System and methods for forming a sole structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11673358-B2
Application number	US-201916687548-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 18, 2019
Priority date	Nov 21, 2018
Publication date	Jun 13, 2023
Grant date	Jun 13, 2023

Abstract

A molding system and a method for forming a sole structure 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 method of molding a sole structure, the method comprising:
injecting a molten polymeric material through a nozzle of an injection device and into a mold, wherein the injection device comprises a pressure sensor coupled to the nozzle, the pressure sensor adapted to detect a pressure in the nozzle;
receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold;
adjusting a flow rate of the molten polymeric material through the nozzle based on a pressure in the nozzle detected by the pressure sensor; and
releasing the molten polymeric material from the mold to allow for expansion of the molten polymeric material to form the sole structure.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining positive pressure on the molten polymeric material in the mold after completing injection of the molten polymeric material into the mold.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the flow rate comprises electronically adjusting a screw attached to the injection device in response to a signal from the pressure sensor.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising curing the molten polymeric material.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming, prior to the injecting, a molten single phase solution (SPS) comprising a blowing agent and the molten polymeric material, wherein the blowing agent is dissolved in the molten polymeric material.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the molten polymeric material comprises a combination of pellets of different compositions and/or sizes that are melted together to form the molten polymeric material.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a temperature of the molten polymeric material during the injecting using a temperature sensor, and adjusting the flow rate of the molten polymeric material based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the temperature sensor is located in a barrel of the injection device, and wherein the barrel is located upstream of the nozzle.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the flow rate is further based on a deviation of measured pressure from a pressure profile.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• B29C44/348

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

• B29D35/122

  Soles · CPC title

• B29K2105/04

  cellular or porous · CPC title

• B29C44/3446

  Feeding the blowing agent · CPC title

• A43B13/04 Primary

  Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre · CPC title