Molding apparatus with material smoothing means and recycling means

Claim 1

Apparatus for filling one or more cavities of a synthetic elastomeric mold with powdered plastic material and for preliminary gelation of said material, comprising: a distributor means for depositing powdered material in the mold; leveling means for leveling with the top of the mold the powdered material deposited in the mold by said distributor means; a heat generator for effecting preliminary gelation of the leveled powdered material deposited in the mold, said heat generator comprising a horizontal plate, equipped on its lower surface with high intensity heating means; a horizontally supported frame along which are disposed in series said distributor means, said leveling means and said heat generator; carriage means, horizontally reciprocably movable along said frame, for reciprocably moving the mold from an initial position to said distributor means, from thence past said leveling means to said heat generator, and then back to the initial position, said carriage means comprising a perforated plate or grill on which the mold can be carried so as to be level, said perforated plate or grill having a surface area greater than that of the mold in contact therewith, whereby the mold does not totally cover said perforated plate or grill; and return means for returning the excess powder after said leveling means to said distributor means, said return means including a holding bin below the level of said carriage means and substantially disposed beneath said distributor means and said leveling means, said holding bin having a sifting means at the entrance thereto, below the level of said carriage means, for separating non-powder masses from the powder.