US 9,539,779 B2Granted

Articulated mold assembly and method of use thereof

AssigneeNIKE, Inc.

InventorsThang Huy Nguyen, Hung Van Vu

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An apparatus for molding articles includes a first mold carrier configured to angularly displace relative to a fixed structure from a first molding position to first accessing position and a second mold carrier traveling with the first mold carrier and configured to angularly displace relative to the first mold carrier from a second molding position to a second accessing position. The first mold carrier may be pivotably coupled to the fixed structure; the second mold carrier may be slidably and rotatably coupled to the first mold carrier. A third mold carrier may be provided, and the second mold carrier may be located between the first and third mold carriers. An articulation mechanism may be provided to control relative motion of the second mold carrier relative to the first mold carrier as the first mold carrier pivots relative to the fixed structure. A method for molding articles is also provided.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of molding articles using a molding machine having a fixed structure with a working volume provided therein, the method comprising:

providing a first mold portion defining a first mold cavity surface;
moving the first mold portion from a molding orientation within the working volume to an access orientation at least partially outside the working volume, wherein the step of moving the first mold portion includes:
pivoting the first mold portion around a first axis associated with the fixed structure;
and
rotating the first mold portion around a second axis distinct from the first axis;
moving the first mold portion from the access orientation to the molding orientation;
shaping a material introduced into a first mold cavity defined at least in part by the first mold cavity surface to form a first molded article;
providing a second mold portion defining a second mold cavity surface;
and
moving the second mold portion from a molding orientation within the working volume to an access orientation at least partially outside the working volume,
wherein the step of moving the second mold portion includes:
pivoting the second mold portion around the first axis;
moving the second mold portion from the access orientation to the molding orientation;
and
shaping a material introduced into a second mold cavity defined at least in part by the second mold cavity surface to form a second molded article.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/045,877Filed 17 Feb 2016 · division
Priority: 14 Mar 2013
Published: US 2016/0159025 A19 Jun 2016
Granted: 10 Jan 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

B29D 35/122
Producing parts thereof, e.g. soles, heels, uppers, by a moulding technique: soles
B29C 31/006
Handling, e.g. feeding of the material to be shaped , storage of plastics material before moulding; Automation, i.e. automated handling lines in…:…
B29C 33/34
Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor: movable, e.g. to or from the moulding station
B29C 43/04
Of articles of definite length, i.e. discrete articles: using movable moulds

Family

Application13/826,877Parent of this division · filed 14 Mar 2013
US 2016/0159025 A1Pre-grant publication · published 9 Jun 2016
US 9,296,168 B2Parent of this division
US 2014/0265016 A1Published application
US 9,539,779 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.