# US 2014/0197574 A1 · Apparatus and method usable with an injection molder for producing articles > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197574 A1 - Document ID: US20140197574A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/153,269 - Filed: 2014-01-13 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: DENTSPLY International Inc. - Applicants: DENTSPLY International Inc. - Inventors: Michael ANDERSON; David Richard MARONEY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197574A1 ## CPC - B29C 45/33: having transversely, e.g. radially, movable mould parts - A61C 7/16: specially adapted to be cemented to teeth - B29C 43/04: using movable moulds - B29C 45/0055: {Shaping} - B29C 43/36: Moulds for making articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles - B29C 45/0408: {involving at least a linear movement (B29C45/0433 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/0441: {involving a rotational movement (B29C45/06 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/2681: {with rotatable mould parts} - B29C 2045/2683: {Plurality of independent mould cavities in a single mould} - 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) - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) ## Abstract An apparatus usable with an injection molder for producing articles includes a first mold support including a first mold, and a second mold support including a second mold and a first die. The first mold support is movable relative to the second mold support between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the first mold and the second mold being brought together to form an injection molded article include a body having at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the body and facing the second mold. In the second position, the first mold and the first die being brought together to subsequently form the article, the first die selectively subsequently forming an altered cross sectional region in at least a portion of the protrusion, forming an undercut in the altered cross sectional region or between the altered cross sectional region of the subsequently formed protrusion and the body. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus usable with an injection molder for producing articles, comprising: a first mold support comprising a first mold; a second mold support comprising a second mold and a first die; the first mold support movable relative to the second mold support between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position, the first mold and the second mold being brought together to form an injection molded article comprising a body having at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the body and facing the second mold; wherein in the second position, the first mold and the first die being brought together to subsequently form the article, the first die selectively subsequently forming an altered cross sectional region in at least a portion of the protrusion, forming an undercut in the altered cross sectional region or between the altered cross sectional region of the subsequently formed protrusion and the body. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mold support is rotatably movable about an axis relative to the second mold support. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mold support is movable along a line relative to the second mold support. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least the first mold support comprises a plurality of first molds and the second mold support comprises at least one second mold and at least one first die, the apparatus operable such that once the first mold and the second mold have been brought together to form the article (the first position), when the first mold and the first die are then brought together to subsequently form the article (the second position), another first mold and the second mold are substantially simultaneously brought together to form another article (a third position). ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the corresponding first molds, second mold(s) and first die(s) of the apparatus operate continuously to subsequently form previously formed articles while substantially simultaneously forming additional articles. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises an open geometry. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the protrusion comprises a closed geometry. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first die is brought into a predetermined range of at least one position relative to the protrusion for a corresponding predetermined range of time for subjecting the at least a portion of the protrusion to one or more of a predetermined temperature range and a predetermined pressure range for forming the undercut. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the temperature of portions of the first die is selectively controllable for the predetermined range of at least one position and the corresponding predetermined range of time. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the article is formed from a ceramic, metal, plastic material or a combination thereof. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first die selectively controls a surface feature of the at least a portion of the protrusion. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the article is an orthodontic bracket. ### Claim 13 An apparatus usable with an injection molder for producing articles, comprising: a first mold support comprising at least two first molds; a second mold support comprising at least two second molds and at least two first dies; the first mold support rotatably movable relative to the second mold support between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position, each of the corresponding first molds and second molds being brought together to form an injection molded article comprising a body having at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the body and facing the second mold; wherein in the second position, each of the corresponding first molds and first dies being brought together to subsequently form the article, each first die selectively subsequently forming an altered cross sectional region in at least a portion of the protrusion, forming an undercut in the altered cross sectional region or between the altered cross sectional region of the subsequently formed protrusion and the body. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the corresponding first molds, second molds and first dies of the apparatus operate continuously to subsequently form previously formed articles while substantially simultaneously forming additional articles. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each first die is brought into a predetermined range of at least one position relative to the corresponding protrusion for a corresponding predetermined range of time for subjecting the at least a portion of the protrusion to one or more of a predetermined temperature range and a predetermined pressure range for forming the undercut. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the temperature of portions of the first die is selectively controllable for the predetermined range of at least one position and the corresponding predetermined range of time. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the article is formed from a ceramic, a metal, a plastic or a combination thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first die selectively controls a surface feature of the at least a portion of the protrusion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the article is an orthodontic bracket. ### Claim 20 A method of producing injection molded articles, comprising: providing a first mold support comprising a first mold, a second mold support comprising a second mold and a first die, bringing the first mold support and the second mold support together, the first mold and the second mold being brought together to form an injection molded article therebetween, the article having at least one protrusion facing the second mold; moving the first mold support away from the second mold support; moving the first mold support relative to the second mold support; bringing the first mold support and the second mold support together, the first mold and the first die being brought together to subsequently form the article, the first die selectively subsequently forming an altered cross sectional region in at least a portion of the protrusion, forming an undercut in the altered cross sectional region or between the altered cross sectional region of the subsequently formed protrusion and the body. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein providing a first mold support comprises a plurality of first molds, and subsequent to moving the first mold support relative to the second mold support, bringing the first mold support and the second mold support together such that once the first mold and the second mold have been brought together to form the article, when the first mold and the first die are then brought together to subsequently form the article, another first mold and the second mold are substantially simultaneously brought together to form another article.