Apparatus for strengthening weld lines in molded parts
AssigneeUniversity of Massachusetts Lowell
InventorsGarrett Gardner, Robert Malloy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for strengthening weld lines in molded parts includes a mold body having a mold cavity formed within the mold body. A reciprocating pin extends along a longitudinal axis through the mold body. The reciprocating pin is adapted to reciprocate between a position flush with the inner surface of the mold cavity and a position slightly away from the mold cavity to displace material within the mold cavity and strengthen weld lines formed in the molded part.
Claims19
A mold for strengthening weld lines formed in molded material during a molding process comprising:
- a mold body;
- a mold cavity formed within the mold body, the mold cavity having a mold cavity surface;
- a gate coupled to the mold cavity for filling the mold cavity with material, the mold having a geometrical feature which tends to create a weld line in the molded material within the mold cavity downstream from the geometrical feature during filling of the mold cavity;
- a passage extending through the mold body to the mold cavity at a location downstream from the geometrical feature in proximity to where the weld line tends to form in the molded material;
- and
- a reciprocating member extending along a longitudinal axis within the passage, the reciprocating member being capable of reciprocal movement along the longitudinal axis between a position flush with the mold cavity surface and a position proximal to the mold cavity surface.
A mold for strengthening weld lines formed in molded material during a molding process comprising:
- a mold body;
- a mold cavity formed within the mold body, the mold cavity having a mold cavity surface;
- a gate coupled to the mold cavity for filling the mold cavity with material, the mold having a geometrical feature which tends to create a weld line in the molded material within the mold cavity downstream from the geometrical feature during filling of the mold cavity;
- a passage extending through the mold body to the mold cavity at a location downstream from the geometrical feature in proximity to where the weld line tends to form in the molded material;
- a reciprocating member extending along a longitudinal axis within the passage, the reciprocating member being capable of reciprocal movement along the longitudinal axis between a position flush with the mold cavity surface and a position proximal to the mold cavity surface;
- and
- an actuator for actuating the reciprocating member.
The mold of claim 11 in which the actuator is a fluid operated cylinder.
A mold for strengthening weld lines formed in mold material during a molding process comprising:
- a mold body;
- a mold cavity formed within the mold body, the mold cavity having a mold cavity surface;
- a gate coupled to the mold cavity for supplying the mold material to the mold cavity;
- a core member within the mold cavity for creating a void in the mold material, the core member forming an obstruction to the flow of mold material within the mold cavity tending to create a weld line in the mold material downstream from the core member during the molding process;
- a passageway extending through the mold body to the mold cavity surface at a location downstream from the core member in proximity to where the weld line tends to form in the mold material;
- and
- a reciprocating member extending within the passageway for reciprocal movement between a position flush with the mold cavity surface and a position proximal to the mold cavity surface.
A mold for strengthening weld lines formed in molded material during a molding process comprising:
- a mold body;
- a mold cavity formed within the mold body, the mold cavity having a mold cavity surface;
- a gate coupled to the mold cavity for providing a fluid passageway for entry of fluid mold material into the mold cavity, a fluid obstructing member within the mold cavity in the path of said fluid mold material tending to create a weld line in the mold material adjacent said obstructing member;
- a passage extending through the mold body to the mold cavity surface adjacent said weld line;
- and
- a reciprocating member extending along the passage for reciprocal movement between a position flush with the mold cavity surface and a position proximal to the mold cavity surface, thereby displacing and mixing mold material in the area of the weld line to strengthen the weld line.
A mold for strengthening weld lines formed in molded material during a molding process comprising:
- a mold body;
- a mold cavity formed within the mold body, the mold cavity having a mold cavity surface;
- a gate coupled to the mold cavity for passage of mold material into the mold cavity, an obstructing member in the mold cavity tending to create a weld line in the mold material within the mold cavity downstream from the obstructing member during the molding process;
- a passageway extending through the mold body to the mold cavity surface at a location opposite where the weld line tends to form in the mold material;
- a reciprocating member extending along a longitudinal axis within the passageway for reciprocal movement along the longitudinal axis between a position flush with the mold cavity surface and a position proximal to the mold cavity surface;
- and
- an actuator for reciprocating the reciprocating member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.