Methods and apparatus for injection and manufacture of molded components with vacuum assist
AssigneeCrocs, Inc.
InventorsStefano Ferniani, Luca Faggin
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims16
A molding system comprising:
- a mold, the mold comprising a first platen, a second platen and a mold cavity, 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;
- a sealing device that is configured to seal a space between the first and second platens;
- a gas remover that is configured to remove a gas from the space between the first and second platens while the space is sealed;
- and
- an overflow channel formed within the first platen, the overflow channel being separate from the mold cavity;
- and
- a tunneling injection channel formed in the first platen and having a first end and a second end, the first end opening on one side of the overflow channel, the second end opening in the mold cavity portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.