Mill-style blow molding wheel mechanism and method of manufacturing using the same
AssigneeWestRock MWV, LLC
InventorsMichael P. Wade, Barry G. Calvert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus and a method of manufacturing a paperboard tray therewith is provided. In particular, a hub is configured to rotate about a shaft. On the hub, a plurality of first molds are formed in the hub. Conversely, a plurality of second molds are each disposed above each of the plurality of first molds respectively and rotate above the first molds. In this configuration, the plurality of second molds are configured to move in unison with the plurality of first molds as the hub and second molds rotate and to move orthogonally towards and then away from the first molds as the second molds rotate.
Claims16
An apparatus comprising:
- a hub configured to rotate about a shaft;
- a plurality of first molds formed on the hub, each of the plurality of first molds comprising:
- at least two first mold recesses configured to receive a three-dimensional part;
- and
- a first mold suction mechanism in each of the at least two first mold recesses;
- a plurality of second molds configured to rotate above each of the plurality of first molds respectively, each of the plurality of second molds comprising:
- at least two second mold recesses configured to receive a three-dimensional part;
- and
- a second mold suction mechanism in each of the at least two second mold recesses;
- wherein the plurality of second molds are configured to move in unison with the plurality of first molds as hub and the second molds rotate and to move orthogonally towards and away from the first molds as the second molds rotate;
- at least one feeding means configured to deliver a three-dimensional part to each of the plurality of first molds and plurality of second molds wherein the first mold suction mechanisms retain three-dimensional parts in the first mold recesses and the second mold suction mechanisms retain three-dimensional parts in the second mold recesses during at least a partial rotation of the hub;
- and
- at least one extruder disposed between a first mold of the plurality of first molds and a second mold of the plurality of second molds, wherein the at least one extruder is configured to extrude a material onto a three-dimensional part in the first mold recesses and onto a three-dimensional part in the second mold recesses.
A method comprising:
- feeding one or more three-dimensional parts into a first mold formed in a hub and a second mold disposed above the first mold;
- rotating the first mold and the second mold including the one or more three-dimensional parts toward an extruder;
- extruding a material onto the one or more three-dimensional parts that are disposed in the first mold and second mold;
- orthogonally moving a second mold toward the first mold after the material has been extruded onto the one or more three-dimensional parts to force the first mold and the second mold to come in contact as the first and second mold rotate;
- rotating the first and second mold a particular distance;
- and
- in response to rotating a particular distance, moving the second mold orthogonally away from the first mold and removing the one or more three-dimensional parts from the first mold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.