By Direct Fluid Pressure Or Pressure Differential Patents (Class 264/335)
  • Patent number: 5945056
    Abstract: A method of making a surgical simulator comprises first and second mouldings which can be assembled together to form a simulation limb. The first moulding is in the form of a replaceable cartridge on which simulation surgical operations moulding can be performed. The second moulding is mounted on a supporting base and includes a cavity within which the first moulding can be located. A housing containing a pump assembly is mounted on the supporting base and the pump assembly is arranged to pump simulation blood through a simulation vein contained within said first moulding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: Simutech Limited
    Inventors: Ralph Paul Day, Aaron Sherman
  • Patent number: 5942168
    Abstract: A resin compound for a molding die, a molding die made of the resin compound, and a molding method using the molding die are disclosed. The resin compound includes thermoplastic resin, inorganic fiber reinforcing material and inorganic particle filler, has a flexural strength of 1000 kgf/cm.sub.2 or more and a modulus of elasticity in bending of 70000 kgf/cm.sup.2 or more, and allows machining. A deflection temperature under flexural load of the compound may be 180.degree. C. or more. From this compound, it is possible to provide a core, a cavity block or the like of molding dies which can be accurately finished by machining finishing with a low cost and within a short term, have durability and allows recycling. The molding dies can be applied to various molding methods, and provide accurate molded products with a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Otsuka Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiko Ichikawa, Koji Sakane, Yozaburo Tsujikawa, Takio Tasaka
  • Patent number: 5935511
    Abstract: A method of forming and removing thin walled plastic articles from a plurality of dies in a thermoforming apparatus is described. In the method, a plurality of articles are formed and trimmed in a plurality of dies of a thermoforming apparatus. The apparatus includes a flat movable extractor plate. After the articles are formed they are removed from the apparatus by opening the dies sufficient to permit entrance of the flat movable extractor plate between the dies. The extractor plate has a non-porous top plate and a bottom plate having a plurality of spaced holes. A suction chamber is formed by the top and bottom plates with that suction chamber connected to the outlet end of a vacuum source and the inlet end of the vacuum is connected to a pressure control valve with a vent valve between the inlet end of the vacuum source and the pressure control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Trafalgar House Company
    Inventor: Gaylord Brown
  • Patent number: 5935495
    Abstract: A method of removing a piece of shaped clay from a mold. The method comprising locating a former against the shaped clay on the opposite side thereof to the mold, with the former being shaped to correspond substantially to the shape of the clay to provide a close fit thereagainst. Fluid such as air is blown through the mold to blow the shaped clay thereof and on to the former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: British Ceramic Research Limited
    Inventors: John Barrie Turner, Robert Norman Deakin, John Michael Victor Burnett, Dennis Podmore
  • Patent number: 5932164
    Abstract: A method of molding plastic parts, particularly those with low draft angles, textured surfaces or other mold release challenges, comprising the steps of placing a cavity substantially defining the exterior of the plastic part and a core substantially defining the interior of the plastic part into position defining the plastic part therebetween and injecting heated thermoplastic between the cavity and the core to form the plastic part. The molding machine is then operated to simultaneously withdraw the core and incrementally eject the plastic part from the core by an incremental ejection distance insufficient to disengage the plastic part from the core, wherein the plastic part is supported by the cavity during the incremental ejection from the core. The molding machine is next operated to withdraw the core and the part engaged thereon from the cavity, and fully eject the part from the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Logic Corporation
    Inventor: Paul E. Allen
  • Patent number: 5868978
    Abstract: The separation of a lower mold from an upper mold in an injection molding machine is either temporarily paused or carried out at a lower speed so as to maintain deformation of a thin component within a permissible range, while a jet of air is applied to help remove the thin component from the upper mold. Also, the ejecting operation of the thin component is either temporarily paused or carried out at a lower speed before the deformation of the thin component exceeds the permissible limit while a jet of air is applied to help remove the thin component from the lower mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Kadoriku, Yoshio Maruyama, Takaaki Higashida, Hiroshi Yutani, Keizo Matsumura
  • Patent number: 5851620
    Abstract: Improved disc metal mold provides an improved disc without a ring groove thereon. The improved disc metal mold has a fixed metal mold section and a movable metal mold section for forming a cavity therebetween. One of the fixed and movable metal molds has a stamper having an information signal surface on which an information signal is formed in a form of pits, wherein a fused resin is injected into the cavity to form a disc substrate having a center through hole at the center thereof. The disc metal mold includes the stamper having an center hole at a center thereof for retaining the stamper itself and a retainer for retaining the stamper to engage with the center hole of the stamper. The retainer has a slightly larger diameter at a top surface thereof than a diameter of the center hole of the stamper so that the top surface of the retainer is approximately flush with the information signal surface of the stamper by causing the top end thereof to engage with the center hole of the stamper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakajima, Tetsuya Hasegawa, Takafumi Niwa
  • Patent number: 5849237
    Abstract: A golf ball is prepared by mating upper and lower mold halves (21a and 21b) to define a mold cavity (22), feeding a golf ball-molding material into the cavity to mold a golf ball, separating the upper and lower mold halves, and ejecting the molded golf ball from the lower mold half. A gas passage (2) is formed in the lower mold half in communication with the cavity. Pressurized gas is injected into the cavity (22) through the gas passage (2) to pneumatically urge the molded golf ball (23') away from the lower mold half (21b), thereby ejecting the molded golf ball from the lower mold half. The invention ensures effective ejection of a molded golf ball from the mold, producing golf balls free from flaws and deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michio Inoue
  • Patent number: 5824256
    Abstract: A male member has a cylindrical core with an internal poppet that is displaced by air pressure to open an air passage for pressurized air to an end of the poppet. The female cavity and poppet form a container bottom wall. A thermoplastic copolymer polyethylene is injected into the mold at about 470.degree. F., the mold having a surface temperature of about 100.degree.-130.degree. F. and the plastic material a temperature of about 130.degree.-160.degree. F. at the time of ejection of the container from the mold. Ribs are formed at the container rim having a depth such as to cause the container to stretch about 6% when removed from the core. The ribs outer edges are coextensive with the container side wall. A lid engaging lip is formed at the container rim edge. The process has a preferred 14 second cycle time and uses a core with no draft. The mold surface is maintained at the desired temperature by a cooling water circuit in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Fortiflex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jose F. Ballester
  • Patent number: 5782460
    Abstract: In a process for the manufacture of mouldings, especially optical lenses, specifically contact lenses (CL), a starting material that is crosslinkable by the impingement of suitable energy is introduced into a mould (1) having a cavity (15), which mould is at least partially permeable to the energy concerned. The starting material is introduced into the cavity in a still at least partially uncrosslinked state, the mould cavity determining the shape of the moulding (CL) to be produced. By means of impingement of the energy concerned, the starting material is crosslinked to an extent sufficient for it to be possible for the moulding (CL) to be released from the mould. The filling of the mould cavity is carried out in the starting material that is still at least partially in the uncrosslinked state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: CIBA Vision Corporation
    Inventors: Otto Kretzschmar, Sharla Borghorst, John Golby, Peter Hagmann, Peter Herbrechtsmeier, Bernhard Seiferling, Beat Muller
  • Patent number: 5759468
    Abstract: A cube corner article and method of manufacturing the article from a series of unitary substrates. A plurality of pins are assembled to form a mold having an array of cube corner elements on a surface. Then, a replica of the cube corner element array is produced in a substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces. Portions of the replica substrate material are removed. The removal of these portions forms at least one cavity bounded by side walls in the replica at a depth at least that of the cube cube corner elements. The replica is replicated to produce an additional directly machinable substrate suitable for forming retroreflective surfaces having at least one raised section having sidewalls at a height at least that of the cube corner elements. At least one raised section is directly machined to form an array of cube corner elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Smith, Gerald M. Benson
  • Patent number: 5741446
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for the production of a molded article, using a mold assembly including a mold having a cavity, for producing a molded article from a thermoplastic resin; an insert block formed of ceramic or glass having a thermal conductivity of 2.times.10.sup.-2 cal/cm.sec..degree.C. or less, the insert block being disposed inside the mold, constituting part of the cavity, and having a thickness of 0.5 mm to 10 mm; and a cover plate for covering a peripheral portion of the insert block. The cover plate is attached to the mold and constitutes part of the cavity, wherein a clearance between the insert block and the cover plate is 0.001 mm to 0.03 mm, an amount of overlapping of the insert block and the cover plate is at least 0.1 mm. The method includes filling a molten thermoplastic resin in the cavity, and then cooling the thermoplastic resin to solidness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Engineering-Plastics Corp.
    Inventors: Hisashi Tahara, Toshiaki Izumida
  • Patent number: 5728333
    Abstract: A molded article of rigid polyurethane foam is manufactured by using a mold of separable upper and lower mold sections mated to define a cavity therebetween. A film of polypropylene which is previously vacuum formed in conformity to the mold cavity is closely set within the cavity and secured to the lower mold section outside the cavity. A rigid polyurethane foam-forming raw material is introduced into the cavity and on the film and caused to foam and expand in place to mold an article of rigid polyurethane foam. Thereafter, the molded article is lifted together with the film from the mold cavity by a pneumatic pressure or ejector pin. The molded article is stripped from the film to remove only the molded article from the mold without taking the entire film out of the mold. The once lifted film is returned to the original shape by vacuum suction for replacing the film in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichiro Tabata, Yoichi Nabeshima, Taikyu Fujita, Kazufumi Yokoyama, Torao Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5718849
    Abstract: Plastic injection-compression multi-cavity molding of flash-free improved-cleanliness thermoplastic spectacle lenses are suitable to be robotically dip hardcoated. Special spring-loaded molds having variable-volume mold cavities are used in an injection-compression molding process to form, without parting line flash, pairs of a wide range of differing optical power of polycarbonate Rx spectacle lenses. These pairs have special molded-on design features which are specially suited for full automation, starting with a novel way for ejection out of the mold into a takeout robot which is integrated via full automation with subsequent dip hardcoating. A molded-on tab with each pair of lenses is specially suited for manipulation by SCARA type robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Galic Maus Ventures
    Inventors: Steven M. Maus, George J. Galic
  • Patent number: 5711907
    Abstract: A method for producing a weather strip having a molded end portion joined to an end of an extruded weather strip having a base portion and a tubular seal portion. The method includes the steps of cutting-off a portion of the tubular seal portion from the end of the extruded weather strip with the base portion thereof remaining uncut, placing the uncut base portion of the end of the extruded weather strip in a cavity of a mold, placing a core along the uncut base portion, injecting a molding material into the cavity to mold a tubular part having a configuration conforming to the cut off tubular seal portion integrally with a fin-like end part extending from the tubular part, opening the mold, and removing the core from the tubular part along a reverse face of the fin-like end part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Nozaki, Tatsuhiko Nagata
  • Patent number: 5693282
    Abstract: An injection molded elongated article having a head and a strap, such as a cable tie, is ejected from between separated first and second mold parts by imparting a forceful gaseous stream between the mold parts to thereby peel a first portion of the strap from the first mold part after a second portion of the strap adjacent the head of the article was peeled from the first mold part by ejecting the head of the article from the first mold part while retaining the first portion of the strap in the first mold part. In a multi-cavity injection molding apparatus, a pair of nozzles are contained within each of a plurality of components through which compressed air flows into the region between the mold parts; and the nozzles are disposed closely adjacent the heads of a pair of cable ties for imparting a pair of gaseous streams from the component for peeling the first portions of the straps from the first mold part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: GB Electrical, Inc.
    Inventors: Soren Christian Sorensen, Jens Ole Sorensen
  • Patent number: 5683644
    Abstract: A method for stripping a resilient bellows part from an injection mold has a step of injection molding a resilient bellows part around a colinear core pin and a stripper rod, surrounded by a split cavity. The bellows part has two open ends, one of which is substantially rigid and is closed by the stripper rod passing through it. The second open end is resilient. Another step opens the split cavity to permit the bellows part to be stripped from the core pin. Yet another step expands the bellows part radially outward from the core pin. Simultaneously with expanding the bellows part, a step of pushing the substantially rigid open end of the bellows part by the stripper rod causes the resilient portion and resilient open end to be stripped off the core pin. Finally, the substantially rigid open end of the bellows part is ejected from the stripper rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Robert J. Peterson
  • Patent number: 5674446
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting a molded product wherein the molded product, specifically, a shutter molded of a synthetic resin with a very small thickness, from an injection molding die at a high speed without malfunction or deformation of the molded product. The apparatus includes as essential components an opposing pair of chucking members for supplementarily supporting a molded product in the clamped state while restrictively locating it at a predetermined position, and a suction pad located in alignment with the predetermined position of the molded product for grasping the latter by the action of suction. In an alternate embodiment, two chuck arms having respective suction pads at their ends are moved into contact with the shutter from opposite sides. With the invention the molded product can completely be extracted from an injection molding die in cooperation of the chucking members with the suction pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Hayashi, Iwao Komaki
  • Patent number: 5651924
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing light panels consisting of a plate shaped carrier with light conducting fibers fixed therein according to a given pattern. The method includes the steps of inserting the top end of each fiber from a fiber supply through openings in a mold. The mold is then filled with a castable plastic layer which is allowed to set to form a carrier. The carrier retains the fibers with the top ends of the fibers extending above the carrier. The top ends of the fibers extending above the carrier are melted by heat from a laser to form a melted nob at the top end of each fiber to act as a lense. A cover layer is applied on the carrier to embed the top end of each fiber and to protect the carrier. The carrier can be removed from the mold to allow the mold to be refilled with another castable plastic layer to form a next carrier for repeating the process. Removable plugs may be initially inserted into the openings of the mold to facilitate removal of the carrier at a desired angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Tchai Lights B.V.
    Inventor: Roger Louis Henri Kilsdonk
  • Patent number: 5632936
    Abstract: A lens mold cavity is formed and then evacuated via a vacuum channel contained within a mold member. A fluid valve is opened to expose the lens mold cavity to liquid lens material, whereby a vacuum of the lens mold cavity draws the liquid lens material to fill the lens mold cavity. The fluid valve is then closed and the liquid lens material within the lens mold cavity is cured to obtain an opthalmic lens such as a contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy AG
    Inventors: Kai C. Su, Jack C. White, Hans U. Schlapfer
  • Patent number: 5624523
    Abstract: A vacuum forming mold has a plurality of dies with at least one die being movable with respect to the other dies. The die can be movable in a linear direction or they can be movable in both a linear and angular direction. A plurality of plastic sheets are heated and placed on a respective die with a vacuum being supplied through the dies to attract the plastic sheet. Once formed, the dies are moved together to create a seam bond between adjacent pieces of plastic sheets. Additional heating can be supplied to insure an adequate seam bond if required. In another embodiment, a single sheet of material composed of a plurality of sheets of material is used. The single sheet of material has a plurality of preseamed areas connecting each of the individual plastic sheets. These preseamed areas are positioned inbetween adjacent dies of the plurality of dies and the process continues as described above for the multiple sheets of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Larry B. Stiller
  • Patent number: 5624624
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a cured elastomeric hose having an internal socket or other internal configuration formed therein and the product produced. Cured elastomeric hose can be formed having an internal socket by mounting the hose on a mandrel assembly having the desired internal configuration formed therein. An end forming cap assembly is selectively mounted on the hose and mandrel assembly, tightly engages the hose and forces the hose to assume the shape of the mandrel assembly. The hose is cured and then the end forming cap is removed from the hose through the use of an air removal tool. The product produced is suitable to receive a wide variety of articles such as an anti-splashback valve or a molded thermoplastic connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Cadillac Rubber & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventor: H. Steven Roby
  • Patent number: 5556587
    Abstract: A porous mold for manufacturing ceramics comprises a porous mold body including a mold central portion and a mold outer peripheral portion and having mold surface of a shape corresponding to an outer shape of a suspension insulator and other similar ceramics to be manufactured having a small diameter hollow cylindrical central core portion with a closed head portion and a large diameter shed portion extended from the core portion in a radial direction, wherein water absorption percentage of a mold surface side portion of the mold outer peripheral portion is larger than that of the mold central portion. The water absorption percentage of the mold surface side portion of the mold outer peripheral is 20-30%, and that of a mold head portion of the mold central portion is 10-20%. A difference of the water absorption percentage between the mold surface side portion of the mold outer peripheral portion and the mold head portion is 5-20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Funahashi, Masao Kogai, Katsura Kasugai, Hideki Kato
  • Patent number: 5490966
    Abstract: A method for stripping an open ended bellows part from an injection mold has as a first step the injection molding of a bellows part. The bellows part has a resilient portion located between a core pin and a first split cavity and a substantially rigid portion located between the core pin and a second cavity. The substantially rigid portion has a first open end and an external undercut portion, and the resilient portion of the bellows part has an inner surface and a second open end. The first split cavity opens laterally to permit the resilient portion of the bellows part to be stripped from the core pin. Compressed gas passes through the core pin to the inner surface of the resilient portion of the bellows part while both open ends of the bellows part are closed off by the second cavity and the core pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Peterson, Michael D. Webb, Reuben E. Oder
  • Patent number: 5460761
    Abstract: Method for tempering a moulding tool intended for production of products of natural or synthetic polymers, which moulding tool includes one or more moulding parts made of sintered metal with communicating pores obtained by pressing at a high pressure and sintering at a high temperature of a powdered material, in which moulding part or parts a moulding cavity has then been made, whereby preferably the outer envelope surface of the moulding tool is tight. The method comprises tightly connecting one or more channels, capillary tubes or the like through the tight outer envelop surface to the mould material of the moulding tool situated inside, which material contains a large number of small communicating pores and feeding a gas having a suitable state and a suitable temperature through the channels thereby causing a rapid tempering of the moulding tool to a desired extent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: AGA Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Owe G. T. Larsson
  • Patent number: 5443781
    Abstract: Sterile disposable coverings for endoscopes and similar optical medical instruments are disclosed together with a method for preparing such coverings. By forming a heated polymeric film with a mandrel of appropriate shape and dimensions, relatively long-length, very small diameter, closely-fitting, thin-walled sleeves are produced, each having a thin, substantially inelastic, optically transparent window formed continuously integral with the sleeve at or proximate to the closed, distal end of the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Mark A. Saab
  • Patent number: 5417914
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting a molded product wherein the molded product, specifically, a shutter molded of a synthetic resin with a very small thickness, from an injection molding die at a high speed without malfunction or deformation of the molded product. The apparatus includes as essential components an opposing pair of chucking members for supplementarily supporting a molded product in the clamped state while restrictively locating it at a predetermined position, and a suction pad located in alignment with the predetermined position of the molded product for grasping the latter by the action of suction. In an alternate embodiment, two chuck arms having respective suction pads at their ends are moved into contact with the shutter from opposite sides. With the invention the molded product can completely be extracted from an injection molding die in cooperation of the chucking members with the suction pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Hayashi, Iwao Komaki
  • Patent number: 5389227
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating a mandrel having a tapered end portion from an article formed thereon comprising: (a) providing the mandrel having an opening in the tapered end portion; (b) plugging at least a substantial portion of the opening with a member which presents a deposition surface for the formation of the article; (c) forming the article having a tapered end portion on the mandrel, including on the deposition surface of the member; and (d) pushing the member against the inside surface of the tapered end portion of the article to move the article away from the mandrel, thereby forming a gap between the article and the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest F. Matyi, William G. Herbert, Gary J. Maier, Loren E. Hendrix
  • Patent number: 5372773
    Abstract: A nylon cable tie having a head and a strap terminating in a tip is formed in a mold cavity defined between a first mold part combined wish a second mold part by injecting molten nylon material into the mold cavity through an insulated runner system and a gate that converges from the runner system toward the mold cavity and does not have a hot tip adjacent thereto. The mold parts are separated while retaining a portion of the head in a head region in the first mold part and a portion of the tip in a tip region in the second mold part, in order to separate the head from the second mold part, to separate the tip from the first mold part, and to separate a major portion of the strap from the first and second mold parts. The mold parts are further separated while retaining said portion of the head in the head region to thereby remove said portion of the tip from the second mold part. The head is ejected from the head region by protracted ejector pins that penetrate the head region from within the first mold part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Inventors: Soren C. Sorensen, Jens O. Sorensen
  • Patent number: 5368468
    Abstract: An air-operated knockout device for plastic molds for assisting ejection of molded plastic parts from a mold. The knockout device has a body in which is installed a knockout pin. The knockout pin is normally retained within the body, but can be axially shifted to an extended position to physically eject a molded part from a mold. The knockout pin also includes an air bypass to assist the knockout pin in the ejection of the molded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Inventor: Borislav Boskovic
  • Patent number: 5364583
    Abstract: An injection molded piece is removed from a mold by thrust pins. A jet of fluid is directed toward a surface of the piece during removal so as to hold the piece in a proper position on the thrust pins without damaging the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5354194
    Abstract: A high speed, light weight molded article retrieval device for an injection molding machine having a reciprocating trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Paul F. Kresak
  • Patent number: 5352398
    Abstract: A cap is attached to a mold core with a T-shaped connector instead of screws. The core cap has an air distribution channel and the core has cooling fluid distribution channels which are maximized by using the T-connector. The fluid distribution channels promote maximum cooling of the core, and, along with the air distribution channel, facilitates ejection of small articles from the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Kevin P. Crowe
  • Patent number: 5326517
    Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for forming finished cups of expanded resin of the present invention employ a transfer mold capable of transferring a performed article obtained through a preforming process to the female member of a finish-forming mold, and simultaneously collecting from the male member of the finish-forming mold a finished article, obtained through compression forming and discharging it after an inspection process, and enable a first process where the transfer mold receives a preformed article through a feeding device, a second process where the finished article is discharged from the transfer mold to a sorting device wherein conforming articles are counted and stacked, and a third process where another preformed article is heated and compressed within the finish-forming mold, to be conducted simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Sekisui Kaseihin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Yaita, Toshikazu Ohmori
  • Patent number: 5322653
    Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged (e.g., cracked) portion of a buried sewage pipe by permeating one or more layers of fibrous material with a hardenable plastic compound (such as epoxy resin), convoluting the thus obtained mat around a radially expandible length of hose to permit frictional engagement between the internal surface of the mat and the external surface of the hose, introducing the hose into a selected defective portion of the pipe, expanding the hose and the convoluted mat so that the mat engages the internal surface of the pipe, deflating the hose, and withdrawing the hose from the pipe, preferably after the plastic compound has set wherein a film of polyethylene is inserted between the external surface of the hose and the internal surface of the convoluted mat to enhance friction and to thus compel the hose to turn in the course of the expanding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Hans Muller
  • Patent number: 5299624
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automated casting of an item such as a plumbing fixture is disclosed. Female and male mold portions provide a spacing for molding the desired item between them. A fluid release system is operatively positioned inside one of the mold portions so as to assist in separating the formed item from a mold portion in a controlled and uniform manner so as to minimize damage to the cast item. In a preferred form, a liquid is ejected into the corners of a male mold. By diffusion the liquid travels to the periphery of the mold piece so as to drive the formed part off the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Larry G. McKinney, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5288451
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for injection molding thin-walled plastic articles. The apparatus includes a mold cavity and a mold core defining a cavity space in the shape of the article. The cavity space has a circumferentially extending region having a thickness greater than the thickness of a sidewall defining portion. This circumferentially extending region is preferably located at the approximate mid-point of the sidewall defining portion. At least two gates directly and simultaneously introduce plastic material initially into the circumferentially extending portion in a manner so as to minimize the creation of side loads and core shift. After the circumferentially extending region is filled, the plastic material fills the entire cavity space. The plastic material is thereafter cooled to form the desired article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert D. Schad
  • Patent number: 5273707
    Abstract: An injection mold apparatus has a core and cavity halves. One or more gas poppet valves are affixed in the injection mold either in the movable and/or in the stationary halves of the mold. The poppet valves (or poppets) are located to open into a mold portion formed in the cavity between the movable portion of the injection mold and the fixed mold portion when the mold portions are closed. At least one gas line is connected to the poppets and to a gas pressure source and is adapted to open the poppets to the passage of nitrogen or other gas into the mold following the injection of molten plastic into the closed mold halves. Porous metal covers may be used to cover the opening in the mold either the movable and/or stationary halves of the injection mold in lieu of the gas poppet valves, and the gas pressure through the porous metal cover can be used to carry out the molding operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: ICP Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Carroll
  • Patent number: 5256350
    Abstract: A method and device for manufacturing tire forming bladders (2), whereby a curing mold (3) defines, via first and second half molds (4, 5) and an inner core (6), an inner molding chamber (7) inside which a precured reinforcing ply (72) is optionally inserted; the mold (3) having an outer injection chamber (34) communicating with the inner chamber (7) and consisting of a variable-volume chamber of an injection cylinder (65); the outer chamber (34) being provided with a mass (35) of heated uncured rubber, which is injected into the inner chamber (7) with the mold (3) closed and, when cured, is extracted from the mold (3) by opening the inner chamber (7) and extracting the inner core (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Franzini, Fabrizio Giovannucci, Attilio Pomenti, Gordon M. Tomlinson
  • Patent number: 5252274
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing containers that are suitable for containing materials that are to be heated by microwave radiation or other heating means includes making a dilute liquid dispersion of quartz and/or glass fibers (very preferably microfibers), depositing them on the interior of a permeable female mold or form, from the dispersion by means of a pressure differential across the female mold, with the liquid passing through the mold, moving a male mold or form which matches the female mold, into and against the container in the female mold, terminating the pressure differential across the female mold, applying a pressure differential across the male mold to release the container from the female mold and press it against the male mold exterior, withdrawing the male mold, with the container held to it, releasing the container from the male mold and sintering the container, to make it form retaining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: CEM Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5244608
    Abstract: A moulding process and system for producing small wooden objects such as, for example, pipe heads or furniture handles from a moulding material formed of an aqueous suspension of wood dust. The moulding material is injection moulded into injection mould parts in which electrodes are placed for subjecting moulding cavities to a HF-heating field such that both a rapid curing of a heat setting glue agent in the aqueous wood dust mass and a rapid driving out of a major part of the water is realized. The moulding cavities include exhaust or release channels for steam resulting from the evaporation of the water of the moulding material and an arrangement is provided for maintaining the mould parts together in spite of the high steam pressure developed in the mould cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Mix-Wood ApS
    Inventor: Ulrik F. Andersen
  • Patent number: 5228701
    Abstract: An article, such as a seal ring, suitable for reduction of chatter when used in stuffing boxes with reciprocating stems. The article has an amorphous carbon phase at the surface of the article with the amorphous carbon phase extending into the article from the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Greinke, Ronald A. Howard
  • Patent number: 5207965
    Abstract: An elastic mould of this invention includes a pattern and a fixing sheet which is integrally mounted at an open edge of the pattern. The elastic mould is manufactured by dipping a pattern mounted on a plate into an elastic body-producing solution to form a gel-like elastic film, withdrawing, drying and vulcanizing the object thus formed, and peeling the elastic film off the pattern to obtain a mould having a fixing member as an integral part of the mould.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: Komine Rubber Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeo Komine, Toshiya Fujishima
  • Patent number: 5185119
    Abstract: An injection molding machine and method of operation having a plurality of accessory arrangements for molding a plurality of piece parts in efficient overlapping time cycle using primary and secondary molten plastic injection units, primary and secondary clamping units, a plurality of injection units in various arrays including molding piece parts in reverse or uniform orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert D. Schad, Paul Brown
  • Patent number: 5156798
    Abstract: An improved part removal assembly (17) particularly for a shuttle-type blow molding machine (10). The part removal assembly includes a plurality of suction cups (95) mounted on a vertically moveable piston (87) that travels along a vertically oriented rodless cylinder (81) and a plurality of suction cups (115) mounted on a horizontally moveable piston (107) that travels along a horizontally oriented rodless cylinder (83). A mold assembly (15) shuttles between an extruder head assembly (11) where a plurality of parisons of molten plastic are captured in mold cavities (25) in the mold assembly, and a blow station assembly (13) where the parisons are blown to form a molded workpiece (31). The mold assembly then opens which causes a flash removal assembly (57) to remove a waste flash portion (55) from a bottom portion (31a) of the workpieces. The bottom of the workpieces are then engaged by the vertically moveable suction cups which lower the workpieces to a position adjacent to a conveyor (117).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Bekum America Corporation
    Inventor: Karl H. Bruning
  • Patent number: 5145630
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for injection molding thin-walled plastic articles having comparatively thick lip portion. The apparatus has a mold cavity and a mold core defining a cavity space in the shape of the article and at least one injection gate adjacent a portion of the cavity space defining the lip portion through which molded plastic is injected into the cavity space. The direct lip gating approaches employed in the apparatus do not sacrifice core/cavity alignment and conventional mold motions along the machine axis and form plastic articles having substantially no gate vestiges on the lip sealing surface or on the outer perimeter of the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1992
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert D. Schad
  • Patent number: 5133824
    Abstract: A flexible product, more particularly an information-carrying disc, is removed from a carrier plate, more particularly a mold, by creating a partial vacuum at the side of the product facing away from the carrier plate. While the product is being displaced in a direction facing away from the carrier plate under the influence of the partial vacuum, the product is guided in such a way that it is displaced over the greatest distance at two opposite ends and the displacement of the parts of the product situated between these ends decreases gradually towards the center of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Philips and Du Pont Optical Company
    Inventors: Petrus A. A. Huberts, Henricus H. B. Wouters
  • Patent number: 5129810
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a mold ejecting apparatus for ejecting an inner mold from a cylindrical molding, e.g. a cylindrical rubber molding, sticking to the outer circumference of the inner mold, or for ejecting the cylindrical rubber molding from the inner mold. A plurality of small holes are formed through the circumferential wall of the inner mold, and a pressurized fluid feed line is connected to an opening in one end face of the inner mold to introduce a pressurized fluid into the hollow interior of the inner mold. A plurality of matching members are movable to contact or come close to the outer circumference of the inner mold and match with an end face of the molding, the matching members being movable towards and away from the outer circumference of the inner mold. A pressing apparatus is provided for moving the molding relative to the matching members and the inner mold and separating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Bando Kagaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshio Nakagaki
  • Patent number: 5116551
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing an article, by covering at least a portion of a microwave heatable former with a liquid-containing material, applying microwave radiation to heat the former so as to leave a dry solid coating on the former, and effecting relative separation between the former and the dry solid coating so as to produce the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Inventors: Roderick I. Davidson, Peter R. Hornsby
  • Patent number: 5114334
    Abstract: A spring member for use in a plastic mold for separating and cushioning parts of the mold, and returning ejector assemblies. The spring member is composed of a hollow cylindrical body with a spring-biased plunger extending a short distance from one end. The spring member is shaped to be installed within a bore in a surface in a mold, with only the plunger extending above the mold surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Inventor: Borislav Boskovic