초록 ▼

Mold assemblies for compression molding of footwear components include molds, heating elements, conductor plates, insulating layers and carrier trays. An upper mold assembly is placed into a fixture attached to an upper press platen. A lower mold assembly slides into and out of a fixture attached to

Mold assemblies for compression molding of footwear components include molds, heating elements, conductor plates, insulating layers and carrier trays. An upper mold assembly is placed into a fixture attached to an upper press platen. A lower mold assembly slides into and out of a fixture attached to a lower press platen. Heating elements within the mold assemblies connect to electrical contacts in the fixtures when the mold assemblies are installed in the fixtures, thereby providing electrical power to the heating elements and heating the molds. A conveyor is positioned to receive a mold assembly from (or transfer a mold assembly to) the lower press platen fixture when the lower platen is in a lowered position.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for molding articles, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a first mold and a second mold between first and second platens, wherein the positioning includes sliding a first mold assembly into a fixture attached to the first platen, the first mold assem

The invention claimed is: 1. A method for molding articles, the method comprising the steps of:positioning a first mold and a second mold between first and second platens, wherein the positioning includes sliding a first mold assembly into a fixture attached to the first platen, the first mold assembly including the first mold and a first heating element;heating the first and second molds from one or more heat sources located between the first and second platens, the one or more heat sources comprising the first heating element;pressing the first and second platens together so as to place the first and second molds into a cooperating position whereby the first and second molds at least partially define a mold volume;moving the first and second platens away from one another so as to move the first and second molds out of the cooperating position;sliding the first mold assembly out of the fixture after the pressing and the moving steps;sliding a third mold assembly into the fixture, the third mold assembly including a third mold and a third heating element; andrepressing the first and second platens together, while heating the third mold with the third heating element, so as to place the third and second molds into a cooperating position whereby the third and second molds at least partially define a mold volume, and whereinthe first mold assembly comprises a first carrier, the first mold and the first heating element,the second mold is part of a second mold assembly,the second mold assembly further comprises a second heating element and a second carrier and is configured for placement between the first and second platens,the third mold assembly further comprises a third carrier,the first and third mold assemblies are configured for sliding engagement with the fixture attached to the first platen.