Compression moulding apparatuses and methods

Abstract

An apparatus includes a first mould part suitable for receiving an object, a die arrangement arranged for surrounding a zone of the object and a second mould part cooperating with the die arrangement and with the first mould part in order to compression-mould plastics on the object in the zone.

1 - 112 . (canceled) 
     
     
         113 . Apparatus comprising a first mould part suitable for receiving an object, a die arrangement arranged for surrounding a zone of said object and a second mould part cooperating with said die arrangement and with said first mould part so as to compression-mould plastics on said object in said zone, wherein said die arrangement is configured in such a way as to shape a threaded portion around said zone, wherein said object is a container part, said zone being defined in a dispensing body of said container part. 
     
     
         114 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said die arrangement is configured in such a way as to shape a container neck element around said zone. 
     
     
         115 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said die arrangement comprises a first part in which a first opening is obtained and a second part in which a second opening is obtained. 
     
     
         116 . Apparatus according to  claim 115 , wherein said first part and said second part are positioned in opposite regions of said die arrangement. 
     
     
         117 . Apparatus according to  claim 115 , wherein said first opening faces said first mould part and said second opening faces said second mould part. 
     
     
         118 . Apparatus according to  claim 115 , wherein an operating portion arrangement of said second mould part is insertable into said die arrangement through said second opening. 
     
     
         119 . Apparatus according to  claim 115 , wherein a further operating portion arrangement of said first mould part is insertable into said die arrangement through said first opening. 
     
     
         120 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said second mould part comprises a weakening arrangement that is movable towards and away from said die arrangement and is arranged for deforming said plastics in said zone to obtain a weakening defined by a portion of said zone having a lesser thickness than the thickness of a remaining portion of said zone. 
     
     
         121 . Apparatus according to  claim 120 , wherein said die arrangement comprises a first part in which a first opening is obtained and a second part in which a second opening is obtained, said weakening arrangement being insertable into said die arrangement through said second opening. 
     
     
         122 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said die arrangement comprises a first half-mould and a second half-mould that are mutually movable towards and away from one another. 
     
     
         123 . Apparatus according to  claim 122 , and further comprising a driving arrangement arranged for moving said first half-mould and said second half-mould between a closed configuration, in which said die arrangement defines a forming chamber for said plastics, and an open configuration in which said die arrangement releases said object after said plastics has been compression-moulded on said object. 
     
     
         124 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said second mould part comprises a forming element that is slidable in a seat obtained in a base body. 
     
     
         125 . Apparatus according to  claim 124 , wherein said forming element is movable between a retracted position, in which said forming element is received in said seat and cooperates with said seat to define a cavity suitable for receiving a dose of said plastics, and an extended position in which said forming element presses said dose in said die arrangement. 
     
     
         126 . Apparatus according to  claim 124 , wherein said forming element comprises a groove inside which an elongated body is slidable. 
     
     
         127 . Apparatus according to  claim 126 , wherein said elongated body assumes an operational configuration in which an end of said elongated body interacts with a part of said zone to prevent said plastics adhering to said part. 
     
     
         128 . Apparatus according to  claim 126 , and further comprising a motor device arranged for moving said elongated body with respect to said forming element. 
     
     
         129 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said second mould part comprises a forming body arranged for being partially received in said die arrangement and provided with a hole inside which a stem is slidable. 
     
     
         130 . Apparatus according to  claim 129 , wherein a piston is fixed to said stem, said piston being slidable in a chamber arrangement obtained in said forming body. 
     
     
         131 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said first mould part is crossed by a conduit for a fluid. 
     
     
         132 . Apparatus according to  claim 131 , and further comprising a suction device arranged for sucking said fluid through said conduit. 
     
     
         133 . Apparatus according to  claim 131 , and further comprising a blowing device arranged for blowing said fluid through said conduit. 
     
     
         134 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said first mould part comprises a supporting body suitable for receiving said object, said supporting body having a surface provided with corrugated elements that enable air to be evacuated when said object is positioned on said supporting body. 
     
     
         135 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said first mould part, said die arrangement and said second mould part are aligned along a longitudinal axis of said apparatus, said die arrangement being interposed between said first mould part and said second mould part. 
     
     
         136 . Apparatus according to  claim 135 , and further comprising a moving arrangement arranged for moving said first mould part along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         137 . Apparatus according to  claim 135 , and further comprising a further moving arrangement arranged for moving said die arrangement along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         138 . Apparatus according to  claim 135 , and further comprising a still further moving arrangement arranged for moving said second mould part along said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         139 . Apparatus according to  claim 113 , wherein said container part is shaped like a dome. 
     
     
         140 . Machine for compression-moulding plastics on an object, comprising an apparatus according to  claim 113 . 
     
     
         141 . Machine according to  claim 140 , and comprising a plurality of apparatuses according to  claim 113 . 
     
     
         142 . Machine according to  claim 141 , and further comprising a forming carousel supporting said apparatuses. 
     
     
         143 . Machine according to  claim 142 , and further comprising a handling arrangement arranged for delivering said object to an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses and/or for removing said object from an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses. 
     
     
         144 . Machine according to  claim 143 , wherein said handling arrangement comprises a plurality of handling devices. 
     
     
         145 . Machine according to  claim 144 , and further comprising a transferring carousel supporting said handling devices. 
     
     
         146 . Machine according to  claim 145 , and further comprising a conveying device arranged for receiving from said handling devices objects on which plastics have been compression-moulded and delivering to said handling devices further objects on which plastics have to be compression-moulded. 
     
     
         147 . Machine according to  claim 146 , wherein said conveying device comprises a flexible conveying element. 
     
     
         148 . Machine according to  claim 147 , and further comprising a rotating body, positioned near said transferring carousel, on which said flexible conveying element is partially wound. 
     
     
         149 . Machine according to  claim 148 , wherein said transferring carousel is rotatable in a direction and said rotating body is rotatable in a further direction, said further direction being opposite said direction. 
     
     
         150 . Machine according to  claim 144 , and further comprising a flexible conveying arrangement supporting said handling devices. 
     
     
         151 . Machine according to  claim 150 , wherein an interaction portion of said flexible conveying arrangement is arranged along a part of a trajectory defined by said apparatuses when said forming carousel is rotated. 
     
     
         152 . Machine according to  claim 150 , wherein said flexible conveying arrangement comprises a first portion provided with handling devices that move away from said forming carousel, objects on which plastics have been compression-moulded and a second portion provided with handling devices that move towards said forming carousel further objects on which plastics have been compression-moulded. 
     
     
         153 . Machine according to  claim 152 , wherein an interaction portion of said flexible conveying arrangement is arranged along a part of a trajectory defined by said apparatuses when said forming carousel is rotated, said interaction portion being interposed between said first portion and said second portion. 
     
     
         154 . Machine according to  claim 150 , and further comprising a rotating body and a further rotating body, positioned near said forming carousel, on which said flexible conveying arrangement is partially wound. 
     
     
         155 . Machine according to  claim 154 , wherein said forming carousel is rotatable in a movement direction and said rotating body and said further rotating body are rotatable in a further movement direction, said further movement direction being opposite said movement direction. 
     
     
         156 . Machine according to  claim 142 , and further comprising a supplying carousel arranged for supplying said forming carousel with doses of said plastics. 
     
     
         157 . Machine according to  claim 156 , and further comprising a handling arrangement arranged for delivering said object to an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses and/or for removing said object from an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses, said handling arrangement comprising a plurality of handling devices, and further comprising a transferring carousel supporting said handling devices, wherein said supplying carousel is positioned downstream of said transferring carousel with respect to a rotation direction of said forming carousel. 
     
     
         158 . Machine according to  claim 156 , and further comprising a handling arrangement arranged for delivering said object to an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses and/or for removing said object from an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses, said handling arrangement comprising a plurality of handling devices, and further comprising a flexible conveying arrangement supporting said handling devices, wherein said supplying carousel is positioned downstream of said flexible conveying arrangement with respect to a rotation direction of said forming carousel. 
     
     
         159 . Machine according to  claim 156 , and further comprising a handling arrangement arranged for delivering said object to an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses and/or for removing said object from an apparatus of said plurality of apparatuses, said handling arrangement comprising a plurality of handling devices, and further comprising a flexible conveying arrangement supporting said handling devices, an interaction portion of said flexible conveying arrangement being arranged along a part of a trajectory defined by said apparatuses when said forming carousel is rotated, wherein said supplying carousel is associated with said interaction portion. 
     
     
         160 . Machine according to  claim 159 , wherein said supplying carousel is arranged along said interaction portion. 
     
     
         161 . Machine according to  claim 140 , and further comprising an extruding device arranged for dispensing doses of plastics. 
     
     
         162 . A method comprising the steps of delivering to a mould a container part provided with a dispensing element and plastics in a pasty state and pressing together said container part and said plastics for compression-moulding said plastics on said container part, wherein said compression-moulding comprises making with said plastics a container neck element on said dispensing element, wherein said container neck element comprises a threaded portion. 
     
     
         163 . Method according to  claim 162 , wherein said compression-moulding comprises making with said plastics a layer on at least a portion of an external surface of said container part and the container neck element on said dispensing element. 
     
     
         164 . Method according to  claim 162 , wherein, before said delivering step, thermoforming a laminar element of plastics to obtain said container part is provided. 
     
     
         165 . Method according to  claim 162 , wherein said container part comprises a layer of material having barrier properties to gases and/or to light. 
     
     
         166 . Method according to  claim 162 , wherein said container part comprises a dome provided with a connecting zone suitable for being fixed to a container body and from which said dispensing element leads away. 
     
     
         167 . Method according to  claim 162 , wherein said plastics comprise scraps of a material from which said container part is made. 
     
     
         168 . Method according to  claim 167 , and further comprising grinding said scraps before delivering said plastics to said mould. 
     
     
         169 . Method according to  claim 167 , and further comprising heating said scraps before delivering said plastics to said mould. 
     
     
         170 . Method according to  claim 162 , wherein, during said compression-moulding, deforming said plastics in a zone is provided to obtain a weakening defined by a portion of said zone having a lesser thickness than the thickness of a remaining portion of said zone. 
     
     
         171 . A method comprising the steps of delivering to a mould a sheet of plastics and plastics in a pasty state and pressing together said sheet and said plastics for obtaining from said sheet a container part provided with a dispensing element and for compression-moulding said plastics on said container part, wherein said compression-moulding comprises making with said plastics a container neck element on said dispensing element, wherein said container neck element comprises a threaded portion. 
     
     
         172 . Method according to  claim 171 , wherein said compression-moulding comprises making with said plastics a layer that covers at least a portion of an external surface of said object and the container neck element on said dispensing element. 
     
     
         173 . Method according to  claim 171 , wherein said sheet comprises a layer of material having properties acting as a barrier to gases and/or to light. 
     
     
         174 . Method according to  claim 171 , wherein said container part comprises a dome provided with a connecting zone suitable for being fixed to a container body and from which said dispensing element leads away. 
     
     
         175 . Method according to  claim 171 , wherein said plastics comprise scraps of a material with which said sheet is made. 
     
     
         176 . Method according to  claim 175 , and further comprising grinding said scraps before delivering said plastics to said mould. 
     
     
         177 . Method according to  claim 175 , and further comprising heating said scraps before delivering said plastics to said mould. 
     
     
         178 . Method according to  claim 171 , wherein, during said compression-moulding, deforming said plastics in a zone is provided to obtain a weakening defined by a portion of said zone having a lesser thickness than the thickness of a remaining portion of said zone. 
     
     
         179 . Apparatus comprising a punch arranged for engaging a hollow portion of an object, a supporting and retaining arrangement arranged for clamping said object against said punch and a mould cavity arrangement arranged for receiving a dose of plastics, said punch and said mould cavity arrangement cooperating mutually for compression-moulding said dose of plastics on said object, wherein said mould cavity arrangement is shaped so as to shape a threaded portion on said object, wherein said object is a container part, said dose of plastics being formed on a dispensing body of said container part. 
     
     
         180 . Apparatus according to  claim 179 , wherein said mould cavity arrangement is shaped so as to shape a container neck element on said object. 
     
     
         181 . Apparatus according to  claim 179 , wherein said punch, said mould cavity arrangement and said supporting and retaining arrangement define a forming chamber inside which said dose of plastics is compression-moulded. 
     
     
         182 . Apparatus according to  claim 181 , wherein said mould cavity arrangement comprises a plurality of mutually movable female mould portions. 
     
     
         183 . Apparatus according to  claim 182 , wherein said female mould portions are movable between a forming configuration in which said female mould portions define a mould cavity arranged for receiving said dose of plastics and for forming said dose of plastics, and a release configuration, in which said female mould portions enable said dome, on which said dose of plastics has been compression-moulded, to be extracted from said mould cavity arrangement. 
     
     
         184 . Apparatus according to  claim 181 , wherein said mould cavity arrangement comprises a single female mould portion. 
     
     
         185 . Apparatus according to  claim 179 , wherein said supporting and retaining arrangement comprises a plurality of mutually movable supporting and retaining elements. 
     
     
         186 . Apparatus according to  claim 179 , wherein said supporting and retaining arrangement comprises a single supporting and retaining element. 
     
     
         187 . Apparatus according to  claim 186 , wherein said supporting and retaining element is shaped as a tubular body. 
     
     
         188 . Apparatus according to  claim 179 , wherein said container part is shaped like a dome. 
     
     
         189 . A method, comprising the steps of
 delivering an object to a first mould part;   placing a dose of plastics on said object which has been delivered to said first mould part;   moving said first mould part bearing said object towards a second mould part, said dose adhering to said object;   surrounding at least partially said object with a die arrangement so that said second mould part and said die arrangement define a forming cavity around said object;   compression-moulding said dose around said object in said forming cavity;   said moving-towards operation preceding at least partially said surrounding operation;   wherein said object comprises a container part provided with a dispensing element; and   wherein said compression-moulding comprises forming with said dose a container neck element on said dispensing element.   
     
     
         190 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein after said operation of placing a dose, said first mould part and said die arrangement are moved towards one another. 
     
     
         191 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein during said operation of placing a dose, said die arrangement is arranged above said object. 
     
     
         192 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein during said operation of placing a dose, said second mould part is arranged above said first mould part. 
     
     
         193 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein said object is concave and is delivered to said first mould part with the concavity facing downwards. 
     
     
         194 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein said operation of placing a dose comprises removing said dose from a continuous flow of plastics in pasty state dispensed by an extruder and transferring said dose still in pasty state on said object. 
     
     
         195 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein said moving-towards operation comprises moving said first mould part at least partially upwards. 
     
     
         196 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein during said moving-towards operation, said die arrangement assumes an open configuration for facilitating the introduction of said object and said dose into said die arrangement, and wherein before compression-moulding said dose, said die arrangement is taken to a closed configuration in which it defines said forming cavity. 
     
     
         197 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein said container neck element comprises a threaded portion. 
     
     
         198 . Method according to  claim 189 , wherein said container part comprises a dome provided with a connecting zone suitable for being fixed to a container body and from which said dispensing element leads away. 
     
     
         199 . Apparatus, comprising a first mould part suitable for receiving an object, a die arrangement arranged for surrounding a zone of said object and a second mould part cooperating with said die arrangement and with said first mould part so as to compression-mould plastics on said object in said zone, said die arrangement being configured so as to assume at least a closed configuration for defining at least partially a forming cavity that surrounds said zone, and at least an open configuration for receiving/releasing said object, said die arrangement being connected to said second mould part so that a movement between said open and closed configurations comprises a rotation. 
     
     
         200 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said die arrangement comprises two or more die elements pivoted on said second mould part. 
     
     
         201 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said die arrangement is configured in such a way as to shape a threaded portion around said zone. 
     
     
         202 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said die arrangement is configured in such a way as to shape a container neck element around said zone. 
     
     
         203 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said die arrangement comprises a first part in which a first opening is obtained and a second part in which a second opening is obtained. 
     
     
         204 . Apparatus according to  claim 203 , wherein said first part and said second part are positioned in opposite regions of said die arrangement. 
     
     
         205 . Apparatus according to  claim 203 , wherein said first opening faces said first mould part and said second opening faces said second mould part. 
     
     
         206 . Apparatus according to  claim 203 , wherein an operating portion arrangement of said second mould part is insertable into said die arrangement through said second opening. 
     
     
         207 . Apparatus according to  claim 203 , wherein a further operating portion arrangement of said first mould part is insertable into said die arrangement through said first opening. 
     
     
         208 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said second mould part comprises a weakening arrangement that is movable towards and away from said die arrangement and is arranged for deforming said plastics in said zone to obtain a weakening defined by a portion of said zone having a lesser thickness than the thickness of a remaining portion of said zone. 
     
     
         209 . Apparatus according to  claim 208 , wherein said die arrangement comprises a first part in which a first opening is obtained and a second part in which a second opening is obtained, said weakening arrangement being insertable into said die arrangement through said second opening. 
     
     
         210 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said die arrangement comprises a first half-mould and a second half-mould that are mutually movable towards and away from one another. 
     
     
         211 . Apparatus according to  claim 210 , and further comprising a driving arrangement arranged for moving said first half-mould and said second half-mould between a closed configuration, in which said die arrangement defines a forming chamber for said plastics, and an open configuration in which said die arrangement releases said object after said plastics has been compression-moulded on said object. 
     
     
         212 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said second mould part comprises a forming element that is slidable in a seat obtained in a base body. 
     
     
         213 . Apparatus according to  claim 212 , wherein said forming element is movable between a retracted position, in which said forming element is received in said seat and cooperates with said seat to define a cavity suitable for receiving a dose of said plastics, and an extended position in which said forming element presses said dose in said die arrangement. 
     
     
         214 . Apparatus according to  claim 212 , wherein said forming element comprises a groove inside which an elongated body is slidable. 
     
     
         215 . Apparatus according to  claim 214 , wherein said elongated body assumes an operational configuration in which an end of said elongated body interacts with a part of said zone to prevent said plastics adhering to said part. 
     
     
         216 . Apparatus according to  claim 214 , and further comprising a motor device arranged for moving said elongated body with respect to said forming element. 
     
     
         217 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said second mould part comprises a forming body arranged for being partially received in said die arrangement and provided with a hole inside which a stem is slidable. 
     
     
         218 . Apparatus according to  claim 217 , a piston is fixed to said stem, said piston being slidable in a chamber arrangement obtained in said forming body. 
     
     
         219 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said first mould part is crossed by a conduit for a fluid. 
     
     
         220 . Apparatus according to  claim 219 , and further comprising a suction device arranged for sucking said fluid through said conduit. 
     
     
         221 . Apparatus according to  claim 219 , and further comprising a blowing device arranged for blowing said fluid through said conduit. 
     
     
         222 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said first mould part comprises a supporting body suitable for receiving said object, said supporting body having a surface provided with corrugated elements that enable air to be evacuated when said object is positioned on said supporting body. 
     
     
         223 . Apparatus according to  claim 199 , wherein said first mould part, said die arrangement and said second mould part are aligned along a longitudinal axis of said apparatus, said die arrangement being interposed between said first mould part and said second mould part. 
     
     
         224 . Apparatus according to  claim 223 , and further comprising a moving arrangement arranged for moving said first mould part along said longitudinal axis.