Apparatus for in-the-mold coating of molded articles

Claim 2

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said die members towards and away from each other into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in one of said die members that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, in inlet port formed in said one of said die members that connects with said chamber, means carried by said one of said die members and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said port from communication with said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device being carried by said one of said die members and having a body portion provided with connected concentric outer and inner sleeve members, the inner and outer sleeve members each having inner and outer ends, the inner end of the inner sleeve member being formed with a nozzle that is movable into said inlet port so as to permit said injector device to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when said plunger is in said first position, a feeder tube located in said inner sleeve member for said liquid coating material and having one end thereof formed with a head positioned adjacent said nozzle and the other end extending beyond the outer end of said outer sleeve member, a passage formed in said feeder tube that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, means connected to said outer sleeve member for retracting said nozzle from said inlet port when said plunger is in said second position, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a piston member connected to said other end of said feeder tube and located in said annular bore, and a pair of ports in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member so as to selectively cause said head to open and close the nozzle so when the nozzle is open and located in said inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material will flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with said die members closed.

Claim 3

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of heatable and relatively movable die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said die members towards and away from each other into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in one of said die members that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, an inlet port formed in said one of said die members that connects with said chamber, means carried by said one of said die members and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said inlet port from communication with said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device being carried by said one of said die members and having a cylindrical body portion provided with connected concentric outer and inner sleeve members, the inner and outer sleeve members each having inner and outer ends, the inner end of the inner sleeve member being formed with a nozzle that is selectively movable into said inlet port, a feeder tube for said liquid coating material located in said inner sleeve member and having a head movable relative thereto so as to permit said nozzle to be opened to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when the nozzle is located in the inlet port and said plunger is in said first position, said feeder tube having a passage formed therein substantially the full length thereof that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, said inner and outer sleeve members having passages formed therebetween for receiving cooling fluid to cool said ejector device, fluid operated means connected to said outer sleeve member for retracting said nozzle from said inlet port when said plunger is in said second position so as to prevent heat transfer between the injector device and the associated die member, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a piston member connected to the feeder tube and located in said annular bore, and a pair of ports in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member so as to selectively cause said head to open and close the nozzle so when the nozzle is open and located in said inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material will flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with said die members closed.

Claim 4

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of heatable and relatively movable die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said die members towards and away from each other into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in one of said die members that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, an inlet port formed in said one of said die members that connects with said chamber, means carried by said one of said die members and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said inlet port from communication with said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device being carried by said one of said die members and having a cylindrical body portion provided with connected concentric outer and inner sleeve members, the inner and outer sleeve members each having inner and outer ends, the inner end of the inner sleeve member being formed with a nozzle that is selectively movable into said inlet port, a feeder tube for said liquid coating material located in said inner sleeve member and having a head movable relative thereto so as to permit said nozzle to be opened to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when the nozzle is located in the inlet port and said plunger is in said first position, said feeder tube having a passage formed therein substantially the full length thereof that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, said inner and outer sleeve members having passages formed therebetween for receiving cooling fluid to cool said ejector device, fluid operated means connected to said outer sleeve member for retracting said nozzle from said inlet port when said plunger is in said second position so as to prevent heat transfer between the injector device and the associated die member, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a piston member connected to the feeder tube and located in said annular bore, and a pair of ports in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member so as to selectively cause said head to open and close the nozzle so when the nozzle is open and located in said inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material will flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with said die members closed.

Claim 5

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable upper and lower die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said upper die member towards and away from the lower die member into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in said upper die member that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, an inlet port formed in said upper die member that connects with said chamber, a hydraulic actuator carried by said upper die member and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said inlet port from communication with said cavity and assumes a flush position with a portion of said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device including a housing carried by said upper die member, insulation means interposed between the housing and the upper die member so as to prevent heat transfer therebetween, said housing having an annular bore formed therein and supporting a body portion provided with connected concentric outer and inner sleeve members, the inner and outer sleeve member each having inner and outer ends, the inner end of the inner sleeve member being formed with a nozzle that is movable into said inlet port so as to permit said injector device to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when said plunger is in said first position, a piston member formed with said outer sleeve member and located in said bore and adapted to have pressurized fluid directed to one side thereof for causing said nozzle out of sealing engagement with said inlet port when said plunger is in said second position, a feeder tube extending through the inner sleeve member and having a head for selectively opening and closing said nozzle and adapted to supply said liquid coating material to said nozzle, said feeder tube having a passage formed therein substantially the full length thereof that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a piston member connected to the feeder tube and located in said annular bore formed in said end cap member, and a pair of ports formed in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member connected to said feeder tube so as to selectively cause said head to open and close the nozzle so when the nozzle is open and located in engagement with the inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material is adapted to flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with the die members closed.

Claim 6

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable upper and lower die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said upper die member towards and away from the lower die member into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in said upper die member that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, an inlet port formed in said upper die member that connects with said chamber, a hydraulic actuator carried by said upper die member and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said inlet port from communication with said cavity and assumes a flush position with a portion of said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device including a housing carried by said upper die member, insulation means interposed between the housing and the upper die member so as to prevent heat transfer therebetween, said housing having an annular bore formed therein and supporting a body portion provided with connected concentric outer and inner sleeve members, the inner and outer sleeve member each having inner and outer ends, the inner end of the inner sleeve member being formed with a nozzle that is movable into said inlet port so as to permit said injector device to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when said plunger is in said first position, a piston member formed with said outer sleeve member and located in said bore and adapted to have pressurized fluid directed to one side thereof for causing said nozzle out of sealing engagement with said inlet port when said plunger is in said second position, a feeder tube extending through the inner sleeve member and having a head for selectively opening and closing said nozzle and adapted to supply said liquid coating material to said nozzle, said feeder tube having a passage formed therein substantially the full length thereof that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a piston member connected to the feeder tube and located in said annular bore formed in said end cap member, and a pair of ports formed in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member connected to said feeder tube so as to selectively cause said head to open and close the nozzle so when the nozzle is open and located in engagement with the inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material is adapted to flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with the die members closed.

Claim 7

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said die members towards and away from each other into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in one of said die members that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, an inlet port formed in said one of said die members that connects with said chamber, a hydraulic actuator carried by said one of said die members and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said inlet port from communication with said cavity and assumes a flush position with a portion of said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device including a housing carried by said one of said die members, said housing having an annular bore formed therein and slidingly supporting a body portion consisting of a pair of rigidly connected concentric inner and outer sleeve members, the outer sleeve member having inner and outer ends and being formed with a piston member located in said bore, the inner sleeve member having inner and outer ends and having the inner end thereof formed with a nozzle that is selectively movable into sealing engagement with said inlet port so as to permit said injector device to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when said plunger in said first position, a pair of ports formed in said housing adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member so as to selectively cause said nozzle to move into and out of sealing engagement with said inlet port, said sleeve members having a spiraling passage formed therebetween along the length of said outer sleeve member for allowing cooling fluid to flow along said body portion from one end to the other, said spiraling passage beginning and ending at said outer end of said outer sleeve member, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a feeder tube concentrically extending through the inner sleeve member and terminating at one end thereof with a conically shaped head for selectively opening and closing said nozzle and adapted to supply said liquid coating material to said nozzle, said feeder tube having a passage formed therein substantially the full length thereof that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, an inlet port and an outlet port formed in said end cap member adapted to direct cooling fluid to and from said spiraling passage, a piston member rigidly connected to said feeder tube adjacent the other end of said feeder tube and located in said annular bore formed in said end cap member, a pair of ports formed in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member connected to said feeder tube so as to selectively cause said conically shaped head to open and close the nozzle so when said nozzle is open and located in sealing engagement with the inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material is adapted to flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with the die members closed.

Claim 8

Apparatus for molding an article and subsequently coating one surface of such molded article, said apparatus comprising a pair of relatively movable die members which when closed form a cavity wherein an article is molded in a desired configuration, means operatively associated with said die members for moving said die members towards and away from each other into open and closed positions respectively, a chamber formed in one of said die members that communicates with said cavity and is adapted to receive a metered amount of liquid coating material, a plunger reciprocably mounted in said chamber, an inlet port formed in said one of said die members that connects with said chamber, a hydraulic actuator carried by said one of said die members and connected to the plunger for moving said plunger between a first position wherein said inlet port and said chamber communicate with said cavity and a second position wherein the plunger closes said chamber and said inlet port from communication with said cavity and assumes a flush position with a portion of said cavity, an injector device for supplying said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber, said injector device including a housing carried by said one of said die members, said housing having an annular bore formed therein and slidingly supporting a body portion consisting of a pair of rigidly connected concentric inner and outer sleeve members, the outer sleeve member having inner and outer ends and being formed with a piston member located in said bore, the inner sleeve member having inner and outer ends and having the inner end thereof formed with a nozzle that is selectively movable into sealing engagement with said inlet port so as to permit said injector device to supply said metered amount of liquid coating material to said chamber when said plunger in said first position, a pair of ports formed in said housing adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member so as to selectively cause said nozzle to move into and out of sealing engagement with said inlet port, said sleeve members having a spiraling passage formed therebetween along the length of said outer sleeve member for allowing cooling fluid to flow along said body portion from one end to the other, said spiraling passage beginning and ending at said outer end of said outer sleeve member, an end cap member secured to said outer end of said outer sleeve member and having an annular bore formed therein, a feeder tube concentrically extending through the inner sleeve member and terminating at one end thereof with a conically shaped head for selectively opening and closing said nozzle and adapted to supply said liquid coating material to said nozzle, said feeder tube having a passage formed therein substantially the full length thereof that opens at one end adjacent said head, a static mixer located in said passage adapted to mix said liquid coating material as it flows through said passage towards said head, an inlet port and an outlet port formed in said end cap member adapted to direct cooling fluid to and from said spiraling passage, a piston member rigidly connected to said feeder tube adjacent the other end of said feeder tube and located in said annular bore formed in said end cap member, a pair of ports formed in said end cap member adapted to direct pressurized fluid to one side or the other of said piston member connected to said feeder tube so as to selectively cause said conically shaped head to open and close the nozzle so when said nozzle is open and located in sealing engagement with the inlet port in said one of said die members the liquid coating material is adapted to flow through said feeder tube into said chamber after which said plunger moves from said first position to said second position and the liquid coating material in said chamber is supplied under pressure to said cavity onto said one surface of the molded article with the die members closed.