Sliding Cover Mechanism for Injection Molding Hopper Feed Hole
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing material feeding devices for injection molding and three-dimensional modeling systems face challenges in preventing foreign matter from entering the plasticizing section through the feed hole, especially when the hopper is detached from the coupling member, leading to potential contamination and material loss.
Innovation Solution
A material feeding device with a hopper and coupling member configuration that allows for a sliding displacement mechanism to switch between communicated and non-communicated states, ensuring the feed hole is covered when the hopper is detached, utilizing a first member that moves between different areas on a slide surface to control the flow and prevent foreign matter entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the hopper is detachably attached to the coupling member for easy operation and maintenance, then the ease of operation is improved, but foreign matter may enter the plasticizing section through the feed hole when the hopper is detached
Solution Approach 1:
The first member is configured to automatically slide to the first area (covering the feed hole) in advance when the hopper is detached or located in the second area, before foreign matter can enter the plasticizing section. This preliminary action prevents contamination without requiring additional manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The first member acts as an intermediary element between the hopper and the feed hole. When the hopper is detached, the first member slides to cover the feed hole, preventing foreign matter from directly entering the plasticizing section through the open feed hole.
2Ease of operation
If the feed hole is always open for easy material feeding, then the ease of operation is improved, but foreign matter can enter the plasticizing section when the hopper is detached
Solution Approach 1:
The first member is designed to be movable between different positions (first area to cover the feed hole, and third area to expose the feed hole). This dynamic configuration allows the system to automatically adjust the feed hole coverage based on the hopper's position, ensuring both easy material feeding and contamination prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling member's slide surface and the first member's positioning mechanism provide feedback about the hopper's location. When the hopper is detached or in the second area, the system automatically responds by sliding the first member to cover the feed hole, maintaining reliability without manual intervention.
3Reliability
If the first member constantly covers the feed hole to prevent foreign matter entry, then the reliability is improved, but the material feeding process becomes blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The first member dynamically changes its position based on operational requirements. During normal material feeding, the first member is in the third area (exposing the feed hole) to maintain productivity. When the hopper is detached or in the second area, it automatically slides to the first area (covering the feed hole) to prevent contamination, thus balancing both reliability and productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
The material feeding device is configured so that in the state in which a hopper having an opening part and containing a material is attached to a coupling member configured so that the hopper is detachably attached to the coupling member, when the hopper is located in a first area, a first member configured to be able to make a sliding displacement on a slide surface having the first area where a feed hole is disposed makes the sliding displacement to a third area different from the first area to make it possible to take a communicated state in which the opening part and the feed hole are communicated with each other, and when the hopper is located in a second area, the first member makes a sliding displacement to the first area to make it possible to take a non-communicated state in which the first member covers the feed hole. The material feeding device takes the non-communicated state at least when the hopper is detached from the coupling member via a detachably attaching part disposed in the second area extending along a direction in which the first area extends.