Molded part take-out apparatus

• US 5,653,934 A
• Filed: 05/05/1995
• Issued: 08/05/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fortress Credit Corp. (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Electra Form, Inc.
• Inventors: Newport, Anthony F., Brun, Charles J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): HEITBRINK, JILL LYNNE
• Application Number:
  US08/435,701
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 264/334, 264/538, 264/336, 425/537, 425/436 RM, 425/438, 425/533, 425/556, 425/441, 425/443, 425/534, 425/436 R
• US Class Current: 264/334
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/30 Mounting, exchanging or centering moulds, mould parts or cores; B29C33/485 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 33/444 for stripping articles from a mould core, e.g. using stripper plates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 37/0007 using means operable from outside the mould for moving between mould parts, e.g. robots
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/40 Removing or ejecting moulded articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/42 using means movable from outside the mould between mould parts , e.g. robots
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/4225 Take-off members or carriers for the moulded articles, e.g. grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/253 Preform

Abstract

A molding machine including a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine and apparatus for removing the molded articles from the molding machine. The mold includes molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the molding elements define cavities in which the articles are molded and an open conformation where the molding elements are separated from each other by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the molding elements. A first molding element includes channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation. A cam track is fixed to the first molding element and a cam coupled to article holders is engaged in the cam track to move the article holders elements from a position aligned with the channels toward engagement with the molded articles as the molding elements open. A boom is coupled to the second molding elements and a trolley is coupled for linear movement along the boom, the article engaging elements being coupled to the trolley for movement out of the molding machine when it is open and into the channels when the molding machine is closed.

Claims

1. A method for removing molded plastic articles from a mold of a molding machine, the mold comprising at least two molding elements movable in a first dimension between a closed conformation wherein the articles are molded and a spaced conformation wherein the articles are released in a space between the molding elements, the method comprising the steps of:

providing channels in at least one of the molding elements, the channels extending in a second dimension situated on opposite sides of the molded articles,

moving article engaging elements into the channels when the molding elements are situated in said closed conformation,

moving the article engaging elements with one of the molding elements as the molding element moves in the first dimension from the closed conformation toward the spaced conformation,

moving the article engaging elements from a position spaced on opposite sides of the articles into engagement with the molded articles in said space as the molding elements arrive at the spaced conformation, and

moving the article engaging elements and molded articles in the second dimension out from between the molding elements.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of

releasing the molded articles from the article engaging elements as the mold elements move from the spaced conformation to the closed conformation, and

reintroducing the article engaging elements into the channels when the molding elements are situated in said closed conformation.

3. An improved mold for a plastic article molding machine having an article removing apparatus, wherein the improved mold comprises:

at least a first and second molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the first and second molding elements define at least one cavity in which the articles are molded and a spaced conformation where the first and second molding elements are separated from each other in the first dimension by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the first and second molding elements, the first molding element including at least two channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation, the channels extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension.

4. The improved mold of claim 3 further comprising an additional, intermediate molding element situated between the first and second molding elements and defining a surface of at least a portion of the molded articles.

5. In combination with a molding machine including a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine, the mold comprising at least two molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation wherein the articles are molded and a spaced conformation wherein the articles are released in a space between the molding elements, at least one of the at least two molding elements including channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles and extending in a second dimension, an apparatus for removing the molded articles therefrom, the article removing apparatus comprising:

at least two article engaging elements, a first means for moving the article engaging elements in the second dimension to introduce the article engaging elements into the channels when the molding elements are situated in said closed conformation, a second means for moving the article engaging elements with a first of the molding elements as the molding elements move in the first dimension from the closed conformation toward the spaced conformation, and a third means for moving the article engaging elements from a position spaced on opposite sides of the articles into engagement with the molded articles in said space as the molding elements arrive at the spaced conformation.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a first control coupled to the first means for moving the article engaging elements and molded articles in the second dimension out from between the molding elements when the molding elements are in said spaced conformation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising means coupled to the third means for releasing the molded articles from the article engaging elements as the molding elements move from the spaced conformation to the closed conformation.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the at least two article engaging elements comprise a plurality of pairs of engaging elements, each pair of engaging elements having confronting surfaces configured to cooperatively engage the molded articles.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein two article engaging elements of two different pairs are introduced in a single channel of the mold when the molding elements are in the closed conformation.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second means comprises a boom coupled to said first of the molding elements, said boom supporting said article engaging elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the first means comprises a trolley coupled for linear movement along said boom, the article engaging elements being coupled to the trolley for movement therewith.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the third means comprises a cam track fixed to a second of said molding elements, and a cam coupled to said article engaging elements and engaged in the cam track, the cam track having a contour to move the article engaging elements from a position spaced on opposite sides of the articles into near engagement with the molded articles as the first and second molding elements move from the closed conformation to the spaced conformation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising stripper withdrawal means for stripping withdrawal of the molded articles from engagement by the first molding element to engagement by the article engaging elements.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the stripper withdrawal means comprises an additional molding element defining a surface of at least a portion of the molded articles.

15. A molding machine comprising an article removing apparatus, a cam track, a cam, and a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine, the mold including at least a first and second molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the first and second molding elements define at least one cavity in which the articles are molded and a spaced conformation where the first and second molding elements are separated from each other in the first dimension by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the first and second molding elements, the first molding element including at least two channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation, the channels extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the cam track fixed to the first molding element, the article removing apparatus including at least a pair of article engaging elements, and the cam coupled to said article engaging elements and engaged in the cam track, the cam track having a contour to move the article engaging elements from a position spaced on opposite sides of the articles toward engagement with the molded articles as the first and second molding elements move from the closed conformation to the spaced conformation.

16. A molding machine comprising an article removing apparatus, a boom, a trolley, and a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine, the mold including at least a first and second molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the first and second molding elements define at least one cavity in which the articles are molded and a spaced conformation where the first and second molding elements are separated from each other in the first dimension by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the first and second molding elements, the first molding element including at least two channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation, the channels extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the boom coupled to the first of the molding elements, the trolley coupled for linear movement along said boom, the article removing apparatus including at least a pair of article engaging elements, the article engaging elements being coupled to the trolley for movement therewith.

17. A molding machine comprising an article removing apparatus and a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine, the mold including at least a first and second molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the first and second molding elements define at least one cavity in which the articles are molded and a spaced conformation where the first and second molding elements are separated from each other in the first dimension by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the first and second molding elements, the first molding element including at least two channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation, the channels extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the article removing apparatus including a plurality of pairs of article engaging elements, each pair of engaging elements having confronting surfaces configured to cooperatively engage the molded articles, two article engaging elements of two different pairs being introduced in a single channel of the mold when the molding elements are in the closed conformation.

18. A molding machine comprising an article removing apparatus and a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine, the mold including at least a first and second molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the first and second molding elements define at least one cavity in which the articles are molded and a spaced conformation where the first and second molding elements are separated from each other in the first dimension by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the first and second molding elements, the first molding element including at least two channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation, the channels extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the article removing apparatus including at least one pair of article engaging elements, means for moving in the second dimension the article engaging elements and molded articles out from between the molding elements when the molding elements are in said spaced conformation, and means for releasing the molded articles from the article engaging elements as the molding elements move from the spaced conformation to the closed conformation.

19. A molding machine comprising an article removing apparatus and a mold for molding articles of plastic in the molding machine, the mold including at least a first and second molding elements movable by the molding machine in a first dimension between a closed conformation where the first and second molding elements define at least one cavity in which the articles are molded and a spaced conformation where the first and second molding elements are separated from each other in the first dimension by a distance sufficient to permit release of the molded articles in a space between the first and second molding elements, the first molding element including at least two channels situated on opposite sides of the molded articles for receiving the article removing apparatus while the molding elements are in the closed conformation, the channels extending in a second dimension orthogonal to the first dimension, the article removing apparatus for removing the molded articles from the molding machine comprising at least two article engaging elements, and a first means for moving the article engaging elements in the second dimension to introduce the engaging elements into the channels when the molding elements are situated in said closed conformation.

20. The molding machine of claim 19 further comprising second means for moving the article engaging elements with the second molding element as the molding elements move in the first dimension from the closed conformation toward the spaced conformation.

21. The molding machine of claim 20 further comprising third means for moving the article engaging elements from a position spaced on opposite sides of the articles toward engagement with the molded articles in said space as the molding elements arrive at the spaced conformation.