US 7,326,046 B2 · Multi-layer porous member for a post-molding molded article conditioning apparatus

Abstract

A cooling tube assembly for operating on a malleable molded plastic part. The cooling tube assembly comprising a porous tube/insert having a profiled inner conditioning surface, and a vacuum structure configured to cooperate with the porous tube. In use, the vacuum develops a reduced pressure adjacent the inner conditioning surface to cause an outer surface of the malleable molded plastic part, locatable within the cooling tube assembly, to contact the inner conditioning surface of the porous insert so as to allow a substantial portion of the outer surface of the malleable part, upon cooling, to attain a profile substantially corresponding to the profile of the inner conditioning surface. The cooling tube assembly having a porous insert The conditioning body having a porous member that includes an inner porous portion formed from a thermally conductive first porous material that is at least partially enclosed by an outer porous portion formed from a thermally conductive second porous material preferably having a higher porosity than the first porous material. The outer porous portion is configured for providing a fluid communication pathway between the pressure structure and the inner porous portion that supports a fast and homogenous pressure response.

Claims51

Dependent claims

A cooling tube assembly that is configured for a post-molding conditioning of at least a portion of a malleable injection molded perform received therein, said cooling tube including:

a conditioning body that is configured to sealingly receive said portion of said preform and to expand at least a portion of an outer surface thereof into contact with a cooled inner conditioning surface that is configured therein;
said conditioning body being configured for connection with a heat dissipation path and a pressure structure;
said conditioning body including a porous member comprising an inner porous portion formed from a thermally conductive first porous material that is at least partially enclosed by an outer porous portion formed from a thermally conductive second porous material having a higher porosity than said first porous material;
a porous inner conditioning surface being configured along said inner porous portion that provides at least a portion of said cooled inner conditioning surface;
said outer porous portion being configured for providing a fluid communication pathway between said pressure structure and said inner porous portion;
said inner porous portion being configured providing a fluid communication pathway between said outer porous portion and said inner porous surface.

3 more elements

A post-molding molded article conditioning apparatus that is configured for conditioning at least a portion of a malleable molded article received therein, said conditioning apparatus comprising:

a conditioning body with an inner conditioning surface configured therein for providing a conditioning cavity;
said conditioning body being configured for sealingly engaging said portion of said molded article within said conditioning cavity;
said conditioning body including a porous insert wherein at least a portion of said conditioning cavity is configured along a porous inner conditioning surface thereof;
said porous insert including a inner porous portion that is formed from a first porous material, said inner porous portion at least partially enclosed, on an outer surface thereof, by an outer porous portion formed from a second porous material having a higher porosity than said first porous material;
said outer porous portion being configured for connecting said inner porous portion with an air pressure structure through an outer network of interconnected interstitial spaces provided therealong, and said inner porous portion connecting said inner porous surface with said outer porous portion through an inner network of interconnected interstitial spaces provided therealong;
and
said conditioning body including a cooling structure that is configured for connection with a heat dissipation path for cooling of said molded article received therein;
whereby said conditioning apparatus is configured to condition said portion of said malleable molded article received therein by expanding an outer surface of said portion of said molded article into contact with said cooled inner conditioning surface of said porous member by means of vacuum.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-layer porous member for a post-molding molded article conditioning apparatus

Life of this patent

Multi-layer porous member for a post-molding molded article conditioning apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51