Imitated bamboo and injection mold and injection method and assembly line thereof

Abstract

The present application relates to a kind of simulation bamboo and its injection mold and injection method and assembly line, mold upper die and lower die, cavity and movable shaft of mold, both ends of cavity are through the two side walls of mold, cavity includes, at least two sections of short bamboo section groove of head-to-tail connection, the end of short bamboo section groove is expanded to form node part outside.This injection method is the method used in conjunction with injection mold.The simulation bamboo is obtained according to the injection method.The assembly line includes the injection mold.The present application overcomes the technical problem that conventional injection method cannot continuously produce long bamboo section.And the simulation bamboo produced is not only stable in connection position, but also has very high simulation, and can solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by additional use of glue.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of simulated bamboo manufacturing, and in particular to a simulated bamboo, its injection mold, injection method, and production line. Background Technology

[0002] Bamboo stalks are tall and slender, standing gracefully and elegantly, evergreen throughout the year, defying frost and rain, and are deeply loved by the Chinese people. Bamboo has high ornamental value in gardens. In traditional Chinese culture, bamboo, along with pine and plum, is known as the "Three Friends of Winter," an indispensable part of classical gardens, and a major theme in poetry, calligraphy, and painting throughout history.

[0003] In modern society, bamboo has become a common ornamental plant in gardens, parks, and roads. However, as bamboo is a type of plant, it will inevitably suffer from problems such as dying, withering, and losing leaves due to changes in its living environment and lifespan, which will reduce its ornamental value.

[0004] To address the issues of aesthetics and durability, artificial bamboo has been created. Artificial bamboo is a simulated plant made from plastic. Due to its ability to closely resemble real bamboo and its lack of lifespan limitations, it is very popular.

[0005] However, current simulated bamboo still faces technical challenges that are difficult to overcome: at present, simulated bamboo can only be formed by extrusion or injection molding. However, due to the limitations of the extrusion principle, the ends of bamboo segments formed by extrusion cannot expand outward to form bamboo segments (i.e., connected protruding parts), resulting in a low degree of simulation in shape.

[0006] While injection-molded simulated bamboo can form bamboo joints through the mold cavity, due to the limitation of mold size, the injection-molded bamboo segments are only short segments (referred to as short bamboo segments). The short bamboo segments need to be manually glued together at both ends to form longer bamboo segments.

[0007] Furthermore, the gaps (adhesive layer) between short bamboo segments glued together result in poor simulation of bamboo joint positions, and are also limited by the quality and shelf life of the adhesive, leading to breakage at the bamboo joints. Finally, the use of adhesive also presents environmental problems. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide an injection mold for simulating bamboo.

[0009] The above-mentioned objective of this invention is achieved through the following technical solutions:

[0010] An injection mold for simulating bamboo includes an upper mold and a lower mold, with a linear cavity formed between the upper mold and the lower mold, and both ends of the cavity penetrating the two side walls of the mold.

[0011] The mold cavity includes:

[0012] At least two short bamboo segments connected end to end, the ends of which are expanded outward to form bamboo joints;

[0013] Injection molds also include:

[0014] The movable shaft can be inserted into the mold cavity and move along the linear direction of the mold cavity, and there is a gap between its outer peripheral wall and the inner wall of the mold cavity.

[0015] The advantages of this solution are at least as follows: conventional mold cavities are closed, while this solution sets the mold cavity to be through-hole, so that the simulated bamboo is not limited by the length of the mold cavity and can be extended indefinitely through injection molding. This not only solves the problem that extrusion cannot form bamboo joints, but also overcomes the technical difficulty that the length of simulated bamboo is limited by conventional injection molding and that long bamboo segments cannot be continuously produced. In addition, this mold can eliminate the operation of gluing the bamboo joints, and can be directly formed by the viscosity of the injection liquid itself. This not only ensures stable connection positions and extremely high simulation, but also solves the problem of the environmentally unfriendly use of additional glue.

[0016] The present invention is further configured such that: the mold cavity further includes a positioning groove, the positioning groove is disposed around the short bamboo segment groove and communicates with the short bamboo segment groove.

[0017] The advantages of this scheme are at least as follows: the positioning groove can position the already formed short bamboo segments, ensuring the position of the already formed short bamboo segments, thereby improving the stability and simulation of the bamboo joint position connection between the newly injection-molded short bamboo segments and the already formed short bamboo segments.

[0018] The present invention is further configured such that the end of the movable shaft that is inserted into the mold cavity at the rear forms a limiting part outward.

[0019] The advantages of this solution are at least as follows: the limiting part can form a corresponding groove on the inner side of the end of the formed short bamboo segment, so that the injection liquid can enter the corresponding groove during the subsequent injection molding process. On the one hand, it can increase the bonding area of ​​the injection liquid, and on the other hand, it can form a snap-fit ​​structure to avoid the breakage of the bamboo joint. Furthermore, it can avoid defects such as bubbles, air holes, and gaps caused by direct bonding of the bamboo joint.

[0020] The present invention is further configured such that the outer diameter of the movable shaft is smaller than that of the end that first penetrates the mold cavity.

[0021] The advantage of this scheme is at least that it facilitates the insertion of the movable shaft into the already formed short bamboo segment.

[0022] The second objective of this invention is to provide a simulated bamboo assembly line for injection molding, which is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0023] The simulated bamboo production line for injection molding includes:

[0024] Injection molds;

[0025] The robotic arm can grip short bamboo segments and move them to a different location.

[0026] The advantages of this scheme are at least as follows: the robotic arm can grab the pre-formed short bamboo segments and place them into the short bamboo segment groove at the rear, and it can also grab the short bamboo segments and place them in the positions of other devices. No manual labor is required, making the operation convenient and safe.

[0027] The present invention is further configured to include a drive device for driving the movement of the movable shaft.

[0028] The advantages of this scheme are at least as follows: the drive unit can push and pull the movable shaft, which is often at high temperatures, thus not only making it easy to operate, but also preventing workers from being burned.

[0029] The invention is further configured to include a cutting device located for cutting long bamboo segments.

[0030] The advantage of this scheme is at least that long bamboo segments can be cut according to length requirements and / or whether they are of good quality.

[0031] The third objective of this invention is to provide a simulated bamboo assembly line for injection molding, which is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0032] A method for simulating bamboo injection molding includes the following steps:

[0033] Step 1: The movable shaft is inserted into the mold cavity. After the mold is closed, injection molding and cooling are performed to form a short bamboo section.

[0034] Step 2: Place the first short bamboo section into the short bamboo section trough at the back;

[0035] Step 3: Insert the movable shaft into the mold cavity and into the formed short bamboo segment, close the mold and inject molding, and demold after cooling to form continuous short bamboo segments.

[0036] Step 4: Repeat step 3 above to obtain continuous long bamboo segments.

[0037] The advantages of this scheme are at least as follows: it overcomes the technical difficulty of the limited length of simulated bamboo formed by conventional injection molding, enabling simulated bamboo to achieve unlimited length through injection molding.

[0038] The fourth objective of this invention is to provide a simulated bamboo produced according to the above method:

[0039] In summary, the beneficial technical effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0040] This solution sets the mold cavity to be through-hole, and through the corresponding injection molding method, the simulated bamboo is not limited by the length of the mold cavity and can be extended indefinitely through injection molding. This not only solves the problem that the extrusion method cannot form bamboo nodes, but also solves the technical difficulty that the length of the simulated bamboo is limited by the injection molding method.

[0041] This solution, by defining the structure of the movable shaft, makes the joints (joints) of short bamboo segments more firmly bonded, reduces defects such as air bubbles, pores, and gaps at the joints, and enables adjacent short bamboo segments to form a snap-fit ​​structure, preventing breakage at the joints and resulting in a high yield rate. Attached Figure Description

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an injection mold.

[0043] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of part A in the diagram.

[0044] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram highlighting an embodiment of the interaction between the drive unit and the injection mold;

[0045] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a simulated bamboo production line including injection molds;

[0046] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment where the movable shaft and the shaped short bamboo segment are combined;

[0047] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a simulated bamboo (two sections).

[0048] In the diagram, 1. Upper mold; 2. Lower mold; 3. Mold cavity; 31. Short bamboo segment groove; 32. Bamboo joint; 33. Positioning groove; 4. Movable shaft; 41. Limiting part; 5. Robot arm; 6. Spray painting device; 7. Drive device; 8. Cutting device; 9. Formed short bamboo segment; 91. Groove; 10. Simulated bamboo. Implementation

[0049] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] A type of injection mold for simulating bamboo, as referenced Figure 1 It includes upper mold 1 and lower mold 2. Upper mold 1 and lower mold 2 refer to two separate molds. Their positions are not limited to up and down, but can also be two relative positions such as left and right or front and back.

[0051] The opposing sidewalls of the upper mold 1 and the lower mold 2 are recessed to form a linear mold cavity 3. Both ends of the linear mold cavity 3 penetrate the two sidewalls of the mold along its length. It is worth noting that there can be more than two linear mold cavities 3. The following explanation of the mold cavity 3 is based on the condition of having only one mold cavity 3.

[0052] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 Each mold cavity 3 includes at least two short bamboo segment grooves 31 connected end to end. The ends of the short bamboo segment grooves 31 are expanded outward to form bamboo joints 32. After injection molding, the injection liquid will form bamboo joints 10 at the bamboo joints 32. At least one section of the short bamboo segment grooves 31 in the mold cavity 3 is complete. A complete short bamboo segment groove 31 means that both ends of the short bamboo segment groove 31 have bamboo joints 32. That is to say, the other short bamboo segment groove 31 that is incomplete in the mold cavity 3 may have only one bamboo joint 32, and this bamboo joint 32 is connected to the bamboo joint 32 in the complete short bamboo segment groove 31.

[0053] In another embodiment, the mold cavity 3 can also be formed by connecting short bamboo segments 31, such as two and a half sections, two sections plus a quarter, etc., which exceed N sections but are less than N+1 sections.

[0054] In another embodiment, the mold cavity 3 further includes a positioning groove 33, which is located around the periphery of each short bamboo segment groove 31 and communicates with it. The positioning groove 33 can be located at the outer end of the short bamboo segment groove 31 (i.e., the bamboo joint 32) or in the middle of the short bamboo segment groove 31. The opening of the positioning groove 33 penetrates the sidewalls of the upper mold 1 and the lower mold 2 facing each other, so that the injection molding liquid can be injected into the positioning groove 33 to form a positioning component. The positioning component on the already formed short bamboo segment 9 can be inserted into the positioning groove 33, so that the already formed short bamboo segment 9 will not be pushed backward out of the mold cavity 3. The shape of the positioning groove 33 can be an annular groove. In other embodiments, the positioning groove 33 can also be a groove 91, an arc groove, or other groove shape that allows for demolding and insertion.

[0055] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 In all embodiments, the injection mold further includes a linear movable shaft 4, the cross-sectional shape of which can be arbitrary. The length direction of the movable shaft 4 is parallel to the length direction of the mold cavity 3, and the movable shaft 4 can penetrate into the mold cavity 3 and move along the linear direction of the mold cavity 3. When penetrating into the mold cavity 3, there is a gap between its outer peripheral wall and the inner wall of the mold cavity 3, and this gap will cooperate with the mold cavity 3 during injection molding to form a tubular short bamboo segment.

[0056] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 In one embodiment, the end of the movable shaft 4 that is later inserted into the mold cavity 3 forms a limiting part 41. The limiting part 41 and the main body of the movable shaft 4 form a step or slope. After the injection molding liquid is formed between the mold cavity 3 and the movable shaft 4, the limiting part 41 can form a corresponding groove 91 on the inner side of the end of the formed short bamboo segment 9. On the one hand, it can increase the bonding area of ​​the subsequent injection molding liquid. On the other hand, it can form a snap-fit ​​structure to avoid the breakage of the bamboo joint. Furthermore, it can avoid defects such as bubbles, air holes, and gaps caused by direct bonding at the bamboo joint.

[0057] In another embodiment, the outer diameter of the movable shaft 4 is smaller than that of the end that first enters the mold cavity 3, and it can be formed into any shape such as conical, table-mounted, chamfered, or stepped, so that the movable shaft 4 can be inserted into the already formed short bamboo segment 9.

[0058] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 5 Another embodiment of the present invention illustrates a simulated bamboo production line comprising the injection mold described above. The production line includes the injection mold of any of the above embodiments and also includes a robotic arm 5, preferably a three-axis robotic arm 5, which can grip the pre-formed short bamboo segments 9 within the mold cavity 3 and move them along the XYZ axes to achieve position transfer of the short bamboo segments 9 or long bamboo segments (i.e., simulated bamboo). In other embodiments, the robotic arm 5 can also be any existing robotic arm 5 with gripping and moving functions, such as a dual-axis robotic arm 5 or a rotary robotic arm 5.

[0059] In one embodiment, the production line further includes a painting device 6 disposed around the injection mold and used to paint the surface of the simulated bamboo 10. The painting device 6 is preferably disposed behind the injection mold and can grasp and adjust the position of long bamboo segments (i.e., simulated bamboo) by means of a robotic arm 5.

[0060] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 5 In one embodiment, the production line further includes a drive device 7 for driving the movable shaft 4, the drive device 7 being connected to one end of the movable shaft 4. The drive device 7 can be any structure with linear conveying function, such as an electric or pneumatic push rod, a cylinder, a lead screw motor combination, or a gear rack combination, and the drive mechanism is preferably controlled by a controller.

[0061] In one embodiment, the production line further includes a cutting device 8 located behind the injection mold for cutting long bamboo segments. The cutting device 8 allows the long bamboo segments to extend from the mold cavity 3 into the cutting device 8, enabling cutting without removing them from the mold cavity 3, thus ensuring high continuity. The cutting device 8 is prior art and can select different cutting methods, including but not limited to blade cutting, serrated blade cutting, abrasive wheel cutting, and cutting of two misaligned block structures.

[0062] The simulated bamboo injection molding method in any of the above embodiments includes the following steps:

[0063] Step 1: Insert the movable shaft 4 into the mold cavity 3, and after mold closing, injection molding and cooling are performed to form a short bamboo section; in embodiments with a driving device 7, the movable shaft 4 can be inserted into or removed from the mold cavity 3 through the driving device 7.

[0064] Step 2: Place the first short bamboo segment into the short bamboo segment groove 31 at the rear. In the embodiment with the robotic arm 5, the bamboo segment can be moved by the robotic arm 5.

[0065] Step 3: Insert the movable shaft 4 into the mold cavity 3 and into the short bamboo segment 9, close the mold and inject molding, and demold after cooling to form a continuous short bamboo segment 9.

[0066] Step 4: Based on the required length of the simulated bamboo 10, repeat Step 3 at least zero times to obtain continuous long bamboo segments. It is worth mentioning that if this step is repeated zero times, then the continuous short bamboo segments from Step 3 will be the long bamboo segments (also known as simulated bamboo).

[0067] Reference Figure 6 In any embodiment, the simulated bamboo 10 can be produced by the above-described injection molding method.

[0068] Finally, it is worth noting that the short bamboo segment formed during the first step of the injection molding process is the first short bamboo segment. The first short bamboo segment may have a defect at one end due to the mold cavity 3 penetrating the mold. This does not affect the subsequent molding of the long bamboo segment. After the long bamboo segment is molded, the defective part at the end only needs to be cut off.

[0069] The implementation principle of this embodiment is as follows: Normally, the mold cavity 3 is closed. In this solution, the mold cavity 3 is made through-hole, allowing the simulated bamboo 10 to be extended indefinitely through injection molding, without being limited by the length of the mold cavity 3. This not only solves the problem of extrusion methods failing to form bamboo joints but also addresses the technical difficulty of injection molding limiting the length of the simulated bamboo 10. Furthermore, using this mold and the accompanying injection molding method, the bamboo joint positions can be formed directly through the viscosity of the injection molding liquid without the need for glue. This results in stable connection positions (bamboo joint position 32) and extremely high simulation, while also solving the environmentally unfriendly problem of using additional glue.

[0070] The embodiments described herein are preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, all equivalent changes made in accordance with the structure, shape and principle of the present invention should be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. An injection mold for simulating bamboo, comprising an upper mold (1) and a lower mold (2), wherein a linear mold cavity (3) is formed between the upper mold (1) and the lower mold (2), characterized in that, The two ends of the mold cavity (3) penetrate the two side walls of the mold; The mold cavity (3) includes: At least two short bamboo segments (31) are connected end to end, and the ends of the short bamboo segments (31) are expanded outward to form bamboo joints (32). Injection molds also include: The movable shaft (4) can be inserted into the mold cavity (3) and move along the linear direction of the mold cavity (3), and there is a gap between its outer peripheral wall and the inner wall of the mold cavity (3).

2. The injection mold for simulated bamboo according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mold cavity (3) also includes a positioning groove (33), which is located around the short bamboo segment groove (31) and communicates with the short bamboo segment groove (31).

3. The injection mold for simulated bamboo according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the movable shaft (4) that is inserted into the mold cavity (3) later forms a limiting part (41) outward.

4. The injection mold for simulated bamboo according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer diameter of the movable shaft (4) is smaller than that of the end that first enters the mold cavity (3).

5. A simulated bamboo assembly line comprising any one of the injection molds described in claims 1-4, characterized in that, include: Injection molds; The robotic arm (5) can grasp short or long bamboo segments and move them to a different location.

6. The simulated bamboo assembly line according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a painting device (6) set around the injection mold for painting the simulated bamboo (10).

7. The simulated bamboo assembly line according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a drive unit (7) for driving the movement of the movable shaft (4).

8. The simulated bamboo assembly line according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a cutting device (8) for cutting long bamboo segments.

9. A method for manufacturing simulated bamboo using an injection mold according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: Step 1: Insert the movable shaft (4) into the mold cavity (3), and after the mold is closed, it is injected and cooled to form a short bamboo section; Step 2: Place the first short bamboo section into the short bamboo section trough (31) at the back; Step 3: Insert the movable shaft (4) into the mold cavity (3) and into the formed short bamboo segment (9), close the mold and inject the molding, and demold after cooling to form a continuous short bamboo segment; Step 4: Repeat step 3 at least zero times to obtain continuous long bamboo segments.

10. Simulated bamboo produced by the method according to claim 9.

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