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US 2014/0117571 A1Published application
Reusable cartridge for injection molding
AssigneeRadius Engineering, Inc.
InventorsMatt Howe, Dimitrije Milovich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Reusable cartridges allow the time consuming resin preparation and processing steps to occur offline and not affect the cycling time of the injector. Cartridges also greatly simplify the operation of RTM injectors as preparation simply consists of loading a warmed ready-to-use resin cartridge and performing the injection.
Claims5
A cartridge apparatus comprising:
- a barrel configured to withstand high pressure or vacuum at elevated temperatures, the barrel having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and one or more means for stopping movement within the barrel;
- an end plug that is received within the open proximal end;
- and a piston within the barrel that changes the effective volume of the barrel, the piston having stopping means for selectively restricting or allowing motion of the piston within the barrel.
A cartridge apparatus comprising:
- a barrel configured to withstand high pressure or vacuum at elevated temperatures, the barrel having an open proximal end and an open distal end, and one or more means for stopping movement within the barrel;
- an end plug that is received within the open proximal end until it engages the proximal stop ridge;
- a piston within the barrel that changes the effective volume of the barrel that includes means for selectively restricting or allowing motion of the piston within the barrel;
- removable carrier cap for transporting the barrel, the removable carrier cap comprising a lock lever for engaging the removable carrier cap to the end of the barrel;
- actuator for applying longitudinal pressure to the piston, the piston restricted from axially movement when the locking plate is aligned to the distal stop ridges;
- a mounting surface for attaching the piston to the actuator and receiving the barrel in the housing sleeves, the mounting surface comprising a central opening for the actuator to be locked to the piston;
- injector cap that seals and engages the barrel.
4 more elements
A method of cleaning and refilling a cartridge apparatus, the method comprising:
- disassembling components;
- cleaning resin from the components;
- re-assembling components;
- testing the cartridge seals;
- filling and sealing the cartridge;
- placing the cartridge in a first controlled temperature environment;
- removing the cartridge from the injector system.
4 more elements
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.