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US 5,360,329 AGranted
Molding/extrusion apparatus with temperature and flow control
OwnerJerome H. Lemelsoninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for molding permits a fluent molding material to be flowed into a mold cavity for shaping into a configuration defined by the mold walls. A master controller controls the transfer of heat with respect to the molding material, to control the temperature of the molding material in a predetermined way. A sensor measures the temperature of the molding material flowed into the cavity and produces feedback signals, which are compared to reference signals indicative of a desired molding material temperature. The apparatus generates a further control signal, which is applied to control the variables of the molding operation, including the temperature of the molding material and the flow rate.
Claims40
A molding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mold capable of defining a cavity of a predetermined shape;
- (b) a first reservoir suitable for holding a quantity of fluent molding material;
- (c) a first passageway extending from the first reservoir to the cavity;
- (d) a first valve controlling the flow of the molding material through the first passageway into the mold cavity;
- (e) a temperature sensor that generates an electrical temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the molding material;
- (f) a temperature-control system that can control the temperature of the molding material;
- and
- (g) a controller electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature-control system and configured to use the temperature signal to control the temperature of the molding material.
5 more elements
A molding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mold having walls defining a cavity of a predetermined shape;
- (b) a first reservoir suitable for holding a quantity of fluent molding material;
- (c) a first passageway extending from the first reservoir to the cavity;
- (d) a first valve controlling the flow of the molding material through the first passageway into the mold cavity;
- (e) a temperature sensor having an output for an electrical temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the molding material flowing to the mold cavity;
- (f) a variably controlled temperature controller positioned to alter the temperature of the walls of the mold;
- (g) a master controller electrically coupled to the variably controlled temperature controller and to the first valve that generates first control signals to control the temperature of the molding material flowing into the mold cavity and, simultaneously, generates second control signals to control the flow of the molding material to the mold cavity;
- and
- (h) an electrical comparator having one input coupled to the output of the temperature sensor and another input coupled to receive a reference signal indicative of a desired molding material temperature;
- (i) wherein the comparator is configured to generate a difference signal indicative of the difference between the electrical temperature signal and the reference signal and is coupled to pass the difference signal to the master controller.
7 more elements
A molding apparatus comprising:
- (a) a mold capable of defining a cavity of a predetermined shape;
- (b) a reservoir suitable for holding a quantity of fluent molding material;
- (c) a passageway extending from the reservoir to the cavity;
- (d) a valve controlling the flow of the molding material through the passageway into the mold cavity;
- (e) a temperature sensor that generates an electrical temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the molding material;
- (f) a temperature controller that can alter the temperature of the molding material;
- and
- (g) a controller electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature-controller and configured to use the temperature signal to control the temperature controller.
5 more elements
An extrusion apparatus comprising:
- (a) a die having a hole having a predetermined cross-section;
- (b) a first reservoir suitable for holding a quantity of fluent material;
- (c) a first passageway extending from the first reservoir to the hole in the die;
- (d) a first valve controlling the flow of the fluent material through the first passageway to the hole in the die;
- (e) a temperature sensor that generates an electrical temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the fluent material;
- (f) a temperature-control system that can control the temperature of the fluent material;
- and
- (g) a controller electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature-control system and configured to use the temperature signal to control the temperature of the fluent material.
5 more elements
An extrusion apparatus comprising:
- (a) a die having walls defining a cavity having an open end of predetermined cross-section;
- (b) a first reservoir suitable for holding a quantity of fluent extrusion material;
- (c) a first passageway extending from the first reservoir to the cavity;
- (d) a first valve controlling the flow of the extrusion material through the first passageway into the die cavity;
- (e) a temperature sensor having an output for an electrical temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the extrusion material flowing out of the open end of the cavity;
- (f) a variably controlled temperature controller positioned to alter the temperature of the walls of the die;
- (g) a master controller electrically coupled to the variably controlled temperature controller and to the first valve that generates first control signals to control the temperature of the extrusion material flowing into the die cavity and, simultaneously, generates second control signals to control the flow of the extrusion material to the die cavity;
- and
- (h) an electrical comparator having one input coupled to the output of the temperature sensor and another input coupled to receive a reference signal indicative of desired extrusion material temperature;
- (i) wherein the comparator is configured to generate a difference signal indicative of the difference between the electrical temperature signal and the reference signal and is coupled to pass the difference signal to the master controller.
7 more elements
An extrusion apparatus comprising:
- (a) a die having walls defining a cavity having an open end of predetermined cross-section;
- (b) a reservoir suitable for holding a quantity of fluent extrusion material;
- (c) a passageway extending from the reservoir to the cavity;
- (d) a valve controlling the flow of the extrusion material through the passageway into the die cavity;
- (e) a temperature sensor that generates an electrical temperature signal indicative of the temperature of the extrusion material at a predefined location;
- (f) a temperature controller that can alter the temperature of the extrusion material;
- and
- (g) a controller electrically coupled to the temperature sensor and the temperature-controller and configured to use the temperature signal to control the temperature controller.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.