Automated thermoset molding apparatus
AssigneeThe Budd Company
InventorsJack J. Ritchie, Richard Benjamin Freeman, Terry L. Ingham, John J. Morse, Joseph A. Bodary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated transfer/injection molding apparatus and process is defined that includes a charge forming unit, a shuttle unit, and a molding unit. The charge is formed from one or more slabs of reinforcing fibers and a resinous material. Once formed, the charge is preheated in the charge shuttle unit and is delivered to the molding unit, whereupon the preheated charges are forced by the pressure of a movable platform under vacuum into a mold cavity for polymerization. The fibers within the slabs are randomly oriented in parallel horizontal planes such that they are always parallel to the direction of initial flow into the cavity.
Claims10
An apparatus for molding a fiber reinforced part, said apparatus comprising:
- a charge forming unit for forming a charge of resin having a plurality of reinforcing fibers, wherein the fibers are positioned in parallel horizontal planes;
- and
- a molding unit including an upper die and a lower die cooperating to form at least part of a mold cavity when closed;
- said lower die having an opening therein;
- a platform in the opening in the lower die;
- and moving means for moving the platform relative to the lower die;
- said moving means lowering the platform below the lower die to permit a charge to be loaded thereon;
- means for closing the upper and lower dies together to form the mold cavity;
- and
- said moving means, thereafter, raising the platform towards the lower die to introduce the charge into the mold cavity so that the fibers are maintained in an orientation roughly parallel to the die surface to form a fiber reinforced part in which the fiber integrity is essentially undisturbed from Initial charge forming through final curing.
An apparatus for molding a fiber reinforced part from a charge having a plurality of reinforcing fibers disposed in a resin, said apparatus comprising:
- a charge forming unit for forming said charge of resin having a plurality of reinforcing fibers, wherein the fibers are positioned in parallel horizontal planes;
- a molding unit having a lower die with a major surface defining an area, an upper die, a platform located within the lower die, and moving means for moving the platform relative to the lower die;
- said moving means moving the platform from the lower die to allow the charge to be positioned thereon;
- means for closing the upper and lower dies of the molding unit to define a mold cavity;
- said moving means subsequently moving the platform relative to the mold cavity to introduce the charge Into the mold cavity so that the reinforcing fibers therein are substantially parallel to the major surface of at least the lower die;
- said moving means continuing to move the platform until it is substantially flush with the lower die surface to thereby force the charge to flow and fill the mold cavity and maintain the fibers in an orientation roughly parallel to the die surface to form a fiber reinforced part in which the fiber integrity is essentially undisturbed from introducing the charge into the mold cavity through final curing;
- and
- means for removing the part from the mold cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.