US 4,714,421 AGranted

Quick-switch mold set with clamp means

AssigneeNational Tool & Manufacturing Co., Inc.

InventorNicholas D'Agostino

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Abstract

A quick-switch mold set is depicted wherein the interchangeable mold plate is carried by a T-plate slideable in grooves provided by a top clamping plate which is secured to the upper platen of the molding machine. A lower interchangeable mold plate is carried by an intermediate T-plate slideable in grooves provided in a bottom clamp housing. Removable and rotatable clamps are secured to the top clamping plate and other clamps to the bottom clamp housing. The clamps are disc-like, having two flats providing reduced portions that are positioned in way of a T-plate and mold plate during removal and interchange. The clamps are repositioned and tightened to provide the desired securement and retention of the mold plate and T-plate.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A quick-switch mold set which is constructed so that a mold cavity may be formed in mold plates which are carried in that portion which is secured by selectively manipulable clamp means, this mold set having means for clamping in a selected position to upper and lower platens in molding apparatus, the quick-switch mold set having the quick-switch removable portion containing desired aligning means, the construction of the quick-switch mold set including:

(a) a top clamping housing member adapted to receive and retain a sprue bushing including a nozzle-receiving means and a sprue passageway therethrough for molten material, said housing member including inwardly-facing grooves disposed in an opposed and facing position;
(b) a first upper-T-plate having ear portions sized to be precisely slideably in the grooves in said top clamp housing member and with a stop limit for laterial movement of these ears of said T-plate in the grooves, and with said T-plate movable for interchanging mold sets in an in-and-out direction;
(c) an upper interchangeable mold plate removably retained in the mold set and means for retaining alignment and positioning with said first T-plate;
(d) a lower interchangeable mold plate selectively adapted to be brought to a contiguous face relationship and establishing a parting line with the upper mold plate, this mold plate also removably retained in this mold set for interchanging;
(e) a plurality of leader pins and bushings arrayed and disposed to be retained in the upper and lower mold plates and maintain alignment during open and closed condition, these leader pins and bushings remaining with and as the upper and lower mold plates are removed for the interchange;
(f) a bottom clamping housing having upstanding side portions extending upwardly to the leader pins and bushings and providing a stop surface for said pins and bushings, said bottom clamping housing side portions having inwardly-facing and opposed grooves;
(g) a second intermediate T-plate having ear portions sized to be slideable in the opposed grooves in the side portions of the bottom clamping housing and with a stop limit for lateral movement of the T-plate provided by the side portion of the bottom clamping housing, and means for retaining said second lower mold plate in alignment with said intermediate T-plate;
(h) a plurality of return pins disposed to be carried in and movable in holes in the intermediate T-plate and lower mold plate;
(i) plate means for securing said plurality of return pins so as to maintain said return pins in a common plane and attitude during molding;
(j) at least one upper clamp which is secured and carried by the top clamping housing and with said clamp disposed so as to be selectively movable from a tightened condition where said clamp retains the ear portion of the upper first T-plate and upper mold plate and, when loosened, is moved to a pass condition whereby said upper first T-plate and upper mold plate are adapted to pass said upper clamp when interchange is to be made, and
(k) at least one lower clamp which is secured and carried by said bottom clamp housing and with said clamp disposed so as to be selectively movable from a tightened condition where said clamp retains an ear portion of the second intermediate T-plate and lower mold plate and, when loosened, this lower clamp is moved to a pass condition whereby said lower mold plate and second intermediate T-plate are adapted to pass said lower clamp when interchange is to be made.

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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

(a) a top clamping housing member adapted to receive and retain a sprue bushing including a nozzle-receiving means and a sprue passageway therethrough for molten material, said housing member including inwardly-facing grooves disposed in an opposed and facing position;
(b) a first upper-T-plate having ear portions sized to be precisely slideably in the grooves in said top clamp housing member and with a stop limit for laterial movement of these ears of said T-plate in the grooves, and with said T-plate movable for interchanging mold sets in an in-and-out direction;
(c) an upper interchangeable mold plate removably retained in the mold set and means for retaining alignment and positioning with said first T-plate;
(d) a lower interchangeable mold plate selectively adapted to be brought to a contiguous face relationship and establishing a parting line with the upper mold plate, this mold plate also removably retained in this mold set for interchanging;
(e) a plurality of leader pins and bushings arrayed and disposed to be retained in the upper and lower mold plates and maintain alignment during open and closed condition, these leader pins and bushings remaining with and as the upper and lower mold plates are removed for the interchange;
(f) a bottom clamping housing having upstanding side portions extending upwardly to the leader pins and bushings and providing a stop surface for said pins and bushings, said bottom clamping housing side portions having inwardly-facing and opposed grooves;
(g) a second intermediate T-plate having ear portions sized to be slideable in the opposed grooves in the side portions of the bottom clamping housing and with a stop limit for lateral movement of the T-plate provided by the side portion of the bottom clamping housing, and means for retaining said second lower mold plate in alignment with said intermediate T-plate;
(h) a plurality of return pins disposed to be carried in and movable in holes in the intermediate T-plate and lower mold plate;
(i) plate means for securing said plurality of return pins so as to maintain said return pins in a common plane and attitude during molding;
(j) at least one upper clamp which is secured and carried by the top clamping housing and with said clamp disposed so as to be selectively movable from a tightened condition where said clamp retains the ear portion of the upper first T-plate and upper mold plate and, when loosened, is moved to a pass condition whereby said upper first T-plate and upper mold plate are adapted to pass said upper clamp when interchange is to be made, and
(k) at least one lower clamp which is secured and carried by said bottom clamp housing and with said clamp disposed so as to be selectively movable from a tightened condition where said clamp retains an ear portion of the second intermediate T-plate and lower mold plate and, when loosened, this lower clamp is moved to a pass condition whereby said lower mold plate and second intermediate T-plate are adapted to pass said lower clamp when interchange is to be made.

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