A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface 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 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.

The present invention provides a transfer molding mold for a vulcanized rubber boot, comprising: a combined tube mold, having an inner cavity corresponding to a tube of the rubber boot a last mold with partition elements, having a main body substantially corresponding to the tube of the rubber boot in shape, and two or more partition elements disposed on the main body, wherein the last mold is suitable for installation into the inner cavity of the tube mold to form a transfer molding cavity between the wall of the inner cavity of the tube mold and the outer surface of the last mold, and the transfer molding cavity is partitioned into two or more parts by the last mold and the tube mold; and a rubber injection guide plate suitable for installation to the top of the tube mold to guide injection of unvulcanized mixed rubber, comprising a plate body, wherein the plate body is provided with: a rubber injection port to be connected with an external injection head to inject the unvulcanized mixed rubber; and an annular rubber injection channel for introducing the externally injected unvulcanized mixed rubber into the transfer molding cavity in an annular distribution manner.

A mould for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a body; a lid configured to close the body; and incorporated closing and openings configured to keep the body and the lid joined during the movement thereof is disclosed. A machine for manufacturing three-dimensional items, comprising a receiving module configured to receive the mould; a conditioning module configured to receive the mould from the receiving module and act on the incorporated closing and openings in order to separate the lid from the body; and a handling module configured to receive the body from the conditioning module and enable the placement of the components of the item to be manufactured. A method for manufacturing three-dimensional items and manufacturing plant associated with the machine.

A footwear molding system for direct injection production of footwear. The system includes an injection mold and a mold closing member. The mold closing member includes at least one vacuum channel. The at least one vacuum channel is connected directly or indirectly to at least one vacuum opening on the surface of the mold closing member. The mold closing member is configured for positioning at least part of a footwear upper during at least part of a direct injection production process. The at least part of a footwear upper being at least partly adhered to the mold closing member by vacuum effected by the at least one vacuum opening.

A foam article, such as a cushioning element for an article of footwear, apparel or sporting equipment is provided that comprises a foam component, such as a midsole, having a number of beneficial physical characteristics. The cushioning element is a low-density foamed component with a surface skin that encases the remaining foam volume. The cushioning element has a number of foam volumes, arranged to achieve a more consistent foam component. Additionally, the cushioning element includes a series of concentric ridges extending radially outwardly from injection gate vestige locations, and a number of striation bands near the perimeter of the cushioning element. The location of the gate vestiges can be beneficially arranged to produce intersecting flow boundaries that are located away from key strain areas of the cushioning element. The cushioning element is more environmentally-friendly, requiring less energy to produce while still providing acceptable energy return and low density.

Embodiments are directed to manufacturing footwear. A first outer mold shell and a second outer mold shell may be provided. A first inner mold body and a second inner mold body may be manufactured. The first and second inner mold bodies may have respective first and second inner mold surfaces. The second inner mold surface, together with the first inner mold surface, may define an internal mold volume. The first and second inner mold bodies may be removably coupled to the respective first and second outer mold shells to form first and second hybrid side rings. The first hybrid side ring and the second hybrid side ring may be installed in an automated injection molding machine. The installed first hybrid side ring may be moved toward the installed second hybrid side ring to provide the internal mold volume. One or more liquids may be injected into the internal mold volume.

A mold apparatus includes a first pivot arm having a first mold surface, a second pivot arm having a second mold surface opposing the first mold surface, and a driving cam member having a first driving cam surface 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 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.

A method for manufacturing a midsole of an article of footwear includes arranging an insert into a mold cavity of a mold base. The insert including a region of solid volume that corresponds with an empty volume within the midsole. The method further includes supplying a midsole material to the mold cavity of the mold base to form the midsole around a negative mold so that the negative mold is embedded within the midsole material to form a midsole lattice structure within the midsole. The method further includes removing the negative mold with the midsole from the mold base. The method further includes removing the negative mold from the midsole.

A molding device includes a mold cavity defined by an upper mold, a lower mold and a middle mold being moveably attached to the lower mold; a position control mechanism configured to move the middle mold; and a gas discharging mechanism disposed adjacent to the mold cavity and including a gas conduit and a slit jointly defined by the upper mold and the lower mold when the molding device is closed, the slit is in communication with the mold cavity and the gas conduit. A molding method includes injecting a material into a mold cavity to form an article in the mold cavity; discharging at least a portion of a gas out of the mold cavity through a slit of a gas discharging mechanism adjacent to the mold cavity after the article is formed; disengaging a upper mold from a lower mold; and detaching the article from a middle mold.

Physical foaming a footwear component with a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid is provided. The method include temperature conditioning a mold and then engaging the mold with a robot that conveys the mold to a press. At the press a gas counter pressure is applied to a cavity of the mold before injecting a single-phase solution of a polymeric composition and a supercritical fluid into the cavity of the mold. The process continues with releasing the gas counter pressure from the cavity of the mold and then removing the footwear component from the cavity of the mold. The parameters of the method are configured for the formation of the footwear component in an automated manner.