Apparatus for forming a pattern onto an article during injection molding

An apparatus for forming a pattern onto an article during injection molding thereof, comprising:

• means for feeding a pattern-bearing film to a molding position where a male mold and a female mold are opposed;
• heating board means for heating and softening said pattern-bearing film, said heating board means having a heating surface and being movable into and away from a space between said male mold and said female mold, said heating board means comprising (i) a heating plate composing said heating surface and having a number of air blowing holes disposed thereon, (ii) means for forming an air passageway behind said heating plate, (iii) heater means for heating said heating plate, said heater means disposed on the rear of said heating plate, and (iv) means for supplying air to said passageway;
• means for transferring said pattern-bearing film to an internal surface of said female mold to contact said pattern-bearing film with said internal surface;
• means for causing said male mold and said female mold with said pattern-bearing film therein to approach each other to form a closed molding cavity;
• resin injecting means for injecting a molten resin into said cavity to form a molded article to adhere said pattern-bearing film to the surface of said article;
• and
• holding frame means fixed on said heating surface of said heating board and raised from said heating surface, for holding only an outer peripheral portion of said pattern-bearing film over said heating surface to prevent said pattern-bearing film from directly contacting said heating surface.

An apparatus for forming a pattern onto an article during injection molding thereof, comprising:

• means for feeding a pattern-bearing film to a molding position where a male mold and a female mold are opposed;
• heating board means for heating and softening said pattern-bearing film, said heating board means having a heating surface and being movable into and away from a space between said male mold and said female mold;
• means for transferring said pattern-bearing film to an internal surface of said female mold to contact said pattern-bearing film with said internal surface;
• means for causing said male mold and said female mold with said pattern-bearing film therein to approach each other to form a closed molding cavity;
• resin injecting means for injecting a molten resin into said cavity to form a molded article to adhere said pattern-bearing film to the surface of said article;
• and
• holding frame means fixed on said heating surface of said heating board and raised from said heating surface, for holding only an outer peripheral portion of said pattern-bearing film over said heating surface to prevent said pattern-bearing film from directly contacting said heating surface, wherein said holding frame means is square in shape, and has seal means thereon for sealing against the pattern bearing film held on the frame means.

An apparatus for forming a pattern onto an article during injection molding thereof, comprising:

• means for feeding a pattern-bearing film to a molding position where a male mold and a female mold are opposed;
• heating board means for heating and softening said pattern-bearing film, said heating board means having a heating surface and being movable into and away from a space between said male mold and said female mold;
• means for transferring said pattern-bearing film to an internal surface of said female mold to contact said pattern-bearing film with said internal surface;
• means for causing said male mold and said female mold with said pattern-bearing film therein to approach each other to form a closed molding cavity;
• resin injecting means for injecting a molten resin into said cavity to form a molded article to adhere said pattern-bearing film to the surface of said article;
• holding frame means fixed on said heating surface of said heating board and raised from said heating surface, for holding only an outer peripheral portion of said pattern-bearing film over said heating surface to prevent said pattern-bearing film from directly contacting said heating surface;
• and
• a film suppressing frame for advancing to and retreating from said holding frame means to hold said pattern-bearing film along with said holding frame means.

An apparatus for forming a pattern onto an article during injection molding thereof, comprising:

• means for feeding a pattern-bearing film to a molding position where a male mold and a female mold are opposed;
• heating board means for heating and softening said pattern-bearing film, said heating board means having a heating surface and being movable into and away from a space between said male mold and said female mold;
• means for transferring said pattern-bearing film to an internal surface of said female mold to contact said pattern-bearing film with said internal surface;
• means for causing said male mold and said female mold with said pattern-bearing film therein to approach each other to form a closed molding cavity;
• resin injecting means for injecting a molten resin into said cavity to form a molded article to adhere said pattern-bearing film to the surface of said article;
• holding frame means fixed on said heating surface of said heating board and raised from said heating surface for holding only an outer peripheral portion of said pattern-bearing film over said heating surface to prevent said pattern-bearing film from directly contacting said heating surface;
• fitting groove means defined on the periphery of a parting surface of said female mold for holding a film suppressing frame;
• and
• said film suppressing frame fitting in said fitting groove means to fix said peripheral portion of said pattern-bearing film which has been fed from said means for feeding a pattern-bearing film.