US 6,143,225 AGranted

Turret cooling block for an index machine

AssigneeHusky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.

InventorsRobert Domodossola, Ronald Ing, John R Galt, William Jacovich, Steve Saggese

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Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for unloading and cooling molded parts from an injection molding machine having an index turret block rotatable about a central axis. The device comprises a cooling turret block rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the central axis, which cooling turret block has a plurality of faces. At least one of the faces includes a plurality of nozzles for applying a cooling fluid to surfaces of the molded parts while the molded parts are resident on the index turret block. At least two of the other faces of the cooling turret block include a plurality of receiving tubes for receiving molded parts from the index turret block for further cooling. The cooling turret block of the present invention is capable of cooling multiple sets of molded parts.

Claims62

Dependent claims

A method for forming molded parts comprising the steps of:

providing an injection molding machine having a stationary platen having a first mold portion and an index turret block rotatable about a first axis, said first mold portion being at least one of a mold cavity plate and a mold core plate, said index turret block having two faces and each of said faces having a second mold portion comprising at least one of a mold cavity plate and a mold core plate, said index turret block being movable towards and away from said stationary platen;
providing a cooling turret block rotatable about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis, said cooling turret block having a first face with means for directing a cooling fluid onto molded parts and second and third faces with means for receiving molded parts from said index turret block;
moving said index turret block towards said stationary platen until said first mold portion contacts said second mold portion and forms a plurality of mold cavities;
injecting molten material into each of said mold cavities and forming a first set of molded parts;
moving said index turret block away from said stationary platen;
rotating said index turret block about said first axis to move said first set of molded parts into a cooling position;
and
rotating said cooling turret block so that said first face with said cooling fluid directing means is directed toward said first set of molded parts and blowing said cooling fluid onto said first set of molded parts.

5 more elements

An injection molding machine comprising:

a base;
a stationary platen affixed to said base, said stationary platen having a first mold portion comprising at least one of a mold core plate and a mold cavity plate;
an index turret block having two faces, said index turret block being movable along a molding axis towards and away from said stationary platen and being rotatable about a first axis;
each of said index turret block faces having a second mold portion comprising at least one of a mold cavity plate and a mold core plate affixed thereto;
each of said second mold portions being movable between a first molding position where said second mold portion contacts said first mold portion and forms a plurality of mold cavities therewith and a second cooling position opposed to said first position;
means for injecting molten material into said cavities to form a plurality of molded parts;
a second turret block rotatable about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis;
said second turret block being used to unload molded parts from said second mold portions when one of said second mold portions is in said second position;
and
said second turret block always being aligned with said index turret block along said molding axis.

7 more elements

An injection molding machine comprising:

a base;
a stationary platen affixed to said base, said stationary platen having a first mold portion comprising at least one of a mold core plate and a mold cavity plate;
an index turret block having two faces, said index turret block being movable along said base towards and away from said stationary platen and being rotatable about a first axis;
each of said turret block faces having a second mold portion comprising at least one of a mold cavity plate and a mold core plate affixed thereto;
each of said second mold portions being movable between a first molding position where said second mold portion contacts said first mold portion and forms a plurality of mold cavities and a second cooling position opposed to said first position;
means for injecting molten material into said cavities to form a plurality of molded parts;
means for cooling said molded parts and unloading them when one of said second mold portions is in said second position, said cooling means comprising a second turret block rotatable about a second axis substantially parallel to said first axis;
and
said second turret block having a plurality of faces;
a first face on said second turret block having means for directing a cooling fluid onto said molded parts while said molded parts are resident on said second mold portion when one of said second mold portions is in said second position;
and
second and third faces on said second turret block having means for receiving molded parts from said second mold portions when one of said second mold portions is in said second position, said second and third faces being opposed.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.