Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for forming a laminated preform having inner and outer first layers, inner and outer second layers within said first layers, and an innermost third layer, said apparatus comprising a conventional preform forming injection mold unit including a mold element and a cooperating core defining a mold cavity, at least one supply of thermoplastic resin under pressure and a separate supply of barrier material under pressure, a valve between said supplies and said mold unit, and means for actuating said valve in sequence to admit first a preselected quantity of thermoplastic resin to said mold cavity to form said first layers, then a preselected quantity of barrier material to said mold cavity to form said second layers, and finally more thermoplastic resin to said mold cavity to at least form said third layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
Apparatus for forming a laminated preform having inner and outer first layers, inner and outer second layers within said first layers, and an innermost third layer, said apparatus comprising a conventional preform forming injection mold unit including a mold element and a cooperating core defining a mold cavity, at least one supply of thermoplastic resin under pressure and a separate supply of barrier material under pressure, a valve between said supplies and said mold unit, and means for actuating said valve in sequence to admit first a preselected quantity of thermoplastic resin to said mold cavity to form said first layers, then a preselected quantity of barrier material to said mold cavity to form said second layers, and finally more thermoplastic resin to said mold cavity to at least form said third layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there is only one supply of thermoplastic resin and said means for actuating said valve in sequence is operable to supply said more thermoplastic resin from said one supply of thermoplastic resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are two supplies of thermoplastic resin and said means for actuating said valve in sequence is operable to supply said more thermoplastic resin from a second of said two supplies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
78 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are two separate supplies of said thermoplastic resin, said valve has a first inlet port coupled to a first of said two separate supplies of thermoplastic resin, a second inlet port coupled to said supply of barrier material, and a third inlet port coupled to a second of said two separate supplies, and said valve has flow control means for separately coupling each of said inlet ports to said mold unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein there is associated with each of said valve inlet ports a supply manifold, and said supply manifolds each having a separate temperature control system.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein there is associated with each of said valve inlet ports a supply manifold, and there being between said supply manifolds and said valve first and second inlet ports separate metering pots for controlling the volume of thermoplastic resin and barrier material supplied respectively to said first and second inlet ports.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein there is a check valve between each of said metering pots and a respective one of said manifolds for preventing return flow during the actuation of each of said metering pots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said supply manifolds each have a separate temperature control system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said manifolds are thermally isolated from one another.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said manifolds are thermally isolated from one another.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the operation sequence of said valve: closed; open to said first port; open to said second port; open to said third port; open to said first port; and closed.