Gencorp, Inc.

Mti ( Manufacturing Technologies International Corp.

Max J Miller, Jr

Robert L Brown

Thomas John Boyd

David E Baxter, Deceased

James J McDonald

A modular injection molding machine has an extruder/injector assembly, a carriage assembly for carrying the extruder/injector assembly, a first clamping apparatus for holding an associated first mold, a main frame assembly which supports the first clamping apparatus and, a first adder module assembly. The first adder module assembly is selectively operatively connectable to the main frame assembly and is used to support a second clamping apparatus at any selectable laterally spaced distance. The carriage assembly selectively carries the extruder/injector assembly between the first and second clamping apparatuses. The preferred clamping apparatus has a first clamp assembly which is rigidly connected to an associated support member, a second clamp assembly which is movably connected to the first clamp assembly, a lower platen assembly which is operatively connected to the first clamp assembly, an upper platen assembly which is operatively connected to the second clamp assembly and, moving means for selectively moving the second clamp assembly. The first and second clamp assemblies form a collapsible C frame support structure. To add an adder module to a modular injection molding machine, first a base plate is positioned at any selectable laterally spaced distance from a bottom plate. Next, a front plate is placed on a front shelf on the base plate. A back key is then installed, being received within a back key slot on the bottom plate and within a back key slot on the base plate. After that, a tie bar is connected to the bottom plate, the first plate, the base plate and the front plate. A front key is then installed, being received within the key slot of the first plate and within a key slot of the front plate. Finally, a second clamping apparatus is connected to the front plate.

Method for adding an adder module to a modular injection molding machine

An automated continuous manufacturing system which includes a rotatable work table having a plurality of work piece supports for maintaining work pieces during operation of said system, and a plurality of work stations for performing cleaning, pretreatment, treatment or assembly tasks on work pieces secured to said work piece supports. Each of the tasks performed at the work table is performed at a respective work station. Certain of the work stations comprise a removable station subassembly for performing a specific task. The removable station subassemblies are removably engagable with the rotatable work table and may be replaced with an alternate removable station subassembly for performing a desired alternate task. One of the work stations is an assembly station engaged with the rotatable work table for receiving work pieces from their individual work piece supports. The assembly station further includes a removing subassembly for removing the work pieces from the work piece supports for further assembly. An orientation subassembly is also provided with the assembly station, and is mounted adjacent the removing subassembly by a quick change release member to enable easy removal and replacement with an alternate orientation subassembly. The orientation subassembly includes a position sensor for detecting the position of an alignment member of a work piece.

Manufacturing system

A pumping apparatus 10 for dispensing multiple component fluid material. The apparatus 10 includes at least first and second flexible tubes. The tubes each have an inlet and an outlet, and each of the inlets is supplied with a different component of the fluid material. A roller or rollers are provided for pressurized engagement with the tubes. The stop plate is engaged with the tubes at a location opposing the pressurized engagement of the roller. A driver mechanism independently moves the roller in pressurized engagement with the tubes, opposed by the stop plate, in a linear direction. Such linear movement carries the desired and variable amounts of fluid material to the tube outlets. An engagement frame supports the tubes, roller, stop plate and driver mechanism. A mixing reservoir is provided having multiple inlets, each of which is engaged with a flexible tube outlet, and a single outlet, such that the fluid material components are combined within the mixing reservoir and provided to the single outlet. A static mixer may also be provided which is supplied with mixed fluid material via the single outlet of the mixing reservoir for further mixing of the components of the fluid material.

Growing community of inventors

Suffield, OH, United States of America

Max J Miller, Jr