US4012188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure forming apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-06-16
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1995-06-16
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method are provided for continuously forming a plastic material, such as a thermoplastic polymer, under pressure against a drum containing irregular surface formations or cavities therein. In one form, injected plastic material is compressed between a bucking member and a substantial area of the surface of a forming drum. The molten casting or molding material is confined to a volume including a portion of the surface of the drum while pressure is applied thereto and until it solidifies. A bucking member such as an endless belt or otherwise shaped member defines a portion of the confined molding volume.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome H. Lemelson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:04
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/22; B29C53/24; B29C48/00; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/25; B29C48/30; B29C48/303; B29C48/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for molding comprising: a first molding member including a cylindrical drum, means for rotationally supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for power rotating said drum, a second molding means having a cylindrical surface conforming to the cylindrical surface of said drum, means for supporting said second molding means with said cylindrical surface thereof disposed a distance away from a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said drum to provide an annular volume between said second molding means and said cylindrical surface of said drum, and means for sealing the longitudinal edge portions of said second molding means and said cylindrical surface of said drum, means for injecting a thermoplastic material in a plastic condition under pressure into said annular volume wherein said thermoplastic material is made to conform to said annular volume, means for solidifying a first portion of the material injected between the annular surface between said drum and said second molding means, said second molding means extending partially around said drum a sufficient distance to permit the molten thermoplastic material injected into said annular volume to solidify within said annular volume between said second molding means and said drum, means for retaining said molten thermoplastic material within said annular volume and preventing the flow of said molten material laterally outwardly from said annular volume as it is injected therein by said injection means until it is at least solidified therein, and means located beyond the end of said second molding means and the annular volume defined by said second molding means and the cylindrical surface of said drum for guiding the solidified shape formed of said thermoplastic material in said annular volume away from said drum.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for molding comprising: a first molding member including a cylindrical drum, means for rotationally supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for power rotating said drum, a second molding means having a cylindrical surface conforming to the cylindrical surface of said drum, means for supporting said second molding means with said cylindrical surface thereof disposed a distance away from a substantial portion of the cylindrical surface of said drum to provide an annular volume between said second molding means and said cylindrical surface of said drum, and means for sealing the longitudinal edge portions of said second molding means and said cylindrical surface of said drum, means for injecting a thermoplastic material in a plastic condition under pressure into said annular volume wherein said thermoplastic material is made to conform to said annular volume, means for solidifying a first portion of the material injected between the annular surface between said drum and said second molding means, said second molding means extending partially around said drum a sufficient distance to permit the molten thermoplastic material injected into said annular volume to solidify within said annular volume between said second molding means and said drum, means for retaining said molten thermoplastic material within said annular volume and preventing the flow of said molten material laterally outwardly from said annular volume as it is injected therein by said injection means until it is at least solidified therein, and means located beyond the end of said second molding means and the annular volume defined by said second molding means and the cylindrical surface of said drum for guiding the solidified shape formed of said thermoplastic material in said annular volume away from said drum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus for molding in accordance with claim 1 wherein said drum contains a plurality of cavities formed in its cylindrical surface and said cavities communicate with said annular volume between said second molding means and said drum whereby portions of said molten thermoplastic material flow respectively into respective of said cavities and form respective portions of said molded material which protrude from the portion thereof formed between the cylindrical surface and said second molding means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for molding in accordance with claim 2 including means for cooling said drum to transfer heat from said thermoplastic molding material to permit the setting of said molding material after it is injected into said annular volume and said cavities in said drum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said annular volume between said second molding means and said surface of said drum is shaped to provide at least a portion of the molding formed between said drum and said second molding means in the configuration of a sheet or strip of said thermoplastic material.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
246 words
An apparatus for molding comprising: a rotary drum having a central portion having at least one depression therein and surface portions to the sides of said depression being cylindrically shaped, means for rotationally supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for power rotating said drum, a bucking means, means for supporting said bucking means to provide a molding volume between said bucking means and the surface of said drum, means for injecting a thermoplastic material in a plastic condition under pressure into said molding volume wherein said thermoplastic material is made to conform to said molding volume and said cavities formed in the surface of said drum, means for solidifying a first portion of the material injected between the annular surface between said drum and said bucking means, said bucking means extending partially around said drum a sufficient distance to permit the molten thermoplastic material injected into said molding volume to solidify between said bucking means and said drum, means for retaining said molten thermoplastic material within said molding volume and preventing the flow of said molten material laterally outwardly from said molding volume as it is injected therein by said injection means until it is at least solidified therein, means located beyond the end of said bucking means and the molding volume defined by said bucking means and the cylindrical surface of said drum for guiding the solidified shape formed of said thermoplastic material in said molding volume away from said drum.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
246 words
An apparatus for molding comprising: a rotary drum having a central portion having at least one depression therein and surface portions to the sides of said depression being cylindrically shaped, means for rotationally supporting said drum for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means for power rotating said drum, a bucking means, means for supporting said bucking means to provide a molding volume between said bucking means and the surface of said drum, means for injecting a thermoplastic material in a plastic condition under pressure into said molding volume wherein said thermoplastic material is made to conform to said molding volume and said cavities formed in the surface of said drum, means for solidifying a first portion of the material injected between the annular surface between said drum and said bucking means, said bucking means extending partially around said drum a sufficient distance to permit the molten thermoplastic material injected into said molding volume to solidify between said bucking means and said drum, means for retaining said molten thermoplastic material within said molding volume and preventing the flow of said molten material laterally outwardly from said molding volume as it is injected therein by said injection means until it is at least solidified therein, means located beyond the end of said bucking means and the molding volume defined by said bucking means and the cylindrical surface of said drum for guiding the solidified shape formed of said thermoplastic material in said molding volume away from said drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
An apparatus for molding in accordance with claim 5 wherein said drum contains a plurality of cavities formed in its outer surface between said cylindrical surface portions, said cavities defining respective portions of said molding volume between said bucking means and said drum whereby portions of said molten thermoplastic material flow respectively into respective of said cavities and form respective portions of the molded material which protrude from the portion thereof formed between the cylindrical surface and said bucking means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus for molding in accordance with claim 6 including means for cooling said drum to transfer heat from said thermoplastic molding material to permit the setting of said molding material after it is injected into said molding volume and said cavities in said drum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
A molding apparatus in accordance with claim 6 wherein said annular volume between said bucking means and said surface of said drum is shaped to provide at least a portion of the molding formed between said drum and said bucking means in the configuration of a sheet or strip of said thermoplastic material.
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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) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |