Forming male mold device

Abstract

A male molding device that forms a sealing material inside a shell to obtain a seal and extends along the longitudinal axis, comprising an inner body having a front wall configured to press a central portion of an end wall of the shell, an outer body surrounding the outside of the inner body and having a front wall configured to press a sealing material attached to at least an outer portion of the end wall to create a seal, and a duct circuit configured to allow a cooling fluid to pass through the inside of the male molding device. The duct circuit includes an outer circuit that is at least partially formed in the outer body. The outer body includes an inner jacket that surrounds the inner body and an outer jacket that surrounds the inner jacket. The outer circuit is at least partially formed between the inner jacket and the outer jacket. A male molding device is proposed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a male molding device, and more particularly to a male molding device configured to form a sealing material inside a shell to obtain a seal.

Background Art

[0002] A closure element comprising a shell having an end wall and a side wall extending from the periphery of the end wall, and a seal made inside the shell and arranged in particular on the end wall is very widespread on the market. Such closure elements are configured to close the supply openings of various types of containers, such as bottles and jars, and the closure elements include, for example, metal crown caps and threaded caps.

[0003] To form such a closure element, a unit is known that comprises a support device, a male molding device arranged above the support device, and a moving device configured to move the support device by raising the support device towards the male molding device or to move the male molding device by lowering the male molding device towards the support device. The end wall of the shell having an upwardly directed side wall is placed on the support device, and the male molding device compresses and forms the sealing material, thereby forming a seal on the shell itself so that a closure element can be produced, and the end wall has a sealing material previously placed therein.

[0004] To form an annular seal, the sealing material may be attached in a ring shape, for example, to the annular outer portion of the end wall of the shell.

[0005] For this purpose, the male molding device has an inner body having a front wall configured to press each central portion of the end wall of the shell, and an outer body surrounding the outside of the inner body including an annular front face configured to press a ring-shaped sealing material attached to the annular outer portion to form an annular seal.

[0006] According to one variant, if the sealing material is also applied to the central part of the end wall in order to form a seal having a thin central part extending over the entire central part of the end wall, the front wall may also be configured to press on the central part and at the same time form the central part of the seal. In this case, the seal includes both a thin and circular central part and an annular and thicker outer part surrounding the central part.

[0007] An example of such a molding machine is described in U.S. Patent No. 4,388,058 (Patent Document 1).

[0008] In prior art molding machines, it is necessary to wait for the seal and the shell to cool before the male molding device can be moved away from the just-manufactured closing element. In fact, the seal just formed by molding is very hot and must be cooled so as to ensure good quality of the seal itself, that is, so that there is no inaccuracy in the shape and dimensions of the seal. Inaccuracy may impair the effectiveness of the seal itself when the closing element is arranged to close the container.

[0009] To enable a reduction in the cycle time, that is, the total time elapsed from the start to the end of the seal formation process, and thus enable an increase in the resulting manufacturing efficiency, the cooling must be as uniform and rapid as possible. This need for cooling is particularly felt when the seal is formed within a metal shell, as the metal shell is preheated when placed on the support device and thus helps to further heat the seal.

[0010] For this purpose, the known art is to provide a duct circuit made in the inner body inside the male molding device, so that the cooling fluid can flow through it to cool the wall forming the seal.

[0011] However, the presence of a ducting circuit requires the presence of a plurality of components, which are complex and make the male moulding device very complex, expensive to manufacture and difficult to maintain.

[0012] German Utility Model No. 298 00 426 (Patent Document 2) describes a cooling or heating core for tools for injection moulding of plastics and glass, for deep drawing and extrusion in the plastics industry, and for die casting and casting metals in the metal industry that can be used for outer cores. The cooling or heating core has a passage extending axially to a delivery hole for supplying a cooling or heating medium to the head of the core. Continuous grooves and ribs are provided on the outer surface of the cooling or heating core to externally guide the cooling or heating medium from the head of the core to the bottom of the core.

[0013] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-43009 (Patent Document 3) refers to a moulding die for high-precision and high-efficiency moulding of plastic products, including a temperature control fluid flow path.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0014]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0015] An object of the present invention is to make available a male moulding device for forming a sealing material inside a shell, thereby forming a seal that overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to enable effective cooling of the seal formed on the shell, ensure high production efficiency for closing the elements including the shell and the seal, and make available a male mold device for forming that maintains the high quality of the resulting seal.

[0017] Yet another object of the present invention is to make available a male mold device that has an effective cooling circuit but is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0018] Accordingly, the present invention is a male mold device for forming a seal material inside a shell to obtain a seal and extending along a longitudinal axis, having an inner body with a front wall configured to press a central portion of an end wall of the shell, an outer body surrounding the outside of the inner body and having a front wall configured to press a seal material attached to at least an outer portion of the end wall to form a seal, and a duct circuit configured to allow a cooling fluid inside the male mold device to pass through, the duct circuit including an outer circuit made at least partially in the outer body, the outer body including an inner jacket surrounding the inner body and an outer jacket surrounding the inner jacket, and the outer circuit being made at least partially between the inner jacket and the outer jacket, to provide a male mold device.

[0019] Thanks to the duct circuit, it is possible to form a seal material for obtaining a seal and / or effectively cool the surface of the male mold device in contact with the shell.

[0020] Thanks to the fact that the outer circuit is made at least partially inside the outer body, which has a front face configured to form a seal, it is possible to effectively cool the seal itself during the molding step, obtain a seal of good quality, and shorten the cycle time, thus enabling high production efficiency.

[0021] Thanks to the fact that the outer circuit is partially created between the inner jacket and the outer jacket, both the inner jacket and the outer jacket can be effectively cooled, and thus all components configured to form a sealing material to obtain a good-quality seal can be effectively cooled.

[0022] According to one embodiment, thanks to the presence of an inner jacket and an outer jacket made as separate separable components, the outer body can be easily made.

[0023] This allows for easy disassembly of the outer body when it is necessary to clean residues resulting from the cooling fluid transport from the external circuit.

[0024] Thereby, the disclosed male mold device is particularly easy to manufacture and assemble / disassemble.

[0025] According to different embodiments, thanks to the fact that the outer circuit includes an outer feed extension and an outer discharge extension distributed around the longitudinal axis of the male mold device, and at least one outer connection extension located between the outer feed extension and the outer discharge extension, and the inner jacket and / or the outer jacket each include at least one first hollow part and / or one second hollow part for separating from the outer feed extension, the outer discharge extension, or the outer connection extension, the outer circuit can be obtained by simple machining.

[0026] In fact, to define the outer feed extension, the outer discharge extension, or the outer connection extension of the outer circuit, complex and precise machining is not required, and it is sufficient to create hollow parts inside the inner jacket and / or the outer jacket. In practice, it is sufficient for only one of the outer jacket or the inner jacket to have a hollow part, because the outer feed extension, the outer discharge extension, or the outer connection extension can be defined in any case even if the other is not machined internally and is smooth.

[0027] However, for specific cooling purposes, in the inner jacket and the outer jacket, there may be respective hollow portions facing each other.

[0028] According to another embodiment, the outer body includes an upper portion defined by the upper inner part of the inner jacket and the upper outer part of the outer jacket, and a lower portion defined by the lower inner part of the inner jacket and the lower outer part of the outer jacket. The outer circuit includes an upper outer portion formed on the upper portion and a lower outer portion formed on the lower portion, which are connected to each other and have different shapes.

[0029] Thanks to this other embodiment, the outer circuit is shaped differently in the upper and lower parts of the outer body, and thus can be configured such that the flow rate of the cooling fluid is different between the upper and lower parts, so that the flexibility in machining and the effectiveness of cooling can be guaranteed simultaneously.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the inner body includes a forming element provided with a front wall and a cup-shaped element, and the cup-shaped element encloses the forming element in a sealed state. The duct circuit includes an inner circuit formed at least partially between the forming element and the cup-shaped element.

[0031] Thanks to the presence of the inner circuit, the central part of the shell or the central part of the seal formed on the shell can also be effectively cooled.

[0032] According to yet another embodiment, the cup-shaped element has a lateral outer surface including a plurality of ventilation elements dispersed around the longitudinal axis, enabling the ventilation of the air trapped in the male die device during the forming operation.

[0033] Thanks to the ventilation elements, the air bubbles in the seal caused by the air trapped during forming can be avoided, so that the quality of the formed seal can be further improved.

[0034] The present invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings showing some of its embodiments, non-limiting embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0035]

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Figure 8B

Figure 9A

Figure 9B

Figure 10A

Figure 10B

Figure 11A

Figure 11B

Figure 12A

Figure 12B

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Figure 14

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Figure 18

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Figure 20

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0036] Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a male device of a mold for forming a sealing material 2' inside a shell 3 shown in FIGS. 14 to 20 to form a seal 2.

[0037] Preferably, the shell 3 and the seal 2 formed therein constitute the closure element shown in FIGS. 18 and 20, and the closure element is configured to close the supply openings of various types of containers (not shown), such as bottles and jars.

[0038] The shell 3 can be formed of, for example, a metallic material.

[0039] The sealing material 2' is made of, for example, a polymeric material suitable for compression molding and is such that it ensures a fluid seal when the closure element is applied to each container.

[0040] The shell 3 includes an end wall 301 and a side wall 302 extending from the periphery of the end wall 301.

[0041] The sealing material 2' is attached to at least the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301 of the shell 3 to form the seal 2 and can have a continuous or intermittent annular shape.

[0042] The end wall 301 also includes a central portion 301b surrounded by an outer portion 301a.

[0043] Once formed, the seal 2 is applied to the outer portion 301a, for example including an outer portion 2a that is annular, and at least partially applied to the side wall 302 of the shell 3. More specifically, it should be noted that when the sealing material 2' can flow outward within the side wall 302 during compression molding, it can include a side portion 2b applied to a zone of the side wall 302 adjacent to the periphery.

[0044] According to a variant not shown, the sealing material 2' may be applied not only to the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301 but also to the central portion 301b. In this case, once formed, the seal 2 can also include a thin central portion that extends onto the central portion 301b of the end wall 301 of the shell 3.

[0045] The male mold device 1 extends along the longitudinal axis Z and includes an inner body 4 having a front wall 401 configured to press against the central portion 301b of the end wall 301 of the shell 3.

[0046] In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 to 17 and FIG. 19, since there is no sealing material 2' in the central portion 301b of the shell 3, the front wall 401 of the male mold device 1 is configured to directly contact and press against the central portion 301b itself.

[0047] However, without limiting the scope of the present invention, when the sealing material 2' is also applied to the central portion 301b of the shell 3 to form the central portion of the seal 2, it is understood that the front wall 401 is suitable for pressing against the central portion 301b of the end wall 301 and, at the same time, forms the sealing material 2' applied therein to obtain the central portion.

[0048] The male device 1 further comprises an outer body 5, the outer body 5 surrounds the inner body 4 on the outside, and the outer body 5 has a front face 501 configured to press a sealing material 2' configured to form a seal 2 on at least the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301.

[0049] The male device 1 also comprises an extractor 105 configured to remove the closing element from the male device 1 at the end of seal 2 formation. The extractor 105 is ring-shaped and is arranged around the outer body 5.

[0050] However, it should be noted that this is not necessary since the extractor 105 is not joined to the male device 1 and may be arranged in another part of the closing element forming machine.

[0051] The male device 1 further comprises a duct circuit configured to allow the passage of a cooling fluid, not shown, inside the male device 1 itself.

[0052] The duct circuit comprises an outer circuit 6 made at least partially inside the outer body 5, as shown in Figure 2.

[0053] It should be noted that the duct circuit enables effective cooling of the surface of the male device 1 that contacts the sealing material 2' and / or the shell 3. In fact, due to the presence of the outer circuit 6 made at least partially inside the outer body 5, the front face 501 of the outer body 5 itself can be effectively cooled. Thus, the front face 501 is configured to form the sealing material 2' positioned inside the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301, and the seal 2 itself can be effectively cooled during the compression molding step, shortening the cycle time and, as a result, obtaining a seal 2 of good quality with high production efficiency.

[0054] The outer body 5 comprises an inner jacket 502 that surrounds the inner body 4 and an outer jacket 503 that surrounds the inner jacket 502.

[0055] Specifically, the outer jacket 503 surrounds the inner jacket 502 from the outside.

[0056] Advantageously, the outer circuit 6 is made at least partially between the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503.

[0057] Thereby, both the outer jacket 503 and the inner jacket 502 can be effectively cooled in a simple manner, that is, all components configured to form the sealing material 2' can be effectively cooled to obtain a seal 2 of good quality.

[0058] Note that the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 may be made as separate separable components, and as a result, they can be easily manufactured and enable simple assembly or disassembly of the outer body 5.

[0059] Thereby, the outer circuit 6 can be quickly cleaned. In fact, the cooling fluid may require periodic cleaning operations. Since it is possible to separate the inner jacket 502 from the outer jacket 503 and clean the two different components 502, 503 separately, the cleaning operation can thus be carried out quickly and easily.

[0060] The inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 are fixed to each other in a sealed manner. In fact, there is a sealing element, namely an annular seal 507, and the annular seal 507 can be accommodated, for example, within an annular sheet 507', is made within the inner jacket 502 and is arranged near the front face 501.

[0061] The outer circuit 6 includes an outer feed extension 602 and an outer discharge extension 601 distributed around the longitudinal axis Z, and at least one outer connection extension 603 disposed between the outer feed extension 602 and the outer discharge extension 601. The inner jacket 502 and / or the outer jacket 503 each includes at least one inner hollow portion 504 and / or one outer hollow portion 505 for defining the outer feed extension 602, the outer discharge extension 601, or the outer connection extension 603.

[0062] Specifically, what has been described above, that is, the inner jacket 502 and / or the outer jacket 503 each includes at least one inner hollow portion 504 and / or one outer hollow portion 505, that is, the inner jacket 502 may include at least one inner hollow portion 504, or the outer jacket 503 may include at least one outer hollow portion 505, or both the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 may each include an inner hollow portion 504 and an outer hollow portion 505 for defining the outer feed extension 602 or the outer discharge extension 601 or the outer connection extension 603.

[0063] Therefore, at least one of the inner jacket 502 or the outer jacket 503 includes respective hollow portions, the inner hollow portion 504 or the outer hollow portion 505.

[0064] Therefore, it is sufficient that there is at least one respective hollow portion in the inner jacket 502 and / or the outer jacket 503 to define the outer feed extension 602, or the outer discharge extension 601 or the outer connection extension 603, whereby the outer body 5 can be manufactured without requiring complicated and precise machining.

[0065] In fact, in FIGS. 8A-8B and FIGS. 9A-9B, the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 have respective hollow portions 504, 505 facing their respective unmachined surfaces, but note that in each case the respective extensions of the outer circuit 6 are defined in any case.

[0066] However, although not shown, it is also possible for the inner hollow portion 504 and the outer hollow portion 505 to be arranged opposite each other within the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 respectively, for example, to define the outer feed extension 602 or the outer discharge extension 601 or the outer connection extension 603.

[0067] The outer body 5 includes an upper portion defined by the inner upper portion 502' of the inner jacket 502 and the outer upper portion 503' of the outer jacket 503, and a lower portion defined by the inner lower portion 502'' of the inner jacket 502 and the outer lower portion 503'' of the outer jacket 503.

[0068] The outer circuit 6 includes an upper outer portion formed at the upper part and a lower outer portion formed at the lower part, which are connected to each other and have different shapes.

[0069] By having the upper outer portion and the lower outer portion have different shapes, the outer body 5 can be fabricated so as to ensure flexibility in machining and at the same time ensure effective cooling. In fact, the lower part of the outer body 5 extends to the front face 501 that contacts the sealing material 2' during formation, so it is possible to have a lower outer portion that has a greater flow rate or is more circumferentially distributed than the upper part of the outer circuit 6. This enables the most efficient possible cooling of the front face 501 itself.

[0070] For example, the upper outer portion includes the upper discharge portions of the outer discharge extension 602 and the outer discharge extension 601, each having a single outer upper hollow portion 505' formed in the outer upper portion 503' of the outer jacket 503.

[0071] In contrast, the lower outer portion can include a lower outer delivery portion of the outer feed extension 602 and a lower outer delivery portion of the outer feed extension 601, and these lower outer portions each include a pair of lower inner hollow portions 504” formed in the inner lower portion 502” of the inner jacket 502.

[0072] Note that the outer feed extension 602 and the outer delivery extension 601 are linear and parallel to the longitudinal axis Z. In particular, the upper outer portions and the lower outer portions of the outer feed extension 602 and the outer delivery extension 601 are linear, and since the respective outer upper hollow portions 505' and the inner lower hollow portions 504” are parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis Z, they are parallel to the longitudinal axis Z.

[0073] Specifically, the outer feed extension 602 and the outer delivery extension 601 face each other in the diametrical direction, the outer upper hollow portions 505' and the paired inner lower hollow portions 504” face each other in the diametrical direction, while the outer connection extension 603 includes at least one curved portion defined by respective curved hollow portions 506 formed within the inner jacket 502 or the outer jacket 503. In FIGS. 9A and 9B, it can be seen how the curved hollow portion 506 is formed in the inner jacket 502.

[0074] The curved hollow portion 506 is located directly above a sheet 507' intended to receive a sealing element 507 near the front face 501.

[0075] Another curved hollow portion 506 is formed between the upper and lower portions of the outer body 5.

[0076] Note that both the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 can be manufactured using the SLM (abbreviation for Selective Laser Melting) technique, which is an additive manufacturing technique, i.e., a technique that uses a laser source to melt its powder and gradually deposits metal powder. The metal powder may be, for example, of the steel powder metal type. Alternatively, according to different embodiments, the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 may be manufactured using the SLM technique but in a single body.

[0077] The male mold device 1 includes an intermediate body 7 having an annular shoulder 701 that abuts against the annular shelf 503b of the outer body 5, and the annular shelf 503b is disposed axially on the side opposite to the front face 501. The intermediate body 7 has an intermediate portion 702 that projects axially from the annular shoulder 701, and the outer body 5 is fixed to the annular shoulder 701 in a sealed manner.

[0078] Note that the intermediate portion 702 is interposed between the outer body 5 and the inner body 4. Specifically, the intermediate portion 702 is in contact with both the outer body 5 and the inner body 4.

[0079] The front face 501 is defined by the respective front portions of the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503, and these cooperate with the front wall 401 to form the seal 2 during the formation of the sealing material 2'.

[0080] Axially on the side opposite to the front face 501, the outer jacket 503 has an upper edge portion 503a that projects with respect to the annular shelf 503b, whereby the upper edge portion 503a can abut against the annular shoulder 701 above and receive the upper edge portion 502a of the inner jacket 502 below.

[0081] The annular shelf 503b is provided with two openings 503c for passing cooling fluid.

[0082] In practice, the outer circuit 6 includes an intermediate feeding extension portion 604 and an intermediate discharging extension portion 605. Since the intermediate feeding extension portion 604 and the intermediate discharging extension portion 605 are formed within the intermediate body 7 and connected to the opening 503c, they are respectively connected to the outer feeding extension portion 602 and the outer discharging extension portion 601.

[0083] At least by the fixing component 101 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the outer body 5 can be fixed to the intermediate body 7. This fixing component 101 can be removably fixed to the intermediate portion 702 of the intermediate body 7 by screw means, enabling the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 to be locked to each other. When the fixing component 101 is assembled together with the outer body 5, it enables them to be fixed to the intermediate portion 702.

[0084] The intermediate body 7 is fixed to the support body 102 of the male mold device 1.

[0085] The inner body 4 includes a forming element 402 having a front wall 401. Further, the inner body 4 includes a cup-shaped element 403 that surrounds the forming element 402 in a sealed state.

[0086] The duct circuit includes an inner circuit 8 formed at least partially between the forming element 402 and the cup-shaped element 403.

[0087] The cup-shaped element 403 surrounds the forming element 402 from the outside.

[0088] The cup-shaped element 403 includes a lateral outer surface 403a provided with a plurality of ventilation elements 404 distributed around the longitudinal axis Z to allow ventilation of the air trapped within the male mold device 1 during the formation of the sealing material 2'.

[0089] Thanks to the ventilation elements 404, the air trapped during formation can be discharged, avoiding the formation of air bubbles within the formed seal 2, and thus promoting the production of a high-quality seal 2.

[0090] It is possible to see how the lateral outer surface 403a includes the upper part 403a' and the lower part 403a", and how the ventilation element 404 includes the upper ventilation groove 404' and the lower ventilation groove 404" respectively arranged at the upper part 403a' and the lower part 403a" of the lateral outer surface 403a.

[0091] The upper ventilation groove 404' has a different shape and distribution from the lower ventilation groove 404". In fact, it can be seen that the upper ventilation groove 404' has a larger angular range than the lower ventilation groove 404. Alternatively or additionally, the upper ventilation groove 404' is arranged at an angularly different position with respect to the lower ventilation groove 404'.

[0092] Preferably, the ventilation element 404, i.e., the upper ventilation groove 404' and the lower ventilation groove 404", is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis Z and regularly spaced circumferentially.

[0093] The male device 1, in particular the inner body 4, comprises an inner core 405 having a tubular shape to which the forming element 402 is connected, and a ring 406 interposed between the cup-shaped element 403 and the forming element 402, surrounding the forming element 402 and contacting the front wall 401. The cup-shaped element 403 surrounds the forming element 402 from the outside.

[0094] Specifically, the ring 406 is in contact with the upper surface 402a of the front wall 401.

[0095] As already shown, the inner circuit 8 is at least partially formed between the forming element 402 and the cup-shaped element 403.

[0096] Furthermore, the inner circuit 8 is at least partially made inside the inner core 405 and around the ring 406. In fact, the inner circuit 8 comprises an inner feed extension 801 and an inner discharge extension 802 which are inside the inner core 405 and communicate with the forming element 402.

[0097] Note that the inner discharge extension is made in the center of the inner core 405 which is hollow, while the inner discharge extension 802 surrounds the inner feed extension 801.

[0098] Furthermore, the inner feed extension 801 and the inner discharge extension 802 are parallel to each other and parallel to the longitudinal axis Z.

[0099] The inner circuit 8 also includes an inner connection extension 805 between the inner feed extension 801 and the inner discharge extension 802 extending around the ring 406.

[0100] The inner connection extension 805 includes a lower inner portion disposed between the upper surface 402a of the front wall 401 and the lower surface of the ring 406, an upper inner portion disposed between the upper surface of the ring 406 and the lower surface of the cup-shaped element 403, and a lateral inner portion disposed between the lateral outer surface of the ring 406 and the lateral inner surface of the cup-shaped element 403.

[0101] The forming element 402 includes a feed opening 402b disposed near the upper surface 402a of the front wall 401 for connecting the inner feed extension 801 to the inner connection extension 805. The forming element 402 is also disposed spaced apart from the upper surface 402a of the front wall 401 and includes a discharge opening 402c disposed at a distance greater than the axial height of the ring 406 for connecting the inner connection extension 805 to the inner discharge extension 802.

[0102] Specifically, the feed opening 402b connects the inner feed extension 801 to the lower inner portion of the inner connection extension 805, while the discharge opening 402c connects the inner discharge extension 802 to the upper inner portion of the inner connection extension 805.

[0103] The forming element 402 further includes a tubular portion 402d for connecting to the inner core 405.

[0104] The ring 406 also includes a lower connection opening and upper connection openings 406a, 406b circumferentially disposed around the ring 406, which connect the lower inner portion and the lateral inner portion of the inner connection extension 805, and the lateral inner portion and the upper inner portion of the inner connection extension 805 to each other, respectively.

[0105] In this way, the cooling fluid of the inner circuit 8 flows from the inner feed extension 801, through the feed opening 402b, to the inner connection extension 805, that is, to the lower inner part of the connection extension 805, from the lower inner part through the lower connection opening 406a of the ring 406 to the lateral inner part, from the lateral part through the upper connection opening 406b to the upper inner part, and finally from the upper inner part through the discharge opening 402c, from the inner connection extension 805 to the inner discharge extension 802.

[0106] Here, considering the male device 1, the male device 1 has a forming end defined by the front wall 401 of the forming element 402 and the front surface 501 of the outer body 5, and the front surface 501 surrounds the front wall 401 on the outside. The front surface 501 includes the front parts of the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 respectively.

[0107] During formation, the sealing material 2' contacts both the front parts of the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 and the side zones of the cup-shaped element 403. The cup-shaped element 403 is cooled and helps to cool the seal 2 by the lateral inner part of the inner connection extension 805.

[0108] The male device 1 also has a connection end 103 positioned on the side opposite to the forming end defined by the front wall 401 and the front surface 501.

[0109] The outer circuit 6 is made within the support body 102 to which the intermediate body 7 is fixed, and is connected to the outer feed part 607 and the outer discharge part 606 arranged within the connection end 103 such that the cooling fluid of the duct circuit enters from the outer feed part 607, passes through the outer circuit 6, and exits from the outer discharge part 606.

[0110] The inner circuit 8 is connected to the inner feed part 803 and the inner discharge part 804 formed within the inner body 4 at the connection end 103.

[0111] The outer circuit 6 and the inner circuit 8 can be connected in series. Therefore, the outer delivery unit 606 or the inner delivery unit can be connected to the inner intake unit 803 or the outer intake unit respectively, and the cooling fluid can flow sequentially from the outer circuit 6 to the inner circuit 8 / from the inner circuit 8 to the outer circuit 6.

[0112] In FIGS. 14 to 18, the outer circuit 6 and the inner circuit 8 are connected in series. Therefore, the outer delivery unit 606 is connected to the inner intake unit 803.

[0113] Alternatively, according to a modification not shown, the outer circuit 6 and the inner circuit 8 may be connected in parallel. Therefore, they may be separately supplied to the inner intake unit 803 and the outer intake unit 607. This enables different flow rates of the inner circuit 8 and the outer circuit 6 when the cooling requirements of the inner main body 4 and the outer main body 5 are different.

[0114] As already shown, the outer main body 5, the intermediate main body 7, and the support main body 102 are integrally fixed to each other and are stationary.

[0115] In contrast, the inner main body 4 is slidable with respect to the outer main body 5, the intermediate main body 7, and the support main body 102. In fact, the male device 1 includes an elastic element 104 interposed between the inner main body 4 and the support main body 102. The elastic element 104 is configured to obtain the backward / forward movement of the inner main body 4 with respect to the support main body 102, and thus with respect to the outer main body 5, as will be described in detail below.

[0116] FIGS. 14 to 18 show a forming unit for obtaining a closing element including the shell 3 and the seal 2 shown in FIG. 20.

[0117] The forming unit includes the male device 1 described above and a support device 9 on which the shell 3 is placed and which is arranged below the male device 1.

[0118] The forming unit also includes a moving device (not shown), and the moving device is configured to move the support device 9 by lifting it toward the male device 1 so as to form the sealing material 2'.

[0119] The fact that the support device 9 is lifted by the moving device will be described below. However, this configuration is not essential. This is because the male device 1 may be lowered toward the support device 9 in order to form the seal 2.

[0120] In use, as shown in FIG. 14, the male device 1 is disposed above the support device 9 in an inert step prior to the formation of the sealing material 2'.

[0121] Both the male device 1 and the support device 9 are in a stationary configuration and are arranged apart from each other. It should be noted that the inner body 4 protrudes with respect to the outer body 5 and the elastic element 104 is in an extended configuration, so that the front wall 401 is closer to the support device 9 than the front surface 501 in the axial direction.

[0122] The extractor 105 is also in a stationary configuration protruding with respect to the front wall 401.

[0123] The shell 3 is placed on the support device 9, and the sealing material 2' is attached to the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301.

[0124] As shown in FIG. 15, in the first contact step, the support device 9 is in a first position raised with respect to the inert step, and the central portion 301b of the end wall 301 of the shell 3 has reached a position where it contacts and applies pressure to the front wall 401. The front wall 401 holds the shell 3 in a predetermined position on the support device 9.

[0125] The front surface 501 of the outer body 5 is spaced apart from the sealing material 2' attached to the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301 and still exists axially behind the front wall 401. The elastic element 104 is still in an extended configuration.

[0126] The cooling fluid of the inner circuit 8 can already cool the shell 3 by the front wall 401, and the front wall 401 is cooled by the inner connection extension 805 of the inner circuit 8, particularly by the lower inner portion of the inner connection extension 805.

[0127] It should be noted that during the upward movement of the support device 9, the edge of the side wall 302 of the shell 3 comes into contact with the extractor 105 that also rises along with the side wall 302.

[0128] As shown in FIG. 16, in the forming step following the first contact step, as the support device 9 continues to rise and is brought to a second position that is further raised relative to the first position, the progressive movement of the support device 9 is absorbed by the elastic element 104 that is deformed and compressed.

[0129] The inner body 4 follows the support device 9 and is lifted while sliding at least relative to the outer body 5.

[0130] The sealing material 2' present in the outer portion 301a is formed between the front portions of the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 that cooperate to form the outer portion 2a of the seal 2 by the front surface 501 of the outer body 5, more specifically. Also, when crushed, the sealing material 2' flows outward until it defines the side portion 2b of the seal 2 that is at least partially applied to the side wall 302 of the shell 3.

[0131] Since the inner body 4 is retracted by the thrust of the support device 9 for the first contact step, the front surface 501 is positioned in alignment with the front wall 401.

[0132] It should be noted that during the forming step for forming the sealing material 2', the elastic element 104 applies a thrust action that guarantees the accurate holding of the contact position between the front wall 401 and the end wall 301 of the shell 3.

[0133] The cooling fluid of the outer circuit 6 can already cool the sealing material 2' by the front surface 501, while the shell 3 can continue to be cooled by the front wall 401.

[0134] The air trapped in the male die device 1 during forming can come out through the ventilation element 404.

[0135] FIG. 17 shows the final contact step where the support device 9 has returned to the first position, but the front wall 401 of the inner body 4 continues to press the central portion 301b of the end wall 301 of the shell 3 at the contact position and continues to cool the shell 3.

[0136] However, the front surface 501 of the outer body 5 is separated from the newly formed seal 2 again and is behind the front wall 401 again.

[0137] In fact, the deformation of the elastic element 104 resumes when the support device 9 is lowered and returns to the first position because the elastic element 104 returns to the extended configuration.

[0138] FIG. 18 shows another inactive step where, following the forming step, the male mold device 1 and the support device 9 are in the stationary configuration and are separated from each other.

[0139] However, it should be noted that the extractor 105 has removed the closing element from the male mold device 1 with the seal 2 just formed inside the shell 3.

[0140] As shown in FIG. 20, the outer portion 2a of the seal 2 is attached to the outer portion 301a of the end wall 301 of the shell 3, while the side portion 2b of the seal 2 is attached to a part of the side wall 302.

[0141] Therefore, thanks to the outer circuit 6, it is possible to effectively cool the seal 2. At the same time, it should be noted that the outer circuit 6 is defined between the inner jacket 502 and the outer jacket 503 which are fixed to each other in a sealed manner and preferably separable from each other, so that it is possible to produce the outer circuit 6 in a simple and inexpensive way.

Claims

1. A male molding device (1) that forms a sealing material (2') inside a shell (3) to obtain a seal (2) and extends along the longitudinal axis (Z), an inner body (4) having a front wall (401) configured to press a central portion (301b) of an end wall (301) of the shell (3), an outer body (5) surrounding the outside of the inner body (4) and having a front wall (501) configured to press the sealing material (2') attached to at least an outer portion (301a) of the end wall (301) to form a seal (2), duct circuits (6, 8) configured to allow a cooling fluid to pass through the male molding device (1), comprising: the duct circuits (6, 8) include an outer circuit (6) made at least partially in the outer body (5), the outer body (5) includes an inner jacket (502) surrounding the inner body (4) and an outer jacket (503) surrounding the inner jacket (502), the male molding device, characterized in that the outer circuit (6) is made at least partially between the inner jacket (502) and the outer jacket (503).

2. The outer circuit (6) includes an outer feed extension (602) and an outer discharge extension (601), the outer feed extension (602) and the outer discharge extension (601) are distributed along the longitudinal axis (Z), at least one outer connection extension (603) is positioned between the outer feed extension (602) and the outer discharge extension (601), to partition the outer feed extension (602), the outer discharge extension (601) or the outer connection extension (603), the inner jacket (502) includes at least one inner hollow portion (504), or the outer jacket (503) includes at least one outer hollow portion (505), or the inner jacket (502) includes at least one inner hollow portion (504) and the outer jacket (503) includes at least one outer hollow portion (505), The male molding device according to Claim 1.

3. The outer body (5) includes an upper part defined by an inner upper part (502') of the inner jacket (502) and an outer upper part (503') of the outer jacket (503), and a lower part defined by an inner lower part (502”) of the inner jacket (502) and an outer lower part (503”) of the outer jacket (503). The outer circuit (6) includes an upper outer part formed on the upper part and a lower outer part formed on the lower part, which are connected to each other and have different shapes from each other. The male mold forming device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The upper outer part includes an upper feeding part of the outer feeding extension part (602) and an upper discharging part of the outer discharging extension part (601), each of which is provided with a single outer upper hollow part (505') formed on the outer upper part (503'). The lower outer part includes a lower discharging part of the outer feeding extension part (602) and a lower feeding part of the outer discharging extension part (601), each of which includes a pair of inner hollow parts (504”) formed on the inner lower part (502”). The male mold forming device according to claim 3, which cites claim 2.

5. The outer feeding extension part (602) and the outer discharging extension part (601) are straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z), and in particular, the upper outer part and the lower outer part are straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z). The male mold forming device according to claim 4.

6. The outer feeding extension part (602) and the outer discharging extension part (601) face each other in the diameter direction. The outer connecting extension part (603) includes at least one curved part defined by a corresponding curved hollow part (506). The male mold forming device according to any one of claims 2 to 5.

7. It includes an intermediate body (7) having an annular shoulder (701) that abuts against the upper edge (503a) of the outer body (5). The upper edge (503a) is arranged on the opposite side of the front surface (501) in the axial direction. The intermediate body (7) has an intermediate part (702) that protrudes axially from the annular shoulder (701), and the outer body (5) is fixed to the annular shoulder (701) in a sealed manner. The intermediate part (702) is interposed between the outer body (5) and the inner body (4). The male mold forming device according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The outer circuit (6) includes an intermediate feeding extension part (604) and an intermediate discharging extension part (605). The intermediate feed extension portion (604) and the intermediate discharge extension portion (605) are formed on the intermediate body (7) and are respectively connected to the outer feed extension portion (602) and the outer discharge extension portion (601). The male mold forming apparatus according to claim 7, which cites any one of claims 2 to 6.

9. The male mold forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the inner body (4) includes a forming element (402) having the front wall (401) and a cup-shaped element (403) that surrounds the forming element (402) in a sealed state.

10. The male mold forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the cup-shaped element (403) includes a side outer surface (403a) provided with a plurality of ventilation elements (404) distributed around the longitudinal axis (Z), and enables ventilation of air trapped in the male mold forming apparatus (1) during the formation of the sealing material (2').

11. The side outer surface (403a) includes an upper part (403a') and a lower part (403a). The ventilation elements (404) include an upper ventilation groove (404') and a lower ventilation groove (404'') respectively arranged in the upper part (403a') and the lower part (403a''). The upper ventilation groove (404') has a different shape and distribution from the lower ventilation groove (404''), for example, the upper ventilation groove (404') has a larger angular range than the lower ventilation groove (404''), and / or the upper ventilation groove (404') is arranged at an angularly different position with respect to the lower ventilation groove (404''). The male mold forming apparatus according to claim 10.

12. The plurality of ventilation elements (404) are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis (Z) and are regularly spaced in the circumferential direction. The male mold forming apparatus according to claim 10 or 11.

13. The male mold forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the duct circuit (6, 8) includes an inner circuit (8) formed at least partially between the forming element (402) and the cup-shaped element (403).

14. The forming element (402) is connected to form an inner core (405) having a tubular shape. A ring (406) is interposed between the cup-shaped element (403) and the forming element (402), surrounds the forming element (402), and is arranged to contact the front wall (401). The male mold forming apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13, comprising:

15. The inner circuit (8) is made at least partially in the inner core (405) and around the ring (406), The inner circuit (8) includes an inner feed extension (801) and an inner discharge extension (802) that are inside the inner core (405) and communicate with the forming element (402), and an inner connection extension (805) for connecting the inner feed extension (801) and the inner discharge extension (802) that extends around the ring (406) to each other, The male molding device according to claim 14.

16. The inner jacket (502) and the outer jacket (503) are manufactured as separate separable components and fixed in a sealed manner to each other, the inner jacket (502) and the outer jacket (503) are easily manufactured, and the male molding device according to any one of claims 1 to 15 enables easy assembly or disassembly of the outer body (5).

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