Molding-System Platen having Anti-Tilt Structure

A platen of a molding system having a frame, the platen comprising:

• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion but disconnecting the force-receiving structure from the peripheral portion;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A molding system, comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a platen including:
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to a mold-support structure of the platen, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A molding system, comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a platen including:
• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion but disconnecting the force-receiving structure from the peripheral portion;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A clamp of a molding system having a frame, the clamp comprising:

• tie bars each having a clamp portion and a lock portion;
• clamp actuators each coupled to the tie bars respectively;
• tie-bar lock mechanisms each lockable and unlockable to lock portions of the tie bars respectively;
• platens, a selected one of the platens accommodating the clamp actuators, another selected one of the platens accommodating the tie-bar lock mechanisms;
• and
• a platen stroke actuator coupled to at least one of the platens, and configured to stroke the platens relative to each other,
• the platens each including:
• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion but disconnecting the force-receiving structure from the peripheral portion;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A platen of a molding system having a frame, the platen comprising:

• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion but disconnecting the force-receiving structure from the peripheral portion;
• a wall extending away from the peripheral portion, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A platen of a molding system, the platen comprising:

• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• and
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion, the intermediate structure does not connect the force-receiving structure to the peripheral portion, the force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by a frame of the molding system, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A platen of a molding system having a frame, the platen comprising:

• a wall extending away from a peripheral portion of a mold-support structure of the platen, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• a force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a respective tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure of the platen;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure of the platen, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A platen of a molding system, the platen comprising:

• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• and
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion, the intermediate structure does not connect the force-receiving structure to the peripheral portion, the force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a respective tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure;
• a wall extending away from the peripheral portion of the mold-support structure of the platen, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by a frame of the molding system, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A molding system, comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a platen including:
• a wall extending away from a peripheral portion of a mold-support structure of the platen, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure of the platen, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A molding system, comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a platen including:
• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion but disconnecting the force-receiving structure from the peripheral portion;
• a wall extending away from the peripheral portion, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A molding system, comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a platen including:
• a force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a respective tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to a mold-support structure of the platen;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure of the platen, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A molding system, comprising:

• a frame;
• and
• a platen including:
• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion, the intermediate structure does not connect the force-receiving structure to the peripheral portion, the force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a respective tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A platen of a molding system having a frame, the platen comprising:

• a wall extending away from a peripheral portion of a mold-support structure of the platen, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• a force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a respective tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure of the platen;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by the frame, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure of the platen, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.

A platen of a molding system, the platen comprising:

• a mold-support structure having a central portion, the mold-support structure having a peripheral portion surrounding the central portion;
• a force-receiving structure offset from the mold-support structure;
• and
• an intermediate structure connecting the force-receiving structure to the central portion, the intermediate structure does not connect the force-receiving structure to the peripheral portion, the force-receiving structure having respective tie-bar accommodation corners each defining a respective tie-bar channel configured to receive a respective tie bar, responsive to the force-receiving structure receiving a clamping force, the respective tie-bar accommodation corners resist, at least in part, coplanar disorientation relative to the mold-support structure;
• a wall extending away from the peripheral portion of the mold-support structure of the platen, the wall stiffening, at least in part, the mold-support structure;
• and
• an anti-tilt structure supportable by a frame of the molding system, the anti-tilt structure connecting to the mold-support structure, and the anti-tilt structure extending from the mold-support structure.