Method and apparatus for manufacturing filled linkers
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a linker including a jacket radially confining a preformed tablet having an outer surface, the method comprising:
- a) grasping the tablet with a plurality of first pincers;
b) positioning the grasped tablet and first pincers with respect to a molding apparatus;
c) injecting jacket material to substantially cover the outer tablet surface and at least a portion of the plurality of first pincers to form the jacket;
d) extracting the jacketed tablet and the plurality of first pincers from the molding apparatus; and
e) removing the first pincers from the jacketed tablet.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a linker of the type having an injection molded jacket radially confining a preformed tablet. The method includes grasping the tablet about the outer surface with a plurality of pincers and positioning the grasped tablet and the pincers with respect to a molding apparatus. The method also includes supporting the tablet via the pincers and injecting jacket material to cover the outer tablet surface and the pincers. The method further includes extracting the jacketed tablet from the molding apparatus and removing the pincers from the jacketed tablet. The method may also include supporting and longitudinally positioning the tablet within the mold via a plurality of additional pincers.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a linker including a jacket radially confining a preformed tablet having an outer surface, the method comprising:
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a) grasping the tablet with a plurality of first pincers; b) positioning the grasped tablet and first pincers with respect to a molding apparatus; c) injecting jacket material to substantially cover the outer tablet surface and at least a portion of the plurality of first pincers to form the jacket; d) extracting the jacketed tablet and the plurality of first pincers from the molding apparatus; and e) removing the first pincers from the jacketed tablet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A molding apparatus for forming a linker having a preformed tablet and an injection molded jacket, comprising:
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an inner surface defining a mold interior; and a plurality of pincers movable between a first position wherein the plurality of pincers are disposed within the mold interior and a second position wherein the plurality of pincers are not disposed within the mold interior. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification