MOLDED COMPONENTS
First Claim
1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of molded components, comprising:
- (a) providing a carrier to a manufacturing assembly, the manufacturing assembly comprising;
a source device and an uptake device, both being adapted for winding and unwinding; and
a latch,(b) forming a plurality of molded components on the carrier, the molded components comprising;
a sacrificial portion being secured to a carrier and being movable along the carrier, the sacrificial portion having a bottom surface and a top surface; and
a functional portion extending from the sacrificial portion;
(c) winding the carrier in a forward direction onto the uptake device; and
(d) unwinding the uptake device in a reverse direction such that the carrier and molded components move toward the source device, one of the molded components contacts the latch preventing the molded components from moving in the reverse direction such that adjacent sacrificial portions are moved closer together to a second distance that is less than the first distance.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a plurality of molded components including (a) providing a carrier to a manufacturing assembly; (b) forming the molded components on the carrier, the molded components having a sacrificial portion secured to the carrier and being movable along the carrier, and a functional portion extending from the sacrificial portion, adjacent sacrificial portions are spaced from one another by a first distance; (c) winding the carrier in a forward direction onto the uptake device; and (d) unwinding the uptake device in a reverse direction such that the carrier and molded components move toward the source device, one of the molded components contacts the latch preventing the molded components from moving in the reverse direction such that adjacent sacrificial portions are moved closer together to a second distance that is less than the first distance.
40 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of manufacturing a plurality of molded components, comprising:
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(a) providing a carrier to a manufacturing assembly, the manufacturing assembly comprising; a source device and an uptake device, both being adapted for winding and unwinding; and a latch, (b) forming a plurality of molded components on the carrier, the molded components comprising; a sacrificial portion being secured to a carrier and being movable along the carrier, the sacrificial portion having a bottom surface and a top surface; and a functional portion extending from the sacrificial portion; (c) winding the carrier in a forward direction onto the uptake device; and (d) unwinding the uptake device in a reverse direction such that the carrier and molded components move toward the source device, one of the molded components contacts the latch preventing the molded components from moving in the reverse direction such that adjacent sacrificial portions are moved closer together to a second distance that is less than the first distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 10. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of (h) displacing the latch upon reaching or exceeding the threshold value.
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18. A molded component, comprising:
a sacrificial portion secured to a carrier and being movable along the carrier and a functional portion extending from the sacrificial portion.
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19. A plurality of molded components comprising:
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a first molded component having a sacrificial portion and a functional portion, the sacrificial portion being secured to a carrier and being movable along the carrier, the sacrificial portion having a bottom surface and a top surface, and the functional portion extending from the sacrificial portion, and a second molded component having a sacrificial portion and a functional portion, the sacrificial portion being secured to a carrier and being movable along the carrier, the sacrificial portion having a bottom surface and a top surface, and the functional portion extending from the sacrificial portion, wherein the top surface of the first molded component interlocks with the bottom surface of the second molded component. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification