Injection molding machine with displaceable molds, a holding device and a die holder for such an injection molding machine

• US 6,558,149 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Foboha (Germany) GmbH (Barnes Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Foboha (Germany) GmbH (Barnes Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Armbruster, Rainer, Bodmer, Werner
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbaugh, Jan H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUK, EMMANUEL S
• Application Number:
  US09/555,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 425/112, 425/116, 425/126.1, 425/127, 425/129.1, 425/190, 425/192.R, 425/588, 425/576, 425/589, 425/572, 425/574, 425/150, 264/254, 264/255, 264/328.8
• US Class Current: 425/192.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/326 Supporting means for the central mould plate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/045 mounted on the circumference of a rotating support having a rotating axis perpendicular to the mould opening, closing or clamping direction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1628 using a mould carrier rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the opening and closing axis of the moulding stations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1742 Mounting of moulds; Mould supports mounting of exchangeable mould inserts B29C45/2675

Abstract

A holding device (1) for injection molding mold halves (61.2) or their holders contains two displacement units (2.1, 2.2), on each of which a rotation unit (4.1, 4.2) is attached. On each rotation unit (4.1, 4.2) there are holders (5.1, 5.2). Into the space (d) between the two holders (5.1, 5.2) a die holder designed as a prism-shaped rotating block can be inserted. The die holder in the holding device (1) can be displaced in one direction (z) and can be rotated around a displaceable axis (42.1, 42.2), which is vertical to the one direction (z). The displacement units (2.1, 2.2) can be displaced relative to one another to permit rapid and easy changing of injection molding molds (62.1).

Claims

1. A holding device (1) for a mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or a die holder (6) for an injection molding machine, said injection molding machine comprising a fixed first mold holder plate (7.1) and a displaceable second mold holder plate (7.2) guided linearly by four parallel spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) in a first direction (z), said holding device (1) comprising:

a) a first and a second displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) arranged between said first and second mold holder plates (7.1, 7.2) of the injection molding machine;

b) each displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) being supported by two adjacent spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) of said injection molding machine and guided linearly on said two adjacent spars with the help of guideways (31.11, 31.12, 31.21, 31.22);

c) each displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) being displaceable independent of one another by driving means (21.11, 21.12, 21.21, 21.22) along the two adjacent spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) to a distance s, said distance s being sufficient to change the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6);

d) said first and said second displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) comprising a first and a second opposite holding means (5.1, 5.2) for releasably clamping of the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) therebetween.

2. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 1, whereby the first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) are arranged for displacement relative to one another in a second direction (x) perpendicular to the first direction (z) such that the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) can be removed or clamped.

3. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 2, whereby the first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) are adapted to pivot around a first and a second parallel axis (42.1, 42.2) of a first and a second rotating unit (4.1, 4.2) attached to the first and the second holding device (2.1, 2.2) and arranged perpendicular to the first direction (z).

4. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 3, whereby a holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half or die holder has a standardized interface for loss-free transfer of different media from the holding device (1) to the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6), said different media being selected from the group consisting of gas, liquids and electricity.

5. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 4, whereby said media is conducted through one of the shafts (41.1, 41.2).

6. A holding device (1) in combination with a mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or a die holder (6) for an injection molding machine, said injection molding machine comprising a fixed first mold holder plate (7.1) and a displaceable second mold holder plate (7.2) guided linearly by four parallel spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) in a first direction (z), comprising:

a) a first and a second displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) arranged between said first and second mold holder plates (7.1, 7.2) of the injection molding machine;

b) each displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) being supported by two adjacent spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) of said injection molding machine and guided linearly on said two adjacent spars with the help of guideways (31.11, 31.12, 31.21, 31.22);

c) each displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) being displaceable independent of one another by driving means (21.11, 21.12, 21.21, 21.22) along the two adjacent spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) to a distance s, said distance s being sufficient to change the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6);

d) said first and said second displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) comprising a first and a second opposite holding means (5.1, 5.2) for releasably clamping of the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) therebetween, wherein said first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) are arranged for displacement relative to one another in a second direction (x) perpendicular to the first direction (z) such that the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) can be removed or clamped, and wherein said first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) are adapted to pivot around a first and a second parallel axis (42.1, 42.2) of a first and a second rotating unit (4.1, 4.2) attached to the first and the second holding device (2.1, 2.2) and arranged perpendicular to the first direction (z), said first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) having a standardized interface for loss-free transfer of different media from the holding device (1) to the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6), said different media being selected from the group consisting of gas, liquids and electricity; and

,

said mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) being insertable into said holding device, and having a standardized interface connectable to the standardized interface of the holding means (5.1, 5.2) for loss-free transfer of said different media.

7. A holding device (1) for a mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or a die holder (6) for an injection molding machine, said injection molding machine comprising a fixed first mold holder plate (7.1) and a displaceable second mold holder plate (7.2) guided linearly by four parallel spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) in a first direction (z), said holding device (1) comprising:

a) first and second displacement units (2.1, 2.2) arranged between said first and second mold holder plates (7.1, 7.2) of the injection molding machine and adapted for displacement in the first direction (z);

b) each displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) being supported by two adjacent spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) of said injection molding machine and guided linearly on said two adjacent spars by guideways (31.11, 31.12, 31.21, 31.22);

c) the first and second displacement units (2.1, 2.2) comprising first and second opposite holding means (5.1, 5.2) for releasably clamping said mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) therebetween;

d) the first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) being adapted for displacement relative to one another in a second direction (x), said second direction being perpendicular to the first direction (z) such that the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) can be removed or clamped.

8. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 7, whereby the first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) are adapted to pivot around first and second parallel axes (42.1, 42.2) of a first and a second rotating unit (4.1, 4.2) attached to the first and the second holding device (2.1, 2.2) and arranged perpendicular to the first direction (z).

9. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 8, whereby a holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half or die holder has a standardized interface for loss-free transfer of different media from the holding device (1) to the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6), said different media being selected from the group consisting of gas, liquids and electricity.

10. The holding device (1) in accordance to claim 9, whereby said different media is conducted through one of the shafts (41.1, 41.2).

11. A holding device (1) in combination with a mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or a die holder (6) for an injection molding machine, said injection molding machine comprising a fixed first mold holder plate (7.1) and a displaceable second mold holder plate (7.2) guided linearly by four parallel spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) in a first direction (z), comprising:

a) first and second displacement units (2.1, 2.2) arranged between said first and second mold holder plates (7.1, 7.2) of the injection molding machine and adapted for displacement in the first direction (z);

b) each displacement unit (2.1, 2.2) being supported by two adjacent spars (3.11, 3.12, 3.21, 3.22) of said injection molding machine and guided linearly on said two adjacent spars by guideways (31.11, 31.12, 31.21, 31.22);

c) the first and second displacement units (2.1, 2.2) comprising first and second opposite holding means (5.1, 5.2) for releasably clamping said mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) therebetween;

d) the first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) being adapted for displacement relative to one another in a second direction (x), said second direction being perpendicular to the first direction (z) such that the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6) can be removed or clamped, wherein said first and second holding means (5.1, 5.2) are adapted to pivot around first and second parallel axes (42.1, 42.2) of a first and a second rotating unit (4.1, 4.2) attached to the first and the second holding device (2.1, 2.2) and arranged perpendicular to the first direction (z), and wherein the holding means (5.1, 5.2) for the mold, mold half or die holder has a standardized interface for loss-free transfer of different media from the holding device (1) to the mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder (6), said different media being selected from the group consisting of gas, liquids and electricity; and

,

said mold, mold half (61.1, 61.2) or die holder being insertable into the holding device (1) and having a standardized interface connectable to the standardized interface of the holding means (5.1, 5.2) for loss-free transfer of said different media.