US4097634A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoplastic resin molding of complex decorative relief
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1976-04-19
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Granted: 1978-06-27
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Expires: 1996-04-19
Abstract
Abstract Essentially continuous thermoplastic resin molding of complex decorative relief is produced by continuously extruding molten resin into a rotating forming wheel and cooling and removing the molded resin from the wheel. A doctor wheel cooperates with the forming wheel to provide a flat surface to which a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer may be applied for bonding the resin molding to an intended substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene H. Bergh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:25
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C53/00; B29C53/22; B29C53/24; B29C48/00; B29C48/001; B29C48/0011; B29C48/0012; B29C48/03; B29C48/07; B29C48/08; B29C48/12; B29C48/13; B29K; B29K2105/00; B29K2105/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/28; Y10T428/2852; Y10T428/2878; Y10T428/2891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
Process for forming essentially continuous thermoplastic resin molding on a continuously rotating forming wheel having a complex intaglio in its circumferential surface and doctor means providing an orifice tangential to the forming wheel and a pair of interstices at the sides of the orifice comprising the steps of (1) heating the thermoplastic resin to a molten state, (2) providing a bank of the molten resin in contact with the forming wheel at the leading edge of the orifice sufficient to fill the intaglio as the forming wheel rotates and to flow through said interstices to provide a pair of resin flashes, (3) cooling the resin deposited in the intaglio while the forming wheel continues to rotate until the resin develops tenacity at least at its surface contacting the intaglio, and (4) continuously removing from the intaglio a cooled resin molding which has complex decorative relief and yet is essentially free from external defects and internal strains.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
Process for forming essentially continuous thermoplastic resin molding on a continuously rotating forming wheel having a complex intaglio in its circumferential surface and doctor means providing an orifice tangential to the forming wheel and a pair of interstices at the sides of the orifice comprising the steps of (1) heating the thermoplastic resin to a molten state, (2) providing a bank of the molten resin in contact with the forming wheel at the leading edge of the orifice sufficient to fill the intaglio as the forming wheel rotates and to flow through said interstices to provide a pair of resin flashes, (3) cooling the resin deposited in the intaglio while the forming wheel continues to rotate until the resin develops tenacity at least at its surface contacting the intaglio, and (4) continuously removing from the intaglio a cooled resin molding which has complex decorative relief and yet is essentially free from external defects and internal strains.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
Process as defined in claim 1 wherein a transfer tape comprising a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and a removable, low-adhesion backing member is drawn by the doctor means with its adhesive layer in contact with the bank of molten resin to provide an adhesive-bearing resin molding.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
Process as defined in claim 1 wherein step (3) involves holding the resin flashes as the resin is carried by the rotating forming wheel to inhibit lateral shrinkage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Process as defined in claim 2 wherein said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer comprises a cushioning foam having a pressure-sensitive adhesive coating on the side which does not contact the molten thermoplastic resin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
Essentially continuous thermoplastic resin molding of complex relief made by the process defined in claim 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Essentially continuous pressure-sensitive adhesive-bearing thermoplastic resin molding of complex relief made by the process defined in claim 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for forming essentially continuous thermoplastic resin molding of complex decorative relief comprising (a) a forming wheel having a complex intaglio in its circumferential surface, (b) means for continuously rotating the forming wheel, (c) doctor means providing an orifice tangential to the forming wheel and a pair of interstices at the sides of the orifice, (d) means for heating thermoplastic resin to a molten state, (e) means for providing a bank of the molten resin in contact with the forming wheel at the leading edge of the orifice sufficient to fill the intaglio as the forming wheel rotates and to flow through said interstices to provide a pair of resin flashes, (f) means for cooling the resin deposited in the intaglio while the forming wheel continues to rotate until the resin develops tenacity at least at its surface contacting the intaglio, and (g) means for continuously removing the cooled resin deposit from the intaglio.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
Apparatus for forming essentially continuous thermoplastic resin molding of complex decorative relief comprising (a) a forming wheel having a complex intaglio in its circumferential surface, (b) means for continuously rotating the forming wheel, (c) doctor means providing an orifice tangential to the forming wheel and a pair of interstices at the sides of the orifice, (d) means for heating thermoplastic resin to a molten state, (e) means for providing a bank of the molten resin in contact with the forming wheel at the leading edge of the orifice sufficient to fill the intaglio as the forming wheel rotates and to flow through said interstices to provide a pair of resin flashes, (f) means for cooling the resin deposited in the intaglio while the forming wheel continues to rotate until the resin develops tenacity at least at its surface contacting the intaglio, and (g) means for continuously removing the cooled resin deposit from the intaglio.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein a pair of knives adjacent the forming wheel and a pair of anvils adjacent the doctor means provide said pair of interstices at each side of the orifice to provide an outlet for excess resin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein the knives are coaxial with and fixed to the sides of the forming wheel to act as tenters to inhibit lateral shrinkage of the resin as it cools in contact with the forming wheel.
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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) | 1981-06-26 | 1981-12-26 | 1982-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-26 | 1985-12-26 | 1986-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-26 | 1989-12-26 | 1990-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |