Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for vacuum injection molding

US6231333A · kind A · utility

59Cited by
17References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 24, 1995
Grant dateMay 15, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 24, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S425/812
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus and method utilize vacuum injected molding of a liquid in a plurality of mold cells for solidification therein. An injection head includes spaced apart vacuum and injection slots positionable atop a mold plate in flow communication with the mold cells therein. Relative axial sliding is effected between the injection head and the mold plate for sequentially evacuating gas from the mold cells using a continuous vacuum followed in turn by sequentially injecting into the evacuated mold cells the liquid from a continuous source thereof. Sliding of the injection head over the mold plate automatically provides self valving for sequentially evacuating and filling the mold cells from the same side of the mold plate. In a preferred embodiment, the vacuum and injection slots are linked together at the mold plate so that surface tension of the liquid restrains flow of the liquid from the injection slot to the vacuum slot while allowing gas flow therebetween for effecting the vacuum in the mold cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.