WO2013067636A1

WO2013067636A1 - Mold function actuator

Info

Publication number: WO2013067636A1
Application number: PCT/CA2012/050740
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christophe Halter
Original assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Priority date: 2011-11-10
Filing date: 2012-10-18
Publication date: 2013-05-16

Abstract

Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a mold function actuator (120, 220) that is mountable to one of a stationary platen (102) or a movable platen of a mold clamp (100) that includes a driving member (122, 222) that is configured to rotatably engage a first driven member (124, 224) of a mold (110, 210) for driving a mold function.

Description

MOLD FUNCTION ACTUATOR

TECHNICAL FIELD Non-Limiting embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a mold function actuator of a mold clamp, a mold for use therewith and a related method of molding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A typical mold clamp of an injection molding machine includes a mold function actuator for actuating a mold member of a mold, such as a stripper actuator, for performing a mold function such as ejecting a molded article from the mold.

Examples of such a mold function actuator may be referenced in the following patents:

US patent 5,196,213 to Watanabe, published on March 23, 1993 describes an ejector mechanism which is simple in structure and facilitates the manufacture and assembling thereof, wherein a ball screw-spline shaft of the ejector mechanism has a spline portion fitted into a ball spline nut fixed to a movable platen of an injection molding machine, and a ball screw portion threadedly engaged with a ball nut which is rotatably supported by a casing fixed to the movable platen. The ball nut is coupled to a motor by toothed pulleys respectively secured to the ball nut and the output shaft of the motor, and a timing belt looped round these pulleys. As the ball nut is rotated through motor rotation, the spline portion advances together with the ball screw portion, and a molded article is ejected by the distal end of the spline portion which acts as a molded article-ejecting portion

US patent 5,736,079 to Kamiguchi, published on April 7, 1998 describes an ejector mechanism is driven by a servomotor. An ejector pin in the ejector mechanism is made to perform a motion such that the ejector pin reaches a predetermined protrusion limit position beyond a position where the removal of a molded product from a cavity or core is completed after making a check for positioning, and a plurality of cycles of reciprocating motion of a short amplitude such that the ejector pin neither retracts beyond a position where the removal of the molded product from the cavity or core is started nor protrudes to the protrusion limit position, without requiring a check for positioning US patent 6,109,904 to Hehl, published on August 29, 2000 describes a mold closing unit is provided with a device for handling and/or removal of moldings, comprising a supporting element for supporting the device in the area of the mold, an actuating element, by which handling element penetrating into the mold cavity is operable, as well as a drive unit for driving the actuating element. The drive unit drives the actuating element electromechanically and at least drive unit, supporting element and actuating element constitute structural unit which is detachable from the mold closing unit. The drive unit is a hollow shaft motor at least partially receiving the actuating element

US patent 6,796,787 to Okada, published on September 28, 2004 describes a product ejecting apparatus for an injection molding machine includes: a first drive unit; a first transmission unit connected to the first drive unit, wherein a rotation of the first drive unit results in a rotation of the first transmission unit; a second drive unit; a second transmission unit connected to the second drive unit, wherein a rotation of the second drive unit causes a rotation of the second transmission unit; an ejector pin configured to reciprocate based upon a motion of the first transmission unit; and a working member connected to the second transmission unit, wherein a movement of the second transmission unit results in reciprocating movement of the working member. The first drive unit is operated so as to cause the first transmission member to reciprocate, thereby causing the ejector pin to reciprocate. The second drive unit is operated so as to cause the second transmission member to reciprocate, thereby causing the working member to reciprocate

US patent 6,837,701 to Becker, published on January 4, 2005 describes a device for the removal of plastic injection moldings from the mold of an injection molding machine having movable and fixed die chucking plates includes a drive unit for moving an actuating element toward or away from the mold. The actuating element is connected to a spindle mounted in an engagement component. One end of the spindle is connected to a toothed disk. A tubular component is mated with the toothed disk so that the toothed disk is fixed with respect to rotation relative to the tubular disk and is axially movable therein. The tubular component is rotatable by the drive unit for effecting the axial displacement of the actuating element

Heretofore, all mold function actuators have been linear actuators. That is, they each include a driving member that reciprocates for pushing and pulling on a driven member of the mold in order to perform the mold function. Such linear actuators are often characterized in that they require one or more ejector plates that are machine actuated (e.g. cylinders or ball screws) that are then connected by ejector rods to a mold member. Such structures have a redundancy in components (plates, guide columns, bushings). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a general aspect of the present invention is to provide a mold function actuator that is mountable to one of a stationary platen or a movable platen of a mold clamp that includes a driving member that is configured to rotatably engage a first driven member of a mold for driving a mold function.

Another general aspect of the present invention is to provide a mold clamp. The mold clamp includes a stationary platen for receiving a first mold half of a mold. The mold clamp also includes a movable platen for receiving a second mold half of the mold. The stationary platen and the movable platen are configured to selectively clamp the mold therebetween. The mold clamp also includes a mold function actuator that is associated with one of the stationary platen and the movable platen, the mold function actuator having a driving member that is configured to rotatably engage a first driven member of the mold for driving a mold function.

A further general aspect of the present invention is to provide a mold that includes a first mold half and a second mold half. The first mold half and the second mold half are engageable, with a clamping together thereof in a mold clamp, to define a first molding cavity therebetween. Furthermore, at least one of the first mold half and the second mold half has a first driven member that is configured to be rotatably engaged, in use, by a driving member that is associated with the mold clamp to drive a mold function.

Yet another general aspect of the present invention is to provide a controller including instructions being embodied in a controller-usable memory of the controller, the instructions for directing the controller to execute a method of molding. The method of molding includes rotating a driving member of a mold function actuator that is associated with a mold clamp to rotatably engage a first driven member of a mold to drive a mold function.

These and other aspects and features of non-limiting embodiments will now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific non-limiting embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The non-limiting embodiments will be more fully appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of a mold clamp having a mold function actuator in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2A-2C depict an operational sequence for coupling a driving member of the mold function actuator of FIG. 1 to a driven member of a mold.

FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of the mold clamp of FIG. 1 having a mold function actuator in accordance with an alternative non- limiting embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts a flow chart of a method of molding involving the mold function actuator.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S Reference will now be made in detail to various non-limiting embodiment(s) of a mold function actuator of a mold clamp, a mold and a related method of molding. It should be understood that other non- limiting embodiment(s), modifications and equivalents will be evident to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the non-limiting embodiment(s) disclosed herein and that these variants should be considered to be within scope of the appended claims.

Furthermore, it will be recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art that certain structural and operational details of the non-limiting embodiment(s) discussed hereafter may be modified or omitted (i.e. non-essential) altogether. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail.

With reference to FIG. 1, there is depicted a mold clamp 100 according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The mold clamp broadly includes a stationary platen 102 for receiving a first mold half 112 of a mold 110 and a movable platen 104 for receiving a second mold half 114 of the mold 110. The stationary platen 102 and the movable platen 104 are configured to selectively clamp the mold 110 therebetween. The basic structure and operation of the mold clamp 100 is consistent with the state of the art and as such will not be reviewed herein. The salient aspect of the mold clamp 100 is its mold function actuator 120. The mold function actuator is shown to be associated with the movable platen 104 but could alternatively be associated with the stationary platen 102. The purpose of the mold function actuator 120 is to drive a structure of the mold 110 to drive a mold function. Non-limiting examples of the mold function include closing of mold members to define a first molding cavity (not shown), the opening of the mold members to open the first molding cavity, and/or ejection of a molded article (not shown) from the mold 110.

A non- limiting embodiment of the mold function actuator 120 is shown with reference to FIG. 2A. The mold function actuator 120 is shown to include a driving member 122 that is configured to rotatably engage a first driven member 124 of the mold 110 for driving a mold function. With further reference to the installation sequence shown with further reference to FIGS. 2B and 2C it may be appreciated that the driving member 122 is configured to couple with the first driven member 124. That is, the driving member 122 includes a driving coupler 126 that is configured to couple with a driven coupler 128 on the first driven member 124, and wherein the driving coupler 126 and the driven coupler 128 define complementary splines that are slidably engageable. To assist in engaging the driving coupler 122 with the driven coupler 128, the driving member 122 is configured to be movable along an axis X thereof. As such, with misalignment between the driving coupler 126 and the driven coupler 128, as shown with reference to FIG. 2B, the driving member 122 is able to retract into the movable platen 104 when pushed by the first driven member 124. The driving member 122 is furthermore biased by a spring 123 towards the first driven member 124, whereby with recovered alignment between the driving coupler 126 and the driven coupler 128, after rotation of the driving member 122, the driving member 122 is able to extend, as shown with reference to FIG. 2C, thereby engaging the driving coupler 126 with the driven coupler 128. With reference to any one of FIGS. 2A-2C it may be appreciated that the mold function actuator 120 also includes a drive 130 that is connected to the movable platen 104 for driving rotation of the driving member 122. The driving member 122 includes a drive coupler 132 that is configured to couple with a driver coupler 134 that is defined on a rotor 136 of the drive 130, and wherein the drive coupler 132 and the driver coupler 134 define complementary splines that are slidably engageable. The drive 130 may be a hollow-shaft motor as shown but could otherwise constitute any manner of rotation inducing drive including those that are direct-drive as well as those incorporating a transmission. In the present example, the driver coupler 134 is defined on an interior of the hollow rotor 136.

From these figures it may also be appreciated that the first driven member 124 is associated with the second mold half 114 of the mold 110 and that the first driven member 124 is provided by a ball screw that is rotatable, by the driving member 122. With reference back to FIG. 1 it may be appreciated that the second mold half 114 also includes a ball screw nut 140 that is connected to a mold member 142. In operation, the ball screw nut 140 is engageable by the ball screw to perform the mold function which in this example is a reciprocation of the mold member 142.

With reference to FIG. 3, an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the mold function actuator 220 is shown, wherein the driving member 222 is a ball screw and wherein the first driven member 124, 224 is a ball screw nut that is associated with a mold member 242 of a first mold half 212 of a mold 210. Furthermore, as may be appreciated the mold 210 is a stack mold that includes the first mold half 212, a second mold half 214 as well as a third mold half 216 and a fourth mold half 218 that are stacked together. That is, the first mold half 212 and the second mold half 214 are engageable with a clamping of the mold 210 to define a first molding cavity (not shown) therebetween, and likewise the third mold half 216 and the fourth mold half 218 are engageable with a clamping of the mold 210 to define a second molding cavity (not shown) therebetween. As shown, the fourth mold half 218 includes a second driven member 225 that is associated with a mold member 244, wherein the second driven member is configured to engage, in use, with the driving member 222 to drive another mold function. That is, the driving member 222 drives both the mold member 242 of the first mold half 212 and the mold member 244 of the fourth mold half 218. Thus having described several non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, the description shall briefly turn to the execution of a method of molding 300 in accordance with the flow chart depicted with reference to FIG. 4.

In particular, the architecture of the mold clamp 100 (FIG. 1) also includes a controller (not shown) for controlling one or more operations thereof. The controller can be implemented as a general- purpose or purpose-specific computing apparatus. The controller includes memory configured to store one or more instructions for executing one or more routines.

Amongst the numerous routines that can be executed by the controller are those for performing the method of molding 300 in accordance with the flow chart.

In particular, the method of molding 300 includes the steps of:

Step 310 Rotating the driving member 122, 222 of the mold function actuator 120, 220 that is associated with the mold clamp 100 to rotatably engage the first driven member 124, 224 of a mold 110, 210 to drive the mold function.

It is noted that the foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent non-limiting embodiments. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that modifications to the disclosed non-embodiment(s) can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. As such, the described non-limiting embodiment(s) ought to be considered to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications. Other beneficial results can be realized by applying the non-limiting embodiments in a different manner or modifying the invention in ways known to those familiar with the art. This includes the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various non-limiting embodiment(s) is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one embodiment may be incorporated into another embodiment as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Although the description is made for particular arrangements and methods, the intent and concept thereof may be suitable and applicable to other arrangements and applications.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A mold function actuator (120, 220) of a mold clamp (100), comprising:

a driving member (122, 222) that is configured to rotatably engage a first driven member (124, 224) of a mold (110, 210) for driving a mold function.

2. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 1, wherein:

the driving member (122) is configured to couple with the first driven member (124).

3. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 2, wherein:

the driving member (122) includes a driving coupler (126) that is configured to couple with a driven coupler (128) on the first driven member (124), and wherein the driving coupler (126) and the driven coupler (128) define complementary splines that are slidably engageable.

4. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 3 wherein:

the driving member (122) is movable along an axis (X) thereof, whereby with misalignment between the driving coupler (126) and the driven coupler (128) the driving member (122) is able to retract when pushed by the first driven member (124).

5. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 4, wherein:

the driving member (122) is biased towards the first driven member (124), whereby with alignment between the driving coupler (126) and the driven coupler (128) the driving member (122) is able to extend thereby engaging the driving coupler (126) with the driven coupler (128).

6. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 2, further comprising:

a drive (130) that is connected to one of a stationary platen (102) and a movable platen (104) of the mold clamp for driving rotation of the driving member (122);

the driving member (122) includes a drive coupler (132) that is configured to couple with a driver coupler (134) that is defined on a rotor (136) of the drive, and wherein the drive coupler (132) and the driver coupler (134) define complementary splines that are slidably engageable.

7. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 6, wherein:

the drive (130) is a motor, and wherein the rotor (136) thereof is hollow with the driver coupler (134) being defined on an interior thereof.

8. The mold function actuator (120, 220) of claim 1, wherein: the driving member (222) is configured to rotatably engage a second driven member (225) of the mold (210) for driving another mold function.

9. The mold function actuator (220) of claim I, wherein:

the driving member (222) is a ball screw and wherein the first driven member (224) is a ball screw nut.

10. A mold clamp (100), comprising:

a stationary platen (102) for receiving a first mold half (112, 212) of a mold (110, 210);

a movable platen (104) for receiving a second mold half (114, 214) of the mold (110, 210); the stationary platen (102) and the movable platen (104) being configured to selectively clamp the mold (110, 210) therebetween;

a mold function actuator (120, 220) being associated with one of the stationary platen (102) and the movable platen (104), the mold function actuator (120, 220) having a driving member (122, 222) that is configured to rotatably engage a first driven member (124, 224) of the mold (110, 210) for driving a mold function.

11. The mold clamp (100) of claim 10, wherein:

12. The mold clamp (100) of claim 11 , wherein:

13. The mold clamp (100) of claim 12 wherein:

14. The mold clamp (100) of claim 13, wherein:

15. The mold clamp (100) of claim 11 , wherein: the mold function actuator (120) includes a drive (130) that is connected to one of the stationary platen (102) and the movable platen (104) for driving rotation of the driving member (122);

16. The mold clamp (100) of claim 15, wherein:

17. The mold clamp (100) of claim 10, wherein:

the driving member (222) is configured to rotatably engage a second driven member (225) of the mold (210) for driving another mold function.

18. The mold clamp (100) of claim 10, wherein:

19. A mold (110, 210), comprising:

a first mold half (112, 212);

a second mold half (114, 214);

the first mold half (112, 212) and the second mold half (114, 214) being engageable, with a clamping together thereof in a mold clamp (100), to define a first molding cavity therebetween; at least one of the first mold half (112, 212) and the second mold half (114, 214) having a first driven member (124, 224) that is configured to be rotatably engaged, in use, by a driving member (122, 222) that is associated with the mold clamp (100) to drive a mold function.

20. The mold (110) of claim 19, wherein:

the first driven member (124) includes a driven coupler (128) that is configured to couple with a driving coupler (126) on the driving member (122), and wherein the driving coupler (126) and the driven coupler (128) define complementary splines that are slidably engageable.

21. The mold (110) of claim 19, wherein:

the first driven member (124) is a ball screw that is rotatable, by the driving member (122).

22. The mold (110) of claim 21, further comprising: a ball screw nut (140) that is connected to a mold member (142);

wherein the ball screw nut (140) is engageable by the ball screw to perform the mold function.

23. The mold (210) of claim 19, wherein:

the first driven member (224) is a ball screw nut that is connected to a mold member, the ball screw nut being engageable, by the driving member (222), to perform the mold function.

24. The mold (210) of claim 19, further comprising:

a third mold half (216) and a fourth mold half (218) that are stacked with the first mold half (212) and the second mold half (214), the third mold half (216) and the fourth mold half (218) being engageable, with a clamping together thereof in the mold clamp (100), to define a second molding cavity therebetween;

wherein at least one of the third mold half (216) and the fourth mold half (218) having a second driven member (225) that is configured to engage, in use, with the driving member (222) to drive another mold function.

25. The mold (110, 210) of claim 19, wherein:

the mold function is repositioning of a mold member (142, 242, 244) to perform one or more of: closing of the first molding cavity;

opening of the first molding cavity;

ejection of a molded article from the first molding cavity.

26. A controller including instructions being embodied in a controller-usable memory of the controller, the instructions for directing the controller to execute a method of molding (300), comprising:

rotating (310) a driving member (122, 222) of a mold function actuator (120, 220) that is associated with a mold clamp (100) to rotatably engage a first driven member (124, 224) of a mold (110, 210) to drive a mold function.

27. The controller of claim 26, wherein:

the mold function is repositioning of a mold member to perform one or more of:

closing of a first molding cavity;

opening of the first molding cavity;

ejection of a molded article from the first molding cavity.