US 12,325,164 B2 · Molding apparatus and methods

Abstract

A plastic molding system comprises: dispensing, pre-shaping and shaping cells and a transport subsystem. The dispensing cell has a station for dispensing a dose of plastic feedstock. The pre-shaping and shaping cells each comprise a plurality of stations for shaping the workpiece into a preform shape and into a final shape, respectively. The transport subsystem advances a workpiece along a selected one of a plurality of process paths to form a molded article. Each of the plurality of process paths is defined by a combination of stations of the dispensing cell, the pre-shaping cell and the shaping cell.

Claims27

Dependent claims

An apparatus for transporting molten molding material, comprising:

a vessel having an internal cavity for receiving said molten molding material through an orifice and preventing flow of said material during transport;
a coupling assembly defining an orifice for transfer of molding material with a processing station, said coupling assembly having a locating surface configured to matingly engage a corresponding locating feature of a processing station to thereby align said orifice with said processing station to transfer molding material;
a displacement member received in said cavity and extendable into said cavity to displace said molten molding material out of said vessel;
and
a thermal regulating assembly on said vessel for controlling a thermal profile of said molten molding material, wherein said thermal regulating assembly comprises a heat sink.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/723,583Filed 19 Apr 2022 · continuation

Priority

25 Jun 2019

Published

US 2022/0332028 A120 Oct 2022

Granted

10 Jun 2025

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B29C 45/332
Having transversely, e.g. radially, movable mould parts: mountings or guides therefor; Drives therefor
B29C 45/0408
Using movable moulds or mould halves: involving at least a linear movement
B29C 45/0433
Using movable moulds or mould halves: mounted on a conveyor belt or chain
B29C 45/1744
Mounting of moulds; Mould supports: mould support platens

Family

Application62/866,059Us provisional application · filed 25 Jun 2019

PCT/CA2019/051205Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Aug 2019

US 2022/0332028 A1Pre-grant publication · published 20 Oct 2022

Application17/269,571Parent of this continuation

US 11,518,077 B2Parent of this continuation

US 2021/0308918 A1Published application

US 12,325,164 B2This patent

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

Molding apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Molding apparatus and methods

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27