US 6,613,262 B1 · Molding system with movable mold modules

Abstract

A mold apparatus provides a movable mold module which includes movable tie rods which are extendable and retractable with respect to the movable mold module of the mold apparatus, such that the tie rods may initially be removed from a gap between the platens of the mold apparatus when the platens have been separated. Preferably, the tie rod assemblies are movably mounted to the movable carriage or module, which also moves the injection machine and movable platen along a base toward and away from the fixed platen and corresponding mold part. Additionally, the tie rods may be extended relative to the movable platen as the platen is moved toward the fixed platen, such that the tie rods engage a locking member on the fixed platen to lock the platens relative to one another during the molding process. The tie rods are rotatable via a rotational device mounted at the movable platen, to rotate the tie rods and lock the tie rods to the locking member at the fixed platen. The fixed platen may also be rotatable relative to the base to allow booking of the fixed platen for easier and safer access thereto, and may include two or more platens and mold parts for simultaneously molding of additional products while one of the platens and mold parts are booked for access thereto. Two or more molding modules may also be provided around the rotatable fixed platen support with multiple platens and mold parts, such that multiple products may be molded simultaneously, or multi-colored products or multi-material products or the like may be molded, with portions of multiple products being simultaneously molded at each mold module or station around the rotatable platen support.

Claims43

Dependent claims

A mold assembly for molding products between a pair of mold parts comprising:

a support base;
a fixed platen support positioned at a first end of said support base, said fixed platen support including at least one fixed platen which supports one of the mold parts;
and
at least one movable mold module which is movably supported along said support base toward and away from said fixed platen support, said movable mold module comprising:
a movable platen carriage which supports a movable platen which supports the other of the mold parts, said movable platen carriage being movable along said support base toward and away from said fixed platen support, said movable platen being movable with said movable platen carriage between an engaged position, where the mold parts are engaged together for molding, and a separated position, where the mold parts and said platens are separated;
and
at least one tie rod assembly movably mounted at said movable platen carriage, said at least one tie rod assembly being movable with respect to said movable platen and said fixed platen, said tie rod assembly being initially removed from proximity of the mold parts when the mold parts and said platens are separated, said tie rod assembly being movable along said movable platen carriage to extend from said movable platen carriage for engaging said fixed platen support to maintain the engagement of the mold parts during molding, wherein said at least one tie rod assembly comprises a tie rod extending from a piston within an hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder being movable along said movable platen carriage.

4 more elements

A mold assembly for molding products between a pair of mold parts comprising:

a support base;
a fixed platen support positioned at a first end of said support base, said fixed platen support including at least one fixed platen which supports one of the mold parts, said fixed platen support being pivotably mounted to said first end of said support base and being pivotable about a generally vertical axis;
and
at least one movable mold module which is movably supported along said support base toward and away from said fixed platen support, said movable mold module comprising:
a movable platen carriage which supports a movable platen which supports the other of the mold parts, said movable platen carriage being movable along said support base toward and away from said fixed platen support, said movable platen being movable with said movable platen carriage between an engaged position, where the mold parts are engaged together for molding, and a separated position, where the mold parts and said platens are separated;
and
at least one tie rod assembly movably mounted at said movable plate carriage, said at least one tie rod assembly being movable with respect to said movable platen and said fixed platen, said tie rod assembly being initially removed from proximity of the mold parts when the mold parts and said platens are separated, said tie rod assembly being movable along said movable platen carriage to extend from said movable platen carriage for engaging said fixed platen support to maintain the engagement of the mold parts during molding, wherein said fixed platen support includes at least two fixed platens and is pivotable to align one of said fixed platens with said movable platen while allowing access to the other of said fixed platens.

4 more elements

A method for molding one or more products with multiple molding machines comprising:

providing a molding apparatus having a base, a fixed platen support which is pivotally mounted at said base, and first and second movable platens movably mounted at a respective portion of said base and movable therealong toward and away from said fixed platen support, said fixed platen support having first and second fixed platens and being pivotable about a generally vertical axis;
pivoting said fixed platen support to align said first fixed platen with said first movable platen;
molding a first product between said first movable platen and said first fixed platen;
pivoting said fixed platen support to move said first fixed platen and the first product from alignment with said first movable platen;
and
molding a second product between said second movable platen and one of said first fixed platen and said second fixed platen.

3 more elements

A mold assembly for molding items with a molding machine comprising:

a first platen and a second platen, said first and second platens being oppositely facing and supporting a respective mold part thereon, at least one of said first and second platens being movable relative to the other between an engaged position, for molding an item between the mold parts with the molding machine, and a retracted position, whereby a gap is between said platens and the mold parts;
and
at least one tie rod assembly, each of said at least one tie rod assembly having an hydraulic cylinder movably mounted at said first platen, said hydraulic cylinder having a piston which is movable along said cylinder, said piston including a tie rod extending from one end of said piston, said piston of said cylinder being longitudinally adjustable relative to said cylinder to adjust an amount of extension of said tie rod from said cylinder to account for a separation and thickness of said first and second platens when in the engaged position, said cylinder and said tie rod being initially retracted and remote from said gap when said platens are in the retracted position, said cylinder being movable relative to said first platen to move said tie rod to an extended position whereby said tie rod is moved toward said second platen, said tie rod being rotatable to lock said tie rod to said second platen when said first and second platens are in the engaged position and said cylinder has been moved to engage said tie rod with said second platen.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Molding system with movable mold modules

Life of this patent

Molding system with movable mold modules

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims43