Drum Magazine Device for Reliable Insert Feeding in Injection Molding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and cost-effectiveness of providing inserts in an injection molding tool lead to long cycle times and significant space requirements, making it challenging to integrate a large number of inserts efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A magazine device with a drum magazine and rotating mechanism that allows for the vertical alignment of inserts, enabling them to be fed into the injection molding tool via gravity, with a separating device ensuring timely and individual delivery of inserts, and a sensor system for monitoring fill levels and jam detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If elaborate peripheral equipment is used to provide inserts, then the injection molding process can be performed, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insert storage and supply functions directly into the injection molding machine structure. The magazine device is integrated with the mold holder, eliminating the need for separate peripheral equipment. The drum magazine with multiple slots is mounted directly on the injection molding machine, allowing inserts to be stored and supplied in-situ during the molding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine device serves multiple functions: it stores multiple inserts of different types, positions them individually, and supplies them to the mold holder automatically. The drum magazine structure allows for both storage capacity and automated supply, making the system multi-functional without requiring additional specialized equipment.
2Reliability
If elaborate peripheral equipment is used to provide inserts, then the injection molding process can be performed, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insert storage and supply functions directly into the injection molding machine structure. The magazine device is integrated with the mold holder, eliminating the need for separate peripheral equipment. The drum magazine with multiple slots is mounted directly on the injection molding machine, allowing inserts to be stored and supplied in-situ during the molding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The magazine device is designed to automatically supply inserts to the mold holder without requiring external manual intervention or complex peripheral systems. The rotating drum mechanism with individual slots allows for automated insert delivery, making the system self-sufficient and reducing overall manufacturing costs.
3Productivity
If conventional insert feeding methods are used, then inserts can be supplied to the mold, but the cycle time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The drum magazine pre-positions multiple inserts in different slots before the molding cycle begins. As the drum rotates, inserts are automatically delivered to the mold holder in advance of the injection molding process, eliminating waiting time and reducing the overall cycle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating drum magazine continuously supplies inserts to the mold holder without interruption. Multiple inserts are prepared in advance in different slots, and the rotation mechanism ensures continuous availability of inserts, eliminating idle time and maintaining continuous productive action throughout the molding cycle.
4Productivity
If conventional insert feeding methods are used, then inserts can be supplied to the mold, but the space footprint on the injection molding machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The magazine device is nested within the existing injection molding machine structure. The drum magazine is mounted on the mold holder, utilizing the available space efficiently. This nested arrangement allows multiple inserts to be stored and supplied without adding significant external footprint to the machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the vertical and rotational dimensions to store and supply inserts. The drum magazine rotates vertically, allowing multiple inserts to be positioned in different vertical slots and delivered sequentially. This dimensional approach to storage and supply maximizes space utilization without increasing the horizontal footprint on the injection molding machine.
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
This solution allows for the efficient and reliable feeding of a large number of inserts to the injection molding tool, reducing cycle times and eliminating the need for complex peripherals, thereby simplifying the insertion process and optimizing space usage.
Implementation Method 1
When the drum magazine is arranged as intended on the injection mold, the magazine slots extend at least substantially in a vertical direction... Inserts entering the through-opening from the drum magazine can therefore pass through the through-opening and also through the feed channel of the injection mold purely by gravity
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a magazine device (16) for feeding inserts (26) into an injection mold (10), comprising a drum magazine (18) with several magazine slots (24) arranged at different circumferential positions of the drum magazine (18), which extend in the axial direction of the drum magazine (18) and are designed to receive the inserts (26) arranged one above the other in a respective row; a magazine receptacle (20) for receiving the drum magazine (18) with a through-opening (50); a rotating device (40) for rotating the drum magazine (18), which is designed, when the drum magazine (18) is arranged at the magazine receptacle (20), to rotate the respective magazine slots (24) into a feeding position in which the respective magazine slots (24) are arranged above the through-opening (50);a singulation device (48) designed to singulate the respective inserts (26) arranged in the magazine slots (24) and release them towards the through-opening (50) of the magazine receptacle (20). The invention further relates to a method for operating a magazine device (16) for feeding inserts (26) into an injection mold (10);