Abstract: An expansion molding apparatus for forming molded articles having consistently or partially thin-walls by expanding expandable thermoplastic resin beads in a cavity formed between molds with the application of heat. The apparatus has a moving device, for example, a cylinder which moles the molds in one orthogonal direction relative to a closing direction of the molds when filling the cavity with the expandable thermoplastic resin beads. After filling the resin beads in the cavity by moving at least one of the molds in at least one direction orthogonal to the closing direction so that a distance in a circumference section of the cavity becomes greater, the mold is moved back to the original position and the application of heat is performed to obtain molded articles.

Abstract: A machine for molding bonded plastics material, in particular expanded or foamable polystyrene in combination with rigid sheet polystyrene, wherein the rigid material (2) is preformed in a preforming station (1) in a preforming mold (33, 36) while simultaneously separating by a cutter (40) the preformed portion from the rigid sheet of starting material to produce separate preformed pieces, the preformed pieces are moved by a transfer table (27) to a molding station (3) while retained on preforming half-mold (33), foamable material (44) is fed to molding mold (41) and molded and bonded on the preformed pieces with sintering by pulse action of steam (45) and, the final molded articles (P) are discharged at discharge station (6). The half-mold (33) is moved alternately between the preforming station (1) and molding station (3), and cooperates with respective counter-molds (36, 41). The scrap is recovered without being involved in the molding stage.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for moulding a polymeric foam into a bun in a longitudinally-extending, channel shaped mould by a mobile vessel and fall plate which are progressively transported from one end to the other of the mould to lay down partially-expanded foam over the bottom of the mould. The apparatus includes a mould for receiving a polymeric foam and including a longitudinally-extending, channel-shaped enclosed mould through which a mobile vessel and fall plate are progressively transported from one end to the other of the mould to lay down partially-expanded foam over the bottom of the mould while the mould is in a moulding position. Gas is vented from the interior of the mould and the mould is moved from the moulding position to a curing position remote from the moulding position where the bun cures in the mould.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a molded resin foam by charging pre-expanded resin pellets into a cavity of a mold and subjecting them to expansion molding. In order to minimize differences in weight of the foam from product to product, the method is characterized in that prior to charging, the apparent density of the pre-expanded resin pellets is measured and, upon charging, the cracking width of the mold is regulated, on the basis of the measurement result, to a definite value determined depending upon the apparent density, whereby the weight of the pellets charged in the mold cavity is made constant.

Abstract: A hose connection element integrally cast as part of a cast structure such as a water outlet conduit for a vehicle engine comprises a tubular structure including a circumferential hose retaining bead with a flawless sealing surface between the bead and a proximal end thereof. A set of three vented tooling elements is used in creating a polystyrene pattern of the cast structure including integral hose connection element including first and second tooling elements to create first and second half-sections of a for a body portion pattern. The first and second tooling elements include a recess at one end thereof to form a socket depression in the body portion. The third tooling element comprises a cylindrical cavity including an outer wall and an inner wall, with the outer wall being uninterrupted by vent openings and including a circumferential area of protruberance near one end thereof, the parting line for the third tooling element being positioned along a crest of the protuberance.

Abstract: A method and machine for manufacturing polystyrene foam products, whereby a mold, including a first and second half mold defining a molding chamber when closed, is loaded, with the two half molds locked in the closed position, on to the machine and into an operating position wherein the mold is connected automatically to granular polystyrene and utility fluid supply lines. In the operating position, the two half molds are rendered mutually mobile; the first half mold, connected to the supply lines, remaining locked to a fixed frame on the machine, and the second half mold remaining locked to a mobile frame on the machine.

Abstract: Disclosed is a collapsible plug which is insertable into the interior section of an appliance cabinet and expandable therein to simultaneously extend the plurality of panels to provide lateral shoring support to each of the interior surfaces of the cabinet so as to prevent bulging thereof during the injection and curing of insulating foam in the cavity between the interior surfaces and external surfaces of the cabinet, and collapsible so that the plug can be inserted into and removed from the cabinet interior without contacting the interior surfaces during insertion nor removal. Particularly, the disclosed design allows different thicknesses of tooling panels having surfaces complementary to the interior surface of the cabinet to be employed without concern for contact between adjacent panels upon their retraction due to the additional thickness.

Abstract: An adjustable sealing system for use in a molding apparatus is disclosed. The molding apparatus is used for applying a coating of polymeric material to the surface of a shell. The molding apparatus includes a molding surface and a seal groove adapted for retaining a seal. The molding apparatus is capable of receiving a shell and forming a molding cavity between a surface of a shell and the molding surface. The seal establishes sealed contact between the shell and the molding surface when the molding apparatus is closed. The adjustable sealing system includes a seal for insertion and retention in a seal groove of the molding apparatus, so that a portion of the seal extends from the seal groove to a selected height when the molding apparatus is open. A seal height adjustment means is disposed under the seal in the seal groove. The seal height adjustment means is capable of adjusting the height of the seal above the seal groove to correspond to a particular contour of a shell being molded.

Abstract: Multiaxis rotational molding apparatus includes a raw material supplying portion including a plurality of reservoirs connected independently with a mixing portion through conduits. A supporting portion includes a plurality of frame members disposed between upstanding end sections and rotatably supported thereon. A molding portion rotatably supported within the frame members includes at least one rotatable mold assembly with at least two separable mold sections. The mold sections include at least two optical fiber elements extending through the mold sections with one end of each optical fiber element terminating at a mold cavity forming surface of a mold section and an opposite end of each optical fiber element terminating at a remote second surface thereof. A signal generator disposed adjacent a remote surface end of one optical fiber element and a signal sensor disposed adjacent a remote surface end of another optical fiber element.

Abstract: This relates to a mold for rebonding polyurethane and like plastic foam to form selected shapes. A typical shape may be a back or a seat member for an article of furniture. The mold is improved in that the bottom mold member, which is particularly designed in accordance with the desired configuration of the shape, has been formed of epoxy which is readily moldable at a low cost. The mold is also improved by providing the base plate of the mold with a ramped floor which facilitates the drainage of condensate from a lower steam chamber. The configuration of the ramped floor allows for quick removal of the condensate and serves to reduce the volume in the steam chamber thereby minimizing pressure build-up in the steam chamber. This results in lower steam pressures being used during the curing process and for a shorter curing operation. The lower steam pressure also avoids leakage of steam and water from the epoxy mold.

Abstract: An L-shaped mixing head for reaction injection molding apparatus comprises a first chamber wherein a plurality of reactive molding components are impingement mixed under high pressure. A second chamber intersecting with the first chamber quiets the resulting stream of mix product prior to its exiting the mixing head. The outlet end of the second chamber is defined by the inner surface of a sleeve, the material of which has a yield strength less than that of the materials of the mixing head body and the second plunger. Most preferably, the sleeve material is also chemically nonreactive with and nonadherent to the reactive molding components to be used therewith, both individually and as mixed.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for batch molding open-cell soft polyurethane foam within a mold (22a,22b,104) is provided by introducing into a mixing chamber (26) of a mixing pot (24) a highly activated polyol component and an isocyanate component which are mixed and permitted to foam to provide upward expansion in a viscous state through an upper outlet (28) by free rise that fills the mold (22,104). Such batch molding provides "one age of foam" that enables molding to be performed which was not previously possible. Both a rigid mold (22) and a flexible mold (104) can be utilized. The mixing pot (24) includes a mixer 38 preferably embodied by a rotatable screw (74) that is moved axially to purge the mixing chamber (26) of foam after each cycle.

Abstract: A process for producing an insulated electric wire, comprising the steps of coating around a conductor an energy radiation curable resin composition having heat expansible microspheres incorporated therein, and curing the energy radiation curable resin composition thus coated on the conductor by exposure to an energy radiation. The process also comprises the step of heating the energy radiation curable resin composition to expand the heat expansible microspheres in the energy radiaiton curable resin composition, thereby forming a high-porosity insulation layer on the conductor. An insulated electric wire comprises a conductor; an energy radiation curable resin composition layer having microspheres incorporated therein and surrounding the conductor, the outside diameter of the microspheres in the energy radiation curable resin composition layer being maximum in the vicinity of the conductor and decreasing gradually toward the periphery of the energy radiation curable resin composition layer.

Abstract: A single-state apparatus for injection molding structural foam articles has a resin plasticating barrel in which a cylindrical plunger reciprocates and rotates. The plunger has a screw section for plasticating resin and advancing the plasticate into a metering section with grooves in which plasticate flows. The grooves are contiguous to a fluid foaming agent inlet in the side of the barrel so that they alternately open and close the inlet to introduce fluid foaming agent periodically into the plasticate. Downstream, the plunger has channels for mixing and advancing plasticate to the forward end of the plunger where it accumulates and is periodically rammed by the plunger into the mold.

Abstract: An expansion-molded article is produced by filling prefoamed thermoplastic particles in a mold cavity formed in combination of mold sections, through each of which plural heating medium holes are defined, and then feeding a heating medium such as steam through the holes to heat and fusion-bond the particles into the article conforming with the mold cavity. Each of the mold sections is covered by a permeable porous sheet at least over the heating medium on a side of the mold cavity.

Abstract: An improved mold for forming foam products is provided with replaceable mold inserts which can be inserted into a mold block. The mold inserts have a cavity in which the product is foamed. The mold inserts are formed from a stick resistant material. Cap members having vent channels provided therein are adapted to fit into the mold insert. The number and size of vent channels is determined by the desired size and density of the molded foam product.

Abstract: A method of producing a polyurethane foam comprising the steps of dissolving rapidly and substantially completely a non-condensible non-reactive gas in a liquid isocyanate component or a liquid polyol component or both while the isocyanate and polyol components are maintained separate from one another, while controlling the flow of the non-reactive gas to maintain a predetermined dissolved gas to liquid ratio, and while maintaining the component in which the nucleating agent is being dissolved under pressure sufficient to maintain the gas in solution and to hold substantially constant the dissolved gas to liquid ratio and mixing the previously separated isocyanate and polyol components together while reducing the pressure to nucleate the dissolved gas in the isocyanate and polyol components and while impinging liquid streams of the composition together thereby enhancing mixing and permitting the mixture to foam so as to form a fine celled polyurethane foam.

Abstract: An improved static mixer for use in a plural component dispensing apparatus is disclosed having a spacer intermediate a plurality of mixing elements to enhance the mixing and blending of the plural components. The static mixer may employ an air assist to increase the mixing energy within static mixer.

Abstract: Molding a foamed product is carried out by using a front and a rear mold for molding a front and a rear portion of the foamed product and a core interposed between the front and rear molds. The front and rear molds are closed at a moment when a lapse of time arrives at 30%-100% of a rise time of the foaming stock solution later applied. Thereafter the closed molds are maintained in a position where an angle of the closed molds relative to a horizontal plane is within a range between 90.degree. and an angle more than 0.degree.. The front and rear molds are pivotally connected to each other with their one ends by means of a pivot shaft. The core is pivotally supported with its one end by a shaft arranged in parallel to the pivot shaft. The core is formed with a through-hole and said rear mold is provided with a protrusion to be hermetically fitted in the through-hole of the core.

Abstract: To make a molded article from expandable synthetic resin particles, especially polystyrene particles, the cooling of the individual mold wall portions is effected exclusively by evaporating condensate obtained from stream, advantageously condensate which accumulates in stream compartments on the exterior or back sides of the mold walls which was fed in for heating of the mold wall portions and fusing the synthetic resin particles. This evaporation of condensate is effected on the back surfaces of the mold wall portions facing the steam compartments because of a low pressure or suction produced in the steam compartments. The condensate is fed in hot at or just below the boiling temperature of the condensate. Surfaces of the mold wall portions facing the steam compartment have increased surface area by reason of spherical surface-area increasing elements which form constricted passages between a plurality of interior reservoir cavities and the outside steam compartment.

Abstract: A device for aiding in the assembly of a mold apparatus of the type including a mold cavity having a first side which is contoured to impart a shape to a component, a second side, and an aperture extending between the first and second sides, and of the type including an ejector pin positioned adjacent the second side, the ejector pin having an end positioned to move into the aperture to become a portion of a surface including the first side when the mold assembly is assembled, and positioned to effect movement of the component away from the mold cavity after the component is imparted with the shape, the device including an assembly pin having an end positioned to pass through the aperture, and a sleeve having a first portion positioned to slide onto the end of one of the ejector pins and to support itself on the end of the ejector pin and having a second portion protruding from the end of the ejector pin to receive therein the end of the assembly pin in axial alignment with the ejector pin in the sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for the production of a flowable mixture which reacts to form foam from flowable components stored in storage containers, wherein prior to metered introduction into a mixing zone, at least one of the components is charged with a defined quantity of gas, by (i) introducing said one component and gas separately into a gasification chamber equipped with a hollow stirrer, (ii) sucking gas into said component through the hollow shaft of the hollow stirrer, and (iii) stirring the gas into the component, until the desired value is attained, the improvement wherein (a) the component is circulated from the storage container through the gasification chamber and back into the storage container, (b) the gas sucked through the hollow shaft of the hollow stirrer being maintained at pressure at least equal to the pressure prevailing in the storage container, and (c) the component fraction remaining in the storage container is homogenized during those periods in which ga

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a seat comprising an upper die member, an intermediate die member, and a lower die member on which is placed a trim cover assembly. The intermediate die member has, formed at its inner lower area, a projection which is to close the recess of a valley or slope created in the retained area of the trim cover assembly where the upper die member is pressed against and collapses the peripheral end areas of the trim cover assembly placed on the lower die member. Further, a second projection is formed above such first one within the intermediate die member in order to from a recess in a resultant foam cushion member integral with the trim cover assembly so that a sewn jointed point and terminal end of the trim cover assembly are received in such recess, which permits a side wall portion of the trim cover assembly to be stretched neatly long the corresponding portion of the cushion member.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing a skin covered foamed plastic article incorporating a hole, with which it is possible to place the skin cover at a desired position despite of the presence of the hole, without spoiling or damaging the skin cover, such that the skin covered foamed plastic article of a desired shape without any deficiencies such as wrinkles and dents can easily be manufactured.

Abstract: A mold for manufacturing a skin covered foamed plastic seat capable of effectively dealing with the variations in shape and position of the trim ends. The mold includes stopper means for fastening the trim ends attached to the edges of the skin cover, located between the upper mold and lower mold separately from a space into which a liquid foam resin is to be poured, each of the stopper means having a slit through which one trim end is inserted, and a top face portion to which both ends of the trim end are to be hooked.

Abstract: Continuous molding apparatus includes a raw material supplying portion, a mixing portion, a molding portion, a mixture delivery portion, a supporting portion and a control portion. Each reservoir of the raw material supplying portion is independently connected to an inlet of the mixing portion. The molding portion includes a plurality of spaced rotatable mold assemblies, each with at least two retractable mold sections. The mixture delivery portion is selectively alignable with each mold assembly sequentially in a preselected repeating cycle through an indexing mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for incorporating gas under pressure into a fused sugar mass, said vessel having an interior oriented to have top region and a bottom region an agitator in said interior and a bubble forming means for introducing compressed gas into said fused sugar mass as a curtain of gas bubbles, said bubble forming means being in the bottom of the pressure vessel below said agitator.

Abstract: Vents for molds can be improved if, in place of a single relatively large vent opening, there is used a vent which has a plurality of relatively smaller vent openings in which the cumulative cross-sectional area of the relatively smaller vent openings are approximately the same as that of the relatively larger vent opening it replaces. It was also found that the vents have a more efficient self-cleaning capability if the ratio of the depth of each vent opening to the cross-sectional diameter of the vent opening is about 1 or less.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for puffing biological material such as fruits and vegetables are provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) placing the material in a pressure chamber; (b) subjecting the material to a puffing gas such as carbon dioxide at an increased pressure between substantially 400 and 1200 psi; (c) quickly releasing the puffing gas pressure in less than 1 second to puff the material; and (d) drying the material after puffing to set it in the puffed state. The material is prepared for puffing by sizing so as to include at least one dimension of between substantially 0.025 and 1.0 inches. The moisture content is also reduced or increased to between substantially 15 and 60% wet basis. Puffing gas usage may be minimized by overpressuring with an inert gas such as nitrogen. The apparatus includes a variable volume pressure chamber that also allows usage of puffing gas to be minimized. More specifically, the volume of the chamber is maintained relatively small during charging with puffing gas.

Abstract: An injection molding method and nozzle for use therein wherein first and second variable pressures are applied to a piston of a valve mechanism of the nozzle so that a differential fluid pressure on the piston causes a tip portion of the valve mechanism to alternately open and close. In this way, the tip portion communicates the flow of resin from a nozzle body of the nozzle to an injection aperture of a mold. Differential pressure on the piston prevents a fluid which distributes the molten resin over the interior surfaces of the mold from entering the flow path of the molten resin in the nozzle body. The fluid preferably is a gas, such as nitrogen. Preferably, the piston is mounted for reciprocating movement within the nozzle body and the first pressure is provided by the resin during resin injection and the second pressure is partially applied by the nitrogen gas.

Abstract: This disclosure illustrates and describes a test mold for the quantitative measure of the effects of formulation and/or process variable changes on some kinds of surface problems of a molded part caused by different degrees of imperfection or voiding underneath the part surface. The molded part can be single component or composite, solid or foamed. One example of the surface problem is the so-called "measles or cellulite" problem observed on the vinyl surface of a vinyl/foam composite due to the voids or rattiness within the foam. To accomplish this result, the mold has various sized, spaced apart, aligned openings formed in each of the front and rear walls of the mold, but with the centers thereof at different elevations in the respective front and rear walls. Removable rods inserted through the aligned mold wall openings produce longitudinal openings through the part which is molded around the rods, permitting the effect thereof on the surface of the molded part to be evaluated.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mold assembly for molding a plastic article having a recess formed therein. The mold assembly includes a lower mold having a cavity formed therein; an upper mold adapted to be put on the lower mold to close the cavity; a core adapted to be put in the cavity; positioning means including a first member connected to a given portion of the cavity of the lower mold and a second member connected to the core, the first and second members being coupled when mated; and guide means for guiding the core in a manner to facilitate the mating of the second member with the first member.

Abstract: An insulated molded plastic structural unit includes spaced face portions, an intermediate portion and interlocking portions. The face portions each include an integrally formed stressed hard outer skin section and the intermediate portion includes an insulating core section. The interlocking portions include mateable sections along at least two edges of each unit, each mateable section including at least five alternating raised and recessed areas forming an asymmetrical pattern along the length thereof. The pattern is the same or a reverse thereof along each mateable section of the same unit and of adjacent units to which it will be joined. Particular mateable sections either extend beyond the face portions or are recessed below the face portions a substantially equal distance. Continuous molding apparatus includes a raw material supplying portion, a mixing portion, a molding portion and a control portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vacuum mold for manufacturing cushions with back-foamed covers, wherein a section of cover material is stretched across a mold cavity, held down at the rim of the cavity, but allowed to slide into the mold cavity under the influence of a vacuum. The cover is also placed against and fitted to contourings (ridges and/or grooves) of the mold cavity, and subsequently back-foamed. The resulting flexible foam core is allowed to harden and the finished cushion is removed from the form.

Abstract: The foam slush molding apparatus of this invention comprises a mold and a hot air jacket, and an optional heat retaining hood. The hot air jacket and the optional heat retaining hood are provided along and a certain distance apart from the molding surface on which a resin is heated and fused. The molding surface and the jacket form a first hot air chamber for heating, and the jacket and the optional heat retaining hood form an optional second hot air chamber for heat retention. The apparatus permits uniform heating and foaming at an efficient molding cycle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a new process for gasifying confection by means of incorporation of a gas enclosed in the head space of a container and recirculation of the gas through a fused sugar mass, equalization of the size of the bubbles and their homogenization. The incorporation of the gases is affected at the lower part of the pressure vessel, just below an agitator. The gas enters the container as a fine vaporous curtain directed toward the lower surface of an agitator, gas is fractured by the agitator and dispersed into the sugar mass. Large size bubbles and the presence of a undesirable quantity of candy dust in the finished product having a diameter inferior to 1 millimeter is avoided.Thus, the quantity of waste product produced by the present method ranges only between about 15 to 20% instead of the prior art typical 30 to 35%.Moreover, this technique allows operation at a most convenient pressure. The candy thus obtained mainly shows fragments or pieces with a mesh size between 1-4.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the high pressure injection of polyurethane foam into a hollow envelope using means of the type including a chamber for mixing the constituents of the polyurethane foam, a cylinder communicating with said chamber and open at both its ends, one of its ends opening into the orifice of the hollow envelope and the other end serving as inlet for a piston adapted for sliding in said cylinder and driving the polyurethane foam therefrom into said envelope, wherein said envelope is substantially vertical, its upper end opens into the orifice of the hollow envelope and is of a volume close to half that defined by the envelope and the movement of the piston in said cylinder is adjustable in synchronism with the cycle of the mixing head.

Abstract: The present invention provides that, in a process for production of foamed articles of a polyproplene resin which comprises compressing pre-expanded beads of propylene resins under a gaseous pressure, filling a mold capable of closing but incapable of sealing with the compressed beads, then venting from the mold and heating and fusing with steam thereby to produce the molded article in the shape of the mold, the improvement wherein the pre-expanded beads of the polypropylene resins having two melting points when measured by differential scanning calorimetry and having a quantity of the peak fusion heat QH based on a melting point at a high temperature peak of the two melting points being 0.3 to 3.5 cal/g are introduced compressively into the mold so that a compressive rate is 10 to 60%.

Abstract: The mold for making a rectangular foam block from a plurality of blowable and sinterable plastic pieces, especially foamed polystyrene pieces, with the help of steam comprises a rectangular inner mold with a plurality of inner mold walls movable from each other and an outer mold tightly closable surrounding the inner mold having at least one steam inlet and an air evacuation and vacuum pump connector pipe. This mold is especially easy to construct when the outer mold comprises a pipelike pressurizable container with a front mold wall comprising a pressure-tight door and with a block ejector mounted in a rear mold wall which can be pushed approximately perpendicularly to the rear mold wall into the inner mold.

Abstract: The invention provides a process and apparatus for producing an injection moulding of plastics material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for improving not only the quality of the production of molded foamable thermoplastic resin particles converted into fusion-bonded materials but also the output by protecting the resin from atmospheric pressure by pressurizing the particles and heating the particles to soften the same.

Abstract: A method of molding pre-foamed synthetic resin particles is described, which comprises increasing the pressure in a mold cavity with a pressurized gas, charging the mold cavity with pre-foamed synthetic resin particles as they are compressed with a gas pressurized to a pressure higher than the pressure in the mold cavity and heating the charged pre-foamed synthetic resin particles with steam so that they are fused together or expanded and fused together to form a foamed molded article, wherein a pressure detector is provided in a conduit for conveying the pre-foamed synthetic resin particles into the mold cavity as they are carried by the pressurized gas or at an inlet portion of a charging port leading to the mold cavity, and the supply of pre-foamed synthetic resin particles into the mold cavity is stopped when the pressure detected by the detector exceeds the pressure in the mold cavity by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of making dimensionally stable, expanded polystyrene foam patterns comprising: (a) expanding a supply of beads comprised of polystyrene and a thermally responsive expanding agent, the expansion being accomplished in one or more stages by use of a gaseous heating agent (steam) to define a fused pattern body of the expanded beads, and (b) subjecting the fused pattern body to subatmospheric pressure (in the range of 5-20" of Hg) for a period of about 0.5-6 hours but no more than sufficient to accelerate and complete the migration of the trapped expanding agent out of the pattern body. The expanding agent can be selected from the group consisting of various forms of pentane or butane.

Abstract: A device for executing a method of molding expandable thermoplastic polymer beads in a mold to form articles of foamed material comprising: pulsing steam through at least one of the cavities to contact and expand the beads in the cavity for a finite period of time and drawing the steam amongst the beads by providing reduced pressure to at least one of the cavities for the same period of time; and pulsing mist through the expanded beads by providing mist to at least one of the cavities and drawing the mist through the expanded beads by providing reduced pressure to at least one of the cavities for the finite period of time of predetermined duration to form articles of foamed material.

Abstract: Closed-cell foam particles are pressurized to produce particles useful in a process using secondary foaming to achieve a lower density foam. Closed-cell foam particles are initially compressed in a first stage compression tank and then transferred to a main gas pressurization tank. The main gas pressurization tank comprises multi-level shelves, each with a set of compartments. Charges of foam particles pass sequentially through the shelves while becoming fully pressurized. The multi-level shelves with means to move charges of foam particles from shelf to shelf are responsible for the closed cell foam particles becoming pressurized in an efficient manner.

Abstract: The invention refers to a high-pressure mixing device, for at least two chemical components to be mixed, in particular of the type having a movable mixing chamber, in which the mixing chamber communicates with an outlet duct for discharging the mixture therefrom through a lateral passage and in which the component inlet apertures open directly into the mixing chamber but are oriented so as to face away from the lateral passage in a direction which is opposite to the flow of the mixture in the outlet duct.

Abstract: A method of molding expandable thermoplastic polymer beads in a mold to form articles of foamed material comprising: pulsing steam through at least one of the cavities to contact and expand the beads in the cavity for a finite period of time and drawing the steam amongst the beads by providing reduced pressure to at least one of the cavities for the same period of time; and pulsing mist through the expanded beads by providing mist to at least one of the cavities and drawing the mist through the expanded beads by providing reduced pressure to at least one of the cavities for the finite period of time of predetermined duration to form articles of foamed material.

Abstract: A control process for foaming and fusing plastics in a foaming and fusing device, and a fusing device for carrying out the process, in which the control process works in cycles, each cycle consists of phases which are at least an injection phase, a heating phase, a fusion phase, a cooling phase and a mould release phase, such phases being started and completed depending on control criteria comprising a time period, a pressure or a temperature limit value for the conditions evolving in the device such control criteria belonging to a certain cycle comprising a control criteria set, and with each cycle quality values of predetermined characteristics determined by measurements taken from the respective plastic part or an agglomerate cake situated in the device, a new set of control criteria being generated for each new cycle from prior control criteria depending from the quality values measured with such prior cycle of the control process, wherein the quality values of each cycle are combined to a deviation which

Abstract: A process and an apparatus obtain plastic molded objects according to a technique which consists of introducing the plastic into a silicone elastomer mold, then inserting this mold into a high frequency device comprising a turntable "carrousel", a series of high frequency heating presses and a cooling device.The process is characterized by the introduction of plastic into one end of the mold in the form of liquid plastisol under low pressure, i.e., less than 1 Magapascal. The apparatus employs a carrousel, a mold having two male inserts and resting on the carrousel, vacuum-creating means and plastisol injection means.

Abstract: A forming die for forming a vehicle seat foam cushion member integrally on its surface with a pile-type fastener adapted to be engageable with a mating pile-type fastener provided on the back surface of a top cover member associated with the seat. In the forming die, there is formed a recessed groove, in which resiliently and frictionally secured is a base plate with an engageable member fixed thereto. The engageable member is capable of removable engagement with the pile-type fastener which is to be integrally provided on the cushion member.