Ultrasonic injection molding on both sides of a web
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsDennis E. Ferguson, Satinder K. Nayar, Peter T. Benson, Stanley Rendon, Donald L. Pochardt, Daniel H. Carlson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Injection molding parts onto a carrier web located between mold halves, each mold half having a cavity, resulting in molded articles having parts on both sides of the carrier web. Polymer flow into the cavities is assisted by application of ultrasonic energy to the mold. After the molding operation, mold halves are separated, and the carrier web is advanced, or indexed, to a next position for another molding sequence. Articles produced include lenses with part of the carrier web between lens halves, and a carrier web bearing an array of molded parts.
Claims13
A method of injection molding comprising:
- providing an injection molding apparatus having a first mold member and at least one movable mold member that can move toward and away from the first mold member to close a mold;
- and
- applying ultrasonic vibrations to the mold;
- said method characterized by:
- i) positioning a polymer film carrier web so that, when the mold is closed, the carrier web is between the first mold member and the moving mold member, part of the web faces the mold and part of it is outside of the closed mold;
- and
- ii) injecting polymer melt into mold cavities in both the first and movable mold members between which the carrier web is positioned while the mold is closed;
- iii) said mold cavities being opposite each other and shaped to form a lens or lenses;
- whereby an injection molded lens or lenses are made having parts on both sides of the carrier web.
A method of injection molding comprising:
- providing an injection molding apparatus having a first mold member and at least one movable mold member that can move toward and away from the first mold member to close a mold;
- and
- applying ultrasonic vibrations to the mold;
- said method characterized by:
- i) positioning a carrier web so that, when the mold is closed, the carrier web is between the first mold member and the movable mold member, part of the web faces the mold and part of it is outside of the closed mold;
- ii) injecting polymer melt into mold cavities in both the first and movable mold members between which the carrier web is positioned while the mold is closed;
- and
- iii) removing a molded article from the mold cavities by means of the carrier web without the use of mechanical ejector means;
- whereby an injection molded article is made having parts on both sides of the carrier web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.