Claims
- 1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
an extruder configured to produce a continuous flow of molten plastic; a plurality of mold assemblies; and a delivery system that provides an uninterrupted transfer of the continuous flow of molten plastic from the extruder to the plurality of mold assemblies.
- 2. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery system does not include an accumulator and the molten plastic is forced into the mold assemblies under pressure generated by the extruder.
- 3. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery system includes valves that route the continuous flow of molten plastic between each of the plurality of mold assemblies.
- 4. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the mold assemblies comprise:
a frame assembly having a base frame and a tie rod; a stationary platen supported by the frame assembly; a dynamic platen supported by the frame assembly; wherein the dynamic platen has an open position and a closed position; locking assembly comprising a wedge assembly supported by the dynamic platen and an adjustable wedge collar disposed on the tie rod; and wherein the dynamic platen is configured to travel over the adjustable wedge collar when the dynamic platen is moved between the closed position and the open position.
- 5. The mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the base frame includes a plurality of rails that support the dynamic platen.
- 6. The mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking assembly further comprises:
a wedge guide on which the wedge assembly travels, wherein the wedge guide is connected to the dynamic platen; and a hydraulic cylinder that is configured to insert and withdraw the wedge assembly into a position adjacent the adjustable wedge collar.
- 7. The mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking assembly further comprises:
a wedge wear surface on the wedge assembly; and a collar wear surface on the adjustable wedge collar, wherein the collar wear surface is configured for repeated contact with the wedge wear surface.
- 8. The mold assembly of claim 4, wherein the dynamic platen further comprises a top section, a middle section, a bottom section and a plurality of sleeve assemblies that are configured to align the top section, middle section and bottom section.
- 9. The mold assembly of claim 8, wherein the sleeve assemblies are configured to travel along the tie rod.
- 10. A mold assembly comprising:
a frame assembly having a base frame and a tie rod; a stationary platen supported by the frame assembly; a dynamic platen supported by the frame assembly; wherein the dynamic platen has an open position and a closed position; a locking assembly comprising a wedge assembly supported by the dynamic platen and an adjustable wedge collar disposed on the tie rod; and wherein the dynamic platen is configured to travel over the adjustable wedge collar when the dynamic platen is moved between the closed position and the open position.
- 11. The mold assembly of claim 10, wherein the frame assembly further comprises a vertical frame, wherein the tie rod connects the vertical frame to the stationary platen.
- 12. The mold assembly of claim 11, wherein the base frame includes a plurality of rails that support the weight of the dynamic platen.
- 13. The mold assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly further comprises:
a wedge guide on which the wedge assembly travels, wherein the wedge guide is connected to the dynamic platen; and a hydraulic cylinder that is configured to insert and withdraw the wedge assembly into a position adjacent the adjustable wedge collar.
- 14. The mold assembly of claim 13, wherein the locking assembly further comprises:
a wedge wear surface on the wedge assembly; and a collar wear surface on the adjustable wedge collar, wherein the collar wear surface is configured for repeated contact with the wedge wear surface.
- 15. The mold assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a locking wedge collar positioned adjacent the adjustable wedge collar.
- 16. The mold assembly of claim 10, wherein the dynamic platen further comprises a top section, a middle section, a bottom section and a plurality of sleeve assemblies that are configured to align the top section, middle section and bottom section.
- 17. The mold assembly of claim 16, wherein the sleeve assemblies are configured to travel along the tie rod.
- 18. The injection molding apparatus of claim 10, wherein the insertion of the wedge assembly into a position adjacent the adjustable wedge collar creates a compressive force between the stationary platen and the dynamic platen.
- 19. An injection molding process, wherein molten plastic cools to form plastic parts, the method comprising the steps of:
forcing a continuous flow of molten plastic into a delivery system; directing the continuous flow of molten plastic from the delivery system directly into a first mold assembly until the first mold assembly is full of molten plastic; and directing the continuous flow of molten plastic directly into a second mold assembly until the second mold assembly is full of molten plastic.
- 20. The process of claim 19, wherein the method comprises the additional steps of:
allowing the molten plastic to cool in the first mold assembly, wherein the cooled molten plastic becomes the plastic part; and removing the plastic part from the first mold assembly.
- 21. The process of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:
directing the continuous flow of molten plastic directly into a third mold assembly until the third mold assembly is full of molten plastic; directing the continuous flow of molten plastic directly into a fourth mold assembly until the fourth mold assembly is full of molten plastic; removing the plastic part from the first mold assembly; preparing the first mold assembly for a subsequent injection of molten plastic from the delivery system; and directing the continuous flow of molten plastic into the first mold assembly.
- 22. The process of claim 19, wherein the process is configured such that the time required to fill the second, third and fourth mold assemblies is approximately equal to the amount of time required to cool the molten plastic in the first mold assembly, remove the plastic part from the first mold assembly and prepare the first mold assembly for a subsequent injection of molten plastic from the delivery system.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/368,490 filed Mar. 27, 2002, entitled Continuous Production of Plastic Pallets, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60368490 |
Mar 2002 |
US |