Patent ID: 8457773
Filing Date: 2013-06-04
Classification: B29C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a manifold assembly to produce a frame in accordance with specifications required by a mold, comprising: selecting a manifold from a predetermined set of manifolds, the manifold being at least partially manufactured to define first portions of melt channels; selecting at least one V-shaped sub-manifold from a predetermined set of sub-manifolds, the at least one V-shaped sub-manifold being at least partially manufactured to define second portions of the melt channels; selecting injection nozzles for each of the at least one V-shaped sub-manifold, the injection nozzles defining third portions of the melt channels; and arranging and assembling together the manifold, the at least one V-shaped sub-manifold and the injection nozzles so that the first portions, the second portions and the third portions of the melt channels cooperatively define the melt channels operable to direct a melt material to gates located in the mold, wherein assembling the manifold assembly includes: selecting a frame size and the distribution of the gates around the frame; defining an interface between the manifold and the at least one V-shaped sub-manifold at one location of a plurality of possible locations on the manifold based on the selecting the frame size and the distribution of the gates around the frame; and mounting one of the injection nozzles to an arm of the at least one V-shaped sub-manifold at one location of a plurality of possible locations on the arm of the at least one V-shaped sub-manifold based on the selecting the frame size and the distribution of the gates around the frame.