Patent ID: 6019590
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A mold assembly for molding thermoplastic particles into a solid thin shell, said mold assembly including a mold box defining therein a hollow interior, said mold box having a mold shell mounted thereon and defining a mold cavity which opens outwardly and is defined by a front surface of the mold shell, said mold shell and said mold box cooperating to define an interior air chamber which extends lengthwise of the mold box from one end to the other end thereof, each said end having an opening therethrough communicating with said air chamber, said mold shell having a back surface which defines part of the boundary wall of said air chamber, said mold box being adapted for connection to a source of heated air so that air is supplied to the opening in one said end and then flows lengthwise through said air chamber for discharge through the opening at the other said end, the improvement comprising:a plurality of flow control devices positioned in spaced relationship within said air chamber for causing displacement of at least some of the heated air as it flows lengthwise through the air chamber in a transverse direction relative to a surface area of said back surface which is positioned in close proximity to the flow control device, each said flow control device including a rotatable shaft member and a bladed wheel nonrotatably mounted thereon, said shaft member defining a rotational axis which is transverse to the lengthwise extent of said air chamber, and said shaft member being adjustable to position the respective bladed wheel at a selected location relative to the respective said surface area of said back surface.