US 4,315,885 AGranted

Continuous molding apparatus and method

OwnerJerome H. Lemelsoninventor

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Abstract

A molding apparatus and method of molding or casting liquid resins and the like, are provided which includes flexible molding means. In one form, the mold is composed of two endless flexible belts, each of which is driven in an endless path with a portion of each belt driven parallel to a portion of the other belt and in contact therewith such that cavities formed in each belt come into alignment with each other when the belts make contact. Fast setting plastic liquid resin molding material is injected either at the side of or from the ends of the belts as they come together and flows into the cavities formed in the belts to continuously form a molded material or individual molded articles between the belts. After the molding material has solidified in the cavities between the belts, the belts are automatically driven apart and the molded articles removed from the cavities therebetween. In one form, removal of the molded articles is effected by a mechanical device or devices located at the exit end of the belts. In another form, a stationary scraping device or devices engages either or both belts and removes the molded articles therefrom. In yet another form, fluid under pressure is applied to the molded articles between the belts and blows or otherwise removes the articles therefrom. If the liquid is injected at temperature, the belts may be driven in a path through a tank of coolant liquid or fluid coolant material may be sprayed against the belts as they are driven.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A method of molding article comprising the steps of:

providing first and second belt conveying means wherein at least one of said belt conveying means contains a plurality of molding cavities spaced apart from each other along the length of the belt conveying means and facing outwardly therefrom,
guiding and driving said belt conveying means in respective endless paths wherein at least a portion of the path of travel of each conveying means extends parallel to a similar portion of the other flexible belt conveying means,
compressing the parallelly extending portions of said first and second belt conveying means together to define a plurality of closed molding cavities therebetween, which cavities are formed at least in part of said spaced apart molding cavities provided between said belt conveying means,
intermittently injecting through an injection means a liquid molding material between said first and second belt conveying means when they are compressed together, wherein each injection takes place when a molding cavity is predeterminately disposed with respect to said injection means so as to intermittently fill each of the molding cavities defined therebetween after said belt conveying means have been compressed together,
solidifying said liquid molding material in said molding cavities to form a plurality of separate molded articles between said first and second belt conveying means while the two belt conveying means are compressed together,
driving said flexible belt conveying means apart beyond the portions thereof which extend parallel to each other after the material therebetween has solidified, and
removing the molded articles formed between said flexible belt conveying means from each of the cavities into which such material is injected after the flexible belt conveying means have been driven apart from each other.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/068,611Filed 22 Aug 1979 · continuation
Priority: 24 Nov 1976
Granted: 16 Feb 1982
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A44B 18/0049
Fasteners made integrally of plastics: obtained by moulding processes
B29C 45/0433
Using movable moulds or mould halves: mounted on a conveyor belt or chain
B29C 48/001
Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor: combinations…
B29C 48/06
Characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion: rod-shaped

Family

Serial744,505Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 24 Nov 1976
Serial813,795Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Jul 1977
US 4,162,757 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Jul 1979
US 4,165,960 AParent of this continuation · filed 28 Aug 1979
US 4,315,885 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.