EP2081758B1 - Device and method for forming moulded bodies from a mouldable mass - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for forming moldings from a moldable mass. The device comprises a die grid, in which at least one receiving space is formed, and at least one tool, with which the moldable mass in the receiving space is compressible. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for forming moldings, in which a moldable mass is formed, is supplied to at least one receiving space of a die grid and is then pressed by at least one tool.

From the pharmaceutical industry, various devices and methods for producing tablets are known. In so-called rotary tabletting machines, for example, the mass to be formed, which is in the form of bulk material, is fed via a fixed filling device into a likewise fixed die table, into which receiving space (dies) the bulk material is filled. Above and below the receiving space stamp are arranged, which are guided for pressing the bulk material over an upper and a lower pressure roller. By the pressure rollers, the stamp are moved towards each other, whereby initially a rising and after exceeding the vertex, a falling pressure is exerted on the bulk material, whereby it is compressed into a tablet. A conventional rotary tableting machine, for example, in DE 37 14 031 A1 described.

A disadvantage of known tabletting machines is that the time interval during which the pressure required for pressing is exerted on the moldable mass is limited. For many applications, it is desirable to extend the so-called pressure hold time. This is possible with conventional tableting machines only with a small time window.

From the EP 0 358 107 A2 A process for the production of pharmaceutical tablets is known in which the pharmaceutical mixture is extruded and the still plastic material in a conventional tableting machine to solidify pharmaceutical moldings is processed. While advantageously an extruder can be used to form and deliver the moldable mass in this process, the disadvantages associated with conventional tabletting machines can not be overcome. In addition, an economic mass feed would not be sufficiently possible.

From the US 2,829,756 For example, a device is known in which an extruded plastic strand is cut into elongated, cylindrical shapes by means of rotating shaping punches. A disadvantage of this device and the method operated on this device is that the extruded plastic strand is not fully processed and a relatively high rejects proportion or a relatively high proportion of mass is generated, which must be reprocessed. A reprocessing of pharmaceutical masses for reprocessing and thus delivery into a sales item entails the risk of a change in the effectiveness of the formulation, which in turn results in rejects.

Furthermore, it is from the EP 240 906 B1 known to extrude polymer melts and deform by injection molding or calendering. A disadvantage of the injection molding is that it is not fully continuous, but works with repetitive cycles in the cycle, which can not be accelerated in the required for large-scale production measure because of the required cooling times. In addition, temperature and pressure change internal structures of the masses and thus the properties also disadvantageous. Even when calendering with two rolls, the production speed is limited because the rollers touch only along a line, so that the cooling time is sufficient only for slow-running rollers to cool the hot, still plastic strand so far that the resulting moldings are dimensionally stable. In addition, even when calendering with two rolls the realizable pressure hold times are not given because of the line contact of the rollers.

The calendering process with two calender rolls is further developed by a so-called chain calender, as described in US Pat EP 0 358 105 B1 is described. In this chain calender, the still deformable strand of the extruder is between two partially on the lateral surface contacting, in opposite directions and running parallel on the contact line bands or between a roller and a resting on a segment of the roll shell and pressed with this circulating belt into tablets. The shaping recesses are mounted in two or only in one of the circumferential shaping elements. However, this manufacturing method has the disadvantage that no specific mass adjustments can be made without bringing the individual doses considerably out of shape, because of the lack of lateral all-round guides. Furthermore, it is necessary to rework the resulting moldings, in particular to smooth and deburr. Furthermore, mass corrections to the moldings are only very limited possible, thereby conditionally a format change is excluded towards heavier or lighter moldings.
In the DE 198 55 328 A1 a tablet press is described in which an upper punch or a lower punch is lowered or raised at certain positions by pressure rollers and thus moved towards a die, whereby a compression of the moldable mass takes place. To extend the pressure holding time, a ball bearing occupied rail is arranged between two pressure rollers. The ball bearings hold the punches in the pressing position. DE 19855328 discloses a device according to the preamble of claim 1. From the EP 1 306 012 A2 For example, a method and an apparatus for producing a cooked sugar mass body in a mold are known. The sugar mass is poured into the mold in a flowable state and solidified in the mold. To produce a shell-like shaped body, a stamp dips into the mold. Several forms are formed on an endless conveyor belt. Further, the punches also move to enter the molds from the open side and displace the moldable mass to form the desired shape.

From the EP 0 691 121 A2 For example, a method and apparatus for tablet manufacturing are known. In this case, a turntable is used in conjunction with a belt in which cavities are formed.

Finally, out of the DE 2039 933 A1 a machine for molding hollow bodies made of plastic material known. In this case, hollow bodies made of plastic material are produced by blowing in molds from successive sections of a tube. In the machine mold carrier weighing are hinged to a drive rod, so that the leadership of the mold carrier weighing can be done along a path.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method for forming moldings from a moldable mass, by which the pressure-holding time can be extended during the pressing of the moldings.

This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments and further developments emerge from the subclaims.

In the device according to the invention, the tool is movable along a guideway, which has a shaping section in which the tools exert a constant pressure on the portion of the mouldable mass located in the receiving space over a distance. With the device according to the invention, it is possible to exert very high pressures over very long times on the mass to be molded. The device according to the invention can therefore be used, inter alia, in particular for molding masses which require a long pressure holding time. Namely, the maximum pressure of the tools can be exerted over the entire distance of the forming section of the guideway. Depending on the speed with which the tool carrier moves on the guideway, this shaping section can be selected to be long enough to realize any desired pressure holding times. The residence time of the mass in the section at which it is compressed is thus also adjustable.

In the apparatus according to the invention, the tool is mounted in a tool carrier. According to the invention, the tool carrier is held in the guideway via a slotted guide. In this case, at least one tool carrier along the guideway at least partially runs on guide rollers, wherein at least in the forming section of the guideway, the guide rollers can be adjusted in terms of their distance to another tool carrier. Here, a molding pressure can be adjusted according to the mass properties to be molded. The volumes to be set of the different masses to be pressed are adjusted by means of the height-adjustable die grid. In this way, it is very easy to adjust the volume to be compressed in the receiving space of the die grid. In the method according to the invention, it is thus possible to realize an online change of the administration forms with regard to the metering. Furthermore, tolerances of the guideway in the forming section can be compensated. The shaping section of the guide track preferably runs in a straight line. In this way, particularly high injection pressures can be realized. According to a development of the device according to the invention, a further second tool for the at least one receiving space can be guided from the opposite side of the first tool into the receiving space. In this way, the moldable mass can be pressed in the receiving space from two sides. In the die grid in particular a plurality of receiving spaces is formed, each of which a first tool and a second tool are assigned. In this case, the first tools and / or the second tools may be mounted in a respective tool carrier. They are particularly secured floating in the tool carrier. The tools can be cooled and / or heated in particular for certain moldable masses.

According to a development of the device according to the invention, a separate guideway is provided in each case for the tool carrier of the first tools and the tool carrier of the second tools.

In the processing direction behind the molding section can be formed in the device according to the invention, a cooling section of the guideway, in which cool the pressed moldings in the die grid. The cooling section is preferably also formed by a straight path of the guideway. In the apparatus according to the invention, thus, the cooling time can be adjusted. It can be chosen a very long cooling time, so that even moldings with complicated geometries can be easily removed from the mold when carrying out thermal processes. Furthermore, it is often necessary for pharmaceutical moldings that long cooling times are realized in order to counteract any residual stresses in the moldings.

After the shaping section or after the cooling section, a sampling station for removing one or more moldings can be arranged, which can be fed to a quality control. Following this, a removal and camera inspection station for removal and examination of the moldings, a cleaning station and finally a shaping space coating device can be arranged, in which the parts of the device which come into contact with the moldable mass, cleaned and coated to prevent buildup.

The tool cleaning and the molding space coating can be carried out continuously during the ongoing production process. In addition, an online control during the ongoing manufacturing process and an online mass correction of the moldings are possible. Furthermore, an online 100% visual inspection using a camera and online NIR for various analytical data collections is possible.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the tool carrier is coupled via a telescopic arm with a rotatable drive unit, so that the tool carrier can be guided over a closed curve. The drive unit may be the only driven unit of the device according to the invention. Preferably, a telescopic arm is provided in each case for the tool carrier of the first tools and the tool carrier of the second tools. The telescopic arm or the telescopic arms can in particular be mounted so as to be pivotable about an axis tangential with respect to the rotation of the drive unit. Furthermore, the length of the telescopic arm is variable. The tool carrier is in this case coupled via a horizontal / vertical two-axis fork joint with the telescopic arm. In this way, the tool carrier can move radially along the guide track toward the drive unit or away from the drive unit. On the other hand, the tool carrier can be pivoted upwards and downwards in a horizontal plane of rotation.

For the purposes of the invention, a malleable mass is understood to mean any mass which changes its shape under the action of a force. As a moldable mass powdered bulk materials can be supplied to the matrix grid. The bulk material is e.g. filled via a known filling device in the receiving spaces of Matrizengitters. The filling device may be e.g. to act a powder distribution system for the uniform discharge of flowable, moldable, powdery bulk materials, in which the bulk materials are continuously fed. It is possible with the device according to the invention in particular to compress polymer granules with high restoring force to moldings. Because of the adjustable shaping time for the molding process, the device according to the invention can preferably be used for processing flowable and shapable powdered bulk goods, e.g. in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetics and hygiene industries.

Furthermore, the moldable mass may be a melt ribbon. To form the melt ribbon, the device may in particular comprise an extruder, wherein the melt ribbon is continuously fed to the die grid. Preferably, a forming station for smoothing and aligning a melt strand ejected from the extruder to the melt ribbon is arranged between the extruder and the die grid. In this way, the width of the melt belt can be so be shaped so that it corresponds to the width of the matrix grid. The thickness of the melt ribbon can thereby be adjusted so that the weight of the individual portions of the mass is adjusted.

If necessary, the melt ribbon may comprise several layers of different composition. The extruder can be designed in particular for two- or three-component extrusion, wherein the various components can be in different sequences to each other. For example, films and moldings with a product sequence ABA or ABCBA can be formed. Such product sequences may be used for the manufacture of medical products, e.g. used in the manufacture of lingual and sublingual slides / tablets as well as transdermal patches. Such products can be very easily produced on the device according to the invention.

Likewise, applications from the food industry can be realized by means of coextrusion. Here, softer elements of moldings, e.g. Candies, with layers that have a tougher consistency, are superimposed in different product sequences in order to be able to better treat and assemble foods that have previously been difficult to process. Furthermore, several layers of different aromas can be made into a candy.

The apparatus of the invention may further comprise a displacement barrier for portioning the moldable mass movable toward the die grid, the displacement barrier comprising side boundaries corresponding to side boundaries defining the receiving spaces of the die grid. By the displacement bulkhead, the moldable material is displaced into the receiving space of the matrix grid and thereby simultaneously portioned, so that the mass can then be pressed in a completely enclosed form with adjustable volume. In this way, moldings can be produced which have no edge burrs and no offset, so that no further post-processing is required. In addition, smooth surface structures and complicated geometries of the moldings can be realized.

Preferably, the side boundaries of the displacement bulkhead are aligned with the lateral boundaries of the matrix grid. The thickness of the side boundaries of the die grid corresponds in particular to the thickness of the side boundaries of the displacement partition. The side boundaries of the displacement bulkhead and the side boundaries of the die grid may have end surfaces that at least partially abut when the displacement barrier and the die grid are fully moved toward each other. The respective end faces have in particular the same geometry. For example, the matrix grid may comprise a square, rectangular, diamond-shaped or circular grid. The same grid is then formed by the side boundaries of the displacement bulkhead, so that the end faces each match. The transition from the end faces to the side boundaries of the die grid and / or the displacement partition can in particular be rounded or bevelled. As a result, the displacement of the masses during lowering of the displacement bulkhead is facilitated and predefined the direction of the material to be displaced in the direction of the receiving spaces of the matrix grid, whereby the reject of the masses to be formed almost completely reduced.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the tool can be guided from the side boundaries of the displacement bulkhead into the receiving space. The displacement bulkhead can thus fulfill a dual function. On the one hand, it serves to portion the moldable mass. On the other hand, it serves as a guide for the tool.

The displacement bulkhead can be coupled to the tool carrier for the first tools. In this case, the displacement bulkhead is in particular movable relative to the tool carrier against the force of at least one spring.

In the method according to the invention for forming moldings, a moldable mass is formed and fed to at least one receiving space of a die grid. At least one tool then presses a portion of the moldable mass in the receiving space by moving the tool along a guideway is having a forming portion, in which the tool is applied a constant pressure on the portion located in the receiving space of the moldable mass on a route. The route is in particular a straight stretch.

In the method according to the invention, a further second tool for the at least one receiving space is preferably guided from the opposite side of the first tool into the receiving space. The pressure in the receiving space of the die grid is then exerted by the first tool and the second tool. For each of the first tools and the second tools, a tool carrier can be provided which is guided in each case on a separate guide track.

According to a development of the method according to the invention, the molded articles cool in the die grid after the pressing. After cooling, a molding or several moldings can be removed for inspection.

Fig. 1

zeigt schematisch den Gesamtaufbau der Vorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

zeigt einen Ausschnitt der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Vorrichtung, in welchem die verschiedenen Stationen der Vorrichtung erkennbar sind,

Fig. 3

zeigt die beidseitig höhenveränderbare Fahrkurve des oberen und unteren Teils der Formungseinheit beim Kurvenfahren nach dem Formungsprozess,

Fig. 4

zeigt die beidseitig höhenveränderbare Fahrkurve des oberen und unteren Teils der Formungseinheit beim Kurvenfahren zum Formungsprozess,

Fig. 5

zeigt eine Seitenansicht der in den Fig. 3 und 4 gezeigten Fahrkurven der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 6A

zeigt die Düse eines Extruders der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiels der Erfindung, insbesondere für die Herstellung von Mehrlagenformlingen/Mehrlagentabletten,

Fig. 6B

zeigt eine Detailansicht der Fig. 6A,

Fig. 7A

zeigt eine andere Ausgestaltung der Düse des Extruders der Vorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, insbesondere für die Herstellung von Mehrlagenformlingen/Mehrlagentabletten,

Fig. 7B

zeigt eine Detailansicht der Fig. 7A,

Fig. 8A bis 8D

zeigen das Zusammenführen des oberen und unteren Teils der Formungseinheit beim Extruder bei der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 9

zeigt die Formungseinheit der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung im Detail,

Fig. 10

zeigt den Teleskoparm der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 11

zeigt den Fahr- und Bewegungsweg des Werkzeugträgerunterteils im Bereich des Formungsabschnitts der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 12

zeigt eine Detailansicht des Führungsbolzens im Bereich des Formungsabschnitts der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 13

zeigt ein Detail des Führungsbolzens in der Kulissenführung,

Fig. 14A

zeigt eine Aufsicht auf ein Beispiel eines Werkzeugs,

Fig. 14B und 14C

zeigen perspektivische Ansichten eines Beispiels eines Werkzeugs,

Fig. 15A

zeigt eine Aufsicht auf ein anderes Werkzeug,

Fig. 15B

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht dieses anderen Werkzeugs,

Fig. 16A

zeigt eine Aufsicht auf ein weiteres Werkzeug,

Fig. 16B

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht des weiteren Werkzeugs,

Fig. 17

zeigt eine Schnittansicht des Werkzeugs in dem Werkzeugträger der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 18

zeigt ein Spezialwerkzeug der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 19

zeigt ein Detail des in Fig. 18 gezeigten Spezialwerkzeugs,

Fig. 20

zeigt eine Schnittansicht des oberen Werkzeugträgers und den damit verbundenen Teilen der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 21

zeigt das Verdrängungsschott der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 22

zeigt den unteren Werkzeugträger und die mit diesem verbundenen Teile der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 23

zeigt das Matrizengitter der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 24A

zeigt das Zusammenspiel des oberen und unteren Werkzeugträgers bei der Verarbeitung von Schmelzen,

Fig. 24B

zeigt das Zusammenspiel des oberen und des unteren Werkzeugträgers bei der Verarbeitung von Schüttgütern,

Fig. 25A und 25B

veranschaulichen die Wirkung eines ersten Beispiels des Verdrängungsschotts der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 26A und 26B

veranschaulichen die Wirkung eines zweiten Beispiels des Verdrängungsschotts der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 27A und 27B

veranschaulichen die Kräfteverteilung in dem Aufnahmeraum des Matrizengitters der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 28

zeigt die Formlingsentnahme- und Kamerainspektionsstation der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 29

zeigt die Reinigungsstation der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,

Fig. 30

zeigt einen weiteren Teil der Reinigungsstation der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung und

Fig. 31

zeigt die Formungsraumbeschichtungseinheit der Vorrichtung gemäß dem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

The invention will now be explained in detail by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings:

Fig. 1

shows schematically the overall structure of the device according to an embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2

shows a section of the in Fig. 1 shown device in which the various stations of the device can be seen,

Fig. 3

shows the two-way height-adjustable travel curve of the upper and lower part of the molding unit when cornering after the molding process,

Fig. 4

shows the double-sided height-adjustable travel curve of the upper and lower part of the molding unit when cornering for forming process,

Fig. 5

shows a side view of the in the Fig. 3 and 4 shown driving curves of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 6A

shows the nozzle of an extruder of the device according to the embodiment of the invention, in particular for the production of multilayer preforms / multilayer tablets,

Fig. 6B

shows a detailed view of Fig. 6A .

Fig. 7A

shows another embodiment of the nozzle of the extruder of the device according to an embodiment of the invention, in particular for the production of multilayer tablets / multilayer tablets,

Fig. 7B

shows a detailed view of Fig. 7A .

8A to 8D

show the merging of the upper and lower parts of the molding unit in the extruder in the apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 9

shows the molding unit of the device according to the embodiment of the invention in detail,

Fig. 10

shows the telescopic arm of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 11

shows the travel and movement path of the tool carrier lower part in the region of the forming section of the device according to the exemplary embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 12

shows a detailed view of the guide pin in the region of the forming portion of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 13

shows a detail of the guide pin in the slotted guide,

Fig. 14A

shows a plan view of an example of a tool,

Figs. 14B and 14C

show perspective views of an example of a tool,

Fig. 15A

shows a view of another tool,

Fig. 15B

shows a perspective view of this other tool,

Fig. 16A

shows a view of another tool,

Fig. 16B

shows a perspective view of the further tool,

Fig. 17

shows a sectional view of the tool in the tool carrier of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 18

shows a special tool of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 19

shows a detail of in Fig. 18 shown special tool,

Fig. 20

shows a sectional view of the upper tool carrier and the associated parts of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 21

shows the displacement barrier of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 22

shows the lower tool carrier and the associated therewith parts of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 23

shows the die grid of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 24A

shows the interaction of the upper and lower tool carrier in the processing of melts,

Fig. 24B

shows the interaction of the upper and the lower tool carrier in the processing of bulk materials,

Figs. 25A and 25B

illustrate the effect of a first example of the displacement bulkhead of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Figs. 26A and 26B

illustrate the effect of a second example of the displacement bulkhead of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Figs. 27A and 27B

illustrate the distribution of forces in the receiving space of the die grid of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 28

shows the blank removal and camera inspection station of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 29

shows the cleaning station of the device according to the embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 30

shows a further part of the cleaning station of the device according to the embodiment of the invention and

Fig. 31

shows the molding space coating unit of the device according to the embodiment of the invention.

Related to the Fig. 1 and 2 An overview of the overall structure of the apparatus for forming moldings from the moldable mass is given:

The device comprises an extruder 1, with which a moldable mass can be formed. From the nozzle of the extruder 1, the moldable mass is transferred to a rotating mechanical system in which the moldings are formed. The basic structure of this rotating mechanical system will be explained below.

There is a rotatable drive unit 2 is provided, are attached to which radially outwardly extending telescopic arms 5. At the radially outer ends of the telescopic arms 5 forming units 4 are attached. As will be explained later, a molding unit is composed of an upper part 4A and a lower part 4B. Both for the upper part 4A and for the lower part 4B a telescopic arm 5A and 5B is provided. The telescopic arm 5A for the upper part 4A and that 5B for the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4 are arranged vertically one above the other vertically. The drive unit 2 thus comprises in an upper horizontal plane the telescopic arms 5A for the upper part 4A of the forming unit 4 and in a lower horizontal plane the telescopic arms 5B for the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4. The telescopic arms 5 with the forming units 4 are thus of the Drive unit 2 is moved substantially in an upper and a lower horizontal plane.

The shaping units 4 are guided on a guideway 3. The guideway 3 describes a closed curve with straight sections A and B (FIG. Fig. 2 ) and a semicircular portion disposed opposite to the sections A and B. So that the shaping units 4 can be guided by a rotation of the drive unit 2 on this guideway 3, the radial length of the telescopic arms 5 is variable. In addition, the guide track 3 can also change the position of the shaping units 4 in the vertical direction. For this purpose, the telescopic arms 5 can perform a vertical pivoting movement, ie a pivoting movement about axis, which is parallel to a tangential with respect to the rotational movement of the drive unit 2 axis. To limit the vertical Pivoting movement are provided at the Achsbefestigungen the telescopic arms 5 on the drive unit 2 lateral guides. The telescopic arms 5 can thus be moved horizontally by the drive unit 2, wherein they can perform vertical pivoting movements during this movement, the paths being predetermined by the guide track 3.

In reference to Fig. 2 The different sections that pass through the guideway are described:

Directly to the nozzle of the extruder 1 is followed by a forming section A, in which the guide track 3 extends on a straight line. The shaping section A is adjoined by a cooling-down section B, which can also run on a straight path. Behind the cooling section B, the guideway 3 changes its direction in a 90 ° bend and feeds the forming units 4 at the section C to a sampling station 6. After section C, the guideway 3 describes a semicircle on which the forming units 4 are fed at a section D of a blank removal and camera inspection station 7, at section E of a cleaning station 8 and at section F of a forming space coating device 9. The individual stations and facilities of these sections will be described later in detail.

After the forming units 4 have left the forming space coating device 9, they are guided back to the forming section A via a 90 ° bend. Since the closely arranged forming units 4 in this constellation can not perform over its diagonal away a curve movement, evasive travel curves are formed for the guideway, which in the following with reference to the Fig. 3 to 5 be explained:

The Fig. 3 shows an upper guide track 3A for the upper part 4A of the forming unit 4 and a lower guide track 3B for the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4. In Fig. 3 2, the movement apart of the upper and lower parts 4A and 4B of the molding unit 4 is shown. Fig. 4 shows the collapse of the respective parts of the molding unit 4. The upper guide track 3A and the lower guide track 3B each share again in an upper and lower part, on each of which alternately the two parts of the shaping unit 4 are supplied. The control is carried out via points, which causes the diversion into the respective travel curve. In Fig. 5 Fig. 12 is a side view showing the movement of the upper telescopic arm 5A for the upper part 4A of the forming unit 4 and the lower telescopic arm 5B for the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4.

Related to the Fig. 6 and 7 the extruder 1 is described:

In the device according to the invention, a per se known extruder 1 can be used. The design of the extruder 1 depends on the mass that is to be processed in the extruder 1. For example, the masses to be processed may be intended for use in the pharmaceutical industry, in the food industry, as well as in the cosmetics and hygiene industries. A plastic melt is produced, which is ejected in the extruder die 10 as a melt strand 11. The melt strand 11 can be formed from only one melt. Like in the Fig. 6 However, it is also possible to form a multilayer melt strand 11 which comprises, for example, two components A and B in three layers of the sequence ABA. Similarly, the extruder 1, as in Fig. 7 shown to be three-component extrusion in five plies of sequence ABCBA.

As in Fig. 8A 1, the melt strand 11 ejected from the extruder die 10 is fed to a forming station 13, in which counter-rotating rolls 12A and 12B smooth the melt strand 11 into a melt ribbon 14. Furthermore, in the forming station 13, the width of the melt belt 14 can be set exactly. The width of the melt belt 14 depends on the width of the die grid 19, as will be explained later. The width is created by tapered Führungsleitbleche. Corresponding side-prone preform prisms 12B take on the task of mass reduction on the sides of the melt belt.

The 8B to 8D show the interaction of the rollers 12A and 12B of the molding station and the molding of the melt strand 11 to the melt belt 14 after the material emerges from the nozzle 10. The roll and prism movements can be controlled depending on the volume and the density of the melt by means of software.

By the Ausformstation thus the thickness and the width of the melt strip from which the moldings are formed, adjusted exactly. This setting ensures that the masses of the individual blanks are always the same. Furthermore, the height and thus the mass of the molded article to be formed can be adjusted via the thickness of the melt belt 14. In the forming station, a precompression of the moldable mass takes place, which leads to a higher stability of the melt belt 14. The thickness of the melt belt 14 depends on the consistency of the melt, their density and the desired individual weights of the moldings to be produced therefrom.

As further out Fig. 8A As can be seen, the forming units 4 are guided on the guideway so that the upper part 4A of the forming unit 4 have approximated the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4 behind the forming station 13 for the melt of the extruder 1. They form in this shaping section A ( Fig. 2 ) a unit through which the moldings are formed from the melt belt 14.

In reference to Fig. 9 Hereinafter, the molding unit 4 will be described in detail.

The forming unit 4 comprises a tool carrier 15 which is divided into an upper tool carrier 15A and a lower tool carrier 15B. The upper tool carrier 15A is fixed to an upper telescopic arm 5A, the lower tool carrier 15B is fixed to a lower telescopic arm 5B. The telescopic arms 5A and 5B are arranged in a vertical plane parallel to each other. As already related to the Fig. 1 and 2 described, they are moved horizontally, where they can perform vertical pivoting movements corresponding to the guideway 3. When the upper and lower tool carriers 15A and 15B, as in FIG Fig. 9 are shown adjacent to each other, as is the case, for example, in the forming section A, the upper and lower tool carriers 15A and 15B are aligned with each other by guide rods 22. Guided by these guide rods 22, the upper and lower tool carriers 15A and 15B can be further moved toward each other.

The upper and lower tool carriers 15A and 15B each include a plurality of guide pins 16A and 16B, respectively, which hold and guide the upper tool carrier 15A in two upper guide tracks 3A. The two upper guide tracks 3A are arranged at the same level at different radii with respect to the rotational movement of the drive unit 2. The lower guide bolts 16B hold and guide the lower tool carrier 15B in lower guide tracks 3B, respectively. In the present embodiment, three guide pins 16A and 16B are respectively provided for the upper and lower tool carriers 15A and 15B. They hold the two tool carrier parts 15A and 15B in a horizontal position, respectively. Of the three guide pins 16A and 16B, two guide pins 15A and 15B are respectively disposed on the outer guide track 3A and 3B, and the single guide pins 16A and 16B on the inner track 3A and 3B, respectively, for safe cornering of the tool carrier 15 receive.

The upper and lower tool carriers 15A and 15B receive the same number of identical tools 17 and 18, respectively. Further, between the upper tool carrier 15A and the lower tool carrier 15B, a die grid 19 and a displacement barrier 38 are arranged, as will be explained later in detail. Both the die grid 19 and the displacement barrier 38 are guided by means of the guide rods 22.

In reference to Fig. 10 the coupling of the upper and lower tool carrier 15 is described on the telescopic arm 5:

The telescopic arm 5 comprises two mutually displaceable parts, so that the length of the telescopic arm is variable. In this way, the radial distance of the tool carrier 15 from the drive unit 2 can be changed. At the radially outer End of the telescopic arm 5, a horizontal / vertical two-axis fork joint 23 is attached. The two-axis fork joint 23 comprises a fixing unit 24, which is fastened to the radially outer end of the telescopic arm 5. The horizontal joint 26 of the two-axis fork joint 23 is fastened to the fastening unit 24 via a bolt 25. The horizontal joint 26 is pivotable about the axis of the bolt 25 in a first plane. In the arrangement of the telescopic arm 5 in the device according to the invention, this first plane is aligned horizontally. At the horizontal joint 26, the vertical joint 28 of the two-axis fork joint 23 is attached via a further bolt 27. The vertical joint 28 is pivotable in a second plane, which is perpendicular to the first plane. In the arrangement of the telescopic arm 5 in the device according to the invention, the vertical joint 28 is pivotable in a vertical plane. Finally, the upper or lower tool carrier 15A or 15B is fastened to the vertical joint 28. The two-axis fork joint 23 thus provides a firm connection between the telescopic arm 5 and the corresponding part of the tool carrier 15. In this way, the tool holder 15 can smoothly and smoothly reach all positions in all three spatial axes within the path of the guideway 3.

Since the drive unit 2 represents the only motor-driven member of the device according to the invention with regard to the movement of the forming units 4, the telescopic arms 5 ensure that the force of the drive unit 2 is transmitted to the tool carriers 15 connected to them so that they move on the predetermined guide track 3 can. The two-axis fork joint 23 and the vertical pivoting of the telescopic arm 5 ensure that each individual movement of the tool carrier 15 can be compensated for transmitting force on the guideway 3.

Related to the Fig. 11 to 13 the guidance of the lower tool carrier 15B in the guide track 3B is explained:

The lower guide pins 16B comprise a mushroom head 29 which is located in all sections of the guide track 3 other than the shaping section A (FIG. Fig. 2 ) is held and guided in a slotted guide 33. This slide guide is in Fig. 13 shown. The storage and guidance in the forming section A is in the Fig. 11 and 12 shown. In this section A, the guide pin 16B leaves the slide guide 33 and is guided and held by a guide roller system. The guide roller system comprises closely spaced guide rollers 30 which are rotatable in the direction of the guide track 3B. The end face of the mushroom head 29 always rests on two guide rollers 30 in order to ensure smooth running of the lower tool carrier 15B. In order to keep the guide pins 16B in lateral position, two side guide plates 32 are arranged on both sides of the mushroom head 29 of the guide pin 16B.

For each individual guide roller 30, a separately controllable level control 31 is provided, which can move or adjust the height of the guide roller 30. As a result, the Endverformungskräfte be regulated. In this way it can be ensured that the blanks have exactly the desired strength. For this purpose, the level control 31 can be coupled to a weighing cell unit, which adjoins the camera inspection station 7. The load cell unit may have a programmable logic controller to transmit a controlled variable to the level control 31 to control the immersion depths of the individual tools 17 and 18 respectively, thereby achieving mass variation of the individual moldings, as will be explained later.

The mounting and guiding of the upper tool carrier 15A over the upper guide pins 16A in the upper guide tracks 3A essentially corresponds to the guidance and the mounting of the lower tool carrier 15B. The mushroom head 29 of the upper guide pin 16A is received by a slotted guide 33 of the upper guide track 3A. In contrast to the guidance of the lower guide pins 16B, however, a slotted guide 33 is also provided in the shaping section A, since it is not necessary to adjust both the lower tool carrier 15B and the upper tool carrier 15A in the vertical direction.

Related to the FIGS. 14 to 19 various examples of tools 17, 18 and their attachment in the tool carrier 15A and 15B are explained. The FIGS. 14 to 19 show the tools 18 attached to the lower tool carrier 15B are. The tools 17 may be identical or similar to the tools 18 and similarly secured to the upper tool carrier 15A.

The tools 17 and 18 are formed like a stamp. They have an end face 35, which, as in the Figs. 14A to 16A shown, is selected according to the desired molding surface. The tools 17 and 18 are floating in the tool carrier 15A, secured once or twice by means of internal locking bars 34 against falling out. This ensures a very dense arrangement of the tools 17 and 18, respectively. The number of securing rods 34 depends on the intended use of the tools 17 and 18 and on their function.

In Fig. 18 a special tool 36 is shown. It includes heating or cooling holes 37 into which a fluid may be introduced to heat or cool the tool 36.

In reference to Fig. 20 the parts connected to the upper tool carrier 15A are explained:

The radially inner side of the upper tool carrier 15A is connected to the telescopic arm 5A via the two-axis fork joint 23, as described with reference to FIGS Fig. 10 was explained. The upper side of the upper tool carrier 15A is mounted on the upper guide pin 16A in the slotted guide 33 of the upper guide track 3A. Furthermore, the tools 17 are mounted on the securing rods 34 in the lower side of the upper tool carrier 15A, as described with reference to FIGS FIGS. 14 to 19 was explained.

Finally, the displacement barrier 38 is coupled to the upper tool carrier 15A via the connection mechanism 41. The linkage mechanism 41 includes a spring 42 which holds the displacement bulkhead 38 in the rest position of the spring 42 so that the upper surface of the displacement bulkhead 38 is spaced from the lower surface of the upper tool carrier 15A. Against the force of the spring 42, the displacement barrier 38 can be moved vertically in the direction of the upper tool carrier 15A.

The displacement barrier 38 is described in detail in FIG Fig. 21 shown. It comprises a grid in which the openings of the grid are delimited by lateral boundaries 39 of the displacement bulkhead 38. At the in Fig. 21 rectangular grid structure shown, each opening of the grid is delimited by four side walls. The underside of the grid of the displacement bulkhead 38 has a grid-like end face 40. Finally, the displacement barrier 38 has bores 44 for the guide rods 22 of the tool carrier 15 (FIG. Fig. 9 ).

In reference to Fig. 22 the parts coupled to the lower tool carrier 15B are explained:

The lower tool carrier 15B is coupled to the lower telescopic arm 5B via the two-axis fork joint 23, as described with reference to FIGS Fig. 10 was explained. The lower side of the lower tool carrier 15 B is on the lower guide pin 16 B via the slotted guide 33 and over with reference to Fig. 11 explained guided roller system guided and stored. Furthermore, the tools 18 are mounted on the securing rods 34 in the upper side of the lower tool carrier 15B.

Finally, the die grid 19 is coupled via the height-adjustable link mechanism 46 to the lower tool carrier 15B. The matrix grid 19 includes receiving spaces 21, which are delimited from lateral boundaries 20. The lower openings of the receiving spaces 21 of the die grid 19 are closed by the tools 18 projecting into the receiving spaces 21. Since the volume of the receiving space 21 determines the volume of the molding to be formed and thus at a certain density and the mass or weight, the mass or the weight of the moldings can be adjusted via the height adjustment of the tools 18.

A plan view of the die grid 19 is shown in FIG Fig. 23 shown. The rectangular grid structure can be seen, which is formed by the end face 45 of the die grid 19. Furthermore, the end faces 35 of the tools 18 can be seen, which protrude into the receiving spaces 21 and which are held over the securing rods 34 in the lower tool carrier 15B. Finally, bores for the guide rods 22 are provided in the matrix grid.

Since the tools 17 move in the displacement bulkhead 38 and the tools 18 are located in the receiving spaces 21 of the die grid 19, the tools 17 are also referred to as displacement bulkhead-side tools and the tools 18 as die-side tools.

In reference to Fig. 24A explains how the individual parts of the forming unit 4 cooperate to portion the melt belt 14 and to press in the receiving spaces 21 of the die grid 19:

The molding operation takes place on the straight stretch of the molding section A of the guide track 3 (FIG. Fig. 2 ). At the beginning of the molding section A, the upper part 4A of the molding unit 4, that is, the upper tool carrier 15A and the parts connected thereto are vertically moved toward the lower part 4B of the molding unit 4, ie the lower tool carrier 15B and the parts connected thereto. At the same time, the melt belt 14 formed by the forming station 13 is supplied to the lower part 4B of the molding unit 4. How out Fig. 24A it can be seen, while the melt belt 14 comes on the top of the die grid 19, ie in particular on the end face 45, which is formed by the side boundaries 20 of the die grid 19, to rest. The melt strip 14 is thus located above the receiving spaces 21 of the die grid 19. The distance between the underside of the displacement bulkhead 38 and the top of the die grid 19 is initially greater than the thickness of the melt belt 14, so that this introduced between the die grid 19 and the displacement barrier 38 can be.

As the forming unit 4 continues to advance in the forming section A driven by the drive unit 2, the upper tool carrier 15A with the displacement bulkhead becomes 38 further lowered until the lower end face 40 of the displacement bulkhead 38 touches the upper surface of the melt belt 14. Upon further lowering of the upper tool carrier 15A with the displacement bulkhead 38, the portion 14A of the melt belt 14 located between the end face 45 of the die grid 19 and the end face 40 of the displacement bulkhead 38 is now displaced in the direction of the adjacent receiving spaces 21, as shown in FIGS Figs. 25A and 25B respectively. Figs. 26A and 26B is shown.

When lowering the upper tool carrier 15A with the displacement barrier 38 during the displacement process of the melt belt 14, the distance between the displacement bulkhead 38 to the upper tool carrier 15A decreases against the force of the springs 42. At the same time, a tilting of the displacement bulkhead 38 is prevented by the guide rods 22. The strength of the springs 42 is designed so that they allow a sinking of the displacement bulkhead 38 in the melt belt 14. The nachrückende upper tool part 15A increases the pressure exerted by the displacement barrier 38 on the melt belt 14, by means of ever closer together springs 42. To when lowering the displacement bulkhead 38 on the melt belt 14, the melt masses 14A under the end face 40 of the displacement bulkhead 38 in all To distribute directions, ie to displace, the edges of the end face 40 of the displacement bulkhead 38 are specially shaped. In Fig. 25B a displacement barrier 38 is shown in which the edges of the transition from the end face 40 to the side surfaces of the side boundaries 39 of the displacement partition 38 are rounded. In Fig. 26B a displacement barrier is shown in which these edges are bevelled. This configuration of the edges serves a lossless and economically optimal production process. In this case, all material supernatants are to be forced into the receiving spaces 21 of the die grid 19.

The displacement bulkhead 38 is moved toward the die grid 19 until the end face 40 of the displacement bulkhead 38 rests on the end face 45 of the die grid 19.

Like from the Fig. 21 . 23 and 24 It is essential that the lateral boundary 39 of the displacement bulkhead 38 corresponds to the lateral boundaries 20 of the matrix grid 19 and thus to the end surfaces 40 and 45 formed by the lateral boundaries 39 and 20, respectively , These side boundaries 39 and 20 form the identical lattice structure. The side boundary 39 of the displacement bulkhead 38 has in particular the same thickness as the side boundary 20 of the die grid 19. Furthermore, the side boundaries 39 and 20 are aligned with one another. During the movement of the displacement bulkhead 38 in the direction of the die grid 19, the side boundaries 39 and 20 are aligned exactly parallel to one another.

After the end face 40 of the displacement bulkhead 39 rests on the end face 45 of the die grid 19, the upper tool carrier 15A further lowers with the tools 17, without the vertical position of the displacement bulkhead 38 being able to continue to change since it rests on the die grid 19. The tools 17 are thus moved in the openings of the displacement bulkhead 38. The side delimitations 39 of the displacement bulkhead 38 serve as a guide for the tools 17. The displacement bulkhead 38 thus serves as a guide chamber for the lowering tools 17 as well as an antechamber for the mass to be deformed. By lowering the tools 17 of the part of the melt belt 14, which is still displaced between the side boundaries 39 of the displacement 38 above the receiving space 21 of the matrix grid 19, brought from the end faces 35 of the tools 17 into the receiving spaces 21 of the matrix grid 19 , Finally, the portion of the melt belt 14 located completely in the receiving space 21 is pressed in the receiving space 21.

Fig. 27A shows the force distribution in the receiving space 21 during pressing. On the melt portions pressure is exerted by the tools 17 and 18 from above and below. From the side of the portions of the side boundaries 20 of the matrix grid 19 are enclosed. Since the same pressure is exerted on the lateral boundaries 20 by two adjacent receiving chambers 21, the forces applied to the lateral boundaries 20 cancel each other out. For this reason can the side boundaries 20 and thus also the side boundaries 39 of the displacement 38 are made very thin, whereby any residual portion of the melt belt 14, which is not compressed, can be kept extremely low.

The pressure exerted by the tools 17 and 18 on the melt portions 14 can be selected depending on the moldings to be formed. A special feature of the device according to the invention is that the pressure holding time, i. the time interval at which the maximum pressure is exerted on the mass to be compacted, can be individually adjusted to the mass to be deformed and tuned to this. The pressure holding time can be chosen to be very long, in particular in comparison to conventional tableting machines. It is essentially determined by the rotational speed of the drive unit 2 and the length of the straight forming section A. If the forming section A is chosen to be very long, the maximum pressure exerted on the mass to be formed is maintained for a very long time.

At the forming section A, the cooling section B connects. The upper part 4A of the forming unit 4 with the upper tool carrier 15A is again removed in this section B in the vertical direction from the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4 with the lower tool carrier 15B. The compressed moldings can cool during the residence time in the cooling section B. In the device according to the invention, this cooling section B can be chosen so long that it is ensured that no unwanted internal stresses remain in the formed products. The cooling station B is followed by the sampling station 6 in the section C. In this station 6 can each be removed by means of a randomized, memory-controlled, individually controllable vacuum blank removal unit a certain number of moldings and transferred to a control device. The blanks removed from the population or their free spaces on the lower tool carrier 15B are transmitted to the blank removal and camera inspection station 7 by means of the integrated programmable logic controller in order to avoid false control messages. The task of this in-process control station is the quality-related To control the operation of the device according to the invention to confirm it or possibly regulating in the process flow by means of a programmable logic controller and accordingly via the level control 31 intervene.

The section C with the sampling station 6 is followed by the section D with the blank removal and camera inspection station 7, which with reference to Fig. 28 is explained. In this case, by means of a 100% online visual inspection, the rejected goods 7B are separated from the goods 7A (cf. Fig. 2 ).

At the beginning of section D, the tools 18 are moved completely into the receiving space 21 of the die grid 19, so that the shaped articles 57 formed are pushed out of the die grid 19 and ready for removal. Thereafter, the vacuum blank removal unit 58 is pivoted between the upper tool carrier 15A and the lower tool carrier 15B so that vacuum pick-up tubes of the molding receiving head 59 are located immediately above the molds 57. The vacuum molding removal unit 58 has the same number of individually controllable vacuum hoses for receiving the moldings 57 as tools 18 and receiving spaces 21 are provided. The moldings are sucked in by the vacuum hoses and lifted off the die grid 19. Subsequently, the molding receiving head 59 is swung out of the molding unit 4 by means of the motor 62 and the shaft 61, whereupon the moldings 57 are deposited on a transparent conveyor belt 63. On the conveyor belt 63, the moldings 57 of a camera inspection unit with an upper camera 64 and a lower camera 65 for examination of the top and bottom and the side edges of the moldings 57 are supplied.

By means of the cameras 64 and 65, the entirety of the formed moldings 57 can be optically examined. In this case, the entire geometric shape of the moldings 57 can be examined. Furthermore, the moldings 57 can be examined without contact by means of infrared spectroscopy, in particular NIR spectroscopy. Since the geometric arrangement of the blanks on the conveyor belt 63 corresponds exactly to that in the die grid 19, conclusions may be drawn in the case of defective blanks 57 be detected on false production in Matrizengitter 19. The NIR spectroscopy works with the help of chemometric evaluation methods on the qualitative and quantitative analytical sorting of the good production 7A.

By means of an optional subsequent weighing cell unit, the individual weights of the moldings 57 can be detected. Deviations from predetermined weight tolerances can be detected in this way and used to sort out faulty blanks. Furthermore, the weighing cell unit can transmit a controlled variable to the level control 31 and / or to the guide rollers, as already explained.

To the section D, the section E connects to the cleaning station 8, with reference to the Fig. 29 . 30A and 30B explains:

Between the upper tool carrier 15A and the lower tool carrier 15B at least one brush head 47 is retracted by means of a brush shaft 50. At the end of the brush shaft 50, a brush head receptacle 49 is attached, which has cleaning bristles 48 in the direction of the upper part 4A and the lower part 4B of the molding unit 4. The bristle head 47 rotates, thus cleaning all parts which have come into contact with the moldable mass. In particular, the displacement barrier 38 and the tools 17 as well as the die grid 19 and the tools 18 are cleaned. After cleaning, the brush shaft 50 is unscrewed from the molding unit 4. For this purpose it is mounted on a rotating device 51, which may comprise three brush heads 47 and corresponding numbers of brush shafts 50. The brushes 50 turned out of the forming unit 4 are then cleaned by means of compressed air 52, which is supplied via the pipe system 53A to the compressed-air nozzles 53B. The entire cleaning process is fully automatic and is integrated in the guideway 3. The cleaning station 8 may operate during ongoing operation of the continuously moving forming units 4. The cleaning station 8 may be equipped with different brushes, compressed air and suction devices. It is fully mobile in all three coordinate directions and equipped with proximity sensors and replacement units.

The section E with the cleaning station 8, the section F connects to the Formungsraumbeschichtungseinrichtung 9, with reference to Fig. 31 explains:

The molding space coating device 9 comprises a pipe system 54, with which a coating fluid 56 or a coating powder (mold release agent) can be supplied. The coating fluid 56 or the coating powder exits at the nozzles 55. Preferably, the number of nozzles 55 corresponds to the number of tools 17 and 18. The task of the molding space coating device 9 is to reduce or eliminate possible adhesion tendencies of the different materials to be processed in order to ensure a smooth production process. For this purpose, the parts of the device which come into contact with the mass to be processed, coated with the coating fluid 56 and the coating powder. The choice of coating fluid depends on the mass to be molded and the intended field of use of the moldings 57 to be formed.

After passing the forming space coating device 9 in the section F, the forming units 4 for re-forming moldings are fed to the forming section A on the guide track 3.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention, the moldable mass from which the moldings 57 are formed is not formed by extrusion technology. Rather, in this exemplary embodiment, the mouldable mass is a bulk material 14B of arbitrary composition. The bulk material 14B is in particular powdery, flowable and moldable. It may be, for example, a powdered granules. The device according to the invention can advantageously be used in particular for a bulk material 14B, for example, from the granule technology, which is very poorly deformable, since the pressure holding time in the device according to the invention can be set to a very long period.

In the second embodiment, since the bulk material 14B can be directly filled in the accommodation spaces 21 of the die grid 19, the displacement bulkhead 38 in the apparatus of the second embodiment could be omitted. Preferably, however, it still serves to guide the tools 17. The bulk material 14B is filled in the second embodiment by means of a per se known device, as used for example in conventional tableting machines, directly into the receiving spaces 21, as in Fig. 24B is shown. The device can be, for example, a powder distribution system for the uniform discharge of flowable, formable, powdery bulk materials 14B, in which the bulk materials 14B can be continuously fed. After filling the receiving spaces 21, the pressing is carried out by the tools 17 and 18 (see. Fig. 27B ) and the further process steps, as described above.

In the second embodiment, it is particularly important that the resulting during the molding process pressure energy is transmitted over a longer period of time to the mass to be formed, ie a high pressure is exerted over a longer period of time on the mass to be formed, thereby the material-specific restoring forces of to counteract to be deformed masses. Further, the pressure can be maintained even during the Auskühlabschnitts B by the upper part 4A and the lower part 4B of the forming unit 4 apart only after this Auskühlabschnitt B apart. In this way, masses are held with increased elastic restoring forces until solidification or cooling in the plasticizing position.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

extruder

2

drive unit

3

guideway

3A

upper part of the guideway

3B

lower part of the guideway

4

shaping unit

4A

upper part of the molding unit

4B

lower part of the molding unit

5

telescopic arm

5A

Upper telescopic arm

5B

lower telescopic arm

6

Sampling station

7

Blank removal and camera inspection station

7A

Gutware

7B

reject goods

8th

cleaning station

9

Molding space coating device

10

extruder

11

melt strand

12A and 12B

Rolling the forming station

13

molding station

14

melt tape

14A

Section of the melt ribbon between the faces of the die grid and the displacement bulkhead

14B

flowable, malleable powdered bulk material

15

tool carrier

15A

upper tool carrier

15B

lower tool carrier

16

guide pins

16A

upper guide pins

16B

lower guide pin

17

upper tools

18

lower tools

19

die grid

20

Side boundaries of the matrix grid

21

Reception rooms of the Matrizengitters

22

Tool carrier guide rods

23

Two-axis fork joint

24

Fastening unit of the telescopic arm

25

bolt

26

Horizontal joint of the biaxial fork joint

27

bolt

28

Vertical joint of the biaxial fork joint

29

Mushroom head of the guide pin

30

guide rollers

31

Level control of the guide rollers

32

Side guide plates of the guideway

33

Slotted guide of the guideway

34

Safety bars for the tools

35

Face of the tool

36

Special tool with heating or cooling holes

37

Heating or cooling holes

38

displacement partition

39

Side boundaries of the displacement bulkhead

40

End face of the displacement bulkhead

41

Connecting mechanism for the displacement bulkhead

42

feather

43

lifting device

44

Holes for the tool carrier guide rods

45

End face of the matrix grid

46

Volume adjustment mechanism for the die grid

47

brush head

48

cleaning bristles

49

Brush head holder

50

brush shaft

51

Rotary device for the brushes

52

compressed air

53A

Pipe system for supplying the compressed air

53B

compressed air nozzle

54

Pipe system for supplying the coating fluid

55

coating dies

56

coating fluid

57

moldings

58

Vacuum molding removal unit

59

Molding receiving head

60

extendable arm of the vacuum molding extraction unit

61

Wave of the vacuum molding extraction unit

62

Drive the vacuum molding extraction unit

63

conveyor belt

64

Camera for the top of the moldings

65

Camera for the bottom of the moldings

Claims (14)

1. Device for forming blanks (57) from a mouldable mass having

   - a matrix grid (19) in which a plurality of receiving areas (21) are configured and

   - at least one tool (17, 18) which is mounted in a tool carrier (15) and by means of which the mouldable mass is compressed in the receiving area (21),

   - wherein the tool (17, 18) is movable along a guide track (3, 3A, 3B) which has a shaping section (A) in which a constant pressure can be exerted over a stretch by the tools (17, 18) on the portion of the mouldable mass located in the receiving area (21) and

   - wherein the tool carrier (15) comprises a plurality of guide bolts (16) which hold and guide the tool carrier (15) along the guide track (3, 3A, 3B),

   characterised in that
   the guide bolts (16) comprise a mushroom head (29) which is held and guided in all sections of the guide track except for the shaping section (A) in a sliding guide (33), wherein in this shaping section (A) the guide bolt (16B) leaves the sliding guide (33) and is held and guided by a guide roll system comprising guide rolls (30) arranged close to each other, which can be rotated in the direction of the guide track (3, 3A, 3B) wherein the front face of the mushroom head always rests on respectively two guide rolls (30) in the shaping section (A) and

   - wherein two lateral guide plates (32) are arranged at both sides of the mushroom head (29) of the guide bolt (16).
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the tool carrier (15) can be moved by means of the sliding guide (33) along the guide track (3, 3A, 3B).
3. Device according to claim 2,
   characterised in that
   the guide rolls (30) can be adjusted with respect to their distance from another tool carrier (15B) at least in the shaping section (A) of the guide track (3B).
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the shaping section (A) comprises a straight stretch in which the constant pressure can be exerted.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   an additional second tool (18) for the at least one receiving area (21) can be guided from the opposing side of the first tool (17) into the receiving area (21).
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   a plurality of receiving areas (21) is configured in the matrix grid (19), to which a first tool (17) and a second tool (18) are assigned, and in that the first tools (17) and/or the second tools (18) for the plurality of receiving areas (21) are mounted in respectively one tool carrier (15A, 15B).
7. Device according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   a separate guide track (3A, 3B) is provided for the tool carrier (15A) of the first tools (17) and the tool carrier (15B) of the second tools (18).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   a cooling section (B) is formed by the guide track (3) behind the shaping section (A) in the processing direction in which the compressed blanks (57) are cooled in the matrix grid (19).
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the tool carrier (15) is coupled to a rotatable drive unit (2) via a telescopic arm (5) such that the tool carrier (15) can be guided via a closed curve.
10. Method for forming blanks (57) in which

    - a mouldable mass is formed,

    - the mouldable mass is supplied to a plurality of receiving areas of a matrix grid (1) and

    - at least one tool (17, 18) which is mounted in a tool carrier (15) comprising a plurality of guide bolts (16) compresses a portion of the mouldable mass in the receiving area (21), the tool (17, 18) being moved by means of the guide bolts (16) along a guide track (3, 3A, 3B) which has a shaping section (A), in which a constant pressure is exerted by the tool (17, 18) over a stretch on the portion of the mouldable mass located in the receiving area (21), wherein the guide bolts (16) comprise a mushroom head (29) which is held and guided in all sections of the guide track except for the shaping section (A) in a sliding guide (33), wherein in this shaping section (A) the guide bolt (16B) leaves the sliding guide (33) and is held and guided by a guide roll system comprising guide rolls (30) arranged close to each other, which can be rotated in the direction of the guide track (3, 3A, 3B) wherein the front face of the mushroom head always rests on respectively two guide rolls (30) in the shaping section (A) and two lateral guide plates (32) are also arranged at both sides of the guide bolt (16).
11. Method according to claim 10,
    characterised in that
    the tool carrier (15) is moved by means of the sliding guide (33) along the guide track (3, 3A, 3B).
12. Method according to any one of claims 10 or 11,
    characterised in that
    the shaping section (A) comprises a straight stretch in which the constant pressure is exerted.
13. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 12,
    characterised in that
    the blanks (57) are cooled in the matrix grid (19) after compression.
14. Method according to any one of claims 10 to 13,
    characterised in that
    a displacement compartment (38) is provided with lateral delimitations (39) which correspond to lateral delimitations (20) of the matrix grid (19) which form the at least one receiving area (21), wherein the displacement compartment (38) is moved towards the matrix grid (19) whereby a part (14B) of the mouldable mass resting on the lateral delimitations (20) of the matrix grid (19) is displaced in the direction of the receiving area (21) formed by the matrix grid (19) such that the mouldable mass is portioned.

Images