Patent ID: 7547404

Claim:
A method of modifying an injection molding system to be operable with a dispensing apparatus so as to render said molding system capable of providing coated articles, said method comprising: a) providing 1) a molding system comprising: (A) first operating system, and (B) a molding machine that comprises a mold comprising (i) first and second mold sections, and (ii) in at least one of said mold sections, at least one nozzle for injecting a substrate-forming material, said first operating system communicating with said mold sections such that said sections can be actuated between opened and closed conditions, said first and second mold sections forming a mold cavity when in said closed condition, and 2) a dispensing apparatus that can hold and deliver a coating composition, said dispensing apparatus comprising at least one of a second operating system for controlling delivery of said coating composition and a data storage means; b) modifying said molding machine to communicate with said dispensing apparatus; c) adapting said dispensing apparatus to function with said molding system so as to deliver, based on a set of predetermined parameters, said coating composition into said mold when said mold sections are in said closed condition, and d) modifying said mold to include at least one of a flow control which utilizes substrate compressibility to control at least a predetermined portion of one surface of a molded article formed and contained in said mold while said mold sections are in said closed condition so as to provide said coated article.