Patent ID: 9636888
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: B29C,B29L,B32B,B60R

Claim:
1. A method for injection molding a hollow article using an injection molding machine with a three-piece mold, comprising: injecting a first shot of a first molding material into a cavity between a first mold and a second mold to form a first part; injecting a second shot of a second molding material into a cavity between the second mold and a third mold to form a second part; repositioning at least one mold to align the first mold and the third mold, wherein the first part is retained in the first mold and the second part is retained in the third mold; injecting a third shot of a third molding material into a cavity between the first part and the second part, wherein the third molding material bonds the first part to the second part thereby forming the hollow article; operating a second injection molding machine in offset synchronous operation with a first injection molding machine, wherein the second mold is used in both machines; removing the second mold from the first machine after the first machine injects the second shot of the second molding material and before the first machine injects the third shot of the third molding material; transferring the second mold from the first machine to the second machine; and returning the second mold from the second machine to the first machine after the second machine injects the second shot of the second molding material and before the second machine injects the third shot of the third molding material.