Method and apparatus for molding thermosetting polymers onto substrates
First Claim
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1. A molding device for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
- a die set adapted to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates;
a platen adapted to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set;
an actuator adapted to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate wherein said actuator controllably actuates said die set into engagement with said at least one substrate as a function of a contact pressure between said die set and said substrate; and
a control system operably coupled to said die set, said platen and said actuator and adapted to control the operation of said molding device.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for molding thermosetting polymers onto clothing. The apparatus includes at least one molding device, at least one polymer supply and a control system for controlling the operation of the molding devices and polymer supplies. The molding devices include die sets having an input member and a mold. The polymer supplies supply polymers for injection into the input members of the molding devices for use in molding three dimensional bodies of polymers onto substrates such as clothing.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A molding device for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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a die set adapted to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; a platen adapted to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set; an actuator adapted to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate wherein said actuator controllably actuates said die set into engagement with said at least one substrate as a function of a contact pressure between said die set and said substrate; and a control system operably coupled to said die set, said platen and said actuator and adapted to control the operation of said molding device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 26, 27, 28)
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8. A molding device for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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a die set adapted to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; a platen adapted to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set wherein said platen includes a cooling element adapted to controllably maintain a portion of said platen within a predetermined range of temperatures; an actuator adapted to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; and a control system operably coupled to said die set, said platen and said actuator and adapted to control the operation of said molding device.
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9. A molding device for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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a die set adapted to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; a platen adapted to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set wherein said platen includes; a heating element adapted to controllably maintain a portion of said platen within a predetermined range of temperatures; and a cooling element adapted to controllably maintain another portion of said platen within another predetermined range of temperatures; and an actuator adapted to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; and a control system operably coupled to said die set, said platen and said actuator and adapted to control the operation of said molding device.
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10. A molding device for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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a die set adapted to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; a platen adapted to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set wherein said platen further includes a guiding member adapted to guide said platen into and out of a position in opposing relation to said die set; an actuator adapted to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; and a control system operably coupled to said die set, said platen and said actuator and adapted to control the operation of said molding device.
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11. A molding device for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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a die set adapted to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates wherein said die set includes; an input member adapted to receive and distribute said at least one supply of said polymer; a mold including at least one cavity coupled to said input member and adapted to receive said distribution of said at least one supply of said polymer and mold said at least one supply of said polymer onto said at least one substrate to form at least one three dimensional body of said polymer; and at least one resilient member coupled between said input member and said mold; and a platen adapted to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set; an actuator adapted to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; and a control system operably coupled to said die set, said platen and said actuator and adapted to control the operation of said molding device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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29. A platen for use in a molding device for molding at least one three dimensional body of a thermosetting polymer onto a substrate, said platen adapted to support said substrate during molding of said at least one three dimensional body onto said substrate, said platen comprising:
a platen body including; a supporting member adapted to support said substrate; a positioning member coupled to said supporting member and adapted to position said substrate; a heating element coupled to said supporting member and adapted to heat a region of said substrate; and a cooling element coupled to said supporting member and adapted to cool another region of said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A method for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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adapting a die set to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; adapting a platen to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set; adapting an actuator to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate wherein said actuator controllably actuates said die set into engagement with said at least one substrate as a function of a contact pressure between said die set and said substrate; coupling a control system operably to the die set, said platen and said actuator wherein said control system is adapted to control the operation of said die set, said platen and said actuator; positioning said at least one substrate on said platen; injecting said polymer into a mold of said die set to form at least one of said polymer bodies; and curing said polymer on said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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adapting a die set to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; adapting a platen to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set, including; adapting a cooling element to controllably maintain a portion of said platen within a predetermined range of temperatures; adapting an actuator to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; coupling a control system operably to the die set, said platen and said actuator wherein said control system is adapted to control the operation of said die set, said platen and said actuator; positioning said at least one substrate on said platen; injecting said polymer into a mold of said die set to form at least one of said polymer bodies; and curing said polymer on said substrate.
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41. A method for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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adapting a die set to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; adapting a platen to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set, including; adapting a heating element to controllably maintain a portion of said platen within a predetermined range of temperatures; and adapting a cooling element to controllably maintain another portion of said platen within a predetermined range of temperatures; adapting an actuator to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; coupling a control system operably to the die set, said platen and said actuator wherein said control system is adapted to control the operation of said die set, said platen and said actuator; positioning said at least one substrate on said platen; injecting said polymer into a mold of said die set to form at least one of said polymer bodies; and
curing said polymer on said substrate.
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42. A method for molding thermosetting polymer bodies onto substrates, comprising:
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adapting a die set to mold at least one of said bodies onto at least one of said substrates; adapting a platen to support and position said at least one substrate relative to said die set; adapting a guiding member to guide said platen into and out of a position in opposing relation to said die set; adapting an actuator to move said die set into and out of engagement with said at least one substrate; coupling a control system operably to said die set, said platen and said actuator wherein said control system is adapted to control the operation of said die set, said platen and said actuator; positioning said at least one substrate on said platen; injecting said polymer into a mold of said die set to form at least one of said polymer bodies; and curing said polymer on said substrate.
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Specification