Open mold manufacturing process with centralized application station

Abstract

A mold manufacturing system includes a conveyer circuit upon which a multiple of molds transit a closed loop and repetitively pass through a central booth. The system is separated into Zones in which a particular mold operation is performed. Each of a multiple of applying operations are performed within the central booth which contains a common exhaust plenum. Application of exceedingly expensive environmental emission control devices is at least partially mitigated. Consolidation of multiple spray operations into a few spray Zones also advantageously simplifies the control of chemical and ambient variables which improves production efficiencies and reduces operator dependency.

1 . A mold manufacturing system comprising: 
 a central booth;    a closed circuit passing though said central booth a plurality of times;    a plurality of open molds that transit along said closed circuit; and    a plurality of Zones located along said closed circuit, each of said Zones performing an operation to each of said plurality of open molds, one of said plurality of Zones comprising an applying operation performed within said central booth.    
   
   
       2 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central booth contains a common exhaust plenum.  
   
   
       3 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central booth comprises a plurality of booth areas about a common exhaust plenum.  
   
   
       4 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising a closable exit and entry for each of said plurality of booth areas.  
   
   
       5 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said closed circuit comprises a leg between each of said plurality of booth areas.  
   
   
       6 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein each of said legs radially extend away from said central booth.  
   
   
       7 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein one of said plurality of legs extend for a distance related to said applying operation.  
   
   
       8 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said closed circuit comprises a leg following said applying operation.  
   
   
       9 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 8 , further comprising a curing queue along said leg.  
   
   
       10 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said leg extends for a distance related to said applying operation.  
   
   
       11 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said leg extends radially from said central booth.  
   
   
       12 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said closed circuit defines a plurality of legs such that said closed circuit comprises a cross shape.  
   
   
       13 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said plurality of legs extends further from said central booth than another of said plurality of legs.  
   
   
       14 . The mold manufacturing system of  claim 3 , wherein said plurality of booth areas extend from said common exhaust plenum such that said central booth comprises a cross-shape.  
   
   
       15 . The mold manufacturing system of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of booth areas extend from said common exhaust plenum transverse to a plurality of legs defined by said closed circuit.  
   
   
       16 . A mold manufacturing system comprising: 
 a central booth having a first and a second booth area about a common exhaust plenum;    a closed circuit passing though said first and said second booth area;    a plurality of open molds that transit along said closed circuit; and    a plurality of Zones located along said closed circuit, each of said Zones performing an operation to each of said plurality of open molds, a first Zone of said plurality of Zones comprising a first applying operation performed within said first booth area and a second Zone of said plurality of Zones comprising a second applying operation performed within said second booth area.    
   
   
       17 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said closed circuit comprises a leg extending between an exit of said first booth area and an entry of said second booth area.  
   
   
       18 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said leg extends radially from said central booth.  
   
   
       19 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said leg extends for a distance related to said first applying operation.  
   
   
       20 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 19 , further comprising a curing queue along said leg.  
   
   
       21 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the first and second applying operation comprise an environmentally controlled applying operation.  
   
   
       22 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said leg extends from said booth transverse to an exit of said first booth area and an entry of said second booth area.  
   
   
       23 . The mold manufacturing system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein a portion of said closed circuit extends radially past a perimeter of said central booth.