US4500280A — Vibration-aided feed device for a molding apparat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 103 words

A vibration-aided feed device for a molding apparatus of the kind comprising an injection head and a mold, a feed channel for bringing said injection head into communication with said mold, said feed device comprising a connecting body having a distribution channel defining at least part of said feed channel, a laterally extending vibrating arm linked to said connecting body, a vibration generator coupled to said vibrating arm for imparting vibrations to said connecting body without substantially increasing temperatures in said distribution channel, and resilient means floatingly mounting said connecting body for permitting vibration thereof relative to said injection head and said mold.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 103 words

A vibration-aided feed device for a molding apparatus of the kind comprising an injection head and a mold, a feed channel for bringing said injection head into communication with said mold, said feed device comprising a connecting body having a distribution channel defining at least part of said feed channel, a laterally extending vibrating arm linked to said connecting body, a vibration generator coupled to said vibrating arm for imparting vibrations to said connecting body without substantially increasing temperatures in said distribution channel, and resilient means floatingly mounting said connecting body for permitting vibration thereof relative to said injection head and said mold.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

A feed device according to claim 1, wherein said connecting body comprises another arm for linking said vibration arm to said connecting body.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

A feed device according to claim 1, wherein said vibrating arm extends generally obliquely relative to the axis of distribution channel in said connecting body.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 108 words

A molding apparatus comprising an injection head, a mold, a feed channel for bringing said injection head into communication with said mold and for carrying molding material to said mold, a vibration-aided feed device comprising a connecting body having a distribution channel defining at least part of said feed channel, a latterally extending vibrating arm linked to said connecting body, a vibration generator coupled to said vibrating arm, and resilient means floatingly mounting said connecting body to permit the vibration thereof relative to said mold and said injection head, whereby vibrations are imparted; to the molding material in said distribution channel for improving the flow and distribution thereof.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 108 words

A molding apparatus comprising an injection head, a mold, a feed channel for bringing said injection head into communication with said mold and for carrying molding material to said mold, a vibration-aided feed device comprising a connecting body having a distribution channel defining at least part of said feed channel, a latterally extending vibrating arm linked to said connecting body, a vibration generator coupled to said vibrating arm, and resilient means floatingly mounting said connecting body to permit the vibration thereof relative to said mold and said injection head, whereby vibrations are imparted; to the molding material in said distribution channel for improving the flow and distribution thereof.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 22 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said connecting body defines a spacer inserted between said injection head and said mold.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 71 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting body has a first transverse end face of particular configuration complementary to that of the corresponding one of said injection head and said mold, said connecting body having a second transverse end face which is a negative replica of said transverse end face, one of said transverse end faces being concave and the other of said transverse end faces being convex.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein resilient means connects said vibrating arm to a support structure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting body is interposed between two parts of said injection head.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 19 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting body is interposed between two parts of said mold.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting body is interposed between said mold and a part fixed thereto.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the length of said vibrating arm between said connecting body and said vibration generator is equal to a positive whole number multiple of the half-wavelength of vibrations produced by said vibration generator.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 16 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein cooling means is associated with said vibration arm.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 45 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting body comprises transverse end faces, the length of said connecting body measured between said transverse end faces is equal to a positive whole number multiple of the half-wavelength of vibrations produced by said vibration generator.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connectihg body has a half-width measured between distribution channel therethrough and said vibrating arm equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of vibrations produced by said vibration generator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 83 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the length of said vibrating arm between said connecting body and said vibration generator is equal to a positive whole number multiple of the half-wavelength of vibrations produced by said vibration generator, and wherein said connecting body has a half-width measured between distribution channel therethrough and said vibrating arm equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of vibrations produced by said vibration generator, whereby a nodal zone is formed in the middle of the distribution channel.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said connecting body comprises transverse end faces, the length of said connecting body measured between said transverse end faces is equal to a positive whole number multiple of the half-wavelength of vibrations produced by said vibration generator.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said vibration generator comprises a transducer adapted to produce mechanical vibrations in response to electric pulses.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 14 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said transducer is an ultrasonic transducer.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 16 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said connecting body is associated with heating means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 19, wherein at least part of said heating means surrounds an endpiece of said connecting body which is separate from and suitably secured to said connecting body.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 19 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said resilient means floatingly mounts said connecting body in a housing.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 46 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing has transverse walls, longitudinal clearance being provided between said connecting body and said transverse walls, in a rest position said longitudinal clearance being at least equal to the amplitude of vibrations produced by said vibration generator.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 24 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said longitudinal clearance is slightly greater than the amplitude of vibrations produced by said vibration generator.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said resilient means floatingly mounting said connecting body comprises a Belleville washer at each end of said connecting body, said Belleville washers together centering said connecting body in said housing, said connecting body having at each of its ends an axial extension on which the associated Belleville washer is received.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 16 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing is defined in said injection head.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing is defined in said mold.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 19 words

A molding apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said housing is formed in a part fixed to said mold.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1988-02-19	1988-08-20	1989-02-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1992-02-19	1992-08-20	1993-02-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1996-02-19	1996-08-20	1997-02-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vibration-aided feed device for a molding apparatus

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