Zone control of tool temperature
AssigneeSurface Generation Limited
InventorBen Halford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool system for moulding an article is provided which comprising a tool (100) having a tool surface (104) for forming an article, the tool surface comprising a plurality of tool zones (106). Heating and cooling means (102a) are independently associated with at least some of said tool zones (106). A control means is adapted to control the heating and cooling means (102a) to individually heat or cool the tool zones (106) having heating and cooling means (102a) associated therewith so as to regulate the heat transfer into and out of the article at each tool zone (106) at any particular time throughout the moulding process.
Claims32
A tool system for moulding an article, the system comprising:
- a tool having a tool surface for forming an article, the tool surface comprising a plurality of tool zones;
- heaters and coolers independently associated with at least some of the tool zones;
- and
- a control system configured to control the heaters and coolers to individually heat or cool the tool zones having heaters and coolers associated therewith to regulate heat transfer into and out of the article at each tool zone at any time throughout the moulding of the article.
A method of manufacturing an article comprising:
- placing a material to be moulded in a tool having a tool surface for forming an article, the tool surface comprising a plurality of tool zones;
- activating heaters and coolers associated with at least some of the tool pills so as to vary the tool surface temperature of each tool zone;
- and
- actively controlling the heaters and coolers to regulate the heat transfer into and out of the article at each tool zone at any particular time throughout a process of manufacturing the article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.