METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING COLORED EXPANDED FOAM ARTICLES

• US 3,791,631 A
• Filed: 02/17/1972
• Issued: 02/12/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maurice J. Meyer
• Original Assignee: Maurice J. Meyer
• Inventors: Meyer, Maurice J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jenkins, Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US05/227,230
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 222/132 259/7,8,23,24,43,44 23/252R,285,252A 264/76,73
• US Class Current: 366/160.2
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 7/7433 Plants

Abstract

Colored expanded polyurethane foam articles are made by simultaneous discharging of measured amounts of isocyanate A, a suitable resin B, and a color pigmented liquid C into a mixing chamber in which is situated a rapidly rotating mixer. The mixed charge resulting flows by gravity into the lower section of an article mold. A mating upper section has a bleed hole through the top and is clamped onto the lower section until the resulting foam has risen and set. The mold sections are unclamped and the article ejected from the lower mold section by striking on an ejector pin slidably mounted in the bottom of the lower mold. Apparatus for mixing and delivering this charge of urethane foam to the mold typically includes a mixing head to simultaneously deliver the two liquids A and B to the mixing chamber to be mixed and discharged into a mold. By simultaneously adding the color pigmented liquid C to this chamber through a supply conduit and the mixing head, a uniformly colored charge can be obtained. To change colors, only the supply conduit for liquid C is detached, the head flushed out and a second supply conduit C is attached to the head.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for making colored expanded foam articles having a mixer head, a mixing chamber below said head, a mixer in said chamber, a discharge nozzle below and open to said chamber to receive the contents of said chamber, first and second supply pipes situated to deliver first and second liquids through said mixer head and into an upper portion of said mixing chamber, valve means to meter and control simultaneous discharge of said first and second liquids from said pipes, the improvement comprising:

a plurality of sources of colored third liquids each of a different hue, a third pipe extending from a first source of third liquid through said mixer head and into said chamber, adjustable valve means operative in said third pipe to permit a selected amount of said third liquid to flow into said chamber simultaneously with the delivery of said first and second liquids to said chamber, and coupling means adjacent said mixer head to permit uncoupling of said third pipe from said first source of colored liquid of a first color and coupling of said third pipe to a second source of colored liquid of a second color.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a fourth pipe through said mixer head in position to discharge directly into said chamber;

and means including valve means to selectively;

a. introduce a liquid solvent into said fourth pipe and through it into the chamber, b. introduce a gas into said fourth pipe and said chamber, and c. block all fluid flow through said fourth pipe.