초록 ▼

A staged, sequentially separated injection mold (40) for forming a container spout (14) having a peripheral flange ( 18), a generally cylindrical sidewall (20), a removable panel (30) fixed within the sidewall, and a pull ring (32) connected to the removable panel. The mold includes a base (42), and

A staged, sequentially separated injection mold (40) for forming a container spout (14) having a peripheral flange ( 18), a generally cylindrical sidewall (20), a removable panel (30) fixed within the sidewall, and a pull ring (32) connected to the removable panel. The mold includes a base (42), and a first element (44) coupled to the base including a gate ( 45). A core plate (60) movable with respect to the base, and a core element (62) confronting the first mold element. A sleeve ( 76) surrounds the core element having a channel (84) to define the pull ring. The sleeve moves with respect to the core element to permit release of a molded pull ring. A stripper ring (96) surrounds the sleeve with an edge (98) positioned contiguous to the sleeve outward facing surface, the stripper ring being movable along the sleeve.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a container spout (14) having a peripheral flange (18), a generally cylindrical sidewall ( 28) extending from an inner perimeter (22) of the flange to a lip (24), a closure coupling formation (26) on an outer surface of the sidewall (28), a removable pane

What is claimed is: 1. A method for forming a container spout (14) having a peripheral flange (18), a generally cylindrical sidewall ( 28) extending from an inner perimeter (22) of the flange to a lip (24), a closure coupling formation (26) on an outer surface of the sidewall (28), a removable panel (30) fixed within the sidewall (28), and a pull ring (32) connected to the removable panel, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first mold element (44) including a gate (45) through which plastics material can be injected and a surface (46) at least partially defining the peripheral flange (18) and removable panel (30), providing a core element (62) including an end surface (64) confronting the first mold element (44) to partially define the removable panel, providing a sleeve (76) surrounding the core element (62) having an end surface (78) confronting the first mold element (44) to partially define the removable panel, an outward facing surface (80) at least partially defining the sidewall, and an inward facing surface (82) confronting the core element, the inward facing surface including a channel (84) coupled to the sleeve end surface (78) at least partially defining the pull ring, providing a stripper ring (96) surrounding the sleeve having an edge (88) positioned contiguous to the sleeve outward facing surface (80) and an arcuate portion (100) immediately adjacent to the sleeve at least partially defining the lip (24) of the sidewall, moving the core element (62), sleeve (76) and stripper ring (96) as a unit in a first direction (Y) away from the first mold element (44), retracting the core element (62) within the sleeve ( 76) by a distance sufficient to expose the channel (84) coupled to the sleeve end surface (78) at least partially defining the pull ring, withdrawing the sleeve (76) relative to the stripper ring (96) by a distance sufficient to remove the sleeve from within the container spout sidewall (28) and to remove the pull ring (32) from the channel on the inside surface of the sleeve ( 76). and advancing the sleeve (76) relative to the stripper ring (96) sufficient to cause the sleeve end surface (78) to contact the pull ring (32) and thereby separate the container spout (14) from the stripper ring. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: providing a set of thread splits (112) confronting the sleeve outward facing surface (80) and the first mold element ( 44) to further define the flange (18) and the closure coupling formation (26) on the outer surface of the sidewall (28) and the mold cavity, and allowing the set of thread splits (112) to move in a second direction (X) generally orthogonal to the first direction (Y) away from the outer surface of the sidewall (28) simultaneously with the moving of the core element (62), sleeve (76) and stripper ring (96) as a unit in a first direction (Y) away from the first mold element (44). 3. The method of claim 1 or 2 further comprising the steps of providing an outward facing surface (50) on the first mold element (44) defining at least in part an inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall (28) of the container spout (14) and arranging for the part of the inner surface of the cylindrical sidewall (28) of the container spout defined by the outward facing surface (50) on the first mold element to be withdrawn from the first mold element (44) simultaneously with the moving of the core element (62), sleeve (76) and stripper ring (96) as a unit in a first direction (y) away from the first mold element. 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of providing a blast of air against an interior surface of the molded container spout (14) to assist in the ejection of the container spout from the mold (40). 5. A staged, sequentially separated injection mold (40) comprising: a mold base (42) and a first mold element (44) coupled to the base (42) including a gate (45) through which plastics material can be injected and a first surface (46) at least partially defining a mold cavity (47) for receiving the plastics material; a core plate (60) movable in a first direction (Y) with respect to the mold base (42) and a core element ( 62) fixed to the core plate (60), the core element (62) including an end surface (64) confronting the first mold element (44) and at least partially defining the mold cavity (47); a sleeve (76) surrounding the core element (62) having an end surface (78) confronting the first mold element (44), an outward facing surface (80), and an inward facing surface ( 82) confronting the core element (62), the sleeve end surface (78) and outward facing surface (80) further defining the mold cavity (47), and a channel (84) on the inward facing surface (82) of the sleeve (76) coupled to the sleeve end surface (78) further defining the mold cavity (47), the sleeve (76) being movable in said first direction (Y) with respect to the core element (62) to permit release of material from the channel (84); a set of thread splits (112) confronting the sleeve outward facing surface (80) and the first mold element ( 44) to further define the mold cavity (47), the set of thread splits (112) being movable in a direction (X) generally orthogonal to the first direction (Y); a stripper ring (96) surrounding the sleeve (76) and including an edge (98) positioned contiguous to the sleeve outward facing surface (80), the stripper ring (96) being movable along the sleeve (76) to facilitate removal of material from the sleeve outward facing surface (80); and a stripper plate (94) fixed to the stringer ring (96), and thread a split supporting means fixed to the thread a splits ( 112) and coupled to the stripper plate for movement relative to the stripper plate in said second direction (X) and with the stripper plate in said first direction (Y). 6. The injection mold of claim 1 further comprising an inclined outer surface (118) on each of the thread splits ( 112) and wedge elements (56) fixed to the mold base (42) , each wedge element having a pair of similarly inclined surfaces ( 58) projecting between the adjacent inclined outer surfaces ( 118) on adjacent thread splits to force the thread splits toward confronting sleeve outward facing surfaces (118) upon movement of the core plate (60) toward the mold base (42). 7. The injection mold of claim 1 further comprising stripper plate coupling means (99) for coupling the stripper plate to the core plate (60) for limiting the relative movement between the stripper plate and core plate. 8. The injection mold of claim 1 further comprising stops ( 116) fixed to the stripper plate for limiting the movement of the thread splits (112) away from the confronting sleeve outward facing surfaces. 9. The injection mold of claim 1 further comprising a sleeve support plate (72) fixed to the sleeve and coupling means ( 86) for coupling the sleeve support plate to the core plate (68 ) for delayed movement with respect to the core plate. 10. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein said channel ( 84) on the sleeve inward facing surface (76) further comprises a circumferential groove at a fixed distance from said sleeve end surface (78), and a slot leading from the circumferential groove to the sleeve end surface. 11. The injection mold of claim 10 wherein the smallest dimension of the slot leading from the circumferential groove to the sleeve end surface (78) is greater than a smallest dimension of the mold cavity (47) measured between the sleeve end surface ( 78) and the first surface (46) of the first mold element ( 44). 12. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein said edge of the stripper ring (92) positioned contiguous to the sleeve further comprises an arcuate portion (100) partially defining the mold cavity (47). 13. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein the first surface (46) of the first mold element (44) defining the mold cavity (47) defines at least in part a peripheral flange (18 ) and removable panel (30) of a container spout (14). 14. The injection mold of claim 13 wherein the first mold element (44) defining the mold cavity further comprises a surface (50) continuously surrounding the first surface (46) defining at least in part an inner surface of a cylindrical sidewall ( 28) of the container spout. 15. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein the end surface ( 64) of the core element (62) defines at least in part a removable panel (30) of a container spout. 16. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein the end surface ( 78) of the sleeve (76) surrounding the core element (62) defines at feast in part a removable panel (30) of a container spout. 17. The injection mold of claim 16 wherein the end surface (78) of the sleeve (76) defines a line of weakness ( 36) surrounding the removable panel (30) of the container spout. 18. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein the outward facing surface (80) of the sleeve defines at least in part a cylindrical sidewall (28) of a container spout. 19. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein the channel ( 84) on the sleeve inward facing surface (82) is connected to a peripheral groove defining a pull ring (32) attached to a removable panel (30) of a container spout. 20. The injection mold of claim 1 wherein a surface ( 100) adjacent to the stripper ring edge (98) contiguous to the sleeve defines a lip (24) of a container spout (14). 21. The injection mold of claim 1 further comprising a channel in one of the core, stripper ring, or sleeve to provide a blast of air against an interior surface of the molded container spout ( 14) to assist in the ejection of the container spout (14) from the mold.