Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming thermoplastic synthetics

Claim 2

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foamforming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein at least one of said mold walls is provided on a mold member which has a rear wall spaced from the mold wall so as to define chamber means of said first system therebetween for introduction of heat transfer substances, and said mold member is mounted on a housing the interior of which is part of said second system and is separated into a steam supply chamber and a steam distribution chamber connected by a valved passage, the rear wall of said mold member being attached to said housing to extend over and at least partly close said steam distribution chamber, and a plurality of steam injection passages in said rear wall providing constant fluid communication between said steam distribution chamber and said mold central chamber at predetermined locations.

Claim 3

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein valved means is provided for selectively connecting said steam distribution chamber to a source of vacuum.

Claim 4

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein valved means is provided for selectively connecting said steam distribution chamber to a source of compressed air.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said mold member is relatively thin-walled and said housing is relatively sturdy and resistance to deformation by fluid pressure to accurately support said mold member in assembly.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first system comprises means for selectively heating and cooling a heat transfer liquid and supplying it in either heated or cooled condition to said mold walls.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein means is provided in said first system for preheating said mold walls in a predetermined temperature range prior to introduction of said material, and for continuing heating of said mold wallS at a lower mold operating temperature during the molding operation.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said valved passage is normally closed by a spring biased valve member, and power means is provided for selectively opening said valve to admit steam into said steam distribution chamber during the foam forming operation.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said mold walls are of thin material having good heat conductivity, said first system comprises chamber means backing said mold walls and having outer walls of good thermal insulating material.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said mold walls are metal and said outer chamber walls are a glass fiber reinforced thermosetting synthetic resin.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the means for heating said heat transfer liquid comprises means for heating said liquid to a relatively high temperature for preheating said mold walls prior to introduction of said synthetic plastics material, and means for heating said liquid to a lower operating temperature during foaming and molding of said material within the mold central chamber.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said preheating means comprises a reservoir connected in parallel with a reservoir for said lower operating temperature heating means, the outlet of each said reservoir being connected to a common conduit supplying heated liquid to said mold walls, each said outlet containing a valve and a pump for controlling liquid flow to said conduit.

Claim 13

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heat and cooling heat transfers substances to the outer sides of said mold walls and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein said first system comprises a heating liquid reservoir connected by passage means to chamber means backing said mold walls, and said second system comprises a passage connected between a source of steam and said mold central chamber, means for conducting heated liquid from said reservoir as a heating medium through a heating means mounted in heat exchanging relation with said steam passage.

Claim 14

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heat and cooling heat transfers substances to the outer sides of said mold walls and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein said first system comprises a heating liquid reservoir connected by passage means to chamber means backing said mold walls, and said second system comprises a passage connected between a source of steam and said mold central chamber, means for conducting heated liquid from said reservoir as a heating medium through a heating means mounted in heat exchanging relation with said steam passage.

Claim 15

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles from foam-forming synthetic plastic material, wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein at least one of said mold walls is provided on a mold member which has a rear wall spaced from the mold wall to define chamber means of said first system therebetween for introduction of heat transfer substances, and said mold member is mounted on a housing the interior of which is part of said second system and contains a steam distribution chamber connected by a valved passage to a steam supply means of said second system, a plurality of steam injection passages in said mold member rear wall providing constant fluid communication between said steam distribution chamber and said mold central chamber at predetermined locations, and wherein means for selectively connecting said steam distribution chamber to a source of vacuum and means for selectively connecting said steam distribution chamber to a source of fluid pressure is provided.

Claim 16

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles from foam-forming synthetic plastic material, wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein at least one of said mold walls is provided on a mold member which has a rear wall spaced from the mold wall to define chamber means of said first system therebetween for introduction of heat transfer substances, and said mold member is mounted on a housing the interior of which is part of said second system and contains a steam distribution chamber connected by a valved passage to a steam supply means of said second system, a plurality of steam injection passages in said mold member rear wall providing constant fluid communication between said steam distribution chamber and said mold central chamber at predetermined locations, and wherein means for selectively connecting said steam distribution chamber to a source of vacuum and means for selectively connecting said steam distribution chamber to a source of fluid pressure is provided.

Claim 17

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein one of said mold walls is formed on a first mold member containing said steam distribution chamber, and the other one of said mold walls is provided on a second mold meMber which has a rear wall spaced from the mold wall so as to define chamber means of said first system therebetween for introduction of heat transfer substances, said other member rear wall being attached to a housing have an internal pressure chamber adapted to be connected to a source of fluid pressure, and said other mold member having article ejection passage means extending therethrough between said internal pressure chamber and said mold central chamber.

Claim 18

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material, wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein the said mold walls are of thin metallic material having good heat conductivity, the said first system comprises chamber means backing said mold walls, said first system and especially said chamber means being adapted for substantially pressure-free transfer of the heating and cooling heat substances, and wherein said chamber means has outer walls of synthetic plastic material having high thermal insulating characteristics, said mold walls being secured to said outer chamber walls.

Claim 19

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material, wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, wherein the said mold walls are of thin metallic material having good heat conductivity, the said first system comprises chamber means backing said mold walls, said first system and especially said chamber means being adapted for substantially pressure-free transfer of the heating and cooling heat substances, and wherein said chamber means has outer walls of synthetic plastic material having high thermal insulating characteristics, said mold walls being secured to said outer chamber walls.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices.

Claim 21

Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein means is provided defining a catching reservoir in the upper part of said liquid cooling device, means connecting said return passage means to discharge into said catching reservoir, means providing a drain outlet for said catching reservoir in fluid communication with said liquid heating device, and means providing an overflow outlet for said catching reservoir permitting overflow into said cooling device.

Claim 22

Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein a discharge valve controlled outlet is provided in the bottom of said catching reservoir for discharge directly into said cooling device, and temperature responsive means in said return passage means adjacent said catching reservoir for controlling actuation of said discharge valve.

Claim 23

Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said liquid cooling device comprises a cooling reservoir connected to said return passage means, and said liquid heating device comprises two liquid heating reservoirs each having a valved outlet selectivey connectible to discharge heated fluid toward said mold walls and means defining a catching reservoir in the upper part of said cooling reservoir connected to receive liquid directly from said return passage, means connecting the outlet of said catching reservoir to each of said liquid heating reservoirs through non-return valves.

Claim 24

Apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said liquid cooling device comprises a cooling reservoir connected to said return passage means, and said liquid heating device comprises two liquid heating reservoirs each having a valve outlet selectively connectible to discharge heated fluid toward said mold walls, and means defining two vertically spaced catching reservoirs in the upper part of said cooling reservoir, the uppermost of said catching reservoirs being disposed to directly receive liquid from said return passage means and having a bottom valve for discharge into the lowermost catching reservoir, and means connecting the outlets of said catching reservoirs to respective ones of said heatiNg reservoirs.

Claim 25

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, and means in said first system for preheating said mold walls in a predetermined temperature range prior to introduction of said material, and for continuing heating of said mold walls at a lower mold operating temperature during the molding operation, said mold walls being of thin material having good heat conductivity, said first system comprises chamber means backing said mold walls and having outer walls of good thermal insulating material, and said mold walls being of metal and said outer chamber walls being a glass fiber reinforced thermosetting synthetic resin.

Claim 26

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, and means in said first system for preheating said mold walls in a predetermined temperature range prior to introduction of said material, and for continuing heating of said mold walls at a lower mold operating temperature during the molding operation, said mold walls being of thin material having good heat conductivity, said first system comprises chamber means backing said mold walls and having outer walls of good thermal insulating material, and said mold walls being of metal and said outer chamber walls being a glass fiber reinforced thermosetting synthetic resin.

Claim 27

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices, means defining a catching reservoir in the upper part of said liquid cooling device, means connecting said return passage means to discharge into said catching reservoir, means providing a drain outlet for said catching reservoir in fluid communication with said liquid heating device, and means providing an overflow outlet for said catching reservoir permitting overflow into said cooling device.

Claim 28

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices, means defining a catching reservoir in the upper part of said liquid cooling device, means connecting said return passage means to discharge into said catching reservoir, means providing a drain outlet for said catching reservoir in fluid communication with said liquid heating device, and means providing an overflow outlet for said catching reservoir permitting overflow into said cooling device.

Claim 29

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices, said liquid cooling device comprising a cooling reservoir connected to said return passage means, and said liquid heating device comprises two liquid heating reservoirs each having a valved outlet selectively connectible to discharge heated fluid toward said mold walls and means defining a catching reservoir in the upper part of said cooling reservoir connected to receive liquid directly from said return passage, and means connecting the outlet of said catching reservoir to each of said liquid heating reservoirs through non-return valves.

Claim 30

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices, said liquid cooling device comprising a cooling reservoir connected to said return passage means, and said liquid heating device comprises two liquid heating reservoirs each having a valved outlet selectively connectible to discharge heated fluid toward said mold walls and means defining a catching reservoir in the upper part of said cooling reservoir connected to receive liquid directly from said return passage, and means connecting the outlet of said catching reservoir to each of said liquid heating reservoirs through non-return valves.

Claim 31

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices, said liquid cooling device comprising a cooling reservoir connected to said return passage means, and said liquid heating device comprises two liquid heating reservoirs each having a valve outlet selectively connectible to discharge heated fluid toward said mold walls, and means defining two vertically spaced catching reservoirs in the upper part of said cooling reservoir, the uppermost of said catching reservoirs being disposed to directly receive liquid from said return passage means and having a bottom valve for discharge into the lowermost catching reservoir, and means connecting the outlets of said catching reservoirs to respective ones of said heating reservoirs.

Claim 32

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material wherein means is provided for introducing the material to be molded in granular or like fluent condition into a mold central chamber defined by associated shaped mold walls, means is provided for injecting steam into the central mold chamber during foam-forming and means is provided for selectively heating and cooling said mold walls, characterized in that a first system is provided for the selective application of heating and cooling heat transfer substances to the outer sides of said mold walls, and a separate independent second system is provided for introducing steam into the mold central chamber, said first system comprises chamber means for backing the mold walls and connected for receiving a heat transfer liquid, means providing liquid heating and liquid cooling devices, inlet passage means connecting both of said devices to said chamber means and containing valves for selectively supplying heated or cooled liquid to said chamber means, and return passage means connected between said chamber means and said devices, said liquid cooling device comprising a cooling reservoir connected to said return passage means, and said liquid heating device comprises two liquid heating reservoirs each having a valve outlet selectively connectible to discharge heated fluid toward said mold walls, and means defining two vertically spaced catching reservoirs in the upper part of said cooling reservoir, the uppermost of said catching reservoirs being disposed to directly receive liquid from said return passage means and having a bottom valve for discharge into the lowermost catching reservoir, and means connecting the outlets of said catching reservoirs to respective ones of said heating reservoirs.

Claim 33

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material comprising mold walls defining a mold chamber, means for introducing said material in granular or like fluent condition into said chamber, means for introducing steam into said chamber during foam-forming of said material, means independent of said steam introducing means for heating said mold walls at least during foam-forming and for subsequently cooling said mold walls comprising a system wherein a liquid heat transfer substance is applied at a controlled temperature for heating said mold walls and then said substance is cooled and applied to said mold walls after foam-forming.

Claim 34

Apparatus for the manufacture of molded articles of foam-forming synthetic plastics material comprising mold walls defining a mold chamber, means for introducing said material in granular or like fluent condition into said chamber, means for introducing steam into said chamber during foam-forming of said material, means independent of said steam introducing means for heating said mold walls at least during foam-forming and for subsequently cooling said mold walls comprising a system wherein a liquid heat transfer substance is applied at a controlled temperature for heating said mold walls and then said substance is cooled and applied to said mold walls after foam-forming.

Claim 35

Apparatus as defined in claim 25, wherein said system comprises means whereby heated heat transfer liquid is applied to said mold walls prior to injection of said material for preheating said mold walls and then said mold walls are maintained at said controlled temperature during foam-forming.