Heated Mold Patents (Class 425/DIG110)
  • Patent number: 5971742
    Abstract: An apparatus for molding composite articles includes a pair of opposed matched-tool mold sections, each having a rigid housing and a thin, semi-rigid membrane removably and sealably mounted on the housing so as to define a fluid-tight chamber therein. The chamber of each mold section is filled with a noncompressible heat-conductive fluid to provide fluid backing to the portions of each membrane defining the molding surfaces of each mold section. A system of temperature control coils extending within each chamber are connected to an external heater/chiller unit to permit circulation therethrough of a suitable temperature control fluid, whereby positive control of the temperature of the backing fluid and, correlatively, the molding surfaces of the membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Pyramid Composites Manufacturing Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Robert P. McCollum, Gene E. Kirila, II
  • Patent number: 5820895
    Abstract: Demolding apparatus for reliably and repeatedly mechanically separating contact lens mold assemblies without damaging the contact lens formed therebetween. The mold assembly includes a frontcurve mold having a central mold section with a surrounding flange, and a corresponding backcurve mold also having a central mold section with a surrounding flange, with a contact lens being molded therebetween. The demolding apparatus includes a conductive heating probe which contacts the backcurve mold of the lens mold assembly to conductively heat the backcurve mold. Heat is conducted by the backcurve mold to cause a temperature gradient between the backcurve mold and the lens being demolded. The temperature gradient causes a differential expansion and shifting of the surface of the backcurve mold relative to the surface of the lens to lessen the adhesion therebetween to assist in separation of the molds, while leaving the lens in the frontcurve mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Vision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Widman, Henri A. Dagobert
  • Patent number: 5762972
    Abstract: An apparatus performs induction heating or dielectric heating of a mold for an injection molding system up to a desired temperature within a short time by using high frequencies or microwaves. The electric current of high frequency generated from a high frequency generator flows through a coil embedded in the mold to induction-heat the mold by an induction phenomenon with the mold, and microwaves from a microwave generator heats the dielectric material within the mold, thereby preventing cooling of the mold when a resin fluid is injected into a cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Kwang Byon
  • Patent number: 5599565
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for press forming a sheet blank (5) of the type including a die formed by a pad (2) composed of an elastic material disposed in a retaining box (1), a lower blank holder (3) which rests on the upper part of the box (1) and on which the sheet blank (5) rests, structure for preforming the sheet blank (5) constituted by an outer slide (6) carrying an upper blank holder (6a), structure for forming the sheet blank (5) constituted by a central slide acting on a plunger (7) and, in the region of heating zones of the elastic pad (2), structure (20) for regulating the temperature of the elastic pad (2) in the course of the press forming of the sheet blank (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sollac
    Inventor: Michel Dittlo
  • Patent number: 5569474
    Abstract: A mold includes a thin film electric heating employing voltage and current suppressed below values of an allowable voltage and an allowable current. The thin film electric heat includes a thin film electric resistor formed directly on a surface of the mold and is energized to effect heating. The resistor has a surface resistivity r, expressed by r=.rho./t (where .rho. is the volume resistivity of the thin film electric resistor and t is the film thickness of the thin film electric resistor), within a range to achieve the heating function of the thin film electric heater while the values of voltage and current applied to the thin film electric heater are suppressed below the values of the allowable voltage and the allowable current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Daiho Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Kitaichi, Chiaki Nakamura, Michio Tanaka, Atushi Fukuta
  • Patent number: 5525278
    Abstract: The recycling of used polyurethane foam is made possible by a process in which the starting material is first dried to a moisture content of 2 to 4% and is then filled into a multi-part mold (16, 17, 18) that defines the molded part (32). The parts of the mold (16, 17, 18) are then, with generation of the necessary compression pressure of below 20 N/mm.sup.2, pressed together and locked. These molds (16, 17, 18) that are subject to the compression pressure are heated in a tunnel furnace (20) so that the molding material reaches a temperature of approximately 130.degree. C. After a predefined holding time, the molds (16, 17, 18) can be opened under pressure and the molded parts (32) can be removed. Molded parts (32) with a thickness of 42 mm and of corresponding size have been produced successfully with this process. Instead of the molds (16, 17, 18), it is also possible that a two-part tool is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Hecker und Krosch GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Karl Krosch, Barthel Krosch, Michael Krosch, Robert Ecker
  • Patent number: 5437547
    Abstract: Injection molds suitable for use in injection molding, structural foam molding, low-pressure injection molding, and gas-assisted injection molding of plastic articles are described. The injection molds contain a thin metal layer contoured on its outer surface to the shape of the article to be molded, a rigid thermoset plastic material cast upon the inner surface of the metal layer and supporting the metal layer, and heat transfer elements cast within the plastic material and located adjacent to the metal layer to transfer heat for the metal layer and the plastic material. Preferably the thin metal layer is nickel, the plastic material is epoxy, and the heat transfer elements are metal chips and heat transfer tubing. The injection molds of the present invention can be prepared at considerable cost and time savings relative to conventional injection molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Becker Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Holton, Antony Gill
  • Patent number: 5182117
    Abstract: In a heating/cooling unit for selectively heating or cooling a set of dies, oil received in a reservoir is supplied to a flow direction changeover valve by a first oil pump. In a stably mode, oil is returned to the reservoir through the changeover valve and a heat exchanger. In a heating mode, the oil is supplied to a second oil pump from the changeover valve through a check valve. The second oil pump supplies the oil to an oil heater, and the heated oil is introduced into a fluid path formed in the dies to heat the dies. The oil discharged from the fluid path of the dies is returned to the second oil pump. Thus, the heated oil is circulated in a closed loop in the heating mode. In a cooling mode, new oil is supplied to the fluid path of the dies from the changeover valve and the oil discharged from the fluid path is guided to the heat exchanger through a switching valve and the cooling oil is returned to the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Toshiba Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Ozawa, Hajime Abe, Yutaka Owashi
  • Patent number: 4874564
    Abstract: A molding process of a molding compound containing an ingredient such as a binder, e.g., pitch or a thermosetting resin which generate gas before being set, is disclosed, wherein the molding compound is heated and molded under pressure according to a special temperature pattern. First, the molding compound may be preheated substantially uniformly to a temperature at which the binder melts and generates reaction gas. Next, temperature gradient in the direction of thickness of the molding is created while raising the temperature of the molding to an upper limit temperature so that the setting of the molding progressively advances from the higher temperature to the lower temperature side of the molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sudani, Yoshihiko Sunami
  • Patent number: 4757972
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for making a fast thermal response mold is disclosed. The apparatus has a plurality of rows with each row having a plurality of cavities. Each cavity in each particular row is interconnected by bores to allow a thermal medium to pass therebetween in a serpentine manner. Each cavity has a sleeve fixed therein and adapted to fit a mold. The sleeve eliminates the need for O-ring sealing means utilized in prior fast thermal response molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Brown
  • Patent number: 4684339
    Abstract: A gas-loaded diaphragm for exerting a predetermined pressure on a ceramic substrate during sintering to prevent x-y shrinkage. In the most preferred embodiment, the diaphragm comprises a gas-filled base composed of two opposing discs, and a substantially hollow gas-filled toroid container disposed around the perimeter of the opposing discs and communicating therewith to permit gas flow therebetween. This diaphragm is disposed in relation to a ceramic substrate-containing cell so that when it is heated to a desired temperature, the gas in the diaphragm expands and forces the two opposing discs apart to thereby exert a predetermined pressure on the ceramic substrate-containing cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1987
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Raschid J. Bezama, Charles H. Perry
  • Patent number: 4638854
    Abstract: Means for accurately controlling the transfer of heat to or from a device includes a heat pipe having a condenser end and an evaporator end. A helical screw thread is provided on the exterior surface of the heat pipe so that a portion of the heat pipe may be removably insertable via the threading into a threaded aperture in a desired section of the device. Alternatively, a connecting member, in which a portion of the heat pipe is fixed, may be selectively secured to the desired section of the device. At least one heat sink fin which is selectively securable on the heat pipe via the threading may also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Inventor: Don W. Noren
  • Patent number: 4508309
    Abstract: An improved mold plate for the compression molding of rubber objects and in particular golf balls and parts thereof is disclosed wherein the mold plate is comprised of replaceable half molds, a mold frame, and has a method of controlling the flow of a thermal medium. The flow of the thermal medium is annular to the half molds and in direct contact with the half molds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventor: Robert A. Brown
  • Patent number: 4188009
    Abstract: Apparatus for molding crayons and the like having particular utility in reclamation of broken and worn crayons and molding thereof into new crayons. Means for supplying radiant and convective heat are surrounded by a housing, with a plurality of chutes positioned beneath the heat supply means, each chute having an orifice communicating with a mold cavity into which molten wax flows by gravity. The apparatus has no moving parts and is simple and safe for use by children.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Inventor: Albert C. Gillespie
  • Patent number: 4143587
    Abstract: Apparatus for inelastically deforming an initially flat blank of a corrugated fiberboard, comprising two die blocks movable relative to each other and having complementarily convex and concave pressing surfaces and blank retaining means adapted to clamp opposite marginal portions of a blank of a corrugated fiberboard being warped between the die blocks with the marginal portions urged sidewise inboardly of the die blocks, the blank retaining means being operative to restrain the blank from being moved in a direction parallel with the marginal portions but to allow the marginal portion of the blank to move the marginal portions of the blank sidewise inboardly of the die blocks in a direction perpendicular to the marginal portions so that not only production of creases in curved portions of the blank but production of fissures as would be caused if the blank is excessively stretched between the opposite marginal portions of the blank are precluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1979
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Toshihiko Fujii