Apparatus and methods using multiple extruders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10870226-B2
Application number	US-201916366840-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2019
Priority date	Mar 27, 2019
Publication date	Dec 22, 2020
Grant date	Dec 22, 2020

Abstract

A molding apparatus includes a plurality of axially extending extruders. Each of the extruders is fluidly connectable with a common mold whereby the mold may be concurrently filled from each of the extruders. Each of the extruders has a feed inlet, and the feed inlets are axially spaced from each other. Another molding apparatus includes a plurality of axially extending extruders, and a heated conduit in flow communication with the extruders. The heated conduit is connectable to a mold, whereby the mold may be concurrently fillable from each of the extruders.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A molding apparatus comprising:
(a) a plurality of extruders, each extruder of the plurality of extruders has a longitudinal axis, wherein each extruder of the plurality of extruders is fluidly connectable with a common mold whereby the mold is concurrently filled from each extruder of the plurality of extruders, wherein each extruder of the plurality of extruders is positioned side-by-side whereby the longitudinal axis of each extruder of the plurality of extruders extends in a common direction; and,
(b) each extruder of the plurality of extruders has a feed inlet, an output end, and an extrusion barrel having a length extending between the feed inlet and the output end, wherein the extrusion barrel of each extruder of the plurality of extruders is fluidically isolated along its length from the extrusion barrel of other extruders of the plurality of extruders,

wherein the feed inlet of one extruder of the plurality of extruders is spaced a first distance in the common direction from the common mold and the feed inlet of a second extruder of the plurality of extruders is spaced a second distance in the common direction from the common mold and the second distance is greater than the first distance.

2. The molding apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least two extruders of the plurality of extruders have different axial lengths.

3. The molding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of extruders feed into a common manifold and the common manifold is connectable to the mold.

4. The molding apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of extruders comprises two extruders that have a common axial length, each extruder of the two extruders having a common axial length having an extruder nozzle outlet at the output end and one of the two extruders further comprises a conduit extending from the extruder nozzle outlet to a manifold.

5. The molding apparatus of claim 3 wherein at least two extruders of the plurality of extruders further comprise an axially extending conduit extending from the output end of the extruder to the common manifold and the axially extending conduits have differing axial lengths.

6. The molding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of hoppers in flow communication with the feed inlets.

7. The molding apparatus of claim 6 wherein each extruder of the plurality of extruders has one hopper of the plurality of hoppers in flow communication therewith.

8. The molding apparatus of claim 1 wherein a common hopper is provided for at least two extruders of the plurality of extruders.

9. The molding apparatus of claim 3 wherein a first extruder is provided with an additive and the common manifold further comprises a mechanical member for blending an output of the first extruder with an output of at least one other extruder of the plurality of extruders.

10. The molding apparatus of claim 1 further comprising
a heated conduit in flow communication with the plurality of extruders, wherein the heated conduit is connectable to a mold, whereby the mold is concurrently fillable from each extruder of the plurality of extruders.

11. The molding apparatus of claim 10 wherein the heated conduit has a length extending in a direction of flow from an upstream end of the heated conduit to a downstream end of the heated conduit and at least some extruders of the plurality of extruders are in flow communication with the heated conduit at different locations along the length of the heated conduit.

12. The molding apparatus of claim 10 wherein the longitudinal axis of at least some extruders of the plurality of extruders extends at an angle to a direction of flow in the heated conduit.

13. The molding apparatus of claim 10 wherein an included angle located between the longitudinal axis of at least some extruders of the plurality of extruders and a direction of flow in the heated conduit is up to 90°.

14. The molding apparatus of claim 10 wherein an included angle located between the longitudinal axis of at least some extruders of the plurality of extruders and a direction of flow in the heated conduit is an acute angle.

15. The molding apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of hoppers in flow communication with the plurality of extruders wherein at least some of the hoppers are spaced apart from each other along the direction of flow.

16. The molding apparatus of claim 15 wherein each extruder of the plurality of extruders has one hopper of the plurality of hoppers in flow communication therewith.

17. The molding apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a common hopper in flow communication with at least two extruders of the plurality of extruders.

18. The molding apparatus of claim 10 wherein a first extruder is provided with an additive and the heated conduit further comprises a mechanical member for blending an output of the first extruder with an output of at least one other extruder of the plurality of extruders.

19. The molding apparatus of claim 10 wherein the heated conduit is provided with a feedstock ejection assist member.

20. The molding apparatus of claim 19 wherein the feedstock ejection assist member comprises a plunger at an upstream end of the heated conduit.

Assignees

• Omachron Intellectual Property Inc

Inventors

• Conrad Wayne Ernest

Classifications

• B29C45/74

  of the injection unit · CPC title

• B29C45/60

  Screws · CPC title

• B29C45/13 Primary

  using two or more injection units co-operating with a single mould · CPC title

• B29C45/47

  using screws (B29C45/54 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C45/03

  Injection moulding apparatus (transfer moulding B29C45/02) · CPC title