EP0183344A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for moulding coloured plastic shells and joining them together with a narrow strip of a matching colour
Assignee: Davidson Textron Inc
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Filing: 1985-09-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-09-05
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and a process for manufacturing pin-stripe or common color thin-walled hollow shells for parts such as automobile door panels, controls and instrument panels, from dry thermo-plastic powders include a powder box divider to form two or more compartments in a powder charge box and means for joining the charge box divider end-to-end with a mold separation edge on an open-ended heated mold for separating the mold into two or more sections; each compartment of the charge box has a different color powder. The charge box and mold are joined and then are rotated so that the powder is distributed into each mold section by gravity flow. Thereafter a third powder is distributed against an exposed division surface on the mold separation edge so as to form a pin stripe or common color for bonding prior cast multi-coloured sections of a resultant shell of cured material.
Inventors
- 👤 John D. Gray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:18
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/02; B60R13/0237; B60R13/0243; B29; B29C; B29C41/00; B29C41/02; B29C41/18; B29C41/22; B29C69/00; B29C69/004; B44; B44C; B44C3/00; B44C3/04; B44C3/046; B60R13/0256; B60R2013/0281; B60R2013/0293
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
In a process for molding a single-piece multi-color plastic shell the steps comprising (1) heating an open-ended mold to a temperature near the fusing temperature of a powder thermoplastic material; (2) connecting powder charge box means to the mold to form a closed system with at least two color power sources; (3) sealing an interior portion of the charge box means to a mold seal having a division surface thereon to separate a preheated mold into first and second color casting surfaces and to shield the division surface; (4) thereafter rotating the charge box means and mold in a powder casting sequence for releasing powder charges of a separate color onto each of the casting surfaces to build up separate shell segments of desired shape and size; (5) separating the mold and powder charge box means to expose the division surface; (6) and distributing a powder charge against the exposed division surface to form a pin-stripe or common color connector to bond the plastic cast on the first and second color casting surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a process for molding a single-piece multi-color plastic shell the steps comprising (1) heating an open-ended mold to a temperature near the fusing temperature of a powder thermoplastic material; (2) connecting powder charge box means to the mold to form a closed system with at least two color power sources; (3) sealing an interior portion of the charge box means to a mold seal having a division surface thereon to separate a preheated mold into first and second color casting surfaces and to shield the division surface; (4) thereafter rotating the charge box means and mold in a powder casting sequence for releasing powder charges of a separate color onto each of the casting surfaces to build up separate shell segments of desired shape and size; (5) separating the mold and powder charge box means to expose the division surface; (6) and distributing a powder charge against the exposed division surface to form a pin-stripe or common color connector to bond the plastic cast on the first and second color casting surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
In the process of claim 1, the flow control step 6 including distributing a powder charge of different color against the division surface and against backside edges of the separate shell segments to build a joint to integrally connect adjacent cast color segments along a styling line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for molding a thin-walled plastic shell in a heated open-ended mold from a charge of thermoplastic powder material in open-ended charge box means comprising: means for joining a heated mold and charge box means in open-ended relationship; co-acting means on the box means and the heated mold to define at least two separate casting surfaces on the mold; means for rotating the mold and charge box means so as to distribute two charges of different color against the separate casting surfaces of the mold; connector formation means including a division surface on the mold and a divider on the box means joined to shield.the division surface as material is distributed on the casting surfaces; means for exposing said division surface and distributing thermoplastic powder thereon between the material on the separate casting surfaces to form a connector to bond first and second colored segments at a style line..
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
149 words
Apparatus for molding a thin-walled plastic shell in a heated open-ended mold from a charge of thermoplastic powder material in open-ended charge box means comprising: means for joining a heated mold and charge box means in open-ended relationship; co-acting means on the box means and the heated mold to define at least two separate casting surfaces on the mold; means for rotating the mold and charge box means so as to distribute two charges of different color against the separate casting surfaces of the mold; connector formation means including a division surface on the mold and a divider on the box means joined to shield.the division surface as material is distributed on the casting surfaces; means for exposing said division surface and distributing thermoplastic powder thereon between the material on the separate casting surfaces to form a connector to bond first and second colored segments at a style line..
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
159 words
In the apparatus of claim 3, said charge box means including a single open-end box having at least one divider wall separating the box into first and second open end compartments each adapted to have a predetermined charge of plastic power of different color; said mold having a rib with a division surface and edge surfaces; said division surface engageable with and completely covered by said partition and gasket means between said rib and said partition to seal first and second powder casting surfaces on the mold receiving powder from the first and second open end compartments when the box and mold are joined and rotated to form multi-colored separate shell segments on the mold with edges formed against said rib edge surfaces; means for separating said mold from said charge box to expose said division surface and the backside of the shell segment edges; and means for distributing plastic powder against said division surface and shell segment edges.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
74 words
A one-piece integrally cast plastic shell comprising a first shell segment formed from cured plastic powder of a first color; a second shell segment formed from cured plastic powder of a second color; a pin-stripe or common color connector of cured powder plastic integrally joined to inboard shell edges for defining a recessed pin-stripe or common color transition between first and second panels of different color defined by said first and second shell segments.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A one-piece integrally cast plastic shell comprising a first shell segment formed from cured plastic powder of a first color; a second shell segment formed from cured plastic powder of a second color; a pin-stripe or common color connector of cured powder plastic integrally joined to inboard shell edges for defining a recessed pin-stripe or common color transition between first and second panels of different color defined by said first and second shell segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
A multi-color door panel shell of cured plastic powder comprising; a lower panel of one color of cured plastic powder; at least one other upper panel of another color of cured plastic powder; each of said panels having a marginal joint edge thereon directly inboard of the panels; and pin-stripe or common color connector means of plastic powder integrally connected to each of said joint edges to form a single-piece cast multi-color door panel shell with a pin-stripe or common color between each panel portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
A multi-color door panel shell of cured plastic powder comprising; a lower panel of one color of cured plastic powder; at least one other upper panel of another color of cured plastic powder; each of said panels having a marginal joint edge thereon directly inboard of the panels; and pin-stripe or common color connector means of plastic powder integrally connected to each of said joint edges to form a single-piece cast multi-color door panel shell with a pin-stripe or common color between each panel portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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