Modular mold system
AssigneeZimmer, Inc.
InventorsNicholas R. Holderman, Jeremy J. Pohler, Robert E. Klein, Thom E. Gidley, Devon Stump, Michael Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modular molding system having a mold base assembly for assembling an interchangeable mold insert assemblage. The assembled mold insert assemblage defines an internal cavity for forming a molded object. Each mold insert assemblage can be disengaged from the mold base assembly and exchanged with a different mold insert assemblage having an internal cavity having different dimensions.
Claims21
A modular molding system, comprising:
- a stationary mold base having a base engagement feature;
- a transitory mold base movable along a first axis intersecting the stationary mold base;
- a base mold insert having a sliding engagement feature, wherein the base mold insert is slidable along a second axis to engage the sliding engagement feature to the base engagement feature;
- and
- a transitory mold insert having a releasable feature engagable to the transitory mold base, wherein the transitory mold base is movable along the first axis to engage the transitory mold base to the releasable feature of the transitory mold insert and engage the transitory mold base to the transitory mold insert;
- wherein the transitory mold base moves the transitory mold insert along the first axis between a closed position in which the transitory mold insert is engaged to the base mold insert and an open position in which the transitory mold insert is disengaged from the base mold insert.
The modular molding system 12, wherein the transitory mold insert is engagable to the base mold insert when positioned in the closed position such that sliding the base mold insert along the second axis also slides the transitory mold insert onto the carrier assembly with the base mold insert.
A method of molding a molded object, comprising:
- providing a stationary mold base having a base engagement feature;
- aligning a transitory mold base with the stationary mold base along a first axis;
- sliding a sliding engagement feature of a base mold insert along a second axis to engage the base mold insert to the stationary mold base, wherein the base mold insert defines a base mold cavity;
- moving the transitory mold base along the first axis into engagement with a transitory mold insert, wherein the transitory mold insert defines a first mold cavity;
- moving the transitory mold insert along the first axis into a closed position, where the transitory mold insert is engaged with the base mold insert such that the base mold cavity and the first mold cavity cooperate to define an internal mold cavity;
- injecting a hardening composition into the internal mold cavity;
- and
- moving the transitory mold insert out of engagement with the base mold insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.