1. A method of working a rubber vulcanization machine wherein the machine includes means for plasticizing and injecting a rubber material in a fluid state to thereby create a flow of liquid material within a flow channel in which the material does not set in use, the flow channel having at least one outlet in communication with an internal volume of a mold in which the material is to set, the flow channel being provided with at least one inverter device for changing a flow path of the liquid material along the flow channel to thereby invert a radial temperature profile in the flow of the liquid material between an upstream zone and a downstream zone of the flow channel and wherein the at least one inverter device includes a plurality of first convergent channels for directing a first stream of the flow of liquid material from opposite peripheral sides of the upstream zone of the flow channel toward a center of the downstream zone of the flow channel and which first convergent channels have inlets facing the upstream zone of the flow channel and outlets facing toward the center of the downstream zone of the flow channel, and wherein the at least one inverter device also includes a plurality of second divergent channels for directing a second stream of the flow of liquid material from a center of the upstream zone of the flow channel toward the peripheral sides of the downstream zone of the flow channel and which second divergent channels have inlets facing the upstream zone of the flow channel and outlets diverging toward the opposite peripheral sides of the downstream zone of the flow channel, the method including the steps of:
A. Causing the rubber material to flow through the flow channel and then, via the at least one outlet, into the internal volume of the mold, towards at least one cavity, and
B. Adjusting a number andor locations of the inverter devices andor the operating conditions of flow of liquid rubber material to control the radial temperature profile of the material in order to invert the radial distribution of the temperature profile.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the radial temperature profile is uniform.
3. A rubber vulcanization machine for implementing the method of claim 1 including means for plasticizing and injecting a rubber material in a fluid state to thereby create a flow of liquid material within a flow channel in which the material does not set in use, the flow channel having at least one outlet in communication with an internal volume of a mold in which the material is to set, wherein the flow channel is provided with at least one inverter device for changing a flow path of the liquid material along the flow channel to thereby invert a radial temperature profile in the flow of the liquid material between an upstream zone and a downstream zone of the flow channel and wherein the at least one inverter device includes a plurality of first convergent channels for directing a first stream of the flow of liquid material from opposite peripheral sides of the upstream zone of the flow channel toward a center of the downstream zone of the flow channel and which first convergent channels have inlets facing the upstream zone of the flow channel and outlets that face toward the center of the downstream zone of the flow channel, and a plurality of second divergent channels for directing a second stream of the flow of liquid material from a center of the upstream zone of the flow channel toward the peripheral sides of the downstream zone of the flow channel and which second divergent channels have inlets that face the upstream zone of the flow channel and outlets diverging toward the opposite peripheral sides of the downstream zone of the flow channel.
4. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein the at least one inverter device includes a body that is secured to walls of the flow channel.
5. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of divergent channels and the plurality of convergent channels are provided within the body.
6. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 4, wherein the body of the at least one inverter device is secured to the walls of the flow channel by being incorporated in a bore in the flow channel and being held stationary by a screw-on nozzle.
7. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein, at any point of the at least one inverter device, a ratio between a sum of cross-sectional areas of the plurality of convergent and plurality of divergent channels and a total cross-sectional area of the flow channel is greater than 30%.
8. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein up to ten convergent channels are provided and up to ten divergent channels are provided in the at least one inverter device.
9. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein the flow channel subdivides into a plurality of branch channels, and at least one branch channel is provided with a corresponding inverter device.
10. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein at least two inverter devices are provided, which devices are placed in series in the flow channel.
11. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein, at any point of the at least one inverter device, a ratio between a sum of cross-sectional areas of the plurality of convergent and plurality of divergent channels and a total cross-sectional area of the flow channel is greater than 50%.
12. A rubber vulcanization machine according to claim 3, wherein four convergent channels and four divergent channels are provided in the at least one inverter device.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A tool for forming moldable material, comprising:
a sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially therebetween; and
an insert configured to concentrically mate with said sleeve such that a gap is defined between said sleeve and said insert, wherein said insert comprises a barrel portion having at least one air outlet aperture configured to direct air into said gap,
wherein said insert comprises a nib extending from said barrel, said nib configured to form a pouch within a moldable material pressed into said tool, and
said insert comprises a concave area between said barrel and said nib, said concave area defining a sharp edge around a perimeter of said barrel at its juncture with said concave area.
2. The tool of claim 1, wherein said insert further comprises an air inlet aperture in communication with said air outlet aperture, said air inlet aperture accessible from an exterior of said tool.
3. The tool of claim 1, wherein said bore comprises a tapered region and a parallel region.
4. The tool of claim 1, wherein said air outlet aperture comprises a plurality of air outlet apertures.
5. The tool of claim 4, further comprising a channel connecting said air outlet apertures.
6. A tool for forming moldable material, comprising:
a sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially therebetween;
an insert configured to concentrically mate with said sleeve such that a gap is defined between said sleeve and said insert, wherein said insert comprises a barrel portion having at least one air outlet aperture configured to direct air into said gap, and
a concave area in an outer surface of said barrel, said concave area extending around a circumference of said barrel.
7. The tool of claim 6, wherein said air outlet is positioned in a trough of said concave area.
8. A tool for forming moldable material, comprising:
a sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a bore extending axially therebetween;
an insert comprising a barrel having a plurality of air outlet apertures, said insert configured to concentrically mate with said sleeve such that a gap is defined between said sleeve and said barrel; and
a nib protruding from said barrel, said nib configured to form a pouch in a moldable material pressed into said tool,
wherein said barrel comprises a trough extending around a perimeter of said barrel, and wherein said air outlet apertures are positioned within said trough.
9. The tool of claim 8, wherein said insert comprises a concave surface between said barrel and said nib.
10. A method of forming moldable material, comprising:
providing a tool according to claim 1;
pressing a moldable material into said tool to form a formed product; and
ejecting said formed product from said tool using compressed air.
11. The tool of claim 6, wherein said insert further comprises an air inlet aperture in communication with said air outlet aperture, said air inlet aperture accessible from an exterior of said tool.
12. The tool of claim 6, wherein said bore comprises a tapered region and a parallel region.
13. The tool of claim 8, wherein said insert further comprises an air inlet aperture in communication with said air outlet aperture, said air inlet aperture accessible from an exterior of said tool.
14. The tool of claim 8, wherein said bore comprises a tapered region and a parallel region.
15. A method of forming moldable material, comprising:
providing a tool according to claim 6;
pressing a moldable material into said tool to form a formed product; and
ejecting said formed product from said tool using compressed air.
16. A method of forming moldable material, comprising:
providing a tool according to claim 8;
pressing a moldable material into said tool to form a formed product; and
ejecting said formed product from said tool using compressed air.