Tool, tool system and method for the production of particle foam parts
The present invention relates to a tool, a tool system and a method for the production of particle foam parts, in particular for the manufacture of shoe soles. The shoe sole may be manufactured by welding foam particles using electromagnetic waves. The tool may comprise two mold halves forming a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of the shoe sole. The tool may be arranged between two capacitor plates. The mold cavity may be filled with the foam particles. The tool may then be closed and subjected to electromagnetic waves, in particular radio waves or microwaves, introduced into the mold cavity via the capacitor plates. The foam particles heated by the electromagnetic waves and at least partially fuse or bake together.
1 . A tool for the manufacture of a shoe sole, the tool comprising
two mold halves forming a mold cavity corresponding to the shape of the shoe sole between two capacitor plates,
wherein at least one of the two mold halves is made of a material which is transparent to electromagnetic waves, has a dielectric boundary wall which bounds the mold cavity, and has at least one support which serves to support the boundary wall on the capacitor plate on the side facing away from the mold cavity and which form at least one hollow space, and
wherein at least one trimming body or a trimming fluid is provided in at least one of the at least one hollow space, abutting the boundary wall, and wherein when a trimming fluid is provided, the trimming fluid is water, oil, or gel.
2 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary wall and the at least one support are monolithic.
3 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the boundary wall has a substantially constant thickness.
4 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one support runs roughly parallel to a pressing direction.
5 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the tool further has connections for a tempering medium, which flows through the one or the several hollow spaces.
6 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow space or at least one of the several hollow spaces has an opening through which the at least one trimming bodies are inserted.
7 . The tool according to claim 6 , wherein the opening faces the side facing away from the mold cavity.
8 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein both of the two mold halves are made of a material which is transparent to electromagnetic waves.
9 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the two mold halves has an opening leading into the hollow space.
10 . The tool according to claim 9 , wherein the opening faces the side facing away from the mold cavity.
11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mold comprises a plurality of hollow spaces connected to one another for fluidic communication.
12 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow space has a shaped element for position and/or fixing a trimming body in the at least one hollow space.
13 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one hollow space has a latching element for position and/or fixing a trimming body in the at least one hollow space.
14 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the mold comprises a plurality of hollow spaces connected to each other through openings in the at least one support.
15 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the mold further comprises a connection for vacuum and/or compressed air to the at least one hollow space.
16 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein at least a partial volume of the at least one hollow space is bounded by a cover.
17 . The tool according to claim 16 , wherein the cover is mounted with variable height.
18 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the mold further comprises a trimming body removeably placed in the at least one hollow space.
19 . The tool according to claim 18 , wherein the trimming body is formed of plastic.
20 . The tool according to claim 1 , wherein the mold further comprises a connection plate mounted between one of the capacitor plates and one of the mold halves.