Vertical injection molding equipment and system

Abstract

The invention relates to injection molding equipment, in particular to vertical injection molding equipment and system. The vertical injection molding equipment comprises a rack, an injection system and a mold closing system, wherein the injection system comprises a charging barrel assembly, a heating screw assembly and a nozzle assembly; the charging barrel assembly comprises a charging barrel and a material collecting pipe connected to the output end of the charging barrel. The heating screw assembly comprises a heating cylinder and an injection screw arranged in the heating cylinder; the nozzle assembly comprises an injection pressure structure and a pressing rod which is located in the injection pressure structure and can ascend and descend. The charging barrel and the nozzle assembly are arranged in the lifting z direction of the pressing rod, the heating barrel is obliquely arranged, one end communicates with the material collecting pipe, and the other end communicates with the interior of the injection pressure structure; the mold closing system comprises a driving mechanism and a mold locking assembly. The mold locking assembly comprises a top plate, a bottom plate, a first movable plate and a second movable plate. The top plate, the bottom plate, the first movable plate and the second movable plate define a forming mold area A.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to injection molding equipment, in particular to a vertical injection molding equipment and system. BACKGROUND

[0002] The working principle of the injection molding machine is to close the mold by hydraulic or electric drive, apply high pressure locking, rotate the screw to heat and melt the plastic particles, mix uniformly, and then push the molten plastic into the mold cavity at high speed and high pressure. After keeping the pressure and supplementing the shrinkage, the mold is opened and the product is ejected after cooling and setting. The continuous production is realized by repeating the above steps.

[0003] The vertical injection molding machine is usually more suitable for electronic connectors such as USB, Type-C interface, or circuit board packaging such as sensor shell and electronic product shell support, because of its vertical mold closing and convenient insert placement. Artificial or mechanical hand can place metal / electronic inserts, and the plastic is fixed after injection molding. The mold closing system is a vertically moving mold plate (moving mold and fixed mold), which applies pressure through hydraulic or electric locking mechanism. Specifically, the moving mold (upper mold plate) moves vertically downward and closes with the fixed mold (lower mold plate), and the hydraulic / electric mechanism applies locking force. When the mold is opened, the moving mold is raised to open the mold, and the ejector pin pushes the product out from below the mold.

[0004] At present, with the prevalence of unmanned factory and full automation production, the traditional way of ejecting by ejector pin will leave marks on the high requirement injection molding, which needs secondary surface processing. In order to adapt to full automation, the moving mold needs to have a large stroke to reserve the space between the fixed mold and the moving mold, so as to facilitate the mechanical arm to enter for feeding and taking. In simple terms, in order to let the mechanical hand enter the mold area, the moving mold needs to be raised greatly (usually increase by 50%~100% stroke). During the process of moving mold rising and falling, air pressure is introduced in the injection direction, and more volume of air needs to be compressed when the mold is closed, which affects the injection quality. When the stroke is increased, the factory usually adjusts the running speed of the moving mold to a larger value in order to balance the production throughput. High-speed mold closing will form a transient high-pressure air mass in the cavity, which will hinder the plastic filling and cause short shot or bubbles, especially for thin-walled parts, which is easy to cause flash and other product problems. SUMMARY

[0005] In order to solve the above problems, the present application provides a vertical injection molding equipment and system.

[0006] In view of the above, the first aspect of the present application provides a vertical injection molding device, which comprises a rack, an injection system and a mold clamping system, the injection system comprising a barrel assembly, a heating screw assembly and a nozzle assembly; the barrel assembly comprising a barrel and a collecting pipe connected to the output end of the barrel; the heating screw assembly comprising a heating barrel and an injection screw arranged in the heating barrel; the nozzle assembly comprising an injection pressure structure and a pressure rod capable of lifting in the injection pressure structure; the barrel and the nozzle assembly are arranged along the z direction in which the pressure rod lifts, and the heating barrel is obliquely arranged with one end communicating with the collecting pipe and the other end communicating with the inside of the injection pressure structure; the mold clamping system comprises a driving mechanism and a mold clamping assembly, the mold clamping assembly comprising a top plate, a bottom plate and first and second movable plates; the top plate, the bottom plate and the first and second movable plates form a mold area A, and the driving mechanism is arranged to independently drive one of the first and second movable plates to move along the x direction perpendicular to the z direction.

[0007] In a further preferred embodiment of the present application, the injection pressure structure comprises, in sequence, an active area b, a metering area b and a nozzle area b; the pressure rod comprises, in sequence, a limiting segment c, a shaft segment c and a pressure segment c, the limiting segment c being connected to the pressure segment c through the shaft segment c, and the limiting segment c and the pressure segment c both protruding from the shaft segment c along the x direction; wherein the limiting segment c is arranged in the active area b and has an outer diameter matching the inner wall of the active area b, the pressure segment c is arranged in the metering area b and matches the inner wall of the metering area b, and one end of the heating barrel communicates with the metering area b.

[0008] In a further preferred embodiment of the present application, the nozzle assembly further comprises a lifting oil cylinder; after the molten material medium in the heating barrel is injected into the metering area b under the action of the injection screw, the pressure rod is lifted along the z direction under the action of the molten material medium filling the metering area b; the lifting oil cylinder can control the pressure rod to press downward along the z direction to extrude the molten material medium in the heating barrel to the nozzle area b.

[0009] In a further preferred embodiment of the present application, the top plate and the bottom plate are fixed to the rack; the top plate is provided with an injection hole B corresponding to the butt joint of the end of the nozzle area b, and the outer diameter of the injection hole B gradually decreases along the hole depth direction until it is consistent with the end of the nozzle area b.

[0010] In a further preferred embodiment of the present application, the first movable plate comprises at least two first mold clamping columns d extending along the x direction and at least two second mold clamping columns d extending along the z direction; the second movable plate is provided with at least two first pin holes e corresponding to the first mold clamping columns d and at least two second pin holes e corresponding to the second mold clamping columns d, wherein the at least two first mold clamping columns d are asymmetrically arranged, and the different first pin holes e have different sizes.

[0011] In a further preferred embodiment of this application, the nozzle assembly further includes a first driving cylinder and a second driving cylinder; the first driving cylinder and the second driving cylinder are symmetrically arranged relative to the injection pressure structure, and can cause the entire injection system to rise or fall along the z direction; when the injection system falls a preset distance, the end of the nozzle area b and the bottom of the injection hole B abut against each other to close the end of the nozzle area b.

[0012] In a further preferred embodiment of this application, the mold clamping system further includes a first drive motor and a second drive motor connected to the frame, wherein the first drive motor is connected to a first movable plate and the second drive motor is connected to a second movable plate.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment of this application, the axis of the heating cylinder is tilted at an angle of 30° to 45° relative to the z-direction.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of this application, the heating cylinder, in the direction from the collecting pipe to the injection pressure structure, includes a feeding section a, a melting section a, and a homogenizing section a in sequence along its radial direction, and the temperature control ranges of the feeding section a, the melting section a, and the homogenizing section a are different.

[0015] A second aspect of this application also provides a vertical injection molding system, which includes the vertical injection molding equipment as described above; and further includes a first robotic arm device and a second robotic arm device; the first robotic arm device includes a first robotic arm drive mechanism and a first clamping execution structure, the first clamping execution structure having at least x-axis and y-axis degrees of freedom of movement under the action of the first robotic arm drive mechanism; the second robotic arm device includes a second robotic arm drive mechanism and a second clamping execution structure, the second clamping execution structure having at least x-axis and y-axis degrees of freedom of movement under the action of the second robotic arm drive mechanism, wherein the y-axis is horizontally perpendicular to the x-axis.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. During lateral demolding, the top plate remains stationary, and the injection pressure structure maintains continuous communication with the top plate. This design avoids introducing additional air pressure in the injection direction, reducing the impact of air within the cavity and thus improving injection molding quality. Furthermore, unlike vertical demolding, which eliminates the need to consider air pressure issues during the rising and falling of the moving mold, the lateral demolding design in this application allows for parallel execution of each step compared to the sequential execution of steps in traditional vertical injection molding equipment. For example, after completing one injection, the moving mold needs to rise for demolding, during which the entire injection system is in a waiting state and cannot perform subsequent preparation work such as material loading and melting. When the equipment performs lateral demolding, because the top plate remains stationary and the injection pressure structure maintains continuous connection with the top plate, the barrel assembly can simultaneously perform material loading and melting operations, enabling the equipment to complete more production tasks per unit time.

[0017] 2. By directly integrating the heating cylinder and injection screw, and employing an inclined transmission method between the barrel and the injection pressure structure, the injection pressure structure and the heating screw assembly are independently configured. This greatly simplifies the movement of the injection screw, requiring only continuous feeding in the same direction, eliminating the need for reciprocating movement as in traditional designs. This reduces precision errors caused by complex motion, helps maintain stable pressure during injection, and avoids injection molding defects caused by uneven material delivery or pressure fluctuations.

[0018] Other features and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention will be described in the following detailed embodiments section. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this application or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a side view of the vertical injection molding system provided in this application; Figure 2 This is a partial sectional view of the vertical injection molding system provided in this application; Figure 3 A front view of the vertical injection molding system provided in this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the bearings of the vertical injection molding equipment in the vertical injection molding system provided in this application, after removing the frame. Figure 5A diagram of the first bearing of the vertical injection molding machine in the vertical injection molding system provided in this application, after removing the frame; and Figure 6 A diagram of the second bearing of the vertical injection molding equipment in the vertical injection molding system provided in this application, after removing the frame. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Unless otherwise specified, the terms “second direction,” “first direction,” “third direction,” “inner,” and “outer” used in the following descriptions, indicating orientation or positional relationships, are understood to be based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0022] Furthermore, features specified with "first" or "second" for descriptive purposes only should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Features specified with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of the specified features. The description of "multiple" generally means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0023] In this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, terms such as "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application based on the specific circumstances.

[0024] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that the specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0025] The first aspect of this application provides a vertical injection molding machine 100, which includes a frame 10, an injection system 20, and a mold clamping system 30. The frame 10 is the supporting structure of the entire vertical injection molding machine 100. The injection system 20 is mainly used to heat and melt plastic raw materials and inject them into the mold cavity of the mold clamping system 30. The function of the mold clamping system 30 is to open and close the mold and keep the mold closed during the injection process to withstand the injection pressure and ensure the molding quality of the plastic product.

[0026] In this application, the injection system 20 includes a barrel assembly 21, a heating screw assembly 22, and a nozzle assembly 23. The barrel assembly 21 includes a barrel 211 and a collecting pipe 212 connected to the output end of the barrel 21. The heating screw assembly 22 includes a heating cylinder 221 and an injection screw 222 disposed in the heating cylinder 221. The nozzle assembly 23 includes an injection pressure structure 231 and a lifting and lowering pressure rod 232 located within the injection pressure structure 231. It can be understood that the barrel 211 is the carrier for the plastic raw material entering the injection system, providing space for the plastic raw material to be contained and transported. The plastic raw material enters the barrel 211 from the hopper in the form of granules or powder, and the transport process is completed in the barrel 211. The collecting pipe 212 is connected to the output end of the barrel 211. It is used to collect and guide the pre-treated plastic raw material to the subsequent heating screw assembly 22. The heating cylinder 221 is used for heating and melting the plastic raw material. It is equipped with heating elements, such as heating wires or heating coils, which generate heat through electric current and transfer the heat to the plastic raw material on the inner wall of the barrel 211. The heating cylinder 221 surrounds the injection screw 222. Its main function is to heat the plastic raw material entering it. The injection screw 222 rotates inside the heating cylinder 221, which plays the role of conveying, plasticizing and metering the plastic raw material. The rotation propels the plastic raw material forward, and at the same time, the heat of the heating cylinder 221 melts the raw material. The injection pressure structure 231 provides pressure for the injection of plastic raw material to ensure that the molten plastic can smoothly enter the mold cavity. The pressure rod 232 is located inside the injection pressure structure 231 and can be raised and lowered. It directly participates in the injection process. The lifting and lowering movement adjusts the injection pressure and flow rate to ensure that the plastic can accurately and uniformly fill the mold cavity.

[0027] Based on the general inventive concept of this application, the barrel 211 and the nozzle assembly 23 are both arranged along the z-direction of the pressure rod 232. The heating cylinder 221 is inclined and one end is connected to the material collection pipe 212, and the other end is connected to the inside of the injection pressure structure 231. The mold closing system 30 includes a drive mechanism 31 and a mold locking assembly 32. The mold locking assembly 32 includes a top plate 31, a bottom plate 32, a first movable plate 33, and a second movable plate 34. The top plate 31, the bottom plate 32, the first movable plate 33, and the second movable plate 34 enclose and form a mold area A. The drive mechanism 31 is configured to independently drive one of the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34 to move along the x-direction perpendicular to the z-direction. As illustrated in the diagram, the barrel 211 and nozzle assembly 23 are positioned along the z-axis of the pressure rod 232, while the heating cylinder 221 is inclined, with one end connected to the collecting pipe 212 and the other end connected to the interior of the injection pressure structure 231. The mold clamping assembly 32 includes a top plate 31, a bottom plate 32, a first movable plate 33, and a second movable plate 34, which together enclose the mold area A. It can be understood that by directly integrating the heating cylinder 221 and the injection screw 222, and using an inclined transmission method between the barrel 211 and the injection pressure structure 231, the injection pressure structure 231 and the heating screw assembly 22 are independently positioned. This greatly simplifies the movement of the injection screw 222, requiring only continuous feeding in the same direction, eliminating the need for reciprocating movement as in traditional designs. For example, in traditional injection molding equipment, the injection screw may need to move back and forth according to different production needs to complete feeding, metering, and injection actions. This frequent reciprocating movement increases the complexity of the equipment's movement and sources of error. In the design of this application, the unidirectional feeding motion of the injection screw 222 reduces the number of motion links, reduces the accuracy error caused by the complexity of the motion, helps to maintain stable pressure during the injection process, and avoids injection molding defects caused by uneven material delivery or pressure fluctuations.

[0028] In addition, in this application, the top plate 31, the bottom plate 32, the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34 enclose and form the molding area A. The driving mechanism 31 can independently drive one of the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34 to move along the x direction perpendicular to the z direction, thereby realizing the improvement of the vertical injection molding equipment 100 from the original vertical demolding to horizontal demolding.

[0029] It should be noted that during the lateral demolding process, the top plate 31 remains stationary, and the injection pressure structure 231 maintains continuous communication with the top plate 31. This design avoids introducing additional air pressure in the injection direction, reducing the impact of air within the cavity and thus improving injection molding quality. Furthermore, unlike vertical demolding, which eliminates the need to consider air pressure issues during the rising and falling of the moving mold, the lateral demolding design in this application allows for parallel execution of each step compared to the sequential execution of steps in traditional vertical injection molding equipment. For example, after completing one injection, the moving mold needs to rise for demolding, during which the entire injection system is in a waiting state and cannot perform subsequent preparation work such as material loading and melting. When the equipment performs lateral demolding, because the top plate 31 remains stationary and the injection pressure structure 231 maintains continuous communication with the top plate 31, the barrel assembly 21 can simultaneously perform material loading and melting operations, enabling the equipment to complete more production tasks per unit time.

[0030] The injection pressure structure 231 includes, in sequence, an active area b1, a metering area b2, and a nozzle area b3; The pressure bar 232 includes a limiting section c1, a shaft section c2, and a pressing section c3 in sequence. The limiting section c1 is connected to the pressing section c3 through the shaft section c2, and both the limiting section c1 and the pressing section c3 protrude from the shaft section c2 in the x direction. The limiting section c1 is located in the active area b1 and its outer diameter matches the inner wall of the active area b1. The pressing section c3 is located in the metering area b2 and its inner wall matches the inner wall of the metering area b2. One end of the heating cylinder 221 is connected to the metering area b2.

[0031] During injection molding, the pressure bar 232 needs to move according to a specific trajectory and range to ensure stable injection pressure and accurate injection volume. The active zone b1 provides a specific movement space for the limiting section c1, which is located within the active zone b1. This design ensures that the limiting section c1 can only move up and down within the stroke range defined by the active zone b1. Simultaneously, the precise matching design between the limiting section c1 and the inner wall of the active zone b1 also serves as a guide, ensuring that the pressure bar 232 moves in a predetermined direction. The pressing section c3 is located in the metering zone b2 and matches the inner wall of the metering zone b2. During injection, the pressing section c3 applies pressure to the molten plastic within the metering zone b2, ensuring that the plastic can be accurately and uniformly injected into the mold through the nozzle area b3. One end of the heating cylinder 221 is connected to the metering zone b2, allowing the molten plastic material from the heating cylinder 221 to directly enter the metering zone b2, providing a stable and uniform molten plastic for the subsequent injection process, ensuring the continuity and stability of the injection process.

[0032] The nozzle assembly 23 also includes a lifting cylinder 233; when the molten material medium in the heating cylinder 221 is injected into the metering zone b2 under the action of the injection screw 222, the pressure rod 232 rises along the z direction under the action of the molten material medium filling the metering zone b2; at the same time, the lifting cylinder 233 can control the pressure rod 232 to press down along the z direction, so as to squeeze the molten material medium in the heating cylinder 221 into the nozzle zone b3.

[0033] During injection molding, when the molten material medium in the heating cylinder 221 is injected into the metering zone b2 under the pushing action of the injection screw 222, the space in the metering zone b2 is gradually filled. Since the pressing section c3 of the pressure rod 232 is located in the metering zone b2, as the molten material medium continuously flows in, the material will exert upward pressure on the pressing section c3; the above pressure action causes the pressure rod 232 to overcome its own weight and other possible resistances and rise along the z-axis; during the rising process, the limiting section c1 plays a limiting and guiding role in the active zone b1, ensuring that the pressure rod 232 rises stably along the predetermined trajectory, avoiding deviation or shaking, and preparing for subsequent precise injection. The lifting cylinder 233 is the key component for controlling the downward pressing of the pressure rod 232 along the z-axis. Once the metering zone b2 is filled with an appropriate amount of molten material, the lifting cylinder 233 begins operation. A strong downward pressure is generated through the internal hydraulic system, which is transmitted to the pressure rod 232. This pressure rod overcomes the resistance of the material and moves downward along the z-axis. As the pressure rod 232 presses down, the molten material in the metering zone b2 is compressed, and its pressure gradually increases. Under this pressure, the molten material flows along the metering zone b2 towards the nozzle zone b3. The special design of the nozzle zone b3 (such as a suitable nozzle diameter and shape) guides the material to be ejected at a uniform and stable speed, injecting it into the mold cavity.

[0034] Through the above methods, the air-free injection molding process allows the molten material medium to fill every corner of the mold cavity more evenly. The presence of air will hinder the flow of material, resulting in insufficient or excessive filling in some areas, thus affecting the dimensional accuracy of the product. Uniform filling can ensure that the dimensions of all parts of the product are consistent and reduce flash and other issues.

[0035] Furthermore, the top plate 31 and the bottom plate 32 are both fixed to the frame 10; the top plate 31 is provided with an injection hole B that is connected to the end of the nozzle area b3, and the outer diameter of the injection hole B gradually decreases along the depth direction until it is consistent with the end of the nozzle area b3.

[0036] Injection hole B is located at the top plate 31 and aligns with the end of nozzle area b3. This design allows the molten material to flow smoothly and accurately from nozzle area b3 into injection hole B. Furthermore, because injection hole B is internally composed of an inverted frustum and a cylinder along its depth, when the end contact surface of nozzle area b3 abuts against the bottom of the cylinder, the shape of the inverted frustum matches well with the shape of the end of nozzle area b3, resulting in a significant pressure distribution on the contact surface. This pressure distribution ensures a tighter contact between the end of nozzle area b3 and injection hole B, effectively preventing leakage of the molten material and external air. When there is a certain distance between the end contact surface of nozzle area b3 and the bottom of the cylinder, a channel is formed that allows the molten material to pass through.

[0037] The first movable plate 33 includes at least two first mold-locking pillars d1 extending along the x-direction and at least two second mold-locking pillars d2 extending along the z-direction; the second movable plate 34 is provided with at least two first pin holes e1 corresponding to the first mold-locking pillars d1 and second pin holes e2 corresponding to the second mold-locking pillars d2, wherein the at least two first mold-locking pillars d1 are asymmetrically arranged and the different first pin holes e1 are of different sizes.

[0038] At least two first locking pillars d1 are asymmetrically arranged, and the sizes of the corresponding first pin holes e1 are different. This design greatly reduces the possibility of errors during the maintenance and assembly of the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34. Furthermore, during the locking process, the insertion of the first locking pillars d1 into the first pin holes e1 provides precise guidance. Because the first locking pillars d1 are asymmetrically distributed and the corresponding first pin holes e1 are of different sizes, the relative positions of the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34 can be restricted and adjusted from multiple directions and dimensions, ensuring precise alignment of the two plates during locking, reducing alignment errors, and improving the positioning accuracy of the locking process. Moreover, the combined design of at least two first locking pillars d1 and at least two second locking pillars d2 can distribute the locking force generated during the locking process across multiple locking pillars. Compared to a single locking pillar or a symmetrically distributed locking pillar structure, this multi-locking pillar design avoids the problem of excessive local stress caused by the concentration of locking force at a few points, reduces the risk of deformation of the locking pillars and movable plates, and improves the overall stability of the locking structure.

[0039] The nozzle assembly 23 also includes a first drive cylinder 234 and a second drive cylinder 235; the first drive cylinder 234 and the second drive cylinder 235 are symmetrically arranged relative to the injection pressure structure 231, and can make the injection system 20 rise or fall along the z direction; when the injection system 20 falls a preset distance, the end of the nozzle area b3 and the bottom of the injection hole B abut against each other to close the end of the nozzle area b3.

[0040] The first drive cylinder 234 and the second drive cylinder 235 are symmetrically arranged relative to the injection pressure structure 231. This arrangement ensures more uniform force distribution when the injection system 20 rises or falls along the z-axis. During the lifting and lowering process, the symmetrical cylinders can balance the weight of the injection system 20 and other possible external forces, avoiding problems such as movement deviation and swaying caused by uneven force distribution, thereby ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of the injection system 20's movement. Similarly, when the injection system 20 descends a preset distance, the end of the nozzle area b3 and the bottom of the injection hole B abut to close the end of the nozzle area b3; the precise control capability of the first drive cylinder 234 and the second drive cylinder 235 ensures the accuracy and reliability of this abutment.

[0041] The mold clamping system 30 also includes a first drive motor 35 and a second drive motor 36 connected to the frame 10. The first drive motor 35 is connected to the first movable plate 33, and the second drive motor 36 is connected to the second movable plate 34. Due to their independent drive, during mold clamping, one of the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34 remains stationary while the other movable plate moves. In injection molding production, product changes are frequently required, i.e., switching from producing one product to producing another. The single-moving-plate working mode allows the mold clamping system to adapt to such changes more flexibly. When changing molds or products, operators can easily adjust which movable plate is fixed and which moves according to the new process requirements, without requiring large-scale modifications or adjustments to the mold clamping system, thus providing greater flexibility and adaptability.

[0042] The axis of the heating cylinder 221 is tilted at an angle u relative to the z-axis by 30° to 45°. Simultaneously, the tilted axis of the heating cylinder allows the material to undergo more appropriate shearing during flow. Appropriate shearing force helps improve the plasticization effect of the material, allowing for better orientation and dispersion of molecular chains, thereby improving the mechanical properties and surface quality of the product. At the same time, appropriate shearing also reduces localized overheating or degradation of the material within the heating cylinder, ensuring stable product quality.

[0043] From the collection pipe 212 to the injection pressure structure 231, the heating cylinder 221 includes a feeding section a1, a melting section a2 and a homogenization section a3 in sequence along its radial direction. The temperature control ranges of the feeding section a1, the melting section a2 and the homogenization section a3 are different.

[0044] Specifically, the temperature of the feeding section a1 is typically set relatively low. This is because the main task of this section is to advance the solid plastic granules conveyed from the collecting pipe 212. Excessive temperature may cause the plastic to melt prematurely, increasing conveying resistance and even causing bridging; excessively low temperature will make it difficult to convey the plastic granules smoothly, affecting production efficiency. The temperature of the melting section a2 is set higher than that of the feeding section a1 to provide sufficient heat for the plastic granules to melt completely. Different plastic materials have different melting temperatures, so the temperature control range of this section needs to be precisely set according to the melting point of the specific plastic. For example, for polypropylene (PP), the melting section temperature is typically set between 180 and 230°C; the temperature of the melting section a2 is higher than that of the feeding section a1, and its function is to completely melt the plastic granules, forming a uniform melt. The temperature control range of this section is usually higher to ensure that the plastic can melt fully in a short time, while avoiding plastic degradation due to excessive temperature.

[0045] A second aspect of this application also provides a vertical injection molding system 1000, including the vertical injection molding equipment 100 as described above, a first robotic arm device 200, and a second robotic arm device 300; the first robotic arm device 200 includes a first robotic arm drive mechanism 201 and a first clamping execution structure 202, the first clamping execution structure 202 having at least x-direction and y-direction movement degrees of freedom under the action of the first robotic arm drive mechanism 201; the second robotic arm device 300 includes a second robotic arm drive mechanism 301 and a second clamping execution structure 302, the second clamping execution structure 302 having at least x-direction and y-direction movement degrees of freedom under the action of the second robotic arm drive mechanism 301, wherein the y-direction is horizontally perpendicular to the x-direction.

[0046] As can be seen from the above, the first movable plate 33 and the second movable plate 34 constitute a dual mold structure of the vertical injection molding system. The mold separation is achieved by opening the mold in the x-direction. The two may adopt an alternating fixing mode (such as the second movable plate 34 moving when the first movable plate 33 is fixed, or vice versa). After the mold is opened, the fixed plate remains stationary, and the movable plate separates along the x-direction, exposing the product cavity and providing space for the robotic arm to pick up the material.

[0047] The system automatically selects the robotic arm based on the current mold opening status. For example, if the first movable plate 33 is fixed, the first robotic arm device 200 is responsible for picking up the material; conversely, if the second movable plate 34 is fixed, the second robotic arm device 300 intervenes; the first clamping execution structure 202 and the second clamping execution structure 302 switch clamping modes (such as vacuum adsorption, mechanical gripper) according to the shape of the product.

[0048] X-axis mold opening separates the mold horizontally. The product naturally adheres to the fixed or moving plate due to gravity or mold structure (such as undercut design), eliminating the need for ejector pins to force ejection. The robotic arm automatically adjusts its path based on the product's position (fixed or moving plate) after mold opening and directly grips the product using clamps (such as vacuum suction cups or mechanical grippers), without the need for ejector pins. Ejector pin ejection can easily leave marks on the product surface (such as whitening or denting). Eliminating ejector pins results in a more perfect product appearance, especially suitable for scenarios with high precision and high surface quality requirements. Furthermore, eliminating ejector pin action reduces the time for product ejection after mold opening (traditional ejection takes 2-3 seconds), shortening the injection molding cycle by 10%-15% (e.g., from 15 seconds / cycle to 8 seconds / cycle).

[0049] The technical features described above can be combined arbitrarily. Although not all possible combinations of these technical features are described, any combination of these technical features should be considered to be covered by this specification, provided that such combination does not contain contradictions.

[0050] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and not to limit them; although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still adjust the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for some or all of the technical features; and these adjustments or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A vertical injection molding machine, comprising a frame (10), an injection system (20) and a mold clamping system (30), wherein the injection system (20) comprises a barrel assembly (21), a heating screw assembly (22) and a nozzle assembly (23); The barrel assembly (21) includes a barrel (211) and a collecting pipe (212) connected to the output end of the barrel (21); the heating screw assembly (22) includes a heating cylinder (221) and an injection screw (222) disposed in the heating cylinder (221); the nozzle assembly (23) includes an injection pressure structure (231) and a lifting rod (232) located within the injection pressure structure (231); characterized in that, The material cylinder (211) and the nozzle assembly (23) are both arranged along the z-direction of the pressure rod (232) as it rises and falls. The heating cylinder (221) is inclined and one end is connected to the material collection pipe (212), and the other end is connected to the inside of the injection pressure structure (231). The mold closing system (30) includes a drive mechanism (31) and a mold locking assembly (32). The mold locking assembly (32) includes a top plate (31), a bottom plate (32), a first movable plate (33), and a second movable plate (34). The top plate (31), bottom plate (32), first movable plate (33), and second movable plate (34) enclose and form a molding area (A). The driving mechanism (31) is configured to independently drive one of the first movable plate (33) and the second movable plate (34) to move along the x direction perpendicular to the z direction.

2. The vertical injection molding equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that, The injection pressure structure (231) includes, in sequence, an active area (b1), a metering area (b2), and a nozzle area (b3); The pressure bar (232) includes a limiting section (c1), a shaft section (c2), and a pressing section (c3) in sequence. The limiting section (c1) is connected to the pressing section (c3) through the shaft section (c2), and both the limiting section (c1) and the pressing section (c3) protrude from the shaft section (c2) along the x-direction. The limiting section (c1) is located in the active area (b1) and its outer diameter matches the inner wall of the active area (b1). The pressing section (c3) is located in the metering area (b2) and matches the inner wall of the metering area (b2). One end of the heating cylinder (221) is connected to the metering area (b2).

3. The vertical injection molding equipment according to claim 2, characterized in that, The nozzle assembly (23) also includes a lifting cylinder (233); When the molten material medium in the heating cylinder (221) is injected into the metering zone (b2) under the action of the injection screw (222), the pressure rod (232) rises along the z direction under the action of the molten material medium filling the metering zone (b2); The lifting cylinder (233) can control the pressure rod (232) to press down along z to squeeze the molten material medium in the heating cylinder (221) to the nozzle area (b3).

4. The vertical injection molding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The top plate (31) and bottom plate (32) are both fixed to the frame (10); The top plate (31) is provided with an injection hole (B) that is connected to the end of the nozzle area (b3). The outer diameter of the injection hole (B) gradually decreases along the depth direction until it is consistent with the end of the nozzle area (b3).

5. The vertical injection molding equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first movable plate (33) includes at least two first mold-locking posts (d1) extending along the x direction and at least two second mold-locking posts (d2) extending along the z direction. The second movable plate (34) is provided with at least two first pin holes (e1) corresponding to the first mold-locking column (d1) and a second pin hole (e2) corresponding to the second mold-locking column (d2), wherein at least two first mold-locking columns (d1) are asymmetrically arranged and the different first pin holes (e1) are of different sizes.

6. The vertical injection molding equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that, The nozzle assembly (23) further includes a first drive cylinder (234) and a second drive cylinder (235); The first driving cylinder (234) and the second driving cylinder (235) are symmetrically arranged relative to the injection pressure structure (231), and the injection system (20) as a whole can rise or fall along the z direction; When the injection system (20) descends a preset distance, the end of the nozzle area (b3) and the bottom of the injection hole (B) come into contact to close the end of the nozzle area (b3).

7. The vertical injection molding equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The mold closing system (30) further includes a first drive motor (35) and a second drive motor (36) connected to the frame (10), the first drive motor (35) being connected to the first movable plate (33), and the second drive motor (36) being connected to the second movable plate (34).

8. The vertical injection molding equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The axis of the heating cylinder (221) is tilted at an angle of 30° to 45° relative to the z-direction.

9. The vertical injection molding equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, From the collection pipe (212) to the injection pressure structure (231), the heating cylinder (221) includes a feeding section (a1), a melting section (a2) and a homogenization section (a3) ​​in sequence along its radial direction, and the temperature control ranges of the feeding section (a1), the melting section (a2) and the homogenization section (a3) ​​are different.

10. A vertical injection molding system, characterized in that, include: The vertical injection molding equipment as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; The first robotic arm device (200) includes a first robotic arm drive mechanism (201) and a first gripper execution structure (202). The first gripper execution structure (202) has at least x-axis and y-axis movement freedom under the action of the first robotic arm drive mechanism (201). The second robotic arm device (300) includes a second robotic arm drive mechanism (201) and a second gripper execution structure (202). The second gripper execution structure (202) has at least x-direction and y-direction movement freedom under the action of the second robotic arm drive mechanism (201), wherein the y-direction is horizontally perpendicular to the x-direction.

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