US3712771A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Traveling mold mechanism for forming plastic articles
Assignee: Leesona Corp
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Filing: 1971-06-24
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Granted: 1973-01-23
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Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A mold system in which molds are indexed along a continuous circuit past stations at which: a deformable plastic sheet is first applied over the mold cavity or cavities; suction forces are applied to bring the sheet into the mold cavity or cavities; expandable plastic foam is applied to the formed sheet cavity; a backer is applied to close the cavity or cavities in which the expandable material is received; expansion and curing of the foam occurs; and finally the articles formed are unloaded. Each mold can be provided with a lid or closure which is opened at the unloading station and remains open until a backer or closure material is applied, at which time it is closed and locked. Preferably, the plastic sheet and backer material are drawn from continuous rolls and, following the closing of the mold top, the mold proceeds to a cutoff station where the plastic sheet and backer material are severed from the rolls thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 J White
- 👤 G Emge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:05
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C44/00; B29C44/02; B29C44/12; B29C44/14; B29C44/146; B29C44/34; B29C44/36; B29C44/38; B29C44/42; B29C44/428
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for forming articles with differential pressure formed synthetic plastic sheet outer skins filled with synthetic plastic foam material comprising: a series of molds having mold cavities therein; means for indexing said molds in a continuous path of travel, interrupted by periods of dwell, in a circuit which includes an unloading station at which articles are removed from said molds; a sheet supplying station downstream from said unloading station past which said molds are moved; vacuum source means downstream in the circuit therefrom for releasably coupling a vacuum source to said molds to draw the sheet into the mold cavities of said molds and form sheet cavities therein; means downstream from said latter means for supplying said foam material to the sheet cavities formed while the formed sheet is in the mold cavities; and closure applying means for applying a closure to permit said foam material to expand only to a predetermined degree, as it cures on its way to said unloading station.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
Apparatus for forming articles with differential pressure formed synthetic plastic sheet outer skins filled with synthetic plastic foam material comprising: a series of molds having mold cavities therein; means for indexing said molds in a continuous path of travel, interrupted by periods of dwell, in a circuit which includes an unloading station at which articles are removed from said molds; a sheet supplying station downstream from said unloading station past which said molds are moved; vacuum source means downstream in the circuit therefrom for releasably coupling a vacuum source to said molds to draw the sheet into the mold cavities of said molds and form sheet cavities therein; means downstream from said latter means for supplying said foam material to the sheet cavities formed while the formed sheet is in the mold cavities; and closure applying means for applying a closure to permit said foam material to expand only to a predetermined degree, as it cures on its way to said unloading station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination defined in claim 1 in which said molds incorporate lids, movable to and from open positions removed form he mold cavities to positions closing the mold cavities, which comprise said closure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination defined in claim 2 in which means, past which said molds are circulated, is provided for locking said lids in closed position after foam material has been supplied to the cavities.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination defined in claim 3 in which means, past which said molds are circulated, is provided at said unloading station for unlocking said lids.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination defined in claim 2 in which means, past which said molds are circulated, is provided for closing said lids after foam material has been applied to he cavities.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combinatioN defined in claim 2 in which means, past which said molds are circulated, is provided for opening said lids at the unloading station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination defined in claim 1 in which means is provided for applying a backer sheet to the top of said mold cavities after the foam material has been supplied thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination defined in claim 1 in which releasable clamp means is provided on at least one of said molds at the front thereof for receiving the leading end of a plastic sheet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for forming articles with differential pressure formed synthetic plastic sheet outer skins filled with synthetic plastic foam material comprising: a series of molds having mold cavities therein; means for indexing said molds in a path of movement, interrupted by periods of dwell, in a path which includes unloading and reloading station means past which said molds are moved; means for creating a differential pressure in said cavities to draw the sheet into the mold cavities of said molds and form sheet cavities therein; means for supplying an expandable foam material to the sheet cavities formed at a foam supplying station removed from said station means while the formed sheet is in the mold cavities; and means for containing the expansion of said foam material on its way to said station means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
132 words
Apparatus for forming articles with differential pressure formed synthetic plastic sheet outer skins filled with synthetic plastic foam material comprising: a series of molds having mold cavities therein; means for indexing said molds in a path of movement, interrupted by periods of dwell, in a path which includes unloading and reloading station means past which said molds are moved; means for creating a differential pressure in said cavities to draw the sheet into the mold cavities of said molds and form sheet cavities therein; means for supplying an expandable foam material to the sheet cavities formed at a foam supplying station removed from said station means while the formed sheet is in the mold cavities; and means for containing the expansion of said foam material on its way to said station means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination defined in claim 9 in which said latter means comprises swingable lids movable to and from open positions removed from the mold cavities to positions closing the mold cavities, said circuit including a station with a power cylinder operated hook member which permit movement of the molds past it out of the station for engaging said lids and moving them to closed positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination defined in claim 10 in which said molds incorporate latches for locking the lids in closed position operable after said lids have been closed; and in which power cylinder means, past which said molds are circulated, is provided for operating said latches to lock said lids in closed position after foam material has been supplied to the cavities.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination defined in claim 11 in which power cylinder means, past which said molds are circulated, is provided at said station means for engaging and operating said latches to unlock said lids.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination defined in claim 12 in which a power cylinder operated hook member, past which said molds are circulated, is provided for engaging and opening said lids at said station means after said latches have been operated to unlock the lids.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination defined in claim 10 in which means is provided for applying a backer sheet to the top of said mold cavities after the foam material has been supplied thereto and before said lids are closed; and releasable clamp means is provided on at least one of said molds at the front thereof for receiving the leading end of a plastic sheet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-23 | 1976-07-24 | 1977-01-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-23 | 1980-07-24 | 1981-01-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-23 | 1984-07-24 | 1985-01-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |