Stacked laminate mold and method of making

• US 6,159,407 A
• Filed: 07/14/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Reeves, Mark E., Krinke, Harlan L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Duane
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hopkins, Robert A.
• Application Number:
  US09/101,698
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 425/175, 425/195, 425/DIG. 30, 264/219, 264/225, 264/226, 264/227
• US Class Current: 264/219
• CPC Class Codes: B23C 3/00 Milling particular work; Special milling operations; Machines therefor milling gear-teeth B23F, heat assisted machining B23P25/00
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/246 Laminated dies
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2033/385 by laminating a plurality of layers moulds built up by stacking mould elements, e.g. plates, blocks, rods, in general B29C33/301, tyre moulds made of a plurality of laminations B29D2030/0609
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/302 Assembling a large number of mould elements to constitute one cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/3842 Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/42 characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0091 Reflex reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 425/03 Laminated mold

Abstract

A method of forming a stacked laminate mold. The method comprises the steps of: a) orienting a plurality of plates to have their respective major planes at a first angle relative to a fixed reference plane and parallel to one another, each of the plates including opposed parallel first and second major surfaces defining therebetween the major plane of each of the plurality of plates, each of the plates further including a mold surface connecting the first and second major surfaces; b) forming a groove in the plurality of plates, the groove including a groove surface defined by cylindric surface that is the construct of translating a two-dimensional groove profile through the plate along a line that is oblique to at least one of the plate major surface and the plate mold surface, and wherein the groove surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface; and thereafter c) reorienting the plates to have their respective major planes at a second angle relative to the reference for molding. Also disclosed is a stacked laminate mold. The mold comprises a plurality of plates, each of the plates including: opposed parallel first and second major surfaces defining therebetween a major plane of each of the plurality of plates; a mold surface connecting the first and second major surfaces; and a plurality of cavities in each of the plurality of plates. Each of the cavities is open at least to the mold surface and includes a cavity surface defined by cylindric surface that is the construct of translating a two-dimensional cavity profile through the plate along a line that is oblique to at least one of the plate major surface and the plate minor surface, and the cavity surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface. The first major surface of a first one of the plurality of plates is adjacent the second major surface of a second one of the plurality of plates.

Claims

1. A method of forming a stacked laminate mold comprising the steps of:

a) orienting a plurality of plates to have their respective major planes at a first angle relative to a fixed reference plane and parallel to one another, each of the plates including opposed parallel first and second major surfaces defining therebetween the major plane of each of the plurality of plates, each of the plates further including a mold surface connecting the first and second major surfaces;

b) forming a groove in each plate of the plurality of plates, the groove including a groove surface defined by a cylindric surface that is the construct of translating a two-dimensional groove profile through the plate along a line that is oblique to at least one of the plate major surface and the plate mold surface, and wherein the groove surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface; and

thereafter

c) reorienting the plates to have their respective major planes at a second angle relative to the reference for molding.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mold surfaces of the plurality of plates are coplanar upon performing step c).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) comprises forming a groove including a planar first groove surface, a planar second groove surface, and a base joining the first and second groove surfaces, wherein the first groove surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface, wherein the second groove surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface, and wherein the base is oblique relative to at least one of the major plane and the mold surface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) comprises inducing relative motion between the plurality of plates and a cutting tool.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the groove surface is defined by a cylindric surface that is the construct of translating the two-dimensional groove profile through the plate along a line that is oblique to the major plane of the plate.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step b) comprises forming a plurality of grooves in each plate of the plurality of plates.

7. The method of claim 6, comprising the further step of

d) moving a first one of the plurality of plates relative to a second and a third plate each adjacent the first plate, such that a cavity in the first plate formed by a first of the plurality of grooves is offset from cavities formed by the first groove in the second and third plates.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

each of the plates further comprises opposed first and second ends joining the first and second major surfaces; and

the plurality of plates comprises a first plurality of plates having a first length measured from the first end to the second end, and a second plurality of plates having a second length measured from the first end to the second end, the second length being greater than the first length;

the method comprising the further steps of;

a'"'"') prior to step b), aligning the first and second pluralities of plates such that each of the plate first ends is coplanar; and

b'"'"') subsequent to step b), aligning the first and second pluralities of plates such that each of the plate second ends is coplanar.

9. The method of claim 1, including the further step of:

d) subsequent to step b), inserting a plurality of spacers into the mold such that a respective one of the plurality of spacers is adjacent a respective one of the plurality of plates, wherein each respective spacer overlays at least that portion of the first major surface of each respective plate intersected by the groove surface.

10. A stacked laminate mold, comprising:

a plurality of plates, each of said plates including;

opposed parallel first and second planar major surfaces defining therebetween a major plane of each of said plurality of plates;

a mold surface connecting said first and second major surfaces; and

a plurality of cavities in each of the plurality of plates, wherein each of the cavities is open at least to said mold surface and includes a cavity surface defined by a cylindric surface that is the construct of translating a two-dimensional cavity profile through said plate along a line that is oblique to at least one of said plate major surface and said plate mold surface, and

wherein said cavity surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface;

wherein said first major surface of a first one of the plurality of plates is adjacent said second major surface of a second one of said plurality of plates.

11. The mold of claim 10, wherein said mold surfaces of each of said plurality of plates are coplanar.

12. The mold of claim 10, wherein said cavity surface includes a planar first cavity surface, a planar second cavity surface, and a base joining said first and second cavity surfaces, wherein said first cavity surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface, wherein said second cavity surface intersects each respective plate first major surface and each respective plate mold surface, and wherein said base is oblique relative to at least one of said major plane and said mold surface.

13. The mold of claim 10, wherein said cavity surface is defined by a cylindric surface that is the construct of translating said two-dimensional cavity profile through said plate along a line that is oblique to said major plane of said, plate.

14. The mold of claim 10, wherein each of said mold cavities are open at said mold surface of said plates and are bounded at least by:

i) said cavity surface; and

ii) said second major surface of a second one of said plurality of plates adjacent to said first major surface of said first plate.

15. The mold of claim 12, wherein each of said mold cavities are open at said mold surface of said plates and being bounded at least by:

i) said first cavity surface in a first one of said plurality of plates;

ii) said second cavity surface in said first plate;

iii) said cavity base in said first plate; and

iv) said second major surface of a second one of said plurality of plates adjacent to said first major surface of said first plate.

16. The mold of claim 10, further comprising a plurality of spacers wherein a respective one of said plurality of spacers is adjacent a respective one of said plurality of plates, wherein each respective spacer overlays at least that portion of said first major surface of each respective plate intersected by said cavity surface.