US 11,806,914 B2
Apparatus and method for forming a concave object
Fabrizio Pucci, Bologna (IT); and Fiorenzo Parrinello, Medicina (IT)
Assigned to SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA' COOPERATIVA, Imola (IT)
Appl. No. 17/312,165
Filed by SACMI COOPERATIVA MECCANICI IMOLA SOCIETA′ COOPERATIVA, Imola (IT)
PCT Filed Dec. 10, 2019, PCT No. PCT/IB2019/060610
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 9, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/121190, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 18, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 102018000010919 (IT), filed on Dec. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0016823 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. B29C 49/02 (2006.01); B29B 11/12 (2006.01); B29C 43/34 (2006.01); B29C 43/36 (2006.01); B29C 49/08 (2006.01); B29C 49/22 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 49/02 (2013.01) [B29B 11/12 (2013.01); B29C 43/34 (2013.01); B29C 43/36 (2013.01); B29C 49/08 (2013.01); B29C 49/22 (2013.01); B29C 49/0685 (2022.05); B29C 2043/3411 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3488 (2013.01); B29C 2043/3602 (2013.01); B29C 2949/0771 (2022.05); B29C 2949/306 (2022.05); B29C 2949/3016 (2022.05); B29K 2105/253 (2013.01); B29L 2031/716 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising the following steps:
providing a pre-processed element made of at least one polymeric material,
introducing the pre-processed element in a female mould part having a forming cavity,
shaping the pre-processed element between the female mould part and a male mould part, the female mould part and the male mould part being movable relative to one another along a moulding direction so as to form a concave object from the pre-processed element,
wherein the forming cavity has a transversal dimension measured transversely to the moulding direction, the forming cavity further having a transition zone defined by a funnel-shaped surface in which the transversal dimension progressively decreases from a larger value to a smaller value, the forming cavity further having a bottom,
and wherein, during the introducing step, the pre-processed element is placed in the forming cavity on the transition zone, so that the pre-processed element rests on the funnel-shaped surface at a distance from the bottom of the forming cavity, wherein the pre-processed element is a dose of polymeric material in a molten state, the dose being severed from a plasticizing device.