Gravity injection of molding material for compression molding and related methods
View Patent ↗A molding apparatus includes a bottom platen, a bottom mold portion carried by the bottom platen, and a top platen overlying the bottom platen and the bottom mold portion. The top platen includes slots extending therethrough for receiving a molding material. The molding material is to be gravity deposited into the bottom mold portion. A top mold portion is carried by the top platen and is moveable between a molding material loading position and an article forming position. An actuator is coupled to the top mold portion for moving the top mold portion between the molding material loading position and the article forming position. The molding material loading position corresponds to when the top mold portion is non-overlying the bottom mold portion so that the molding material can be gravity deposited therein. The article forming position corresponds to when the top mold portion is overlying the bottom mold portion for molding an article.
1. A molding apparatus comprising:
a bottom platen;
a bottom mold portion carried by said bottom platen;
a top platen overlying said bottom platen and said bottom mold portion, and including at least one slot extending therethrough for receiving a molding material, the molding material to be gravity deposited into said bottom mold portion;
a top mold portion carried by said top platen and moveable between a molding material loading position and an article forming position; and
an actuator coupled to said top mold portion for moving said top mold portion between the molding material loading position and the article forming position, with the molding material loading position corresponding to when said top mold portion is non-overlying said bottom mold portion so that the molding material can be gravity deposited therein, and with the article forming position corresponding to when said top mold portion is overlying said bottom mold portion for molding an article.
2. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a press for pressing said bottom platen and said bottom mold portion towards said top mold portion for molding the article.
3. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a press for pressing said top platen and said top mold portion towards said bottom mold portion for molding the article.
4. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said bottom mode portion is stationary when said top mold portion is in the molding material loading position and in the article forming position.
5. The molding apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises a piston.
6. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one slot in said top platen includes a plurality of slots.
7. The molding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the slots in the plurality of slots is partitioned from the other slots.
8. The molding apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of slots have different sizes.
9. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the molding material comprises a thermoplastic material.
10. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the molding material comprises a thermosetting material.
11. The molding apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the molding material comprises a polymer.
12. The molding apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the polymer comprises fiber.
13. A molding apparatus comprising:
a bottom platen;
a bottom mold portion carried by said bottom platen;
a top platen overlying said bottom platen and said bottom mold portion, and including at least one slot extending therethrough for receiving a molding material, the molding material to be gravity deposited into said bottom mold portion;
a top mold portion carried by said top platen and moveable between a molding material loading position and an article forming position; and
an actuator coupled to said top mold portion for moving said top mold portion between the molding material loading position and the article forming position, with
the molding material loading position corresponding to when said top mold portion is non-overlying said bottom mold portion so that the molding material can be gravity deposited therein, and
the article forming position corresponding to said top platen carrying said top mold portion on an underside thereof while overlying said bottom mold portion and said bottom platen, with said bottom and top platens not being positioned between said bottom and top mold portions for molding an article.
14. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a press for pressing said bottom platen and said bottom mold portion towards said top mold portion for molding the article.
15. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 further comprising a press for pressing said top platen and said top mold portion towards said bottom mold portion for molding the article.
16. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said bottom mode portion is stationary when said top mold portion is in the molding material loading position and in the article forming position.
17. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said actuator comprises a piston.
18. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the at least one slot in said top platen includes a plurality of slots.
19. The molding apparatus according to claim 18 wherein at least one of the slots in the plurality of slots is partitioned from the other slots.
20. The molding apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the plurality of slots have different sizes.
21. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the molding material comprises a thermoplastic material.
22. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the molding material comprises a thermosetting material.
23. The molding apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the molding material comprises a polymer.
24. The molding apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the polymer comprises fiber.