IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,576,566
Granted Patent B2
US 12,576,566 · App. 18/550,442 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Foam molding method, control method for injection molding machine for foam molding, and injection molding machine for foam molding

Inventor: Nobuyuki Asanuma (Numazu, JP)
Assignee: Shibaura Machine Co., Ltd.
B29C44/422B29C44/02B29C44/3442B29C44/425B29C44/60B29C45/23B29C45/47B29C2945/76545B29C2945/76665B29C2945/76688B29K2105/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,576,566
App. No.
18/550,442
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A foam molding method includes: moving a screw backward to take air into a heating barrel through a nozzle part in a state in which a shut-off nozzle is opened, the shut-off nozzle that opens or closes the nozzle part for injecting the molten resin and is disposed on a heating barrel; closing the shut-off nozzle and moving the screw forward, to diffuse the air taken into the heating barrel, in the molten resin in the heating barrel; feeding the molten resin forward while dispersing the air as the air bubbles in the molten resin by moving the screw backward while rotating it in a state in which the shut-off nozzle is closed; and opening the shut-off nozzle, to inject the molten resin containing the dispersed air bubbles into the cavity.

Claims (21)

1 . A foam molding method for molding a foam molded article by injecting molten resin containing air bubbles that are uniformly dispersed, into a cavity formed by a mold, the foam molding method comprising:

moving a screw backward to take air into a barrel through a nozzle part in a state in which a shut-off nozzle is opened, the shut-off nozzle disposed on the barrel for kneading the molten resin in which the screw is disposed, and opening and closing the nozzle part for injecting the molten resin;

closing the shut-off nozzle and moving the screw forward to diffuse the air taken into the barrel, in the molten resin in the barrel;

feeding the molten resin forward while dispersing the air as the air bubbles in the molten resin by moving the screw backward while rotating the screw in a state in which the shut-off nozzle is closed; and

opening the shut-off nozzle, to inject the molten resin containing the dispersed air bubbles into the cavity.

2 . A foam molding method for molding a foam molded article by injecting molten resin containing air bubbles that are uniformly dispersed, into a cavity formed by a mold, the foam molding method comprising:

moving a screw backward, the screw disposed inside a barrel in which the molten resin is kneaded, and opening a supply port that is disposed in front of the screw in the barrel and capable of switching between a state in which air is able to be supplied into the barrel and a state in which the air is unable to be supplied into the barrel, to take the air into the barrel through the supply port;

moving the screw forward and closing the supply port, to diffuse the air taken into the barrel in the molten resin in the barrel;

feeding the molten resin forward while dispersing the air as the air bubbles in the molten resin by moving the screw backward while rotating the screw in a state in which the supply port is closed; and

injecting the molten resin containing the dispersed air bubbles into the cavity.

3 . A foam molding method for molding a foam molded article by injecting molten resin containing air bubbles that are uniformly dispersed, into a cavity formed by a mold, the foam molding method comprising:

moving a screw backward, the screw disposed inside a barrel in which the molten resin is kneaded, and opening a supply port that is disposed in front of the screw in the barrel and capable of switching between a state where compressed gas is able to be supplied into the barrel and a state where the compressed gas is unable to be supplied into the barrel, to take the compressed gas into the barrel through the supply port;

moving the screw forward and closing the supply port, to diffuse the compressed gas taken into the barrel, in the molten resin in the barrel;

feeding the molten resin forward while dispersing the compressed gas as the air bubbles in the molten resin by moving the screw backward while rotating the screw in a state in which the supply port is closed; and

injecting the molten resin containing the dispersed air bubbles into the cavity.

4 . The foam molding method according to claim 3 , wherein a pressure of the compressed gas is lower than 1 MPa.

5 . A control method for an injection molding machine for foam molding for molding a foam molded article by injecting molten resin containing air bubbles that are uniformly dispersed, into a cavity formed by a mold, the control method comprising:

moving a screw backward to take air into a barrel through a nozzle part in a state in which a shut-off nozzle is opened, the shut-off nozzle disposed on the barrel for kneading the molten resin in which the screw is disposed, and opening and closing the nozzle part for injecting the molten resin;

closing the shut-off nozzle and moving the screw forward, to diffuse the air taken into the barrel, in the molten resin in the barrel;

feeding the molten resin forward while dispersing the air as the air bubbles in the molten resin by moving the screw backward while rotating the screw in a state in which the shut-off nozzle is closed; and

opening the shut-off nozzle, to inject the molten resin containing the dispersed air bubbles into the cavity.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: ASANUMA, NOBUYUKI
To: SHIBAURA MACHINE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064895/0064 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-042726 · Mar 16, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240165860A1 · May 23, 2024
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