System and methods for a foaming process

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11491690-B2
Application number	US-201916687531-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2019
Priority date	Nov 21, 2018
Publication date	Nov 8, 2022
Grant date	Nov 8, 2022

Abstract

A foaming process and a method for operation of the foaming process are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A molding system, comprising:
a plurality of molds;
a plurality of chambers that each include one of the plurality of molds;
a plurality of automated injectors, each automated injector coupled to one of the plurality of molds, and each automated injector including a nozzle and a pressure sensor positioned in the nozzle that is configured to detect a pressure therein;
a molten polymeric material that is injectable into the plurality of molds through the plurality of automated injectors,
wherein each automated injector is independently controllable to substantially maintain a pressure profile during injection.

2. The molding system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of automated injectors are adapted to operate simultaneously to inject the molten polymeric material into the plurality of molds.

3. The molding system of claim 1 , further comprising a computing device that is configured to adjust a flow rate through each automated injector in response to a signal from its pressure sensor.

4. The molding system of claim 1 , wherein each automated injector includes a temperature sensor located in the automated injector.

5. The molding system of claim 4 , wherein each automated injector includes a barrel and a screw that is operable for advancing the molten polymeric material through the barrel, and wherein, in each automated injector, the temperature sensor is positioned downstream of the screw and upstream of the nozzle.

6. The molding system of claim 5 , further comprising a computing device that is configured to adjust a flow rate through each automated injector in response to a signal from the pressure sensor in the automated injector and a signal from the temperature sensor in the automated injector.

7. A molding system, comprising:
a chamber, comprising:
a mold, and
a port;

an automated injector comprising a nozzle that attaches to the port; and
a pressure sensor positioned in the nozzle and configured to detect a pressure therein,
wherein a pressure of a material injected into the mold by the automated injector is adjustable in response to a signal from the pressure sensor to thereby substantially maintain a pressure profile during injection.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Hannemann Shayne
• Mcconnell Kimberly Nichole
• Meyer Justin Andrew
• Pollard Rick Alan

Classifications

• B29C44/3446 Primary

  Feeding the blowing agent · CPC title

• B29C2945/7604

  Temperature · CPC title

• B29C44/348

  by regulating the temperature and/or the pressure, e.g. suppression of foaming until the pressure is rapidly decreased · CPC title

• B29C2945/76006

  Pressure · CPC title

• B29C2945/76381

  Injection · CPC title