Distributed compression tooling for a computer peripheral device
AssigneeLogitech Europe S.A.
InventorsMeng Li, Fangming Peng
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molding apparatus is proposed for manufacturing a molded component. The molding apparatus may include an upper half mold and a lower half mold cooperatively coupled with each other. A mold cavity is defined between the upper half mold and the lower half mold. The molding apparatus further includes one or more compressing channels formed in the lower half mold and in fluid communication with the mold cavity; and one or more compressing rods, wherein each of the one or more compressing rods is slidably received in a respective one of the one or more compressing channels, wherein a top surface of each of the one or more compressing rods defines a compressing recess within the respective one of the one or more compressing channels.
Claims20
A molding apparatus for a molding a component of a computer peripheral device, comprising:
- an upper half mold;
- a lower half mold cooperatively coupled with the upper half mold, wherein a mold cavity is defined between the upper half mold and the lower half mold, wherein the mold cavity is enclosed by a first lateral surface formed in the lower half mold, a side wall formed in the lower half mold, and a second lateral surface formed in the upper half mold;
- one or more compressing channels formed in the lower half mold and in fluid communication with the mold cavity via the first lateral surface;
- and
- one or more compressing rods, wherein each of the one or more compressing rods is slidably received in a respective one of the one or more compressing channels, wherein a top surface of each of the one or more compressing rods defines a compressing recess within the respective one of the one or more compressing channels.
A method for manufacturing a molded component of a computer peripheral device, the method comprising:
- providing a molding apparatus, wherein the mold apparatus comprises:
- an upper half mold;
- a lower half mold cooperatively coupled with the upper half mold, wherein a mold cavity is defined between the upper half mold and the lower half mold, wherein the mold cavity is enclosed by a first lateral surface formed in the lower half mold, a side wall formed in the lower half mold and a second lateral surface formed in the upper half mold;
- one or more compressing channels formed in the lower half mold and in fluid communication with the mold cavity via the first lateral surface;
- and
- one or more compressing rods, wherein each of the one or more compressing rod is slidably received in a respective one of the one or more compressing channels, wherein a top surface of each of the one or more compressing rods defines a compressing recess within the respective one of the one or more compressing channels;
- injecting a molten material in the mold cavity and the compressing recess;
- actuating the one or more compressing rods with a driving force to push the molten material received in the compressing recess back into the mold cavity;
- maintaining a pressure on the molten material in the mold cavity by maintaining the driving force applied on the one or more compressing rods;
- solidifying the molten material in the mold cavity for a predetermined time;
- and
- removing the solidified molten material from the mold cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.