LOW FRICTION GUIDE.

Abstract

A strip includes a metal substrate having a first face and a second face and an accessory positioned on the metal substrate; the accessory includes a first functional surface disposed on the first face of the metal substrate; the first functional surface is configured as a support surface; the accessory can be formed from a fabric resin composite material

Description

LOW FRICTION RULER FIELD OF INVENTION This description refers to the components and manufacturing processes, and more specifically to the construction of a strip or guide and a method for removing applied lubricants and their resulting contamination within the production environment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Manufacturing components and associated processes utilize what are known in the industry as guides or runners, which typically require applied lubricants. These applied lubricants can result in contamination within the production environment. One such production environment and process is injection molding. Injection molding is widely used to produce a vast array of products, from simple toys and cell phone cases to water bottle preforms, medical components, automotive devices, and more. While this description refers to injection molding processes, it should be noted that other manufacturing processes would similarly benefit from the elimination of applied lubricants.The lubricants used have many negative attributes, such as attracting particles and contaminants in the air, reduced performance over time, limited lifespan, migration, and overall maintenance. As with many manufacturing processes, there are certain subcategories within the broader, general description. One such category is sterile environment manufacturing. Sterile environment manufacturing, as the name suggests, is a controlled environment where all personnel are required to wear shoe covers, lab coats, face shields, safety glasses, beard and hairnets, and similar items to minimize organic contaminants. Likewise, production tools and equipment needed to operate within sterile environments must be configured to adhere to sterile environment protocols to minimize contaminants. Many production mold tools have moving components that shift or slide laterally as the mold tool opens or closes. These moving components are commonly referred to as slides or side actions. These slides are often mechanically driven by what is known in the industry as an angle pin or other similar names, depending on the manufacturing region. Regardless of the mechanism or method that drives the mechanism, sterile environment protocols require minimal lubrication during the production process to reduce the risk of lubricant migration into the production parts. Lubricant migration can create rejected parts that could be categorized as either aesthetically or functionally defective. Static rejects affect or damage the appearance or visual aesthetics of the final product.Functional defects affect or impair the function or performance of the final product. Typically, functional defects can be catastrophic if they go undetected during production. An example of an aesthetic defect might be where an injection-molded housing or other part requires a secondary process, such as painting or another coating, to address a flaw. An example of a functional defect might be an automotive sensor with an electrical contact for deploying an airbag, where the contact becomes inoperative or defective. When placed in a sterile environment, the molding tool is often lubricated with FDA-approved edible or food-grade grease. These lubricants typically have limited performance characteristics and are not suitable for certain molding or industrial conditions. Such limitations can contribute to migration and degradation. Lubricant migration can result from any one or a combination of the following: application method; lubricant type; thermal condition; acceleration; force; linear motion; rotary motion; or the orientation to which the lubricant is subjected. Any migrating lubricant, in any form, located on the molded product can cause a rejection. The intended end use of the parts will determine whether the rejection is catastrophic or merely aesthetic. Regardless, rejected parts often initiate a root cause analysis, discovery, and corrective action process. This process, typically referred to as an 8-discipline report, requires a team to study the nature of the defect and analyze how it occurred. The final discipline in this type of report, while worded differently, generally requires a solution to ensure that the rejection for this reason cannot or will not recur. Currently, the only solution for a lubricant migration defect is for all parts to undergo 100% inspection and / or a clean process policy. The lubricants used in industry also have operational limitations. They are used to minimize the risk of abrasion, a common industrial problem. Abrasion describes catastrophic failures between at least one moving component and the surface of a secondary component. This surface-to-surface contact generates localized frictional heat, which can significantly soften a component and bring the weld to the mating component closer together. The very purpose of using lubricants in industry is to facilitate the smooth movement of components.There is no shortage of rule-of-thumb material selections, hardness recommendations, heat treatment specifications, approved or preferred coatings, depositions, lubricating films, spray lubricants, oils, pastes, dry or solid lubricants, or other similar materials used by any technically competent industrial manufacturer. Furthermore, these applied lubricants are not permanent in the sense that they require reapplication as their performance declines and they degrade over time. The frequency of reapplication depends on the environment to which the applied lubricants are subjected. Certain hard coatings are prone to chipping and cracking under higher loads or when inadvertently impacted. Additionally, these coatings require that their thickness be taken into account during manufacturing and in the process in which the coatings will be used. This typically necessitates an over-coating application and a separate finishing process to properly size the finished part. These additional steps and the process itself are time-consuming and costly. Soft coatings, while forgiving of heavy impacts, generally wear out prematurely, reducing component lifecycles. Regarding the lubricants applied, these products inherently attract dust and airborne particles. As the lubricant becomes laden with contaminants and particles, a scheduled preventive maintenance process becomes necessary. This process involves removing the tool from production, disassembling it, and cleaning it to remove all degraded and contaminated lubricant. New lubricants must then be applied, and the tool reassembled. This process is costly in terms of, but not limited to, time (i.e., downtime), personnel, solvents, and equipment required to perform the preventive maintenance.Furthermore, there is an additional risk of damage to components during the necessary process steps, including but not limited to disassembly, cleaning, assembly, and similar operations. Even more costly is the loss of manufacturing production time. A preventative maintenance procedure can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Lost manufacturing revenue could be two or three times that amount, or more, if reassembly were in a way that justifies repeating the disassembly and reassembly process before production can resume. It is also important to describe the wide range of injection molding tools and certain requirements for proper operation that exist beyond the previously mentioned sterile environment, and to further explore the operating parameters for injection molds. These operating parameters are largely determined by the type of resin being processed in the mold. Some resins require a mold temperature of room temperature or lower, while others need a mold temperature of 232.2°C or higher. Some molds are for very small parts, such as those used to mold hearing aid components, while others are for quite large parts, such as those used to mold parts for automotive, truck, and agricultural implements.Appreciating these scales helps to understand that the selection of a lubricant, coating, or other friction reducer can be made with careful consideration of the specific conditions of a given moving component within the tools. Considering the application of current materials and methods, a moving mold component for making a hearing aid part might only require very light grease for lubrication, while a large moving automotive tool might require high-pressure grease to withstand the higher load due to the mass of the moving mold component. In either case, the need for lubrication, considering all the aforementioned limitations, remains. Expanding the temperature ranges in which molds operate, and specifically higher-temperature molds, some lubricants may have heat tolerance ranges that meet production temperatures. However, these high-temperature lubricants have other performance criteria that may not be suitable for molds. Injection molds are built with high precision, and the operating space is minimal. This space is more suitable for oil-based lubricants than grease-based lubricants. However, plastic injection molds lack a containment system to allow the use of oil. Furthermore, oils migrate very quickly as their viscosity changes across a range of temperatures. Moving components may also need to be positioned where gravity would draw migrating lubricants into the mold cavity. It is for these reasons that grease-based lubricants are used instead of oil-based lubricants. These types of lubricants can be applied at a thickness, or thinness, to be more precise, that inhibits their ability to lubricate as intended.As previously established, when grease-type lubricants are sufficiently spread and subjected to higher temperatures for extended periods, such as in certain injection molds, these lubricants will degrade rapidly and will no longer function as required. Therefore, periodic shutdowns may be necessary to address the degraded lubricant and prevent catastrophic wear of moving components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There is an industry need for a viable solution for moving components that allows them to operate without applied lubricants or special coatings while eliminating the risk of catastrophic failure due to wear. The described solution can meet the temperature and pressure ranges within which a moving component might be required to operate while eliminating the need for applied lubricants. The described solution thus addresses the aforementioned shortcomings. cnzfrzn / zznz / q / YiAi In an example consistent with the teachings of the present description, a low-friction strip includes a metal substrate having a first face and a second face and includes an accessory positioned on the metal substrate. The accessory includes a first functional surface disposed on the first face of the metal substrate. The first functional surface is configured as a support surface. In one example, the accessory can be formed from a material configured to reduce friction between the first functional surface and another adjacent moving component relative to the first functional surface. In one example, the accessory can be formed from a fabric resin composite material. In one example, the accessory could be a fabric resin composite that includes a second functional surface arranged on the second side of the metal substrate. The second functional surface can be configured to be positioned adjacent to the first functional surface. In one example, it can be configured to facilitate or guide axial or linear movement relative to the strip when the accessory or fabric resin compound interacts with one or more moving components without using a lubricant. In one example, the first functional surface can be configured as a guide surface and a second functional surface can be configured as a retention surface. In one example, the ruler could be for an injection mold tool. In one example, the fitting may be a fabric resin composite, which may include edges configured to avoid contact with moving components. In one example, the metallic substrate and a fabric resin composite accessory can be joined with a plurality of mechanical fasteners. In one example, the metal substrate and a fabric resin composite accessory can be bonded together with an adhesive material. In one example, there may be no direct contact between the metal substrate and the moving components as a result of the fitting being positioned between them. In one example, the metallic substrate may include a third face positioned opposite the first functional surface. The second functional surface may be configured to be level with the third face of the metallic substrate, and an edge of the second functional surface may be configured to be coplanar with the third face of the metallic substrate. In one example, the first functional surface and the second functional surface can be configured as a continuous shape. In an example consistent with the teachings of this description, a method for reducing contamination within a manufacturing environment includes the steps of using a strip as a guide surface and a retaining surface for moving components. The strip comprises a metallic substrate and a woven resin composite arranged as both a guide and a retaining surface on the metallic substrate. The method includes operating the moving components without applying any lubricant to either the strip or the moving components. This description provides a common industrial device, specifically what is generally known in the industry as a guide rail. Guide rails are devices, when used in pairs, that are typically installed on machinery, such as mold components, to function as a guide or a method of retention and guidance. Guide rails are frequently used in pairs to perform their intended function. Guide rails have been in use for decades and are constantly evolving due to specific environmental and application needs. While this description is specifically addressed to injection molding tools, their adaptation to other industrial applications should be considered. This description eliminates the need for lubricants with respect to guide rails and moving parts within a manufacturing environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more examples or modalities of the description and should therefore not be considered a limitation of its scope. Other examples and modalities may be equally effective in achieving the objectives and may fall within the scope of the description. The objectives, characteristics, and advantages of this description will become clear upon reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of an earlier technique or known ruler. Figure 2 shows a top perspective view of an example of a ruler constructed according to the teachings of the present description. Figure 3 shows a bottom perspective view of the ruler in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows a top perspective view of an example of a sliding door constructed according to the teachings of the present description. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view of an example of a portion of a mold incorporating the slide of Figure 4 and having an angle pin according to the teachings of the present description, the mold being shown in a closed position. Figure 6 shows the cross-sectional view of the mold portion of figure cnzbzn / zznz / zi / YiAi 5, including the angle pin and slider, but with the mold in an open position. Figure 7 shows a top perspective view of an example of a mold housing assembly that includes a pair of strips as shown in Figures 2 and 3 and a slide as shown in Figure 4, the housing assembly constructed according to the teachings of the present description. Figure 8 shows a top perspective view of a portion of the housing assembly of Figure 7, including one of the strips and the slide according to the teachings of the present description. Figure 9 shows a bottom perspective view of a portion of the housing assembly in Figure 7. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of an example of a strip and slide, like that in Figures 8 and 9, according to the teachings of the present description. Figure 11 shows a perspective view of an example of an accessory formed from a fabric resin composite and for the strip in Figures 2, 3, 8, and 9 and in accordance with the teachings of the present description. Figures 12 to 23 show perspective views of additional examples of rods constructed according to the teachings of the present description. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The described guide rails resolve or improve upon one or more of the problems and disadvantages mentioned above and / or others with previously known guide rails and moving machine components. Figure 1 shows an example of a conventional or prior art guide rail 30. The guide rail 30 in this example has an elongated rectangular body 32 and may define one or more bearing surfaces 34 on its exterior. The body 32 may include one or more holes 36 used to attach the guide rail 30 to another tool or machine element. In this example, each bearing surface 34 is a smooth or flat surface. Each bearing surface 32 can be configured and positioned to guide, retain, or combine guiding and retaining functions when linear motion of a non-cylindrical tool or machine element is required. The bearing surfaces 34 would contact equally smooth or flat surfaces on the machine element or tool.In the prior art, the applied lubricants could be used between each of the corresponding contact surfaces of the strip and the tool or machine element. The described screeds and methods expand the functionality of a conventional screed by providing a comprehensive solution that eliminates the need for and application of any lubricant in any form, whether solid, film, paste, liquid, dry, aerosol, or other type. Furthermore, the described screeds and methods eliminate the need for any coatings, platings, treatments, or similar applications of any kind on the screed or on the tool or machine component, while also eliminating scaling. The description refers to a universal power strip product that performs in these diverse environments, including varying operating temperatures, variable weight capacity, cleaning requirements, and similar factors, without requiring any lubricant, special coating, or production downtime. The described power strip product is a superior and innovative solution for the industry. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate an example of a terminal block 40 constructed according to the instructions in this description. The terminal block 40 in this example is essentially the same as the terminal block 30 in shape and includes a body 42 with contact faces 44 and mounting holes 46. In each of Figures 1 and 2, the body of the terminal block 32 and 42 can be a metal substrate for added strength, rigidity, and durability. In this example, the terminal block 40 also includes an accessory 48, i.e., a fitting, adapter, or the like, attached to the body 42. The accessory 48 can be configured to overlap at least each contact face 44 of the body. Thus, in this example, the accessory 48 includes two elongated rectangular, plate-shaped, or flat sections 50 joined together and L-shaped in cross-section.The accessory 48 includes an outward-facing surface 52, one on each of the sections 50, which are exposed when attached to the body 42 of the strip 40. The exposed surface 52 is intended to provide a low-friction contact surface or a friction-reducing feature when in contact with a corresponding surface of a tool or machine element. In one example, the 48 fitting can be made of a woven resin composite material. This woven resin composite can provide friction-reducing qualities while also possessing excellent wear resistance and compressive strength. The fitting can vary in size and shape, depending on the size and shape of the tool body and the machine component against which it will rest during use. The fitting can be configured to overlap a single surface of the tool body or to overlap more than two surfaces, depending on the tool or machine application for which it is intended.The 40 strip is configured to achieve lubricant-free operation and robust support for industry by combining the metal strip substrate for strength and rigidity with the fabric resin composite for functional surfaces. With reference to Figure 3, the fitting 48 may have openings 54 in one of the sections 50. The openings 54 may be configured to match the clamping holes 46 in the body of the strip 40 and to allow a fastener to pass through the strip 40 to secure the strip to a tool or machine element. The strip 40, when used within injection mold tools, may retain, guide, and function as a support, typically on two surfaces. The strip 40 in this example is shown to have two functional or support surfaces, namely the outer surfaces 52 of the fitting 48 on the body 42.Each outer surface 52 can be identified as a guide surface and / or a retaining surface in that each can guide the movement of a moving tool or machine element relative to the strip, and each can retain the relative position of one part to another within the tool or machine, including the moving tool or machine element. In other embodiments and examples, the strip may have only one support or functional surface or it may have more than two supports or functional surfaces. These surfaces can be configured to be adjacent when used with moving components. For reference, each of these functional surfaces can be identified as the retaining surface and / or the guide surface. Figure 4 illustrates an example of a tool slide 60 or side action constructed according to the teachings of the present description. The slide 60 can be equated with the aforementioned moving tool or machine element. A slide or side action is a common component known in the injection molding industry. A slide is configured as a moving component in a mold. The slide 60 can also be formed as a metallic substrate, similar to the body of the shim 42. In this example, the slide 60 has a body 62 with a wider base portion 64 and a narrower top portion 66. The difference in width along the body 62 between the base portion 64 and the top portion 66 creates an upward step or shoulder, i.e., a heel 68 on the base portion. The top portion 64 of the body 62 adjacent to and above the heels 68 can define opposing sliding support surfaces 70.In this example, the body 62 of the slide 60 may also include an angled pin hole 72 formed downward or, more commonly, vertically through the body, but at an angle to the vertical, as discussed below. The slide 60 may also have a pull pin 74 extending horizontally from one end of the body 62, also as discussed below. Figures 5 and 6 show side cross-sectional views of an example of a simplified, generic mold 80 constructed according to the teachings of this description. The mold 80 in this example incorporates the slide 60 of Figure 4 and a pair of strips 40 of Figures 2 and 3. Many injection-molded parts require a lateral action or slide to remove the cavity geometry or the pull from the ejection path of a molded part. A common method for actuating the lateral movement of the cavity geometry or pull is by providing such an element in the slide, and then using what is known in the industry as an angle pin to move the slide, and thus the cavity geometry or pull.Other common terms for such angle pin parts are cam pins, horn pins, punch pins, or similar, depending on the region of manufacture. With reference to Figures 5 and 6, the mold 80 in this example includes a lower platen 78 as part of a housing assembly 82 and an upper platen 84. Figure 7 shows a top perspective view of the housing assembly 82. In this example, the slide 60 is carried in the slide recess 85 in the lower platen 78 of the housing assembly 82. An angle pin 86 is secured at an angle to the upper platen 84. The angle pin 86 coincides with the angle or orientation of the angle pin hole 72 through the slide body 62. The angle pin 86 is received in the angle pin hole 72 with the mold 80 in the closed position of Figure 5. The lower platen 78 of the housing assembly 82 defines a substantial portion of a mold cavity 88 and a surface 90 of the upper platen 84 closes the mold cavity 88 when in the closed position of figure 5.In the closed position, the slide 60 slides or moves to the left side in Figure 5, and the extraction pin 74 extends into the mold cavity 88 to form a hole in a molded part formed in the cavity. In the closed position, the free end of the angle pin 86 passes completely through the slide body 62 and seats in a recess of pin 92 in the lower housing 82. With reference to Figure 6, when the mold 80 is opened, the upper platen 84 is lifted. The angle pin 86 is thus also lifted vertically along with the upper platen 84. The vertical movement of the angle pin 86, in combination with the angle pin's orientation and the angle pin hole 74, which is neither parallel nor perpendicular to the vertical movement, causes the slide 60 to move to the right side in Figure 6. The movement of the slide 60 removes the extraction pin 74 from the mold cavity 88. In this way, a molded part can be removed from the cavity 88 without interference from the extraction pin 74. With reference to Figure 7, the slide 60 is received in the slide recess 85 of the lower platen 78 and can slide horizontally along it to and from the mold cavity 88. The slide recess 85 includes cavities 94 along opposite sides of the recess. Each cavity 94 may have a side surface 96 that defines a cavity width and a bottom surface 98 that defines a vertical cavity depth. The cavities 94 are measured and configured to receive the strips 40 with the slide 60 positioned between the strips. Fasteners (not shown) can be used to secure the strips 40 through the fastener holes 46 to the bottom surfaces 98 of the cavities 94.The width of the lower surfaces 98 and the space between the side surfaces 96 position each strip 40 so that a portion of the downward-facing bearing surfaces 44 and the outer surfaces 52 extend inwards beyond the cavities and into, i.e., projecting out of the gap 85. The size or overhang width of each strip 40 is measured to correspond to the width of the heels 68 in the slide 60. With reference to Figures 8 to 10, the fitting 48 is positioned between the body of the strip 42 and the surfaces of the slide 60. More specifically, the projecting portion of the downward-facing outer surface 52 of one section 50 of the fitting 48 on each strip 40 rests against a corresponding heel 68 on the slide 60. This portion of each fitting 48, together with the body of the strip 42, vertically retains the slide 60 within the recess of the slide 85 and also provides a low-friction bearing surface (bonding surface 52 on the surface of the strip 44) between the body of the strip 42 and the respective surface of the heel 68. The entire inward-facing outer surface 52 of the other section 50 of the fitting 48 on each strip 40 rests against a corresponding side bearing face 70 of the upper portion 66 of the slide body 62.This portion of each fitting 48, together with the body of the strip 42, laterally retains the slide 60 within the recess of the slide 85 and also provides a low-friction bearing surface (joining surface 52 on the surface of the strip 44) between the body of the strip 42 and the respective lateral bearing surface 70 of the slide 60. Thus, as noted above, the strip 40, which includes a low-friction fitting 48, provides both guiding and retaining functionality. As the angle pin's name suggests, angle pin 86 is installed at an angle to the separable movement of the mold to move slide 60 and release the pull pin 74 from the molded item. As angle pin 86 engages with slide 60, there is resistance to lateral movement of the slide, typically, but not always, due to surface tension of the cured plastic resin adhering to the slide's geometry. See Figures 5 and 6 again. Once the heels 68 make contact with the retaining or cantilever surface of the strip 40 as angle pin 86 is raised, lateral movement of slide 60 is achieved, facilitating the release of the molded item. As a result, the retaining or cantilever surfaces become one of the functional surfaces of the strips 40.In the arrangement shown in Figures 5 to 10, the outer surface 52 in the downward-facing section 50 of the fitting 48 can be described primarily as the retaining surface and the outer surface in the inward-facing section of the fitting can be described primarily as the guiding face, as depicted in Figure 10. The shim 40 described in this example is normally used in pairs or multiples cnzbzn / zznz / zi / YiAi to facilitate slide movement. Each shim 40 in the shim pair includes a retaining surface. The slide 60 includes a heel 68 configured to make intimate contact with the retaining surface of the shim 40. The retaining surfaces of the heel and the shim are configured to allow lateral movement of the slide relative to the shim and toward and away from the cavity 88 of the mold 80. The second functional surface of the shim 40, the guide face, is adjacent to the first functional surface of the shim, the retaining face. The guide face channels the slide 60 as it moves during the molding sequence. Figure 11 illustrates an example of the fitting 48, which is removed from the strip substrate and includes the adjacent functional faces 52 of the sections 50. In this example, the fitting 48 is formed from a fabric resin composite and is attached to the rigid substrate of the strip or body 42. Composite materials, of the fabric and resin type, have certain performance characteristics on their faces. Such materials normally lack these characteristics at their edges. By recognizing the functional faces 44 of the strip 40 and the functional faces 52 of the fabric resin composite fitting 48, it becomes evident that the edge faces of the fabric resin composite are positioned so as to exclude them from any contact with the moving component. With this full and complete understanding of the construction and function of the strip, and the orientation of the composite functional face, it should now be evident that the strip of the described structure, as outlined herein, improves upon known or existing strip technology and eliminates the need for lubricants during use. A metallic substrate for the strip is required or preferred for industrial strength and rigidity. The shape and configuration of the strip substrate or body may vary according to the requirements of a given application. The number of bearing surfaces (i.e., retention and / or guidance) may vary from 1 to N, also according to the requirements of a particular application. The compatible shape and configuration of the fitting may thus also change to accommodate the strip substrate.The accessory may vary in shape to provide the desired surface overlap of the support surfaces on the strip substrate. The described fabric resin composite fitting eliminates the need for lubrication. The fabric resin composite material provides functional faces that can or must be formed in a way that is uninterrupted. In this way, the edge faces can be excluded from interacting with the moving component. The functional faces 52 can be continuous, contiguous, or monolithic. Other friction-reducing materials may be used for the described strip fitting instead of the described fabric resin composite. The materials must be suitable for the intended manufacturing environment and provide the desired friction-reducing characteristics while eliminating the need for applied lubricants. The low-friction strip solution as described herein has been described for its obvious performance improvements over current methodologies. However, the described strip allows moving components, slides, and other similar tool or machine components to be produced from alternative materials that are currently avoided and / or have not yet been considered. The described strip enables the development of alternative materials as usable materials for moving components without the risk of abrasion or sticking, which could otherwise cause catastrophic production failures. The described strip eliminates the need for the required lubricant application, preventive maintenance that necessitates disassembly, cleaning, reassembly, and the associated risks and costs.The described strip also eliminates the need to provide the strip substrate with exotic coatings and veneering materials, which are quite expensive in many respects beyond the actual application costs. Referring again to Figure 10, the metal substrate and the formed woven resin composite fitting can be secured to each other with mechanical fasteners, such as one or more rivets, bonding adhesives, or the like. In one embodiment, the retaining surface can be configured so that its exposed edge extends fully to be coplanar with the face of the metal substrate opposite the guide face. By extending the shape of the woven resin composite in this manner, while still providing space for the mounting fasteners of the strip, you can ensure that the woven resin composite remains in place if a bonding adhesive or mechanical fastener fails. The fasteners that secure the strip to the slide will retain the fitting in place between the strip body and the slide. Figures 12 to 23 show several examples of different strip configurations and mechanical fasteners used to join the metal substrate and the fabric-formed resin composite fitting, as described herein. These examples are provided only to show that the size, shape, configuration, and other aspects of the strip can be changed, and that the fitting can also be changed accordingly, within the spirit and scope of this description. Figure 12 illustrates the strip 40, with the accessory 48 attached to the surfaces 44 of the strip body 42 by means of an adhesive. Figure 13 illustrates a similar strip 100, but with an accessory 102 attached to the strip substrate using mechanical fasteners 104 through the accessory. Figure 14 illustrates another example of a strip 110 with a strip body 112 having a side surface 114 with a level 116. The strip 110 includes an accessory 118 with an L-shaped cross-section and a longer section 120 covering a portion of a side surface 114 and a much shorter section 122 covering level 116. In this example, the accessory 118 is attached to the strip substrate or body 112 using an adhesive. Figure 15 illustrates a similar strip 130 having the same formed strip substrate, but with an accessory 132 attached to the strip substrate using fasteners 134, such as rivets. Figure 16 illustrates another example of a strip 140 with a strip body 142 having two side surfaces 144 with a level 146. The strip 140 includes two fittings 148, each with an L-shaped cross-section having a longer section 150 covering a portion of a side surface 144 and a much shorter section 152 covering the level 146. In this example, the fittings 148 are attached to the strip substrate or body 142 using an adhesive. Figure 17 illustrates a similar strip 160 having the same formed strip substrate, but with a fitting 162 attached to the strip substrate using fasteners 164, such as rivets. Figure 18 illustrates another example of a strip 170 with a strip body 172 similar to the strip body 42 described above. However, in this example, the strip 170 includes a U-shaped fitting 174 with three sections: a bottom section 176 that overlaps the bottom of the strip body 172 and two spaced side sections 178 that overlap opposite sides of the body. In this example, the fitting 174 is attached to the strip body 172 using an adhesive. Figure 19 illustrates a similar strip 180 having the same formed strip body substrate, but with a fitting 182 attached to the strip body using fasteners 184, such as rivets. Figure 20 illustrates another example of a strip 190 with a strip body 192 similar to the strip body 172 of the previous example. However, in this example, the strip 190 includes an inverted U-shaped fitting 194 with three sections: a top section 196 that overlaps the top of the strip body 192 and two spaced side sections 198 that overlap opposite sides of the body. In this example, the fitting 194 is attached to the strip body 192 using an adhesive. Figure 21 illustrates a similar strip 200 having the same formed strip body substrate, but with a fitting 202 attached to the strip body using fasteners 204, such as rivets. Figure 22 illustrates another example of a strip 210 with a strip body 212 similar to the strip body in Figures 16 and 17, having two side surfaces 214 with a level 216. However, the strip 210 in this example includes an accessory 218 with a top section 220 and two side portions 222. Each side portion has an L-shaped cross-section with a longer section 224 covering a portion of a corresponding side surface 214 and a much shorter section 226 covering the level 216. In this example, the accessories 218 are attached to the strip substrate or body 212 using an adhesive. Figure 23 cnzfrzn / zznz / q / YiAi illustrates a similar strip 230 having the same substrate as the formed strip, but with an accessory 232 attached to the strip substrate using fasteners 234, such as rivets. It should be evident that the description outlines more than just a novel improvement over current methodologies. This description describes a universal solution with a multitude of benefits. These benefits may relate to the ability of the described strip to operate within any injection mold environment, including, but not limited to, varying mold temperatures, size, mass, and pressure requirements, sterile or cleanroom environments, and the like. It is the combination of the rigid substrate, which provides a robust base to support the various loads, and the composite material formed, which prevents non-functional surfaces from interacting with the moving components. The numerous cost savings are also apparent, as the description eliminates the possibility of abrasion, since there is no contact between the moving metal components and any other metal component.Significant cost savings are achieved for the injection molding industry by eliminating all preventive maintenance related to lubrication, where a lubrication strip or strips are required. However, even greater cost savings are realized by reducing the need for any lubrication, chemical cleaning solvents, and their associated environmental impacts. Although certain devices and methods have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of this description, the scope of this description is not limited to them. Rather, this description covers all modalities of the teachings of the description that fall within the scope of permitted equivalents.

Claims

1. - A strip characterized in that it comprises: a metallic substrate having a first face and a second face; and an accessory placed on the metallic substrate, the accessory including a first functional surface disposed on the first face of the metallic substrate, wherein the first functional surface is configured as a support surface.

2. The strip according to claim 1, further characterized in that the accessory is made of a fabric resin composite material.

3. The strip according to claim 2, further characterized in that the fabric resin compound also includes a second functional surface disposed on the second face of the metal substrate, the second functional surface being configured to be placed adjacent to the first functional surface.

4. The strip according to claim 2, further characterized in that the strip is configured to facilitate or guide axial or linear movement relative to the strip when the fabric resin compound interacts with one or more moving components without using a lubricant.

5. The strip according to claim 3, further characterized in that the first functional surface is configured as a guide surface and the second functional surface is configured as a retention surface.

6. The strip according to claim 1, further characterized in that the strip is for an injection mold tool. 7 - The strip according to claim 4, further characterized in that the fabric resin compound may include edges configured to avoid contact with moving components.

8. The strip according to claim 1, further characterized in that the metal substrate and the accessory are joined with a plurality of mechanical fasteners.

9. The strip according to claim 1, further characterized in that the metal substrate and the accessory are joined with an adhesive material.

10. The strip according to claim 4, further characterized in that there is no direct contact between the metallic substrate and the moving components.

11. The strip according to claim 1, further characterized in that the metallic substrate includes a third face positioned opposite the first functional surface, wherein the second functional surface is configured to be level with the third face of the metallic substrate, and wherein an edge of the second functional surface is configured to be coplanar with the third face of the metallic substrate. 12.- The strip according to claim 2, further characterized in that the first functional surface and the second functional surface are configured as a continuous shape 5.

13. A method for reducing contamination within a manufacturing environment, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: using a strip as a guide surface and a retention surface for moving components, wherein the strip includes a metallic substrate and a fabric resin composite disposed as the guide surface and the retention surface on the metallic substrate; and operating the moving components without applying any lubricant to the strip and the moving components.

Images