Patent ID: 8216504

Claim:
A method for molding an article, comprising: providing opposed first and second surface mold tools each including a front side and a back portion, the front side having an article molding region characterized by a body bounded by a perimeter that defines a complete outer edge for a molded article, the article molding regions of first and second surface mold tools being mateable with one another to form a closed molding cavity within which the molded article is formed; providing a thermally conductive longitudinally extending port coupled to the body of the article molding region of the first surface molding tool, the port comprising a substantially hollow member having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a shaped passageway wherein abrasive molding material flows through the shaped passageway into the article molding region, and a distribution channel extending to the port through the back portion of the first surface mold tool; providing a blocking pin moveable within the shaped passageway to control molding material flow through the port, wherein the blocking pin includes a retracted position external to the port, the shaped passageway and the distribution channel; moving at least one of the first and second surface mold tools to bring the front sides of the first and second surface mold tools together to form the closed molding cavity; supplying abrasive molding material, which is used to make composite roofing shingles, under pressure to the distribution channel so that the abrasive molding material flows through the distribution channel and the shaped passageway, and into the closed molding cavity, the shaped passageway of the port enabling the abrasive molding material to flow from the back portion of the first surface mold tool directly into the closed molding cavity; moving the blocking pin from the retracted position to a blocking position within the shaped passageway to shut off the flow of the abrasive molding material through the shaped passageway and into the closed molding cavity, the blocking pin being in thermal communication with the inner surface of the port when the pin is in the blocking position; providing a heat sink comprising a hollow chamber partially defined by the outer surface of the port, the hollow chamber defining a fluid space for holding a cooling fluid; moving the cooling fluid through the chamber of the heat sink, wherein the cooling fluid directly contacts and circumscribes the outer surface of the port, to remove heat energy from the port and the blocking pin; and maintaining the front sides of the first and second surface mold tools together for a period of time to form the molded article from the molding material.