CA2025267C - Multi-axis rotational distributing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus includes a raw material supplying portion, a supporting portion, a raw material mixing portion, a polymeric mixture distributing portion, a polymeric mixture accepting portion and a control portion. The raw material supplying portion includes a plurality of reservoirs, each connected independently with the mixing portion. The supporting portion includes a plurality of driven frame members each with a large open central area being disposed between parallel spaced upstanding end sections and rotatably supported thereon, each being progressively smaller in size than the next larger frame member and disposed within the open central area thereof. Alternate frame members are rotatable about aligned axes with frame members therebetween rotatable about axes generally perpendicular thereto. The smallest frame member includes rotatable holding sections. The raw material mixing portion includes a movable mixing chamber with withdrawable deflectors mounted adjacent the smallest frame member. A piston is selectively movable within the mixing chamber along the length thereof when the deflector sections are withdrawn therefrom. The polymeric mixture accepting portion includes a profile member with a surface having a desired configuration positionable between the holding sections and securable therebetween. The control portion includes a programmable memory.

Description

MULTI-AXIS ROTATIONAL DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS
This invention relates to a novel distributing apparatus and more particularly relates to a new rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus.
Throughout history, one of the most important activities in most civilizations has been the construction of buildings for various purposes such as dwellings, storage and the like. With primitive societies, it was common to construct such buildings from natural materials that were readily available. In forested areas, structures were erected with logs or boards that had been cut from the logs.
Where trees were less available, people used stone for building materials or more commonly artificial adobe substitutes formed from mud baked in the sun. To make artificial stones or bricks more durable and less likely to crumble, it was customary to mix straw or similar materials with the mud. These are believed to be the first reinforced products.

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11s civ~.l~.~at~.ons devQloped, the use o~ re~.n~'araed pacoducts has become much mare widespread. hor example, conarate is formead .from mixturoe o~ cement and aggregat~e sucta as r~and, crushed stone, racks, eta. ~n addition, .for groater strength metal rode, me~rh ~'abria and the ~.: ~,~,~ema~, be incorporated therein. Wood produat,s o~ this . .
.

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type include ;pl~e~ood and similar laa~i.nated units as w~11 set partial~ board, wader board mind the lice.

1~t3.th the discovery o~ man-mad~ polymerrs and resin-. ous materials, the use o.~ ~~.~.lers and re9.n~'ora~.aag mate-~v. rials thear~in has baaom~ common. Th~so materials mar be in e, vs.riety o~ ~'orme including partioles, fibere9 ..

rods' .~abriaa and the line.

One o~ the mayor problems is the prop~r inaorpor-e~tion oaf the reini'oraing and/or ~3.3.1er materials into th~ cantinuotas phase or matrix. Unl~ss a. 'higk~ degree ; j, o~ care is ~xerc3.a~d when the snats~r3.ald ark ao~abiraed with the prinaip~tl aosnpon~nt, they may be distributed non-uaii>formly and/ox vc~id~ s bubbles and ether wean ap~ta nay be cxeatod.

.~v~n w~.th fi.ller~ and re~:n~'orc'ing materials ~rhiaka can be properly pl.s,cc~d with~.za a matrix aasil.~rq there ~ti~.1 i~ vt;he probl~na of ach~.ev~,aag un~,formit~ o.~ the ao~npoait~on O.t the ma~rixs For ~~ICampl~' 0011a1'"~t~ '60~.X'~~ ~~l~.ah $
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~~ ce~a~nt, w~,te~ and an aggr~ghte aaxr ba~bens non--homngan~ous t a~.~ply by settling orb ~and~.ng. As a ~asu3t, the trucks whidh deliver sash mixes inalud~ drums that aura acotated aontinuhus~l~ in an a~tem~t to maintain uaxi;P'armity.

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'i'his problem of non--unifarmi.ty :Lr~ signifiaaz~t a.n most 'batch proaeesea. Although the obviaua solution to th~ shortcomings o.f batch proaasses is aant3.nuoue proacssing, mast praduats ~ev~.l~. era produced on a batch or unit basis evs~a though. it might ba a aontinucus batrah :~,, prons~s' t4ab is, individual units or batahos fabriaatod ,,,:~a;
ors an asae~mbly line. As s~ result, reproducabls high i qual~.t~y remains a serious problem.
The produatian of man--made plastics and r~sins is an industry that utili~as a high degree of automatia-al7,y eantrallsd continuous proasssing. However, far y units of appreciable sire, b~;tah proaass~.z~g still is the rule rather than the exception. ~'ar sxampl~, in W th~ production of fiberglass structures suoh as boats, it is customs,ry to construct tk~e hulls b~ hand, build- .
ing oxa an open mold in which s: p~.uralit~ of resin and .
f~bsrglass layers are s~quential~.y ~.aminated or a plu-ralit~ of mixed resi.nlahapp~d fiber aea~tings ors applied a~~r the meldo 'i, Suub hand bu~.lt praduets xe~ui~e a lams aa~aunt of J.abor anc~ supervision to ~.nsurs that a rea~:~nabl.e ~.evsl of quality is ach~.eved. T~ais greatly irrers~sa~ the cost of tlae product. ~ ,-;..
.., the problems of batch proas~as~.ng bsaom~ more aom plicatsd wh8n the ~cs~i;r~~ or pol~m~xa~ are faam~.fsrrming.
A:a a mufti--obmpansn,t mixture is pl~,csd into nn opera mold, the .first pert of the mixture begins to fawn and grow from the bottom of the mold a,a a resu~.t of an a~xothsrmia ct~emict~l rAactia:~~ '~~e bubble size of tho foam is smal-leaf ~;t th~a bottom wtaerre the raacEian bn~,ixae and ie :Le~rgdet at the tap o:f the mold a9 tkae raactian draws to oocnp~.e~t:Lon. '.Che resulting produot is non»~un~.form in density ,from top to bottom and thus ~aa~ poox° utrua~ ,;
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;,, ,;.~~ turs,l strength and ~.a uu~at~.a.faotory» ..., Thes~ limitations are especially signifiosnt in c the i'abriaat~.ng~ off' molds ~'or melded producett~» stand la-.
bar, frequent inspsat~,ons~ aloso supervision~ eta» in . making molds cause lengthy delays between the aomple~tw .
ion o~ the design and the start o~ production.
. In view of the abovQ discue~eion, it is olear that pres~nt manuf'aaturing fabricating e~pg~aratus9 methods and ~rooeclures do not provid~ the operating e~'i'icisneiss and design poss9,b~.l.~,tiss r~quired aurrsntly and in the ,:.
future. Thus, there is a need for na~r agparatus and procedures that si~ni~~,aantly rc~duae the ~im~ seed ~a~~ense xequtired to get into production near ~~oduct~ h~~r~ng ~
l~~,gb degree o~ qua~,it,y ~,nd uni~'ormitye The p~esen~ invention ~rarridea a novel ao~2tinuous appsr~tus wbiah ~,ot only overcomes the deficiazabies of pr~sent teohno~.o~5~~ but also provid~s ~~atures ~n~. ~dvau-t~~es nab a~aund iza ~arlier ~~pedienta~ Tkae rotatat~l~
polymeric mixture d~.~trib~t3.n~ ap~~t~s a~ the in~~nti~n 'r:: provides a simple and caonvenventr means ~'or gss~tly re~
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duGing flee tins required to get nevr ~arod~ae~ts into prt~.~
duationd Tb~ apparatus also fac~~.~.~aate~~ flee produotian off' uniform k~~,gh qua~i~y pxoduets ~~f~ic3,entx~ aa~d inear-pensivgl,y»
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v'tau~ y~aL;~m~x~:~.c s~s~..x~ux~ d~,sctributir~~ appar~st;usa ni' t~ha p~ra~n~a~ irw~n~;lon io a~im~l~ ~.n d~~a~.gr~ end o~n bo ~;~a~du~~~t .~n~.r~t~~.v~Jl~ ~.~nax~~n~~.v~i~~ t~~~nm~xo~,~~,~.~ av~.:~1»
~b~~ wnt;~ri~i~ arid aampc~t~~~st~ a~rr be ~.~~,li~~~d i.n t;l~~
m~ra~a~~o~nx~ o.~ ~hs~ ~.pp~ar~s~u~~,~ Qonv~nt~.a~l ~mb~~ ,~rb~»
~i.c~~~3,~r~ pr~~~4ur~~ ~~~ b~ ~~pl~o~~~ by ~ra~~.»~~c~'il~~ ~.~~~
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~q~~ ~~~ ~n ~~~ ~u~~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~p~~~~b i~ c~t~r~b3.~ ~,~a acror~~~ruo~~.e~n ~acad hay ~ 'lar~~ ue~.~ca~. ~.ii'e ~a~.~trb~ a minimum c~~ ~~i~~~~e~m~a~~
~?a~ ~s~p~r~~ta~ ~.~ i~b~ inv~n~ic~~a ~s~ra bo ~e~d~.~3.~d!
~o mold a, ~rid~ ~ra~r~.~r~ o~ taw g~acuc~bu~r~~,» v~r~.~,~i.oa~~
t~a~b 9~n ~arod~ao~ mompc~~~.~~.s~~ ~~ad oat~~'i~ura~ion o~~a b~
u,~~~3ned ~3,m~ply ora~d conv~r~~.~~at;2~ ~~.~ta bho ~~~i~o~ oi' ~h~ iner~n~~.oa~r ~sv~on wit;l~ ~cacah v~sxi~~~.on~~ uxs3~,~aacaail~~
~ct~d! ~;u~l3.ty off' proc~oo~ d~,m~n~~.o~~ ~~ad oo~apo~3~ia~ ~r~~
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o~ill iax~o,~.x~ed '~3'~howts d~.~~'ictul~~~
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~'h~~~ ~s~dl o~hor bo~a~i'i~~ ~snd ~dv~sn~~~ s~9C ~h~
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ncarrol. ~co~~~~bl~ pc~l,~m~ario ~i~~~ar~ d~.~~~iD~~~.~~p~~»
~~ c~~' the pro~~~t~ ~.~v~n~~,on ~r~.~:~. b~ ~tp~p~r~~~ i'x°~m ~~r~
~cr~.l.a~ai~x~ d,~~orip~ian end tt~~ ~soo~amp~n~i.~~ s~~e~.~a~~ ~.~a .
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>~hioh a :~'~.~ur~ 1 ~,~ rrt~~ ~;~ p~~~p~o~~.v~r t~~t ~~a~ ~'o~aa off' r~ots~~~b~~ pe~l~~~~r m~.a~~~x~ d~.~t;r~.bu~~~.n~ ~pp~rbs~cat ~b~
r '. ~.~'ltP~ll~'~ ~.Ox'i D
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~'~,~t~ro A~ i~ ~n ~,nl~r~r~ ,~x~~v~~n~~rp ~id~ vi~~t pa~°~~
~iall~r in ~~~~~.c~~ ref' tabs r~~r mab~r~°3.~s1 mixl.~e~ ~aad .g~c~l~~.
m~r~.o m9:~r~~x~~ d~.~~r~.b~a~in~ ~r~d ~oo~pt~.n~ por~~.o~a~ ~at ' ~b~ ~~ps~~r~Gu~ ~t~ca~n ira ~'3.~~a~~ ~g -~.~

Figure 3 is a .further enlarged fra~~oentary section-al view of portions o.f the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2 taken along lin~ 3 - 3 of figur~ 2;
t figure 4 i~ a sahematio i~.lt~~etratidn of one form ,,~', of oontrol portion of the a~ppr~rat~a~ ~f thd invdntion;

s~rad ~

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e Y., ~l. .

tf .,t ~f, figWra ~ ig an anlar~ed .~ragmantary cro~~-~adation--s:l view off' ,~ molded unit of 'the inventian .~
A~ elaown in the drawings, and form of mult~.~-axis ratational polymeric mixture di~tribut~.n~ appara~tu~ 11 of the present invention inol.uda~ a raw ms;terial au~pply-ing pardon 13, a support~,n~ pardon 1~, e~ ra~r mat~rial .

m~.xin~ portion 15, a polymerio ro~is~tur~ distributing .
por-~ .

tioxa J.6, a polymdric mixturd acc~pting portion 1.~ arid ~ CantrOl partiOn 1$0 ' a .: r~ ~,a.
,a:

The ra~v m~trer~.a1 ~upp~,y~,ng portion I3 of the m~.x~

~6d1"'~ d~~~X'~.bll'ti~LYl a ~ ppar~tua 11 0~ thd invanti~n ina3,udea a', a plurality O~' reaervoirta 20, 2~.'~ 22~ 2 j9 ~'~. a~ad fha~~ resarvair;s may ~.ncluda at~ra~d cbamb~ra f~r resin-~' forming mater3.~l~.~ ,filler, rai~a~ore~ment~ ~ oolar~
~ oats-ly~ts, .edam-~~ormi~g matarialn, other ~:ddit~:va~, inert mixtuacad end the like. Ha~~~vo~,ra 24 and ~~ ax~~ conn~o~-tsrd witri r~ae~svoir 20 fear premixing o f itaext ma~ar~al ;~

t~e~e~.n prior to trs~nnf~r to t~a~ ~nixi~~ portion 1~~

.;

, , Ra~arvoira ~~, ~1i ~~ end ~~ at' ~rh~ ra~~ ~a~t~rial supplying por~~an l~ are independe~atly conndc~ted to the . -6-~ , .. ~ ~ ~

, r raga materi.fil mixing 'portion 15 through conduit means 26, 2?, ?t3 and 29. Advantageously, separate bypass r~-turn condtait means 30 extend from one end of each con~-duit ~6 ~- ~9 ad~aoon~ flee mixing portion baa~c to the renpeative Te~e~rva3.r ~0 ~ 23 as i.l~.u~trabed in Figure 4.

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the supporting portion 14 of ap~ar~tcue~ 1.1 of the prey~nt invention inaluda~o a l~ae~~ eeotion 3~ wi~t~ gen-era'i'ly para11e1 upstanding and aaationa 33 and 3Wm ",. plurality a:~ frame members 3~0 3?r 38 e.nd 39~ eaoh with a large open oentral ar~a 47;~ 42, 43 or t+4 aa~t~nda be--twaan the upstanding and sections and is ro~e~~abl.y aup-ported ther~On. :E~aoh of the inner frame ~aambere 3'7' 38 and 39 ~-a progre~ee~.vely smaller in ai~e and ie dish-posed within an open c~ntral area off' the nest le,rger ,:

game me~ber. , a .

alternate frame mewbarg ~hown in the drawings ae mamber~a 3~ and 38 are rotatable about aligned a~ae ~6 and ~~e ~h8 game mel~b8rt~ t~l~~'8betla~$n 37 and ~9 ~~''~

r~tatabl~ about aligned a~c~a 47 end 49 g~nerall~r peril~n~
aI:

d~;cular to the first ax~e ~+6 and ~+8~ The ~s~nal~.eat game , member 39 includes ~otatabl~ hnldin~ ~eat3ona 51 and 52 that extend inwardly along an axis 53 that al~co is per-pendiCUlar t0 axi~a 49 0~ that fsama member.

Advanta~eoualy, the ~~e,liar ~ra~n~ c~~~bere ~'7a 3~

end 39 axe generally centered w~.th~.n the op!era oentr~l e,rea 41, ~~? and 43 of the n~~t 'i~rg~r fry~a oaambe~a 36, w i., , 3rd and 38 reapaCtivel~rs ~.~he outer largest ~rar~e m~mb~r .

36 preferably included a cross frame section 54~~ The _~..

cross frame section 54 advantmgooualy is disposed in a planer ~ubatantially pe:rpond~.aul.ar to a plan~ through the outer frame member ~E~. ~ftao cross frame section pre-fere~bly ~.;~ disposed aymmetrioally of the out~r fraa~e uaombor 36.
S -;,>S:pi Tk~e .frame members ~6 - ~~ advantag~oualy ar~ of a ~ ' generally multi~-angular oonfigura.tiona Preferably, the frame members are of a quadrangular confl.guration and , moat preferably a square aonf~.guration as ahow~a in the . :~,~ C~raw~n~,~o ~.'hA ~ram8 m9mb~a."'(! ~d'V$ntag0olaft~~"y t4~'~ ~oI'm8d of tubin,~, pr~forably with a quadrangularg a.g. square arose aoat3.on. .~dvantageoualy, the raw matexia,l conduits 2f~ - ~~ and eloatrical conduatore for energi$ing drive .

means are disposed slang the frame members.

:,, The raw material mixing portibn 15 0~' the diatri~~:..

biting appaxatu~a 11 of the invention inolud~a ~ mining "

;y chamber 55. The misting chamber is mount~d ad~aoent the ~i-sm~lleat frame member 39: Ttaer mia~ir~g ah~~nber id mounted <, .for aoxatro~.lod move~ent subatantiall~ p~ral,~a7. t~ the ' :;

xot~tion~al axis oI tie h~ldiza~ aeot~.o~aa ~1 end ~2~ i' Th~ mix3.r~g portion 15 ~x~.ao inalude~ a plurality of spaced defl~ator ~oo~Giona 5?s The ~Ieflector- creations are poaitioxtable a~~.~ativel.y rithin the mix3.ng aha~nbax ,; s"
5S along the length of the ~tiamb~r. Maana ~e ahowt~ as drive ~~aa~mbliea . 39 and p~ovi.c~od for w~.thd~rawing := the : :::

d~.flector s~~tiona fram the s~9.xl.ng ah~,mbarr ~.8_ n 1~3~;~~'~~
piston means E~1 is seleetivQly mavab~.e ~,rithin the mixing chamber alon6 the length thereof when the doff~c-for sections axe wittad:cawn thare:~rom. Advanta~aoum~,y, tho asaemb:~.~.er~ y paca~r3.d~ rotation or ah~zn~tng of the orien~.
Y
lotion of 'the deflector secatiaraa when they are diapaeed .
,:.;;, within the mixing cheamb~r. The defleetar aectians pre- .
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ferably ~xtend into the mixing chamber radially of the axis of the chamber.
Th~ polymeric mixture distributing portion 1H of the apparatus 11 includes delivery means ~~ which is movable in a oontral~.ed motion. The delivery means ~?
extcanda from the ruixing ohamber SS toward the axle o.~
th~ holding sections 51 and S2. The distributing por-~
. lion advantageously includes extendable flexibl~ conduit means 63 to facilitate positioning of thm d~livery means. .
Preferably, the extendable conduit means is ~seleativ~ly ;~oin~bhe with a pasea~g ~. extending ~hrou~h a holding section 51 ax' S? that communicates ~a3.th the polymeric mixture aocepting portion 17 as described hereafter fh~ polya~exio m~:~ct~a~e ~ac~~~ing part3~n l~ ~,nolc~d~~ x'; ,-s,v ~ profile member fC s~~th a eur~aoe ha~rir~g a desired con- ~', fi~ux~htian. The profile member ~~ ie poeitionable be--tweeza the hold~.ng eeetione 51 and 5~ ~~tend~.ng inwardly . :t .
v from th~ smallest frame me~aber 3~; The holding agotio~a~
aeaua~a the profile r~embe~r in place during rotat3an thereof sF
a~xd the deposition of the polymex~.o ~ni~tux°e th~reon~
mhe pro.~',F:'~ m~mbex~ may innlud~ one or snnr~ ~aaeagea t~aere-throu,~h camr~unic~t3ng eaith holding section pa~~aa~e 6~.
for delivery of the polymeric miacture.~hereinm .. ...

~.~~.~v~~'3 '.the profile member C6 advantagsouQly includes a .flexible c~urfaae covering 6''~ with a plurality of surface auppoxting ~lamente 68 bearing against the aur.faae cover ing. Tb~ surfaa's uupporting olsmon~s 68 provide changes in the pra.~ils of the surife.ce severing;, fr~ferably, th~
~ux~'aaa sup~drti~ag e~.sment~ oars a~dvabio ra,d~.a~,ly of the y,'~. .
r ax~,~t of the prof ils member. Mast preferably, the move- ;;':
went 'of the surface supporting clear~nta i,s produced through :r, driv~ means 69.
The eurfaa~ supporting e1~menta ~8 may bs disposed dut~~.de the aur,~e,ce ~aovsring ar inside the surface cavnr-ing. (~rsate~r v~rsatility is aahievsd ~ti.th a profile mdmber including two(outer and innsr)aurfaco caverings 67 and 70 with the auxface aupparting elements diepagsd therebatw~sn as shown in figure 3.
The control poxtion 1F3 of the rotatable d3.str~.bu--ting apparatus 3.l of the ~.nvention inaluds~ pump means ~1~ 72, 'r'3 end 74~ valve ~eari~ r~~a9 '~'~, "r8 and 79 algid .tlo~ monit~a~ing mans 81, 824 83 and 84 dis~po~edslang ' tla~ 1~~8th of each raw m~te~ial co~eduit ~eana ~6, 2'7a 2.8 and 2 ~. .~Iso, ind~pend~nt drive means ~~~9 ''~6~ P~7 and 88 are disposed ad~e.cen~ the axih of sash Exams mem-~
ber ~6, 370 3g aid ~9~ ' The dx~a,ve m~an~ pravid~ rotation of ~ach frame member .. i:ndapendsntl~r of the other frame ~~btionar Advan~e.geota~ly, tta~ frame ~m~mbsx drive meaaxe ,;°.
ar~ ~evereib~.e t~ faai~at~~~ the di~tr~.bt~~i~a~ c~~' the po~.ymeric mixture ~ver the ~urf~cs of they praf33.e ~~m~
ber 86~ .
-1.~~

1'ha control portion In ~xlso includes programmable m~mory means 91 and actuating means 92 responsive there~»
to, advantageously ~.n aomb~.nation w:lth coord3nati.ng moans ;a, ;, g~ to oantroi the aparati.on a~' the pumps' valves and dr~,vas» Pre~'srabiy, the aaordinatl.ng means includes a pran~a~a aontr~lxar 94 that in~.t~.atas changma 3.n the ':..:\k'. ~~'~"s ~~.owm off' materials and speeds o~ dr~.ves to br~.ng var~.a.-tio~.ns thera~.n bac~C to the rates sp~a~.~'~.~d ~.n the programs present in the memory 91~
~°h~.~e coardination commonly ~,s achieved through the transmission of informat~.on suoh as d~.gitai poises rv .roar the monitoxs and/or w~erasors at the control aompo-nente to the proc~ss control.ler 94. Th~ opera'~ing ~.n-~
~ormat~.on 3,e compar~sd with the pre~ee~.ected programming:
_, parameters stored ~,n the memary. Tf d3f~er~naes are detected, ~,nstruotions from the contrail.~r change the op~,rat3on o9f the components to restor~ th~ various op-erat3ona tv the pre$elected pracessing spaci~icat~.onsw ~~
In the use off' the polymeric mixture d~.str3.but3.n~, ag~a~r°atu~ 11 rah' the present laav~r~tiara, tbs de~~.gn o~ th~
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prod,uc~ desires ~3.rst is estabhished~ the dd~ign den ;,i be ecipied 9fro~n a sample ~~' ,~ s3,m31or prc~duc~» .
Copying a product samp~:e aan be ~,GCOmg~.ished 3.n s~v~a~l ~ray~: the s~~ple ma;y be pos~aioned and aehur~d ~.
between ~h~ holding aea~3.ohs 5i and ~~» ~herea~ter, a Polymerio ~n~.~~ure ~.s depo~it~d on the ro~at~.ng ~am~~.e such as bar d~po~iting a pniymex~ r~.bbon continuously over the sample prot'ile in an ov~riappin~ p~ztt~r~: wit~~w~~.~.'c~s, ~il~, __ a~ux~ir~~, and aubhsc~ua~n~: to ~;tm d~positi.on a~' tb~a palyu~s~ry ~ha c~x~.v~a morane 8-~ a$ ~'ar tMe wpdo~.l"i.a .~xau~e w~ar~bsrn>~ -» y sra sati.vstsd ras reyu3.red tc~ .flow the p~a~,yr~sr~.a un~.xt~ure av~ar tlae swr~was end ~a~cca m ~ub~~s~a-isla~~.~.y wr~~,Barca po'lymar~,n 'ls~so avea~ tkas saa~irs ~ampls~
l~a~ pa~.~r~sr aavsrsd sss~ls ~n~,~ bs r~~c~sd ar'~~w ~hs ~~1~~~
,,,,a~, ,~.e .
msr9,a~ ~s,ysr is suf~':~csiontc~,y a~t~~ed tcs be ss~.f'«sw~amr~9,n~ ','':
~.tk~a~a~ d3.s~ax~9.n~ the ~xo~'i.ls ~bsrsa~'m ar ~t~s ds~as~,w ~iaz~ a~' ttaw ~olymeria m~.x~~ars mny hre oontimusd bo bw,~.l,d s ~tD~~.a~ swpport be~a~i,n,~ t;bersove~rp ~~bsn tbs aawered s~mp'~~ is r~~ntwsd f~ro~ tbs ~pps~
xatus, ~~as outer pdlymsr3.o she'll i,s dlv~.dsd ~.~t'~c~ sts ls~s~
twa ~asat~.o~ae. Tk~e sa~n~~.s ~,s re~a~red Brad tlns esotiorr~o ' o~ tbs pa~.,y~reric~ shell becoa~e s mul~t~.~g~ieae ~03.d ~aes0~o~
bl,y:.~hlab rare be xein~araed ~'w~ba~r i.t dssi,red~
c~oxe ed~rnnt~~~ataely~ ~sbs design off' a ~radwat tea bs aradwc~sc~ can bs g~ra~ra~med laatc~ ttbs ~ra~'~.le me~~csry ~~ ~~~~~~.~~ p~~~~.x~ ~~~a~~~ ~~ ~.~ ~b~ ~~~~~~~~ xa. ~~~,~s~~
hwldl3.sscat~.o~~, ncad 5~b alt tbi.s ~afaa~,~ h ~rod~mst ~~.s is hn~s~sd ~.~b~r' tk~s ~x°a~i,le ~s~ahsr ~~r, tb~ d~c~,~~
mr~s f~9 mave~x the ew~pas~in~ els~~nts ~9 s~s~.n~b ~~ea ~3.e~ibl~ ~,tatert~e~, sw~~'s,as aovsr~.n~ '~0 ~~xd sdv~nass ~r ~.m~tca int3,~t~ ao~xt~aat o~3.trta t8~s ~~~rir~ ~w~~'nc~~ a~ fibs ~o~~apl~~ Vibe meenor~ ~~~~ 91 r~~ ttae e~ax~tr~~. ps~rt3.tbs~ .
~,, , d S ~~ ~r~~mmed ~'aar the atr'~ttrf,o~n tit' bhp ~~a'~'~s~ srs'~
t:, ~.
~tCg~~, ti~~ ~~~par~~,r~~ . ~lsmo~t~ r~~.tbd~~~ ~s~~9.#tln~ t~a~
~~~a~~ dave~in~ ,~~ to rs~:~a~s ~°ra~ the e~~,s s~arsas ea thw s~~p~.~ aura 3~~ ~ep~°at~d Pram the pra~'~.l.s ms~bsr.
Zn t~a9.~a wsy~ s aao~d ~,s~~~bly ~'ar dt~~li.a~t~.the ~roduat .
saoa~~ple lass bean arse;tsd qw~,ai~'~y end sss~.ly~
~.l~r , ,/' ~
~~,.,~r~~~
.'I~ i_f; ~.~ de:~i.red to make n p:roducti_on mold to brs used :fox an extended Iaariod of t;imeq a mold assembly raxx be made vein g t~ pxoftlo momber w~.th an external sux-face covoring 67a ~L~hua, vahen the internal surface covr ".;
ar~.n~ ~ja ;Lm in aloes contact with the nnb~.x~s surfaoa .

yu;, a ,f. the samp;Lo, the ~xtexnal. suri'ace covering f~'~ is ;'~n=;
or~.en- .

~, :;;.
', .

:~_~''~ ted in tho same conf.~.gure~t~.on. A po7.ymeric mixture Can i .v b~ deposited on the ;~urfaoa covering in the ~eaaa~ way W~:

f, ..

~~~ as described above with the direct coat~,ng o~ the sample to produce a mold asagmbly with an internal cavity for , molding duplicat~s of the sampl~. .

Another procedure :Ear producing a mold assembly i;~ to gen~rrate a desired design in a computer directly a~ad then tranai''er the design in.tarmat3oa~ into the mem~-:5' ory o~ the control. portion 18 so it oan sub~s~c~uent7.y shape the euxface covering oi th~ pro~Eile membe~c 66 as daecribed above using the sampl.~~

~'o ets~rt the operatian of the ~.ppa~~tua ~.1, but tone and/ox ~~r~.tohes 96 '0~ a control. pa~~~. 97 are ddp~eaa~d to aciiivai;e th~ a~~mor~ gl and ~~aa ai;her ccamporaent~
o~

th3 C011t~'b~, p0~.'tj.C)n ~.8s ~h~ G4~tax."d~,ll~ting !11~~.n~
~~ 071 ergiz~a t'rame member rot~t~.an drive meanz~ 8~ ~- 88 and ~ben pro~i2e membar 6f~ i~ emp~.ayad ~nar~i~aa ~u~'pp~rti,ng ~l~rme~at drive mans 6~a H r~ .
ir:

x Also, the pumps 71 ~ 'T~9 th~ ~ralvea '~6 - '~~~ and tie ~~.ow ~a~~~mx~~ 81 .. s~. ~~~ ~~~~~~:~~d ~~ t~~ ~~o~d~.-' n~t3n~ m~arts 9~ in the: p~'es~~3.~et~d ~~q,uenoea o~ the . ' p~t~~

grim stored ins the memory 91. Thin c~ugea thg taut materia3.s,..

~1~~ , , r in r~servoirs 2Q - 2~ to advance along the conduits 26 --29 toward the mixing pardon 1.5. For example9 to mold rx 'product including a roamed polyurethan~ resins reeex~-vo:~r 20 may oonta:i.n a pr,ovious~.y p~spax'ed mixture of an isouyanate acrd gravel a;~ a filler from res~r~ro~.rs ,~ , .

, ~, ~~ a~ad ~~i ra~~aacvolr ~1 may oantain a paiyo7, ~ re~~svoir 22 fotxm forming matexials and ?3 and other reservoirs --colors9 catalysts, etc. as required 4: ..
~o pxoduce high quality mold~d units of the inven-tion, it is important that the raw materi.al delivered to the mix~,ng ahambew5~ be unifarm in volume and com-~

poc~itionw , ',~h~.s aan be facilitated by providing a .
son-~~.rauous ~Clow of raw materials to the mixing portion and yh~ immediate transfer of the mixtur~ therafrom onto th~ polymexic mixtur~ acoepting surfaas~ Ho~a~var~ th~

va'lum~ o% the mixture delivered will vary d~pending upon the p~ticu~ar incremental area being covered at any instant. Also' the delivery will be terminated camplet~-7.y ~rh~n a mo~,ded unit i~ being removed from the a~pa-re~~ ua a 'v v .. :r ':~,.;

Advan~a~;eous7.y, as show~a in ~igur~ 4, a ~~pdr~,t~

bypass oondui~ 3~ 3s utilized from the end of each ~onm ' duct 2C -. 29 at a po3.rat ad3acent the mixing chamber.
~~

:~ ba,olc ~o th~ r~spec~~.~~ re~exv~ir 2~ -~ 23; ~hia constr~o~

> ::
=s~,; ~~.t~n ~T.av~d0~ for the t~~~.~v~~C'y ~~ ~. f~'~gh~~ .~6~~'m~d, ,.;
'~ c un~,~ ..

' ~1~~
y,.

,form mixture from tha mixing e~ham'b~~ ~t~en ..th~u~h t'he d3etance is oons~.derable betwe~ra the reservaira and the mixing cha~b~r ro~hich ~a l:oaat~d cloy~1y ~d~acent ttae m~.%~Idr81 aCC~pt:~Tr~ f~irrf~tl~. '.L~~lh! OOIItx'ol portion ~.~

.v~l.~,.. ' ~~~~~~'~
oaordinatsa the operation of Ghe various system eompo-nmnto as the rec~uirad formulation can ,flow owbo the ds--uixad arsao.
.,.

h 1 .
Wlaan the d~~3rad voJ.uma o~ the mixture lass bean :~; d~paa~.~tad, tba da~'laotor ~aeat~.on~ 5'7 axe witl~draan ,,'' From '~y~ ' the mixing a~ha~ab~r 55~ T3aon, th~ piston m~a~b~r 61 mav~~y,.
~

forward ~,nta tbe~ mi~c~.ng ahambar pu~l~ing out any mat~ria~l ,, s tlaorein and a$as~~ning the mixing ahambor for rao~iving v the next ingrodienta. With tho pi,~ton 61 disposed in tho mixing ohamb~r, rotation of the ~ramm aact3ona ~6 - t ,.;

59 is c~aa~tina~d to oomp$ete the flow of th~ mixtur~ over ali aurfaoae being aoverad~
, .;;j .

'i'h~ rotations era eontrolled within the para~aatera ntox~~d in tho m~mory 91. liar particular u~aitu, the ro-a~~ 1 tatiana about the reap~otiv~ aacea ma,y be continuous and/I

or intermittent at changing rates. Also, it may ba dew disable to ~aaro~rid~ a~euat~ rotations t~aat ia, ~o~aa~ent' 1 ' I

about ~xa era:: sash as a roaring motiOnd ~rdvantag~oualy,,-oa~oa~itor~ 98 loaat~d ~d~acen~ the a~3.xbure ~a~~p~in~
aux~

~~,o~ ~,n~'orsn ~ha pro~~a~ c~ntro~:~.ex~ 94 wboaa the mixt~ara hay fl.ov~~d aver all, s~ar~~aeoo S. ~ The oompa~t~rnta of t~a~ palymsxie mixture!, that boa . J',. ,. ...
been d~poa~a~d q,uiol~$~e. ;'begin to reset ~Q dorm a ~b~;~;d .t.t, . n . ,.1 a ,T ~t~~totur~t wb~.~.~ rotationai a~ov~~aar~t of tlaa pr~t'il~
m~~~-ber cc~ntintt~a'm . Sao m~.~tur~r init~.ally dap~aitod forma a herd cwer$ng w~.'~h a hi~t~ doaa~itay ~~.th ~a~t~~.~
or na .i Y,,, bubb~.e ~ara~tion. Aa tk~o r~action rata inareaaaa duo to the ~xotb~rm~.o r~a~~ib~ of the rein f~rm~,t~,on, t~aa ~o~m i'oxmed d,sex~~aoa in dsnsity~

Y .. :n.l 5.. ~ .

'.~la~a .~'au~u den~~.ty dour~a~~~~ ~ub~~nn~3~ull~r uni~'arm--l.y ~,~ ~h~ ~paro~,za~ ~x~om ~k~o ~sur.~apea ~.nor~~~eu~ '~h~,~
d~ar~n~t~ ;L~x d~nni~~ t~aaa~~.nuun ur~~.~~u Lh~ ~~pa~nd~.a~~ ~o~amn ~16f~~ ~I~tc~~~~~C' :~0~1~t1a .~Q'~ ~k~k~l~~9 ~U~lIld~l~$H~t~~ ~ wkl~.~
~~.~,~1 w de~~ran~.~~ ~~~atra~a~~, b~.rri~r i~ ~'o.a~~~rd~
,:;,,~; , .
't~~n ~b~ paccad~aa~ ~,~ ~u~'~~.~~,~n.~ly au~sr~d4 ~h~ xo~u~
~~:c~n is n~a~pp~d urrad ~ta~ ~ld~d r~~a9~~ 9.~ .~~c~~d 'ram ~b~
=av n~pp~a~un~ ~~ n~p~x~~~d ~crld~d unit i~ n~~ ~~~,d~o to ~ncu~r~~~e ~h~ ~onaa ~'crrma~~.an ~~ad~'~r ~ba~ aur~ra~ r~~' ~3~~
a~~~in ~har~ir~~ Duz~ixa~ than p~~riad9 ~h~ ~"~.n~.l ~~~.on c~~' b~~ ~~e.m' ~r~~ of .the maid ~ ~ re~truint 9 ~tx~~~~u the ~a3.~h d,en~~ty aut~r ~~r3,ra ~x '~n~~r n~" the pradwc~t~ 9.u sts~~~in~ c~~' tie ~t~~.~a in~r~u~au the qtr~xeg~th u,nd p~,na.~ .
btaac~e ru~~.~tnnaa~ tb~rea~" send ~lns~ tb~ ~i~ruatra~cn~. ~tx~n~th ~~ tb~ mald~d product 9.tnelata ~h~ ~truat~r~,7, ~tr~n~t~a ~t ~ta~ prad~ac~~ ~~n be ~aa~caa~~~d ~°urtla~r b~ ~,na~.udix~~ ~ ~-r~rii~~rso~a~~rat ~taokr as m~t~.l ear ~'~b~~°~le~~~ ~"ib~r~s i.n the ~i~tu~~ pawiax to caoldir~~~ ~7:na~ px~~a~~ae~d r~iniCc~rn~~ue~n~~
~~~i ~~. a~~~~l wiry ~naa b~ utv~~,~~dm ,,., . :~~.~u>~~ ~ ~.~:~.u~~x~,t~~ nn ~n~.nar~~d ox~~s-~n~atl~~a~~.
v~:~w c~;~ ~ mc~~d~d ~an~.t ,~~ ~la~ ~:uw~~nti.az~ prd~uc~d a~p~esy-»
~a~ t~~ ~pp~.r~t~a~ and m~~h~d~nerib~d abnv~~ ~.~ i~h~~a~
the t~n~t ~.rral~ad~~ ~, high d~~~i.t,~ u~~~~~ed ou~~r ~.~~~~ .
~,~ ~~,~h ~ 1~~~ d~n~~ ~~~~r lt~~. ~~y~~di~n~ tta~~~~~~ , ', e, ;, -' ~'~,~~,~~' ~~."~~,t3~.~~1 ~.~~ ~i,~ld, ~.13~J~" 7C'~~i~~"6~~l~lEl~'~~.~~
7C'~ , d~l~"~~lY~'~d ~l3r~ld~$1(~~'~ ~r11~ ~9C'~Itd~~'~.s I~~~~~ 6B~~iJC~:~ ~.~i .,jf' ~o~o~~~n~~ ~:~~ ~r~d ~~~ub~~~~ z~~~ _ _ T
~dvanta~,eouslyq the stressed outer layer 100 i.n-clud~~s a somewhat greater cavaQntration of hard fil7.er part;iales 1.02 and the :foamed layer 101 includes a some-what ~;xaater aonoentration of tt~e fiber rain:~o:roeman~

1(73 'l.'hus~ t2ae proeent invention pravide~a a navel molded;
' , .

praduat that ie a unitary stx~uoture with an ~.nte~ra7, .

.,, n. hard out~r surface av~ar a more flexural ,strong booking r and inal.udee ~a~.gh proportions of fillers and/or rein.
\

;
kc ,toraemente. A s., T,'b.e above deeaription and the accompanying. drawings above that the present invention provides a novel rotation-.,, a1 palymeria mixture distributing apparatus which not only overaames the deficiencies and ehartaoming;~ o.f. ear-liar expedi,ants~ but in addition provides novel features and advantages not found in previous apparatus. The ~~C '~ .'n ' T '_ diatributin~ apparatus of th~ inv~ntion provides a eim~.

ple and convenient means for reducing e~.gnifiat~ntly the time required to advano~ .from a design to the p~roduation sta~e~ This ~.s true w~aether the d~sign .is embodied in a pratatype~, ~.~ a aonventiona'1 drawing or is a coaaputer ~~n~rat~~ ae~~:~~.

:.>t~:,>

~.'he apparatu;e ~o~' tl~e imvdn~~.on ~.~ simple in design ~: ~~a .~r~ia~~.v~iy w:~~~.~p~n~~.~~. aam~~ra~.al~.y ~va~~ab~.~.
ma~

...f.

v7;.
terials and components can be utilized i.n the :fabrica~
.

tion off' the apparatus usira~ conventional. metal. working t~ehniquee and procedureaa ~x~~

J
~':caduCte Qan be produaact eff~Iciantl.y with the ap~
parE~tus b;,~ operaturv with limited experience and apti-tude aftor a short period o.f instruotian. The apparat~
us is durable in construotivn and has a long useful lif~
with a minimum oaf ruaintene~z~as. , ' .
r ;:
~~4 Y
The apparatus of the invention can be utilized y to mold .a wide variety of d~.~~erent products. Variatians ;,~,,:
~.n composition, struvture arid configuration off' the pro~
duots can be achieved simp~.y and quial~~.y with the apps-ratus of the invention. .
Tt will be apparont that various modi~icat~.ons can ba caade in the rotational poi,ymeric mixture dlstri-.
bating apparatus descrilasd in detail above and shown ;
in the drawings within the scope of the preeerat inven-~ .
tion. The ~~.za, con iguration a~ad arrangement o~ cam-pon~nts and mataria3:~ can be changed ~o megt opeai~ie .~.' ~requ~.remen.~se rv~ ex~mplo~ the number off' Components 1-' and r~s~rvoire may bg dii'farent m Also, the hpperatus ;: 1;.:, m~;~r 3nalude oth~a.~ dri~~ end actuating oom~ra~aent~ end ~~_~ s~~char~i~ms. ' These and other ch~ngo~ c~h beg ~ad~ ire the sppara~us a~eorib~d provided ~h~ ~'unc~k~.on~.n~ arid oper:~
e~ti;o~ ~?~~reof ax~~ not adversely a~'~'ect~Q~ ~:'her~~ore, the gc~ope off' the preoent ~:nverati.on is to be 1~.m3.~ed on~.y .
b~ the follgwi.n~ o~.~ir~~.
' d ~ ~

Claims (25)

1. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus including a raw material supplying portion, a supporting portion, a raw material mixing portion, a polymeric mixture distributing portion, a polymeric mixture accepting portion and a control portion; said raw material supplying portion including a plurality of reservoirs, each reservoir being connected independently with said mixing portion through conduit means; said supporting portion including a base section with generally parallel spaced upstanding end sections, a plurality of frame members each with a large open central area being disposed between said upstanding end sections and rotatably supported thereon, each of said frame members being progressively smaller in size than the next larger frame member and disposed within said open central area thereof, alternate frame members being rotatable about aligned axes with frame members therebetween being rotatable about axes generally perpendicular thereto, the smallest frame member including rotatable holding sections extending inwardly toward one another along an axis perpendicular to the axis of said smallest frame member; said raw material mixing portion including a mixing chamber mounted adjacent said smallest frame member, a plurality of spaced deflector sections selectively positionable within said mixing chamber along the length thereof, means for withdrawing said deflector sections from said mixing chamber and piston means selectively movable within said mixing chamber along the length thereof when said deflector sections are withdrawn therefrom; said polymeric distributing portion including movable delivery means extending from said mixing chamber toward said axis of said holding sections;
said polymeric mixture accepting portion including a profile member with a surface having a desired configuration positionable between said holding sections and securable therebetween; said control portion including pump means, valve means and flow monitoring means disposed along the length of each raw material conduit means, independent drive means disposed adjacent the axis of each frame member providing rotation thereof independently of other frame members, programmable memory means and actuating means responsive thereto controlling and activating said pump means, said valve means and said drive means.

2. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said profile member includes a flexible surface covering and a plurality of surface supporting elements bearing against said surface covering and providing changes in the configuration thereof.

3. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said surface supporting elements and movable radially of the axis of said profile member.

4. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 2 including drive means activating movement of said surface supporting elements.

5. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said surface supporting elements are disposed outside said flexible surface covering.

6. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said surface supporting elements are disposed inside said flexible surface covering.

7. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein said surface supporting elements are disposed between inner and outer flexible coverings.

8. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said smaller frame members are generally centered within said open central area of flee next larger frame member.

9: Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the outer frame member of said supporting portion includes a cross frame section, the plane of said cross frame section being disposed substantially perpendicular to the plane of said outer frame member.

10. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 9 wherein said cross frame section is disposed symmetrically of said outer frame member.

11. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1. wherein said frame members are of a generally multi-angular configuration.

12. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 11 wherein said frame members are of a quadrangular configuration.

13. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said frame members are formed of quadrangular tubing.

14. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 13 wherein said tubing has a square cross section.

15. Multi-axis rotational, polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said frame member drive means area reversible.

16. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said drive means for said frame members are energized by, electrical conductors disposed along said frame members.

17. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said raw material mixing portion is mounted for movement substantially parallel to the rotational axis of said holding sections.

18. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said raw material supplying portion includes separate bypass return conduit means from one end of each of said conduct means adjacent said mixing portion back to the respective reservoir.

19. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said raw material conduit means are disposed along said frame members.

20. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said stew material mixing portion includes drive means for selectively rotating said deflector sections when disposed within said mixing chamber.

21. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said deflector sections extend radially into said mixing chamber.

22. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said polymeric mixture distributing portion includes extendable flexible conduit means.

23. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 22 wherein one of said holding section includes a passage therethrough communicating with said polymeric mixture accepting portion.

24. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 23 wherein said movable delivery means of said polymeric mixture distributing portion is selectively joinable with said holding section passage.

25. Multi-axis rotational polymeric mixture distributing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said control portion includes coordinating means.