CPC B22D 17/2015 (2013.01) [B22F 3/003 (2013.01); B22F 3/225 (2013.01); B29C 45/18 (2013.01); B29C 45/53 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. A feedstock delivery system for injection molding, the feedstock delivery system comprising:
a vessel unit having a vessel defining an internal volume thereof and an inlet opening in communication with the internal volume, the inlet opening defining an inlet of the feedstock delivery system for receipt of feedstock into the internal volume;
a first dispensing unit having a first end, a second end, and a first conduit disposed therebetween, the first end being connected to the vessel unit such that the first conduit is in communication with the internal volume of the vessel, the second end being configured to connect to an injection mold and having an outlet opening defining an outlet of the feedstock delivery system;
a fluid jacket enclosing at least a portion of the vessel and at least a portion of the first conduit of the first dispensing unit such that heated fluid flowing through the fluid jacket transforms the feedstock into a feedstock slurry and maintains the feedstock slurry at a constant temperature as it is dispensed from the internal volume of the vessel unit and out through the outlet opening of the first dispensing unit via at least the first conduit; and
a variable speed agitator disposed within the vessel to agitate and further maintain the feedstock slurry at the constant temperature, the variable speed agitator being configured to operate while the feedstock slurry is disposed within the internal volume of the vessel unit and as the feedstock slurry is dispensed from the internal volume and out through the outlet opening of the first dispensing unit via at least the first conduit.
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