Method and apparatus to reduce galling in a mold device
OwnerLeonard C. Graham, James D. Wicklundinventors
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Abstract
The invention generally discloses an apparatus and method for removing threaded, molded articles from an injection mold. A cam system and linear drive/following gear mechanism engages a finely resolved retraction of a threaded mold core, under substantially full mold clamp pressure, prior to rotational disengagement of the core from the molded article. The invention also describes a system for the reduction of galling that may otherwise occur when mold components experience relative rotation with respect to each other. Moreover, the invention describes an apparatus and method for substantially reducing periodic maintenance checks and interruptions in production.
Claims17
An apparatus for forming a threaded, molded article comprising:
- a first mold half having a surface for molding said molded article;
- a second mold half having a surface for molding said molded article wherein said second mold surface is comprised of at least a translationally movable component that is at least partially threaded;
- means for engaging said first mold half with said second mold half into a closed-mold configuration whereby a mold cavity is defined between said first mold half surface and said second mold half surface;
- means for injecting plastic material into said mold cavity;
- means for translationally displacing said movable component of said second mold surface while said first mold half is engaged with said second mold half in a closed-mold configuration;
- means for at least partial rotational disengagement of said movable component of said second mold surface from the molded article after said movable component of said second mold surface has been translationally retracted from engagement with the first mold surface and while said first mold half is engaged with said second mold half in a closed-mold configuration;
- means for disengaging said first mold half from said second mold half into an open-mold configuration;
- and
- means for ejecting said molded article from the mold cavity.
A drive apparatus, comprising:
- first and second drive bodies,
- at least one linear rack gear mounted to said first drive body;
- at least one rack guide rail mounted to said second drive body;
- at least one cam bar mounted to said guide rail;
- and
- means for translationally displacing said drive bodies independently of each another.
A method for forming an article of manufacture having interiorly disposed threads comprising the steps of:
- providing a first mold half having a surface for molding said molded article;
- providing a second mold half having a surface for molding said molded article wherein said second mold surface is comprised of at least a translationally movable component that is at least partially threaded;
- engaging said first mold half with said second mold half into a closed-mold configuration whereby a mold cavity is defined between said first mold half surface and said second mold half surface;
- injecting plastic material into said mold cavity;
- translationally displacing said movable component of said second mold surface while said first mold half is engaged with said second mold half in a closed-mold configuration;
- providing means for at least partial rotational disengagement of said movable component of said second mold surface from the molded article after said movable component of said second mold surface has been translationally retracted from engagement with the first mold surface and while said first mold half is engaged with said second mold half in a closed-mold configuration;
- disengaging said first mold half from said second mold half into an open-mold configuration;
- and
- ejecting said molded article from the mold cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.