Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus – With apparatus assembly or dismantling means or with idle part – For extrusion or injection type shaping means
Patent
1995-02-27
1996-10-15
Woo, Jay H.
Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus
With apparatus assembly or dismantling means or with idle part
For extrusion or injection type shaping means
249165, 249166, 264 19, 359530, 425469, 425808, 425DIG30, B29C 3330, B29D 1100
Patent
active
055652212
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mold matrix assemblies used in the manufacture of reflex reflector and lens units such as, for example, front and rear light units on automobiles. In particular, the invention is directed to spacing means for use in such matrix assemblies and the combination of the spacing means with mold elements in a matrix.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A reflective mold matrix consists of a plurality of mold pins such as optic pins or reflex pins that are assembled into a specific configuration. The matrix is used to produce an electroform block, by electroplating, and this block is then used in the manufacture of a mold which receives thermoplastic mold material, under pressure, for making optic and reflective devices, for example automobile light assemblies. The reflective prisms in a light assembly are the result of reflector or reflex mold pins used to reflect light back to a source directed at the light assembly and the optic elements therein may be used, for example, as directional signalling running and stop lights.
Some years ago, light assemblies on vehicles were generally flat, or located on flat areas of the vehicles, with reflective portions of the light assemblies often being incorporated in the bodywork of the vehicle. In many examples, the generally planar outer surfaces of the reflectors of the light assemblies were perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, or nearly so. However, in recent years, surfaces of vehicle bodies have been rounded off to provide more dramatic contours in an attempt to lower wind resistance and reduce surface friction and drag.
Accordingly, aerodynamics is playing an increasing role in the design and overall configuration of motor vehicles and this has presented challenges in the manufacture of light assemblies, for example front and rear light assemblies, in that those products must not only conform to or blend with the contour of the vehicle bodywork but still provide the reflectivity and optical standards required by law.
It is desirable therefore in the manufacture of a reflective mold matrix to find some way of orienting the mold elements so that the necessary reflectivity of the finished product is not lost in the curved portion thereof while matching the contour of the vehicle body.
An example of one attempt of meeting the requirement is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,946 of Mar. 29, 1988 to Cossetti. In this patent, reflex pins are machined such that their side surfaces are tapered towards the face of the matrix so that when the elements are grouped in a matrix, the tapered pins will provide the necessary curvature. However, while this may be effective, it is an expensive and time consuming way of dealing with the matter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the problem referred to above by providing spacers or wedges for use in combination with mold elements such as optic or reflex reflector pins, in the pin block or matrix assembly. The spacers or wedges are selectively located between rows or banks of mold elements in the matrix to provide the required orientation to the optic reflex pins. The result of this is that the necessary reflective surfaces from the prisms will return the required amount of reflected light towards a source even when the surface of the product is on a contoured portion of a light assembly on a vehicle.
According to one broad aspect, the invention relates to a wedge-shaped spacer for use in combination with mold elements in a matrix assembly, the spacer being selectively located between rows or banks of the mold elements to provide orientation to the elements on one side of the spacer with respect to those elements on the other side thereof thereby to compensate for axial changes in the orientation of the mold elements resulting from curvature of the matrix. The spacer comprises an elongated body having flat parallel side edges and converging faces tapering towards one another from a major edge to a minor edge. One of the faces has a surface profile to fit the
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DBM Reflex Enterprises Inc.
Leyson Joseph
Woo Jay H.
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