Process of making integral three-dimensional articles, and mold for making such articles
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorTheodore Jay Verbrugge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for molding three-dimensional articles having interstitials. The article has elongate elements and interstitials between the elongate elements. The interstitials may extend entirely through the article, or intercept only the periphery of the article. The article may be formed by injection molding, using two or more mold segments, each having elongate members. The mold segments are separated from each other in a separation direction. The separation direction is parallel to the elongate members of the mold segments and/or the elongate elements of the article. The method and apparatus according to the present invention is useful for making a static mixer, heat exchanger or similar article.
Claims11
A process for producing three-dimensional articles having interstitials therein, said process comprising the steps of
- providing at least two complementary mold segments, said mold segments being juxtaposable to circumscribe an enclosed cavity, said cavity having an axial direction and radial direction perpendicular thereto, each said mold segment having a plurality of members extending into said cavity, said members defining an angle relative to said axial direction;
- juxtaposing said members to enclose a cavity therebetween;
- disposing a flowable solidifiable material in said cavity;
- allowing said material to solidify;
- and
- separating each said mold segment from said solidified material, said separation occurring in a separation direction parallel to said protruding members of that mold segment.
An apparatus for molding three-dimensional articles having interstitials therein, said apparatus comprising:
- at least two complementary mold segments, said mold segments being juxtaposable to enclose a cavity therebetween, said cavity having a longitudinal axis, said mold segments further comprising a plurality of members extending into said cavity at an angle relative to said axis;
- and,
- a transport for separating each said mold segment away from said cavity in a separation direction, said separation direction being parallel to said members of said respective mold segment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.