US 2003/0140596 A1 · Machine for molding a peripherally enbcapsulated product

Abstract

A peripherally encapsulated product, such as an oven door outer shell, is molded in accordance with this invention by placing a piece of glass between mold clamping portions of relatively movable closed bodies when the latter are in an open position. Preferably both bodies are heated and thermosetting polymeric material (SMC or BMC) is placed upon selected areas of one of the mold bodies within and about an area corresponding to an annular mold cavity and outboard of a peripheral edge of a piece of glass. The glass is clamped between mold clamping portions of the mold bodies which are then progressively closed creating compression forces which extrude the thermosetting polymeric material into the annular cavity and into complete encapsulation of the continuous peripheral edge of the piece of glass. The thermosetting polymeric material is cured, the mold bodies are opened and the product is removed therefrom. The encapsulated product can be provided with post-formed vent openings and/or handle attaching openings or the handle can be integrally molded during the molding process.

Claims82

Dependent claims

A method of molding a peripherally encapsulated product comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a multi-part mold including at least two relatively movable mold bodies defining in a closed position thereof a substantially continuous annular inwardly opening mold chamber and inboard of the annular mold chamber opposing mold clamping portions,
(b) placing a piece of glass between the mold clamping portions when the mold bodies are in an open position thereof,
(c) heating at least one of the mold bodies,
(d) placing thermosetting polymeric material upon the heated mold body within and about an area corresponding to the annular chamber and outboard of a substantially continuous peripheral edge of the piece of glass,
(e) clamping the piece of glass between the mold clamping portions,
(f) progressively relatively moving the mold bodies to the closed position thereof to thereby create compression forces which extrude the thermosetting polymeric material into the annular chamber and into complete encapsulation of the continuous peripheral edge including opposite face surfaces and a peripheral edge surface therebetween,
(g) curing the thermosetting polymeric material under heat and pressure while the mold is in its closed position,
(h) relatively moving the mold bodies to their open position, and
(i) removing the peripherally encapsulated product from the mold chamber.

6 more elements

A machine for molding a peripherally encapsulated product comprising:

(a) a multi-part mold including at least two relatively movable mold bodies defining in a closed position thereof a substantially continuous annular inwardly opening mold chamber,
(b) means inboard of the annular mold chamber for clamping a piece of glass in substantially precise relationship to said annular inwardly opening mold chamber in the closed position of said mold bodies,
(c) means for heating at least one of the mold bodies,
(d) means for relatively moving said clamping means toward each other to clamp a piece of glass therebetween,
(e) means for relatively moving said mold bodies toward each other to the closed position in which a peripheral edge portion of the piece of glass projects into the annular mold chamber and thermosetting polymeric material located between the mold bodies in an open position thereof is subjected to compression forces of the closing mold bodies which extrude the thermosetting polymeric material into complete encapsulation of the glass peripheral edge portion including opposite surfaces and a peripheral edge surface therebetween, and
(f) said mold bodies moving means being operative to move said mold bodies to their open position after the thermosetting polymeric material has cured under heat and pressure while the mold is in its closed position whereby the molded peripherally encapsulated product can be subsequently removed from the open mold chamber.

3 more elements

A method of molding a peripherally encapsulated product comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a multi-part mold including at least two relatively movable mold bodies defining in a closed position thereof a substantially continuous annular inwardly opening mold chamber having a handle forming chamber portion and inboard of the annular mold chamber opposing mold clamping portions,
(b) placing a piece of glass between the mold clamping portions when the mold bodies are in an open position thereof,
(c) heating at least one of the mold bodies,
(d) placing thermosetting polymeric material upon the heated mold body within and about an area corresponding to the annular chamber and outboard of a substantially continuous peripheral edge of the piece of glass,
(e) clamping the piece of glass between the mold clamping portions,
(f) progressively relatively moving the mold bodies to the closed position thereof to thereby create compression forces which extrude the thermosetting polymeric material into the annular chamber and the handle forming chamber portion thereof and into complete encapsulation of the continuous peripheral edge including opposite face surfaces and a peripheral edge surface therebetween,
(g) curing the thermosetting polymeric material under heat and pressure while the mold is in its closed position to form a front annular wall having an integrally molded handle and a glass “window” defined by the piece of glass,
(h) relatively moving the mold bodies to their open position, and
(i) removing the peripherally encapsulated product from the mold chamber.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Machine for molding a peripherally enbcapsulated product

Life of this patent

Machine for molding a peripherally enbcapsulated product

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims82