Plural Distinct Means Patents (Class 425/548)
  • Patent number: 6861021
    Abstract: An molding apparatus useful for molding polymer compositions includes a substrate; a first insulating layer having an electrical resistivity of at least about 1010 ohm-centimeters and thermal conductivity of about 0.2 to about 5 watts/(meter-kelvin); a heating element; a second insulating layer having an electrical resistivity of at least about 1010 ohm-centimeters and a thermal conductivity of at least about 5 watts/(meter-kelvin); and a first molding layer having a specific heat capacity of about 100 to about 2,500 joules/(kilogram-kelvin), and optionally, a second molding layer. The apparatus provides rapid heating and cooling of the mold surface. The apparatus may be employed for rapidly molding articles having desirable surface characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Iain Montgomery, Peter James Zuber
  • Patent number: 6809071
    Abstract: A method of producing aerated soap 5 comprising solidifying molten soap 4 having bubbles dispersed therein in a molding unit, wherein a storage tank 61 of the molten soap 4 has a circulating duct 62 forming a loop passing through the storage tank 62, and the circulating duct 62 or the storage tank 61 has connected thereto a feed nozzle 31 for feeding the molten soap 4, whereby the molten soap 4 is fed to the molding unit through the feed nozzle 31 while being circulated in the circulating duct 62.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Hasegawa, Yasunori Miyamoto, Tadao Abe, Koichi Hatano
  • Patent number: 6802705
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus and method for the post mold cooling of injection molded articles where an exterior portion of the article is exposed to a cooling atmosphere separately from any other cooling of the article. More particularly, the external surface of a neck finish portion of a preform is cooled by way of a cooling fluid stream which is specifically directed at the external surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Tiemo D. Brand, Jacob Rebel
  • Patent number: 6752612
    Abstract: In a mold device for injection molding of synthetic resin having a cavity surface alternately heated and cooled and a bottoming structure for producing a product having a bored portion like a window, a bottoming portion for the production of a product having a bored portion is provided on a parting surface of the mold and a vacant space is provided in the bottoming portion. Thus, the contact area of the bottoming portion is reduced and a contact pressure of the bottoming portion and thermal strain due to a temperature difference between the cavity side mold and core side mold are reduced, so that it is possible to prevent occurrence of crack in a portion located immediately outside the window of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Ono Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Kimura, Fumio Takahashi, Masahiko Yamaki, Akihiko Imagawa, Mitsuharu Mikawa
  • Patent number: 6695607
    Abstract: A mold half-block possesses at least one mold recess defined transversely by the working face of a shell provided with heat-transfer parts that are intrinsic and both-way (both heating and cooling), the shell including a base that receives all of the heat-transfer parts and a removable insert fitted on the base and carrying the working face, the insert having no intrinsic heat-transfer parts and being thermally regulated solely by heat transfer with the base. The insert is in the form of a cap which fits over at least a head portion of the base, and the heat-transfer parts of the base are allocated to the head portion of the base having the insert fitted thereover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Essilor International (Compagnie Generale d'Optique)
    Inventors: Hao-Wen Chiu, Hsinjin Yang
  • Patent number: 6692677
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding and curing silicone includes a press, one nozzles operatively engaged to the press, a liquid cooled manifold plate disposed to cool the nozzles, a heatable top platen having nozzle receptacles therein to receive the nozzles therein and a mold plate having a mold cavity therein. The mold plate and top platen are oriented for placement in the injecting position to allow the top platen to contact the mold plate while the nozzles are inserted into the nozzle receptacles of the top platen so that silicone is injected into the mold plate and into the mold cavity. The apparatus may be placed in the curing position when the top platen is heated and contacts the mold plate to allow silicone injected in mold plate to cure. The apparatus may be placed in a home position where the mold plate is uncontacted by the heated top platen which is uncooled by the manifold plate in the home position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Inventor: Robert J. Styczynski
  • Patent number: 6632081
    Abstract: A mold and an assembly of a device for cooling a mold include an annular channel system that surrounds the mold. The channel system has a channel having at least one entrance for supplying a cooling medium to the interior of the channel. The channel has at least one mold-facing outlet aperture for the cooling medium. The channel is adapted for substantially one tangential flow direction of the cooling medium around the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Jan Willem Cromwijk
  • Publication number: 20030141609
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for momentarily heating the surface of a mold and system thereof. The system comprises a casting material feeder, upper and lower molds, a water-cooled system, first and second cores, a voltage generator, a electric resistance heater, a controller, an injection molding control, an air and gaseous fuel mixture and supply unit, an interface and a control panel. The casting material feeder serves to supply molten casting material. The injection molding control serves to control the upper mold and the lower mold. The air and gaseous fuel mixture and supply unit serves to supply compressed air and gaseous fuel simultaneously. The gaseous fuel mixture and supply control serves to control the operation of the air and gaseous fuel mixture and supply unit. The interface serves to interface the injection molding control and the gaseous fuel mixture and supply control. The control panel serves to visually display the control, condition and operation of the components of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Yim Sook Jia
  • Publication number: 20030113398
    Abstract: The mold half-block possesses at least one mold recess defined transversely by the working face of a shell provided with heat-transfer means that are intrinsic and both-way (both heating and cooling), said shell comprising a base that receives all of the heat-transfer means of said shell and a removable insert fitted on the base and carrying the working face, said insert having no intrinsic heat-transfer means and being thermally regulated solely by heat transfer with said base. The insert is in the form of a cap which fits over at least a head portion of the base, and the heat-transfer means of the base are allocated to the head portion of the base having the insert fitted thereover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Publication date: June 19, 2003
    Inventors: Hao-Wen Chiu, Hsinjin Yang
  • Patent number: 6547553
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6544024
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for momentarily heating the surface of a mold and system thereof. The system comprises a casting material feeder, upper and lower molds, an injection molding control, an air and gaseous fuel mixture and supply unit, an interface and a control panel. The casting material feeder serves to supply molten casting material. The upper and lower molds serve to form a predetermined shaped cast. The injection molding control serves to control the upper mold and the lower mold. The air and gaseous fuel mixture and supply unit serves to supply compressed air and gaseous fuel simultaneously or selectively. The gaseous fuel mixture and supply control serves to control the operation of the air and gaseous fuel mixture and supply unit. The interface serves to interface the injection molding control and the gaseous fuel mixture and supply control. The control panel serves to visually display the control, condition and operation of the components of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Sook Jia Yim
  • Publication number: 20030031814
    Abstract: Disclosed are plastic preforms and bottles, preferably comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in which the materials in the neck, neck finish and/or neck cylinder is at least partially in the crystalline state and the body is primarily in the amorphous or semi-crystalline state. This structure in a preform enables the preform to be easily blow molded by virtue of the amorphous material in the body, while being able to have dimensional stability in hot-fill applications. In addition, the amorphous inner surface of the neck finish stabilizes the post mold dimensions allowing closer molding tolerances than other crystallizing processes. On the other side, the crystallized outer surface supports the amorphous structure during high temperature filling of the container. Physical properties are also enhanced as a result of this unique crystalline/amorphous structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Patent number: 6497569
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6461140
    Abstract: A system for injecting a composite substance inside a forming mould comprising a supplying device and at least one measuring device and which includes at least one line formed of articulated tube sections which are double-sheathed so as to enable a heat exchanging fluid to circulate therein. The system enables limitation of head loss and control of temperature of the composite substance. A device injecting the substance inside the mould can be mounted on a movable part of the mould.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: INOPLAST of Le Berlioz Domaine de la Gare
    Inventors: Patrick Bosg, Laurent Vergne
  • Patent number: 6422856
    Abstract: There is provided a hot runner system comprised of a cylindrical runner block (4) which has a hot runner (12) extending through a core portion thereof to communicate between a gate formed on a lengthwise central portion of a side surface of the runner block (4) and the interior of each of a plurality of nozzle members (3), the runner block (4) being enclosed by band heaters (15), blocking members for the hot runner (12), and support plates (6) standing on a base plate (8) and fitted to both end portions of the runner block (4). The blocking members (16) are fitted into both the end portions of the runner block (4). Heaters (22) and (23) are arranged into the core portion and around the periphery of each blocking member, respectively, for compensating for heat loss due to heat radiation and heat transfer to the support plates (6) and for keeping the temperature of each end portion of the runner block in a predetermined temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: A.K. Technical Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Takekazu Mochizuki
  • Publication number: 20020094354
    Abstract: In a mold device for injection molding of synthetic resin having a cavity surface alternately heated and cooled and a bottoming structure for producing a product having a bored portion like a window, a bottoming portion for the production of a product having a bored portion is provided on a parting surface of the mold and a vacant space is provided in the bottoming portion. Thus, the contact area of the bottoming portion is reduced and a contact pressure of the bottoming portion and thermal strain due to a temperature difference between the cavity side mold and core side mold are reduced, so that it is possible to prevent occurrence of crack in a portion located immediately outside the window of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 18, 2002
    Inventors: Naoyoshi Kimura, Fumio Takahashi, Masahiko Yamaki, Akihiko Imagawa, Mitsuharu Mikawa
  • Publication number: 20020086076
    Abstract: A mold device includes two mold pieces having a mold cavity for receiving a material to be treated, a heating member for heating the mold pieces, and a cooling casing selectively movable to engage with the mold pieces and to cool the material received in the mold pieces after the material has been heated and formed by the heating member. The heating of the mold pieces by the heating member thus will not be affected by the cooling casing. The heating member is received in one of the mold pieces piece. The casing has a conduit for receiving the cooling media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventor: Shia Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 6413075
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6402501
    Abstract: A mold device includes two mold pieces having a mold cavity for receiving a material to be treated, a heating member for heating the mold pieces, and a cooling casing selectively movable to engage with the mold pieces and to cool the material received in the mold pieces after the material has been heated and formed by the heating member. The heating of the mold pieces by the heating member thus will not be affected by the cooling casing. The heating member is received in one of the mold pieces piece. The casing has a conduit for receiving the cooling media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Shia Chung Chen
  • Patent number: 6387312
    Abstract: A polishing pad is formed by solidifying a flowable polymeric material at different rates of cooling to provide a polishing pad with a transparent region and an adjacent opaque region. Types of polymeric material suitable for making the polishing pad include a single thermoplastic material, a blend of thermoplastic materials, and a reactive thermosetting polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Rodel Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: John V. H. Roberts, Barry Scott Pinheiro, David B. James
  • Patent number: 6358031
    Abstract: A cavity die (1) has a flange part (5), a body (7), and a cavity surface (9). An annular groove (11) is formed on a periphery of the body (7). A region surrounded with the annular groove (11) and a retaining plate forms a boundary flow path. An inner flow path (17) is formed inside the body (7). The inner flow path (17) is linear. Both ends of the inner flow path (17) are open on a peripheral surface of the body (7) to form openings (19) thereon. A heating medium flows into the boundary flow path and the inner flow path (17) through a flow path formed on the retaining plate. Thereby, the temperature of the cavity die (1) is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Kikuchi, Takeshi Asakura, Haruki Shinagawa, Hiroaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6352426
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of thermoplastic material with good gas-barrier characteristics. In one preferred method and apparatus, preforms are injection molded, barrier-coated immediately thereafter, and remain on a mold portion for a time to speed cooling of the completed preform. Preferably the barrier-coated articles take the form of preforms coated by at least one layer of barrier material and the containers are blow-molded therefrom. Such barrier-coated containers are preferably of the type to hold beverages such as soft drinks, beer or juice. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET as well as key physical properties similar to PET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Plastics Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Hutchinson, Robert A. Lee
  • Patent number: 6332770
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing targeted cooling to a pre-molded article, such as a preform. A cooling pin is inserted into the preform such that it makes contact with targeted area, such as the mold gate area. This permits conductive cooling of the targeted area. The apparatus and method are particularly suited to post-mold cooling in conjunction with a robotic take-out plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Faisal Oueslati, Tiemo Brand, Witold Neter
  • Patent number: 6322350
    Abstract: A mould for manufacturing disc-like objects including at least two mould parts which are mutually movable between a closed position in which they bound a mould cavity, which mould cavity is connected to an injection conduit for admitting heated, plasticized plastic under pressure into said mould cavity, and an opened position in which a disc-like object can be removed. The mould also has a device for removing a central portion from a disc-like object to form a central hole present therein, which device comprises a cylindrical part which is movable in axial direction in the closed situation of the mould cavity. The mould has the feature that at least one of the two mould parts is tempered only in the middle zone of the mould cavity for tempering the inflowing plastic during the inflow thereof via the pressure line and thus during the filling of the mould cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Axxicon Moulds Eindhoven B.V.
    Inventors: Martinus Henricus Joseph Voets, Petrus Johannes Frederik Joseph Van Hout
  • Publication number: 20010028930
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: October 11, 2001
    Applicant: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6299431
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a rotary cooling station to be used in conjunction with a high output injection molding machine and a robot having a take-out plate. More particularly, the present invention teaches a high speed robot that transfers warm preforms onto a separate rotary cooling station where they are retained and internally cooled by specialized cores. The preforms may also be simultaneously cooled from the outside to speed up the cooling rate and thus avoid the formation of crystallinity zones. Solutions for the retention and ejection of the cooled preforms are described. The rotary cooling station of the present invention may be used to cool molded articles made of a single material or multiple materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventor: Witold Neter
  • Patent number: 6296473
    Abstract: Preforms are produced by injection molding in an injection molding machine, allowing enough pre-cooling time within the mold to create a temporary rigid skin on the preforms, and transporting the preforms to a separate cooling device. In the preferred embodiment, the step of transporting the preforms to a separate cooling device includes the steps of removing the preforms into a carrier mounted as an end-of-arm tool on a robot, the carrier having a plurality of orifices to receive the preforms, and using the robot to transport the carrier and the preforms to a cooling device interface. The cooling device interface has a plurality of hoses connected thereto for pneumatically transporting the preforms from the carrier to the cooling device. The preferred apparatus thus includes a robot, and an end-of-arm tool for the robot having a plurality of orifices alignable with mold cavities in the injection molding machine once the mold halves are opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Ventax Robot Inc.
    Inventor: Hans-Armin Ohlmann
  • Patent number: 6290882
    Abstract: Hard to fill large-surface-area parts and/or thinwalled configurations of optical lenses and reflective optical elements are among the difficult-to-mold thermoplastic products which require precision replication of the molding surfaces, in micro detail. We combine multiple opposing gates (to reduce the meltflow pathlength) with non-isothermal steps of firstly, heating these mold surfaces (with circulating heat transfer fluids supplied by a hot side supply system, to a temperature setpoint sufficiently high to retard solidification), then secondly, injecting the melt through these opposing gates, then thirdly, rapidly cooling to solidification (by circulating heat transfer fluids of much lower temperature, supplied from a cold side supply system).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Galic Maus Ventures LLP
    Inventors: Steven M. Maus, George J. Galic, John R. Filipe
  • Publication number: 20010021402
    Abstract: A foam molding die apparatus integrally molds a top side member and a back side member via a foam member. This apparatus comprises a plurality of work piece nozzles. Of these nozzles, the nozzles for supplying heating steam is structured so that a cylindrical body of which a work piece flow passage having a vent hole incapable of passing raw material beads is formed at a tip end portion is mounted to a die via a heat buffering member. In addition, the above nozzles may be structured so that means for forming a vent hole incapable of passing raw material beads is disposed in a synthetic resin based pipe forming a work piece flow passage. The work piece nozzles are preferably disposed with intervals of at least 100 mm on the outer face of a die at a portion at which the thickness of a foam molder is less than 10 mm. With respect to a portion at which the thickness of the foam molder is 10 mm or more, these nozzles are preferably disposed with intervals of at least 150 mm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Iwao Nohara, Shigeki Yoshimura, Kiyotaka Ida
  • Publication number: 20010016239
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6276656
    Abstract: Mold cycle time is accelerated by employing thermally insulating surface temperature boosters, which are of a minimum thickness to promote cooling by heat transfer through the boosters. According to the thermal transfer properties of the insulating boosters and the respective temperatures of the molten material and the dies, the temperature of the cavity surface is raised by contact with the molten material to equal or exceed the temperature required to produce a molded article, preferably just until the time that the mold is fully filled. Heat transfer through the boosters to the dies then cools and solidifies the molded article until it can be removed from the mold. The temperature boosters result in increased cavity surface temperatures, such that the mold dies can be kept at substantially lower temperatures. The overall result is a reduction in mold cooling time and therefore acceleration of mold cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Thermal Wave Molding Corp.
    Inventor: Frank J. Baresich
  • Patent number: 6276922
    Abstract: The technical field of the invention broadly relates to injection molding systems and more particularly to cooling of a core used in a mold of an injection molding machine. Cooling a core involves supplying coolant through a lengthwise supply tube that extends within a hollow bore formed in the core. The coolant flows through the supply tube, exiting as a stream of fluid at an open end of the supply tube where the stream contacts a substantially perpendicular inner surface of the core. The stream of fluid is initially deflected by this inner surface on an axis perpendicular to an axis of the original flow producing a stagnation zone in the stream having zero or relatively low velocity. The stagnation zone is adjacent to a high heat gate area and results in poor cooling of the core tip. The invention solves the problem of stagnation by application of a fluid velocity inducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: David Robert Huston, Tiemo Brand, Ali R. Mortazavi
  • Patent number: 6264459
    Abstract: An injection moulding unit includes at least two injection moulds for manufacturing disc-like objects. The injection moulds each further include two mould parts which are mutually displaceable between a closed position in which they bound a mould cavity and an opened position in which the disc-like object can be removed. The mould cavity is connected to a pressure line for carrying heated plastic into the mould cavity. A punching means is provided for punching a central hole through the disc-like object. The punching means includes a cylindrical part forming a portion of one of the mould parts and has a leading peripheral edge. The respective pressure lines of the injection moulds are branches of a feed line and together therewith form part of a collective multiple hot runner. The outlet zone of each feed line is configured to couple to an infeed of an injection bush. An outfeed of the injection bush debouches directly into the mould cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Axxicon Moulds Eindhoven B.V.
    Inventor: Martinus Henricus Joseph Voets
  • Patent number: 6223541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improving the after-cooling process of preforms from the injection molding process in respect to its efficiency and its economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Fasti, Farrag & Stipsits GesmbH
    Inventor: Rainer Farrag
  • Patent number: 6176700
    Abstract: Injection molding apparatus having a cavity insert (10) with integral inner and outer portions (136, 138) having a cooling fluid flow channel (166) extending therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling fluid flow channel (166) is formed by a groove (164) machined in the outer surface (162) of the inner portion (136). This brings the cooling fluid flow closer to the cavity (66) and improves cooling efficiency and reduces cycle time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Inventor: Jobst Ulrich Gellert
  • Patent number: 6168740
    Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Koch, Robert D. Schad, Laura Martin, James D. Sykes, Dan Stracovsky, Bruce Catoen
  • Patent number: 6143225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for unloading and cooling molded parts from an injection molding machine having an index turret block rotatable about a central axis. The device comprises a cooling turret block rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the central axis, which cooling turret block has a plurality of faces. At least one of the faces includes a plurality of nozzles for applying a cooling fluid to surfaces of the molded parts while the molded parts are resident on the index turret block. At least two of the other faces of the cooling turret block include a plurality of receiving tubes for receiving molded parts from the index turret block for further cooling. The cooling turret block of the present invention is capable of cooling multiple sets of molded parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
    Inventors: Robert Domodossola, Ronald Ing, John R Galt, William Jacovich, Steve Saggese
  • Patent number: 6143214
    Abstract: A mixing and dispensing system for reactively combining organic chemical components to produce a rapidly polymerizing material for use in molding and encapsulating small and usually delicate devices, such as electronic components. The system uses a novel mix head incorporating a high speed rotary mixer having magnetic coupling for mixing and injecting relatively low viscosity polymerizing materials into a mold. The chemical feed to the mix head is from special chemical handling equipment. The design of the system eliminates the need for material control valves and enables relatively low feed line pressures. A novel chemical handling subsystem uses special tubular containers provided by the chemical material manufacturers that mount on specially designed dispensing equipment, and do not require special storage, handling, or mixing by trained personnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Board of Regents of the University of Texas System
    Inventor: Joel W. Barlow
  • Patent number: 6095788
    Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing hollow plastic articles, comprising a mold comprising a first part provided with at least one row of a number of cavities located next to each other and a second part provided with at least one row of a number of cores located next to each other, while the number of cores is twice the number of cavities, and the cores comprise two sets of cores, each set arranged in a manner corresponding to the position of the cavities, and means are provided for moving the second mold part back and forth in a direction transverse to the direction of opening and closing of the mold. A cooling device comprises a number of cooling cavities located between the cavities of a row and at both ends of the row of cavities. The cores of the two sets alternate with each other in a row of cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Inter Tooling Services B.V.
    Inventors: Dirk van Manen, Hendrikus Johannes Theodorus Albers
  • Patent number: 6042757
    Abstract: An injection-molding device including an injection machine, a mold unit connected to the injection machine having separable molds defining a cavity for forming a molded product, and chucks next to the mold unit for removing a molded product from the mold. The molded product is initially coolied in the mold cavity then again cooled after removal from the mold unit. Plural chucks are advanced into and retreated from a region defined by the open molds, the chucks being a pair of blocks grasping the surface of the molded product, each block having a circulating path through which a heating medium is passed to cool the grasping surface. The injection-molding apparatus produces articles having high dimensional accuracy, for example, electronic parts such as a magnet roll or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Toda Kogyo Corporation
    Inventors: Masaharu Abe, Shigeru Takaragi, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Kyoichi Nakamura, Osamu Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6030566
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for unloading plastic material products from a plastic material injection molding machine are disclosed. The method comprises the steps of unmolding the products from a mold of the injection molding machine and, after the step of unmolding, cooling the products on two product surfaces by contacting the two product surfaces with two corresponding cooling surfaces of a cooling apparatus. The apparatus is provided with corresponding unmolding devices and cooling plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Richard Herbst
  • Patent number: 6019931
    Abstract: A method of molding a composite insulator having a core member and an overcoat portion arranged on an outer surface of the core member, in which a core member having metal fittings at both ends thereof is set in a metal mold for molding the composite insulator, overcoat portion forming materials are filled in a cavity for molding said overcoat portion formed around the core member, and then the overcoat portion forming materials are cured by heat, is disclosed. The improved method includes a step of making a temperature increase of the overcoat portion forming materials near the metal fittings equal to that of the other portion, when the overcoat portion forming materials are cured by heat, by utilizing an additional heating means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kashiwagi
  • Patent number: 5939004
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding thermosetting polymers onto clothing. The apparatus includes at least one molding device, at least one polymer supply and a control system for controlling the operation of the molding devices and polymer supplies. The molding devices include die sets having an input member and a mold. The polymer supplies supply polymers for injection into the input members of the molding devices for use in molding three dimensional bodies of polymers onto substrates such as clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: Donald G. Harrison
  • Patent number: 5928593
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding thermosetting polymers onto clothing. The apparatus includes at least one molding device, at least one polymer supply and a control system for controlling the operation of the molding devices and polymer supplies. The molding devices include die sets having an input member and a mold. The polymer supplies supply polymers for injection into the input members of the molding devices for use in molding three dimensional bodies of polymers onto substrates such as clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Donald G. Harrison
  • Patent number: 5914082
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding thermosetting polymers onto clothing. The apparatus includes at least one molding device, at least one polymer supply and a control system for controlling the operation of the molding devices and polymer supplies. The molding devices include die sets having an input member and a mold. The polymer supplies supply polymers for injection into the input members of the molding devices for use in molding three dimensional bodies of polymers onto substrates such as clothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventor: Donald G. Harrison
  • Patent number: 5858414
    Abstract: A cooling device for plastic moldings and a cooling method therefor shortening the cooling time required for the moldings 6 to be cooled in the die 3, without doing rapid cooling in the die 3, and can also prevent deformation such as warp of the moldings 6. The cooling device for air-cooling plastic moldings which are formed by a plastic molding machine 1 having a take-out portion 10 for taking out the moldings 6 and are taken out from the take-out portion 10 comprises an air cooling means 18 which is located in the vicinity of said take-out portion 10 for blowing cooling air over said moldings 6 immediately after being taken out from said take-out portion 10. The cooling device can be used to blow cooling air over the moldings 6 immediately after the moldings are taken out from said take-out portion 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignees: Kawata Mfg. Co., Ltd., Atlanta Precision Moldings Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryutaro Hayashi, Kazuya Mizuno
  • Patent number: 5853631
    Abstract: A method for mold heater startup and sequencing detects the heater zones associated with greater mass and allows them to heat up before zones of lesser mass, thereby reducing wear of the associated mechanical components and minimizing degradation of plastic material. The zones of smaller mass are kept at minimal temperatures until the zones with greater mass reach a set point. The system is capable of detecting multiple levels of thermal load and provides appropriate sequential startup of the identified thermal loads. The operator may also manually program the system to override certain automated sequences in order to ensure an optimal startup sequence. The sequencing of power application to large heaters also minimizes the peak current draw of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: D-M-E Company
    Inventor: Thomas P. Linehan
  • Patent number: 5824237
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a plastic article. The plastic is introduced into a mold that can be tempered and that has at least one hollow chamber, the contour of which corresponds to the outer contour of the article. During manufacture, the mold is heated up and removal of the article is effected with a cooled mold. To shorten the cycling time, the inner region of the mold that adjoins the hollow chamber is cooled and heated at least partially independently of the outer region that is remote from the hollow chamber, while the outer region is held at a temperature that is higher than the temperature during removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: TUHH Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Hauke Stumpf, Karl Schulte
  • Patent number: 5795511
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing material to a mold, such as in an injection molding system, wherein the settings for controlling the molding operation are retained in a non-volatile memory in a hot-half of the mold. When connected to a system controller, the hot-half of the mold is configured to communicate the retained information to the system controller, thereby enabling simplified set up of the molding operation. The retained information includes system information, initial settings for a plurality of heating zones, and historical information associated with that particular hot-half of the mold. Changes made to the information at the system controller are transmitted to the hot-half for dynamic updating of the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Fast Heat, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Kalantzis, J. Howard Smith
  • Patent number: RE38396
    Abstract: A method of making pairs of thread splits inserts used to injection mold bottle preforms. Machining a hollow outer part of the pair of thread split inserts with an opening therethrough and outer portions of two cooling conduits extending from the opening therethrough to respective inlets and outlets. Making an inner part of the pair of thread split inserts by injection molding a ceramic core with the required shape and investment casting the inner part around the ceramic core. The outer surface of the inner part having grooves to partially form inner portions of the two cooling fluid conduits. Then machining the cast inner part to fit in the opening through the outer part. Mounting the outer part around the inner part with the inner and outer portions of the two cooling fluid conduits aligned. Applying brazing material between the inner and outer parts and heating them in a vacuum furnace to integrally braze them together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2004
    Inventor: Jobst Ulrich Gellert