Patent ID: 6190600
Filing Date: 2001-02-20
Classification: B29C,Y10S

Abstract:
An apparatus that forms a polymeric structure, comprising:a mold plate of a predetermined geometric design;a circular trench in the mold plate, the difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter of the circular trench is a distance D;a male interconnect and a female interconnect interspaced between each other, each interconnect rotates within the circular trench, each interconnect has a base and an interconnection portion, each base has a minimum width that is greater than or equal to the distance D and slidably mates to the mold plate, the male interconnect portion protrudes downwards relatively from the side of the mold plate that receives the polymeric material to a distance P, the female interconnect portion protrudes upwards relatively from the receiving side of the mold plate to the distance P;a vertical gap filler aligned with the circular trench, the filler has a foundation and an extension, the extension has a height at least equal to the distance 2P, and the extension protrudes upwards and downwards relatively from the receiving side of the mold plate from the foundation;a cylinder that rotates each interconnect to a predetermined position and raises the vertical gap filler so the foundation connects to the mold plate before any polymeric material is applied to the apparatus to form the polymeric structure, and once the polymeric structure is formed the pneumatic cylinder lowers the vertical gap filler until the extension is below the mold plate a distance greater than the distance P and rotates each interconnect so the polymeric structure can be removed from the apparatus.