Apparatus for molding containers

Claim 1

IN A MOLDING MACHINE FOR EXPANDING AND FUSING EXPANDABLE BEAD-LIKE THERMOPLASTIC MATERIALS INTO SELFSUSTAINING ARTICLES, A PAIR OF COMPLEMENTARY MOLD ELEMENTS ADAPTED, WHEN CLOSED, TO DEFINE A MOLDING CAVITY THEREBETWEEN; MEANS FOR FILLING SAID CAVITY COMPRISING A MATERIAL SOURCE, A MEASURING CUP AND MEANS INCLUDING A VALVE CONNECTING SAID MATERIAL SOURCE TO SAID CUP, SAID CUP COMPRISING A MATERIAL RECEIVING CHAMBER HAVING AT LEAST TWO APERTURED WALLS, A PORTED PLUG DISPOSED IN ONE OF SAID WALLS, A NIPPLE CONNECTOR DISPOSED IN THE OTHER OF SAID WALLS, A HOLLOW TUBE CARRIED BY SAID PLUG, SAID TUBE HAVING ONE END DISPOSED AND TERMINATING AT A POINT LYING A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE WITHIN SAID NIPPLE CONNECTOR AND ITS OPPOSITE END DISPOSED OUTSIDE OF THE OPPOSITE WALL; A TUBULAR CONDUIT CONNECTED TO SAID NIPPLE HAVING ITS OPPOSITE END IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID MOLDING CAVITY; MEANS FOR CREATING A VACUUM SUCTION IN SAID MOLDING CAVITY WHEREBY AIR IS DRAWN THROUGH SAID CAVITY SAID PORTED PLUG AND SAID TUBE, THE AIR PASSING THERETHROUGH CREATING A PRESSURE DROP WITHIN SAID CUP TO ASSURE EVACUATION OF SAID CUP AND FILLING OF THE MOLDING CAVITY.