# US 8,543,434 B2 · Systems and methods for mobile and/or modular manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,543,434 B2 - Document ID: US8543434B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/127,402 - Filed: 2008-05-27 - Published: 2012-11-01 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2007-05-25 - Assignees: Ecovision Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Karin S. Gaiser - Inventors: Karin S. Gaiser - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8543434B2 ## CPC - B23P 19/04: for assembling or disassembling parts - B29C 45/26: Moulds - B29C 45/40: Removing or ejecting moulded articles - B29C 2045/2683: {Plurality of independent mould cavities in a single mould} - B29K 2105/253: {Preform} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) - 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) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract Systems and methods for manufacturing that are scaleable and de-scaleable based upon the production requirements of the customer's manufacturing facility. Systems and methods for mobile and/or modular manufacturing positioned at or near a customer's production facility that are scaleable and de-scaleable based upon the production requirements of the customer's manufacturing facility. The systems and methods of manufacturing may include identifying a customer's production requirements at the customer's production facility, designing a manufacturing cell based upon the identified production requirements, delivering components for the manufacturing cell to a location at or near the customer's production facility, assembling the components to form the manufacturing cell at the location, and training operational personnel to operate the manufacturing cell. The systems and methods may comprise using a modular preform mold system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing, comprising: identifying a customer's production requirements at the customer's production facility; designing a manufacturing cell based upon the identified production requirements; delivering components for the manufacturing cell to a location at or near the customer's production facility; assembling the components to form the manufacturing cell at the location, wherein the manufacturing cell comprises: a modular preform mold system comprising: a plurality of preform core side modules having a plurality of preform mold cores, a core side clamp plate connectable to a moving platen of an injection mold machine and operable to receive the plurality of preform core modules, individually or simultaneously, a plurality of preform cavity side modules having a plurality of preform mold cavities disposed therein, each one of the plurality of preform cavity side modules corresponding to and operable to engage a respective one of the plurality of core side modules to form a plurality of preform molds having a respective preform design wherein the plurality of preform molds are of one or more unique preform designs, and wherein the number of cavity side modules and corresponding core side modules is adjustable, a plurality of ejector housing assemblies for connecting the plurality of core side modules to an ejector platen of the injection mold machine, each one of the plurality of ejector housing assemblies corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of core side modules, a manifold and valve gate assembly connectable to a stationary platen of an injection mold machine and operable to receive the plurality of preform cavity modules and place the plurality of preform mold cavities in fluid communication with an injector of the injection mold machine, wherein the manifold and valve gate assembly is operable to uniformly control the injection of fluidized plastic into each of the plurality of preform molds in fluid communication with the manifold and valve gate assembly whereby a plurality of unique preform designs may be formed simultaneously while using a single injection mold machine, and training operational personnel to operate the manufacturing cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing cell comprises an injection mold machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the injection mold machine comprises a preform injection mold machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein modular preform mold system connects to the preform injection mold machine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the customer's production requirements comprises an interview of one or more of the customer's personnel to assist in defining the customer's production requirements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of training operational personnel to operate the manufacturing cell comprises training the operational personnel at a Provider's facilities. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of training operational personnel to operate the manufacturing cell comprises training the operation personal on the assembled manufacturing cell's equipment at the Customer's production facility. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising monitoring one or more parameters of the manufacturing cell remotely. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing cell comprises a base systems section and a first phase production section. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising assembling a second phase production section based upon increased customer production requirements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising assembling a third phase production section based upon increased customer production requirements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, further comprising assembling one or more phase production sections based upon increased customer production requirements. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising disassembling the one or more phase production sections based upon decreased customer production requirements. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising disassembling the manufacturing cell based upon decreased customer production requirements. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, further comprising removing the manufacturing cell and the one or more phase production sections from the customer's production facility. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the manufacturing cell is mobile and/or modular. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method according to claim 1, further comprising capturing scrap plastic materials, regrinding the scrap plastic materials, and reusing the ground plastic material for production of new products. ### Claim 18 A method of preform manufacturing, comprising: identifying a customer's preform production requirements at the customer's production facility; designing a preform injection mold manufacturing cell based upon the identified preform production requirements; delivering components for the preform injection mold manufacturing cell to a location at or near the customer's production facility; assembling the components to form the preform injection mold manufacturing cell at the location, wherein the manufacturing cell is adjustable in number of preform molds of or more unique preform designs, assembly of the manufacturing cell comprising: attaching a core side clamp plate to a moving platen of a single injection mold machine, the first clamp plate adapted to receive from one to six preform core side modules, individually or simultaneously, wherein each preform core side module comprises a plurality of preform mold cores; engaging the preform core side modules with the respective mating preform cavity side modules to form a plurality of preform molds; and attaching a manifold and valve gate assembly to a stationary platen of the single injection mold machine, the manifold and valve gate assembly adapted to receive from one to six respective preform cavity side modules, individually or simultaneously, wherein each preform cavity side module comprises a plurality of preform mold cavities, and the plurality of mold cores of the preform core side modules are adapted to insert within the plurality of preform mold cavities of the respective preform cavity side modules, wherein the manifold and valve gate assembly is operable to uniformly control the injection of fluidized plastic into each of the plurality of preform molds in fluid communication with the manifold and valve gate assembly, whereby a plurality of unique preform designs may be formed simultaneously while using only a single injection mold machine.