Quick mold change clamping plate and support brackets

Details Quick mold change clamping plate and support brackets Quick mold change clamping plate and support brackets

2003-09-19

2004-11-09

Mackey, James P. (Department: 1722)

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

With apparatus assembly or dismantling means or with idle part

For extrusion or injection type shaping means

C029S426100, C029S466000, C425S195000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06814560

ABSTRACT:

Injection-molding of plastic materials offers a relatively quick cycle time as compared to other plastic forming techniques such that the machine can often finish a run of a particular molded part in a comparatively short period of time. In order to change from molding one part to another, the mold base for the first part must be removed from the machine and a new mold base for the subsequent part installed. In view of the substantial cost of the machine, it cannot be allowed to sit idle. The time taken in changing the mold base must be kept to a minimum if the machine is to function productively. Currently, it takes from one to several hours to complete a mold base change.
In order to reduce the time required for the mold change process, attempts have been made to equip the platens of molding machines with an array of clamps and guides for supporting the mold base. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,500,274 issued to Cyriax et al discloses a quick-change mold assembly employing a plurality of spaced hydraulic clamps mounted on each platen of the press. Spaced guides are provided for receiving a plate attached to the back of a mold half. The clamps and guides are fastened directly to the platens. In order to add these parts to an existing machine, the press has to be disassembled so that the face of the platen can be drilled and tapped. There is no convenient way for machining the platen in the machine. After the platen is prepared, the clamps and guides are attached and the platen is reinstalled in the machine. This clearly involves a great expense which is limited to the particular machine. If the machine breaks or is down for service, the clamps and guides are not readily transferable to another machine.
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a mold assembly
10
of the prior art secured to platens
22
,
24
of an injection-molding machine. To attach the mold assembly
10
to the platens
22
,
24
, the mold assembly
10
is first lowered in between a stationary platen
22
and a moveable platen
24
by a hook
20
coupled to a crane or forklift (not shown). A crane or forklift is often required to lift the mold assembly
10
due to the weight of the mold assembly. An eyelet
18
secured to the mold assembly
10
provides a means to couple the mold assembly
10
to the crane or forklift. During the molding process, the movable platen
24
travels in a horizontal motion relative to the stationary platen
22
to open and close the mold assembly
10
. Opening
28
on stationary platen
22
is sized to fit a locating ring (not shown). Tie bars
40
help to maintain proper alignment of the mold base halves.
The mold assembly
10
comprises a mold base
12
having two halves. The first and second halves of the mold base are separable along a parting line
26
. The first mold base half includes a first mold clamping plate
14
secured thereto while the second mold base half includes a second mold clamping plate
16
secured thereto.
Clamping plate
14
is used to secure the first half of the mold base
12
to the moveable platen
24
and clamping plate
16
is used to secure the second half of the mold base
12
to the stationary platen
22
. The clamping plates
14
and
16
are secured to platens
24
and
22
respectively using a plurality of clamps
30
and bolts
32
.
FIG. 2
shows the plurality of clamps
30
and bolts
32
positioned at different angles around the periphery of the clamping plate
14
. The installer installs the clamps
30
around the periphery of clamping plate
14
and tightens them in place using the bolts
32
. Generally, the installer may use his or her own discretion and experience to determine the quantity and location of the clamps
30
. This secures the clamping plate
14
to moveable platen
24
. The installer secures clamping plate
16
to stationary platen
22
in similar fashion.
The clamp
30
is shown as having a generally rectangular shape with a slot formed in the clamp
30
to allow a bolt
32
to extend therethrough. As shown in
FIG. 2A
, the clamp
30
has a riser portion
30
A that spaces clamp
30
approximately the thickness of clamping plate
14
. The clamp
30
can be tightened in place by a bolt
32
, such as a cap screw, to hold the clamp
30
and clamping plate
14
to the platen
24
.
After the mold assembly
10
is secured to the platens
22
and
24
, the hook
20
suspending the mold assembly
10
can be disconnected. The installer then connects the water lines and any necessary electrical connections.
The set-up time required to secure the mold assembly
10
to the platens
22
and
24
may be one to four hours. When this mold assembly is removed, it will take another one to four hours to install the next mold. This type of attachment method does not reduce the set-up time required for subsequent mold assembly insertions. This set-up time is costly in terms of machine utilization and the labor required.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4348165 (1982-09-01), Vostrovsky
patent: 4472127 (1984-09-01), Cyriax et al.
patent: 4500274 (1985-02-01), Cyriax et al.
patent: 4500275 (1985-02-01), Ruhl
patent: 4568263 (1986-02-01), Ruhl
patent: 4702685 (1987-10-01), Fruntzek
patent: 4714421 (1987-12-01), D'Agostino
patent: 4929166 (1990-05-01), DiSimone et al.
patent: 5012568 (1991-05-01), DiSimone et al.
patent: 5096404 (1992-03-01), Janos et al.
patent: 5308234 (1994-05-01), Nicke et al.
patent: 5350289 (1994-09-01), Martin
patent: 5562935 (1996-10-01), Martin

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Quick mold change clamping plate and support brackets does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Quick mold change clamping plate and support brackets, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quick mold change clamping plate and support brackets will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3287454