C-Shaped Frame Absorbs Forces in Tie-Bar-Less Injection Molding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection molding machines face limitations in mold size due to tie bars and require costly solid machine frames to prevent bending, while tie-bar-less machines need complex mechanisms for parallelism and force distribution.
Innovation Solution
A closed frame system with side walls and cross members absorbs forces from both the clamping and injection units, eliminating the need for additional fastening devices and allowing for flexible stabilization and adjustment, thereby reducing costs and ensuring parallelism without additional mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a C-shaped machine frame is used in tie-bar-less injection molding machines, then accessibility of the space between mold platens is improved, but the machine frame requires costly solid construction to prevent bending under clamping force
Solution Approach 1:
The machine frame is segmented into a C-shaped frame structure with distinct functional zones. The C-shaped frame separates the clamping unit and injection unit into different spatial regions, allowing independent optimization of each unit while maintaining overall structural integrity. This segmentation enables accessibility to the mold platen space without requiring a completely solid frame construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The machine frame employs composite structural design combining the C-shaped frame with strategic reinforcement elements. Rather than using uniformly solid construction throughout, the frame uses composite structural approaches where reinforcement is applied only where necessary to resist bending moments, reducing overall material usage and cost while maintaining structural adequacy.
2Force
If four cylindrical tie bars are used to transmit closing force, then force transmission is improved, but the size of molds is limited due to space occupied by bars between platens
Solution Approach 1:
The tie bars are extracted from the space between the mold platens and repositioned to the exterior of the mold area. The C-shaped frame structure allows the closing mechanism's force transmission elements to be located outside the mold envelope, completely eliminating the space occupation problem that limited mold size in conventional four-tie-bar designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The force transmission function is moved from the vertical dimension (between platens) to the horizontal dimension (external to mold area). By repositioning the tie bars or equivalent force transmission elements to the exterior of the mold space, the design utilizes horizontal space rather than vertical space, thereby maximizing the available mold area between platens.
3Ease of operation
If tie-bar-less design is used, then accessibility is improved, but complex mechanisms are required to ensure parallelism between mold platens
Solution Approach 1:
The C-shaped frame structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the structural support for the clamping unit, houses the injection unit, ensures parallelism of the mold platens through its inherent rigidity, and maintains accessibility to the mold space. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate complex parallelism adjustment mechanisms that would otherwise be required.
Solution Approach 2:
The C-shaped frame structure is designed to self-maintain platen parallelism through its inherent geometric stability and rigid construction. The frame's structural characteristics automatically ensure parallelism without requiring active control systems, adjustment mechanisms, or complex mechanical devices, allowing the structure to serve its own alignment requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an injection molding machine (110) having a closing unit (100) and an injection unit (101), wherein a frame having side walls (1) and traverses (5, 14) connecting the side walls (1) to one another absorbs the forces of the closing unit (100) as a closed system and/or wherein a frame having side walls (1) and traverses (5, 14) connecting the side walls (1) to one another absorbs the forces of the injection unit (101) as a closed unit.