Modular blow mold system for blow molding a container
AssigneePepsiCo, Inc.
InventorsAdvait Rasik Bhat, Stefano Giuliani, Maximiliano Rodriguez, Ellie Vineyard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular system for blow molding a container. The system may include a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion and second portion may each include a shell, a mold removably coupled to the shell, and a top plate. The third portion may include a base and a base mold. The molds may be 3D printed. The molds together may define a blow mold cavity. The modular system may be used at lab scale, pilot scale, or full production scale. The molds may be durable and smooth enough for full production scale. Some embodiments are directed methods for making a modular system for blow molding a container.
Claims23
A modular system for blow molding a container, the system comprising:
- a first portion comprising:
- a first shell;
- a first mold removably coupled to the first shell;
- a first top plate removably coupled to the first shell;
- and
- a first filler material disposed in a volume defined by the first shell, the first mold, and the first top plate;
- a second portion removably coupled to the first portion, the second portion comprising:
- a second shell;
- a second mold removably coupled to the second shell;
- a second top plate removably coupled to the second shell;
- and
- a second filler material disposed in a volume defined by the second shell, the second mold, and the second top plate;
- a third portion comprising a base and a base mold, wherein the base is removably coupled to the first shell and the second shell,
- wherein the first mold, the second mold, and the base mold together define a blow mold cavity when the first portion is coupled to the second portion.
An interchangeable mold for blow molding a container, the mold comprising:
- a first 3D printed mold portion;
- a second 3D printed mold portion;
- and
- a 3D printed base mold portion,
- wherein the first 3D printed mold portion, the second 3D printed mold portion, and the 3D printed base mold portion are configured to together define a blow mold cavity,
- wherein the first 3D printed mold portion, the second 3D printed mold portion, and the 3D printed base mold portion are isotropic, and
- wherein the first 3D printed mold portion is configured to engage with a first shell, the second 3D printed mold portion is configured to engage with a second shell, and the 3D printed base mold portion is configured to engage with the first shell and the second shell,
- wherein the first shell and the second shell are each compatible with a blow mold system to form blow-molded containers within the blow mold cavity.
A method of making a modular blow mold system, the method comprising:
- 3D printing a first mold portion, a second mold portion, and a base portion;
- coupling the first mold portion to a first shell to form a first half, the first half comprising a first volume defined by the first mold portion and the first shell;
- coupling the second mold portion to a second shell to form a second half, the second half comprising a second volume defined by the second mold portion and the second shell;
- pouring a filler material in the first volume;
- pouring the filler material in the second volume;
- and
- cooling the filler material to form a solid filler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.