Apparatus for mixing and dispensing fast setting plastic material into a mold

Claim 2

A valve positionable at the opening to a mold cavity to control the flow of and to mix fast setting molding ingredients and comprising housing means defining a mixing chamber having an exit connectable with a mold opening and having two ingredient inlet ports, a mixer head disposed in the housing and including a spindle having a configuration complementary to the shape of the mixing chamber, the spindle being axially movable through the chamber of said housing between a "valve open" position wherein the spindle is withdrawn from the chamber and exposes said ports to admit fast setting ingredients to be mixed individually into the chamber and a "valve closed" position wherein the spindle closes said ports and fills said chamber to eject all ingredients from the chamber, the spindle having a central axis and an outer portion which is rotatably symmetric about the central axis and rotatable on the axis in at least the "valve open" position, at least one mixer element in the head supported by the spindle for rotation in the chamber to thereby effect mixing of the individually admitted ingredients in the "valve open" position and being movably mounted in the spindle to allow the mixing chamber to be filled by the head in the valve closed position, means connected with the spindle for reciprocating the spindle along its axis between the "valve open" and "valve closed" positions, and additional means connected with the mixer head for rotating the spindle about its axis together with the mixer element.

Claim 3

The valve construction of claim 1 wherein the said spindle is cylindrical and is axially aligned with the mold opening and there are a plurality of the said mixer elements provided, each of which elements comprises a pin supported by the spindle parallel to the spindle axis and spaced radially outwardly therefrom for sliding movement relative to the spindle.

Claim 4

The valve structure of claim 2 wherein the ports are disposed in the said housing with their axes directed generally radially to the spindle axis.

Claim 5

The valve structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the inlet ports is provided for the introduction of at least one molding ingredient and is disposed in said housing generally radially directed toward the axis of the mold opening and wherein the said spindle is cylindrical and axially aligned with the mold opening and in its "valve open" position is positioned to provide communication between said chamber and said ports.

Claim 6

The construction of claim 4 wherein there are a plurality of said mixer elements, each of which comprises a pin supported by the spindle parallel to its axis and spaced radially therefrom for sliding movement in the head.

Claim 7

A valve positionable at a sprue leading to a mold cavity to control the flow of and to mix fast setting molding ingredients and comprising means defining a housing having an exit port connectable with a sprue and having inlet ports with their axes disposed generally radially to the exit port axis, a mixer head disposed in said housing in axial alignment with said exit port and being shaped in complementary fashion with the housing for axial movement within the housing between an open position wherein the head cooperates with the housing to define an open mixing chamber between the inlet ports, the head and the exit port, and a closed position wherein the head substantially fills the chamber, closes the inlet ports and ejects all ingredients from the chamber through the exit port, the outer portion of the mixer head being rotationally symmetric with an axis aligned with the exit port and rotatable on the axis in at least the open position, at least one mixer element supported in said head for positioning in said chamber in the open position of the head and for rotation with the head to thereby effect mixing of the ingredients in the chamber in the open position, and being cooperatively mounted within the mixing head and chamber to permit the inlet ports to be closed and the mixing chamber to be filled in the closed position of the head, rotary means connected with the head for rotating the head on its axis, and means also connected with the head for reciprocating the head between the open and closed positions.

Claim 8

A valve positionable at a sprue leading to a mold cavity to control the flow of and to mix fast setting molding ingredients and comprising means defining a housing having an exit port connectable with a sprue and having inlet ports with their axes disposed generally radially to the exit port axis, a mixer head disposed in said housing in axial alignment with said exit port and being shaped in complementary fashion with the housing for axial movement within the housing between an open position wherein the head cooperates with the housing to define an open mixing chamber between the inlet ports, the head and the exit port, and a closed position wherein the head substantially fills the chamber, closes the inlet ports and ejects all ingredients from the chamber through the exit port, the outer portion of the mixer head being rotationally symmetric with an axis aligned with the exit port and rotatable on the axis in at least the open position, at least one mixer element supported in said head for positioning in said chamber in the open position of the head and for rotation with the head to thereby effect mixing of the ingredients in the chamber in the open position, and being cooperatively mounted within the mixing head and chamber to permit the inlet ports to be closed and the mixing chamber to be filled in the closed position of the head, rotary means connected with the head for rotating the head on its axis, and means also connected with the head for reciprocating the head between the open and closed positions.

Claim 9

The valve as defined in claim 6 wherein there are a plurality of the said mixer elements, each of which comprises a pin supported in the head parallel to its axis and radially outwardly therefrom for sliding movement in the head.

Claim 10

The structure of claim 7 wherein in the closed position, the head and its supported pins engage the portion of the housing surrounding the exit port to eject ingredients completely from the chamber and in the open position the pins are spaced from said portion of the housing, and the remaining portion of the head is spaced farther from said portion of the housing than the pins to define said chamber.

Claim 11

The valve as defined in claim 6 wherein: the mixing head comprises a spindle rotatable about its own axis and reciprocable along its axis relative to the housing means, and a plurality of the mixing elements are supported in the spindle about the spindle axis, each element being mounted to slide in and out of the spindle parallel with the spindle axis whereby the elements may remain in the chamber in the open position of the head.

Claim 12

The valve as defined in claim 9 further including means connected with the housing for holding the mixing elements in the chamber when the spindle is in the open position.

Claim 13

The valve of claim 10 wherein: the mixing elements extends axially through the spindle from one end cooperating to define the chamber to an opposite end; and the means for holding includes resilient means operatively connected with the mixing elements at said opposite end of the spindle for biasing the mixing elements into the chamber when the spindle is in the open position.

Claim 14

The valve as defined in claim 9 wherein the spindle is comprised of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.