| 摘要 |
A molding apparatus for making a continuous molded article or continuous series of molded articles generally includes a pair of spaced-apart molding assemblies, which cooperatively generate a movable mold having a dynamic mold-cavity therein, each of the molding assemblies including a series of movable mold segments, which are adapted to fit together to form a portion of the dynamic mold-cavity, a drive mechanism for conveying the mold segments along a path, and a dispenser for dispensing a moldable, expandable material into the dynamic mold-cavity. |
| 主权项 |
1. A molding apparatus for making a continuous molded article or continuous series of molded articles, comprising:
a. a pair of spaced-apart molding assemblies, which cooperatively generate a movable mold having a dynamic mold-cavity therein, each of said molding assemblies comprising:
1) a series of movable mold segments, which are adapted to fit together to form a portion of said dynamic mold-cavity, and2) a drive mechanism for conveying said mold segments along a path at a controlled rate, each of said mold segments affixed to said drive mechanism with a predetermined alignment to continuously form said portion of said dynamic mold-cavity as said mold segments are conveyed along said path; b. a dispenser for dispensing a moldable material into said dynamic mold-cavity at a controlled rate; c. a film-feeding mechanism for feeding one or more films from a source thereof at a controlled rate and into said dynamic mold-cavity such that said films are interposed between said moldable material and said molding assemblies; d. a controller for controlling at least one of said drive mechanism, dispenser, and film-feeding mechanism; e. an indicator associated with one or more of said mold segments; and f. a sensor positioned on said molding apparatus for detecting the presence of said indicator, said sensor being operative to send a signal to said controller upon detecting the presence of said indicator at a predetermined location on said apparatus, wherein: upon receipt of said signal from said sensor, said controller changes said rate of at least one of said conveyance of said mold segments, dispensation of said moldable material, and feeding of said films, said controller is adapted to operate in a plurality of modes, and for each of said modes, said receipt of said signal from said sensor results in a predetermined response from said controller, said plurality of modes including at least one of: a first mode, wherein receipt of said signal from said sensor results in at least one of an increase in said rate of film feeding and a decrease in said rate of said mold-segment conveyance, a second mode, wherein receipt of said signal from said sensor results in an increase in said rate of dispensation of said moldable material, and a third mode, wherein receipt of said signal from said sensor results in a decrease in said rate of dispensation of said moldable material and at least one of an increase in said rate of film feeding and a decrease in said rate of said mold-segment conveyance. |
