Linear Shoe Upper Injection Machine with Movable Injectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Linear injection machines in the footwear sector face challenges with limited access for maintenance due to injector placement and the inability to work with multiple colors or materials simultaneously, restricting efficiency and ease of operation.
Innovation Solution
A linear upper injection machine with block mould assemblies and multiple injectors that can translate across fixed stations, allowing simultaneous injection of multiple materials and colors, with adjustable and interchangeable injectors for improved accessibility and versatility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple injectors are placed side by side and constrained to guides for translation, then productivity increases through simultaneous injection at multiple stations, but ease of operation deteriorates due to awkward frontal access to injection heads for maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The injection heads are made movable along the translation guides rather than being fixed, allowing them to be dynamically positioned for both injection operations and maintenance access. This dynamic arrangement enables the system to adapt between production mode (injectors at stations) and maintenance mode (injectors accessible at rear).
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves the maintenance access point from the frontal dimension (difficult due to guide constraints) to the rear dimension (easy access). By positioning the rear of injection heads facing the rear of the machine, maintenance personnel can access injectors from behind without interfering with the translation guides or station positioning.
2Adaptability or versatility
If only one injector is provided per mould holder, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates as multiple colors or materials cannot be injected simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
Each injection head is designed to be universal and interchangeable, capable of handling different colors and materials. The standardized design allows any injector to serve any station, and multiple injectors can work simultaneously on the same or different stations, providing multi-functionality without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The injection system is segmented into independent, modular injection heads that can be individually selected and positioned. This segmentation allows flexible configuration where multiple injectors can be distributed across stations as needed, rather than requiring a complex integrated system at each station.
3Productivity
If injectors are constrained to guides for translation between stations, then productivity increases through multi-station operation, but ease of repair deteriorates due to difficult access during maintenance operations
Solution Approach 1:
The injection heads are extracted from fixed mounting and made independently movable along the guides. This extraction allows them to be freely positioned along the translation path, enabling maintenance personnel to access and remove injectors from the rear without being constrained by station positions or guide structures.
4Productivity
If a linear machine configuration with multiple fixed stations is used, then productivity increases compared to static machines, but device complexity increases compared to rotary machines
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic translation of injection heads along linear guides rather than fixed mounting or complex rotary mechanisms. This dynamic linear approach achieves multi-station productivity with simpler construction compared to rotary machines, avoiding the complexity of rotary tables, indexing mechanisms, and centralized injector positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns a linear machine for injection on shoe uppers made of plastic or thermoplastic material such as TPU comprising: - a plurality of fixed stations (11, 12, 13, 14) each comprising a mould holder (1) adapted to support mould assemblies (4) fixed to the mould holder (1), - one or more injectors (2) adapted to inject plastic or thermoplastic material into each of the mould assemblies (4) and fixed to a carriage (3) for transporting the injectors (2), so that one or more injectors are frontally aligned in successive times to each of the fixed stations (11, 12, 13, 14) of the linear machine (100).