Heated feeder system for diecasting apparatus

Claim 2

In a mold assembly for molding plastic parts, said assembly being of the type having an inlet for molten plastic material or the like and at least one mold cavity to which such molten material is conducted for a molding operation, an improved feeder system comprising in combination, manifold block means disposed within the mold assembly and having an elongated recess therein which communicates with an inlet passage for receiving molten plastic material and also communicates with a mold cavity, feeder means positioned within said elongated recess, said feeder means comprising a stationary rod member having at least one external helical groove formed along the length thereof, said helical groove together with a surrounding wall of said elongated recess serving to define a helical passage for conducting molten plastic material from said inlet toward said mold cavity, said rod member having an internal aperture extending along the length thereof, and heating means disposed within said internal aperture for heating said rod member thereby heating plastic material which is conducted through said helical passage.

Claim 3

A feeder system as in claim 1 where said feeder means is disposed horizontally and where one end of said feeder means communicates with a generally vertical passage leading to said mold cavity.

Claim 4

A feeder system as in claim 1 where said feeder means is disposed horizontally with its midportion positioned to receive plastic material from an inlet passage and with each end of said feeder means in communication with a respective generally vertical passage leading to a corresponding mold cavity.

Claim 5

A feeder system as in claim 1 where said heating means comprises an electrical resistance unit disposed within a longitudinal bore formed in said feeder means.

Claim 6

A feeder system as in claim 1 where a plurality of independent helical grooves are formed in a single feeder means and arranged in communication with a common inlet passage for feeding plastic material to a plurality of corresponding mold cavities.

Claim 7

A feeder system as in claim 1 where said helical groove is approximately semicircular in its cross-sectional configuration.

Claim 8

A feeder system as in claim 1 where a tubular sleeve is disposed in said elongated recess and said feeder means is disposed in said elongated recess and said feeder means is disposed within said tubular sleeve.

Claim 9

A feeder system as in claim 7 where said tubular sleeve is relieved over a portion of its exterior surface to reduce surface area contact between said sleeve and said manifold block means.

Claim 10

A feeder system as in claim 1 here a plurality of said feeder means are arranged in intersecting relation with the point of intersection thereof located in communication with a common inlet passage.

Claim 11

In a mold assembly for molding plastic parts, said assembly being of the type having an inlet for molten plastic material or the like and at least one mold cavity to which such molten material is conducted for a molding operation, an improved feeder system compriSing, in combination, manifold block means disposed within the mold assembly and having an elongated recess therein which recess is circular in cross-sectional configuration and communicates with an inlet passage for receiving molten plastic material and also communicates with a mold cavity, feeder means positioned in close fitting relationship in said elongated recess, said feeder means comprising a stationary rod member having at least one external helical groove formed along the length thereof, said helical groove together with a surrounding wall of said elongated recess serving to define a helical passage for conducting molten plastic material from said inlet toward mold cavity, a longitudinal bore formed in said rod member, and heating means located in said longitudinal bore for heating said rod member thereby heating plastic material which is conducted through said helical passage.

Claim 12

In a mold assembly for molding plastic parts, said assembly being of the type having an inlet for molten plastic material or the like and at least one mold cavity to which such molten material is conducted for a molding operation, an improved feeder system compriSing, in combination, manifold block means disposed within the mold assembly and having an elongated recess therein which recess is circular in cross-sectional configuration and communicates with an inlet passage for receiving molten plastic material and also communicates with a mold cavity, feeder means positioned in close fitting relationship in said elongated recess, said feeder means comprising a stationary rod member having at least one external helical groove formed along the length thereof, said helical groove together with a surrounding wall of said elongated recess serving to define a helical passage for conducting molten plastic material from said inlet toward mold cavity, a longitudinal bore formed in said rod member, and heating means located in said longitudinal bore for heating said rod member thereby heating plastic material which is conducted through said helical passage.

Claim 13

A feeder system as in claim 10 where said feeder means is disposed horizontally with at least one end of said feeder means in communication with a vertical passage leading to a corresponding mold cavity, and where said heating means comprises an electrical resistance unit disposed within said longitudinal bore.