HK1199227B - Molding device with successive stage cooling channels - Google Patents

Description

Molding apparatus with sequential stage cooling channels

Cross reference to related applications

This application claims priority from united states patent application number 13/114,327 filed on 24/5/2011 and united states patent application number 13/277,022 filed on 19/10/2011. Applications 13/114,327 and 13/277,022 are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Technical Field

Background

Compression molding is a known fabrication process for producing molded articles from various plastics. A plastic material is placed in the open mold cavity. A plug or other compression member then closes the mold and compresses the material to expand to the shape of the mold cavity. The mold opens and the part is ejected. The plastic material is typically preheated, sometimes above the melting point, to make the plastic material more flexible for molding. Once the plastic material is compressed into the form of the mold cavity, the molded plastic can be ejected and the cycle repeated. This process can be repeated frequently to quickly make large quantities of molded articles. To achieve high speed operation, the mold may be actively cooled.

Disclosure of Invention

Various embodiment assemblies include a compression or injection molding assembly for molding a plastic material characterized by a coolant flow path comprising a plurality of stages, wherein at least one of the plurality of stages has a combined cross-sectional area greater than the other stages, and wherein the coolant flow path is configured to cool a center core of the compression or injection molding assembly.

Other embodiments include a compression or injection molding apparatus for molding plastic material, comprising: a bubbler having a bubbler inlet and a bubbler outlet; a central core at one end of the bubbler having a plurality of central core inlets and a plurality of central core outlets; a cooling ring disposed about the central core having a plurality of inner grooves, a plurality of transverse channels, a plurality of arcuate grooves, and a plurality of outer grooves; and a threaded core disposed about the cooling ring, wherein the bubbler, the central core, the cooling ring, and the threaded core are configured such that a fluid coolant may flow through a bubbler input, the plurality of central core inlets, a plurality of inner channels bounded by the plurality of inner grooves and the central core, the plurality of lateral channels, a plurality of arcuate channels bounded by the plurality of arcuate grooves and the threaded core, a plurality of outer channels bounded by the plurality of outer grooves and the threaded core, the plurality of central core outlets, and the bubbler outlet.

Other embodiments include a method for cooling a compression or injection molding device with a fluid coolant, the compression or injection molding device including a bubbler, a central core, a cooling ring, and a threaded core. The method comprises the following steps: directing the fluid coolant into a bubbler inlet of the bubbler; directing the fluid coolant into a plurality of center core inlets of the center core; directing the fluid coolant into a plurality of internal passages bounded by a plurality of internal passages of the cooling ring and the center core; directing the fluid coolant into a plurality of transverse channels of the cooling ring; directing the fluid coolant into a plurality of arcuate channels bounded by a plurality of arcuate grooves of the cooling ring and the thread core; directing the fluid coolant into a plurality of outer grooves of the cooling ring; directing the fluid coolant into a plurality of center core outlets of the center core; and directing the fluid coolant into a bubbler outlet of the bubbler.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the features of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the stack showing coolant flow paths into the cavity stack.

Fig. 1B is a close-up view of the coolant flow path in the cavity stack of fig. 1A.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cooling ring as viewed from the bottom.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the cooling ring as viewed from the top.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cavity stack from fig. 1A, but rotated thirty degrees to show coolant flow paths outside the stack.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a cavity stack without a plug seal for creating a cover, showing coolant flow paths into the stack.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the cavity stack from fig. 5, but rotated thirty degrees to show coolant flow paths outside the stack.

FIG. 7 is a process flow diagram of an embodiment method for cooling a compression or injection molding device.

Detailed Description

The present assemblies, devices, and methods will be described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. The assemblies, devices, and methods may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, the embodiments of the present invention are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The following is a list of numbers and their associated elements appearing in the drawings and in the following description of the various embodiments:

10 center core

11 Cooling ring

12 thread core

13 anti-theft strip core

14 bubbler tube

15 air pipe

16 air plug

17O-ring-center core

18O-ring cooling ring

19O-ring spindle

20O-ring air plug

21 coolant flow path-bubbler inlet

22 coolant flow path-centering ring inlet

23 coolant flow path-internal passage in cooling ring

24 transverse channel in coolant flow path-cooling ring

25 arcuate channel in coolant flow path-cooling ring

26 coolant flow path-external passage in cooling ring

27 coolant flow path-centering ring outlet

28 coolant flow path-bubbler outlet

29 stripper

30 cavities

31 outer ring

32 chamber bottom

33 cover plate

34 adapter

35 machine nut

36 mandrel

100 compression molding assembly

102 upper assembly

104 base assembly

106 thread core

108 plug seal gap

110 internal assembly thread of thread core

112 coolant flow path

In this description, the term "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments.

The various embodiments provide methods and devices for cooling a compression or injection molding assembly, enabling increased cycle speeds and efficiencies. Embodiments provide a coolant flow path through a mold assembly through which a coolant fluid (e.g., water) flows into and out of a cooling ring surrounding a core of the mold assembly. The coolant flow path may be divided into several channels within and around the cooling ring to achieve efficient heat transfer and more uniform heat distribution within the mold assembly (than is achieved in conventional designs). The coolant flow path may include a series of stages of different volume or cross-sectional dimensions configured to regulate the flow of coolant. Example methods and apparatus may achieve greater production rates at lower coolant flow rates.

Fig. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment compression molding assembly 100 that may be used to mold a plastic lid. The molding assembly 100 can include an upper assembly 102 and a base assembly 104. Upper assembly 102 may include stripper 29, tamper bar core 13, thread core 12, cooling ring 11, central core 10, and mandrel 36.

In operation, the central core 10 may contact and compress a plastic material (not shown). A cooling ring 11 may be arranged around the central core 10. A first end of the threaded core 12 may be arranged around the cooling ring 11. The thread core 12, the cooling ring 11 and the central core 10 may all be concentric about a central axis as shown in fig. 1A.

The second end of the threaded core 12 may be assembled about a mandrel 36. In the embodiment illustrated in fig. 1A, the thread core 12 is positioned within a tamper bar core 13 forming a tamper bar of the cap. However, the tamper strip core 13 is optional, and embodiments without such components are described below with reference to fig. 5 and 6. The tamper evidencing core 13 may be assembled within the stripper 29, which stripper 29 may push the formed cap from the molding assembly 100 after the cap is formed. In operation, the base assembly 104 can be moved relative to the upper assembly 102 to compress the plastic material within the volume between the two assemblies.

The base assembly 104 may include a cavity 30 having a cavity bottom 32. During operation, the plastic material may be loaded within the cavity 30 and compressed by moving the upper assembly or the base assembly relative to each other. Typically, the upper assembly 102 is threaded into a turntable, while the base assembly 104 is attached to a pressing mechanism (e.g., a hydraulic hammer) that raises and lowers the base assembly relative to the upper assembly 102. The compressed plastic material takes the shape of an open space within a molding cavity between the base assembly 104 and the upper assembly 102. For example, in the assembly 100 of FIG. 1A, the compressed plastic material fills the boundaries of the cavity 30 and the cavity bottom 32.

The base assembly 104 may also include an outer ring 31 and a cover plate 33. The base assembly 104 may be loaded onto the adapter 34, and the adapter 34 may be screwed into a support or pressing mechanism. The machine nut 35 may include a lip that fits around the outer ring 31 and serves to hold the base assembly 104 with a support or pressing mechanism.

The upper molding assembly 102 shown in FIG. 1A may include a bubbler tube 14 and an air tube 15 within a mandrel 36. The air tube 15 and the bubbler tube 14 may be concentric about the longitudinal axis of the mandrel 36, with the air tube 15 disposed within the bubbler tube 14. The air tube 15 may extend to an air plug 16 within the central core 10. Air pressure may be applied through the air tube 15 and into the air plug 16. During operation, air directed by the air plug 16 may be used to help lift the molded plastic lid off the central core 10, for example, by preventing a vacuum from forming between the molded lid and the upper assembly 102.

A coolant, such as water or other fluid, may be supplied via bubbler inlet 21. The bubbler inlet may be defined by the inner surface of the bubbler tube 14 and the outer surface of the air tube 15. The bubbler tube 14 may be configured to keep air and other gases out of the coolant. The coolant may flow from the bubbler inlet 21 to the plurality of central core inlets 22. The plurality of central core inlets 22 may be defined by surfaces internal to the central core 10. During operation, coolant may flow from the center core inlet 22 into the internal channel 23 adjacent the cooling ring 11, with the internal channel 23 defined by a plurality of grooves in the outer surface of the center core and the inner surface of the cooling ring 11. The coolant may then flow into the transverse channels 24, the transverse channels 24 being defined by a plurality of holes extending radially from the inner surface of the cooling ring 11 to the outer surface thereof. The orientation of the grooves forming the internal channels 23 and the transverse channels 24 in the cooling ring 11 will be described in more detail below with reference to fig. 2 and 3.

To seal the coolant flow path through the several parts to prevent leakage and air ingress, the assembly 100 may also include several O-ring seals between the various parts. For example, in fig. 1A, the center core O-ring 17 forms a seal between the center core 10 and the cooling ring 11, preventing leakage of coolant flowing in the internal passage 23 or entering the lateral passage 24. Similarly, the cooling ring O-ring 18 forms a seal between the thread core 12 and the cooling ring 11, thereby preventing leakage of coolant flowing in the outer channel 25 or exiting the transverse channel 24. A mandrel O-ring 19 may form a seal at the top of the thread core 12. The air plug O-ring 20 may prevent coolant in the center core inlet 22 from entering the air plug and air from entering the coolant.

Fig. 1B is a close-up view of a portion of the assembly 100 shown in fig. 1A, better illustrating the coolant flow path 112 through the assembly in this embodiment. The coolant flow path 112 is defined by several surfaces of the center core 10, the cooling ring 11, and the thread core 12. The coolant flowing into the illustrated embodiment assembly (shown shaded by plus-hatched lines) passes down through the bubbler tube 14 into the central core inlet 22 within the central core 10. The coolant flows out of the center core inlet 22 into the internal passage 23. The internal channel 23 is formed in the volume between the inner surface of the cooling ring 11 and the longitudinal groove in the outer surface of the central core 10. The coolant flows from the internal channel 23 into the transverse channels 24, the transverse channels 24 being transverse to the wall of the cooling ring 11 from the inner surface of the cooling ring 11 to the outer surface of the cooling ring 11. Upon exiting the transverse channels 24, the coolant may flow around the circumference of the cooling ring 11 in arcuate channels that direct the coolant to a return flow path via longitudinal flow paths formed by longitudinal grooves in the outer surface of the cooling ring 11, wherein the flow paths are defined by the groove structures and the inner surface of the thread core 12.

FIG. 1B also illustrates features of the thread core 12. The thread core 12 may include external threads 106 configured to mold the closure threads of the cap. The threaded core 12 may also include internal assembly threads 110. The center core 10 may be assembled through the cooling ring 11 and engage the assembly threads 110 of the threaded core 12. This assembly can hold the three pieces together and form coolant channels between them. When assembled, a plug seal gap 108 between the cooling ring 11 and the central core 10 is formed, into which plug seal gap 108 the compressed plastic material flows during the pressing operation.

Fig. 2 and 3 show a separate cooling ring 11. Referring to fig. 2, the internal flow channels 23 may be partially defined by grooves in the inner surface of the cooling ring 11. The other surfaces defining the internal passage 23 are the outer surfaces of the central core 10 when the central core 10 is assembled with the cooling ring 11. As discussed above, the coolant flows vertically through the internal channel 23 formed between the center core 10 and the cooling ring 11 in the internal channel 23, and then flows radially outward through a plurality of transverse channels 24 that are holes through the wall of the cooling ring 11.

Referring to FIG. 3, coolant flowing through the transverse channels 24 from inside the cooling ring 11 flows to one or more arcuate channels 25 passing around the outside of the cooling ring 11. Fig. 3 shows these arcuate channels 25 formed by grooves in the outer surface of the cooling ring 11. The other surface that defines the arcuate flow passage is the interior of the thread core 12 when the thread core 12 is assembled with the cooling ring 11. The coolant flows through the arcuate channels 25 to a plurality of longitudinal flow channels 26 on the outer surface of the cooling ring 11. These external longitudinal flow channels 26 are delimited on one side by longitudinal grooves (referenced 26) on the outside of the cooling ring 11 and by the inner surface of the threaded core 12, when the cooling ring 11 is assembled with the threaded core 12.

Fig. 2 and 3 show an embodiment of the cooling ring 11, wherein the ring is formed as a single component. However, in other embodiments, the cooling ring may be an assembly including multiple components. For example, multiple components may be joined or sealed together, such as with additional O-rings, to form a composite cooling ring. One or more of the plurality of components may define various channels as described with respect to the cooling ring 11.

FIG. 4 illustrates the same exemplary molding assembly 100 as FIG. 1A, but at different angles of rotation about the longitudinal axis so as to reveal a flow path for the coolant exiting the molding assembly 100. In fig. 1A and 1B, the assembly 100 is shown with coolant flowing into a first orientation in the assembly. In fig. 4, the assembly is rotated thirty degrees to show the coolant exit flow path, which is thirty degrees separated from the inner flow path 23 with respect to the cooling ring 11. As shown in fig. 4, in this embodiment, prior to reaching the outer channels 26, the coolant exits the transverse channels 24 and flows through the arcuate channels 25 surrounding the cooling ring 11, with the flow being directed upward along the outer surface of the cooling ring 11. Also, details regarding the grooves in the cooling ring forming the outer flow channels 26 are shown in fig. 2 and 3, including how these flow channels are offset from each other by an angle about the longitudinal axis. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, this offset angle is approximately thirty degrees, but the angle may vary depending on the number of coolant channels in each stage of the assembly.

The coolant may flow from the outer channels 26 to the central core outlet 27. The plurality of central core outlets 27 may be defined by surfaces internal to the central core 10, similar to the central core inlets 22. The central core outlet 27 directs coolant flow to the bubbler outlet 28, and the bubbler outlet 28 directs coolant flow out of the molding assembly 100. The bubbler outlet 28 flow path may pass through a volume defined by the outer surface of the bubbler tube 14 and the inner surface of the mandrel 36.

In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the coolant contacts the center core 10, the cooling ring 11, and the thread core 12 as it passes through the various volumes of the coolant flow path 112. This enables heat to be transferred from these parts to the coolant and removed from the assembly 100 as the coolant flows out of the bubbler outlet 28. Several stages in the coolant flow path 112 may include multiple channels. The multiple channels per stage can increase the surface area in contact with the part and improve heat transfer. The plurality of channels and flow paths may be designed or arranged to ensure uniform heat distribution within the parts of the molding assembly, preventing local hot spots from adversely affecting the performance of the molding assembly 100 during high volume molding operations.

The various channels of the coolant flow path 112 may be sized with cross-sectional areas designed to produce desired coolant flow behavior. For example, the combined cross-sectional area of the plurality of central core inlets 22 may be greater than the cross-sectional area of the bubbler inlet 21. The combined cross-sectional area of the internal passages 23 may be less than the cross-sectional area of the bubbler inlet 21. The combined cross-sectional area of the outer channels 26 may be less than the combined area of the inner channels 23. These dimensional parameters can ensure uniform flow through the upper molding assembly 102 during operation.

The ratio of cross-sectional areas between portions of the flow path may be configured to control coolant flow and thereby improve heat transfer. Each successive element or stage may have a flow area ratio to the previous stage that is configured to improve heat transfer in each stage. Each flow area ratio may be relative to the cross-sectional area of the bubbler inlet 21 or relative to another stage in the coolant flow path 112. For example, in assemblies having the flow area ratios described above, the central core inlets 23 may have a greater combined cross-sectional area than other portions of the assembly. Subsequent portions of the coolant flow path through the upper assembly 102 may have a smaller combined cross-sectional area corresponding to increased flow velocity and a lower pressure corresponding to constant volumetric flow. Thus, the coolant may experience a pressure gradient along the coolant flow path 112. This pressure gradient can be used to regulate the coolant flow through the upper assembly 102 and improve heat transfer from the mold elements to the coolant.

Alternative embodiments may include differently shaped center cores, cooling rings, or threaded cores. These pieces may define different numbers or shapes of flow paths or channels. Embodiments requiring more cooling may include a greater number of coolant channels. Alternatively, embodiments requiring less cooling may include fewer coolant channels and thereby reduce the amount of coolant used. In other embodiments, some components illustrated and described herein as separate elements may be combined into a single component exhibiting the same or similar characteristics and performing the same or similar functions. Further, the components illustrated and described herein as unitary structures may be formed as an assembly of multiple components.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment molding assembly. The embodiment assembly illustrated in FIG. 5 includes many of the same elements as the mold assembly 100 described above with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 4. However, in the embodiment illustrated in fig. 5, the central core 10 and the cooling ring 11 are configured differently such that the bottom of the central core 10 extends all the way to the thread core 12. This embodiment may not include the plug seal gap 108 shown in fig. 1B, and thus the resulting lid will have no plug seal. The plug seal may be a seal that fits inside a lip of a container coupled with the lid. In this embodiment, the cooling ring 11 may not directly contact the plastic material being molded. Heat can be indirectly transferred from the plastic material to the cooling ring 11 via the central core 10 or the threaded core 12.

FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 5 rotated thirty degrees to show the path of coolant exiting from the upper assembly 102. As in fig. 5, the assembly may not include the plug seal gap 108 and the cooling ring 11 may not be configured to contact the plastic material being molded.

Other embodiments include methods of cooling a molding assembly. These embodiment methods may include directing a fluid coolant through one or more of the structures discussed above while forming the plastic part by compression or injection molding. FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment method 200 in which a fluid coolant is directed into various elements of the coolant flow path 112. Specifically, the fluid coolant may be directed into or through the bubbler input in step 202, through the plurality of central core inlets in step 204, through the longitudinal flow path defined by the plurality of internal grooves in the cooling ring in step 206, through the plurality of holes through the cooling ring in step 208, around the flow path defined by the plurality of arcuate grooves in the cooling ring in step 210, through the longitudinal flow path defined by the plurality of external grooves in the cooling ring in step 212, through the plurality of central core outlets in step 214, and out of the assembly through the bubbler outlets in step 216.

Other embodiments include injection molding assemblies having coolant flow paths as described herein. Although fig. 1A-6 illustrate flow paths in compression molding assembly embodiments, similar configurations and coolant flow paths may be included in injection molding assemblies in other embodiments. For example, various embodiments may include an injection molding assembly through which a coolant fluid (e.g., water) may flow into and out of a cooling ring surrounding a core of the molding assembly. An embodiment injection molding assembly may include a coolant flow path such that a fluid coolant may be directed into or through the bubbler input, through a plurality of central core inlets, through a longitudinal flow path defined by a plurality of internal grooves in the cooling ring, through a plurality of holes through the cooling ring, circumferentially through a flow path defined by a plurality of arcuate grooves in the cooling ring, through a longitudinal flow path defined by a plurality of external grooves in the cooling ring, through a plurality of central core outlets, and out of the assembly through the bubbler outlets. In addition, the injection molding assembly may include a plastic injection flow path through which plastic material for forming the cap may be injected into the mold. The location and configuration of such plastic injection flow within the mold assembly may vary and is not critical to the scope of the claims.

The previous description of the various embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims (14)

1. A molding device for molding a plastic material, comprising:

a central core comprising a plurality of central core inlets and a plurality of central core outlets;

a bubbler coupled to the central core and including a bubbler inlet and a bubbler outlet, wherein the bubbler is configured to further define a fluid coolant flow path such that coolant flows through the bubbler inlet all the way into the central core inlet, and wherein the bubbler is configured to further define the fluid coolant flow path such that coolant flows from the central core outlet and out through the bubbler outlet;

a cooling ring disposed about the central core, the cooling ring including a plurality of inner grooves, a plurality of transverse channels, a plurality of arcuate grooves, and a plurality of outer grooves; and

a threaded core disposed about the cooling ring,

wherein the center core, the cooling ring, and the thread core are configured to define a fluid coolant flow path through which coolant can flow into the plurality of center core inlets, through a plurality of inner channels bounded by the plurality of inner grooves and the center core, through the plurality of transverse channels, through a plurality of arcuate channels bounded by the plurality of arcuate grooves and the thread core, through a plurality of outer channels bounded by the plurality of outer grooves and the thread core, and through the plurality of center core outlets,

wherein the center core, the cooling ring, and the thread core are further configured to define the fluid coolant flow path having a cross-sectional area configured to control a flow of the coolant,

wherein the central core is configured to define the plurality of central core inlets having a combined cross-sectional area greater than the bubbler inlet, and wherein the central core and the cooling ring are configured to define the plurality of internal channels having a combined cross-sectional area less than the bubbler inlet.

2. The molding device of claim 1, wherein the thread core and the cooling ring are configured to define the plurality of outer channels having a combined cross-sectional area less than the plurality of inner channels.

3. The molding device of claim 2, wherein the central core is configured to mold a cap.

4. The molding device of claim 3, wherein the thread core includes external threads.

5. The molding device of claim 4, wherein the cooling ring is configured to directly contact the plastic material during a molding operation.

6. The molding device of claim 1, wherein the molding device is an injection molding device.

7. The molding device of claim 1, wherein the molding device is a compression molding device.

8. A method of cooling a molding device with a fluid coolant, the molding device including a bubbler, a central core, a cooling ring, and a threaded core, the method comprising:

directing the fluid coolant into a bubbler inlet of the bubbler;

directing the fluid coolant from the bubbler into a plurality of central core inlets of the central core;

directing the fluid coolant from the central core inlet into a plurality of internal passages bounded by a plurality of internal passages of the cooling ring and the central core, the central core having a combined cross-sectional area greater than the bubbler inlet of the bubbler;

directing the fluid coolant from the plurality of internal channels into a plurality of transverse channels of the cooling ring, the cooling ring having a combined cross-sectional area smaller than the bubbler inlet of the bubbler;

directing the fluid coolant from the plurality of transverse channels into a plurality of arcuate channels bounded by a plurality of arcuate grooves of the cooling ring and the thread core;

directing the fluid coolant from the plurality of arcuate channels into a plurality of longitudinal flow channels defined by an outer groove of the cooling ring and the thread core;

directing the fluid coolant from the plurality of longitudinal flow channels into a plurality of central core outlets of the central core; and

directing the fluid coolant from the plurality of central core outlets into a bubbler outlet of the bubbler and out of the molding device.

9. A molding device for molding a plastic material, comprising:

a bubbler comprising means for directing a fluid coolant through the bubbler and means for directing the fluid coolant out through the bubbler;

a central core;

a cooling ring;

a threaded core;

means for introducing a fluid coolant through the central core, wherein the means for introducing a fluid coolant through the central core has a greater combined cross-sectional area than the means for introducing a fluid coolant through the bubbler;

means for directing the fluid coolant between the center core and the cooling ring, wherein the means for directing the fluid coolant between the center core and the cooling ring has a combined cross-sectional area that is less than the means for directing fluid coolant through the bubbler;

means for directing the fluid coolant through the cooling ring;

means for directing the fluid coolant between the cooling ring and the threaded core, wherein the means for directing the fluid coolant between the cooling ring and the threaded core has a combined cross-sectional area that is less than the means for directing the fluid coolant between the center core and the cooling ring; and

means for directing the fluid coolant out through the central core.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the central core is configured to mold a cover.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the thread core includes external threads.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the cooling ring is configured to directly contact the plastic material during a molding operation.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the molding device is an injection molding device.

14. The device of claim 9, wherein the molding device is a compression molding device.