Back to results
US 8,133,426 B1Granted
Injection molding with controlled part flexing
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJames R. Yurchenco, Wally Szeremeta, Michael O. Cronkite
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An injection molding process and apparatus are described in which a workpiece is formed using an injection molding tool. The mold composed of a cavity formed by a core and a plurality of cavity sides, wherein the workpiece has a plurality of undercut features formed in notches within the core. The injection molding method includes flexing sections of the workpiece apart from each other to at least partially separate the workpiece from the core.
Claims18
An injection molding method, comprising:
- forming, using an injection molding tool, a workpiece within a mold, the mold comprising a mold cavity formed by a core, a plurality of cavity sides, and first and second extraction tips, wherein the workpiece has a plurality of undercut features formed in notches within the core, wherein after forming, the first and second ends of the workpiece sections are engaged with the first and second extraction tips, respectively, wherein the first and second extraction tips are coupled to respective first and second retraction plates disposed on opposite sides of the core;
- and
- flexing sections of the workpiece apart from each other to at least partially separate the workpiece from the core by applying an extraction force on the first and second ends of the workpiece by moving the first and second retraction plates away from the core to pull apart the sections of the workpiece having the undercut features, wherein moving the first and second retraction plates away from the core comprises laterally retracting first and second cavity walls coupled to the first and second retraction plates, respectively, in opposing directions away from the core.
An injection molding machine, comprising:
- an injection unit;
- and
- an injection molding tool coupled to the injection unit, the injection molding tool comprising:
- a mold comprising a cavity formed by a core and a plurality of cavity sides;
- a first retraction plate;
- a second retraction plate disposed on an opposite side of the core to the first retraction plate, wherein each of the first and second retraction plates has an extraction tip configured to engage a respective first and second end section of a molded workpiece;
- a first cavity wall, having a first of the plurality of cavity sides, coupled to the first retraction plate;
- and
- a second cavity wall, having a second of the plurality of cavity sides, coupled to the second retraction plate, wherein each of the first and second cavity walls are configured to move laterally in opposing directions away from the core and wherein the first and second cavity walls are configured to generate a reaction force on the first and second retraction plates, respectively, to spread apart the first and second end sections molded workpiece to be separated from the core.
6 more elements
An injection molding tool, comprising:
- means for forming a workpiece within a mold, the mold comprising a mold cavity formed by a core and a plurality of cavity sides, wherein the workpiece has a plurality of undercut features formed in notches within the core;
- a first and second extraction tips further forming the mold cavity and engaged with first and second ends of the workpiece sections after forming, wherein the first and second extraction tips are coupled to respective first and second retraction plates disposed on opposite sides of the core;
- and
- means for flexing sections of the workpiece apart from each other to separate the workpiece from the core, the means for flexing comprising the first and second extraction tips to engage with first and second ends of the workpiece having the plurality of undercut features, wherein the means for flexing further comprises means for applying an extraction force on the first and second ends of the workpiece by laterally retracting first and second cavity walls coupled to the first and second retraction plates, respectively, in opposing directions away from the core.
1 more element
An injection molding tool, comprising:
- a mold comprising a cavity formed by a core and a plurality of cavity sides;
- a first retraction plate;
- a second retraction plate disposed on an opposite side of the core to the first retraction plate, wherein each of the first and second retraction plates has an extraction tip configured to engage a respective first and second end section of a molded workpiece;
- a first cavity wall, having a first of the plurality of cavity sides, coupled to the first retraction plate;
- and
- a second cavity wall, having a second of the plurality of cavity sides, coupled to the second retraction plate, wherein each of the first and second cavity walls are configured to move laterally in opposing directions away from the core and wherein the first and second cavity walls are configured to generate a reaction force on the first and second retraction plates, respectively, to spread apart the first and second end sections molded workpiece to be separated from the core.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.