Tamko Building Products, Inc.

Epoch Composite Products, Inc.

Dan Robinson

Dennis Dean Carlson

A molding apparatus is configured with article molding regions that receive a direct flow of a molding material feed such that external flow channels are not needed. The article molding regions are formed into front sides of opposed 'A' and 'B' surface mold tools that, when moved into a mating relationship with one another, form closed molding cavities within which molded articles are generated from molding material feed. The article molding regions each generally have a body bounded by a perimeter that establishes an outer edge for an article molded in the one of the closed molding cavities. With at least the &#x201c;A&#x201d; surface mold tool, a port is coupled with the body of each article molding region to establish a direct pathway is through which the molding material feed flows to enter the article molding regions, and thus the closed molding cavity, without having to flow along the tool front sides outside of the article molding regions. A distribution channel extends to each port to deliver the molding material feed and a moveable blocking pin is provided for each port to alternately prevent the molding material feed from flowing through the respective port to reach the closed molding cavity and allow the molding material to flow through the respective port to reach the closed molding cavity.

Molding apparatus

A molding apparatus is configured with a distribution channel configured to deliver a blended feed composition directly into an article molding region such that a molded article is formed with gating on the bottom surface of the article. The article molding regions are formed into front sides of opposed 'A' and 'B' surface mold tools that, when moved into a mating relationship with one another, form closed molding cavities within which molded articles are generated from molding material feed. The article molding regions each generally have a body bounded by a perimeter that establishes an outer edge for an article molded in the one of the closed molding cavities. Additionally, the body of each article molding region of the &#x201c;A&#x201d; surface mold tool is adapted for molding a bottom surface for the composite article, and the body of the article molding region of the &#x201c;B&#x201d; surface mold tool is adapted for molding a top surface for the composite article. The distribution channel is formed in at least the second surface mold tool, and has a main portion and a downstream terminus for each article molding region of the &#x201c;A&#x201d; surface mold tool. The main portion of the distribution channel is formed outside of each article molding region. The downstream terminus, to which the main portion extends, is in communication with the body of the respective article molding region of the &#x201c;A&#x201d; surface mold tool.

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Bolivar, MO, United States of America

Dan Robinson