Injection molding machine hopper convenient to disassemble and clean

Abstract

The utility model discloses an injection molding machine hopper convenient to disassemble and clean, and belongs to the field of injection molding machines, the hopper comprises an annular frame used for communicating with the feeding end of an injection molding machine and a hopper body communicating with the annular frame, the top of the annular frame is fixedly sleeved with a first annular plate, and the bottom of the hopper body is fixedly sleeved with a second annular plate; the first annular plate and the second annular plate are detachably connected through a connecting assembly; the connecting assembly comprises a threaded rod hinged to the first annular plate, a clamping groove formed in the second annular plate and used for being connected with the threaded rod in a clamped mode, and a threaded sleeve plate arranged on the threaded rod in a threaded and sleeving mode. By arranging the connecting assembly composed of the threaded rod, the clamping groove and the threaded sleeve plate, detachable connection between the annular frame and the hopper body is achieved. By means of the design, the tedious process that traditional fixed connection needs to be disassembled with the help of tools is avoided, an operator only needs to rotate the threaded sleeve plate to quickly complete installation and disassembly of the hopper body, the disassembly time is shortened, and the equipment maintenance efficiency is remarkably improved.

Description

An injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of injection molding machine technology, specifically an injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean. Background Technology

[0002] In the plastics processing industry, the hopper of an injection molding machine is a key component for storing and conveying raw materials, and its ease of cleaning directly affects production efficiency and product quality.

[0003] In the prior art, Chinese utility model patent with authorization announcement number CN215039709U discloses an easy-to-clean injection molding machine feed hopper. It significantly improves the cleaning efficiency of the feed hopper body by incorporating a rotatable scraper within the hopper body. The scraper, driven by a motor, slides along the inner wall, scraping off the attached residual material and discharging it through the discharge pipe. This avoids the tediousness of manual cleaning.

[0004] However, in practical applications, this design uses a movable connection for the discharge pipe (e.g., moving it to the right to connect to the injection molding machine's feeding end), which makes it easy for residual material to stick to the left end of the discharge pipe. Since the scraper's cleaning range only covers the inside of the feed hopper and feed pipe, it cannot reach the dead zone on the left end of the discharge pipe. Long-term use can easily lead to the accumulation, retention, and even deterioration of residual material. Furthermore, uncleaned residual material may mix with new material in subsequent production, causing raw material contamination or uneven composition, affecting product quality. Simultaneously, accumulated residual material may clog the discharge pipe interface, increasing the risk of equipment failure and reducing production continuity.

[0005] Therefore, this application provides an injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This application provides an injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean, aiming to solve the problems mentioned in the background art, such as the difficulty in cleaning residual material at the end of the discharge pipe of the existing injection molding machine hopper, the cumbersome disassembly and reassembly of the hopper body and the pollution caused by material residue on the inner wall.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides the following technical solution: an injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean, comprising a ring frame for communicating with the feed end of the injection molding machine and a hopper body communicating with the ring frame. A first ring plate is fixedly sleeved on the top of the ring frame, and a second ring plate is fixedly sleeved on the bottom of the hopper body. The first ring plate and the second ring plate are detachably connected by a connecting assembly. The connecting assembly comprises three components, each including a threaded rod hinged to the first ring plate, a slot formed on the second ring plate for engaging the threaded rod, and a threaded sleeve plate threaded onto the threaded rod for driving the second ring plate to move closer to the first ring plate. By setting a connecting assembly consisting of a threaded rod, a slot, and a threaded sleeve plate, a detachable connection between the ring frame and the hopper body is achieved. This design avoids the cumbersome process of disassembly using tools required for traditional fixed connections. Operators can quickly complete the installation and disassembly of the hopper body simply by rotating the threaded sleeve plate, shortening disassembly time and significantly improving equipment maintenance efficiency. Meanwhile, the detachable structure allows the hopper body to be completely separated from the ring frame, making it easy for operators to clean its inner wall, discharge port and other parts without dead corners, avoiding material contamination or pipe blockage caused by long-term accumulation of residual raw materials. It is especially suitable for production scenarios that require frequent changes in the type of raw materials.

[0008] To ensure the stability of the hopper body installation, a sealing ring is provided between the first ring plate and the second ring plate. This sealing ring effectively fills the minute gaps caused by machining or installation errors when the two ring plates are fitted together, eliminating the risk of molten material or dust leaking from the connection gaps during injection molding machine operation. It also prevents the hopper body from shaking after installation.

[0009] Preferably, to facilitate precise input of raw materials into the feed end of the injection molding machine: the hopper body is provided with an inner liner hopper, the bottom of which extends into the ring frame. The bottom of the inner liner hopper extending into the ring frame forms a fully continuous flow channel from the hopper body to the feed end of the injection molding machine, ensuring that the raw material's falling path is perfectly aligned with the injection molding machine's feeding direction.

[0010] Preferably, the inner liner is in the shape of an inverted frustum, and its inner wall is provided with a smooth, non-stick coating. The flared design of the inverted frustum gradually reduces the contact area when the raw material falls, and together with the polytetrafluoroethylene coating on the surface, it effectively overcomes the adhesion of common plastic raw materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Especially for nylon raw materials with strong moisture absorption, it can avoid the problem of material sticking to the inner wall due to the raw material absorbing moisture and clumping.

[0011] Preferably, the anti-stick coating is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating, which has good anti-stick properties and high-temperature resistance.

[0012] Preferably, to further reduce raw material residue, the inner wall of the liner hopper is also equipped with multiple guide plates, which are spirally distributed. The spirally distributed guide plates on the inner wall of the liner hopper transform the flow state of the raw material within the hopper from disordered sliding to ordered spiral descent, thereby reducing residue in one step. The spiral angle design of the guide plates matches the spiral angle characteristics of the plastic raw material, guiding the granules along the spiral trajectory towards the discharge port. This avoids the "mouse hole" phenomenon that easily occurs in traditional straight-cylinder hoppers, where material flows quickly from the center and stagnates at the edges. Especially for materials with poor flowability, such as glass fiber reinforced materials, it effectively prevents blockage problems caused by fibers entangled in the inner wall. Furthermore, the spiral guiding design creates a "rotating and falling" motion pattern for the raw material within the hopper, promoting mixing between raw material particles and improving feeding uniformity.

[0013] This application achieves a detachable connection between the ring frame and the hopper body by setting a connecting assembly consisting of a threaded rod, a slot, and a threaded sleeve. This design avoids the cumbersome process of disassembly using tools required for traditional fixed connections. Operators can quickly install and disassemble the hopper body simply by rotating the threaded sleeve, shortening disassembly time and significantly improving equipment maintenance efficiency. Simultaneously, the detachable structure allows the hopper body to be completely separated from the ring frame, facilitating thorough cleaning of its inner walls, discharge port, and other areas. This prevents material contamination or pipe blockage caused by long-term accumulation of residual raw materials, making it particularly suitable for production scenarios requiring frequent changes in raw material types.

[0014] This application extends the bottom of the inner lining hopper inside the hopper body to the ring frame, forming a fully continuous flow channel from the hopper body to the injection molding machine feed end, so that the raw material falling path is completely aligned with the injection molding machine feed direction. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean;

[0016] Figure 2 is an exploded view of the structure in Figure 1;

[0017] Figure 3 is a bottom view of the structure connecting the main body of the hopper and the inner lining hopper.

[0018] In the picture:

[0019] 1. Ring frame; 11. First ring plate; 2. Hopper body; 21. Second ring plate; 22. Inner liner hopper; 3. Connecting assembly; 31. Threaded rod; 32. Slot; 33. Threaded sleeve plate; 4. Sealing ring; 5. Guide plate. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] This embodiment provides an injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean, as shown in Figures 1-3. The hopper includes a ring frame 1 for communicating with the feed end of the injection molding machine and a hopper body 2 communicating with the ring frame 1. A first ring plate 11 is fixedly sleeved on the top of the ring frame 1, and a second ring plate 21 is fixedly sleeved on the bottom of the hopper body 2. The first ring plate 11 and the second ring plate 21 are detachably connected by a connecting assembly 3. The connecting assembly 3 is provided in three parts, including a threaded rod 31 hinged to the first ring plate 11, a slot 32 formed on the second ring plate 21 for the threaded rod 31 to engage, and a threaded sleeve plate 33 threadedly sleeved on the threaded rod 31 for driving the second ring plate 21 to move closer to the first ring plate 11. By setting the connecting assembly 3 composed of the threaded rod 31, the slot 32, and the threaded sleeve plate 33, a detachable connection between the ring frame 1 and the hopper body 2 is realized. This design avoids the cumbersome process of disassembly using tools required for traditional fixed connections. Operators can quickly install and disassemble the hopper body 2 simply by rotating the threaded sleeve 33, shortening disassembly time and significantly improving equipment maintenance efficiency. Simultaneously, the detachable structure allows the hopper body 2 to be completely separated from the ring frame 1, facilitating thorough cleaning of its inner walls, discharge port, and other areas. This prevents material contamination or pipe blockage caused by long-term accumulation of residual raw materials, making it particularly suitable for production scenarios requiring frequent changes in raw material types. During installation, align the second ring plate 21 at the bottom of the hopper body 2 with the first ring plate 11 at the top of the ring frame 1, so that the threaded rod 31 is engaged in the slot 32 of the second ring plate 21. Then rotate the threaded sleeve 33 clockwise. By utilizing the threaded engagement between the threaded sleeve 33 and the threaded rod 31, the second ring plate 21 is driven to move upward and fit tightly against the first ring plate 11, thereby completing the rigid connection. During disassembly, rotate the threaded sleeve 33 counterclockwise. The threaded sleeve 33 moves downward along the threaded rod 31, releasing the pressure on the second ring plate 21, and the hopper body 2 can be separated from the ring frame 1.

[0022] To ensure the stability of the hopper body 2 during installation, a sealing ring 4 is provided between the first ring plate 11 and the second ring plate 21. The sealing ring 4 effectively fills the minute gaps caused by machining accuracy or installation errors when the two ring plates are fitted together, eliminating the risk of molten material or dust leaking from the connection gaps during injection molding machine operation, and also preventing the hopper body 2 from shaking after installation. When the threaded sleeve 33 drives the second ring plate 21 closer to the first ring plate 11, the sealing ring 4 (made of temperature- and oil-resistant rubber) is compressed between the two ring plates. The reaction force generated by its elastic deformation makes the sealing ring 4 tightly adhere to the surface of the ring plates, forming a physical sealing barrier. This sealing barrier can effectively block the leakage of solid particles and liquid materials, while allowing the two ring plates to maintain a sealed state within a small range of vibration, adapting to the high-frequency vibration working environment of the injection molding machine.

[0023] To facilitate precise feeding of raw materials into the injection molding machine's feed end, the hopper body 2 has an inner liner 22 inside, with its bottom extending into the ring frame 1. This extension of the inner liner 22 into the ring frame 1 forms a fully continuous flow channel from the hopper body 2 to the injection molding machine's feed end, ensuring the raw material's falling path is perfectly aligned with the injection molding machine's feeding direction. As the primary material guide component, the inner liner 22 extends beyond the bottom surface of the hopper body 2 and penetrates deep into the ring frame 1, engaging with the inner wall of the ring frame 1. When raw materials fall from the top of the hopper body 2 into the inner liner 22, they converge towards the bottom along the inner wall of the liner 22 under gravity. Because the bottom extends into the ring frame 1, the raw materials can directly enter the feed channel at the center of the ring frame 1 without needing to turn or change diameter, avoiding material retention or splashing caused by sudden path changes. This achieves a linear, precise material feeding path: "hopper body 2 → inner liner 22 → ring frame 1 → injection molding machine feed end".

[0024] The inner liner 22 is shaped like an inverted frustum, with a smooth, non-stick coating on its inner wall. The flared design of the inverted frustum (larger upper diameter than lower diameter) gradually reduces the contact area of ​​the falling material. Combined with the PTFE coating, this effectively overcomes the adhesion of common plastic materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene, especially for highly hygroscopic nylon, preventing material sticking to the inner wall due to moisture absorption and clumping. The inverted frustum geometry utilizes a tapered shape (wider at the top, narrower at the bottom) to guide the material towards the center during its descent, reducing the contact pressure between the material and the inner wall. The fluorine atoms in the PTFE molecular structure form a highly symmetrical helical arrangement, preventing material particles from effectively adsorbing onto the coating surface. When the material comes into contact with the coating surface, only point contact occurs, not surface contact, allowing it to slide smoothly under gravity or slight vibration, thus achieving a combined effect of "non-sticking, flow guidance, and self-cleaning."

[0025] The anti-stick coating is made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). It has good anti-stick properties and high temperature resistance.

[0026] To further reduce raw material residue, multiple guide plates 5 are installed on the inner wall of the inner liner hopper 22, arranged in a spiral pattern. These spirally distributed guide plates 5 transform the flow of raw materials within the hopper from disordered sliding to ordered spiral descent, further reducing residue. The spiral angle (30°-45°) of the guide plates 5 is designed to match the spiral angle characteristics of plastic raw materials, guiding the granules along a spiral trajectory towards the discharge port. This avoids the "mouse hole" phenomenon common in traditional straight-cylinder hoppers, where material flows quickly from the center and stagnates at the edges. This is especially effective for materials with poor flowability, such as glass fiber reinforced materials, preventing blockages caused by fibers entangled in the inner wall. Furthermore, the spiral guiding design creates a "rotating and falling" motion pattern within the hopper, promoting mixing between raw material particles and improving feeding uniformity. The guide plates 5 are arranged with equal pitch around the inner wall of the inner liner hopper 22, and their spiral direction forms a composite guiding structure with the inverted frustum-shaped outer wall of the inner liner hopper 22. When the raw material falls into the hopper body 2, it first contacts the guiding surface of the guide plate 5. Under the action of gravity and the thrust of the guide plate 5, it generates tangential velocity, forming a rotational motion around the central axis of the hopper. At the same time, the tilt angle of the guide plate 5 (60°-70° with the horizontal plane) provides a downward component force, causing the raw material to move towards the discharge port along the guide plate 5 while rotating. This spiral motion forces the raw material to continuously make low-friction contact with the guide plate 5 and the coating surface, avoiding the retention of raw material at the edges due to excessive static friction, and ultimately achieving a highly efficient guiding process of "circumferential dispersion - axial convergence - uniform feeding".

[0027] It should be noted that many of the standard parts used in this application are available on the market, while non-standard parts can be specially customized. The connection method used in this application is also a very common method in the mechanical field, and will not be described in detail here.

[0028] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application, based on the technical solution and concept of this application, should be included within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A hopper for an injection molding machine that is easy to disassemble and clean, characterized in that: The device includes a ring frame (1) for communicating with the feed end of an injection molding machine and a hopper body (2) communicating with the ring frame (1). A first ring plate (11) is fixedly sleeved on the top of the ring frame (1), and a second ring plate (21) is fixedly sleeved on the bottom of the hopper body (2). The first ring plate (11) and the second ring plate (21) are detachably connected by a connecting assembly (3). The connecting assembly (3) is provided in three parts. The connecting assembly (3) includes a threaded rod (31) hinged on the first ring plate (11), a slot (32) opened on the second ring plate (21) for the threaded rod (31) to engage, and a threaded sleeve plate (33) threaded on the threaded rod (31) for driving the second ring plate (21) to move closer to the first ring plate (11).

2. The injection molding machine hopper that is easy to disassemble and clean according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sealing ring (4) is provided between the first ring plate (11) and the second ring plate (21).

3. The injection molding machine hopper for easy disassembly and cleaning according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hopper body (2) is provided with an inner liner hopper (22) inside, and the bottom of the inner liner hopper (22) extends into the ring frame (1).

4. The injection molding machine hopper for easy disassembly and cleaning according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner lining hopper (22) is in the shape of an inverted frustum, and its inner wall is provided with a smooth, non-stick coating.

5. The injection molding machine hopper for easy disassembly and cleaning according to claim 4, characterized in that: The anti-stick coating is a polytetrafluoroethylene coating.

6. The injection molding machine hopper for easy disassembly and cleaning according to claim 3, characterized in that: The inner wall of the inner lining bucket (22) is also provided with multiple guide plates (5), which are distributed in a spiral shape.

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