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US 12,552,078 B2Granted
System and methods for forming a sole structure
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorsShayne Hannemann, Kimberly N. McConnell, Justin A. Meyer, Rick A Pollard
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Abstract
A molding system and a method for forming a sole structure are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.
Claims13
A method of forming a sole structure for an article of footwear using an injection device and a mold, the method comprising:
- heating a polymeric material in a barrel of the injection device to form a melt;
- receiving, at a computing device, a temperature signal from a temperature sensor positioned downstream of a screw, the screw being located in the barrel;
- in response to the temperature signal, automatically adjusting a heating element coupled to the barrel to control a melt temperature of the polymeric material before injection into the mold;
- and
- injecting the polymeric material at an adjusted melt temperature from the injection device into a cavity of the mold, wherein the mold comprises a smaller dimension than a dimension of the sole structure formed with the polymeric material.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.