taha
  • Patent number: 6334766
    Abstract: A take-out system for a shuttle-type blow moulding machine having two moulding assemblies has a single gripper head for taking out moulded articles from both moulding assemblies. The gripper head is carried by a vertical gripper arm which can be raised and lowered by a rack and pinion drive with respect to a carriage that moves in line with the two moulding assemblies. Electric servomotors are used to raise and lower the gripper head and move the carriage under software control so that the motion of the gripper head can be programmed to match a particular moulding machine. The articles may be moulded with tabs that can be gripped by the gripper head, and the take-out system may include a trimmer for removing those tabs, and a waste conveyor for the trimmed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Inventor: John McCormick
  • Patent number: 6332997
    Abstract: A single piece battery jaw and method and apparatus for producing the same employs a stack molding type machine with material injection from the platens. The apparatus can effectively injection mold a one-piece jar with a straight side wall or an undercut side wall. Zero draft capability is also provided. The apparatus also includes an extraction device and core stabilizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Hardigg Industries Inc.
    Inventors: James S. Hardigg, George R. Havrilla
  • Publication number: 20010048185
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for semi-automatically forming a sheet of material into an article, such as a flower pot cover, is provided. The apparatus includes a male die, a female die, a presence sensing assembly, and a control assembly. The presence sensing assembly is positioned for sensing the presence of an operator in a sheet feeding zone which is located between an operator's station and a zone of operation of the male die and the female die. The control assembly initiates an article forming sequence, wherein the male die and the female die are moved from a discharge position to a forming position to form the article from the sheet of material and subsequently returned to the discharge position, in response to the operator clearing the presence sensing assembly subsequent to the operator breaking the presence sensing assembly while positioning a sheet of material between the male die and the female die via the sheet feeding area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Donald E. Weder, Frank Craig, Michael J. King
  • Patent number: 6325614
    Abstract: A mold element retaining and releasing mechanism includes a spigot to be connected to a mold or to a machine platen and retained in place by a retaining mechanism operable to engage and release the spigot. The retaining mechanism is moved between a first configuration, wherein it engages the spigot and a second configuration wherein it releases the spigot by an actuator which, in a preferred embodiment, is a pneumatically operable piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: John DiSimone
  • Patent number: 6325955
    Abstract: A plastic material injection molding machine comprises a mold with at least one movable mold portion and a movable handling system. The handling system is adapted to be moved along a predetermined trajectory and to enter between mold portions when the mold is in an open operational position. The movable mold portion has a front surface facing the handling system and defines a collision contour with respect to the handling system when the latter is moved along the trajectory during movement of the mold portion. The handling system is adapted to pass by the collision contour after the movable mold portion has moved away from the trajectory. The handling system is moved along a first path section of the trajectory before passing by the collision contour and is accelerated up to a predetermined maximum velocity. Thus, the handling system is at the maximum velocity when passing by the collision contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Hekuma Herbst Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Herbst
  • Patent number: 6322733
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for controlling a motional sequence of a first movable component of a plastic material injection molding machine having a first trajectory spatially overlapping at least partially a second trajectory of a second movable component of the plastic material injection molding machine. Motion of the first movable component is initiated depending on an enabling signal indicative for a motional state of the second movable component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hekuma Herbst Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Herbst
  • Patent number: 6318991
    Abstract: A molding device is provided for the manufacture of a connector. Two mold halves are provided movable relative to one another, which provide molding spaces when the molds are closed for forming the connector housing and a retainer. One mold half includes a space with a core portion for forming a retainer insertion hole in the connector housing, and a retainer forming portion for forming the retainer in a position lateral of the core portion. The mold is also provided with inserting means for inserting the retainer into the insertion hole after the molding of the two pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems
    Inventor: Hajime Kawase
  • Patent number: 6315544
    Abstract: A length adjustable extension bar for connecting a mold ejector plate to a press ejector plate comprises a rotatable member threadingly secured on one end of a threaded stud. An opposite end of the threaded stud is connected to the press ejector plate and a distal end or head of the rotatable member is connected to the mold ejector plate. Rotation of the rotatable member relative to the threaded stud increases or decreases the overall length of the extension bar. A locking assembly comprising a locking sleeve biased by a spring into engagement with a locking nut is mounted on the extension bar to prevent adjustments in the length of the extension bar without first advancing the locking sleeve out of engagement with the locking nut. The locking sleeve is slidably mounted on the rotatable member shaft but is prevented from rotating relative to the shaft by a pin extending through the rotatable member shaft and aligned slots formed on opposite sides of the locking sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Burger Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip M. Burger, Mark A. Brown
  • Patent number: 6315543
    Abstract: An injection molding machine includes various devices for reducing injection cycle time. A molded article detection apparatus and method are disclosed. The detection system and method determines if an article, or a portion thereof, remains on a machine core pin after the article ejection cycle has occurred, and, if so, communicates this condition to both the machine controller and the take-out controller. This prevents the machine from starting a new cycle and damaging the injection mold. Also, by communicating the extraction status to both the take-out controller and machine controller, if no articles or portions remain, injection cycle time is reduced. Additionally, a variable vacuum pressure apparatus and method are described. The apparatus and method allows early removal of molded articles from the molds into a take-out plate while the parts are still warm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Manfred Lausenhammer, Arnold Mai, Frank Oster, Stephan Klang, Sven Mertes, Witold Neter, Hai Luong, Tiemo Brand
  • Publication number: 20010038163
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for injection molding including at least one nozzle capable of injecting a molten material, and a shuttling system with a first mold part and a second mold part. The first mold part has at least one injection cavity for receiving molten material that is aligned and in communication with the at least one nozzle. The first mold part also has at least a pair of cooling chambers flanking the at least one injection cavity. The second mold part has a laterally moveable shuttle plate with a first mold core and a second mold core. The first and second mold cores are capable of being aligned with and inserted into both the at least one injection cavity and the cooling chambers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 1999
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: PAUL R. MATYSEK
  • Patent number: 6303064
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a leakproof plastic container by completely ejecting from a mold and then transferring to a cap closing station. The process includes the steps of injecting a molten plastic material into a mold cavity and then opening the mold and ejecting the body and cap completely from the mold. Subsequently, the body and cap are gravity fed to a collection device and then transferred to a cap closing station. In the cap closing station, the body and cap are sealed before the material is fully set to form a leakproof seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Capitol Vial, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Abrams, John Belfance, Branko Tisma
  • Patent number: 6267574
    Abstract: A press for making compacts out of raw material such as metal powder is disclosed. The press includes a removable picker system. The picker system has an elongate guide rail element and a gripper assembly fixed to a slide mounted on the guide rail. The gripper assembly may move toward and away from a die in the press platen to pick up and move a compact that has been ejected from the die. The gripper assembly has gripper arms and gripper fingers that move toward and away from a central vertical longitudinal plane that runs through the center of the die. The guide rail provides the sole support for the gripper assembly, and the guide rail is offset from the central vertical longitudinal plane. The picker system allows access to the die for inspection, cleaning or changing of the die without removing the picker system; the gripper assembly can be moved down the guide rail element away from the die to provide access to the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2001
    Assignee: AMSTED Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Matthew D. Bowman, Donald J. Knott
  • Publication number: 20010005063
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an innovative cooling pin for cooling molded articles, a system which incorporates same, and a method for cooling a molded article which utilizes the cooling pin. The cooling pin of the present invention has a central pin structure with a head portion, a cooling fluid channel within the central pin structure terminating in an outlet in the head portion, and a plurality of fins positioned along the length of the central pin structure. Adjacent ones of the fins are preferably separated by a spacer. Each of the fins is preferably formed from a flexible material such as a flexible plastic material. The fins force and maintain cooling fluid introduced into the interior of the molded article in close proximity to the interior surfaces of the molded article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Publication date: June 28, 2001
    Inventor: Witold Neter
  • Patent number: 6245277
    Abstract: A mold assembly is provided for injection molding a plastic container that is adapted to releasably interlock with a lid for sealing off the container. The mold assembly is arranged to mold a container that is characterized by a rim section that projects inwardly of the inner surface of the container's side wall and has an annular locking channel for receiving a locking rib on the lid. The mold assembly comprises a core member, a first cavity member that cooperates with the core member to form a first mold cavity section that is shaped to mold the bottom and side walls of the container, and a second cavity member that cooperates with the core member and the first cavity member to form a second mold cavity section that is an extension of said first mold cavity section and is shaped to mold the rim section of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: David W. Diamond
  • Patent number: 6224363
    Abstract: A system is provided for unloading finished parts from and also loading new raw material into a compression mold having two halves in which the mold halves are in a spaced apart position. The system includes an elongated endless conveyor which extends laterally away from the mold halves. An unloader platform is secured to and spaced upwardly from the conveyor so that an opening is formed between the platform and the conveyor. Raw material is positioned on the conveyor such that, upon actuation of the conveyor, the raw material passes under the platform. The conveyor is mounted on rails while an actuator moves the conveyor between an extended position, in which the platform is positioned in between the mold halves, and a retracted position, in which the conveyor as well as the platform is spaced laterally from the mold halves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Pilot Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark D. Mahan, Bruce Killingbeck
  • Patent number: 6217311
    Abstract: Apparatus for portioning rice, particularly for sushi, comprises a mould (14) horizontally shiftable between a charging position, in which a row of mould cavities (15) are filled with compressed rice, and a discharge position in which the mould cavities (15) are positioned over a tray (32) to receive the rice portions (11). When the mould (14) is in the discharge position, ejector members (26) move downwardly towards the mould, the ejector members (26) and the mould (14) then moving downwardly together until an over-centre mechanism is released to move the mould (14) upwardly with a snap action which causes the rice portions (11) to be released from the mould cavities (15) and placed in the receiving tray (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Sushi Express Co. Limited
    Inventor: Colin Maxwell Wade
  • Patent number: 6213755
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is provided for automatically and continuously producing a mass of moldings. A continuous molding is manufactured by injecting a solid solution in order of precedence into a plurality of molds circulating in a line along an endless track and by solidifying the injected solution. The solution is preferably vinyl chloride resin or another synthetic resin. After the solution solidifies the mold is automatically removed from the molding. The continuous molding consists of a number of moldings open at the bottoms and connected end to end by a top plate, molded at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Katsuron
    Inventor: Hiroshi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6187247
    Abstract: An injection mold and a method for ejecting, from the mold, a molded product having an array of integrally molded fastener elements extending from a base are provided. In some embodiments, the mold includes a series of ejector pins which progressively eject the product. In other embodiments, the mold includes moveable parts which pull fastener elements out of mold cavities without the use of ejector pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Velcro Industries B.V.
    Inventors: Keith G. Buzzell, Clinton Dowd
  • Patent number: 6179599
    Abstract: The invention relates to an ejector pin receivable in a mold part of a mold for encapsulating electronic components mounted on a carrier, wherein the substantially cylindrical ejector pin is provided with a side wall in which at least one recess is arranged close to the end which makes contact with the product for ejecting. The invention also relates to a mold part in which an opening is arranged for guiding an ejector pin, wherein at least one recess is arranged in the wall of the opening. The invention further includes a mold for encapsulating electronic components, in addition to a method for sealing an interspace between an ejector pin and an opening in a mold part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: FICO B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Lambertus Gerardus Maria Venrooij, Marcel Gerardus Antonius Tomassen
  • Patent number: RE37676
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a leak proof body and cap. The process including the steps of defining a mold cavity between a first mold part and a second mold part, injecting a molten material into the mold cavity thereby forming from the molten material a body and cap, and retracting the first mold part from the second mold part to separate the first mold part from the body and cap. Thereafter, engaging at least the body with a robotic arm and moving the body with the robotic arm into a capping device while the body and cap are at a temperature at which the material is not fully set. The body is then sealed by moving the cap into engagement with the body to form a leak proof seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Capitol Vial, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert S. Abrams, Robert Thomas Garren, Jr.