JP2003103584A - Mold device for ferrule injection molding and method of releasing ferrule molded body - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To easily release an injection molded body and to quickly separate the molded body from a runner part. SOLUTION: A fixed side insert having a molding material supply hole, a runner portion communicating with the supply hole and constituting a flow path for flowing the molding material, and a gate portion to which the molding material is supplied by the runner portion. And a movable side insert comprising a cavity to which a molding material is supplied from the gate portion, a first pin 31 corresponding to the cavity, and a second pin corresponding to the runner portion. A pin 32, a plurality of third pins 33 corresponding to the runner portion and the gate portion, and first, second and third plates 41 respectively fixing the first, second and third pins;
42, 43, and the second and third plates are moved in cooperation with each other. After the movement, the cooperation is released to move the second plate. After the movement, the second and first plates are moved. And a device for cooperatively moving.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mold apparatus used for injection molding and a method for releasing a ferrule molded body,
In particular, the present invention relates to a mold device used for injection molding of a ceramic ferrule used for a connector of an optical fiber and a method for releasing a ferrule molded body from the mold device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the development of optical communication networks, optical fiber cables have been laid and the opportunities for using optical fiber cords have increased. Along with this, an optical connector used for connecting an optical fiber cord is being developed. Although there are various types of optical connectors, in the FC type connector, as shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber 502 of the optical fiber cord 501 and the center through hole (optical fiber) of the ferrule 510 provided in the plug 503 of the optical connector are provided. It is designed to be inserted into the insertion hole). By mounting the plug 503 on the adapter 505, the optical fiber 502 is connected to the optical fiber 507 via the ferrule of another plug 506. This ferrule 510 is manufactured by injection molding a mixture of zirconia powder and an organic binder with a mold device.

Molding of a ferrule by a mold device is generally carried out as follows. The pellet-shaped material of the mixture obtained by mixing and kneading the zirconia powder and the organic binder in advance is heated and melted by the heating cylinder and pressure-filled from the nozzle of the fixed side insert into the cavity of the movable side insert in the mold closed state. . After filling, cooling is performed once. After cooling
The movable insert is separated from the fixed insert and the mold is opened. At this time, since the molded body filled in the cavity of the movable-side insert remains in the movable-side insert, it is ejected by the ejector pin and released. After that, the mold closed state is configured again, and this molding cycle is repeated.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a molding state in the movable-side insert, and FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view of a molding material flow path of the movable-side insert or a molded body, and FIG. 5 (b). Is a sectional view. The terms "runner (section)" and "gate (section)" are commonly used for both the molding material flow path of the movable-side nest and the molded body molded by the flow path.

The molded body 290 is a runner 2 having a movable nest.
From the shape of 9, a main runner portion 291 that communicates with a molding material supply hole of a fixed side nest (not shown), a right sub-runner portion 292a and a left sub-runner portion 292b branched at one end 291a of the main runner portion 291, and a main runner. The right sub-runner portion 292c and the left sub-runner portion 292d branched at the other end portion 291b, the right sub-runner portions 292a and 292c are joined together, and the right ferrule forming portion 293a and the left sub-runner portion are formed in the joining portion. It is configured by a runner including a left ferrule forming portion 293b that is formed by connecting the connecting portions 292b and 292d. The ferrule forming portion 293a includes a ring-shaped ring gate 293c that communicates with the right sub-runner portions 292a and 292c, a substantially cylindrical cavity 30 (ferrule molded body 295) that is long in the axial direction, and a ring gate 293c. Continuous film gate 293d
Composed of and. The ferrule forming unit 293b has the same structure. In this way, the ferrule forming unit 293
Ferrule molded bodies 295 are molded on a and 293b, respectively. Then, in the molded body 290, the runner 29
And the ferrule molded body 295 are separated.

When such a molded body is released from the movable insert, ejector pins 310 and 320, which are respectively implanted in an ejector plate (not shown), are moved to move to the ferrule forming portions 293a and 293b. , Both ends 291a and 291b of the main runner portion 291 are moved at the same distance at the same time to release the mold.

[0007]

However, according to the eject method, since the main runner portion 291 and the ferrule forming portions 293a and 293b are moved at the same stroke at the same time, the main runner portion 291 and the ferrule forming portions 293a and 293b are separated from each other. It was decided to move in parallel and be released. Therefore, the ferrule molded body 295
The separation of the runner portion was poor, and a work for separating the ferrule molded body 295 from the runner portion was required in a later process, which required time and labor. Moreover, in order to separate the ferrule and the runner part in the mold, if a gate cutting mechanism widely used in the past is used, a gate cutting pin is provided on the movable mold and the gate cutting mechanism is used when the mold is closed. Since the pins have to be driven, the mold structure is complicated, it is difficult to take many pieces, the cycle time becomes long, and eventually the manufacturing cost becomes high.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to easily release an injection-molded molded product from a mold device and quickly separate the ferrule molded product from the runner portion. And to reduce ferrule manufacturing costs.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a fixed side insert having a molding material supply hole is communicated with the molding hole, and the supplied molding material is supplied in a direction perpendicular to the mold opening / closing direction. It has a runner part forming a flow path for circulation, a gate part to which the molding material is supplied from a plurality of directions by the runner part, and a movable side nest formed of a cavity to which the molding material is supplied from the gate part. In an injection molding die device, a first ejector pin provided corresponding to the cavity, a second ejector pin provided corresponding to a position farthest from the cavity in the runner portion, and the runner portion. And a plurality of third ejector pins provided corresponding to the gate portion, and first, second and third ejector pins fixed to the first, second and third ejector pins, respectively. An ejector plate, the second and third ejector plate in cooperation by a predetermined distance moved,
After the movement, the cooperation is released, the second ejector plate is moved by a predetermined distance, and after the movement, an ejector for moving the second and first ejector plates in cooperation is provided. It is a mold device for ferrule injection molding.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a fixed insert having a molding material supply hole, a main runner portion communicating with the supply hole, and a first right sub-runner portion branched at one end of the main runner portion. The first left sub-runner part, the second right sub-runner part branched at the other end of the main runner part, the second left sub-runner part, the first right sub-runner part and the second right sub-runner A left ferrule forming part formed by connecting the right ferrule forming part formed in the connecting part, the first left sub-runner part and the second left sub-runner forming part In a ferrule injection molding die device having a movable side insert provided therein, a first ejector pin that abuts each of the left and right ferrule constituent parts and an end of the main runner part that abut. And 2 of the ejector pin, and a third ejector pin abutting on each runner side of the other end portion and the left and right of the ferrule construction of the main runner portion,
After the first, second, and third ejector plates, to which the first, second, and third ejector pins are fixed, respectively, and the second and third ejector plates, cooperate to move a predetermined distance, and after the movement. , A ferrule injection characterized by comprising an ejecting device for canceling the cooperation to move the second ejector plate by a predetermined distance, and after the movement, cooperatingly moving the second and first ejector plates. It is a molding die device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a stationary insert having a molding material supply hole, a main runner portion communicating with the supply hole, and a first right sub-runner portion branched at one end of the main runner portion. The first left sub-runner part, the second right sub-runner part branched at the other end of the main runner part, the second left sub-runner part, the first right sub-runner part and the second right sub-runner A left ferrule forming part formed by connecting the right ferrule forming part formed in the connecting part, the first left sub-runner part and the second left sub-runner forming part In a method of releasing a ferrule molded body molded by a ferrule injection molding die device having a movable side insert provided therein, both ends of the main runner part and the left and right ferrule forming parts are separated. The respective runner side portions are simultaneously moved for a predetermined distance, and after this movement, only one end of the main runner portion is moved for a predetermined distance, and after this movement, one end of the main runner portion and the ferrule forming portion are simultaneously moved. This is a method for releasing a ferrule molded body, which is characterized in that the ferrule molded body is moved by a predetermined distance.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a mold device for injection molding a ferrule according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view thereof and FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of a state of a molding material flow channel or a molded body. In FIG. 3, the same parts as those in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals. The mold apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In FIG. 1, a mold device 200 includes a fixed mold 110 fixed to a fixed frame and a movable mold 120 fixed to a movable frame 204 that moves in the left-right direction, and is configured to be openable and closable in the left-right direction.

The fixed die 110 includes a fixed side mounting plate 1, a sprue 2, a manifold spacer 3, a manifold 4, a fixed side mold plate 5, a hot runner nozzle 6, a fixed side nest 7,
It is composed of a guide pin 8, a core pin 9, and a guide pin 18.

The fixed side mounting plate 1 is fixed to the fixed frame 202, and each component of the fixed die 110 is fixed to the fixed side mounting plate 1. The sprue 2, the manifold 4, and the hot runner nozzle 6 are in communication with each other and communicate with the runner 29.

The sprue 2 has a hot runner nozzle 6
A recess is formed to fit in. A heater (not shown) is provided around the hot runner nozzle 6 so that it is heated to a constant temperature. Therefore,
The molding material in the hot runner nozzle 6 does not solidify even in the pressure holding and cooling steps.

The movable die 120 includes a movable side mounting plate 25, an ejector guide pin 24, a first spacer block 21, a second spacer block 22, a movable side receiving plate 23, a movable side die plate 17, a first ejector plate (two pieces). Configuration) 41, second ejector plate 42, third ejector plate 4
3, first ejector pin 31, second ejector pin 3
It is composed of the second and third ejector pins 33. The third ejector pin 33 is provided in plurality according to the configuration of the runner 29.

The fixed die 110 and the movable die 120 are the fixed die 1
Positioning is performed by inserting the guide pins 18 of 10 into the positioning holes of the movable die 120. The fixed insert 7 and the movable insert 10 are positioned by inserting the guide pins 8 of the fixed insert 7 into the positioning holes of the movable insert 10.

The movable side mounting plate 25 is a movable frame 204.
It is fixed to. Therefore, when the movable frame 204 moves in the left-right direction, the movable die 120 moves in the left-right direction. Further, the second ejector plate 42 has a push rod 208 driven by a motor (not shown).
Is attached and moves left and right.

The movable insert 10 is fixed to the movable mold plate 17 and has a cavity 30 for forming the outer peripheral surface of the ferrule and a runner 29 for introducing a molten molding material into the cavity 30. The runner 29 has a shape in which the runner 29 of the molded body 290 described in FIG. 5 is molded. In addition, the runners 29 are actually configured at the respective tips of the manifolds 4 that are branched into four in the manifold spacer 3, so that the mold device 200 constitutes a mold device for taking eight pieces. is doing.

The first ejector pin 31 is fixed to a two-piece first ejector plate 41 fastened with a bolt, and its tip portion is located at one end of the cavity 30 and constitutes a part of the cavity 30. is doing. At the time of ejection, the ferrule forming unit 293a (FIG. 3) is pushed out. It should be noted that, in the same manner, another first ejector pin (not shown) is configured and the ferrule forming portion 293b is formed.
(Fig. 3) is pushed out.

The second ejector pin 32 is fixed to a second ejector plate 42 having a magnetic attraction device 52,
The tip part constitutes a runner part by an end part 291a that branches to the left and right sub-runners of the main runner part 291, and at the time of ejecting, the main runner part 291.
The upper end portion 291a of the is pushed out. In FIG. 3, the downward direction is the direction in which gravity acts.

The third ejector pin 33 is fixed to a third ejector plate 43 having a magnetic attraction device 53,
The tip portion is the central portion 291 of the main runner portion 291.
c, and an end portion 291b that branches to the left and right sub-runners,
Also, an intersection 296 at which the ring gate 293c around the right ferrule forming part 293a and the left ferrule forming part 293b and the respective sub-runner parts 292a to 292d intersect.
The runner is formed of, and at the time of ejecting, the end portion 291b and the central portion 291 of the main runner portion 291.
c and the intersection 296 are pushed out.

The return pin 19 is fixed to the first ejector plate 41. A spring 19 a is provided to surround the return pin 19 and between the movable side mold plate 17 and the first ejector plate 41. The return pin 19 hits the fixed-side mold plate 5 when the mold is closed, and normally,
The first ejector plate 41 is pushed back to the end portion 21a (FIG. 2) of the first spacer block 21 by the spring 19a.

The first spacer block 21 and the second spacer block 22 are attached to the movable side mounting plate 25 via bolts.
And is fixed to the movable side mounting plate 25 by being sandwiched between the movable side receiving plate 23 and the movable side template 17. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 2, the first spacer block 21 determines the operable stroke of the first ejector plate 41 and the operable stroke of the third ejector plate 43 by the end portion 21a and the step portion 21b, respectively. Has a role as a spacer.

Next, a procedure for injection molding a ferrule by the injection molding die device 200 will be described. First, the injection molding die apparatus 200 is brought into the mold closed state shown in FIG. At this time, the core pin 9 of the stationary insert 7 is inserted into the cavity 30. In this state, the ceramic compound material (molding material), which is heated and melted at 310 ° C. to 220 ° C. in the heating cylinder of the mold apparatus 200 and is provided with fluidity, is injected from the nozzle (not shown) to the sprue 2. The injected material is introduced into the runner 29 through the manifold 4 and the hot runner nozzle 6, and is filled in the cavity 30.

After this filling, pressure is maintained and cooling is performed, and the mold is opened. That is, when the movable frame 204 of the mold apparatus 200 is driven by the motor to move to the left, the movable side mounting plate 25 fixed to the movable frame 204 also moves to the left, and the movable mold 120 is integrally moved to the left. 200 to 250 mm
It moves and separates from the fixed mold 110. At this time, the ferrule molded body filled in the mold device 200 has slipped out of the core pin 9 and remains in the movable side insert 10.

Next, the step of releasing the ferrule molded body is started. At the start of the ejecting step, the magnetic attraction device 52 of the second ejector plate 42 and the magnetic attraction device 53 of the third ejector plate 43 attract each other, so that the second ejector plate 42 and the third ejector plate 43 are both on the right side. Can be moved to. In this state, the mold device 2
00 eject rod 208 is driven by a motor, and the second ejector plate 42 screwed to the eject rod 208 is guided by the ejector guide pin 24 to operate rightward.
43 is moved to the right. The third ejector plate 43 is prevented from moving when it collides with the step portion 21b of the first spacer block 21. This moving stroke is about 2 mm. At this time, the second ejector pin 32 is fixed to the second ejector plate 42,
The third ejector pin 33 is fixed to the third ejector plate 43. Therefore, the second ejector pin 32 and the third ejector pin 33 move to the right by about 2 mm of the same stroke together. As a result, the second
The upper end portion 291a of the main runner portion 291 is pushed out by the ejector pin 32, and the lower end portion 291b and center portion 291c of the main runner portion 291 and the intersecting portion 296 are pushed out by the third ejector pin 33.
Is extruded. That is, in the molded body 290, the entire runner portion and gate portion other than the ferrule molded body 295 are uniformly moved by a predetermined distance (about 2 mm). As a result, the ferrule molded body 295 stays in the cavity 30 due to the frictional force or the adhesive force with the inner cylindrical surface of the cavity 30, while the runner portion and the gate portion as a whole move uniformly by a predetermined minute distance. The ferrule molded body 295 and the runner 29 are favorably separated at the base of the molded body 295.

When the third ejector plate 43 collides with the step portion 21b of the first spacer block 21, the attracted state of the third ejector plate 43 and the second ejector plate 42 by the magnetic attraction devices 52 and 53 is released.

Then, the ejecting rod 208 is further moved to the right, and the second ejector plate 42 is moved further to the right by a predetermined distance to collide with the first ejector plate 41. By this movement, only the second ejector pin 32 moves to the right, so that only the upper end portion 291a of the main runner portion 291 is further pushed out.

As described above, of the second ejector pin 32 and the third ejector pin 33, only the second ejector pin 32 provided on the uppermost side is extruded to separate the runner 29 from the ferrule molded body 295 in the vertical direction. Then, the adhesive force between the tips of the second ejector pin 32 and the third ejector pin 33 and the runner 29 is released, and the runner 29 drops downward.

In this state, the ejection rod 208 is further moved to the right. By this operation, the second ejector plate 42 moves until it pushes the first ejector plate 41 and collides with the second spacer block 22. Due to this movement, the first ejector pin 31 moves the ferrule forming portions 293a, 29 of the ferrule molded body 290.
Push out 3b. Therefore, the ferrule molded body 295 is exposed from the cavity 30 and can be taken out.

At this time, the return pin 19 fixed to the first ejector plate 41 also moves to the right at the same time. After that, when the ejecting rod 208 of the mold apparatus 200 returns to the left, the first ejector plate 41 is returned by the return pin spring 19a until it is pressed against the step portion 21a of the first spacer block 21. Further, the second and third ejector plates 42 and 43 are also movable side mounting plates 25.
Returned to.

Thereafter, when the movable frame 204 is driven by the motor to move to the right, the movable side mounting plate 25 fixed to the movable frame 204 moves to the right, and the movable die 1
20 integrally moves to the right and abuts the fixed die 110. In this way, the mold closed state shown in FIG.
The molding cycle described above is repeated.

According to this embodiment, first, the runner portion and the gate portion (runner 2) excluding the ferrule molded body 295 are formed.
9) Protruding the whole distance a little, then projecting one end 291a of the runner, and then the ferrule forming part 29.
Since 3a and 293b are extruded, the brittleness of the ceramic compound after cooling is utilized to facilitate the release of the mold and to quickly separate the ferrule molded body and the runner.

[0035]

According to the invention of claim 1, first, the runner portion and the entire gate portion excluding the ferrule molded body are slightly projected, and then the portion farthest from the cavity in the runner portion is further projected, and further this portion and the ferrule structure are formed. Since the portion is extruded, the molded body can be easily released from the mold device and the ferrule molded body can be quickly separated from the runner portion. According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3, the main runner portion communicating with the molding material supply hole, the first right sub-runner portion and the first left sub-runner portion branched at one end of the main runner portion, and the main The second right sub-runner section and the second branch at the other end of the runner section
Left sub-runner section, first right sub-runner section and second
From the left ferrule forming part formed by connecting the right ferrule forming part formed by connecting the right subrunner part and the first left runner part and the second left subrunner forming part In the molded product molded by the runner part, first, the branched part of the main runner end part and the runner side parts of the left and right ferrule component parts are pushed to move the molded product as a whole a little distance, so it is molded into the ferrule component part. The ferrule compact and the runner part are separated well. Next, since only one end of the main runner portion is pushed out, the runner separated from the ferrule molded body rotates slightly in the vertical direction and the runner can be dropped. Further, since the end portion and the ferrule forming portion are pushed out, the ferrule molded body can be taken out from the cavity. Therefore, the molded body can be easily released from the mold device and the ferrule molded body can be quickly separated from the runner portion. Therefore, the work of separating the runner part and the ferrule is unnecessary, and the ferrule production efficiency is improved. Further, the runner portion before sintering can be melted by reheating and reused.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a ferrule injection molding die device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the mold device of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a state of a molding material flow path or a molded body of the mold device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a usage pattern of a ferrule in a conventional optical fiber connector.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state of molding in the movable-side nest.

[Explanation of symbols]

5 ・ ・ Fixed side template, 6 ・ ・ Hot runner nozzle, 7 ・ ・ Fixed side nesting, 8 ・ ・ Positioning pin 10 ・ ・ Movable side nesting, 17
..Movable side template, 18 ... positioning pin, 29..runner,
30 ... Cavity, 31 ... First ejector pin, 41 ...
1st ejector plate, 51 ... electromagnetic adsorption device, 208
..Extrusion rods, 110..Fixed types, 120..Movable types

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stationary insert having a molding material supply hole, and a runner portion which communicates with the supply hole and constitutes a flow path for circulating the supplied molding material in a direction perpendicular to the mold opening / closing direction. An injection molding die device having a movable side nest formed of a gate portion to which the molding material is supplied from a plurality of directions by the runner portion, and a cavity to which the molding material is supplied from the gate portion. A first ejector pin provided correspondingly, a second ejector pin provided corresponding to a position farthest from the cavity in the runner portion, and a plurality provided corresponding to the runner portion and the gate portion. A third ejector pin, first, second and third ejector plates to which the first, second and third ejector pins are fixed, respectively, and second and third ejector plates. 3 ejector plate is moved in cooperation for a predetermined distance, after the movement, the cooperation is released to move the second ejector plate for a predetermined distance, and after the movement, the second and first ejector plates are moved.
A die device for ferrule injection molding, comprising: an eject device that moves the ejector plate of 1. 2. A stationary insert having a molding material supply hole, a main runner portion communicating with the supply hole, a first right sub-runner portion and a first left sub-branch branched at one end of the main runner portion. The runner part, the second right sub-runner part branched at the other end of the main runner part, the second left sub-runner part, the first right sub-runner part and the second right sub-runner part are joined together, Movable side nest provided with a runner composed of a right ferrule forming part formed in the connecting part, a first left sub-runner part and a second left sub-runner part, and comprising a left ferrule forming part formed in the connecting part A ferrule injection molding die device including: a first ejector pin that abuts on each of the left and right ferrule constituent parts; and a second ejector that abuts on the one end of the main runner part. A third ejector pin that abuts the other end of the main runner part and the respective runner sides of the left and right ferrule forming parts, and a first ejector pin that fixes the first, second and third ejector pins, respectively. The second and third ejector plates and the second and third ejector plates are moved in cooperation by a predetermined distance, and after the movement, the cooperation is released to move the second ejector plate by a predetermined distance. After the move, the second and first
A die device for ferrule injection molding, comprising: an eject device that moves the ejector plate of 1. 3. A stationary insert having a molding material supply hole, a main runner portion communicating with the supply hole, a first right sub-runner portion and a first left sub-branch branched at one end of the main runner portion. The runner part, the second right sub-runner part branched at the other end of the main runner part, the second left sub-runner part, the first right sub-runner part and the second right sub-runner part are joined together, Movable side nest provided with a runner composed of a right ferrule forming part formed in the connecting part, a first left sub-runner part and a second left sub-runner part, and comprising a left ferrule forming part formed in the connecting part In a method of releasing a ferrule molded body molded by a ferrule injection molding die device having, the respective runners of the both end portions of the main runner portion and the left and right ferrule constituent portions are provided. And a portion of the main runner portion is moved by a predetermined distance at the same time, and only one end portion of the main runner portion is moved by a predetermined distance after this movement, and then, one end portion of the main runner portion and the ferrule forming portion are simultaneously moved by a predetermined distance. A method for releasing a ferrule molded body, characterized by: