Process for distributing a semi-solid wax to an injection press

In a process for molding wax in a wax injection press, a process for distributing the wax to the press comprising the steps of:

• supplying wax in liquid form to a heat exchanger;
• cooling the wax in the heat exchanger to a predetermined temperature so that the wax assumes a semi-solid form;
• feeding semi-solid wax from the heat exchanger to an accumulator through an inlet connected to receive the wax from the heat exchanger, the accumulator having a variable volume chamber in which the semi-solid wax is stored, and an outlet through which the semi-solid wax is fed out of the accumulator to the injection press;
• accumulating a supply of semi-solid wax in the accumulator, wherein a temperature control system maintains the wax in semi-solid form within the accumulator, and storing the semi-solid wax in the accumulator in a condition substantially free of voids;
• feeding semi-solid wax on demand from the accumulator to an internal, variable-volume chamber of a wax injection press by opening an accumulator outlet valve, forcing the semi-solid wax through an accumulator outlet using a first shot piston disposed in the accumulator, which first shot piston defines the variable volume chamber of the accumulator, and conducting a stream of the semi-solid wax from the accumulator to the injection press through an elongated conduit connected to the accumulator outlet;
• and
• isolating the accumulator from the injection press prior to actuating a second shot piston of the injection press.