Efficiency doubled thermoforming apparatus

Abstract

The utility model relates to a kind of efficiency doubling's thermoforming equipment, including one injection station, at least two cooling stations, at least two molds, moving mechanism, open-close mould ejection mechanism and injection mechanism, at least two molds are respectively corresponding with at least two cooling stations, mold mechanism includes mold, mold is used to form product;Mold is equipped with locking device and pressure maintaining device;Moving mechanism is used to drive mold reciprocating motion between corresponding cooling station and injection station;Open-close mould ejection mechanism is used to open and close the mold of injection station and eject product;Injection mechanism is used to inject molten fluid into the mold of injection station.The utility model can improve the production efficiency of thermoforming, product quality, manufacturing cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of thermoforming technology, and in particular to a thermoforming equipment that doubles the efficiency. Background Technology

[0002] In the automotive industry, headlights, as a core component that combines functionality and aesthetics, are directly related to driving safety and the overall appearance of the vehicle due to their manufacturing precision. The plastic mold process for automotive headlights, a key technology for achieving this goal, integrates materials science, precision machining, and intelligent control, transforming design drawings into high-precision parts through multiple complex processes.

[0003] Existing automotive headlight molding equipment typically employs a fixed production model with a single mold, mainly consisting of a mold, an ejector mechanism, and an injection mechanism. During headlight molding, the injection mechanism first injects molten fluid into the mold, then waits for the product to cool. Afterward, the ejector mechanism opens the mold and removes the product. Taking one type of headlight as an example, the injection molding time is 68 seconds, but the cooling time is 200 seconds, requiring approximately 75% of the total cycle time for cooling. This traditional equipment has significant technical drawbacks: 1. Cooling wait: The cooling stage is essential but has the lowest equipment utilization rate, a key bottleneck restricting production efficiency. 2. Low equipment utilization: Expensive injection molding and die-casting machines are in an ineffective output state for more than half of the cycle time, severely limiting capacity. 3. Capacity increase depends on equipment accumulation: The only way to expand capacity is to increase the number of machines, leading to huge capital expenditures and operating cost pressures. 4. Continuous High Energy Consumption: During the ineffective waiting period, the energy consumed to maintain the basic state of the system (heating, pressure holding hydraulic pressure) is wasted, resulting in high energy consumption per unit product. 5. Material Quality Risk: Excessive melt residence time increases the risk of thermal degradation, affecting product quality stability and material utilization. 6. High Production Costs: The combined costs of equipment, energy, materials, labor, and facilities result in persistently high production costs per unit, weakening the company's market competitiveness.

[0004] Improving the production efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing cost of automotive lights are pressing technical issues that need to be addressed in this field. Utility Model Content

[0005] Therefore, this utility model provides a thermoforming equipment that doubles the efficiency, which can improve the production efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing cost of thermoforming.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency, including an injection station, at least two cooling stations, at least two molds, a moving mechanism, an opening and closing mold ejection mechanism, and an injection mechanism. The at least two molds correspond to the at least two cooling stations respectively, and the molds are used to form products. Each mold is provided with a mold locking device for locking and unlocking it with the opening and closing mold ejection mechanism and a pressure holding device for locking and unlocking the mold itself. The moving mechanism is used to drive the mold to reciprocate between the corresponding cooling station and the injection station. The opening and closing mold ejection mechanism is used to open and close the mold of the injection station and eject the product from the open mold. The injection mechanism is used to inject molten fluid into the mold of the injection station.

[0007] Furthermore, the thermoforming equipment includes two cooling stations and two molds.

[0008] Furthermore, the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism and the injection mechanism are respectively located on both sides of the injection station along the horizontal X-axis direction, and the two cooling stations are respectively located on both sides of the injection station along the horizontal Y-axis direction, with the horizontal X-axis direction being perpendicular to the horizontal Y-axis direction.

[0009] Furthermore, the mold-locking device is a mold clamp.

[0010] Furthermore, the pressure-holding device is a pressure-holding hydraulic cylinder.

[0011] Furthermore, the moving mechanism includes two moving devices and a distance adjusting device. The moving devices are used to drive the mold to move, and the distance adjusting device is used to drive the two moving devices to adjust the distance.

[0012] Furthermore, it also includes a pick-and-place mechanism and a conveying mechanism. The pick-and-place mechanism is used to remove the molded product from the mold at the injection station, and the conveying mechanism is used to carry the product and move the product to other processes. In sub-steps S2.3 and S3.3, the pick-and-place mechanism takes the product out of the mold at the injection station and places it on the conveying mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, the picking and placing mechanism includes an end effector and a robot. The end effector is used to pick up products, and the robot is used to drive the end effector to move. The robot is a six-axis robot or a coordinate robot.

[0014] Furthermore, the conveying mechanism is a belt conveyor, which is used to carry and move products to other processes.

[0015] Furthermore, the thermoforming equipment is an injection molding machine or a die-casting machine.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the above-mentioned technical solution of this utility model has the following advantages: Firstly, the thermoforming equipment of this utility model, through at least two cooling stations and at least two molds, enables the injection mechanism to inject into other molds while some molds are cooling, eliminating idle time and reducing the problems of long material residence time, energy waste, and material deterioration. Secondly, independent cooling stations avoid thermal interference caused by passive cooling of the molds at the injection station, reducing performance degradation of materials due to high-temperature residence. Thirdly, by setting a mold-locking device and a pressure-holding device, the internal pressure of the mold is maintained during the transfer process. This utility model ensures seamless connection between injection and cooling processes through precise control during mold transfer, achieving optimal production cycle time. It can improve the production efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing cost of thermoforming. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To make the content of this utility model easier to understand, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is an axial view of the thermoforming equipment in Embodiment 1 of this utility model; Figure 2 This is a top view of the thermoforming equipment in Embodiment 1 of this utility model; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the mold and the moving mechanism in Embodiment 1 of this utility model; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the mold in Embodiment 1 of this utility model; Figure 5 This is a top view of process one and process three in embodiment one of this utility model; Figure 6 This is a top view of steps two and four in Embodiment 1 of this utility model.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the accompanying drawings: 1. Injection station; 2. Cooling station; 3. Mold mechanism; 31. Mold; 311. Front mold plate; 312. Rear mold plate; 32. Mold clamping device; 33. Pressure holding device; 4. Moving mechanism; 41. Moving device; 42. Adjusting distance device; 5. Mold opening and closing ejection mechanism; 6. Injection mechanism; 7. Picking and placing mechanism; 71. End device; 72. Robot; 8. Conveying mechanism. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand and implement the present invention. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0021] Example 1: See Figures 1 to 6As shown, this utility model provides an embodiment of a thermoforming equipment.

[0022] The thermoforming equipment in this utility model mainly refers to injection molding machines or die casting machines.

[0023] The aforementioned thermoforming equipment includes: One injection station 1; At least two cooling stations 2; At least two molds 31, each corresponding to at least two cooling stations 2, are used to form products. Each mold 31 is provided with a mold locking device 32 for locking and unlocking it with the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 and a pressure holding device 33 for locking and unlocking itself. The moving mechanism 4 is used to drive the mold 31 to reciprocate between the corresponding cooling station 2 and the injection station 1. The mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 is used to open and close the mold 31 of the injection station 1 and eject the product from the opened mold 31. The injection mechanism 6 is used to inject molten fluid into the mold 31 of the injection station 1. In the above text, injection station 1 refers to the position where material is injected into mold 31, and cooling station 2 refers to the position where material is cooled in mold 31. Mold 31 consists of two parts, which close together to form a mold cavity. The mold locking device 32 is a mechanical structure used to fix the relative position of mold 31 and the mold ejection mechanism 5 during the injection stage. After the mold locking device 32 locks the mold and the mold ejection mechanism 5, the mold ejection mechanism 5 can open the mold. After the mold locking device 32 unlocks the mold and the mold ejection mechanism 5, the mold 31 is disconnected from the mold ejection mechanism 5. The pressure holding device 33 takes over the mold locking force to continue applying mold locking pressure to the two parts of the mold when the mold locking pressure is lost. It applies mold locking pressure to the mold throughout the movement and cooling process. After the pressure holding device 33 locks mold 31, the two parts of mold 31 cannot be opened. After the pressure holding device 33 unlocks and locks mold 31, the two parts of mold 31 can be opened. The mold ejection mechanism 5 drives the two parts of mold 31 to open and close and eject the product. The injection mechanism 6 can inject molten material into the mold 31.

[0024] The above-mentioned thermoforming method, which doubles the efficiency of thermoforming equipment, includes the following steps: The above thermoforming method includes the following steps: S1. Sort at least two of the above molds 31; S2. At least two molds 31 shall perform the first process in the above order; S3. At least two molds 31 shall sequentially and cyclically perform the second process in the above order until the number of products reaches the preset quantity. S4. At least two molds 31 shall perform the third process in the order described above.

[0025] The first process described above includes the following sub-steps: S1.1 The aforementioned moving mechanism 4 drives the empty mold 31 to the aforementioned injection station 1; S1.2 The mold locking device 32 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 is locked with the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. S1.3 The above-mentioned injection mechanism 6 injects material into the mold 31 of the above-mentioned injection station 1; S1.4 The mold locking device 32 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 is unlocked from the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. At the same time, the pressure holding device 33 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 locks the mold 31 itself. S1.5 The aforementioned moving mechanism 4 drives the mold 31 of the injection station 1 to the corresponding cooling station 2 for material cooling.

[0026] The second process described above includes the following sub-steps: S2.1 The aforementioned moving mechanism 4 moves the mold 31, after the material has finished cooling, to the aforementioned injection station 1; S2.2 The mold locking device 32 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 locks with the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. At the same time, the pressure holding device 33 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 unlocks the mold. S2.3 The above-mentioned mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 opens the mold 31 of the injection station 1 and ejects the product; S2.4 Remove the product from the mold 31 at the injection station 1; S2.5 The above-mentioned mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 closes the mold 31 of the above-mentioned injection station 1; S2.6 The above-mentioned injection mechanism 6 injects material into the mold 31 of the above-mentioned injection station 1; S 2.7 The pressure holding device 33 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 locks the mold 31 itself, and at the same time, the mold locking device 32 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 unlocks from the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. S2.8 The aforementioned moving mechanism 4 drives the mold 31 of the injection station 1 to the corresponding cooling station 2 for material cooling.

[0027] The third process mentioned above includes the following sub-steps: S3.1 The aforementioned moving mechanism 4 moves the mold 31, after the material has finished cooling, to the aforementioned injection station 1; S3.2 The mold locking device 32 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 locks with the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. At the same time, the pressure holding device 33 of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 unlocks the mold. S3.3 The above-mentioned mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 opens the mold 31 of the injection station 1 and ejects the product. S3.4 Remove the product from the mold 31 of the injection station 1; S3.5 The above-mentioned mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 closes the mold 31 of the above-mentioned injection station 1; S3.6 The pressure holding device of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 locks the mold 31 itself, and at the same time, the mold locking device of the mold 31 at the injection station 1 unlocks the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. S3.7 The aforementioned moving mechanism 4 drives the mold 31 of the injection station 1 to move to the corresponding cooling station 2 to await instructions.

[0028] In the above text, assuming there are N molds 31, at least two molds 31 perform the first process mentioned above in sequence, which means: first, the first mold performs the first process mentioned above, then the second mold performs the first process mentioned above, then the third mold performs the first process mentioned above, and so on, until the Nth mold 31 performs the first process mentioned above, and then proceeds to step S2.

[0029] At least two molds 31 sequentially perform the second process described above, meaning that after the first mold completes the second process, the second mold completes the second process, the third mold completes the second process, and so on, until the Nth mold 31 completes the second process. Then, starting from the first mold again, the second mold completes the second process, the third mold completes the second process, and so on, until the product quantity reaches the set requirement, and then proceeds to step S3. The above third process is performed by at least two molds 31 in sequence, which means that: first, the first mold completes the above third process, then the second mold completes the above third process, then the third mold completes the above third process, and so on, until the Nth mold 31 completes the above third process, and then the thermoforming ends.

[0030] In the first step described above, mold 31 is empty, so the cooled material does not need to be removed before injection. In the second step described above, mold 31 contains cooled material, so the cooled material needs to be removed before injection. In the third step described above, since the product quantity has reached the set requirement, after removing the cooled material from the mold, further material injection is not required.

[0031] Through the above technical solution, with at least two cooling stations 2 and at least two molds 31, the injection mechanism 6 can inject into other molds while some molds are cooling, eliminating equipment idle time and reducing the problems of long material residence time, energy waste, and material deterioration. Simultaneously, the independent cooling stations 2 avoid thermal interference caused by the passive cooling of molds 31 at injection station 1, reducing material performance degradation due to high-temperature residence. Precise control during mold transfer ensures seamless integration of injection and cooling processes, optimizing production cycle time. This improves thermoforming production efficiency, product quality, and manufacturing costs.

[0032] In this embodiment, the thermoforming equipment includes two cooling stations 2 and two molds 31.

[0033] As mentioned above, precise control during mold transfer ensures seamless integration of injection and cooling processes, optimizing production cycle time. Therefore, based on the relationship between material injection and material cooling time, the thermoforming equipment is configured to include two cooling stations 2 and two molds 31.

[0034] Specifically, the above thermoforming method includes the following steps: S1. Sort the two molds 31 mentioned above; S2. The two molds 31 mentioned above shall perform the first process in the order described above; S3. The two molds 31 above shall sequentially and cyclically perform the second process in the above order until the number of products reaches the preset quantity; S4. The two molds 31 mentioned above shall be executed in the third process in the order described above.

[0035] In step S1, firstly, the first mold completes the first process described above, and then the second mold completes the first process described above, proceeding to step S2.

[0036] In step S2, the first mold completes the second process described above, then the second mold completes the second process described above, then the first mold completes the second process described above, then the second mold completes the second process described above, and so on, until the product quantity reaches the set requirement, and then proceeds to step S3. In step S3, firstly, the first mold completes the third process described above, and then the second mold completes the third process described above, thus ending the thermoforming process.

[0037] The above technical solution is more reasonable in setting up two cooling stations 2 and two molds 31, which can improve work efficiency while avoiding excessive equipment size.

[0038] In this embodiment, the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5 and the injection mechanism 6 are respectively located on both sides of the injection station 1 along the horizontal X-axis direction, and the two cooling stations 2 are respectively located on both sides of the injection station 1 along the horizontal Y-axis direction. The horizontal X-axis direction is perpendicular to the horizontal Y-axis direction.

[0039] In the above text, the thermoforming equipment is a horizontal forming equipment. The horizontal X-axis direction refers to a reference axis direction within the plane where injection station 1 is located. This direction is used to separate the functional areas of injection operation and mold opening operation. The horizontal Y-axis direction refers to another reference axis direction that forms a right angle with the horizontal X-axis direction. This direction is used to construct the independent working space of cooling station 2.

[0040] Through the above technical solution, the thermoforming equipment is a horizontal thermoforming equipment, and the cooling station 2 is located to the side of the injection station 1, which facilitates the switching of the mold 31 position.

[0041] In this embodiment, after the injection mechanism 6 injects material into the mold 31 of the injection station 1, the mold 31 stays at the injection station 1 for a certain period of time, and then the moving mechanism 4 drives the mold 31 to move to the corresponding cooling station 2.

[0042] In the above text, staying at injection station 1 means that mold 31 is not immediately moved to cooling station 2 after injection. Mold 31 remains stationary for a period of time after injection. This period of time is used to allow the molten fluid to form a preliminary solidification layer in mold 31, preventing structural deformation due to excessive material fluidity during the transfer process.

[0043] Through the above technical solution, after the mold 31 injects the material, it stays at the injection station 1 for a certain period of time to achieve the function of pre-cooling and buffering.

[0044] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned mold-locking device 32 is a mold clamp.

[0045] As mentioned above, a clamping device is a tooling fixture widely used in machining, mold manufacturing, automated production and other fields. Its main function is to quickly, accurately and firmly clamp and position molds, workpieces or related components.

[0046] Specifically, after the mold 31 moves to the injection station 1, a portion of the mold 31 is fixed to the fixed mold of the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5, and another portion is fixed to the moving mold of the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5. After injection is completed, the mold locking device is released, and a portion of the mold 31 is unlocked from the fixed mold of the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5, and another portion is unlocked from the moving mold of the mold opening and closing ejection mechanism 5, so that the mold 31 can be transferred to the cooling station 2.

[0047] By employing the above technical solution, the mold-locking device 32 can prevent the mold 31 from falling off and from vibrating or shifting during thermoforming. The mold-locking device 32 is not limited to a clamping device; it can be a magnetic mold-locking device.

[0048] In this embodiment, the pressure holding device 33 is a pressure holding cylinder.

[0049] In the above text, the pressure-holding cylinder is used to apply continuous pressure to the mold through the thrust of the piston in the pressure-holding cylinder.

[0050] Specifically, after the molten fluid is injected into the cavity of mold 31, the pressure-holding cylinder immediately activates and applies a preset pressure value. This pressure is evenly transmitted to the cavity through the mold parting surface, forcing the molten material to continuously replenish its flow during the cooling and shrinkage process. The pressure output end of the pressure-holding cylinder is rigidly connected to the moving parts of the mold, maintaining pressure output even as mold 31 moves to cooling station 2. Once mold 31 reaches cooling station 2, the pressure-holding cylinder continues to maintain pressure until the material is completely solidified.

[0051] Through the above technical solution, the pressure holding device 33 provides dynamic pressure compensation throughout the entire material solidification cycle, and maintains pressure continuity, especially during mold movement, thus solving the technical defect of pressure interruption caused by station switching in traditional equipment.

[0052] In this embodiment, the moving mechanism 4 includes two moving devices 41 and a distance adjusting device 42. The moving devices 41 are used to drive the mold 31 to move, and the distance adjusting device 42 is used to drive the two moving devices 41 to adjust the distance.

[0053] In the above text, the moving device 41 refers to the execution unit that drives the mold 31 to move between the injection station 1 and the cooling station 2. The guide part of the moving device 41 is a linear slide rail, a linear bearing, a dovetail groove, an electric roller, or a bearing. The adjusting device 42 refers to the mechanism that adjusts the distance between the two moving devices 41, adapting to the transportation needs of molds 31 of different sizes by changing the distance between the moving devices 41.

[0054] Specifically, each mold 31 is connected to two moving devices 41. The adjusting device 42 changes the distance between the moving devices through telescopic movement, enabling the same moving mechanism to match the transport paths of molds of different specifications. When the mold size changes, the adjusting device 42 adjusts the distance between the moving devices 41 to the target value.

[0055] Through the above technical solutions, the dual moving device 41 and the adjusting device 42 work together to enable the moving mechanism 4 to have adjustable spacing, breaking through the size limitation of a single mold 31; at the same time, through various guide configuration schemes, the motion performance requirements under different working conditions are met, and the equipment versatility is improved.

[0056] In this embodiment, it also includes a pick-and-place mechanism 7 and a conveying mechanism 8. The pick-and-place mechanism 7 is used to insert inserts into the mold 31 of the injection station 1 and to take out products. The conveying mechanism 8 is used to carry products and move products to other processes. In sub-steps S2.4 and S3.4, the pick-and-place mechanism 7 takes out the product from the mold 31 of the injection station 1 and places it on the conveying mechanism 8.

[0057] In the above description, the pick-and-place mechanism 7 can grab the product and move it along a preset trajectory. The conveyor mechanism 8 is used to place the product.

[0058] The above technical solution has enabled the automation of product removal from mold 31.

[0059] In this embodiment, the picking and placing mechanism 7 includes an end effector 71 and a robot 72. The end effector 71 is used to pick up products, and the robot 72 is used to drive the end effector 71 to move. The robot 72 is a coordinate robot.

[0060] In the above text, the end effector 71 refers to a specialized tool that performs product gripping actions, which can be implemented using a vacuum suction cup or a mechanical gripper to ensure that no displacement or damage occurs during the gripping process. The robot 72 refers to an automated robotic arm with multi-axis motion capabilities, which achieves precise positioning and path planning from the opening / closing position of the mold 31 to the conveying mechanism 8 by programming and controlling the movement trajectory of the end effector 71 in three-dimensional space. The coordinate robot refers to a robotic arm built on a Cartesian coordinate system, which can be implemented using a combination of three-axis linear motion modules, achieving high-precision linear motion through independent control of orthogonal axes.

[0061] Through the above technical solution, the pick-and-place mechanism 7, including the end device 71 and the robot 72, realizes fully automated operation of product picking and transfer, so that the injection molding and product transfer processes form a continuous workflow.

[0062] By using the above technical solution, robot 72 is set as a coordinate robot, which enables stable gripping and precise transfer of products after demolding.

[0063] In this embodiment, the conveying mechanism 8 is a belt conveyor mechanism, which drives the product to the next process.

[0064] In the above text, the belt conveyor mechanism refers to a material transport system consisting of a continuous circular conveyor belt and a drive unit, which achieves directional transport through frictional contact between the belt surface and the product. The next process refers to the subsequent processing or assembly stage that connects with the injection molding stage. This can be achieved using automated assembly lines, testing equipment, or packaging equipment, thus ensuring continuous production through material transfer between processes.

[0065] Specifically, when the pick-and-place mechanism 7 places the molded product on the belt surface of the belt conveyor mechanism, the drive device drives the conveyor belt to run at a uniform speed in a predetermined direction, so that the product moves with the belt surface to the designated work station.

[0066] Through the above technical solution, the belt conveyor mechanism can continuously transport products, facilitating the buffering and transfer of products to other processes.

[0067] In this embodiment, the aforementioned thermoforming equipment is an injection molding machine or a die-casting machine.

[0068] Injection molding machines, also known as injection molding machines or injection molding machines, are the main molding equipment used to produce various shapes of plastic products from thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics using plastic molds. Injection molding machines heat the plastic, apply high pressure to the molten plastic, and inject it to fill the mold cavity.

[0069] A die casting machine is an industrial device used for pressure casting. It uses high pressure to inject molten metal into a mold cavity at high speed, and after cooling and solidification, it forms a precision metal casting.

[0070] Both injection molding and die-casting machines require material cooling, making the aforementioned thermoforming equipment structure particularly suitable. In this embodiment, the aforementioned thermoforming equipment is a vehicle headlight injection molding machine.

[0071] The aforementioned automotive lighting injection molding machine can be used for injection molding automotive lights. Using this thermoforming equipment to mold automotive lights results in higher prices for the lights themselves; therefore, improving the production efficiency of automotive lights can significantly increase their economic benefits.

[0072] In this embodiment, the mold 31 consists of a front mold plate 311 and a rear mold plate 312. For universality, the front mold plate dimensions of all molds in this machine are the same, and the rear mold plate dimensions are also the same. All mold front and rear mold plates adopt a uniform specification. The mold is equipped with at least two mold locking devices 32 (at least two for the moving mold and at least two for the fixed mold) and at least two pressure holding devices 33. The two molds 31 move horizontally to the left and right sides of the equipment on the moving device 41. The mold locking devices 32 use hydraulic oil pressure through internal pistons and lever mechanisms to fix the front and rear mold plates of the mold to the fixed mold and the moving mold respectively, preventing the mold from falling and vibrating or shifting during injection molding and die casting. The mold locking devices 32 are not limited to hydraulic mold clamping devices; magnetic mold clamping devices can also be used. The pressure holding devices 33 are used to apply stable pressure to the mold 31, achieving full pressure holding during the production process. This ensures that the mold continues to apply pressure after the injection molding machine and die casting machine release the mold closing force, avoiding problems such as shrinkage and deformation of the product due to pressure fluctuations. The part of the moving mechanism 4 on the fixed mold side runs through both sides of the machine and is fixed to the fixed mold of the machine; the middle section on the other side is slightly higher than the guide column and fixed to the moving mold plate. The symmetrical moving device 41 adjusts the spacing according to the mold thickness to cope with molds of different thicknesses.

[0073] The following describes the steps involved in forming the vehicle lamp of this utility model: 1. Process One: Figure 5 As shown, after the first mold 31 is completed in the injection molding machine or die casting machine, it cools for a short period of time, while the second mold 31 cools on the outside.

[0074] 2. Process Two: Figure 6 As shown, after the first mold 31 cools for a short period of time, the pressure-holding cylinder pressurizes the first mold 31. The clamping device releases the first mold 31. The injection molding machine and die casting machine open a short distance. The mold moving mechanism 4, which combines external cooling and internal forming, moves the first mold 31 to the outside to continue cooling. The second mold 31 moves to the forming position to perform the forming operation. After forming, it cools for a short period of time.

[0075] 3. Process Three: Figure 5 As shown, after the second mold 31 cools for a short period of time, the pressure-holding cylinder pressurizes the second mold 31. The clamping device releases the second mold 31. The injection molding machine or die casting machine opens a short distance. The mold moving mechanism 4, which combines external cooling and internal forming, moves the second mold 31 to the other side to continue cooling. The first mold 31 returns to the forming position. The clamping device clamps the first mold 31. When the first mold 31 reaches the product's cooling time, the pressure-holding cylinder releases the first mold 31. The injection molding machine or die casting machine opens the mold. The injection molding machine or die casting machine demolds the product. The pick-and-place mechanism enters the mold, removes the product, and places it on the conveying device. The injection molding machine or die casting machine closes the mold, and the first mold 31 is formed again.

[0076] 4. Process Four: Figure 6 As shown, after the first mold 31 has finished molding and cooled for a short period of time, the pressure-holding cylinder pressurizes the first mold 31. The clamping device releases the first mold 31. The injection molding machine or die-casting machine opens a short distance. The mold moving mechanism 4, which combines external cooling and internal molding, moves the first mold 31 to the outside for continued cooling. The second mold 31 returns to the molding position. The clamping device clamps the second mold 31. After the second mold 31 reaches the product's cooling time, the pressure-holding cylinder releases the second mold 31. The injection molding machine or die-casting machine opens the mold. The injection molding machine or die-casting machine demolds the product. The pick-and-place mechanism enters the mold, removes the product, and places it on the conveyor. The injection molding machine or die-casting machine closes the mold, and the second mold 31... Re-forming → After the second mold 31 cools for a short period of time → the pressure holding cylinder pressurizes the second mold 31 → the clamping device releases the second mold 31 → the injection molding machine or die casting machine opens a short distance → the mold moving mechanism 4, which combines external cooling and internal forming, moves the second mold 31 to the other side to continue cooling → the first mold 31 returns to the forming position → the clamping device clamps the first mold 31 → the first mold 31 reaches the product's cooling time, and the pressure holding cylinder releases the first mold 31 → the injection molding machine or die casting machine opens the mold → the injection molding machine or die casting machine demolds the product → the pick-and-place mechanism enters the mold to remove the product and places it on the conveyor device → the injection molding machine or die casting machine closes the mold, and the first mold 31 is re-formed.

[0077] The above processes are repeated in sequence.

[0078] Example 2: Another embodiment of the thermoforming equipment provided by this utility model.

[0079] The rest is the same as in Example 1, except that the robot described above is a six-axis robot.

[0080] In the above text, a six-axis robot refers to an industrial robot with six rotary joints. Specifically, it can be implemented using a serial multi-degree-of-freedom robotic arm, which achieves flexible posture adjustment in three-dimensional space through the coordinated movement of each joint. Through the linkage control of the six rotary axes, a six-axis robot can complete complex trajectory picking actions within the limited space after the mold opens and closes.

[0081] Through the above technical solutions, the six-axis robot can adapt to the product gripping needs at different angles and avoid interference with the mold structure.

[0082] The advantages of this utility model are as follows: ①This utility model can eliminate or significantly reduce the idle time of the main body of injection molding machines and die casting machines caused by the long-term cooling of the mold, thereby doubling the efficiency and reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

[0083] ②The mold in this utility model is equipped with a mold pressure holding device such as an oil cylinder. Before the machine releases the locking force and before the mold cools down and re-enters the machine to open and remove the product, the mold is always locked by the pressure holding device and kept in a pressure holding state, so as to achieve full pressure holding and ensure product quality.

[0084] ③ In this utility model, two or more sets of molds are opened by the original mold opening mechanism of the injection molding machine and the original demolding mechanism, and demolded by the original demolding mechanism. They are then removed and reinstalled by the same robot or the same person, achieving low cost and high efficiency, reducing equipment, saving space and energy, and reducing the complexity of machine operation and maintenance.

[0085] ④ The moving mechanism of this utility model can be used for various molds with different heights and thicknesses, and has strong compatibility.

[0086] ⑤ The power source of the adjusting device in this utility model is not limited to manual mode, but can also be replaced by automatic mode such as servo motor.

[0087] ⑥ The mold moving mechanism of external cooling + internal forming in this utility model is not limited to the left-right or up-down transfer method, and is not limited to three-station or multi-station.

[0088] ⑦ The robot in this utility model is not limited to coordinate robot, six-axis multi-joint robot or manual operation.

[0089] ⑧ The molding equipment in this utility model is not limited to hot pressing molding equipment such as injection molding machines or die casting machines.

[0090] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A thermoforming device that doubles efficiency, characterized in that, The thermoforming equipment includes an injection station, at least two cooling stations, at least two molds, a moving mechanism, an opening and closing mold ejection mechanism, and an injection mechanism. The at least two molds correspond to the at least two cooling stations respectively, and the molds are used to form products. Each mold is equipped with a mold locking device for locking and unlocking it with the opening and closing mold ejection mechanism and a pressure holding device for locking and unlocking the mold itself. The moving mechanism is used to drive the mold to reciprocate between the corresponding cooling station and the injection station. The opening and closing mold ejection mechanism is used to open and close the mold of the injection station and eject the product from the open mold. The injection mechanism is used to inject molten fluid into the mold of the injection station.

2. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermoforming equipment includes two cooling stations and two molds.

3. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 2, characterized in that, The mold opening and closing ejection mechanism and the injection mechanism are respectively located on both sides of the injection station along the horizontal X-axis direction, and the two cooling stations are respectively located on both sides of the injection station along the horizontal Y-axis direction, with the horizontal X-axis direction being perpendicular to the horizontal Y-axis direction.

4. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mold-locking device is a mold clamp.

5. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pressure-holding device is a pressure-holding hydraulic cylinder.

6. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that, The moving mechanism includes two moving devices and a distance adjusting device. The moving devices are used to move the mold, and the distance adjusting device is used to adjust the distance between the two moving devices.

7. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pick-and-place mechanism and a conveying mechanism. The pick-and-place mechanism is used to remove the molded product from the mold at the injection station, and the conveying mechanism is used to carry the product and move the product to other processes.

8. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 7, characterized in that, The picking and placing mechanism includes an end effector and a robot. The end effector is used to pick up products, and the robot is used to drive the end effector to move. The robot is a six-axis robot or a coordinate robot.

9. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 7, characterized in that, The conveying mechanism is a belt conveyor, which is used to carry and move products to other processes.

10. The thermoforming equipment with doubled efficiency according to claim 1, characterized in that, The thermoforming equipment is an injection molding machine or a die casting machine.

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