THERMOPLASTIC MOLDING PROCESS AND APPARATUS

摘要

A system and method for forming an article from thermoplastic material and fiber. The method includes heating thermoplastic material to form a molten thermoplastic material for blending with the fiber. The molten thermoplastic material is blended with the fibers to form a molten composite material havi ng a concentration of fiber by weight. The molten composite material may then b e extruded through dynamic dies to deliver discrete controlled material that i s gravitated onto a lower portion of a mold. The lower portion of the mold may be moved in space and time while receiving the flow of composite material to deposit a predetermined quantity of molten composite material thereon conforming to mold cavities of the lower and an upper portion of the mold. T he upper portion of the mold may be pressed against the predetermined quantity of molten composite material and closing on the lower portion of the mold to fo rm the article.