# US 2014/0154349 A1 · Apparatus for thermoforming polymer composite panels > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154349 A1 - Document ID: US20140154349A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/803,744 - Filed: 2013-03-14 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Applicants: Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey - Inventors: Thomas Nosker; Jennifer Lynch - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154349A1 ## CPC - B29C 31/063: {of the piston type} - B29C 43/34: Feeding the material to the mould or the compression means {(B29C43/085 takes precedence)} - B29C 43/52: Heating or cooling - B29C 2043/3433: {using dispensing heads, e.g. extruders, placed over or apart from the moulds} - B29C 2043/3444: {using pressurising feeding means located in the mould, e.g. plungers or pistons} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A system and apparatus for making a plastic panel, combining: an extruder with a heated barrel having an inlet opening, a discharge outlet and at least one screw flight therebetween; a plurality of molding tools having top and bottom surfaces and sidewalls extending therebetween defining a cavity; a machine press with opposing top and bottom platens configured to receive a molding tool therebetween and apply compressive force to said top and bottom surfaces; and at least one heated vessel for receiving and storing a quantity of mixed melt, wherein the vessel has an inlet port to receive the mixed melt discharged from the barrel outlet of the extruder; a discharge port configured to deliver the mixed melt from the vessel to the cavity of the molding tool; and a metering device set to deliver the selected quantity of the mixed melt from the vessel through the discharge port. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system and apparatus for making a plastic panel, the apparatus comprising: an extruder comprising a heated barrel, said heated barrel comprising a feed end inlet, a discharge outlet and at least one screw flight therebetween, wherein said screw flight is configured to form a uniform homogenous mixed melt of an optional glass bead or fiber reinforcing component and a polymer component at the operating temperature of said extruder from a polymer and fiber mixture component delivered thereto through said barrel inlet opening; a plurality of molding tools comprising top and bottom surfaces and sidewalls extending therebetween defining a cavity dimensioned to produce said plastic panel at a predetermined thickness; a heated machine press with opposing top and bottom platens configured to receive one of said molding tools therebetween and apply compressive force to said top and bottom surfaces; and at least one heated vessel for receiving and storing a quantity of said mixed melt selected to form a plastic panel of said predetermined thickness, said vessel comprising an inlet port to receive said mixed melt discharged from said barrel outlet of said extruder; a discharge port configured to deliver said mixed melt from said vessel to the cavity of said molding tool; and a metering device set to deliver said selected quantity of said mixed melt from said vessel through said discharge port to said molding tool cavity. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature controller set to maintain said extruder barrel, said heated vessel and said machine press at a temperature above the melt flow temperature of said mixed melt. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, wherein said extruder is a single screw compounding extruder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, wherein said extruder is a twin screw extruder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one vent in a sidewall of said forming die to release any excess of said mixed melt delivered to said die. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a thermoforming press for thermoforming said plastic composite panel into a finished article. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system and apparatus of claim 5, wherein said thermoforming press is configured to produce a finished article selected from the group consisting of a corrugated panel, an embossed panel, a boat hull, an aircraft hull, an automotive component and a reaction vessel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, wherein a surface of at least one of said molding tool surfaces or a surface of a press platen in contact with said molding tool is configured to emboss a pattern or an image on said panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system and apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for cooling said plastic panel in said molding tool after said forming die is removed from said machine press.