Slush molding apparatus
OwnerDouglas J. McNallyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A molding arrangement and method, such as slush or rotational molding, for forming a thermoplastic shell or skin product. The mold arrangement includes a hollow mold housing provided with a mold shell thereon, which together define an air chamber located within the mold housing. A plurality of air flow control devices, such as centrifugal fans, are mounted within the mold housing and direct heated air into the air chamber through discharge channels defined within the mold housing. The mold arrangement also includes an elongate air supply and heating arrangement which generates heated air within the mold housing and along substantially the entire longitudinal extent thereof to effect uniform heating of the mold shell.
Claims18
A mold arrangement for molding thermoplastic particles into a thin shell, said mold arrangement comprising:
- a mold housing defining therein a hollow interior and having a mold shell mounted thereon defining a mold cavity which opens outwardly and is defined by a front surface of said mold shell;
- said mold housing having a wall structure disposed within said interior cooperating with a back surface of said mold shell to define an interior air chamber, said wall structure including a plurality of partition walls cooperating to define a plurality of discharge and feed channels, said feed channels communicating with a source of heated air and said discharge channels communicating with said air chamber;
- and
- a plurality of flow control devices each disposed to communicate with one of said discharge channels for directing heated air fed to said flow control device from a corresponding one of said feed channels into said air chamber and toward said back surface of said mold shell.
A molding arrangement for molding thermoplastic particles into a thin shell, said arrangement comprising:
- a mold housing defining therein a hollow interior and having a mold shell mounted thereon defining a mold cavity which opens outwardly and is defined by a front surface of said mold shell;
- said mold housing including a wall structure which cooperates with a back surface of said mold shell to define an interior air chamber, and said wall structure defining a plurality of discharge and feed channels within said interior of said mold housing, said discharge channels opening into said air chamber;
- a tubular member having a portion extending within said interior of said mold housing and along substantially the entire length thereof, said portion of said tubular member having a plurality of openings therein each aligned with a respective one of said feed channels;
- a plurality of air control devices each disposed to communicate with one of said discharge channels for directing heated air fed to said flow control device from a corresponding one of said feed channels into said air chamber and toward said back surface of said mold shell;
- and
- a heat source including means for generating heated air within said portion along the entire length thereof to provide a uniform flow of heated air to said feed channels through said openings.
A mold arrangement for molding thermoplastic particles into a thin shell, said mold arrangement comprising:
- a mold housing defining therein a hollow interior and having a mold shell mounted thereon defining a mold cavity which opens outwardly and is defined by a front surface of said mold shell;
- said mold housing having a wall structure disposed within said interior cooperating with a back surface of said mold shell to define an interior air chamber, said wall structure including a plurality of partition walls disposed transversely within said mold housing and defining a plurality of discharge and feed channels arranged in an alternating manner along the longitudinal extent of said mold housing, said discharge channels opening into said air chamber and said feed channels communicating with a source of heated air;
- and
- a plurality of flow control devices, at least one said flow control device being disposed within each said discharge channel for directing heated air fed to said flow control device from a corresponding one of said feed channels into said air chamber and toward said back surface of said mold shell, each said flow control device being supported for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of said mold shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.