Abstract: An extruder having a multichannel wave screw is disclosed wherein at least one portion of the screw is provided with a helical passage that is divided into a pair of parallel flow channels. The helical passage is defined by a helical conveying land which extends radially outwardly to a first diameter from the screw root, which defines the bottom surface of the helical passage. To divide the helical passage into the pair of flow channels, a helical barrier land extends radially outwardly to a second diameter which is less than the first diameter. Each flow channel is further characterized by the existence of an undulating screw root which defines a plurality of waves, each with a crest and a valley. The crests of one flow channel are helically displaced relative to the crests of the adjacent flow channel.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for injection moulding of thermoplastic materials in which a screw in a plasticizer acts as an injection ram to inject plasticized material through a heated runner system into a mould. Part of the injected shot of plasticized material is passed into a reservoir communicating with the runner system. Upon completion of the injection of the shot, the passage from the plasticizer is closed by a valve and the screw is returned to plasticizing position while a pressure is applied to the plasticized material in the reservoir to force it into the runner system to apply a positive pressure so that an article is formed in the mold free of sink marks or weak spots. The reservoir may be provided in series with the shot injecting passage from the screw plasticizer by a nozzle on the plasticizer acting as a piston movable in a cylinder communicating with the runner system of the mould, the valve acting to close the plasticizer from the end of the mould.

Abstract: An injection molding machine having a dual tonnage traversing cylinder whereby extended stroke mold breakaway force may be exerted by the traversing cylinder unit before it begins its higher speed traversing movement to completely open the mold. The traversing cylinder comprises a normal length piston received within the cylinder barrel and bolted at one end to the moveable platen. The effective working area of the pressure face for this piston during the retraction stroke is such that low force, high speed retraction of the mold section connected to the moveable platen may be achieved. Also disposed within the barrel is a breakaway piston, which may be annular in shape and disposed concentrically with respect to the fast traverse piston and positioned such that it will abut an annular shoulder on the fast traverse piston throughout the retraction stroke of the breakaway piston.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the injection molding of plastics material wherein the forward portion of the screw is designed such that mixing and shear of the material is minimized. This is advantageous when processing materials having diverse colorations so as to produce a mottled product, and also for processing glass reinforced materials wherein high shear processing would break the fibers thereby resulting in a lower quality product. Low shear processing of the material in the forward portion of the barrel is accomplished by providing a screw having a fully flighted rear portion, but a forward portion which is flightless so that a generally unobstructed, annular flow passage is formed between the cylindrical outer periphery of the flighted portion and the inner wall of the barrel. In a mottling application of the apparatus, materials of diverse coloration are softened by the flighted rear portion of the screw but not yet fully mixed so that distinct color patterns are present.

Abstract: A method for the injection molding of plastics material wherein the forward portion of the screw is designed such that mixing and shear of the material is minimized. This is advantageous when processing materials having diverse colorations so as to produce a mottled product, and also for processing glass reinforced materials wherein high shear processing would break the fibers thereby resulting in a lower quality product. Low shear processing of the material in the forward portion of the barrel is accomplished by providing a screw having a fully flighted rear portion, but a forward portion which is flightless so that a generally unobstructed, annular flow passage is formed between the cylindrical outer periphery of the flighted portion and the inner wall of the barrel. In a mottling application of the apparatus, materials of diverse coloration are softened by the flighted rear portion of the screw but not yet fully mixed so that distinct color patterns are present.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus is disclosed which includes a screw having a multichannel wave screw section. In the wave screw section, a helical passage defined by a radially extending helical screw flight is divided into a pair of flow channels by a radially extending helical barrier. The helical barrier is radially shorter than the helical conveying flight and the effective outer width thereof is axially narrower than the helical conveying flight. Each flow channel is provided with an undulating base surface that defines a plurality of wave cycles. The base surface varies in a radial direction between a valley portion and a crest portion for the wave cycle and a wave cycle is defined as extending between consecutive crest portions. The crest portions of one flow channel are helically displaced from the crest portions of the adjacent flow channel.

Abstract: An injection molding machine which is capable of injecting both thermoplastic compounds and glass loaded thermosetting polyester compounds, wherein the machine is capable of rapid conversion from its thermoplastic configuration to its thermosetting configuration, and vice versa. The machine comprises an elongated charge forming barrel having a rearward thermoplastic feed opening, which is customarily supplied by pelletized thermoplastic material from a vertical feed hopper, and a thermosetting material feed opening extending into the barrel at a position forwardly of the thermoplastics feed opening. When processing thermoplastics materials, a conventional, fully flighted plasticizing screw is installed in the barrel so that the pelletized material is conveyed forwardly from the rear feed opening, and plasticized for subsequent injection. During thermoplastics processing, the thermosetting feed opening is plugged.

Abstract: An extruder having a multichannel wave screw is disclosed wherein at least one portion of the screw is provided with a helical passage that is divided into a pair of parallel flow channels. The helical passage is defined by a helical conveying land which extends radially outwardly to a first diameter from the screw root, which defines the bottom surface of the helical passage. To divide the helical passage into the pair of flow channels, a helical barrier land extends radially outwardly to a second diameter which is less than the first diameter. Each flow channel is further characterized by the existence of an undulating screw root which defines a plurality of waves, each with a crest and a valley. The crests of one flow channel are helically displaced relative to the crests of the adjacent flow channel.

Abstract: An automatic part loading unit for loading various diameter and stack height sizes of rotor assemblies into the compensator sleeves of multiple cavity rotor dies for the subsequent casting of the conductor bars and end rings of squirrel cage electrical motor rotors. The loading unit comprises a magazine section having a plurality of inclined guide tracks on which the rotor preforms are stacked, and an escapement mechanism which permits one rotor preform at a time to roll from each of the guide tracks in the magazine section onto respective inclined guide tracks leading to the breech openings of the die cavities. The guide tracks are laterally adjustable so as to accommodate rotor preforms of various stack height. As the rotor preforms roll down the inclined guide track toward the die cavities, they are decelerated by means of pivotally mounted, counterweighted arms which are contacted by and then swung out of the way by the rotors.

Abstract: An injection molding machine having a dual tonnage traversing cylinder whereby extended stroke mold breakaway force may be exerted by the traversing cylinder unit before it begins its higher speed traversing movement to completely open the mold. The traversing cylinder comprises a normal length piston received within the cylinder barrel and bolted at one end to the moveable platen. The effective working area of the pressure face for this piston during the retraction stroke is such that low force, high speed retraction of the mold section connected to the moveable platen may be achieved. Also disposed within the barrel is a breakaway piston, which may be annular in shape and disposed concentrically with respect to the fast traverse piston and positioned such that it will abut an annular shoulder on the fast traverse piston throughout the retraction stroke of the breakaway piston.

Abstract: A feedblock fashioned from a plurality of plates is disclosed which distributes two flows of dissimilar synthetic resinous materials into a radially stratified annular form for extrusion by a pipehead die. The feedblock is mounted on a pipehead with the plurality of plates defining material flow channels for three strata. Independently operable valves vary stratum thickness and assure radially matched flow conditions between strata at confluence. Each stratum is independently accelerated through a convergent channel to assure that a uniform circumferential distribution of flow conditions develops. Moreover, two strata are developed through channel systems which do not induce circumferential maldistribution. The third stratum is handled to eliminate circumferential maldistribution. Accordingly, the process and apparatus develop stable annular flow with radial stratification having neither radial nor circumferential maldistributions that may later interact to distort the strata.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention an extruder screw having a helical conveying land is provided with a helical barrier land therewithin to form a pair of parallel helical flow channels. Each flow channel includes repeating wave cycles. Each wave cycle is of varying depth, having alternating wave crests and valleys. The wave cycles of the adjacent channels are helically offset so that a wave crest of one channel lies opposite a valley in the adjacent channel. The barrier land is undercut in a manner which facilitates the flow of melt thereacross from one channel to the other, while restricting the flow thereacross of unmelted solids. Solids thus tend to pass through a restriction formed by the wave crest while the melt travels across the barrier flight into the adjacent channel, thereby minimizing the formation of pressure pulses in the extrudate flow. The clearance above the barrier flight is small, and the width of the barrier flight is very narrow so as to impart little energy input i.e.

Abstract: Both a method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a cyclically operated injection molding machine such that uniform, high quality molded articles are repeatedly produced from plasticized synthetic resinous material. The method and apparatus include integration of a sensed injection pressure with respect to time from the beginning of an injection stroke until plasticized material in a mold reaches a predetermined pressure. The integration defines a work index which is compared with a preset allowable range. If the work index lies outside the preset range, an adjustment is made to the back pressure acting on the plasticizing screw during the plasticizing portion of the subsequent molding cycle. The apparatus is permitted to make a predetermined number of adjustments in the back pressure after which a suitable indication is made that the molding apparatus is out of control itself.

Abstract: Both a method and apparatus are disclosed for controlling a cyclically operated injection molding machine such that uniform, high quality molded articles are repeatedly produced from plasticized synthetic resinous material. The method and apparatus include integration of a sensed injection pressure with respect to time from the beginning of an injection stroke until plasticized material in a mold reaches a predetermined pressure. The integration defines a work index which is compared with a preset allowable range. If the work index lies outside the preset range, an adjustment is made to the back pressure acting on the plasticizing screw during the plasticizing portion of the subsequent molding cycle. The apparatus is permitted to make a predetermined number of adjustments in the back pressure after which a suitable indication is made that the molding apparatus is out of control itself.

Abstract: A feedblock fashioned from a plurality of plates is disclosed which distributes two flows of dissimilar synthetic resinous materials into a radially stratified annular form for extrusion by a pipehead die. The feedblock is mounted on a pipehead with the plurality of plates defining material flow channels for three strata. Independently operable valves vary stratum thickness and assure radially matched flow conditions between strata at confluence. Each stratum is independently accelerated through a convergent channel to assure that a uniform circumferential distribution of flow conditions develops. Moreover, two strata are developed through channel systems which do not induce circumferential maldistribution. The third stratum is handled to eliminate circumferential maldistribution. Accordingly, the process and apparatus develop stable annular flow with radial stratification having neither radial nor circumferential maldistributions that may later interact to distort the strata.

Abstract: Injection molding apparatus is disclosed for molding degradable synthetic resinous materials such as nylons. A vented injection molding machine includes a barrel, a rotatable reciprocable screw and means for preventing ingestion of a deleterious atmospheric gas such as oxygen. The particular apparatus whereby exclusion of the atmospheric gas may be effected includes a conduit having a terminal end thereof positioned at the vent opening of the injection molding machine barrel. The conduit communicates with a source of inert gas and directs a pressurized current of inert gas into the vent opening during the transient time interval between the end of the injection portion of the molding machine cycle and the plasticization portion of the machine cycle. If desired, the inert gas may flood the vent opening continuously. Both nitrogen and carbon dioxide are suitable inert gases for use with nylon materials.

Abstract: A vented injection molding machine adapted to handle a wide variety of synthetic resinous materials without predrying is disclosed. The molding machine includes a two-stage screw rotatably and reciprocably mounted within a barrel. The barrel includes a pair of ends, a feed opening at one end and a vent opening intermediate the pair of ends. A first stage of the screw essentially completes material plastication. The first stage has a protruding helical screw flight with a first pitch and includes a feed section communicating with the feed opening, a transition section, and a pumping section. A second stage of the screw includes a deep flighted vent section which communicates with the vent opening and the first stage pumping section, a short transition section and a relatively short second pumping section. The second stage also includes a protruding helical screw flight having a second pitch which is greater than the first pitch of the first stage.

Abstract: A molding system for producing articles of mottled appearance includes a plasticizing unit having an inner bore which communicates with a mold cavity. A feed screw is mounted within the bore and is connected to fluid-actuated motors for rotary and translational movement within the bore. A spreader device is positioned in a heated part of the bore ahead of the feed screw. The screw is rotated to feed and soften molding materials of diverse coloration and is subsequently translated to push the materials through the spreader device such that final plasticization occurs. A bridging conduit is provided between the rotary and translational motors to divert a controlled amount of fluid from the latter to the former during a pushing operation, to rotate the screw forwardly at a controlled rate or to hold pressure on the screw to prevent backward rotation or to limit the amount of backward rotation.

Abstract: Access to mold halves disposed on and between opposed stationary and movable platens of a molding machine is facilitated by releasing and at least partially retracting, from the zone between the platens, at least one of a plurality of tie rods extending therebetween. A tie rod is at least partially removed by (1) slidingly translating the movable platen along the tie rods toward the stationary platen, (2) releasing one tie rod from connection with the stationary platen and connecting it to the movable platen, and then (3) slidingly translating the movable platen away from the stationary platen along tie rods remaining connected thereto, to at least partially retract the released tie rod from between the stationary and movable platens.