The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 15, 2008
Filed:
May. 10, 2006
Wendell D. Willingham, Perrysburg, OH (US);
Daniel L. Mattice, Columbia City, IN (US);
David C. Thompson, Grabill, IN (US);
B. Jack Rote, Sturgis, MI (US);
Wendell D. Willingham, Perrysburg, OH (US);
Daniel L. Mattice, Columbia City, IN (US);
David C. Thompson, Grabill, IN (US);
B. Jack Rote, Sturgis, MI (US);
Owens-Illinois Closures, Inc., Perrysburg, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for placing mold charges into a mold of a compression molding machine includes at least one mold charge pick-up cup for receiving a severed charge of molten plastic, a vacuum source for applying a vacuum to the pick-up cup to retain the mold charge in the cup, and a source of gas (such as air) under pressure for periodically applying gas to the cup to release the mold charge from the cup. In one exemplary embodiment, the vacuum source applies a continuous vacuum to the cup, and the source of gas under pressure periodically applies gas to the cup to overcome the continuous vacuum at the cup. In another exemplary embodiment, vacuum and gas under pressure, are alternately applied to the cup. The vacuum source preferably includes a vacuum generator coupled to the source of gas under pressure for generating the vacuum to be applied to the cup. The vacuum source preferably includes a vacuum pump coupled to the source of gas under pressure for generating the vacuum to be applied to the cup. The source of gas under pressure preferably includes a valve for periodically applying gas under pressure to the cup. The apparatus preferably includes a carrier for moving the cup from a source of severed charges of molten plastic to the mold of the compression molding machine, with the cup, the vacuum pump and the valve preferably being mounted on the carrier. The vacuum source preferably includes a vacuum limiter that also is mounted on the carrier.