US 10,843,393 B2Granted

Injection molding apparatus and method of use

AssigneeUniversal Smart Inc.

InventorsRobert Folaron, Scott Sando

Life of this patent

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Abstract

The present invention surrounds an apparatus and method for the use in injection molding of articles of manufacture using an injection molding apparatus having a valve-gate pin or a plurality of valve-gate pins for actuation to extend and retract from a cavity within an injection mold. The valve-gate pin may have a retention feature or retention features configured for the retention of molded parts such that the retraction or extension of the valve-gate pin provides part removal from an associated injection mold. Further, the valve-gate pin may have a feature or features to facilitate the injection of fluids, gases or particles during or after the primary injection process. Additionally, a plurality of such valve-gate pins may be employed within each mold cavity, or within each valve-gate actuation system.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method for the injection molding of a part comprising:

clamping a first side of an injection mold to a second side of an injection mold creating a cavity therebetween;
a first positioning step to position a valve-gate pin to an open position;
injecting a first material into the cavity;
a dwelling step to hold the injected material under pressure within the injection mold for a predetermined period of time;
a second positioning step to position a valve-gate pin to a closed position, wherein a distal portion of the valve-gate pin protrudes into the cavity, the distal portion of the valve-gate pin having a retention feature comprising a diameter incongruent with a diameter of a shaft of the valve-gate pin resulting in an undercut, thereby creating a connection between the valve-gate pin and the part;
and
opening the injection mold, wherein the first side of the injection mold is separated from the second side of the injection mold,
wherein the part produced resembles the cavity.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/572,967Filed 17 Sep 2019 · division
Priority: 22 Apr 2016
Published: US 2020/0009775 A19 Jan 2020
Granted: 24 Nov 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

B29C 45/1735
Nozzles therefor: nozzles for introducing the fluid through the mould gate, e.g. incorporated in the injection nozzle
B29C 45/03
Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor: injection…
B29C 45/14065
Incorporating preformed parts or layers, e.g. injection moulding around inserts or for coating articles: positioning or centering articles in the…
B29C 45/16
Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor: making…

Family

Application62/326,655Us provisional application · filed 22 Apr 2016
Application15/495,367Parent of this division · filed 24 Apr 2017
US 2020/0009775 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Jan 2020
US 2018/0147762 A1Published application
US 10,843,393 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.