Abstract: Foam molding apparatus, including a rotatable table, a plurality of molds disposed on the table, a device for heating and cooling each of the molds, a device being fixed in place relative to the table for filling a specific quantity of foamable reaction mixture having several components into each of the molds, a device for opening and closing each of the molds, a first computer connected to the opening and closing device and to the heating and cooling device for opening and closing each of the molds in dependence on the position thereof and for controlling the heating and cooling of each of the molds in dependence on time, and a second computer connected to the filling device for controlling the filling device in dependence on the position of the molds.

Abstract: Process for producing foam moldings with an insert executed in a mold for foam molding consisting of a core block and a cavity block. The process comprises steps of: (a) having a film adhering to and covering the insert on one side thereof where a foam layer is formed; (b) letting the skirt portion of the film to be pinched or sandwiched by the uniting portion of the two blocks while the foaming process is executed on a foamable material; and (c) forming integrally the foam layer on that side of the insert, with the film being retained between the insert and the foam layer to be obtained.

Abstract: An egg carton made from expanded polystyrene with a nonexpanded skin on one side includes integrally formed cover and tray portions interconnected together by a pair of hinges adjacent opposite sides of a hingeband. The tray is divided into a plurality of cells by a plurality of partitions. At least some of the partitions have a top flap portion hinged to the top of the partition by the skin of the polystyrene. Each cell further has a pliant inside surface provided by one or more grooves in the interior cell walls. A post extending from the inside surface of the cover is formed opposite a tray support surface using a thermo molding method by which a protrusion in a top mold is inserted into a nonvented cavity of a bottom mold. A pair of integrally molded hinge posts extend above the hingeband a distance less than the width of the hingeband between hinges and seat into a groove in the hingeband when the top is in closure relationship to the tray.

Abstract: Improved mold structure and method of molding for mechanically frothed urethane foams is presented. The mold is filled from the bottom via an annular runner which communicates with the mold cavity. The connection between the annular runner and the mold cavity is restricted to create a back pressure in the circumferential runner.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method to quickly heat a mold cavity surface or portions thereof just prior to the injection of a foamable plastic resin. The apparatus comprises one or more thin metal surface sheets or bands of high electrical resistivity in the mold cavity covering those portions of the mold where a smooth surface finish on the product is desired. In an alternative form the surface sheets may be plated or sprayed metal of high resistivity on a layer of thin electrically non-conducting plastic in turn adhered to the mold cavity surface.The thin metal surface sheet is resistance heated approximately 300.degree. F. in a few seconds or less by a low voltage high current source of electric power just prior to the injection of the foamable plastic. The high current passing through the metal of high resistivity causes conversion of electrical energy into sensible heat very quickly to accomplish quick heating of the mold cavity surface sheet.

Abstract: This apparatus is used to improve the heat distribution on the cavity surface in foam molding dies where a smooth finish on the resin filled foam molded plastic product manufactured by an injection molding process is desired. This invention improves the method for heating the mold cavity using a condensing vapor in a molding die by a channel and slit type orifice means in the mold around a portion of the periphery of the part to be molded. Another channel and slit type orifice means around the remaining periphery is included in the die for removing the condensing vapor or condensate from the mold cavity. During the heating process when condensing vapor is introduced into the mold the sprue opening to the extruder is sealed by a valve means to prevent condensate from collecting therein.

Abstract: An automatic foam dispensing system is described for forming shock-absorbing members of synthetic foamed material into predetermined shapes at pre-selected locations inside a container for the cushioning of articles to be provided therein. The foam dispensing system is generally constructed from a dispensing booth having a plurality of synthetic foam dispensing apparatus provided thereat and a plurality of mold assembles adapted for movement along a track to and from the dispensing booth.

Abstract: A hole, particularly an accidental perforation, is closed by manoeuvering a bladder (g) into the hole employing a hollow rod (f) on which the bladder is mounted at one end. An operator operating from the other end of the rod actuates a device such as a triggered valve to cause the components of a settable foamed plastics material to pass (via tubes b and rod f) from their sources (in a) to fill the bladder (g) so that it closes the hole. The settable foamed plastics material is preferably polyurethane foam. The bladder may be of natural or synthetic rubber and may be protected against tearing by a textile envelope. The sources of foamed plastics material may be either in a portable kit (a) or rupturable containers within the bladder (g) or rod (f).

Abstract: The apparatus molds during each cycle homogeneous plastic material and foam plastic material. It includes a barrel member, a main passageway therein in which is located the screw member. A pair of injecting means for filling molds are provided, one having a homogeneous plastic injection chamber and the other having a foam plastic injection chamber. The first injection means is connected to the screw and barrel member upstream of the place where the inert fluid is introduced into the main passageway whereby homogeneous plastic material is discharged from the main passageway into the first injection means. The apparatus includes means for introducing an inert fluid into the main passageway whereby the rotating screw member mixes the gas with the molten plastic as it moves towards the discharge port which is connected to the second injection means whereby foam plastic material is injected into the foam plastic injection chamber. Each injection means has one or more nozzles connected to a mold located in a press.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for making a composite structural homogeneous resinous article having (a) a smooth, shiny non-cellular or homogeneous relatively thin injection compression molded liner on the outer surface and (b) a cellular relatively thicker injection molded core integral with the molded liner. One extruder is connected by valve controlled passages to a pair of injection devices, each device having an injection chamber. One chamber stores the homogeneous plastic resin and the other chamber stores the foam plastic resin. A first mold assembly having a movable upper mold part and a stationary lower mold part form a cavity, with a gap opening, at a first molding station. The cavity is in communication with the first injection chamber.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for making a foamed resin sheet from a body of hot foamable synthetic resin containing a blowing agent, which method comprises heating said foamable body to a temperature which initiates foaming, limiting lateral expansion of the resulting foam by contact with a limiting surface while permitting free expansion of the foam thickness, then limiting further expansion of the foam thickness by contact with a limiting surface, and then cooling the foam below the foaming temperature while maintaining said limitations on foam expansion in the lateral and thickness directions by contact with said limiting surfaces.

Abstract: A form box for manufacturing a form, which form box is adapted to hold a reinforcing preform in position during the period of time that an expanding foam mass is injected into the area between the reinforcing preform and the form box. Pins are secured to the form box and project inwardly into the form cavity in which is located the reinforcing preform. The free ends of the pins engage the reinforcing preform to hold same in a fixed position during the period of time that the expanding foam mass is injected into the cavity between the reinforcing preform and the form box.

Abstract: An extruder system has an extruder provided internally with a worm. A source of an additive fluid under pressure is connected to a conduit opening into the barrel. An upstream valve and a downstream valve are provided in this conduit and a pressurizable fluid reservoir is provided in the conduit between the valves. The extruder is continuously rotated in the barrel to plastify a resin therein. The valves are alternatively opened and closed, that is one is open when the other is closed and vice versa, so that a fluid first flows from the source through the upstream valve into the reservoir and then from the reservoir through the downstream valve into the barrel to be mixed by the worm with the plastic resin therein. The reservoir can be a cylinder having a piston advanced when the downstream valve is opened to force the charge of additive fluid in the reservoir into the barrel.

Abstract: A strong foam core structural member having an integral skin and a method of forming the foam core structure using conventional tooling, such as a clamshell mold. The method includes injecting a fluid foamable resin reaction mixture under pressure in a mold between a pair of pervious, absorbant, flexible sheets, preferably each including a nonresilient open mesh skrim. The sheets are thus expanded against the mold faces by the foaming reaction mixture, which saturates the sheets and forms a smooth skin integral with the foam core. The pervious sheets permit entrapped gasses to escape, forming a smooth integral skin on the foam core, which substantially improves the strength of the structure. The structure may also be strengthened by adding perforated reinforcement plates and injecting the fluid resin reaction mixture through and around the plates. The reinforcement plates thus become integral with the foam core.

Abstract: The cavity surface of a foam mold is sprayed with a paint which becomes integrally bonded to the outer surface of the foam molded part. The sprayed paint unavoidably overlaps the parting faces of the mold around the outer edges of the mold cavity. In order to avoid the necessity of trimming a paint flash from the molded part along a line corresponding to the parting line of the mold, after the cavity is spray painted and while the paint is still wet the line of intersection between the cavity and the parting faces of the mold is contacted with a member which interrupts the continuity of the paint film. This avoids the formation of the paint flash on the molded part.

Abstract: A mold equipment comprising a first lift chamber at the outlet portion of a material pouring station, a heating chamber containing a curing atmosphere and connected to the outlet of the first lift chamber, a pull-in means for drawing a metal mold from the outlet of the material pouring station into the first lift chamber, a second lift chamber at the outlet portion of the heating chamber, a mold releasing work station adjacent to the second lift chamber, a third lift chamber at the outlet portion of the mold releasing work station, a cooling chamber connected to the outlet of the third lift chamber, a pull-in means for drawing the metal mold from the outlet of the mold releasing work station into the third lift chamber, a fourth lift chamber defined between the outlet of the cooling chamber and the material pouring work station, and push-in means for forcing the metal mold into the heating chamber, mold releasing work station, cooling chamber, and material pouring station, respectively.

Abstract: A tire is cast and cured in a stationary mold having an annular mold cavity, an inlet opening and an outlet vent. The mold is tilted for optimum foam flow and minimum air or bubble entrapment. A liquid reactive mixture is injected into the mold through the inlet opening and moves through the mold cavity in different directions providing two leading surfaces which meet to form an interface adjacent the outlet vent. The air, foam gases and interface portion are extruded from the mold cavity through a slot in the vent into a reservoir. After curing of the elastomeric material formed by the liquid reactive mixture in the mold, the material in the slot and reservoir may be severed from the tire.

Abstract: A mold equipment comprises a water tub having a metal mold transfer conveyor therein, a first lift chamber for placing the metal mold onto a first lift from the outlet side of said conveyor and lifting it to an upper stage of the first lift chamber, a first push-in cylinder for transferring the metal mold from the outlet of the first lift chamber into a ceiling oven including a conveyor and held in an atmosphere of curing, a second lift chamber for placing said metal mold onto a second lift from the outlet of the ceiling oven and lowering it to a lower stage outlet, a second push-in cylinder for transferring the metal mold from the outlet of the second lift chamber into a mold release work station including a conveyor, a third lift chamber for placing the metal mold onto a third lift at the outlet of the mold release work station and lowering it to the position of the mold transfer conveyor in the water tub, and a third push-in cylinder for transferring the metal mold into the water tub from the outlet of sai

Abstract: Method for producing large size, low density, elongated thermoplastic cellular bodies comprising the steps of forming a mixture of a thermoplastic polymer and a blowing agent dissolved therein under pressure and at a temperature at which the viscosity of the mixture is sufficient to retain the blowing agent when the mixture is allowed to expand, extruding said mixture into a holding zone under conditions that prevent said mixture from foaming, the holding zone having an outlet die orifice opening into a zone of lower pressure and temperature at which said mixture foams and an openable gate closing the die orifice; periodically opening said gate and substantially concurrently applying mechanical pressure by a movable ram on the mixture, preferably while scraping the sides of the holding zone with said ram, to eject the mixture from the holding zone through the die orifice at a rate in excess of that at which substantial foaming in the die orifice occurs and less than that at which substantial irregularities in

Abstract: A molding apparatus in which a slider is slidable in an inclined channel into which a passage opens at one side for communication with a mold cavity while a pair of passages open at the opposite side for communication with a plasticating (worm) cylinder and a further cylinder provided with a plunger or piston. The slider has a U-shaped passage, the arms of which are positioned to interconnect both of the passages on the other side of the channel in a position of the slider in which the passage to the mold is blocked but which connects only the accumulating cylinder passage through the bight of the U-shaped passage to the mold in another position of the slider. A check valve is provided in the passage of the worm cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing molded bodies of expanded plastic having a predetermined density, based on a starting material in granulate form to which a blowing agent and optionally a cross-linking agent have been added, said starting material being introduced into an injection molding machine/press in which it is heated and injected/pressed into a mold. In order to obtain an efficient production process without loss of raw material and a product whose density can be determined in advance, the material in the injection molding machine/press is heated to a temperature which is below the temperature required to initiate the reaction of the blowing agent/cross-linking agent, and the blank thus formed is subsequently transferred to an expansion mold having the shape of the desired final product, but larger, than the blank. The blank is caused to expand in the expansion mold and final expansion takes place outside the expansion mold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for producing shaped articles from a multi-component reaction mixture which forms, for example, polyurethane, epoxy resin, polyester resin or polyamide, by mixing at least two of the individual components in at least two premixing chambers to form multi-component reaction mixture and these mixtures are subsequently mixed in a single-stage mixing chamber to form a mixture which is introduced into a shaping zone in which it is cured to form the shaped article.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of filling cavities and, in particular, mold cavities, with a reactive solid-forming or foam-forming mixture, wherein at least two reactants are introduced into a spatially limited mixing zone, mixed therein as they pass through, and the mixture produced is introduced into a mold cavity where it reacts and wherein the mold cavity is initially enlarged in-part for storing a portion of the mixture, which portion is subsequently transferred to the final mold cavity volume. The object of the invention is to produce plastic articles which are shaped in molds, but also to fill out other cavities, for example, for the purposes of reinforcement.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a method of producing a reaction mixture for forming solid or cellular materials from flowable reactants and, optionally, fillers, comprising premixing the components and, optionally, fillers in a first mixing zone and after-mixing in a second mixing zone, the improvement wherein said after-mixing is carried out in a slit-like annular zone which extends radially from the center, the surface boundaries of said annular zone are not parallel and one of said surface boundaries is rotated while the opposite facing surface boundary remains stationary.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for incorporating particulate material in reactive resin mixes produced by the RIM method in the molding of foamed or unfoamed plastic articles, wherein the particulate material is introduced into the resin mix in a manner which substantially eliminates the severe abrasive effect such particulate material produces under conditions existing in prior methods due to flow through the various passges of the mixing head. The particulate material may constitute reinforcement for a plastic article, in which case short lengths of glass, carbon, graphite or other mineral or metal fibers and the like may be used. Alternatively, granular particulates such as carbon black, metal or mineral oxides, pigments, etc. may be incorporated for coloring the product, or increasing its resistance to actinic rays, or for imparting increased rigidity to the molded product, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incorporating particulate material in reactive resin mixes produced by the RIM method in the molding of foamed or unfoamed plastic articles, wherein the particulate material is introduced into the resin mix in a manner which substantially eliminates the severe abrasive effect such particulate material produces under conditions existing in prior methods due to flow through the various passages of the mixing head. The particulate material may constitute reinforcement for a plastic article, in which case short lengths of glass, carbon, graphite or other mineral or metal fibers and the like may be used. Alternatively, granular particulates such as carbon black, metal or mineral oxides, pigments, etc. may be incorporated for coloring the product, or increasing its resistance to actinic rays, or for imparting increased rigidity to the molded product, etc.

Abstract: A web of thermoplastic foam material is carried through an oven by an intermittently traveling conveyor engaging or gripping opposite sides of the web. The heated web is successively advanced by the conveyor between cooled heat-absorbing forming molds, which are moved toward each other to form the foam article and away from each other to release the article. A heat trimmer melts or vaporizes the leading and trailing ends of the foam material as compressed and formed by the molds, to form the marginal leading and trailing ends of the articles to the required peripheral form determined by the leading and trailing ends or edges of the molds and to separate the leading and trailing ends of the article from the web. The cooled molds, which may be made of a heat-conducting metal, such as aluminum, absorb the heat of melting as they pressurize the material along its edges and thereby determine the leading and trailing margins of the article.

Abstract: Molding apparatus for laminated foam-body panels, comprising first and second walls defining a molding cavity therebetween, the first wall including means for heating the foam during molding and the second wall comprising hingeably mounted access doors, adjustable holding and shaping means for said panels, disposed within the cavity and at least two of which are perpendicularly adjacent, means for simultaneously positioning each of the holding and shaping means, first and second movable locking means for the holding and extrusion means and for the access doors respectively, the first locking means being automatically actuated in response to the positioning means, means for simultaneously actuating and disengaging the first and second locking means, and means for filling the cavity with unmolded foam material.

Abstract: An improved process and apparatus for producing rigid cellular materials comprising polyvinyl chloride, wherein the controlled expansion of embryonic blocks obtained by molding, is carried out in a single expansion box closed throughout the whole duration of the expansion treatment, in several stages including pre-heating, pre-expanding and final expansion to the final dimensions of the block, the expansion box containing the block expanded to its final dimensions being then immersed in a bath of cold water for dimensional stabilization.The expansion box comprises at least two plates, with a frame attached to the lower face of each plate, to form, in use, a closed expansion box which is provided with a centering and holding mechanism to maintain the embryonic block in place within the expansion box, a device for opening and closing the expansion box being also provided, as well as a mechanism for transferring a plurality of expansion boxes assembled together from one bath to the other in succession.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for the preparation of a reaction mixture, from fluid components, comprising storage tanks, feed pipes leading from said storage tanks to a mixing head via metering pumps and opening into a mixing chamber via injection apertures, said mixing chamber formed by the bore of a housing, a control piston displaceable within said bore and being capable of blocking flow through said apertures, return lines branching off upstream of said apertures and leading up to said storage tanks, and a shut-off means for stopping the flow of said material through at least one of said return lines, the activation of said shut-off means being dependent upon the position of said control piston within said bore.

Abstract: In the course of this method, an amount of expansible mixture is poured into a mould, after which the mould is obturated by means of a plug. A vacuum is created in the chamber of the mould by way of the plug so as to cause the foaming of the mixture. The vacuum is maintained for a period after the foamable mixture has filled the whole of the volume of the mould. At the end of the polymerization of the foamable mixture, the vacuum may be re-applied in the mould, preferably for several cycles, so as to cause the cells of the foam obtained to burst.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a panel, provided with a frame of a synthetic material at least at one side edge face thereof, a laminate composed of a particled board core coated on either side with a coating, with reservation of a molding cavity along the entire or partial panel circumference for the frame to be formed, being applied in the bottom portion of a mold likewise containing a cover portion, after which the mold is closed, while the cover portion is sealingly clamped onto the bottom portion, after which a curing bi-component synthetic material foaming through exothermic reaction is admitted substantially pressure-less into the mold cavity and the panel is removed from the mold after curing, whereby the exothermic reaction of the bi-component synthetic material is utilized for increasing the pressure and the temperature in the molding cavity during the foaming and curing.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming the rim on a foam plastic container such as a cup by use of a segmented rim former. The cavity in the rim former is contoured so as to produce a curled rim that is flat on the top. The flat top of the rim is parallel to the bottom of the cup.The apparatus comprises a segmented rim former with a combination of linear and curved surfaces that form a noncircular container rim.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming seal liners of thermoplastic material within closure cap shells comprisies: a plurality of movable dies each having an inner die and an annular outer die both of which are movable up and down in relatively slidable relation with each other and arranged so that the inner die takes its lowermost position after the outer die has taken its lowermost position; means for restricting downward movement of the outer die so as to provide a constant clearance between its lower end and an internal surface of a cap shell to be worked with, so that an annular foaming chamber of a constant capacity is formed beneath the lower end of the outer die; and a plurality of gas discharging grooves are provided so as to be communicated with the foaming chamber.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and device for the discontinuous production of block foam. The device has a mixing unit provided with component feed lines and a stirrer. The device is vertically movable on a bridgelike framework. The mixing unit has a bottomless cylindrical shell which serves as a mixing container. The bottomless cylindrical shell can be arranged on a head plate and can be placed on the bottom of a mold placed beneath it. On the bottom of the mold is a flexible elastic layer on top of which is arranged a plastic film.

Abstract: A platen capable of being heated is disclosed wherein fluid flow zones containing heat exchange channels are individually sealed. The heat exchange channels in the platen are connected by a connecting channel sized so that the distance from the connecting channel to a vent passage or a vented opening in the platen is not less than the distance from the vent passage or vented opening to the heat exchange channel. The sealing of the fluid flow zones is accomplished with plugs and end plates which are welded to the platen and then welded together with a fillet weld.

Abstract: A process and mold for producing padded motor vehicle seat backs containing a metal framework surrounded by polyurethane foam in a plastic coating. The framework is inserted through a slit in the coating which is then sealed. Then the polyurethane foam is injected through a flexible filler neck into the coating and allowed to polymerize. After polymerization the filler neck is cut off. The framework may be contained in a plastic bag together with a relatively resilient foamed plastic body. The coating may be pressurized inwardly and pressure in the mold may be reduced during injection of the polyurethane foam. The mold comprises a pair of lateral mold parts and a central mold part together defining the mold cavity. The lateral mold parts are movable toward and away from the central mold part by hydraulic or pneumatic rams.

Abstract: A vented platen capable of being heated or cooled is disclosed wherein a plurality of heat exchange channels bored through the width of a plate member are arranged in a plane. The plate member has a plurality of openings on a surface that are vented by vent passages disposed on a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the heat exchange channels.

Abstract: Mold, particularly for rigid polyurethane foam articles having finished textured surfaces on all sides thereof comprising a female mold having a recess into which the unreacted and unblown resin system is deposited and a cover for closing the mold together with a release sheet structure disposed therebetween exhibiting sufficient gas porosity to enable complete venting of air displaced by the rising foam in the production of a finished surface thereat and method of molding therewith.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a device for the discontinuous production of block foam comprising a mixing unit, a means for moving the unit approximately vertically into and/or out of a mold with the unit having reaction component feed lines, a stirring means, and a mixing container having a plate with feed openings for the reaction components characterized in that(A) a distributing device is arranged below the feed opening for one of the components and(B) the mixing container comprises a bottomless cylindrical shell, the lower rim of which can be placed on the bottom of the mold.

Abstract: A ski which has a sandwich structure including upper and lower plastic laminations and a foamed plastic core situated therebetween with dense side portions integral with the upper and lower laminations and forming a shell surrounding the foamed core has in its new finished condition the same condition as when the ski is removed from a mold, so that finishing operations are not required subsequent to removal of the ski from the mold. The mold which is used to manufacture the ski has opposed relatively wide walls and a pair of opposed relatively narrow walls which are permanently fixed to one of the relatively wide walls while the other of the relatively wide walls is movable to and from an operating position closing the mold and cooperating with the relatively narrow walls for this purpose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, and an apparatus, for the production of articles which consist of filler-containing synthetic material, in particular a foam, wherein flowable reactants, at least one of which has previously been charged with filler, are injected into a mixing zone under predetermined injection pressures, wherein the reaction mixture is subsequently introduced into a mold.Cellular materials such as flexible, semi-rigid, rigid or structured foam based, for example, on polyurethane or isocyanurate, and also non-cellular materials such as elastomers, may be produced by methods of this type.

Abstract: The instant invention broadly relates to a process and apparatus for filling a cavity with a reactive mixture. More particularly, the invention relates to a process for filling cavities, particularly mold cavities, with a reactive, flowable mixture which preferably forms foam, wherein at least two reaction components are brought into a mixing zone, where they are mixed and then brought into the cavity, the improvement wherein at the beginning of the filling process, during a limited time interval, the reaction mixture is fed into the cavity under low flow velocity until the mixture has reached a certain level in the cavity, and subsequently the remaining mixture to be injected, is fed in under increased flow velocity.

Abstract: A process for producing cork lines which comprises holding a leader or leaders with a pair of metal molds having at the junctional surfaces thereof one or more cavities for forming a float or floats and one or more furrows formed so as to pass through said cavity or cavities for holding said leader or leaders, injecting a molten synthetic resin mixed with a foaming agent into said cavity or cavities to effect molding and foaming of said resin, cooling said metal molds and taking out a float or floats integrally fixed to said leader or leaders from said metal molds.

Abstract: A station for running foam-plastics material into shut molds has a mixing head with first and second driving systems, the one for moving the mixing head sideways to an inlet opening of each mold, and the other for moving the mixing head downwards into and upwards out of the inlet opening. The mixing head and the first driving system together with the second driving system are supported by a slide or carriage, which is guided along a section of the transport way of the smoothly moving molds. By way of a driving connection, the slide may be joined up with the mold which is to take up the plastics material and cleared from it again when the mold is full.

Abstract: Foam molding apparatus wherein individual molds filled with a flowable foam-material mixture are subjectible in a hardening operation to a heating and subsequent cooling interval, includes a rotatably driven table carrying a plurality of the molds for hot-foam molded articles, means for directly and individually heating and cooling the molds, a central rotating distributor head carried by the table, and individually closable connecting lines which, with the central rotating distributor head, connect the individual molds to corresponding heating, cooling and energy-medium supply sources, and method of operation thereof.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a process and an apparatus for the production of a foamable mixture from at least two fluid, foam forming reactants and aggregates, in which the aggregate is added to one of the reactants and the resulting preliminary mixture is then mixed with the other reactant.

Abstract: A method for introducing reactants into molds and articles produced. The method involves placing a body member into a receptacle located on a turntable; aligning the body member within the receptacle; positioning a foaming spacer on the body member around an aperture in the body member; lowering a liner on a plug fixture into the body member so that the foaming spacer abuts both the body and the spaced apart liner; inserting a foam machine head into the aperture in the body; injecting suitable reactants through the head, through the spacer, into the chamber formed between the liner and the body; maintaining the contact between the head and the body for a few seconds to allow the reactants to activate and set; removing the head from the aperture of the body; and further rotating the turntable to allow the reactants time to cure. The apparatus for facilitating the introduction of reactants is the foaming spacer of the above method.

Abstract: Multi-station reaction injection molding apparatus is disclosed for in-place foaming of polymerizable resins in articles advanced along a production line, as for example in the manufacture of insulated appliance housings such as refrigerator cabinets. The articles are selectively diverted from a feed conveyor, one to each of a plurality of pour stations adjacent the feed conveyor. At the stations, injection of foamable resin mix is accomplished by reaction injection type molding heads which combine at least two liquid resin components. These components are suitably catalyzed to react and form a cellular or foamed polymerized resin. The liquid components are separately but continuously supplied to respective supply manifolds to which all of the heads are connected in parallel by shunting ducts. Excess unmixed liquid components are returned separately from each of the heads through recycle shunting ducts to respective recycle manifolds.

Abstract: A method for injection molding a product having a non-cellular skin layer and a cellular core portion. The method involves successive or simultaneous injection of a non-foamable resin material and a foamable resin material through a sprue bushing having an injection channel connected to the mold cavity and a pair of fixed feed channels intersecting with the injection channel. The injection mold has a bore with a sprue bushing therein. The sprue bushing having an injection channel therein and intersecting with a pair of fixed feed channels. Injection units deliver the materials to the pair of fixed feed channels.