US 12,263,630 B2
Molding systems and related methods
B. Everett Hendrickson, Los Angeles, CA (US); Craig Severn, Sharon (CA); Paul Mccutcheon, Georgetown (CA); and Timothy Carlson, Arlington, VA (US)
Assigned to Friendship Products, LLC, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by Friendship Products LLC, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Nov. 17, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/989,207.
Application 17/989,207 is a division of application No. 17/325,020, filed on May 19, 2021, granted, now 11,534,953.
Application 17/325,020 is a continuation of application No. 15/863,401, filed on Jan. 5, 2018, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/442,984, filed on Jan. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0081398 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
Int. Cl. B29C 49/56 (2006.01); B29B 13/02 (2006.01); B29C 35/04 (2006.01); B29C 45/37 (2006.01); B29C 49/06 (2006.01); B29C 49/42 (2006.01); B29C 49/54 (2006.01); B29C 49/64 (2006.01); B29C 49/70 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B29C 49/78 (2006.01); B29K 67/00 (2006.01); B29K 667/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 49/56 (2013.01) [B29C 35/045 (2013.01); B29C 49/06 (2013.01); B29C 49/063 (2013.01); B29C 49/54 (2013.01); B29B 13/024 (2013.01); B29C 45/372 (2013.01); B29C 49/42122 (2022.05); B29C 49/6409 (2013.01); B29C 49/6436 (2013.01); B29C 2049/701 (2013.01); B29C 49/786 (2013.01); B29K 2023/06 (2013.01); B29K 2067/003 (2013.01); B29K 2667/003 (2013.01); B29K 2823/14 (2013.01); B29L 2031/712 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7158 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for molding an object, comprising:
an articulated mold having an axis and including a plurality of mold portions configured to collectively define a molding cavity for shaping the object when arranged in respective molding positions, wherein the plurality of mold portions includes at least a first mold portion and a second mold portion;
a plurality of actuators, wherein each of the plurality of actuators is operatively coupled to a respective mold portion of the plurality of mold portions and configured to move the respective mold portion along and parallel to the axis from the respective molding position toward a respective ejecting position for releasing the object; and
a controller in communication with each of the plurality of actuators and configured to independently activate each of the plurality of actuators such that one of the plurality of mold portions moves along and parallel to the axis from the respective molding position toward the respective ejecting position while at least one other of the plurality of mold portions remains stationary relative to the object in order to at least partially support the object and wherein the controller is configured to move the first mold portion along and parallel to the axis toward the second mold portion from the respective molding position toward the respective ejecting position.