Apparatus and method for utilizing a flexible plunger
AssigneeRampf Molds Industries, Inc.
InventorVincent Ishler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention includes an assembly for stripping a medium from a mold cavity. The assembly may include at least one stripper shoe, a head structure, and a flexible plunger connecting the head structure and the at least one stripper shoe. The flexible plunger may include cutouts or openings along the length of the plunger to induce increased flexibility. The flexible plunger may include a first bending stiffness at one end of the plunger and a second bending stiffness the opposite end of the plunger. The cutouts may be configured such that the second bending stiffness is substantially less than the first bending stiffness. By increasing the flexibility of the plungers, the usable life of the assembly may be prolonged while maintaining product quality.
Claims20
An assembly for stripping a medium from a mold cavity, the assembly comprising:
- at least one stripper shoe;
- a head structure;
- and
- at least one flexible plunger connecting the head structure and the at least one stripper shoe and having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the at least one flexible plunger further having a first direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a second direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the first direction;
- a first bending stiffness of the at least one flexible plunger about the first direction and at the first end;
- and
- a second bending stiffness of the at least one flexible plunger about the first direction and at a position between the first end and the second end, wherein the second bending stiffness is substantially less than the first bending stiffness.
An assembly for stripping concrete from a mold, the assembly comprising:
- at least one stripper shoe receivable in the mold;
- a head structure;
- and
- at least one flexible plunger connecting the head structure to the at least one stripper shoe and configured from a hollow tube having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the hollow tube further having at least one opening at least partially between the first end and the second end, a first direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a second direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and the first direction;
- a first bending stiffness of the hollow tube about the first direction and at the first end;
- and
- a second bending stiffness of the hollow tube about the first direction and at the at least one opening, wherein the second bending stiffness is substantially less than the first bending stiffness.
A method of increasing flexibility in an assembly for forming masonry units, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming at least one plunger using a tubular structure having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the tubular structure having a wall, a first direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis and a first bending stiffness about the first direction and at the first end of the tubular structure;
- forming at least one opening in the wall of the tubular structure at least partially between the first end and the second end, the at least one opening being responsible for a second bending stiffness about the first direction and at the at least one opening, the second bending stiffness being substantially less than the first bending stiffness;
- connecting the at least one plunger to a head structure;
- and
- connecting the at least one plunger to a stripper shoe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.