FORM-CLOSING UNIT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mold clamping unit for a machine for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials, in particular for an injection molding machine according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a method for operating a mold clamping unit according to the preamble of claim 9.

[0002] When we refer to "tool" or "mold" here, we are referring to an injection mold or injection tool, such as those typically mounted between the mold carriers of a mold clamping unit in a plastics processing machine. The terms "tool," "mold," "injection mold," and "injection tool" are therefore used synonymously.

[0003] In injection molding technology, various mold clamping units with different clamping force ranges are used. For example, in the clamping force range up to 2000 kN, 5-point toggle levers with an inwardly opening toggle lever arm are predominantly known. For example, clamping units with inwardly folding toggle lever arms are disclosed in EP 0 164 419 A1 or DE 10 2015 109 840 B3.

[0004] These toggle lever systems are typically designed with four toggle lever arms positioned between the movable mold mounting plate and the support bracket. The arms are connected to the auxiliary or adjusting levers via a crosshead and moved horizontally, for example, by an electric motor and a spindle. When using, for example, four main levers, the application of the clamping force causes deformation of the pivot points on the mold plate or support plate, leading to torsion of the main levers and thus to edge loading in the rotary bearings. The drive plate bearing is usually integrated into the adjusting plate and guides the linear movement of the drive plate.

[0005] Furthermore, folding the toggle linkages inwards takes up space, leaving little room for other parts of the machine. A correspondingly large amount of material is also used for the design of the toggle linkages, which consumes resources.

[0006] US Patent 4,545,757 A discloses an injection molding machine comprising a carrier plate and a movable plate of a mold clamping mechanism. The carrier plate is connected to four guide rods, and the movable plate is movably guided on the guide rods.

[0007] A central rod guides a movable cross arm at one end and is movably mounted in the support plate at the other. Two toggle lever strands are each connected to the movable cross arm at their midpoints. The support plate and the movable plate are each connected at one end of the two toggle lever strands. The movable plate is moved along the guide rods by a hydraulic drive, which in turn drives the movable cross arm and thus the toggle lever strands. When the mold is open, the toggle levers fold inwards; when extended, the toggle lever points (and the force line) lie outside the guide rods or beams. Due to geometric constraints, the force application points are positioned so far outwards that, when folding inwards, the necessary clearance is provided for the toggle levers to pivot past each other without collision. The force application points located on the outside transfer the force through the mold supports or beams.Due to the large size of the bending beams formed by the tool plate, a significant amount of material must be invested in the tool plates to generate the same deformation on the tool clamping surface as in an outward-folding system. A central guide, movably attached to the tool plate, supports the crosshead and is additionally supported in the rear support plate. This single guide holds the crosshead in a central position.

[0008] JP H07-205237 A discloses a three-plate mold clamping unit in which a rear plate and a moving plate are connected by a mold clamping mechanism. The mold clamping unit comprises a mold clamping drive device and a toggle lever assembly. The mold clamping drive device is equipped with a ball screw / nut and a mold clamping motor. The rear end of the toggle lever assembly is pivotally mounted on and connected to the rear plate. The front end of the toggle lever assembly is connected to the moving plate, and the middle section of the toggle lever assembly is connected to a crosshead. The crosshead is guided in its longitudinal movement by a guide rod that is arranged parallel to a tie bar between the moving plate and the rear plate and is connected to the moving plate.

[0009] CA 2 814 890 A1 discloses an injection molding machine for processing plastics, which has at least one injection mold on a mold clamping unit that can be received between a stationary mold carrier and a movable mold carrier. The mold carriers are moved by means of at least one pair of toggle levers with two toggle lever mechanisms, each driven independently of the other by a drive unit in one clamping direction and mounted on a bearing plate. Since the bearing plate is movably mounted on the injection molding machine along guides and the drive units are mounted on the movable bearing plate, on which the actuating elements for the at least two toggle lever mechanisms are attached, the parallelism of the mold carriers can be influenced in both the static and dynamic states.

[0010] Based on this prior art, the present invention aims to provide an advantageous, resource-saving and reliable solution for a mold clamping unit.

[0011] This problem is solved by a mold clamping unit having the features of claim 1 and by a method for operating a mold clamping unit having the features of claim 9.

[0012] Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent patent claims. The features listed individually in the patent claims can be combined with one another in a technologically meaningful way and can be supplemented by explanatory facts from the description and by details from the figures, thereby showing further embodiments of the invention.

[0013] The mold clamping unit for a machine for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials, in particular for an injection molding machine, comprises a first mold mounting plate, preferably a stationary mold mounting plate, a support plate, a movable mold mounting plate, and a drive plate, wherein the drive plate is arranged between the movable mold mounting plate and the support plate. At least two toggle levers, preferably exactly two toggle levers, are connected to the support plate, the drive plate, and the movable mold mounting plate, wherein the toggle levers are supported on the support plate and are toggle levers that fold outwards over the tie bars of the mold clamping unit.The term "folding outwards" refers to the fact that, when the injection mold opens, the toggle levers extend from the machine's central axis, which runs parallel to the tie bars through the first mold platen, the movable mold platen, and the support plate, for example, upwards, downwards, to the right, and / or to the left, thereby extending beyond the area defined by the tie bars when projected along an axis in the closing direction. For instance, the toggle levers can fold downwards towards the machine frame and upwards beyond the tie bars. Their pivot points are arranged inwards towards the machine's central axis, within a space defined by the tie bars and spaced away from the boundaries of this space. This advantageously ensures optimal force transmission to the movable mold platen, allowing for its design optimization.This significantly reduces material usage while maintaining the same stiffness. Furthermore, larger strokes can be achieved by folding the levers outwards from their optimal position, thus preventing collisions.

[0014] For an advantageously resource-efficient and reliable mold clamping unit, at least one guide rod, preferably two guide rods, is connected to the movable mold mounting plate and is movable relative to the support plate. The support plate has at least one recess for the at least one guide rod. The recess can be, for example, a cutout or a hole in the support plate. The at least one guide rod serves to ensure precise opening and closing of the mold clamping unit by precisely guiding the drive plate. Furthermore, when opening and / or closing the mold clamping unit, the at least one guide rod at least partially, preferably completely, passes through the support plate. For example, in an open state of the mold clamping unit, the at least one guide rod can protrude completely through the recess and the support plate. This is possible, for example, if...but also that, in the open state, at least one guide rod does not protrude through the support plate, but rather one end of the at least one guide rod ends in the at least one recess of the support plate.

[0015] It is also conceivable, in principle, that at least one toggle lever arm is supported against the first mold mounting plate, thus pulling the movable mold mounting plate, resulting in a pulling type of mold clamping unit. The movable mold mounting plate is then pulled towards the first mold mounting plate.

[0016] When the mold clamping unit is opened and / or closed, the drive plate is set in motion by a drive, e.g., a hydraulic drive or, preferably, an electric drive, e.g., a spindle drive or a rack and pinion drive. This actuates the toggle levers and sets the movable mold mounting plate in motion. When the mold is opened, the drive plate and the movable mold mounting plate move towards the support plate, with the at least one guide rod at least partially, preferably completely, passing through the support plate. For example, in the open state of the mold clamping unit, the at least one guide rod can pass completely through the support plate, so that the at least one guide rod is completely enclosed in the support plate and projects out of the support plate in the opposite direction to the movable mold mounting plate.For this purpose, the support plate has at least one recess through which the at least one guide rod protrudes at least partially, preferably completely, when the mold is open.

[0017] The toggle lever strands form a space between them which can be advantageously used for the arrangement of the guide rod and / or for the installation of peripherals (e.g. the ejector).

[0018] For advantageous optimal force transmission and force introduction into the movable mold mounting plate, the toggle levers of the toggle lever strands are horizontally aligned in the extended position and at the same time structurally pulled so far inwards that optimal force introduction is achieved.

[0019] At least one guide rod runs through the drive plate and is at least partially supported in the drive plate and / or the support plate. This advantageously results in a speed-reduced bearing arrangement for the drive plate and a resource-saving bearing configuration. Furthermore, the support of the guide rod in the drive plate and / or support plate advantageously stabilizes the opening and / or closing movement of the mold clamping unit.

[0020] Preferably, the recess at least partially accommodates and supports the guide rod. When the mold is closed, the drive plate is set in motion by the drive mechanism, and the drive plate and the movable mold mounting plate move towards the first mold mounting plate. The at least one guide rod also moves towards the first mold mounting plate. In doing so, the at least one guide rod emerges at least partially from the support plate in the direction of the movable mold mounting plate and / or extends at least partially from the support plate when the mold clamping unit closes. Preferably, when the mold clamping unit is closed, the guide rod runs at least partially, and more preferably completely, through the support plate and is at least partially supported there, but more preferably no longer protrudes beyond the support plate.However, it is also conceivable that the guide rod protrudes through or beyond the support plate even when the mold clamping unit is closed. It is also conceivable that, depending on the stroke of the mold clamping unit, the guide rod only partially passes through the support plate when the mold is open and / or closed, and is not supported by or protrudes through the entire thickness of the support plate.

[0021] An outward-folding toggle lever assembly typically requires a relatively large drive plate because the auxiliary levers must be pulled outwards. To achieve the most compact drive plate possible, its guide must be positioned so that a stationary guide associated with the movable mold mounting plate is only feasible if it extends into the overall length of the assembly. To avoid this, the guide rod of the movable mold mounting plate is movably connected and positioned within the overall structure so that it can pass through (and be guided by) the support plate. This design is therefore a resource-saving solution in terms of material usage.

[0022] The moving guide rod results in relative profiles for the sliding speeds of the bearings and guides, which, due to the toggle lever kinematics, lead to a reduced sliding load on the guide systems. The through-the-carry guide rod advantageously enables optimal guidance of the drive plate with its outwardly opening toggle lever arms, while simultaneously minimizing material usage. Furthermore, in combination with the outwardly folding toggle lever system, this results in large opening strokes with minimal material usage and an ideal force application point on the moving mold mounting plate, as well as ample clearance for, for example, an ejector.

[0023] For an advantageously simple geometric solution, preferably at least one guide rod, and more preferably exactly one guide rod, is connected to the center of the movable mold mounting plate. For example, this is particularly advantageous with regard to optimal force application if all relevant functional units (e.g., an ejector and / or a drive unit) are eliminated from the central position of the movable mold mounting plate.

[0024] To advantageously reduce the sliding load on the guide systems, the at least one guide rod and the movable mold mounting plate, on the one hand, and the drive plate, on the other hand, preferably exhibit a common speed profile at least temporarily during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit. This speed profile is a superposition of a movement, preferably a constant movement of a drive, e.g., a spindle or rack movement, with the toggle lever kinematics.

[0025] Preferably, during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit, the at least one guide rod and the movable mold mounting plate move at the same speed, or at least at one point in time, as the drive plate. This advantageously reduces friction and thus wear on the guide rod and the drive plate, as well as on the corresponding bearings and guides. Furthermore, this advantageously results in a toggle-lever positive locking mechanism with fewer lubrication points. Since the frictional force is proportional to the velocity V, or dependent on V ≤ 2, friction is advantageously reduced, thereby minimizing wear. For example, the guide rod bearing, e.g., a plain bearing, is not subjected to any stress at a relative velocity of zero.

[0026] Preferably, the speed of the drive plate remains essentially constant for at least a certain period of time during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit. This advantageously results in resource-efficient bearing operation, as changes in speed do not cause corresponding friction, for example, on the guide rod.

[0027] Advantageous for reducing torsional effects on the toggle lever pivots are at least two toggle lever strands, more preferably exactly two, each with one end centrally, preferably horizontally centrally, and / or vertically symmetrically, engaging the movable mold mounting plate. More preferably, the other ends of the toggle lever strands can be centrally, preferably horizontally centrally, and / or vertically symmetrically, engaging the support plate. For example, horizontally centrally, in the case of a substantially rectangular movable mold mounting plate, means that the toggle lever strands are arranged along the vertical center line of the movable mold mounting plate – the distance to the right and left from the edge of the movable mold mounting plate is essentially the same. In this example, the toggle lever strands are then arranged one above the other or one below the other along the vertical center line.Vertical symmetry in this example means that the symmetry with respect to the horizontal perpendicular bisector of the essentially rectangular movable mold mounting plate exists as the axis of symmetry, and the toggle lever strands thus maintain essentially the same distance vertically upwards and downwards from the horizontal perpendicular bisector. This also advantageously simplifies the clamping force measurement at the tie bars, as these merely serve as tie rods. Furthermore, the toggle lever strands can be connected to the support plate at their opposite ends.

[0028] Preferably, exactly two toggle lever strands are provided, with each toggle lever strand having one end horizontally centered and vertically symmetrically positioned in the upper and lower halves of the movable mold mounting plate. For example, in the case of a substantially rectangular movable mold mounting plate, the horizontal center line defines the upper and lower halves. The central arrangement of the toggle lever strands and their outward folding, due to the central force application, advantageously provides not only clearance, for example for a centrally positioned ejector, but also optimized force transmission from the toggle lever strand into the movable mold mounting plate and ultimately into the mold.

[0029] Preferably, the two ends of the toggle levers, arranged horizontally centrally and vertically symmetrically on the movable mold mounting plate, are positioned with the smallest possible distance between them. The position, preferably the symmetrical position, of the ends of the toggle levers can depend on a component provided in the central area of ​​the movable mold mounting plate, e.g., an ejector. Without an ejector, for example, one end of the toggle levers can be arranged horizontally centrally and vertically symmetrically in the upper and lower halves of the movable mold mounting plate such that the respective ends of the toggle levers are in direct contact with each other. The ends of the toggle levers are then arranged as close together as possible and are adjacent to each other. For example, in a classic central cavity, the toggle levers can be pushed together as much as possible, with the toggle lever then, for example,The position is located at a distance of 0-50% of the clear tie bar dimension. For two or more cavities, the position is arranged in line with the outer cavity, with the toggle lever, for example, located at a distance of 50-100% of the clear tie bar dimension. This advantageously results in a uniform force transmission across the entire movable mold mounting plate.

[0030] Preferably, at least two toggle lever strands, more preferably exactly two toggle lever strands, lie in a vertical axis in a symmetrical band of 0-100%, more preferably of 20-80% of the clear spar dimension.

[0031] Preferably, the ends of the toggle levers, which engage the movable mold mounting plate, are displaceable, and more preferably, infinitely displaceable. With outwardly folding toggle levers, the ends of the toggle levers that engage the movable mold mounting plate can be pushed together, and more preferably, completely pushed together, thus advantageously resulting in flexible positioning of the toggle levers. For example, with a substantially rectangular movable mold mounting plate, the ends of the toggle levers, which are arranged to engage the plate horizontally centrally and vertically symmetrically, can be displaced along the horizontal perpendicular bisector, and more preferably, infinitely displaceable. More preferably, the other ends of the toggle levers, which are connected to the support plate, can also be displaceable, and more preferably, infinitely displaceable.Preferably, the entire toggle lever assembly can be movable, and even more preferably, it can be infinitely movable.

[0032] By preferably reducing the number of toggle levers from, for example, four to two, it is advantageously possible to design the drive plate in such a way that, guided by the guide rods, it allows an outward toggle lever movement without significantly affecting the overall length of the structure. In addition to the advantageous weight saving of approximately 25% while maintaining the same stiffness of the locking components, further positive properties result with regard to the load on the toggle lever rotary systems and the sliding speed of the guide systems.

[0033] Preferably, at least two guide rods, and more preferably exactly two guide rods, are provided, which are preferably arranged centrally, preferably vertically centrally, and / or horizontally symmetrically on the movable mold mounting plate. While a single central guide cannot prevent rotation or tilting of the crosshead and / or movable mold mounting plate, with multiple guide rods, the drive plate is guided and can advantageously compensate for asymmetrically occurring forces more effectively due to the arrangement of the guide rods. Furthermore, the positive orientation of the drive plate ensures that even under high asymmetrical forces, the toggle pivot points do not deform, preventing technically critical edge supports from forming in the highly stressed toggle pivot joint. Double or multiple guides advantageously improve the behavior under asymmetrical forces.

[0034] Vertically centered, for example, in the case of a substantially rectangular movable mold mounting plate, means that the guide rods are arranged along the horizontal perpendicular bisector of the mounting plate and thus have essentially the same distance to the top and bottom edges of the mounting plate. Horizontally symmetrical, in this example, means that the symmetry with respect to the vertical perpendicular bisector of the substantially rectangular movable mold mounting plate exists as the axis of symmetry, and the guide rods therefore have essentially the same distance to the left and right of the vertical perpendicular bisector. Due to the very compact, symmetrical arrangement of the guide rods radiating from the center of the drive plate, clear advantages arise for thermal expansion, because the distance of the guide to the center can be kept small.For example, in a rectangular movable mold mounting plate, the guide rods are arranged along the horizontal perpendicular center and symmetrically with respect to the vertical perpendicular center as the axis of symmetry. Preferably, the at least two guide rods each have the smallest possible distance to the center of the drive plate and / or the movable mold mounting plate, which offers advantages with regard to the thermal properties of the guide rods. Thermal growth physically depends on the temperature influence and the length L; that is, the closer the guide rods are to each other, the smaller the free length L and thus, of course, the deflection of the guide rod bore from the ideal position. The closer the guide rods and guide rod bores are positioned to the center, the smaller the thermal growth and thus the positional deviation of the guide rod bores from the ideal position.

[0035] Preferably, the at least two guide rods, preferably exactly two guide rods, lie in a horizontally symmetrical band of 0-100%, preferably 20-80% of the clear beam dimension, wherein a guide rod spacing of 0-100%, preferably 20-80% of the clear beam dimension is advantageous for precise and stable guidance.

[0036] For expanding the capabilities of the form clamping unit, it is advantageous that at least one guide rod preferably forms part of a closing stroke protection system. Preferably, the through-tube guide rod offers, in addition to its guiding functions, further possibilities for integrating additional features such as a mechanical closing stroke protection system, for example, a ramming bar.

[0037] Preferably, at least two toggle levers and at least two guide rods are provided, which are arranged at right angles to each other on the movable mold mounting plate, the support plate, and / or the drive plate. The right-angle arrangement means, for example, that two guide rods are arranged horizontally symmetrically and vertically centered on the movable mold mounting plate, while the toggle levers are arranged at right angles to these, i.e., horizontally centered and vertically symmetrically. If, for example, the mounting points of the toggle levers on the movable mold mounting plate and the connection points of the guide rods on the movable mold mounting plate are connected, the connections intersect at a substantially right angle. This advantageously results in direct force transmission to the tool while simultaneously ensuring stable support.

[0038] Preferably, exactly two toggle levers and exactly two guide rods are provided, which are arranged at right angles to each other on the movable mold mounting plate, the support plate, and / or the drive plate. If, for example, the mounting points of the two toggle levers are connected with a line, and the mounting points of the two guide rods are connected with a line, the two connecting lines intersect at a right angle. This advantageously results in material savings while simultaneously ensuring sufficient and stable force transmission into the tool.

[0039] The problem is further solved by a method for operating a mold clamping unit for a machine for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials, in particular for an injection molding machine, with the features of claim 12. This results in advantages with regard to material usage and resource-saving operation, since the mold clamping unit can be designed more compactly due to the movable guide. For this purpose, the movable mold mounting plate is actuated inwards towards a central machine axis by the toggle levers within a space defined by the tie bars and spaced apart from the boundaries of this space, wherein the toggle levers form a clearance between each other and the toggle levers of the toggle levers are horizontally aligned in the extended position, and wherein the at least one guide rod runs through the drive plate and is at least partially supported in the drive plate and / or in the support plate.

[0040] Preferably, during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit, the at least one guide rod and the movable mold mounting plate are moved at the same speed as the drive plate for at least a certain period of time. This offers advantages in terms of safety and wear, since different speeds cause friction, for example, on the guide rod, which is detrimental to the corresponding bearings and guides. Furthermore, this advantageously results in a toggle-lever form-fitting mechanism with fewer lubrication points.

[0041] When speeds are changed, the friction required for the necessary acceleration leads to adverse wear of the elements affected by the friction.

[0042] To achieve advantages with regard to friction and the associated wear, the drive plate is moved at a substantially constant speed for at least a certain period of time during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit.

[0043] Further advantages arise from the dependent claims and the following description of a preferred embodiment. The features listed individually in the claims can be combined in a technologically meaningful manner and can be supplemented by explanatory details from the description and by details from the figures, thereby demonstrating further embodiments of the invention.

[0044] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures. These show: Figure 1 isometric view from the left of a machine for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials (tool closed), Figure 2 isometric view from the left of a machine according to Fig. 1 (Tool open), Figure 3 isometric view from the right of the machine according to Fig. 1 (Tool closed), Figure 4 isometric view from the right of the machine according to Fig. 3 (Tool open), Figure 5 vertical section through the machine's longitudinal axis (Tool closed), Figure 6 horizontal section through the machine (Tool closed), Figure 7 horizontal section through the machine (Tool open), Figure 8 side view of a mold clamping unit, Figure 9 section along axis DD according to Figure 8 by auxiliary or adjusting toggle lever, Figure 10 a diagram of the speed v of tool plate or movable mold mounting plate and drive plate over time t. Description of preferred embodiments

[0045] The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the exemplary embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the inventive concept to a specific arrangement. Before the invention is described in detail, it should be noted that it is not limited to the respective components of the device or the respective process steps, as these components and processes can vary. The terms used here are intended solely to describe particular embodiments and are not used restrictively. Furthermore, where the singular or indefinite articles are used in the description or in the claims, this also refers to the plural of these elements, unless the overall context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0046] The embodiment according to the Figure 1 , 3 , 5 ,6 , 8 and 9 Figure 1 shows a machine 100 for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials, in particular an injection molding machine, which has an injection unit (not shown) and a mold clamping unit 10 in a closed (injection mold) tool state, in various views. Figures 2 , 4 and 7 Figure 10 shows the machine 100 and / or the mold clamping unit 10 in an open mold state from various perspectives. The mold clamping unit 10 and / or the injection unit can be arranged on a machine stand 28. The mold clamping unit 10 is in Figure 1 e.g. on the left side with a tool space A for a tool and the (not shown) injection unit is arranged on the right side.

[0047] The mold clamping unit 10 has a first mold mounting plate 12, in Figure 1The mold clamping unit 10 comprises a stationary mold clamping plate, a movable mold clamping plate 14, a support plate 18, and a drive plate 16, which is arranged between the movable mold clamping plate 14 and the support plate 18. The mold clamping unit 10 has in the Figures 1 - 9 Beams 30, which connect the support plate 18 and the first mold mounting plate 12. Several toggle lever strands 22, 24, in Figure 1Two toggle levers 22, 24 are connected to the support plate 18, the drive plate 16, and the movable mold mounting plate 14. The toggle levers 22, 24 are supported on the support plate 18 and are designed as outwardly folding toggle levers 22, 24. When the injection mold opens, the toggle levers 22, 24 fold outwards from the machine's central axis (axis 40), for example, upwards, downwards, right, and / or left, extending beyond the area enclosed by the tie bars 30 when the central axis is projected in the closing direction. For example, the toggle levers can fold downwards towards the machine frame and upwards beyond the tie bars.

[0048] Regarding the linkage of the toggle levers 22, 24, the pivot points on the movable mold mounting plate 14 are arranged within a space defined by the tie bars 30 and spaced inwards towards the axis 40 from the boundaries of this space. This advantageously ensures optimal force transmission into the movable mold mounting plate 14, allowing for its design optimization. Material usage is thus significantly reduced while maintaining the same stiffness. Furthermore, larger strokes can be advantageously achieved by folding the toggle levers outwards from their extended position, preventing collisions.

[0049] This arrangement results in the toggle lever strands 22, 24 forming a free space between them, which can be advantageously used for the arrangement of the guide rod 20 and / or for the installation of peripherals (e.g. the ejector).

[0050] For advantageous optimal force transmission and force introduction into the movable mold mounting plate, the toggle levers of the toggle lever strands are horizontally aligned in the extended position and at the same time structurally pulled so far inwards that optimal force introduction is achieved.

[0051] The drive plate 16 is driven and moved via a drive 26, for example a spindle drive, a rack and pinion drive or a hydraulic drive, and via a drive rod 32, e.g. a spindle, a rack and pinion drive or a piston. At least one guide rod 20, in Figure 1 Two guide rods 20 are connected to the movable mold mounting plate 14 and are movable relative to the support plate 18. Furthermore, the support plate 18 has at least one recess in Figure 1The mold clamping unit 10 has two recesses for the two guide rods 20, wherein the guide rods 20 at least partially, preferably completely, pass through the support plate 18 when the mold clamping unit 10 is opened and / or closed. Optionally, the mold clamping unit 10 can have a mold height adjustment 34 on the support plate 18.

[0052] During the opening and / or closing process of the mold clamping unit 10, the drive plate 16 is set in motion via the drive 26 and the drive rod 32, thereby actuating the toggle levers 22, 24 and setting the movable mold mounting plate 14 and the guide rods 20 in motion. For example, in the closed state of the mold clamping unit 10, the guide rods 20 run according to Figure 1The guide rods 20 pass at least partially, preferably completely, through the support plate 18, but do not protrude from it. The guide rods 20 can extend through the entire thickness or a portion thereof within the support plate 18. It is also conceivable that the guide rods 20 extend through the support plate 18 towards the drive 26 even when the mold clamping unit 10 is closed. The support plate 18 has corresponding recesses that at least partially, preferably completely, receive and support the guide rods 20.

[0053] When the tool or the mold clamping unit 10 is opened, the drive plate 16 and the movable mold mounting plate 14 move towards the support plate 18 by means of the drive 26 and the toggle lever strands 22, 24, with the guide rods 20 passing through the support plate 18.

[0054] In the Fig. 2 , 4 and 7Machine 100 is shown with an open tool. For example, the guide rods 20 protrude into Fig. 2 elongated in the direction of the drive 26 beyond the support plate 18. In principle, it is also conceivable that the guide rods 20 do not protrude beyond the support plate 18 when the mold clamping unit 10 is open.

[0055] When the tool or the mold clamping unit 10 is closed again, the drive plate 16 and the movable mold mounting plate 14 move towards the first mold mounting plate 12 by means of the drive 26 and the toggle levers 22, 24, whereby the guide rods 20 pass through the support plate 18, but now in the opposite direction to when the mold clamping unit 10 was opened. The guide rods 20 move out of the support plate 18 towards the first mold mounting plate 12.

[0056] The guide rods 20 run in the Figs. 1 to 9through the drive plate 16 and are at least partially supported in the drive plate 16 and / or in the support plate 18. The guide rods 20 run, for example, in Figure 2 through the drive plate 16 and the support plate 18 and are also mounted there. In the closed tool state ( Fig. 1 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 8 and 9 ) the guide rods 20 run at least partially through the support plate 18, while in the state tool open ( Fig. 2 , 4 and 7 ) the guide rods 20 dip through the support plate 18 and protrude from the support plate 18 in the direction of the drive 26.

[0057] During the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit 10, the guide rods 20 and the movable mold mounting plate 14, on the one hand, and the drive plate 16, on the other hand, exhibit a common speed profile at least temporarily. This speed profile is a superposition of a constant movement of the drive 26, e.g., a constant spindle movement, with the toggle lever kinematics.

[0058] The diagram according to Fig. 10Figure 1 shows the velocity profiles of the tool plate or the movable mold mounting plate 14 (dotted line) and the drive plate 16 (solid line). Since the movable mold mounting plate 14 and the guide rods 20 are rigidly connected, the velocity profile of the movable mold mounting plate 14 is also the velocity profile of the guide rods 20. The abbreviation v,AP stands for the velocity of the drive plate 16 (crosshead) and the abbreviation v,WPB stands for the velocity of the movable mold mounting plate 14. Time t in seconds is plotted on the X-axis and velocity v in m / sec is plotted on the Y-axis.

[0059] The drive plate 16 is moved by the drive unit with a continuous velocity profile (with a plateau). Due to the toggle lever kinematics and the resulting transmission, the movable mold mounting plate 14 and the drive plate 16 preferably move at exactly one point in time (at t = 0.9 seconds) at identical speeds, i.e., the relative speed between the two components is zero at this point. In principle, however, the two components can also move at the same, i.e., nearly similar, speeds over a certain period of time.

[0060] In the plateau region of the velocity v,AP of the drive plate 16 from approximately t = 0.5 sec to approximately t = 1.4 sec, the velocity profiles of the two plates are almost identical. This significantly minimizes the relative load on the sliding bearing between the guide rod 20 (which moves at the same speed as the movable mold mounting plate 14, because they are rigidly connected) and the drive plate 16.

[0061] During the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit 10, the guide rods 20 and the movable mold mounting plate 14 move at the same speed as the drive plate 16 for at least a period of time.

[0062] For advantageously wear-free operation of the mold clamping unit, the relative velocity between the movable mold mounting plate 14 and the guide rods 20 on the one hand, and the drive plate 16 on the other, is zero for at least a certain period of time during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit 10. The drive plate 16 and the movable mold mounting plate 14 are moved by the drive 26 and via the toggle levers 22, 24.The movement of the movable mold mounting plate 14 follows the movement of the drive plate 16 via the toggle levers 22, 24 (there is no direct connection between the drive plate 16 and the movable mold mounting plate 14 - the connection is made via the toggle levers 22, 24), whereby for at least a period of time the relative velocity between the movable mold mounting plate 14 and the guide rod 20 and the drive plate 16 is zero, which advantageously results in a resource-saving bearing arrangement.

[0063] Furthermore, the speed of the drive plate 16 is essentially constant during the opening and / or closing of the mold clamping unit 10. Only briefly, during acceleration and deceleration, does the speed of the drive plate 16 change; otherwise, it remains essentially constant during the opening and / or closing process of the mold clamping unit 10. For example, when the mold clamping unit 10 is opened, the drive plate 16 is moved by means of the drive 26, for example, into Figure 1to the left, whereby after a certain time the movable mold mounting plate 14 is set in motion via the toggle levers 22, 24. From a certain point on, the drive plate 16 and the movable mold mounting plate 14 then move at the same constant speed for at least a certain period of time before the movement of the drive plate 16 slows down, so that the mold clamping unit 10 is in the open mold state (e.g. Figure 2 ) is located.

[0064] The two toggle lever strands 22, 24 are according to the Figures 1 to 9 middle, in the Figures 1 - 9 arranged horizontally centrally and vertically symmetrically on the movable mold mounting plate 14. In Figure 5 For example, a vertical section through the machine's longitudinal axis is shown in the closed tool state. The two toggle lever strands 22, 24 are horizontally centered there, i.e., the distance to the "left" and "right" is equal (see also Figure 9), and vertically symmetrical, i.e., at the same distance "above" and "below" the axis of symmetry 38 or the horizontal plane through the axis of symmetry 38, respectively, a toggle lever 22, 24 is arranged, engaging the movable mold mounting plate 14. Furthermore, in Figure 5 The figure shows that the toggle lever strands 22, 24 are also arranged centrally, preferably horizontally centrally, and / or vertically symmetrically on the support plate 18.

[0065] According to the Figures 1 - 9 Exactly two toggle lever strands 22, 24 are provided, wherein the toggle lever strands 22, 24 are arranged horizontally centrally and vertically symmetrically in the upper and lower halves of the movable mold mounting plate 14. For example, limited in Figure 8 or 9The axis 40 forms an upper and a lower half of the movable mold mounting plate 14. The toggle lever strands 22, 24 are arranged there essentially horizontally centrally and vertically symmetrically in the upper and lower half of the movable mold mounting plate 14.

[0066] According to the Figures 1 - 4 The toggle lever strands 22, 24 are symmetrically designed in their own horizontal and / or vertical configuration. The toggle lever strands 22, 24 themselves are, for example, in Figure 5 The design is symmetrical both horizontally and vertically. For example, with regard to the upper toggle lever 22, it can be seen that the lever element on the right side, which engages the movable mold mounting plate 14, is cut in the middle, and the lever element on the left side, which is connected to the support plate 18, is not cut in the middle, since there is another lever element parallel to the cutting axis.

[0067] In the Figures 1 to 9Exactly two guide rods 20 are provided, which are arranged vertically centrally and horizontally symmetrically on the movable mold mounting plate 14. For example, in Figure 9 the guide rods 20 are arranged vertically in the middle along the axis 40 and horizontally symmetrically opposite the vertical axis of symmetry 36, i.e. there is one guide rod 20 at the same distance to the left and one to the right of the axis of symmetry 36.

[0068] Furthermore, in the Figures 1 - 9 Two toggle lever strands 22, 24 and two guide rods 20 are provided, which are arranged at right angles to each other on the movable mold mounting plate 14, the support plate 18 and / or the drive plate 16. For example, if one connects in Figure 9The connection points of the toggle lever strands 22, 24 with each other, resulting in a connection along the axis of symmetry 36, as well as the connection points of the guide rods 20 with each other, resulting in a connection along the axis 40, the connections or the axis of symmetry 36 and the axis 40 intersect at a right angle.

[0069] In another preferred embodiment, the two guide rods 20 have the smallest possible distance from the center of the drive plate 16, resulting in clear advantages with regard to thermal growth, since thermal growth is proportional to the temperature increase and the distance. The distance between the guide rods 20 was geometrically designed to be as small as possible in order to advantageously minimize thermal growth.

[0070] In another embodiment, the at least one guide rod 20 is part of a closing stroke protection device. The closing stroke protection device can, for example, be designed as a ramming rod. If, for example, two guide rods 20 are provided, it is conceivable that each guide rod 20 is designed as a ramming rod of a closing stroke protection device. Reference symbol list

[0071] 10 Mold clamping unit 12 First mold mounting plate 14 Movable mold mounting plate 16 Drive plate 18 Support plate 20 Guide rod 22 Toggle lever assembly 24 Toggle lever assembly 26 Drive 28 Machine stand 30 Beam 32 Drive rod 34 Mold height adjustment 36 Axis of symmetry 38 Axis of symmetry 40 Axis 100 Machine A Tool space D-D axis Reference symbol list

[0072] 10 Mold clamping unit 12 First mold mounting plate 14 Movable mold mounting plate 16 Drive plate 18 Support plate 20 Guide rod 22 Toggle lever assembly 24 Toggle lever assembly 26 Drive 28 Machine stand 30 Beam 32 Drive rod 34 Mold height adjustment 36 Axis of symmetry 38 Axis of symmetry 40 Axis 100 Machine A Tool space D-D axis

Claims

1. Mold closing unit (10) for a machine (100) for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials, in particular for an injection molding machine, comprising a first mold platen (12), a support plate (18), a movable mold platen (14), and a drive plate (16), - wherein the drive plate (16) is arranged between the movable mold platen (14) and the support plate (18), - wherein a plurality of toggle linkages (22, 24) are connected to the support plate (18), the drive plate (16) and the movable mold platen (14) and are supported against the support plate (18), and - wherein at least one guide rod (20) is connected to the movable mold platen (14) and is movable relative to the support plate (18), and - wherein the support plate (18) has at least one recess for the at least one guide rod (20) and, during opening and / or closing of the mold closing unit (10), the at least one guide rod (20) penetrates at least partly through the support plate (18), characterized in that the toggle linkages (22, 24) are toggle linkages (22, 24) which, when the mold closing unit (10) is opened, hinge outward beyond tie bars (30) of the mold closing unit and which, as regards their articulation, are arranged within a space delimited by the tie bars (30) and at a spacing from the limits of the space, inward in the direction of a machine center axis (axis 40), in that the toggle linkages (22, 24) form between them a free space, in that the toggle levers of the toggle linkages (22, 24) are oriented horizontally in the extended position, and in that the at least one guide rod (20) runs through the drive plate (16) and is at least partly mounted in the drive plate (16) and / or the support plate (18).

2. Mold closing unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the opening and / or the closing of the mold closing unit (10) the at least one guide rod (20) and the movable mold platen (14) move, over at least a period of time, at the same speed as the drive plate (16), or at a speed that is identical to it at least at one point in time.

3. Mold closing unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during the opening and / or the closing of the mold closing unit (10) the speed of the drive plate (16) is substantially constant over at least a period of time.

4. Mold closing unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toggle linkages (22, 24) are each arranged with one end acting centrally, preferably horizontally centrally, and / or vertically symmetrically on the movable mold platen (14).

5. Mold closing unit as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the ends of the toggle linkages (22, 24) that are arranged to act on the movable mold platen (14) are displaceable.

6. Mold closing unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two guide rods (20) are provided that are preferably arranged centrally, preferably vertically centrally, and / or horizontally symmetrically on the movable mold platen (14).

7. Mold closing unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one guide rod (20) is part of a closing stroke safety mechanism.

8. Mold closing unit as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the toggle linkages (22, 24) and at least two guide rods (20) are provided and are arranged at a right angle to one another on the movable mold platen (14), the support plate (18) and / or the drive plate (16).

9. Method for operating a mold closing unit (10) for a machine (100) for processing plastics and other plasticizable materials, in particular for an injection molding machine, comprising a first mold platen (12), a support plate (18), a movable mold platen (14), and a drive plate (16), - wherein the drive plate (16) is arranged between the movable mold platen (14) and the support plate (18), - wherein a plurality of toggle linkages (22, 24) are connected to the support plate (18), the drive plate (16) and the movable mold platen (14) and are supported against the support plate (18), and - wherein at least one guide rod (20) is connected to the movable mold platen (14) and, during opening and / or closing of the mold closing unit (10), moves relative to the support plate (18) and at least partly is penetrated through the support plate (18), characterized in that, when the toggle linkages are hinged closed and the mold closing unit (10) is opened, the toggle linkages (22, 24) hinge outward beyond tie bars (30) of the mold closing unit and the movable mold platen (14) is actuated by the toggle linkages (22, 24) within a space delimited by the tie bars (30) and at a spacing from the limits of the space, inward in the direction of a machine center axis (axis 40), wherein the toggle linkages (22, 24) form between them a free space, and wherein the toggle levers of the toggle linkages (22, 24) are oriented horizontally in the extended position, and wherein the at least one guide rod (20) runs through the drive plate (16) and is at least partly mounted in at least one of the drive plate (16) or the support plate (18).

10. Method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that during the opening and / or the closing of the mold closing unit (10) the at least one guide rod (20) and the movable mold platen (14) are moved, over at least a period of time, at the same speed as the drive plate (16).

11. Method as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that during the opening and / or the closing of the mold closing unit (10) the drive plate (16) is moved, over at least a period of time, at a substantially constant speed.