Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – Forming continuous or indefinite length work – With mold element formation or removal
Patent
1994-02-04
1996-04-23
Vargot, Mathieu D.
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
Forming continuous or indefinite length work
With mold element formation or removal
264508, 264167, 2642093, 2642102, 264286, 425325, 4253261, 425396, 425451, B29C 5350
Patent
active
055100716
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the production of thermoplastic tubing and, more particularly, relates to a method and apparatus for producing small and large diameter thermoplastic tubing and composite tubular structures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,633 issued March 27, 1990 discloses an apparatus for producing plastic tubing in which a plurality of mold carriages each supporting a pair of clam shell mold blocks is mounted in a framework for reciprocal linear travel. First actuating means are employed for moving the carriages to an extrusion station, second actuating means are employed for opening and closing the clam shell mold blocks carried by the carriages, and third actuating means are employed for returning the carriages rearwardly to a start position.
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a single actuating means for moving the carriages and associated mold blocks in a reciprocal linear path to and from an extrusion station, thereby simplifying construction and operation of the apparatus.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved actuating means for closing and opening the mold blocks prior to and after molding of plastic tubing and composite tubular structures therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventions the actuating means for moving mold blocks along a linear path within a framework to and from an extrusion station are simplified by incorporating a plurality of actuating means into a single actuating means, thereby reducing costs, complexity of operation, and enhancing reliability of operation.
In its broad aspect, the apparatus of the invention for the production of thermoplastic tubing and composite tubular structures comprises, in combination, a supporting framework, a plurality of mold carriages mounted on said framework for reciprocal linear travel therealong, at least one mold block mounted on each of said mold carriages, each said mold block comprising a set of opposed mold segments mounted on a carriage for transverse linear reciprocal travel therealong for closing and opening of said mold block, actuating means for moving said opposed mold segments towards and away from each other, and actuating means for selectively moving said carriages with closed mold blocks along a linear path to an extrusion station and for selectively returning said carriages with open mold blocks along said linear path rearwardly past closed mold blocks.
In general, a first mold carriage is mounted for reciprocal linear travel on the framework on one side of the linear path and a second mold carriage is mounted for reciprocal linear travel on the framework on the diametrically opposite side of the linear path. The said linear path may be horizontal, vertical or inclined at an angle between the horizontal and vertical.
More particularly, in a preferred embodiment, a lower mold carriage is mounted for reciprocal linear travel on a lower portion of the framework and an upper mold carriage is mounted for linear reciprocal travel on an upper portion of the framework, and the actuating means for moving a plurality of mold carriages for reciprocal linear travel within the supporting framework preferably comprises a ball nut drive for each of the lower and upper carriages. The actuating means for closing and opening each set of opposed mold segments for transverse reciprocal linear travel preferably comprises a pair of transverse spaced-apart guide rails mounted on a mold carriage, means secured to each of the mold segments for guided reciprocal travel on the guide rails, and a piston cylinder assembly operatively interconnecting each mold segment to the respective mold carriage for extending and retracting the mold segments away from and towards each other.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The method and apparatus of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIGS. 1-6 diagrammatically illustrate the operation of the invention for the
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Bengough Joseph F.
Chapman Carl D.
Kime Frederick A.
Van Wonderen Lenard
Big "O" Inc.
Vargot Mathieu D.
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