Methods and apparatus for injection and manufacture of molded components with vacuum assist
AssigneeCrocs, Inc.
InventorsStefano Ferniani, Luca Faggin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molding process according to one embodiment of the present disclosure includes injecting a first molding material into a mold cavity of a mold, the mold cavity formed by at least a mold cavity portion of a first platen and a second platen when the first platen is in contact with the second platen; opening the mold by separating the first and second platens; placing a second molding material at the first molding material while the first molding material remains with the first platen or the second platen; sealing a space between the first and second platens; removing a gas from the space while the space is sealed; and closing the mold while the space is sealed.
Claims15
A process comprising:
- injecting a first molding material into a mold cavity of a mold while the first molding material is liquified, the mold cavity formed by at least a mold cavity portion of a first platen and a second platen when the first platen is in contact with the second platen;
- opening the mold after the first molding material has been injected by separating the first and second platens and before placing a second molding material at the first molding material;
- placing the second molding material at the first molding material while the first molding material remains with the first platen or the second platen before closing the mold about the first and second molding materials;
- sealing a space between the first and second platens wherein the space includes both at least a portion of the first platen and at least a portion of the second platen;
- removing a gas from the entirety of the space while the space is sealed;
- and
- closing the mold while the space is sealed.
A process comprising:
- injecting a first molding material into a mold cavity of a mold while the first molding material is liquified, the mold cavity formed by at least a mold cavity portion of a first platen and a second platen when the first platen is in contact with the second platen;
- opening the mold after the first molding material has been injected by separating the first and second platens and before placing a second molding material between the first and second platens;
- placing the second molding material between the first and second platens while the first molding material remains between the first and second platens before sealing a space between the first and second platens with the first and second molding materials within the space, wherein the space includes both at least a portion of the first platen and at least a portion of the second platen;
- sealing the space between the first and second platens while the first and second molding materials remain between the first and second platens;
- removing a gas from the entirety of the space while the space is sealed;
- and
- closing the mold while the space is sealed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.