Patent ID: 6261495
Filing Date: 2001-07-17
Classification: B29B,B29C

Abstract:
A method of molding polymer reinforced with particles each having a length greater than its width, comprising the steps of:providing a barrel housing having a first end and a second end opposed to said first end; said barrel assembly including a barrel bore, with a longitudinal axis, extending from said first end to said second end;providing a plunger housing having a plunger bore extending therethrough and in communication with said first end of said barrel bore;providing a plunger within with said plunger bore reciprocatable within said plunger bore and into said barrel bore via said first end;providing a feed port through said plunger housing and into communication with said plunger bore;providing a mixture of dry polymer and reinforcing particles a plurality of said particles having a length greater that their width;heating said plunger housing;heating said barrel housing;retracting said plunger within said plunger housing forming an initial melt chamber;feeding said mixture through said feed port and into said initial melt chamber;partially melting said polymer of said mixture;pushing said plunger through said initial melt chamber;urging said mixture into said barrel housing;fully melting said polymer of said mixture in said barrel housing;positioning said particles in said mixture, in said barrel housing, with said length of said particles being substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said barrel bore; andextruding said mixture in melted form said second end of said barrel housing with said particles being substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said barrel bore.