Core Lifter Retainer Assembly for Wear-Reducing Mold Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional internal core lifter devices face issues with mechanical wear and breakage due to uneven movement and misalignment during mold operation, requiring two people for assembly and maintenance, and lack efficient cooling systems for the lifter rods.
Innovation Solution
A modular unit with a retainer that allows linear and rotational movement to compensate for uneven movement, featuring spring-loaded mechanisms for secure positioning and coiled hoses for cooling fluid supply, enabling single-person installation and extended mold life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional internal core lifter devices are used with fixed mounting, then assembly and maintenance require two people, but this increases device complexity and reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed to move dynamically between a first position for receiving the lifter rod and a second position for operation, allowing single-person assembly while maintaining secure mounting during use. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction by enabling ease of operation without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded device automatically positions the retainer in the first position to receive the lifter rod, eliminating the need for manual positioning by a second person. This self-service mechanism improves ease of assembly while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
2Reliability
If rigid mounting of lifter rod is used, then structural stability is maintained, but mechanical wear and breakage occur due to uneven movement
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer's ability to move between positions and the spring-loaded mechanism allow the lifter rod mounting to adapt to uneven movement during operation, reducing mechanical stress and wear while maintaining operational stability. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between wear resistance and mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameters of the retainer dynamically - held in a fixed second position during operation for stability, but movable to a first position for assembly. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both wear resistance during operation and ease of assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed position mounting is used, then positioning precision is maintained, but the device cannot accommodate uneven movement during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The retainer is designed with dynamic positioning capability - precisely mounted in the second position for operation while being able to move to the first position for assembly. This dynamic design allows the system to accommodate uneven movement during operation while maintaining positioning precision when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded device acts as an intermediary mechanism that maintains precise positioning during operation while allowing controlled movement during assembly. This intermediary element resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability without sacrificing positioning precision.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modular unit reduces mechanical wear, allows single-person assembly and maintenance, and extends mold element lifespan by accommodating uneven movement and providing effective cooling to the lifter rods.
Implementation Method 1
one spring loaded device is used to hold a core rod retainer in a specific position at a predetermined set angle
Implementation Method 2
lifter rods that are internally cooled with coolant that flows through channels formed within the lifter rods
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention concerns a core lifter apparatus (22) for a mold for molding plastic parts, the core lifter apparatus (22) comprising: a gib (30) mounted with respect to an ejector plate (24), a slide (35) movably mounted with respect to said gib (30), a retainer (40) attached to said slide (35), a lifter rod (45) removably attached to said retainer (40), and said retainer (40) having an inlet (41) in communication with a cooling fluid supply (55) and a supply channel (42) within said lifter rod (45) and an outlet (43) in communication with a cooling fluid return (57) and a return channel (44) within said lifter rod (45), and an engageable spring or detent positioning device (65) fixing a relative position of said retainer (40) with respect to said slide (35) for during an installation step of connecting said lifter rod (45) to said retainer (40).