Cam-Driven Pivoting Mold Arms for Undercut Footwear Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mold systems face challenges in efficiently forming and removing molded components with undercut features, as moving mold elements often get trapped, requiring high energy and complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A mold apparatus with a cam-driven mechanism featuring two arms that pivot to form a continuous mold surface for molding and separate for easy removal, utilizing a low-energy actuator to securely close and open, allowing for the formation and extraction of molded components with undercut features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If moving mold elements are used to form undercut features, then the molded component can have complex geometry, but the mold elements get trapped and require high energy and complex mechanisms for removal
Solution Approach 1:
The mold is divided into two separate arms (first arm and second arm) that can independently pivot relative to each other. This segmentation allows each arm to be positioned independently, enabling the formation of undercut features without requiring complex moving mold elements that get trapped. The arms can be opened separately to release the molded component.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of moving mold elements in the same plane as the molded component, the invention uses a pivoting mechanism that moves the mold arms in a different dimension (rotational/pivoting motion). This dimensional change allows the mold surfaces to clear the undercut features during opening, preventing entrapment.
2Shape
If moving mold elements are used to form undercut features, then the molded component can have complex geometry, but high energy is required for operation
Solution Approach 1:
The mold apparatus uses a dynamic pivoting mechanism where the mold arms can rotate about pivot ends. This dynamic motion allows the mold to naturally open and clear undercut features without requiring high energy to force moving elements out of trapped positions. The low-energy actuator only needs to provide enough force to initiate and maintain the pivoting motion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to pull moving mold elements out of trapped positions (which requires high energy), the invention inverts the approach by allowing the entire mold arm to pivot away from the molded component. This reverses the problem from extracting stuck elements to simply opening the mold structure.
3Ease of operation
If the mold apparatus uses a pivoting mechanism with two arms, then removal of molded components is simplified, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention combines the functions of forming undercut features and enabling easy removal into a single pivoting mechanism. The same first and second arms that form the mold surfaces for undercut features are also the elements that pivot to enable removal. This merging eliminates the need for separate complex mechanisms for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The mold arms serve multiple functions: they form the mold cavity surfaces, create undercut features, and simultaneously provide the pivoting mechanism for opening and removal. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, offsetting the structural complexity with functional integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient molding and unobstructed removal of components with undercut features, reducing energy consumption and simplifying the process, while maintaining the integrity of the molded structure.
Implementation Method 1
a cam-driven mechanism featuring two arms that pivot to form a continuous mold surface for molding and separate for easy removal
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Mold apparatus (406) includes a first pivot arm (431) having a first mold surface (441), a second pivot arm (432) having a second mold surface (443) opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member (433) having a first driving cam surface (523) configured to engage a first driven cam surface of the first arm to pivot the first arm in a first direction, and a second driving cam surface (524) configured to engage a second driven cam surface of the second arm to pivot the second arm in a second direction opposite the first direction. The driving cam member moves between a first position, in which the first mold surface of the first arm and the second mold surface of the second arm form a continuous mold surface, and a second position, in which the first arm and the second arm are separated to enable removal of a molded element having an undercut mold surface contour.