Plasticizing unit for a molding machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a plasticizing unit for a shaping machine (2), having a material cylinder (3) and an axially movable plasticizing screw (4) arranged in the material cylinder (3), wherein a filter device (6) for filtering plasticized material, in particular plasticized plastic, is provided, which is arranged or can be arranged in the material cylinder (3) in an axially movable manner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a plasticizing unit for a molding machine, a molding machine having such a plasticizing unit, and a method for operating the plasticizing unit. Background Technology

[0002] Molding machines can be understood as injection molding machines, injection molding machines, presses, etc. They can also be thought of as molding machines that feed plasticized material into open molds.

[0003] In the following text, an injection molding machine will be used to outline the prior art. This is similarly applicable to molding machines in general.

[0004] This type of plasticizing unit for injection molding machines includes a material barrel and an axially movable plasticizing screw arranged in the material barrel, as well as a check valve that is kinetically locked to the plasticizing screw.

[0005] In an injection molding machine, a corresponding plasticizing unit is used to plasticize a plasticizable material through the rotational motion of a plasticizing screw. The plasticized material is plasticized by shearing motion, shear heat, and, if necessary, externally supplied heat energy. This typically occurs in the plasticizing zone of the plasticizing unit.

[0006] After the material to be plasticized is plasticized, the plasticized material is collected in the screw front chamber at the tip of the plasticizing screw, wherein the plasticized material can be pushed out of the plasticizing unit and injected into the molding cavity of the mold by the axial movement of the plasticizing screw, in which the plasticized material can be re-hardened (and thus can be solidified, for example, into a finished product, a molded part or a semi-finished product).

[0007] It is known from the prior art that contaminated plastics are processed into materials to be plasticized. For example, these plastics may be recycled materials, shredded materials, or agglomerates, for example, used in recycling or compounding applications.

[0008] This topic is becoming increasingly important, as recycling materials that need to be plasticized (such as thermoplastics) can supply them for new uses or new application areas, thus generating significant advantages in terms of environmental friendliness.

[0009] However, in order to use this recycled material in the injection molding process, it needs to be cleaned, in which contaminants should be removed from the material to be plasticized.

[0010] For this cleaning or pre-cleaning of materials to be plasticized, it is known that in a first step, the contaminated material is plasticized by a continuously operating plasticizing component, and then the contaminated material is cleaned by a degassing process and a filtration device.

[0011] After filtration and degassing, the plasticized material is cooled and solidified, and the cleaned material is often directly made into a form that is easy to process further, such as granules.

[0012] The granules produced from the cleaned and degassed recycled material can then be used in an injection molding machine via a subsequent injection molding process.

[0013] However, it has been shown that the disadvantage of doing so is that cleaning the material and providing it for the injection molding process requires relatively high energy consumption and labor costs. Summary of the Invention

[0014] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a plasticizing unit and / or a method for plasticizing, wherein at least partially improves the disadvantages of the prior art and / or enables more energy-efficient recycling of plasticizable materials and / or enables more energy-efficient cleaning of materials to be plasticized and / or enables direct processing of materials to be cleaned and plasticized and / or presents the feasibility of more continuous, faster or more energy-efficient plasticizing of materials to be plasticized.

[0015] According to the present invention, this objective is achieved by a plasticizing unit for a molding machine and a molding machine having such a plasticizing unit, as well as by a method for operating the plasticizing unit.

[0016] According to the present invention, a plasticizing unit for a molding machine has a material cylinder, an axially movable plasticizing screw arranged in the material cylinder, and a filter device for filtering the plasticized material, particularly the plasticized plastic, the filter device being arranged in an axially movable manner or being arranged in the material cylinder.

[0017] By installing a filter device in the material barrel for filtering the plasticized material, it is possible to use the contaminated material during the molding process, especially in an injection molding machine. The contaminated material is plasticized by the plasticizing screw of the molding machine and filtered by the filter device arranged in the material barrel to remove impurities from the contaminated plasticized material.

[0018] Compared with existing technologies, this method has the following important advantages: the recycled material only needs to be plasticized once and does not need to be cleaned separately, which achieves significantly higher energy efficiency in the process.

[0019] Another advantage is that a plasticizing unit with a plasticizing screw, known from the prior art, can be used, thus enabling a very compact structure of the plasticizing unit even when processing contaminated materials. This means that, according to existing implementations, only the plasticizing screw needs to be modified to enable filtration.

[0020] A fundamental aspect of the invention is that the plasticizing screw can be used as an actuator for filtration due to the axial mobility of the filtration device, for example, to perform filtration under certain pressure or volumetric flow conditions or to enable backwashing.

[0021] Since the plasticized material can be filtered directly during the molding process, the steps mentioned at the beginning (such as granulation) can be omitted, which obviously constitutes a significant improvement in terms of complexity and economy.

[0022] Therefore, the corresponding applications of the embodiments of the present invention can also make recycling or recycling applications significantly more attractive to users, where production costs and expenses are minimized, thereby increasing environmental friendliness (by expanding applications).

[0023] The plasticizing unit according to the invention may have exactly one plasticizing screw, or it may be configured as a twin-screw embodiment or a multi-screw embodiment. In the following description, the term "plasticizing screw" (singular) is sometimes used. However, this should be understood to mean that similar embodiments with multiple plasticizing screws are also applicable.

[0024] Of course, in embodiments with multiple plasticizing screws, there are multiple screw axes, and the plasticizing screws can move axially and rotatably relative to the multiple screw axes, respectively.

[0025] As described above, the device according to the invention can be used in known embodiments of the prior art (e.g., embodiments described in the introduction of the specification) and can be supplemented by installation.

[0026] Molding machines can be understood as injection molding machines, injection molding machines, presses, etc. They can also be understood as molding machines that supply plasticized materials into open molds.

[0027] In the context of this article, filtration and / or elution of plasticized materials can be understood as the removal, extraction, and / or separation of foreign substances present in the plasticized materials, preferably mechanically at least partially, from the plasticized materials. That is, this may also include separation methods.

[0028] The plasticizing unit can be configured to have a check valve arranged in the material cylinder, which is preferably connected to the plasticizing screw.

[0029] Preferably, the filter device is axially and / or rotaryly coupled to the plasticizing screw and / or the check valve.

[0030] Therefore, it can be configured such that, through the plasticizing screw and its rotational movement within the material barrel, the material to be plasticized is first plasticized due to shearing and shear heat, and then conveyed towards the output opening of the plasticizing barrel. The plasticized material then enters the material barrel through a check valve, where it accumulates (in the screw front chamber) and forms a material pad.

[0031] As the material pad increases, the plasticizing screw is pressed backward in the axial direction, thereby increasing the size of the screw front chamber.

[0032] Now, when the filter is coupled with a plasticizing screw and / or a check valve, the material plasticized by the plasticizing screw can be conveyed through the filter before it accumulates in the screw pre-chamber, thereby cleaning contaminants from the plasticized material.

[0033] However, it is also possible to configure the filter device to be independent and / or connected to the material cylinder.

[0034] Here, the filter device can be arranged between the plasticizing screw and the check valve, or on the side of the check valve away from the plasticizing screw.

[0035] When a sufficiently large material pad is formed in the screw front chamber, the plasticized material is conveyed from the material barrel through the outlet opening by the linear movement of the plasticizing screw toward the material pad, so that the plasticized material leaves the material barrel and is supplied to, for example, a mold of a molding machine.

[0036] Now, when the plasticizing screw makes this output motion, the backflow preventer closes, preventing the plasticized material from flowing back from the screw front chamber toward the plasticizing screw.

[0037] If the filter is now positioned between the plasticizing screw and the check valve, the filter can be protected from the main injection pressure applied to the material pad when the plasticizing screw is in operation.

[0038] Preferably, the filtration device may be configured to include at least one filter element, preferably a filter ring, said filter element at least partially surrounding the plasticizing screw and / or a check valve.

[0039] The filter can be configured such that the plasticized material passes through the filter in the radial and / or axial direction (relative to the longitudinal axis of the material barrel, check valve and / or plasticizing screw) for filtration.

[0040] Preferably, the at least one filter device is arranged in the material cylinder or can be arranged between the plasticizing screw and the check valve or on the side of the check valve away from the plasticizing screw.

[0041] It can also be configured such that at least one backflow preventer is arranged in the material barrel between the plasticizing screw and the filter device.

[0042] The filtration device may be configured to have a carrier that supports at least one filter element of the filtration device, and the carrier is configured to guide the plasticized material through the at least one filter element.

[0043] It can be configured that the carrier is connected to and / or constructed as part of the check valve.

[0044] By combining the carrier with a check valve, a simple and compact implementation of a filtration device can be achieved, in which, although a filtration device is included, the plasticizing unit is not significantly enlarged compared to existing technologies.

[0045] The carrier may be configured to have at least one first channel and at least one second channel, wherein the at least one second channel is located radially inside the carrier compared to the at least one first channel, and the at least one first channel is connected to the at least one second channel via a filter element.

[0046] Preferably, the material cylinder can be configured to have at least one exit opening in the area of ​​use of the filtration device, and preferably, the exit opening is connected or can be connected to the surrounding environment of the material cylinder via a shut-off valve.

[0047] At least one actuator may be provided for backwashing the at least one filter device, wherein the plasticized material may be conveyed against the conveying direction of the plasticizing screw during plasticizing.

[0048] Preferably, the at least one actuator may be configured to consist of the plasticizing screw itself.

[0049] Therefore, for example, it can be configured such that the plasticized material is conveyed against the normal conveying direction by the at least one actuator, so that contaminants, blockages or occupants of the filter device and / or the at least one filter element can be removed from the filter device by the return of the plasticized material (this process is also commonly referred to as backwashing).

[0050] It can be configured that the at least one exit opening is opened during the backwashing process, so that the backwashed plasticized material, along with contaminants from the filter device, can be discharged from the material cylinder through the exit opening.

[0051] Particularly preferably, the at least one actuator may be configured to consist of the plasticizing screw itself.

[0052] Therefore, for example, a plasticizing screw can apply pressure to a material pad formed in the screw front chamber, wherein, for example, the injection nozzle of the material barrel remains closed, causing the plasticized material of the material pad to flow back towards the plasticizing screw, thereby backwashing the filter device.

[0053] However, it is also entirely conceivable to have an additional piston-cylinder unit as an actuator for the backwashing filter.

[0054] Preferably, at least one sealing element is provided that seals the filter device relative to the material cylinder, so that the plasticized plastic passes through the filter device without bypassing it.

[0055] In the context of this document, a seal can be understood as a seal for the plasticized plastic, wherein a relative amount of plasticized plastic used in the process is sealed to prevent spillage. Leaks due to tolerances, wear, and operating conditions may still occur.

[0056] The filter device may be configured to have at least one filter element having at least one pore and / or filter structure for filtering plasticized material.

[0057] The at least one pore and / or filter structure of the at least one filter element is preferably configured such that the plasticized material can flow through the at least one pore and / or filter structure, but contaminants present in the plasticized material cannot pass through, thereby depositing these contaminants at the at least one pore and / or filter structure.

[0058] The backflow preventer (or multiple backflow preventers) may be a spherical backflow preventer and / or annular backflow preventer.

[0059] Furthermore, it is sought to protect a method for operating a plasticizing unit, wherein material is plasticized into a plasticized material in a material barrel and filtered by a filter device arranged axially movable in the material barrel. Attached Figure Description

[0060] Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and related description. In the drawings:

[0061] Figure 1 and 2 A first embodiment of the plasticizing unit according to the present invention is shown.

[0062] Figure 3 A second embodiment of the plasticizing unit according to the present invention is shown.

[0063] Figure 4 The connecting element between the plasticizing screw and the check valve is shown.

[0064] Figure 5 and 6 A third embodiment of the plasticizing unit according to the present invention is shown.

[0065] Figures 7 to 9 Showing according to Figure 5 and Figure 6 The backwashing cycle of the plasticizing unit

[0066] Figure 10 A fourth embodiment of the plasticizing unit according to the present invention is shown; and

[0067] Figure 11 A molding machine with a plasticizing unit is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0068] Figure 1 and Figure 2 A first embodiment of a plasticizing unit 1 according to the present invention is shown, the plasticizing unit having a material cylinder 3.

[0069] A plasticizing screw capable of axial movement is installed in the material cylinder 3 (for clarity, Figure 1 and Figure 2 (not shown in the image) and a check valve 5 connected to the plasticizing screw 4.

[0070] In this embodiment, the backflow preventer 5 is threadedly connected to the plasticizing screw 4 via the connecting element 18 in a kinetic locking manner.

[0071] Figure 1 The quantitative feeding state of the plasticizing unit 1 is shown. In the quantitative feeding state, the check valve 5 together with the plasticizing screw connected thereto is in the retracted state, wherein there is a material pad made of plasticized material in the material cylinder 3 between the check valve 5 and the injection nozzle of the material cylinder 3.

[0072] Figure 2 The image shows the injection state of the plasticizing unit 1. In the injection state, the plasticizing screw 4, together with the check valve 5, moves forward to push the material pad through the injection nozzle of the material cylinder 3.

[0073] The check valve 5 in this embodiment is formed here via a sealing body 14 (ball), and is also referred to in the prior art as a ball check valve 5.

[0074] Therefore, when the plasticized material is conveyed through the plasticizing screw 4 toward the check valve 5, the plasticized material is conveyed through the inlet channel 13 of the check valve 5 toward the sealing body 14. The sealing body 14 is pressed into the front position by the plasticized material and released into the path toward the screw front chamber 17, wherein the plasticized material continues to flow through the outlet channel 15 of the check valve 5.

[0075] In this embodiment, a filter device 6 is provided downstream of the flow direction of the plasticized material. In this embodiment, the filter device 6 is movably locked to the check valve 5.

[0076] Strictly speaking, in this embodiment, the carrier 8 of the filter device 6 is connected to the check valve 5 by press fitting.

[0077] Alternatively or additionally, the filter device 6 may be configured to be locked to the backflow preventer 5 by means of the material of its carrier 8 or by means of threads.

[0078] Therefore, in this embodiment, the plasticized material conveyed via the outlet channel 15 of the check valve 5 is supplied to the inlet channel 19 of the filter device 6, wherein the carrier 8 is configured such that the plasticized material is radially guided through the filter element 7 relative to the longitudinal axis 12 of the material cylinder 3.

[0079] In this embodiment, these filter elements 7 are implemented through pores of a certain size, allowing the plasticized material to pass through the pores of the filter element 7, but contaminants are collected at the pores.

[0080] After the plasticized material has been filtered by the filter element 7, it is supplied to the screw front chamber 17 through the outlet channel 16 of the filter device 6.

[0081] The filtered and plasticized material accumulates in the screw front chamber 17 and pushes the filter device 6, together with the check valve 5 and the plasticizing screw 4, back to the side away from the injection nozzle.

[0082] The process (quantitative feeding) continues until the desired quality of plasticized material is reached in the screw front chamber 17. When the desired quality of plasticized material is reached in the screw front chamber 17, the plasticizing process via the plasticizing screw 4 is terminated by stopping the rotation of the plasticizing screw 4.

[0083] Subsequently, the plasticizing screw 4 performs an injection motion so that the filtered and plasticized material collected in the screw front chamber 17 is ejected through the injection nozzle of the material barrel 3.

[0084] For this purpose, the plasticizing screw moves along the longitudinal axis 12 toward the injection nozzle by means of a linear actuator, thereby causing the seal 14 of the check valve 5 to move to the shut-off state due to the backflow of the plasticized material and preventing the plasticized material from flowing back from the screw front chamber 17. This allows pressure to be applied to the plasticized material present in the screw front chamber 17, and thus the plasticized material can be pushed out of the screw front chamber 17 through the injection nozzle.

[0085] After multiple plasticizing and injection cycles, the filter device 6 may experience higher levels of filter clogging or occupancy. Therefore, the plasticized material can only be filtered to a limited extent through the filter element 7.

[0086] In order to clean the filter device 6, the material cylinder 3 is equipped with an exit opening 9 and a shut-off valve 10 disposed in the exit opening 9.

[0087] Therefore, in order to clean the filter device 6, the plasticized material can first be transported to the screw front chamber 17 via the plasticizing screw 4, the backflow preventer 5 and the filter device 6.

[0088] For example, the injection nozzle of material cylinder 3 is closed or remains closed. Alternatively or additionally, a curing gate and / or shut-off valve may also be used in a hot runner system or in a flange / channel system provided separately for this purpose.

[0089] Subsequently, the exit opening 9 is opened by the shut-off valve 10, and pressure is applied to the plasticized material present in the screw front chamber 17 through the plasticizing screw 4 and the check valve 5.

[0090] Therefore, the plasticized material flows back from the screw front chamber 17 through the filter element 7 to the check valve 5, but the check valve is closed due to the seal 14. In order to still reduce the pressure, the plasticized material flows out of the material cylinder 3 through the exit opening 9, thereby allowing contaminants on the filter element 7 to be detached and removed from the material cylinder 3 by the plasticized material.

[0091] Figure 3 Another embodiment of the plasticizing unit 1 according to the present invention is shown, which differs from... Figure 1 and Figure 2 In a variant of the implementation, the plasticizing unit additionally has a sealing element 11.

[0092] The sealing element 11 is provided by a sealing ring, which is disposed on the carrier 8 of the filter device 6 in the periphery and occupies a position between the periphery of the filter device 6 and the inner wall of the material cylinder 3.

[0093] The filter device 6 is sealed relative to the material cylinder 3 by the following configuration: the size of the filter element 7 relative to the filter device 6 and the material cylinder 3 is such that only a very small gap is left between the material cylinder 3 and the sealing element 11 and between the sealing element 11 and the filter device 6 (the plasticized material cannot pass through this gap).

[0094] Figure 4An alternative embodiment of the connecting element 18 is shown, which is configured to connect the check valve 5 to the plasticizing screw 4, wherein the check valve 5 is supported relative to the plasticizing screw 4 by a form-locking configuration such that the check valve 5 is linearly locked along the longitudinal axis 12 of the material cylinder 3, but the rotational movement of the plasticizing screw 4 is not transmitted to the check valve 5.

[0095] Figure 5 and Figure 6 A third embodiment of the plasticizing unit 1 according to the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the plasticizing screw 4 is axially supported and rotatably driven along the longitudinal extension of the material barrel 3.

[0096] The material to be plasticized can be plasticized in the rear region by means of the plasticizing screw 4, using shear, shear heat and heat introduced from the outside if necessary, wherein the plasticized material is then supplied through the inlet channel 13 of the check valve 5 and the sealing body 14 of the filter device 6.

[0097] In this embodiment, the filter device 6 is carried by the screw attachment of the plasticizing screw 4, wherein the carrier 8 of the filter device 6 carries the filter element 7 and deflects the plasticized material such that the filter element 7 (more precisely: filter ring 7) is passed through in the radial direction relative to the longitudinal extension 12.

[0098] After passing through the filter element 7 of the filter device 6, the plasticized material is supplied along the longitudinal extension 12 to the screw front chamber 17 via the screw tip 20.

[0099] The carrier 8 has a radial groove in the region of the material cylinder 3 away from the opening 9 to connect the outlet passage 15 of the check valve 5 to the inner wall of the material cylinder 3.

[0100] exist Figure 6 The image shows the surrounding area. Figure 5 The longitudinal axis 12 of the embodiment is slightly rotated in a section, wherein the section is selected through the groove, so that this connection between the inlet channel 15 of the check valve 5 and the inner wall of the material cylinder 3 can be seen.

[0101] In the following Figures 7 to 9 The process of cleaning filter 6 is shown in more detail in the middle, where first (see Figure 7 The plasticized material is supplied to the screw front chamber 17 through the backflow preventer 5 and the filter device 6.

[0102] Subsequently, the injection nozzle of the material cylinder 3 is closed and the exit outlet 9 of the material cylinder 3 is opened through the shut-off valve 10 (not shown here for clarity).

[0103] In the next step, the plasticizing screw moves toward the injection nozzle of the material barrel 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12 of the material barrel 3 to apply pressure to the plasticized material present in the screw front chamber 17.

[0104] In response to the applied pressure, the plasticized material flows back from the screw front chamber 17 through the filter element 7, whereby the filter element 7 is backwashed and contaminants are removed.

[0105] After the plasticized material is returned to the inlet channel 19 of the filter device 6 or the outlet channel 15 of the check valve 5 and the check valve 5 is closed, the plasticized material, along with the backwashed contaminants, is discharged from the material cylinder 3 through the exit opening 9 (see for details). Figure 8 and Figure 9 ).

[0106] Figure 10 A fourth embodiment of the plasticizing unit 1 according to the present invention is shown, wherein... Figures 5 to 9 The implementation schemes vary, in Figure 10 In one embodiment, the filter element 7 of the filter device 6 is not radially surrounding the plasticizing screw 4, but is configured such that the plasticized material passes through the filter element 7 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 12.

[0107] Figure 10 The remaining aspects of the implementation variant are essentially corresponding to Figures 5 to 9 Variants of the implementation scheme.

[0108] exist Figure 11 The molding machine 2 shown in the example is an injection molding machine, and has a plasticizing unit 1 and a closing unit 30, which are arranged together on a frame 31. Alternatively, the frame 31 may also be constructed as a multi-part assembly.

[0109] The closing unit 30 has a fixed forming clamping plate 23, a movable forming clamping plate 22, and an end plate 21.

[0110] The movable molded clamping plate 22 can move relative to the frame 23 via the crank mechanism 29, which is symbolically shown.

[0111] The half of the mold 24 can be clamped or installed on the fixed forming clamping plate 23 and the movable forming clamping plate 22 (shown by dashed lines).

[0112] The fixed forming clamping plate 23, the movable forming clamping plate 22, and the end plate 21 are supported and guided relative to each other by the beam 25.

[0113] Figure 11 The mold 24 shown in the closed position has at least one cavity. An injection channel leads to this cavity, through which the plasticized material can be supplied to the plasticizing unit 1.

[0114] Figure 11 A molding machine 2 with a plasticizing unit 1 is shown, wherein the plasticizing unit 1 shown in this embodiment has a plasticizing screw 4 configured as an injection screw, which is also used to inject the material to be plasticized into the mold 24.

[0115] The plasticizing unit 1 in this embodiment has a material cylinder 3 and a plasticizing screw 4 arranged in the material cylinder 3. The plasticizing screw 4 can rotate about a rotation axis and can move axially along the rotation axis in the conveying direction.

[0116] These movements are driven by a drive unit 26, schematically shown. Preferably, the drive unit 26 includes a rotary driver for rotational movements and a linear driver for axial injection movements.

[0117] Plasticizing unit 1 (and injection unit) are connected to open-loop or closed-loop control unit 27 via signal technology. For example, control commands are output from open-loop or closed-loop control unit 27 to plasticizing unit 1 and / or drive unit 27.

[0118] The open-loop or closed-loop control unit 27 may be connected to the operating unit and / or display device 28, or may be an integral part of such operating unit and / or display device 28.

[0119] List of reference numerals in the attached diagram:

[0120] 1 Plasticizing unit

[0121] 2 Molding Machine

[0122] 3 Material Cylinder

[0123] 4 Plasticizing Screw

[0124] 5. Check valve

[0125] 6 Filtration devices

[0126] 7 filter elements

[0127] 8 load-bearing bodies

[0128] 9. Leave the opening

[0129] 10 shut-off valve

[0130] 11 Sealing elements

[0131] 12 longitudinal axes

[0132] 13. Inlet channel of check valve

[0133] 14 Sealing Body

[0134] 15. Outlet channel of check valve

[0135] 16. Filter unit outlet channel

[0136] 17 Screw Front Chamber

[0137] 18 connecting elements

[0138] 19. Inlet channel of the filter unit

[0139] 20 screw tip

[0140] 21 end plate

[0141] 22 Movable forming clamping plate

[0142] 23 Fixed forming clamping plate

[0143] 24 molds

[0144] 25 beams

[0145] 26 drive units

[0146] 27 Open-loop control or closed-loop control unit

[0147] 28 display devices

[0148] 29 Crank Mechanism

[0149] 30 Closed Unit

[0150] 31 racks

Claims

1. A plasticizing unit for a molding machine (2), the plasticizing unit having a material cylinder (3) and an axially movable plasticizing screw (4) arranged in the material cylinder (3), the plasticizing unit having a check valve arranged in the material cylinder and connected to the plasticizing screw, and a filter device (6) for filtering the plasticized material, the filter device being arranged in the material cylinder (3) in an axially movable manner, characterized in that, At least one of the filter devices (6) is arranged in the material cylinder (3) on the side of the check valve (5) away from the plasticizing screw (4).

2. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1, wherein, The plasticized material is plasticized plastic.

3. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The filter device (6) is axially and / or rotaryly coupled to the plasticizing screw (4) and / or the check valve (5).

4. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The filtration device (6) includes at least one filter element (7) that at least partially surrounds the plasticizing screw (4) and / or the check valve (5).

5. The plasticizing unit according to claim 4, wherein, The filter element is a filter ring.

6. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The filter device (6) is configured such that the plasticized material passes through the filter device (6) in the radial and / or axial directions of the plasticizing screw (4) and / or the material barrel (3) for filtration.

7. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The filter device (6) has a carrier (8) that carries at least one filter element (7) of the filter device (6) and is configured to guide the plasticized material through the at least one filter element (7).

8. The plasticizing unit according to claim 7, wherein, The carrier (8) is connected to and / or constitutes part of the check valve (5).

9. The plasticizing unit according to claim 7, wherein, The carrier (8) has at least one first channel and at least one second channel, wherein the at least one second channel is located radially inside the carrier (8) compared to the at least one first channel, and the at least one first channel is connected to the at least one second channel via the filter element (7).

10. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The material cylinder (3) has at least one exit opening (9) in the area of ​​use of the filter device (6).

11. The plasticizing unit according to claim 10, wherein, The exit opening (9) is connected to the surrounding environment of the material cylinder (3) via a shut-off valve (10).

12. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, At least one sealing element (11) is provided, which seals the filter device (6) relative to the material cylinder (3).

13. The plasticizing unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The filtration device (6) has at least one filter element (7), which has at least one pore and / or filter structure for filtering plasticized material.

14. A molding machine having a plasticizing unit (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The molding machine according to claim 14, wherein, The molding machine is an injection molding machine.

16. A method for operating a plasticizing unit, said plasticizing unit being a plasticizing unit according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, In the material cylinder (3), the material is plasticized into a plasticized material and filtered by a filter device (6) arranged axially in the material cylinder (3).

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