Device and method for removing inserts from injection molding dies

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for removing inserts from an injection molding die, which allows one insert to be removed along a parting line of the mold and quickly replaced with another insert, without leaving any marks on the plastic part. [Solution] A device for removing an insert from an injection molding die comprises a fixing sleeve to which the insert is fixed; a shaft on which the fixing sleeve is detachably disposed; at least one retaining element for holding the fixing sleeve in a retaining position on the shaft; a thrust sleeve that is movable relative to the shaft between the retaining position and the release position of the fixing sleeve; and a stem having an air inlet, wherein the shaft and the thrust collar are movable relative to the stem by injecting air through the air inlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for removing an insert from an injection mold.

Background Art

[0002] In a mold, some of its parts need to be replaced periodically. These parts are housed within a casing, and in order to remove them from the casing, machine tools are typically used by a skilled operator.

[0003] For example, one of the parts that needs to be replaced periodically is an insert, which enables modifications to be made to the mold without creating two versions of the same mold.

[0004] The replacement of these parts involves removing the mold from the injection molding machine, disassembling the mold plates to access the insert fixing system, removing them, making the necessary changes, and inserting the insert, which is rather cumbersome in that it takes a fairly long time. All of these affect the productivity of the mold. In addition, the large amount of manual work can also cause parts to accidentally fall off, and the parts may be damaged, requiring additional work for repair, which is even more inconvenient.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for removing an insert from an injection mold that can remove one insert along the parting line of the mold and quickly replace it with another insert without leaving a trace on the plastic part.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] By using the device and method for removing inserts from injection molds of the present invention, the aforementioned disadvantages are resolved, as well as other advantages described below.

[0007] A device and method for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention are described in the corresponding independent claims, and the dependent claims include additional features which are optional.

[0008] In particular, the device for removing inserts from injection molding dies is - A fixing sleeve to which the insert is attached, - A shaft in which a fixed sleeve is detachably positioned, - At least one retaining element that holds a fixed sleeve on the shaft in a retaining position, - A thrust sleeve that is movable relative to the shaft, located between the holding position of the fixed sleeve and the release position of the fixed sleeve, - A rod having an air inlet, wherein the shaft and thrust sleeve are movable relative to the rod when air is injected through the air inlet.

[0009] Furthermore, the device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention preferably also includes an intermediate sleeve configured to be positioned between a fixed sleeve and a shaft.

[0010] Preferably, there is a spring between the fixed sleeve and the intermediate sleeve that pushes the intermediate sleeve away from the insert.

[0011] According to one preferred embodiment, the at least one retaining element is housed within the housing of the intermediate sleeve.

[0012] The at least one retaining element is preferably spherical, i.e., in the form of a ball.

[0013] According to one preferred embodiment, the fixing sleeve has a cavity which is wider at the end proximal to the insert than at the end distal to the insert.

[0014] Furthermore, the intermediate sleeve preferably includes a projection, the projection of which is housed within the cavity.

[0015] To adjust the height position of the insert within the mold, the device for removing the insert from the injection molding die according to the present invention preferably also includes a nut positioned around a rod.

[0016] The method for removing an insert from an injection molding die is: - An insert is placed inside the injection molding die, and the insert is fixed to a fixing sleeve, step, - The fixing sleeve is held around the shaft, and the shaft is fixed to the mold, step, - A step of displacing the insert and fixing sleeve relative to the shaft by injecting air into a rod attached to the shaft so that the insert protrudes from the mold, - Including the step of removing the insert.

[0017] Preferably, the step of moving the insert and the fixing sleeve is: - Displacing the insert and fixing sleeve by a first distance from the shaft, - Press the insert against the shaft, - Displacing the insert and the fixing sleeve from the shaft by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

[0018] Furthermore, preferably, while the insert and the fixed sleeve are displaced by a first distance, the spring between the fixed sleeve and the intermediate sleeve is compressed, and then the spring expands, moving the insert by the first distance, and while the insert and the fixed sleeve are moved by a second distance, the spring is compressed again, and when the insert expands, it moves by the second distance.

[0019] In addition, preferably, between the displacement of the insert by the first distance and the displacement of the insert by the second distance, the fixed sleeve is held around the shaft.

[0020] Using the device and method for removing an insert from an injection mold according to the present invention, the insert of the injection mold can be quickly removed and replaced from the injection mold, avoiding the use of tools.

[0021] To better understand the content described above, several drawings are included, in which schematic and only non-limiting examples are used to show actual examples of the embodiments.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional perspective view of a device for removing an insert from an injection mold according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a partial cross-sectional view of a device for removing an insert from an injection mold, showing the attachment of the fixed sleeve to the shaft. [Figure 3] It is a partial cross-sectional view of a device for removing an insert from an injection mold, showing the attachment of the fixed sleeve to the shaft. [Figure 4] It is a perspective view showing a method for removing an insert from an injection mold according to the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing a method for removing an insert from an injection mold according to the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing a method for removing an insert from an injection mold according to the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing a method for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a perspective view showing a method for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing a method for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] Figure 1 shows a device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention, which includes a fixing sleeve (1) to which the insert (2) is fixed, although this is not shown in Figure 1, but is shown in Figures 4 to 9, using, for example, screw fastening.

[0024] Furthermore, the device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention also includes a shaft (3) fixed to the mold using a rod (4), that is, the shaft (3) and the rod (4) are connected by a screw. The rod (4) is hollow inside and has an air inlet (5) at the end furthest from the shaft (3).

[0025] This rod (4) is also used to adjust the height of the insert (2) using a nut (6) positioned around the rod (4).

[0026] The device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention also includes an intermediate sleeve (7) positioned between a fixed sleeve (1) and a shaft (3), as is best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

[0027] In addition, a spring (8) is positioned between the fixed sleeve (1) and the intermediate sleeve (7), pushing the intermediate sleeve (7) distal to the insert (2).

[0028] To prevent separation between the fixed sleeve (1) and the intermediate sleeve (7), the intermediate sleeve (7) is provided with a projection (9) that contacts one end of the cavity (10) of the fixed sleeve (1), and as can be seen in Figure 2, the cavity (10) is wider at the end proximal to the insert (2) than at the end distal to the insert (2).

[0029] The intermediate sleeve (7) also includes a housing (11) for a retaining element (12), as shown in Figure 3, which in the illustrated embodiment is spherical and holds the shaft (3) to prevent accidental removal of the assembly consisting of the fixing sleeve (1), the insert (2), and the intermediate sleeve (7).

[0030] The device for removing an insert from an injection mold according to the present invention also comprises a thrust sleeve (13) positioned around the shaft (3) and movable with respect to the assembly of the fixed sleeve (1) and the insert (2) by injecting air through an air inlet (5) of the rod (4), as described below with reference to Figures 4 to 9.

[0031] Figure 4 shows the initial position of the device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to the present invention, where the insert (2) is coplanar with the top of the die.

[0032] To remove the insert (2), air is first injected through the air inlet (5) of the rod (4). The injection of air causes the insert (2) to initially displace by, for example, about 2 mm relative to the top of the mold. This initial displacement is small to avoid any unwanted movement of the insert, for example, to prevent the insert from flying out and getting lost.

[0033] When air is injected, as described above, the thrust sleeve (13) moves toward the insert (2), pushing the fixing sleeve (1) and the insert (2) together and securing them in place.

[0034] This first displacement is achieved by injecting air, which causes the thrust sleeve (13) to begin pushing against the intermediate sleeve (7) and compress the spring (8), but due to the stiffness of the spring, it compresses only slightly, for example, less than 1 millimeter. Then, at virtually the same moment, the spring (8) expands again, thereby holding the entire assembly formed by the fixed sleeve (1) and the intermediate sleeve (7) in place again, but the position of the insert (2) rises slightly, for example, 2 millimeters.

[0035] As shown in Figure 5, at this position, the operator can push the insert (2) into the mold. This pushing causes the second displacement to be a greater distance than the first displacement.

[0036] This second displacement is achieved in such a way that when the insert (2) is pressed, the spring (8) is completely compressed again, and when the pressing stops, the spring (8) expands due to its elastic force, thereby causing the insert (2) to protrude significantly from the top of the mold, for example, by about 5 millimeters.

[0037] When insert (2) is in the position shown in Figure 6 after the second displacement, insert (2) can be manually removed by the operator as shown in Figure 7.

[0038] For example, the second displacement is about 5 millimeters, which is sufficient for such manual removal, and this is larger than the first displacement, which is about 2 millimeters.

[0039] The new insert (2) in Figure 8 is then attached to the fixing sleeve (1) and remains in a position for use, coplanar with the upper portion of the mold, as can be seen in Figure 9.

[0040] When a new insert (2) is placed, it is held in the mold in the same manner as the previous insert (2), as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

[0041] While specific embodiments of the present invention are referenced, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the devices and methods for removing mold inserts from injection molds described are susceptible to numerous deformations and modifications, and that all details mentioned can be replaced with technically equivalents without departing from the scope of protection defined by the accompanying claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1. Fixing sleeve 2 Inserts 3 shafts 4 rods 5. Air Inlet 6 nuts 7. Intermediate sleeve 8 springs 9 Protrusion 10 cavities 11 Housing 12 Retention elements 13 Thrust Sleeves

Claims

1. A device for removing a mold insert from an injection molding die, - A fixing sleeve (1) in which the insert (2) is fixed, - The fixed sleeve (1) is detachably arranged on a shaft (3), - At least one retaining element (12) that holds the sleeve (1) on the shaft (3) in a retaining position, - A thrust sleeve (13) is movable with respect to the shaft (3) between the holding position of the fixed sleeve (1) and the release position of the fixed sleeve (1), A device comprising: a rod (4) having an air inlet (5), wherein the shaft (3) and the thrust collar (13) are movable relative to the rod (4) when air is injected through the air inlet (5).

2. A device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to claim 1, further comprising an intermediate sleeve (7) positioned between the fixed sleeve (1) and the shaft (3).

3. A device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to claim 2, wherein a spring (8) is positioned between the fixed sleeve (1) and the intermediate sleeve (7), which pushes the intermediate sleeve (7) away from the insert (2).

4. A device for removing an insert from an injection mold according to claim 2, as referenced to claim 1, wherein at least one retaining element (12) is housed within the housing (11) of the intermediate sleeve (7).

5. The device for removing an insert from an injection mold according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the at least one retaining element (12) is spherical.

6. The device for removing an insert from an injection mold according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fixing sleeve (1) comprises a cavity (10) having a greater width at the end proximal to the insert (2) than at the end distal to the insert (2).

7. The intermediate sleeve (7) comprises a projection (9), the device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

8. The protruding portion (9) is housed inside the cavity (10) in the device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to claim 7, as referenced to claim 6.

9. A device for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to claim 1, further comprising a nut (6) positioned around the rod (4).

10. A method for removing a mold insert from an injection molding die, - An insert (2) is placed inside the injection molding die, and the insert (2) is fixed to the fixing sleeve (1), - The fixing sleeve (1) is held around the shaft (3), and the shaft (3) is fixed to the mold, step, - A step of displacing the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) relative to the shaft (3) by injecting air into the rod (4) attached to the shaft (3) so that the insert (2) protrudes from the mold, A method characterized by including the step of removing the insert (2).

11. The step of displacing the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) is, - A step of displacing the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) by a first distance from the shaft (3), - The step of pressing the insert (2) against the shaft (3), A method for removing an insert from an injection mold according to claim 10, comprising the step of displacing the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) from the shaft (3) by a second distance, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.

12. A method for removing an insert from an injection molding die according to claim 11, wherein the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) are compressed by a spring (8) positioned between the fixing sleeve (1) and the intermediate sleeve (7) while the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) are displaced by the first distance, and then the spring (8) expands, displacing the insert by the first distance, and the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) are again compressed by the spring (8) while the insert (2) and the fixing sleeve (1) are displaced by the second distance, and the second distance is displaced when the insert (2) expands.

13. A method for removing an insert from an injection mold according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the fixing sleeve (1) is held around the shaft (3) between the displacement of the insert (2) at the first distance and the displacement of the insert (2) at the second distance.

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