Method and apparatus for molding polyurethane soles for footwear
OwnerGuy Rudolf, Giuliano Frauinventors
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Abstract
Two component polyurethane soles for footwear are molded continuously in an apparatus including a turntable with a plurality of mold stations therearound. While a first sole portion is being molded at one mold station, a second sole portion interconnecting the first sole portion to a lasted upper is molded at the same mold station. Such simultaneous molding is achieved using a mold bottom or top which retains the first sole portion and with such first sole portion forms part of the mold for forming the second sole portion. The second sole portion mold is completed by mold sides and a lasted upper.
Claims13
A method of molding two component soles for footwear of polyurethane in an apparatus including a turntable carrying molds, said method comprising the steps of (a) molding a first sole portion at a first molding station in a first position on one side of said turntable;
- (b) moving the first sole portion along a path of travel such that it returns to a second position at said first molding station on said one side of the turntable after a predetermined period of time permitting at least partial curing of said first sole portion;
- (c) simultaneously molding a second sole portion on said first sole portion at said second position to complete a sole and molding another, separate first sole portion at said first position at said first molding station on said one side of the turntable;
- and (d) repeating steps (a) to (c) an indefinite number of times, whereby first and second sole portions are continuously molded separately and simultaneously at a single molding station on one side of the turntable.
An apparatus for molding two component soles for footwear of polyurethane comprising a turntable rotatable around a vertical axis;
- a plurality of spaced apart mold bottoms carried by said turntable;
- mold top means carried by said turntable, said mold bottoms and top means being movable with respect to each other for forming a first mold with each of said mold bottoms one at a time at a first position at a first molding station on one side of said turntable for molding a first sole portion at said first molding station;
- mold sides;
- a plurality of lasts carries by said turntable for receiving uppers and forming second molds with said mold tops or mold bottoms and mold sides for molding a second side portion between said first sole portion and an upper at said first molding station on said one side of the turntable, said lasts being equal in number to said mold tops and mold bottoms;
- and a pair of injection means for simultaneously injecting one component into the first mold and the second component into a second mold at said first molding station on said one side of the turntable, whereby to complete a two component sole and separately and simultaneously mold a first side portion at said first molding station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.