Apparatus for molding a rigid product from synthetic resinous materials

Claim 1

Apparatus for continuously mixing, molding and curing synthetic resinous materials to produce a continuous, rigid elongated product therefrom comprising in combination: a. mixing and dispensing means comprising a mixing chamber for mixing said resinous materials and at least one nozzle for continuously dispensing said mixed resinous materials; b. molding and curing apparatus operatively associated with said mixing and dispensing apparatus to receive said mixed resinous materials as they are dispensed, said molding and curing apparatus comprising a pair of complementary mold belts arranged to form at least one mold cavity for receiving said resinous materials dispensed from said nozzle, said apparatus comprising; a modular main frame assembly, including upper and lower portions on which said endless mold belts are mounted, a modular auxiliary frame mounted on and vertically adjustable in relation to said main frame, a first conveyor associated with one of said mold belts and mounted on a lower portion of said main frame assembly, a second conveyor associated with the other of said mold belts and mounted on the upper portion of said main frame assembly, means for selectively elevating and lowering said second conveyor and associated mold belt in relation to said first conveyor and mold belt associated therewith, said elevating and lowering means comprising; a plurality of drive motors supported on top of said main frame for selectively bringing together said belts into abutting relationship, a plurality of latch rods adjustably and pivotally mounted on said apparatus for exerting a predetermined degree of pressure on said mold belts when in said abutting relationship, guide means operatively engaging said mold belts, said guide means including a chain, a plurality of guide blocks extending transversely of the chain and attached thereto, said guide blocks having at least one slot therein, said belt including rib means on the side thereof next adjacent said guide chain, said rib means adapted to engage said slot in said guide block to prevent transverse displacement of said mold belt in relation to said guide chain, said guide means further including a guide rail and rail alignment means for adjusting said chain guide rail with respect to a horizontal plane, said chain guide rail alignment means comprising; an elongated support bar, a series of alignment cap screws threadably engaging said support bar through elongated slots formed in said chain guide rail, an eccentric unit journaled on each of said cap screws and selectively rotatable thereon to shift the position of the associated chain guide rail, heater means provided and associated with each of said continuous mold belts to retain said mold belts at a predetermined temperature, means for applying a parting agent to said mold belt cavity prior to the deposition therein of said resinous materials, cooling means disposed adjacent said mold belts where said molded resinous rigid product is discharged from said belt mold, said heater means comprising a plurality of sets of individually and selectively energizable heater units, said units providing respectively, warmup, base and maintenance heating levels, a continuous tension member associated with each of said belts comprising a metallic ribbon, guide means fixed to one side of said tension member mold cavity forming material fixed to the side of said tension member opposite said guide means, said guide means comprising at least one elongated rib; and, said cavity forming material comprising a resillient substance fixed to said tension member and adapted to cooperate with the other of said mold belts to form said cavity.