Molding system

A multifunctional assembly for use in various plastic forming processes includes a housing conformed for selective partition to receive an incandescent light assembly as a source of heat and selectively positioned pneumatic cylinders for compressing heated plastic into forms and extrusion dies. An air pump selectively connected by manifolds may then be used for generating vacuum and pneumatic pressure both for the forming processes and for the pneumatic cylinders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to plastic forming devices, and more 
particularly to thermoplastic forming tools useful for model makers and 
the like. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The convenience in forming plastic articles i well known in the art. 
Typically, however, this convenience is best utilized in commercial 
settings which tolerate the expense of complex tooling with some ease. For 
example, the facility of an injection mold is well known as are the 
various casting techniques of resin polymer combinations. The tooling in 
these applications, typically, is spread over a large number of articles 
and the high cost thereof quickly falls to insignificant prorated levels. 
The many new plastic polymers offer a variety of structural and visual 
effects. These advantages, however, are unavailable to the hobbyist or 
model maker simply because of tooling cost. 
Accordingly, inexpensive tooling, useful in varying form is widely desired 
and it is one example of such tooling that is disclosed herein. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is the general purpose and object of the present invention 
to provide a plastic article forming tool useful by a hobbyist. 
Other objects of the invention are to provide a molding assembly useful in 
forming thermoplastic articles. 
Yet further objects of the invention are to provide a plastic forming 
assembly useful in a variety of forming techniques. 
Briefly these and other objects are accomplished within the present 
invention by providing a plastic forming assembly comprising a housing 
including three rectangular cavities each sized to a common set of 
dimensions to selectively receive an array of inserts and tools. Each of 
the cavities, moreover, is separated into an upper and a lower chamber by 
way of standard sized separation panels selected ones of which are useful 
in vacuum forming, in transmission of heat and for supporting a casting 
form. 
A set of pneumatic cylinders is further provided for selective deployment 
in said chambers and an air blower is included for common application of 
suction or pressurized air. 
In consequence the selective positioning of a heat source, like an 
incandescent lamp, in one of the chambers will then be useful in raising 
the temperature of the plastic material transferred from the adjacent 
chamber. The material thus heated may then be pushed by the pneumatic 
cylinders onto the next adjacent panel for forming into the desired shape. 
In one form the insertable panel may be perforated over its surface and 
thus may serve as the base for vacuum forming. (Of course, by reversing 
the air blower the same panel may be used for casting by pressure.) 
Similarly, blow molding may be achieved by installing a feed closure 
adjacent the heated panel through which the heated plastic is forced by 
the pneumatic cylinder into a concentric outlet around a blow orifice. 
This outlet may then be directed into a split mold in the adjacent cavity 
which is again closed by a pneumatic cylinder. Alternatively, the heated 
plastic may be forced through extrusion dies or into a casting form 
selectively mounted in the cavities. 
Thus a variety of thermoplastic forming operations are implemented in a 
single device by way of commonly used mechanisms which according to their 
placement effect the desired results.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
As shown in FIGS. 1-5 the inventive plastic forming assembly, comprises a 
hollow generally rectangular, housing 11, defined by an enclosure 12 
provided with a hinged side panel 13. Preferably panel 13 is hinged to the 
bottom surface 15 of the enclosure 12 by way of a reduced section, 
flexible, hinge joint 16 and thus is air impermeable at this juncture. 
Enclosure 12 and the abutting surface of panel 13, moreover, are provided 
further with vertical separations which cooperatively divide circle the 
housing 11 into three substantially equal cavities. Each of these cavities 
furthermore, is divided vertically into a lower chamber 101, 201 and 301 
and an upper chamber by way of insertable horizontal panels described at 
length hereinbelow. 
To effect the foregoing longitudinal sectioning of the housing 11 the 
interior surfaces of enclosure 12 and the hinged panel 13 include coplanar 
vertical grooves 112, 113, 212 and 213 spaced from each other to define 
the foregoing cavities between the end surfaces 17 and 18 of enclosure 12. 
Panel 13, furthermore, is provided with edge grooves 27 and 28 which then 
engage the edges of surfaces 17 and 18 when the panel is pivoted against 
the enclosure. 
In a similar manner the upper and lower chambers are effected by a 
horizontal groove 19 formed transversely across the interior surface of 
enclosure 12 and aligned in a coplanar alignment with a groove 29 formed 
in the interior surface of the hinged panel 13. Thus when panel 13 is 
closed onto the edges of the end surfaces 17 and 18 an interior vertical 
alignment of grooves 112 and 113, 212 and 213 is achieved concurrent with 
the coplanar alignment of grooves 19 and 29. 
In accordance with one implementation shown in FIG. 2 grooves 112 and 113 
may then receive a vertical separation sheet 221 extending from the bottom 
surface 15 to the plane of grooves 19 and 29. Sheet 221 may then have 
affixed to one side thereof a conventional light bulb socket 222 into 
which incandescent bulb 223 is mounted adjacent a reflector shield 224. 
Preferably the alignment of the bulb and the reflector is into the central 
lower chamber 201 subjacent to a light transmissive panel 225 spanning 
across grooves 19 and 29. 
In similar manner a support surface 131 may be received between grooves 19 
and 29 over the lower chamber 101. A pneumatic cylinder 150 may then be 
positioned thereon presenting its base plate 151 against the inner side of 
the end surface 17. The other, extensible, end of cylinder 150 may then be 
engaged to a push plate 152 extending across surface 131 and once the 
cylinder 150 is expanded by pneumatic pressure any material collected in 
front of the push plate will then be advanced onto panel 225. 
The material thus advanced may be in the form of thermoplastic pellets P, 
which when advanced onto the heated panel 225 will begin to soften and 
melt. Further expansion of the cylinder 150 will then transfer the molten 
plastic mass M to the other edge of panel 225 against a transverse dam 227 
in which extrusion dies or openings 228 may be formed. Thus a variety of 
plastic extrusions X may be laid onto a collection surface 325 extending 
over the lower chamber 301 between grooves 19 and 29. 
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3 the separator strip 227 is replaced by a 
blow molding fixture 327 again extending across the grooves 212 and 213 
and including a shaped inlet 328 communicating into an annular opening 329 
around a blow tube 330 extending into a split mold comprising a fixed mold 
segment 331 and a moveable mold segment 332 aligned in opposite alignment 
within chamber 301. Yet another pneumatic cylinder 250 may then be placed 
within chamber 301 to advance segment 332 against the stationary mold 
segment. 
One will note that in this arrangement cylinders 150 and 250 are 
selectively placed in accordance with the use contemplated. For this 
reason, the cavities are maintained to substantially equal dimensions. 
When higher cylinder forces are required as in extrusion cylinders 150 and 
250 may be used in a pair (illustrated in FIG. 2). 
In a further alternative illustrated in FIG. 4 a perforated surface 427 
extends over the cavity 301. Cavity 301 may be provided with a through 
wall fitting 318 through which air may be withdrawn. The molten matter M 
may then be extruded into a sheet S by way of a curved die 428 placed 
between grooves 112 and 113 onto the perforated surface 427 on which a 
buck B may be further positioned. Once surface 427 is fully covered by 
sheet S, air may be withdrawn from chamber 301, effecting vacuum forming. 
The same structural features may be further arranged for pressure casting, 
as illustrated in FIG. 5. As shown in this figure, cavity 301 may receive 
in vertical placement the pneumatic cylinder 250 onto which a moveable 
casting form 551 is placed. This casting form 551 is dimensioned for 
sliding translation within cavity 301, between the outer panel 18 and an 
inner separator panel 322 received between grooves 212 and 213. Upon 
expansion of the cylinder 250, form 551 is advanced upwardly against a 
stationary mating form 552 fixed in one upper chamber and extending over 
another upper chamber by an overhanging inlet 553 subjacent a horizontal 
lip 159 extending from the push plate 152. 
In each of the foregoing examples, air pressure and suction are obtained at 
the outlet and the inlet of an air blower 601. Blower 601 is used in 
conjunction with two valved manifold assemblies 620 and 630 each provided 
with corresponding screw valves 621 and 622 and 631 and 632. These 
manifolds may be variously interconnected and manually sequenced for the 
operation devised. 
Thus a convenient, multifunctional, assembly is devised for various 
thermoplastic operations. In each instance manual control is effected at 
the manifolds thus reducing the incidence of injury and burns in the 
course of use. 
Obviously, many modifications and changes may be made to the foregoing 
without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore 
intended that the scope of the invention be determined solely on the 
claims appended hereto.