Press closing unit, particularly for a blow-moulding machine

Abstract

A press closing unit comprising a support base (2), a left half-mould holding plane (3) and a right half-mould holding plane (4), movable on said support base (2); a first motor (5), integral with said support base (2), performing a movement of said mould holding planes (3, 4) by means of a transmission belt (6); a second motor (7) integral with a mould holding plane (3), performing a movement and locking said mould holding plane (3); said unit being characterized in that said transmission belt (6) is clamped by a clamp (11) integral with said right half-mould holding plane (4).

Description

[0001] PRESS CLOSING UNIT, PARTICULARLY FOR A BLOW-MOULDING MACHINE

[0002] The present invention relates to a press closing unit of a blow-moulding machine.

[0003] In conventional moulding machines, the press planes are moved by hydraulic cylinders or by means of transmissions with belt, rack and pinion screw drives, generally driven by a single electric motor.

[0004] DE10253555B3 discloses a method of cyclic closure and opening of a. bottleblowing mould, including a first drive which is switched off when a second drive develops maximum output. The first drive is not switched off until the second drive develops at least the maximum torque or the maximum closure force of the first drive. The two drives operate without braking, and at least partially in parallel. Torques from the drives are subtracted using an automatically-matching, switchable non-return mechanism for the spindle drive actuator developing the smallest force or torque. After reaching mould closure and application of maximum closure force, the second drive is switched off, the first drive is reversed and the non-return is released, to initiate mould opening. The first and second drives are operated in parallel during the entire closure operation.

[0005] US2005238754A1 discloses a machine for forming containers, comprising a unit for extruding plastic tubes, a blowing unit, a mould for containing the containers, formed by two half-moulds movable, upon actuation of associated first means, in a longitudinal direction and symmetrically with respect to a fixed axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The unit formed by the mould and by the associated first actuating means is movable, upon actuation of second actuating means, in a transverse direction from a first position, in substantial alignment with the extrusion unit, into a second position, in substantial alignment with the blowing unit, and vice versa. The second means for actuation of the mould in the transverse direction has a linear motor.

[0006] US6514452B1 discloses a double-mould blow-moulding system having a slide displaceable parallel to an axis through a relatively long stroke relative to a stationary overhead extruder head, a centre support fixed on the slide, and a pair of end supports displaceable axially through relatively short strokes on the slide between inner and outer end positions. A pair of inner mould halves carried on the centre support are directed axially oppositely therefrom toward the end supports. Respective outer mould halves carried on the end supports are axially engageable with the respective inner mould halves in the inner positions of the end supports. An end-support drive connected between the slide and the end supports moves the end supports between their end positions and a slide drive connected to the slide moves the slide axially relative to the head. Each of the end-support drives includes a respective motor mounted on the slide.

[0007] US2003017229A1 discloses a blow-moulding machine for producing blow-moulded hollow bodies from a thermoplastic material. The machine includes two blow-mould halves which can be horizontally displaced and provided with separate drive units for a transport drive and for the sequence of movements of the mould closing and locking device to open and close the blow mould halves. The drive unit is configured for the clamping elements of the mould closing and locking device as an electromotive direct drive with a spindle drive and a spindle mechanism with recirculating rollers.

[0008] The conventional design of the traditional presses does not easily cope with certain requirements of the moulding process and does not offer safe maintenance operations.

[0009] The aim of the present invention is to provide a press closing unit that overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0010] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a press closing unit that improves and facilitates the moulding process.

[0011] A further object of the invention is to provide a press closing unit that facilitates safe maintenance operations.

[0012] A further object of the invention is to provide a press closing unit that allows for superior flexibility of press action.

[0013] A further object of the invention is to provide a machine that, due to its special constructional features, is able to ensure the broadest guarantees of reliability and safety in use.

[0014] The above aim and objects and others which will better appear hereafter, are achieved by a press closing unit as claimed in the appended claims.

[0015] Further characteristics and advantages will become clearer from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the invention, illustrated by way of indicative and non-limiting purposes in the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the closing unit according to the invention;

[0016] Figure 2 is a right-hand side view of the unit;

[0017] Figure 3 is a rear view of the unit;

[0018] Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the unit;

[0019] Figure 5 is a view according to the V-V section plane of Figure 2;

[0020] Figures 6 and 7 schematically show a synchronised plane movement during the machine production cycle;

[0021] Figures 8 and 9 schematically show the movement of the planes, which are not synchronised, during the machine production cycle;

[0022] Figure 10 shows a plane position movement for maintenance and mould changes;

[0023] Figure 11 shows the action of extraction of the columns, automatically or manually, for maintenance;

[0024] Figure 12 shows the automatic extraction production cycle columns.

[0025] With reference to the figures, the press closing unit according to the invention, globally designated by reference numeral 1 , comprises a support base 2, with slide guides, for supporting and moving a left half-mould holding plane 3 and a right half-mould holding table 4, movable on the support base 2 itself.

[0026] A transmission belt 6, in a closed loop, is driven by a first motor 5, integral with the support base 2, at one end, and returned by an idler gear 12, located at the opposite end of the base 2.

[0027] The transmission belt 6 performs the movement of the mould holding planes 3 and 4 and is clamped by a clamp 11 , which is attached to a mould holding plane 4.

[0028] The unit also includes a second motor 7, integral with the left mould holding plane 3, for the movement and locking of only the left mould-holding plane 3.

[0029] The left half-mould holding plane 3 and the right half-mould holding plane 4 are movable on closing columns 8 by the action of respective blocking and traction units 9, which close the press under power.

[0030] At the opposite end of each column 8, a clamping unit 10 allows the columns 8 to be manually or automatically extracted for maintenance or machine cycle.

[0031] Depending on requirements, the columns 8 can also be extracted from the side of the clamping unit 10.

[0032] According to the present invention, the two-motor system, the first motor 5, integral to the support base 2, and the second motor 7, integral to a mould holding plane 3 or 4, connected by the single belt 6, allows for a combination of planes movement to press closing, while the power closing of the press is performed by the blocking and traction assemblies 9.

[0033] The combination of the special movement of planes 3 and 4 and the type of column clamping, by means of column clamping / traction and column extraction in automatic or manual mode, allows maximum flexibility of action of the press, which is always managed by the blow-moulding machine software.

[0034] The different possible combinations are exemplified in Figures 6-12.

[0035] Figures 6 and 7 schematically show a synchronised plane movement during the machine production cycle.

[0036] Figures 8 and 9 schematically show the movement of the planes, which are not synchronised, during the machine production cycle.

[0037] Figure 10 shows a plane position movement for maintenance and mould changes.

[0038] Figure 11 shows the action of extracting the columns, automatically or manually, for maintenance.

[0039] Figure 12 shows the automatic column extraction movement production cycle.

[0040] The press closing unit according to the invention fulfils some important requirements of the moulding process and safe maintenance, thanks to an innovative and advantageous movement of the press planes.

[0041] By means of the first motor integral to the base and the second motor integral to one of the planes and connected by a single belt, the system according to the present invention allows for a combination of plane movement and mould closure, while the power closure of the press is performed by the block and column traction assembly.

[0042] The combination of plane movements with the column locking system allows maximum flexibility of press action, suitably managed by software.

[0043] In practice, it was found that the invention achieves its task and purpose by creating an innovative press clamping unit that improves and facilitates the printing process. The press closure assembly according to the invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details may be replaced by technically equivalent elements.

[0044] Naturally, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, can be any according to requirements and the state of the art.

[0045] This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. 102024000009079, filed on April 22, 2024, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A press closing unit comprising a support base (2), a left half-mould holding plane (3) and a right half-mould holding plane (4), movable on said support base (2); a first motor (5), integral with said support base (2), performing a movement of said mould holding planes (3, 4) by means of a transmission belt (6); a second motor (7) integral with a mould holding plane (3), performing a movement and locking said mould holding plane (3); said unit being characterized in that said transmission belt (6) is clamped by a clamp (11) integral with said right half-mould holding plane (4).

2. A press closing unit according to claim 1 , characterized in that said support base (2) comprises sliding guides.

3. A press closing unit, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said left half-mould holding plane (3) and said right half-mould holding plane (4) are movable on closing columns (8) by the action of respective blocking and traction assemblies (9) performing the closing of the press under power.

4. A press closing unit, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a clamping assembly (10) at one end of each of said columns (8) opposite to a respective one of said clamping and traction assemblies (9); said clamping assembly (10) allowing the extraction of a respective of one of said columns (8), for maintenance or machine cycle.

5. A press closing unit, according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said extraction of said columns (8) can take place from the side of said clamping assembly (10).

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