Molding machine and method of molding a part
AssigneeExtrude To Fill, LLC
InventorRichard Ernest Fitzpatrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides a molding machine and a method of molding a part. The molding machine may include multiple molding systems (e.g., extruders) for pumping molten material into one or more mold cavities. The multiple molding systems may pump the same material or different materials into the one or more mold cavities. The multiple molding systems may be individually and/or collectively controlled. A method of molding a part may include pumping material into one or more mold cavities via multiple molding systems, ceasing pumping material into the one or more mold cavities when one or more pressures associated with the multiple molding systems are achieved, and releasing a molded part from the one or more mold cavities after the one or more pressures are achieved.
Claims30
A molding machine, comprising:
- a first mold half;
- and
- two or more extruders associated with the first mold half, each extruder of the two or more extruders including a barrel, an extrusion screw inside the barrel, and a nozzle in sealed engagement with the first mold half, wherein each extruder of the two or more extruders is controlled independently to rotate the extrusion screw in a first direction to cause material flow and to rotate the extrusion screw in a second direction opposite the first direction to cease material flow once a targeted pressure is achieved for the respective extruder.
A molding machine, comprising:
- a first mold half;
- a first extruder associated with the first mold half, the first extruder including a first barrel, a first extrusion screw inside the first barrel, and a first nozzle in sealed engagement with the first mold half;
- and
- a second extruder associated with the first mold half, the second extruder including a second barrel, a second extrusion screw inside the second barrel, and a second nozzle in sealed engagement with the first mold half, wherein the first and second extruders are controlled independently to rotate the first and second extrusion screws in a first direction to cause material flow and to rotate the first and second extrusion screws in a second direction opposite the first direction to cease material flow through the first and second extruders once first and second pressures are achieved for the first and second extruders, respectively.
A method of molding a part, comprising:
- extruding a first material through a first nozzle of a first extruder in sealed engagement with a first mold half by rotating a first extrusion screw of the first extruder in a first direction;
- extruding a second material through a second nozzle of a second extruder in sealed engagement with the first mold half by rotating a second extrusion screw of the second extruder in the first direction;
- ceasing extrusion of the first material through the first nozzle when a first pressure associated with the first extruder is achieved by rotating the first extrusion screw in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- ceasing extrusion of the second material through the second nozzle when a second pressure associated with the second extruder is achieved by rotating the second extrusion screw in the second direction;
- and
- releasing a molded part from the first mold half after both the first and second pressures are achieved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.