# US 6,719,551 B2 · Thermoplastic molding process and apparatus

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- Number: US 6,719,551 B2
- Document ID: US6719551B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 10/104,394
- Filed: 2002-03-25
- Published: 2002-07-25
- Granted: 2004-04-13
- Earliest claimed: 1997-12-18
- Inventors: Dale E. Polk, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US6719551B2

## CPC

- B29C 43/34: Feeding the material to the mould or the compression means {(B29C43/085 takes precedence)}
- B29C 48/07: Flat, e.g. panels
- B29C 48/2556: {provided in or in the proximity of dies (B29C48/302, B29C48/31, B29C48/325 take precedence)}
- B29C 48/31: {being} adjustable {, i.e. having adjustable exit sections}
- B29C 31/047: {combined with moving moulds (B29C31/044, B29C31/048 take precedence)}
- B29C 31/048: {the material being severed at the dispensing head exit, e.g. as ring, drop or gob, and transported immediately into the mould, e.g. by gravity}
- B29C 33/34: movable, e.g. to or from the moulding station
- B29C 43/04: using movable moulds
- B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)

## Abstract

A thermoplastic molding process uses the thermoplastic molding apparatus to mold a part of variable thickness from a slab of material heated during extrusion. The thermoplastic molding system includes a thermoplastic extrusion die for the extrusion of a thermoplastic slab. The extrusion die has adjustable die gate members for varying the thickness of the extruded material in different parts of the extruded slab. A plurality of molds are mounted to the platform to feed one mold into a loading position while a second mold is in a release position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A thermoplastic molding system comprising:
a thermoplastic extrusion die for the extrusion of a thermoplastic slab, said extrusion die having a plurality of adjustable die gate members for varying the thickness of the extruded material in different parts of the extruded slab, said extrusion die plurality of die gate members having a plurality of extrusion die plates therein positioned adjacent to each other and separately adjustable to thereby vary the thickness across thermoplastic material being extruded from said die;
a trimmer for cutting said extruded thermoplastic slab from said thermoplastic extrusion die;
a plurality of thermoplastic molds, each mold being mounted on a movable platform for moving one mold at a time in a position to receive a thermoplastic slab being trimmed from said thermoplastic extrusion die, and each of said plurality of thermoplastic molds being movable on said movable platform between a mold loading position and a mold release position and said mold moveable platform being a rotating platform rotating each said thermoplastic mold mounted thereon to position one mold at a time in a position to receive the next trimmed thermoplastic slab from said extruding die, whereby a molded part can be formed with a variable thickness from a heated slab of thermoplastic material being fed still heated from an extrusion die.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A thermoplastic molding system in accordance with claim 1 in which said thermoplastic extrusion die has a plurality of gate plates each having a motor coupled thereto for moving each gate plate separately by remote control.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

A thermoplastic molding system in accordance with claim 2 in which each said motor is an electric stepper motor.