Method of automatically decorating articles as they are in-mold formed automatically

Claim 3

In the method of automatically, in-mold, decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: preforming said tape of continuous length, equal to multiples of the length of said molds to be so positioned in the molds, prior to so positioning said tape in the molds, and moving such length of said tape into and through the molds sequentially for so decorating said articles in sequential molding cycles.

Claim 4

In the method of automatically, in-mold, decorating articles, as set forth in claim 2, the further steps comprising: maintaining said tape so positioned in the molds for each of said molding cycles.

Claim 5

In the method of automatically, in mold, decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further step comprising heating said mold.

Claim 6

In the method of automatically, in mold, decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: heating said molds; and cooling the molds for forming said articles complete and decorated.

Claim 7

In the method of automatically, in mold, decorating articles as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: heating said molds; and cooling the mold adjacent the carrier layer of the tape.

Claim 8

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: forming said molds with a cavity portion of the form of the articles to be molded, forming said molds with a plunger portion complementary to said cavity mold portion, and so positioning said tape intermediate said mold plunger and mold cavity portions, to so form the unitary decorated, articles therebetween.

Claim 9

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: so positioning a tape in the molds from a supply source and to a take-up source outwardly of the molds, and so positioning the tape in the molds intermediate said supply and take-up source.

Claim 10

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: so positioning a tape in the molds from a supply source and to a take-up source, outwardly of the molds, positioning the tape intermediate the supply and take-up sources, and positioning said supply and take-up sources substantially in the plane of said strip so disposed in the molds.

Claim 11

The method of automatically, in mold, decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1 wherein: the decorative portion includes an adhesive coating for further adherence to the article so formed in the molding cycle.

Claim 12

The method of claim 1 wherein said decorating tape further comprises a primer coating underlying said carrier layer.

Claim 13

The method of claim 1 wherein said decorative portion of said tape further comprises an abrasive layer.

Claim 14

The method of claim 1 wherein said decorating tape further comprises a carrier release layer.

Claim 15

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: forming said molds with interfacing portions, and positioning a continuous length of said tape adjacent said molds, so disposing a length thereof in the molds and at said interface portions thereof.

Claim 16

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: forming the molds with cavity portions of the intended forms of said articles, and so disposing a length of decorating tape in place thereof in the molds and at said cavity portions.

Claim 17

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles, as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: pre-positioning the tape, during the molding cycle, intermediate the molds, and moving the tape so pre-positioned out of the molds, on completion of the molding cycle.

Claim 18

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: heating the molds, to cause the plastic materials to flow into and fill said molds, and to thereby so interface and unite with the material decorating tape, and cooling the molds to produce said so decorated and completed plastic articles.

Claim 19

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles, as set forth in claim 17, the further step comprising: forming said tape with a carrier face portion of the tape thermally inert to the so-heated molds.

Claim 20

In the method of automatically, in-mold decorating articles as set forth in claim 1, the further steps comprising: removing the so decorated articles, on completion of the molding cycle, and positioning a further length of decorating material into the molds, to repeat the molding decorating cycle.

Claim 23

The method of claim 20 wherein said tape further comprises a primer coating underlying said carrier layer.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20 wherein said decorative portion of said tape further comprises an abrasive layer.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20 wherein said tape further comprises a carrier release layer.

Claim 26

A continuous method of decorating articles during the molding of said articles from a heated plastic material in a mold cavity having the shape of said article, said mold cavity formed by the union of mold members comprising: (a) positioning in said mold cavity a predetermined length of tape from a continuous source of supply of said tape, said tape having a carrier layer and a decorative portion including a thermally activatable adhesive layer facing the direction of entry of plastic material into said mold cavity, said decorative portion being releasable from said carrier layer by the flow and pressure of said heated plastic material (b) filling said mold cavity with a plastic material under heat and pressure causing said plastic material to contact said decorative portion and bond said length of tape to said article as it is formed and thereby releasing said carrier layer; (c) allowing said plastic material to form said article having said length of tape bonded thereto; (d) removing a decorated molded article from said mold cavity; (e) removing substantially the entire released carrier layer from said mold, thereby advancing said length of tape through said mold members by means of said carrier layer a next predetermined length; and (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) continuously to produce a plurality of decorated molded articles.

Claim 27

A continuous method of decorating articles during the molding of said articles from a heated plastic material in a mold cavity having the shape of said article, said mold cavity formed by the union of mold members comprising: (a) positioning in said mold cavity a predetermined length of tape from a continuous source of supply of said tape, said tape having a carrier layer and a decorative portion including a thermally activatable adhesive layer facing the direction of entry of plastic material into said mold cavity, said decorative portion being releasable from said carrier layer by the flow and pressure of said heated plastic material (b) filling said mold cavity with a plastic material under heat and pressure causing said plastic material to contact said decorative portion and bond said length of tape to said article as it is formed and thereby releasing said carrier layer; (c) allowing said plastic material to form said article having said length of tape bonded thereto; (d) removing a decorated molded article from said mold cavity; (e) removing substantially the entire released carrier layer from said mold, thereby advancing said length of tape through said mold members by means of said carrier layer a next predetermined length; and (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) continuously to produce a plurality of decorated molded articles.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24 wherein said tape further comprises a primer coating underlying said carrier layer.

Claim 29

The method of claim 24 wherein said decorative portion of said tape further comprises an abrasive layer.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24 wherein said tape further comprises a carrier release layer.