Patents Examined by Tim Heitbrink
  • Patent number: 8469697
    Abstract: A rotary molding system for molding food products, mold cavities formed when a mold shell rotates mold shapes disposed along the mold shell into a fill position between a fill plate and a wear plate. Molded food products are removed from mold cavities using knock-out cups, the use of air pressure, or the use of a vacuum source disposed below the mold cavity, without the need to slow the rotation of the mold shell. Knock-out cups may be used with a heating system to reduce accumulation of unwanted materials on the knock-out cups. The rotary molding system can also be used to form products with contoured surfaces. A smart tagging system can be used to ensure that compatible sets of mold shells and knock out cups are being used. A vacuum region may be disposed upstream of the fill position to remove air within the mold cavity prior to filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, David Hansen, Salvatore Lamartino, Bruce Bauer, Thomas C. Wolcott, Steve Ill, E. William Wight
  • Patent number: 8460586
    Abstract: An injection molding device is provided with a mold, an injection unit equipped with an injection screw that is displaceably configured such that a molten resin is filled into a cavity by forward movement to perform plural injection operations including at least a filling operation and a pressure keeping operation by displacing the injection screw, a position sensor for detecting the position of the injection screw, a temperature sensor capable of measuring the temperature of the vicinity of the cavity of the mold, a temperature adjustment unit capable of adjusting the temperature of the mold by heating or cooling the mold, a control unit for controlling the displacement of the injection screw and the temperature of the mold and determining plural switching timings of the injection operations on the basis of the position of the screw, and a display unit for displaying an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Plastics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Kariya, Michitaka Hattori, Shigeru Nozaki, Satoshi Imaeda
  • Patent number: 8459983
    Abstract: A hot-runner system for use with an injection molding system, the hot-runner system including a hot-runner component, a material; and carbon nanotubes being combined with the material. The carbon nanotubes are dispersed, at least in part, in the material and the material includes a metal alloy. The carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the metal alloy, so that the metal alloy and the carbon nanotubes are combined to form a CNT-metal composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Manon Danielle Belzile, John Knapp, Patrice Fabien Gaillard, Edward Joseph Jenko, Abdeslam Bouti, Paul Blais, Brian Esser
  • Patent number: 8459977
    Abstract: A molded article transfer device (150, 250) is described herein that is associated, in use, with an injection mold (100, 200). The molded article transfer device (150, 250) includes a transfer structure (151, 251) that defines, amongst other things, a first aperture (154A) that is structured to receive a first molded article (102A) from a first mold stack (106A, 206A) of the injection mold (100). The transfer structure (151, 251) also defines a first branch channel (156A) and a first trunk channel (158A) through which the first molded article (102A) is passable. The first branch channel (156A) connects the first aperture (154A) with the first trunk channel (158A) for passing, in use, the first molded article (102A) thereto, whereafter it passes through the first trunk channel (158A) towards an exit (164A) thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Pierre Glaesener, Halter Christophe
  • Patent number: 8457773
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a manifold assembly (22) in accordance with specifications required by a mold is provided. The method includes selecting a manifold (22) from a predetermined set of manifolds (22) and sub-manifolds (24) selected from a predetermined set of sub-manifolds (24). Both the manifolds (22) and the sub-manifolds (24) are at least partially manufactured to define first and second portions of the melt channels (28). Injection nozzles (26) are also selected for each sub-manifold (24), defining third portions of the melt channels (28). The manifold (22), the at least one sub-manifold (24) and the injection nozzles (26) are arranged and assembled together so that the first portions, the second portions and the third portions of the melt channels (28) cooperatively define the melt channels (28) operable to direct a melt material to gates located in the mold. The invention further includes a manifold assembly manufactured using the methods described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Dinesh Budapanahalli
  • Patent number: 8454346
    Abstract: A mold includes a female mold defining a receiving space and a male mold including a body and a core protruding from the body. The male mold and the female mold cooperatively define a molding cavity for forming a molding product. The core includes a distal end portion inserted into the receiving space. The distal end portion is configured for forming a through hole of the molding product. The female mold includes two protruding ribs arranged at a parting line between the female mold and the core. The protruding ribs of the female mold is located on opposite sides of the distal end portion, and extend around the distal end portion. The core includes two protruding ribs formed on the distal end portion at the parting line between the female mold and the core. The protruding ribs of the core extend around the distal end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Chang Qin, Zhong-Jie Luo, Chao Tang, Jian-Hui Dai, Te-Sheng Jan, Chun-Che Yen, Yu-Tao Chen
  • Patent number: 8454347
    Abstract: A sprue device for an injection mold includes a first part and a second part. The sprue device is sealed and water-cooled so as to reduce overall molding time. The connecting section defines spiral grooves. The second part includes a chassis and an extension from the chassis. The chassis is defined with a through hole, and two gates communicated with the through hole respectively. The spiral grooves mate with the wall of the mounting hole to form a spiral runner. The gates, the through hole, and the spiral runner communicate with each other. An injection mold using the sprue device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventors: Dian-Hong Wei, Du-Xi Gao, Zhong-Hai Xiao
  • Patent number: 8449287
    Abstract: A valve pin that accommodates side loading for use in a valve-gated nozzle of a hot runner injection molding system is disclosed. The valve pin is operably coupled at a rearward end to an actuating mechanism and includes a shaft that extends through the system such that a forward end thereof engages with a mold gate of a mold cavity. The valve pin shaft has a region forward of the rearward end thereof that accommodates side loading under operating conditions. The region may be a slidable or rotatable interface configured to provide lateral or angular movement between upstream and downstream portions of the valve pin shaft under side loading conditions or may be configured to provide increased flexibility to the valve pin shaft within the region to permit deflection of the valve pin under side loading conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Mold-Masters (2007) Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 8439663
    Abstract: A mold apparatus comprising a release liner removably securable to a mold tool face by a liner vacuum system configured to hold the release liner in place against the tool face, the liner vacuum system comprising at least one liner vacuum port extending and providing fluid communication between the mold face and a vacuum source. The liner vacuum system is actuable to hold the release liner in place against the tool face in advance of and during material injection and during curing and may be further actuable to subsequently release the tool from the liner, leaving the release liner to be peeled from the cured material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Rick A. Luepke, Matthew A. Sodergren
  • Patent number: 8439664
    Abstract: An injection molding machine to prevent a molded piece from being separated from a mold after molds are disassembled from each other includes a first mold, a second mold assembled with the first mold to form a cavity, and a binding device or a pressing device to get a molded piece held in the first mold when the first mold and the second mold are disassembled from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Hak Kim, Han Sub Hwang
  • Patent number: 8435027
    Abstract: To provide a preform, a bottle and a preform molding apparatus capable of preventing lowering in the mechanical strength of a preform, reducing the amount of a resin material, as well as improving productivity. A preform mold 1e used in the preform molding apparatus has a mouth neck part mold 2, a body part mold 3e and a core mold 163, and the body part mold 3e has, on the outer edge of the upper surface of a cylindrical protrusion part 31e, an annular protrusion 33 which controls the moving direction of a solidified film 118 and a solidified film 117 which have been peeled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoru Nemoto, Masayuki Sasaki, Tsuneo Imatani
  • Patent number: 8425222
    Abstract: Taper portions 151 and 161 are provided in the cavity of a stationary side die 110 and the cavity of a movable side die 120 in an injection molding apparatus, respectively, and a floating mechanism 170 is provided so that one taper portions are able to freely follows the other taper portions while die clamping. This configuration makes it possible to correct axial misalignment in each of the cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Uehira, Akihiro Iwane, Akihiko Matsumoto, Takahito Muroi
  • Patent number: 8425216
    Abstract: There is set forth herein a system having an injection molding assembly mold including a stationary section and moveable section, the stationary section having a channel assembly, one or more nozzle and a mold cavity, the mold further having a sensor unit array, the sensor unit array comprising one or more sensor unit. The system can include one or more processing circuit that utilizes an output of the one or more sensor unit for determining a condition prevailing within the injection molding assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mold-Masters (2007) Limited
    Inventor: Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 8419418
    Abstract: An injection mould for injection moulding an article having a base and a sidewall, the injection mould comprising: first and second mould parts which are adapted to be connected together in a closed configuration so as to define a mould cavity there between, the mould cavity having a base portion and a sidewall portion, an injector for injecting into the mould cavity molten material to be moulded into the article, at least one portion of one of the first and second mould parts being movable when the first and second mould parts are in the closed configuration so as to vary the volume of the mould cavity, an actuator for selectively moving the at least one portion of one of the first and second mould parts in first and second directions so as to increase and reduce, respectively, the volume of the mould cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Reginald Clark
  • Patent number: 8419413
    Abstract: A mold core positioning device configured to position a mold core includes a base and a sleeve assembly. The base defines a receiving space. The sleeve assembly includes a hollow sleeve and a number of balls. A number of receiving holes are defined in a sidewall of the sleeve, and each of the receiving holes holds one of the balls, and each of the balls can rotate freely in a corresponding receiving hole. The sleeve is received in the receiving space, and the balls received in the sleeve is to hold the mold core in position with the balls contacting the mold core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hung-Tsan Shen
  • Patent number: 8419417
    Abstract: A mold-tool system (100), comprising: a nozzle housing (102) having a melt passageway (103) extending from an input end (106) to an output end (108). A valve stem (104) is: (i) slide movable along the melt passageway (103), and (ii) slide supported by the input end (106) and by the output end (108).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Domenico Favata, Claude Francois Wolf, Peter Yankov, Kevin Francis Said, Darrin Albert MacLeod
  • Patent number: 8419416
    Abstract: A mold-tool system (100) configured to accommodate a valve stem (104), the mold-tool system (100) comprising: a nozzle assembly (402) having: a nozzle-output end (408) being configured to support, at least in part, slide movement of the valve stem (104).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Domenico Favata, Claude François Wolf, Peter Yankov, Kevin Francis Said, Darrin Albert McLeod
  • Patent number: 8419405
    Abstract: The particle size distribution of a first fly ash is compared to an ideal particle size distribution that was empirically developed to provide a resin melt with a lower viscosity as more fly ash is added. A second fly ash material is similarly compared to the ideal curve and then is blended or optimized to provide an optimum filler for use with a suitable resin or similar material. Additional fly ash materials may be similarly compared and blended. Additional additives may be added for, among other things, foaming and coloration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Revolutionary Plastics, LLC
    Inventors: Jack Raymond Prince, Jared L. Sommer
  • Patent number: 8419419
    Abstract: A light guide plate mold includes a female mold, a male mold mounted on and cooperating with the female mold, and an adjusting assembly. The male mold includes a first mounting surface and an opposite second mounting surface. The first mounting surface defines two mold cavities and a flow slot communicating with the two mold cavities. The second mounting surface defines a plurality of mounting holes extending through the opposite first mounting surface. The adjusting assembly includes a plurality of adjusting members. The adjusting members are adjustably assembled into the mounting holes of the male mold, and resist against the female mold, thereby forming an exhaust passage adjustably configured between the male mold and the female mold. The exhaust passage is capable of being adjusted by operating the adjusting assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shun-Chi Tseng
  • Patent number: 8414285
    Abstract: One or more nozzles define separate nozzle channels. The nozzles are coupled to a manifold, so that each of the nozzle channels communicates with a different mold gate. A molding material distribution insert is coupled to the manifold and has a body defining a distribution channel and a plurality of drop channels equal in number to the nozzle channels. The distribution channel is an open distribution channel formed on an outer surface of the body and enclosed by the manifold. The drop channels intersect the distribution channel and exit the body at a different one of the nozzle channels. A valve pin bushing can extend into the drop channels. Valve pins can extend from actuators, through the valve pin bushing and the drop channels, and to the mold gates. A valve pin holder can be coupled to the actuator and coupled to heads of the valve pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mold-Masters (2007) Limited
    Inventors: Valery Ten, Peter Klobucar, Denis Babin