Ejector pin assembly and injection mold
By designing the fixing seat, elastic element, bushing and ball structure in the ejector assembly, the problem of complicated replacement of traditional ejector pins is solved, and quick disassembly and installation are achieved, thus improving production efficiency.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- FUTAIHUA PRECISION ELECTRONICS (ZHENGZHOU) CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-30
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
AI Technical Summary
Traditional ejector pin replacement is complicated, difficult to install, affects production efficiency, and is prone to defects such as burrs and flash after wear.
Design an ejector pin assembly comprising a fixed base, an elastic element, a bushing, and a ball bearing structure. The ejector pin can be quickly disassembled and installed through a guide groove and a guide ramp. The movement of the ball bearing between the guide groove and the locking groove enables the ejector pin to lock and avoid collisions.
It enables quick disassembly and installation of the ejector pin, simplifies the operation process, significantly reduces replacement time, and improves production efficiency.
Smart Images
Figure CN224276029U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of injection molding technology, specifically to an ejector pin assembly and an injection mold. Background Technology
[0002] In mold manufacturing fields such as injection molding, die casting, and rubber molding, ejector pins are the core components of the ejection mechanism. They are used to smoothly eject the product from the mold cavity after the molding cycle, achieving automated demolding. Currently, commonly used ejector pins are rod-shaped structures, with one end connected to the ejector plate of the mold and the other end used to eject the product. One end of the ejector plate usually has a protrusion to fix the ejector pin. A small gap must be maintained between the ejector pin and the mold hole to avoid overflow. However, long-term friction will cause wear on the mating surfaces, and increased gaps will easily lead to defects such as flash and burrs. Ejector pins need to be replaced promptly after wear, but traditional ejector pin replacement methods require disassembling the entire ejection system of the mold, which is complex, difficult to install, and results in long downtime, thus affecting production efficiency. Utility Model Content
[0003] In view of the above, it is necessary to propose an ejector pin assembly and injection mold that can quickly disassemble and install ejector pins, is simple to operate and easy to use, and is conducive to improving production efficiency.
[0004] This application provides a ejector pin assembly, including: a fixed base with a receiving groove and multiple guide grooves, the multiple guide grooves being arranged around the axis of the receiving groove on the side wall of the receiving groove, each guide groove having a guide slope that gradually slopes towards the side wall of the receiving groove from the direction away from the bottom of the groove; an elastic element disposed in the receiving groove and abutting against the bottom of the receiving groove; and a bushing movably inserted into the receiving groove and abutting against the elastic element, the bushing having a through hole communicating with the receiving groove. The sidewall is also provided with a plurality of receiving holes corresponding one-to-one with the guide groove. The receiving holes extend radially and communicate with the through hole. A plurality of balls are respectively disposed in the plurality of receiving holes, and the diameter of the balls is greater than the radial depth of the receiving hole. A ejector pin passes through the through hole and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove. The ejector pin is provided with a snap-fit groove. The elastic element pushes against the bushing to drive the balls located in the receiving holes to move along the guide slope. The guide slope pushes the balls radially into the snap-fit groove, thereby snapping the ejector pin.
[0005] The aforementioned ejector pin assembly can be connected to an external structure (such as the ejector plate of an injection mold) via a mounting base. The mounting base has a receiving groove and multiple guide grooves. The receiving groove accommodates the elastic element and the bushing. The side wall of the bushing has receiving holes corresponding to the guide grooves, which are used to accommodate ball bearings. The ejector pin has a snap-fit groove on its side. When installing the ejector pin, first press the bushing into the receiving groove, causing the ball bearings to move towards the bottom of the guide groove. Then, insert the ejector pin into the through hole of the bushing until the ejector pin abuts the bottom of the receiving groove. As the ejector pin passes the ball bearing position, it pushes the ball bearings along the guide groove, causing the ball bearings to avoid the ejector pin. After releasing the bushing, the elastic element pushes the bushing upwards along the receiving groove, and the ball bearings move along the inclined surface of the guide groove, and under the action of the elastic element, they radially snap into the snap-fit groove of the ejector pin, thus completing the fixing of the ejector pin. When disassembling the ejector pin, press the bushing to move the ball along the guide groove towards the bottom of the groove and disengage it from the locking groove, thus avoiding contact with the ejector pin. Once the ball has completely moved out of the locking groove, the ejector pin can be easily disassembled. This ejector pin assembly enables quick disassembly and installation of the ejector pin, is easy to operate and use, and significantly reduces the time required to replace the ejector pin, thereby effectively improving production efficiency.
[0006] In some embodiments, a limiting protrusion is provided at the end of the bushing away from the fixing seat, the limiting protrusion being used to abut against the fixing seat to limit the bushing.
[0007] In some embodiments, the diameter of the end of the receiving hole that communicates with the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the ball.
[0008] In some embodiments, the sum of the maximum radial depth of the guide groove and the radial depth of the receiving hole is greater than the diameter of the ball.
[0009] In some embodiments, the snap-fit groove is an annular groove that surrounds the sidewall of the ejector pin.
[0010] In some embodiments, the fixing base is further provided with a positioning groove, which is disposed at the bottom of the receiving groove and communicates with the receiving groove. The positioning groove is coaxially disposed with the receiving groove and is used to accommodate the end of the ejector pin for positioning the ejector pin.
[0011] In some embodiments, a guide slope is provided at one end of the positioning groove connected to the receiving groove, and the guide slope is used to guide the ejector pin to be inserted into the positioning groove.
[0012] In some embodiments, the outer peripheral surface of the fixing seat is provided with a protrusion, which is used to engage with an external mechanism to limit the fixing seat.
[0013] In some embodiments, the mounting base further includes a plug-in portion disposed on the side of the protrusion away from the bushing, the plug-in portion being used to insert into the external mechanism when the mounting base is installed on the external mechanism to position the mounting base.
[0014] This application also provides an injection mold including the ejector pin assembly described above.
[0015] The injection mold described above is equipped with an ejector pin assembly, which allows for quick disassembly and installation of ejector pins. It is simple to operate and easy to use, effectively reducing the time required to replace ejector pins and increasing production efficiency. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the injection mold provided in the embodiments of this application.
[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows an exploded view of the ejector pin assembly in the injection mold.
[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 1 An enlarged schematic diagram of position III of the ejector pin assembly in the injection mold shown.
[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 3 The diagram shows the structure of the ejector pin assembly after pressing the bushing.
[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The diagram shows the structure of the ejector assembly after the ejector pin has been removed.
[0021] Explanation of main component symbols: Injection mold 1000, ejector pin assembly 100, fixed seat 10, receiving groove 11, guide groove 12, guide slope 121, positioning groove 13, guide slope 131, protrusion 14, insertion part 15, elastic element 20, bushing 30, through hole 31, receiving hole 32, limiting protrusion 33, ball 40, ejector pin 50, snap-fit groove 51, male mold 200, ejector plate 201, female mold 300. Detailed Implementation
[0022] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain this application, and should not be construed as limiting this application.
[0023] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms indicating orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this application, it should be noted that "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0024] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between the two components; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can be the internal communication between 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 according to the specific circumstances.
[0025] The embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0026] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 This application provides a pin assembly 100, which includes a fixed base 10, an elastic element 20, a bushing 30, a plurality of balls 40 and a pin 50.
[0027] Specifically, the fixing base 10 has a receiving groove 11 and multiple guide grooves 12. The multiple guide grooves 12 are arranged around the axis of the receiving groove 11 on the side wall of the receiving groove 11. The guide grooves 12 are provided with guide slopes 121, which gradually slope towards the side wall of the receiving groove 11 from the direction away from the bottom of the groove. The fixing base 10 can be a columnar structure, such as a cylinder or a quadrangular prism. The receiving groove 11 can be a cylindrical groove. The guide grooves 12 can be semi-teardrop shaped grooves. The guide slopes 121 are provided on the side wall of the guide grooves 12. There can be two, three, four, etc., guide grooves 12, which are centrally symmetrically arranged. In this embodiment, there are three guide grooves 12.
[0028] The elastic element 20 is disposed in the receiving groove 11 and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove 11. The elastic element 20 can be a spring or the like. In this embodiment, the length of the elastic element 20 is less than the distance between the guide groove 12 and the bottom of the receiving groove 11.
[0029] The bushing 30 is movably inserted into the receiving groove 11 and abuts against the elastic member 20. The bushing 30 has a through hole 31 communicating with the receiving groove 11. The side wall of the bushing 30 also has multiple receiving holes 32 corresponding to the guide grooves 12. The receiving holes 32 extend radially and communicate with the through hole 31. The cross-section of the bushing 30 is approximately annular. The bushing 30 can move axially along the receiving groove 11. It can be understood that, in order to improve the stability of the bushing 30, the outer surface of the bushing 30 abuts against the side wall of the receiving groove 11. The receiving holes 32 are approximately stepped holes. The number of receiving holes 32 is consistent with the number of guide grooves 12, and can be two, three, four, etc. The multiple receiving holes 32 are centrally symmetrically arranged. In this embodiment, there are three receiving holes 32, which correspond one-to-one with the three guide grooves 12. When the bushing 30 abuts against the elastic member 20, each receiving hole 32 communicates with the corresponding guide groove 12.
[0030] Multiple balls 40 are respectively disposed in multiple receiving holes 32, and the diameter of the balls 40 is greater than the radial depth of the receiving holes 32. The number of balls 40 is consistent with the number of receiving holes 32, and can be two, three, four, etc. The balls 40 are spherical. In this embodiment, three balls 40 are disposed in three receiving holes 32 respectively. The ejector pin 50 passes through the through hole 31 and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove 11. The ejector pin 50 is provided with a snap-fit groove 51. The elastic element 20 pushes the bushing 30, causing the receiving holes 32 to drive the balls 40 to move along the guide slope 121. The guide slope 121 pushes the balls 40 radially into the snap-fit groove 51, thereby snapping the ejector pin 50.
[0031] Please see also Figure 4 and Figure 5 When disassembling the ejector pin 50, press the bushing 30. The bushing 30 will cause the ball bearing 40 in the receiving hole 32 to move towards the bottom of the receiving groove 11 and move horizontally out of the locking groove 51. At this time, the guide groove 12 will accommodate part of the ball bearing 40, and the ejector pin 50 can be removed from the receiving groove 11. When installing the ejector pin 50, insert the ejector pin 50 into the through hole 31 of the bushing 30 and make the ejector pin 50 abut against the bottom of the receiving groove 11. Then release the bushing 30. The elastic element 20 will push the bushing 30 away from the receiving groove 11. The bushing 30 will cause the ball bearing 40 to move towards the bottom of the receiving groove 11. Under the guidance of the guide inclined surface 121, the ball bearing 40 will move horizontally towards the ejector pin 50 until the ball bearing 40 is locked into the locking groove 51, thereby locking the ejector pin 50.
[0032] The ejector pin assembly 100 provided in this embodiment can be connected to an external structure, such as the ejector plate 201 of an injection mold 1000, via a fixing seat 10. The fixing seat 10 is provided with a receiving groove 11 and a plurality of guide grooves 12. The receiving groove 11 is used to receive the elastic element 20 and the bushing 30. The side wall of the bushing 30 is provided with receiving holes 32 corresponding to the guide grooves 12. The receiving holes 32 are used to receive the balls 40. The side of the ejector pin 50 is provided with a snap-fit groove 51. When installing the ejector pin 50, the bushing 30 is pressed into the receiving groove 11. The bushing 30 drives the balls 40 to move towards the bottom of the receiving groove 11. Then, the ejector pin 50 is inserted into the through hole 31 of the bushing 30 until the ejector pin 50 abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove 11. When the ejector pin 50 passes the position of the balls 40, it will push the balls 40 to move towards the guide grooves 12 so that the balls 40 avoid the ejector pin 50. Then, the bushing 30 is released, and the elastic element 20 pushes the bushing 30 away from the receiving groove 11. The receiving hole 32 drives the ball 40 to move along the guide slope 121. The guide slope 121 pushes the ball 40 radially into the locking groove 51, thereby locking the ejector pin 50. When disassembling the ejector pin 50, the bushing 30 is pressed, and the bushing 30 drives the ball 40 to move towards the bottom of the receiving groove 11. At the same time, the ball 40 moves out of the locking groove 51 and towards the guide groove 12, thereby positioning the ejector pin 50. After the ball 40 moves out of the locking groove 51, the ejector pin 50 can be disassembled. The ejector pin assembly 100 provided in this application embodiment can quickly disassemble and install the ejector pin 50. It is simple to operate and convenient to use, effectively reducing the time required to replace the ejector pin 50, which is beneficial to improving production efficiency.
[0033] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 A limiting protrusion 33 is provided at the end of the bushing 30 away from the fixed seat 10. The limiting protrusion 33 is used to abut against the fixed seat 10 to limit the bushing 30. The limiting protrusion 33 is generally annular in structure, extending radially away from the bushing 30 and protruding from the body of the bushing 30. The abutment between the limiting protrusion 33 and the fixed seat 10 forms a mechanical stop, preventing the elastic element 20 from being over-compressed and causing the bushing 30 to retract into the receiving groove 11, ensuring that the mechanism is always within a controllable range. The limiting protrusion 33 can also limit the maximum stroke of the bushing 30, ensuring that the ball 40 is always within the effective working range of the guide slope 121, preventing the ball 40 from being misaligned or the locking from failing due to excessive displacement of the bushing 30.
[0034] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5The diameter of the end of the receiving hole 32 that connects to the through hole 31 is smaller than the diameter of the ball 40. The diameter of the end of the receiving hole 32 that connects to the through hole 31 is D1, and the diameter of the ball 40 is D2, where D1 < D2. This forms a mechanical limiting structure, effectively preventing the ball 40 from accidentally falling off during assembly or operation, improving reliability. It also restricts the range of motion of the ball 40, ensuring that the ball 40 always remains within the mating area of the receiving hole 32 and the guide groove 12, avoiding locking failure or jamming of the ejector pin 50 caused by ball 40 offset.
[0035] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 and Figure 4 The sum of the maximum radial depth of the guide groove 12 and the radial depth of the receiving hole 32 is greater than the diameter of the ball 40. The maximum radial depth of the guide groove 12 is h1, the radial depth of the receiving hole 32 is h2, and the diameter of the ball 40 is D2. Since h1 + h2 > D2, after pressing the bushing 30 and causing the ball 40 to move radially away from the ejector pin 50, the ball 40 can be completely hidden within the receiving hole 32 and the guide groove 12, preventing the ball 40 from protruding from the receiving hole 32 and connecting to the end of the through hole 31, which would affect the installation and removal of the ejector pin 50.
[0036] In some embodiments, see Figure 2 and Figure 3 The snap-fit groove 51 is an annular groove that surrounds the side wall of the ejector pin 50. This design allows the ejector pin 50 to be locked by the ball bearing 40 at any rotation angle without the need to adjust the circumferential position, which significantly improves the ease of assembly and the flexibility of use.
[0037] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 and Figure 4 The fixing base 10 also has a positioning groove 13, which is located at the bottom of the receiving groove 11 and communicates with it. The positioning groove 13 is coaxial with the receiving groove 11 and is used to accommodate the end of the ejector pin 50 for positioning. By setting the positioning groove 13, which is coaxial with the receiving groove 11, a precise positioning reference is provided for the end of the ejector pin 50, ensuring that the ejector pin 50 remains vertically aligned when inserted and avoiding poor locking caused by misalignment. The end of the ejector pin 50 is embedded in the positioning groove 13 to form a double support structure, which effectively distributes the force on the ejector pin 50 during operation and reduces the cantilever effect.
[0038] In some embodiments, see Figure 3 , Figure 4 and Figure 5The positioning groove 13 is connected to the receiving groove 11 at one end with a guide slope 131, which is used to guide the ejector pin 50 into the positioning groove 13. By setting the guide slope 131, the alignment difficulty when the ejector pin 50 is inserted into the positioning groove 13 is reduced, enabling the ejector pin 50 to automatically correct position deviation, reducing the installation difficulty of the ejector pin 50 and improving installation efficiency.
[0039] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The outer peripheral surface of the fixed seat 10 is provided with a protrusion 14, which is used to engage with an external mechanism (not shown) to limit the position of the fixed seat 10. The external mechanism can be the ejector plate 201 in the injection mold 1000, etc. It is understood that the ejector assembly 100 will be subjected to a force in the vertical direction during use. By providing the protrusion 14 on the fixed seat 10, a mechanical limit can be formed by engaging with the external mechanism to prevent the fixed seat 10 from loosening or displacing during operation, thus ensuring the overall stability of the ejector assembly 100. The protrusion 14 can also provide a clear installation positioning reference, allowing operators to quickly align the fixed seat 10 and engage it with the external mechanism, reducing adjustment time and improving assembly efficiency.
[0040] In some embodiments, see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The mounting base 10 also includes a connector 15, which is located on the side of the protrusion 14 away from the bushing 30. The connector 15 is used to insert into the external mechanism when the mounting base 10 is installed, to position the mounting base 10. The cooperation between the connector 15 and the external mechanism achieves the pre-positioning of the mounting base 10, ensuring that the installation position of the ejector assembly 100 and the external mechanism is accurate. The connector 15 and the protrusion 14 form a double fixing structure, which significantly enhances the torsional resistance and off-center load resistance of the mounting base 10, making it suitable for high-load working environments.
[0041] The installation and disassembly process of the ejector assembly 100 provided in this application embodiment is roughly as follows:
[0042] When installing the ejector pin 50, first press the bushing 30 into the receiving groove 11, causing the bushing 30 to move the ball 40 towards the bottom of the receiving groove 11. Then, insert the ejector pin 50 into the through hole 31 of the bushing 30 until the ejector pin 50 abuts against the bottom of the positioning groove 13. When the ejector pin 50 passes the position of the ball 40, the ejector pin 50 will push the ball 40 to move towards the bottom of the guide groove 12, thereby causing the ball 40 to avoid the ejector pin 50. After releasing the bushing 30, the elastic element 20 pushes the bushing 30 away from the receiving groove 11, while the receiving hole 32 drives the ball 40 to move along the guide slope 121. The guide slope 121 pushes the ball 40 radially into the locking groove 51 of the ejector pin 50, thereby locking the ejector pin 50 and completing the installation of the ejector pin 50.
[0043] When disassembling the ejector pin 50, press the bushing 30 to move the ball bearing 40 towards the bottom of the receiving groove 11. At the same time, the ball bearing 40 moves out of the locking groove 51 and along the guide groove 12 towards the bottom of the groove, thus avoiding the ejector pin 50. After the ball bearing 40 has completely moved out of the locking groove 51, the ejector pin 50 can be easily disassembled.
[0044] Please see Figure 1 This application also provides an injection mold 1000, including the ejector pin assembly 100 described above. It is understood that the injection mold 1000 also includes a male mold 200 and a female mold 300, which will not be elaborated here. The male mold 200 is provided with an ejector plate 201, and the positioning seat of the ejector pin assembly 100 is mounted on the ejector plate 201. During mold opening, the ejector plate 201 drives the ejector pin assembly 100 to move.
[0045] The injection mold 1000 provided in this application is equipped with an ejector pin assembly 100, which allows for quick disassembly and installation of ejector pins 50. It is simple to operate and easy to use, effectively reducing the time required to replace ejector pins 50 and improving production efficiency.
[0046] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this application is not limited to the details of the exemplary embodiments described above, and that this application can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics of this application. Therefore, the embodiments should be regarded as exemplary and non-limiting in all respects, and the scope of this application is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. Thus, all variations falling within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the claims are intended to be embraced within this application.
[0047] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit it. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of this application without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of this application.
Claims
1. A ejector pin assembly, characterized in that, include: The fixed base has a receiving groove and multiple guide grooves. The multiple guide grooves are arranged around the axis of the receiving groove on the side wall of the receiving groove. The guide grooves are provided with guide slopes, which gradually slope towards the side wall of the receiving groove from the direction away from the bottom of the groove. An elastic element is disposed within the receiving groove and abuts against the bottom of the receiving groove; A bushing is movably inserted into the receiving groove and abuts against the elastic member. The bushing has a through hole communicating with the receiving groove. The side wall of the bushing also has a plurality of receiving holes corresponding one-to-one with the guide groove. The receiving holes extend radially and communicate with the through hole. Multiple balls are respectively disposed in multiple receiving holes, and the diameter of the balls is greater than the radial depth of the receiving holes; and A ejector pin, passing through the through hole and abutting against the bottom of the receiving groove, is provided with a snap-fit groove; wherein, The elastic element pushes against the bushing to drive the ball located in the receiving hole to move along the guide slope. The guide slope pushes the ball radially into the locking groove, thereby locking the ejector pin.
2. The ejector pin assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The bushing is provided with a limiting protrusion at one end away from the fixing seat, and the limiting protrusion is used to abut against the fixing seat to limit the bushing.
3. The ejector pin assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The diameter of the end of the receiving hole that communicates with the through hole is smaller than the diameter of the ball.
4. The ejector pin assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The sum of the maximum radial depth of the guide groove and the radial depth of the receiving hole is greater than the diameter of the ball.
5. The ejector pin assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The snap-fit groove is an annular groove that surrounds the side wall of the ejector pin.
6. The ejector pin assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing base is also provided with a positioning groove, which is located at the bottom of the receiving groove and communicates with the receiving groove. The positioning groove is coaxial with the receiving groove and is used to accommodate the end of the ejector pin for positioning the ejector pin.
7. The ejector pin assembly as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The end of the positioning groove connected to the receiving groove is provided with a guide slope, which is used to guide the ejector pin to be inserted into the positioning groove.
8. The ejector pin assembly as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The outer peripheral surface of the fixed seat is provided with a protrusion, which is used to engage with an external mechanism to limit the position of the fixed seat.
9. The ejector pin assembly as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that, The mounting base also includes a plug-in portion, which is located on the side of the protrusion away from the bushing. The plug-in portion is used to insert into the external mechanism when the mounting base is installed on the external mechanism to position the mounting base.
10. An injection mold, characterized in that, Includes the ejector pin assembly as described in any one of claims 1-9.