Mold Carrier Protective Wall for Drive Mechanism Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mold carrier systems for blow molding and hydraulic molding processes face contamination issues due to spills of pressurized filling products, which complicate the cleaning process and lead to increased downtime, especially when the drive mechanism becomes contaminated.
Innovation Solution
A mold carrier design with a protective wall arranged in a vertical separation plane between the mold carrier and the drive mechanism, ensuring that any spilled filling product cannot contact the drive mechanism, utilizing a connection region that passes through this plane and is sealed to prevent contamination, with the drive mechanism being horizontally spaced and connected to the mold carrier.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the mold carrier and drive mechanism are closely integrated for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but the drive mechanism becomes vulnerable to contamination from spilled filling product
Solution Approach 1:
The mold carrier is divided into two separable parts that can move relative to each other, with the drive mechanism positioned in a separate drive mechanism region. This segmentation allows the mold carrier parts to be cleaned thoroughly while the drive mechanism remains protected from contamination by filling product spills.
Solution Approach 2:
A connection region with a connection element acts as an intermediary between the mold carrier and drive mechanism. This intermediary structure includes a sealing arrangement that prevents filling product from reaching the drive mechanism while still allowing functional connection and force transmission.
2Loss of energy
If the drive mechanism is positioned close to the mold carrier for efficient force transmission, then energy loss is reduced, but cleaning time and downtime increase due to contamination
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the mold carrier into movable parts and separating the drive mechanism into its own region, the system allows the mold carrier parts to be quickly cleaned without disturbing the drive mechanism. This reduces cleaning downtime while maintaining efficient force transmission through the connection element.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection element with sealing arrangement serves as a mediator that transmits force from the drive mechanism to the mold carrier parts efficiently while preventing contamination. This allows the drive mechanism to remain in a clean, protected position while still achieving effective force transmission.
3Ease of operation
If the mold carrier parts are made easily cleanable with smooth surfaces, then ease of operation for cleaning is improved, but the structural integrity and sealing capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mold carrier is segmented into parts with smooth, easily cleanable surfaces that contact filling product, while the drive mechanism region maintains more complex structural features for strength and sealing. This segmentation allows different parts to have optimized surface characteristics for their specific functional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the mold carrier have different surface qualities: the mold carrier parts have smooth, easily cleanable surfaces, while the connection region and drive mechanism area have structures optimized for sealing and structural integrity. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between ease of cleaning and structural requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A device including a drive mechanism and a mold carrier that is divided into a first part (3a) and a second part (3b) which are configured to hold a respective section (2a, 2b) of a mold for forming a hollow container from a parison through the introduction of a gaseous or liquid pressurized medium under pressure into the parison. The first part (3a) is connected to the drive mechanism (6) by a first part connection region (7a) and is rotatable by the drive mechanism about an axis of rotation (A) such that the first part and the second part are transitionable between an open position and a closed position relative to each other. The first part connection region passes through a protective wall (8) that is arranged between and separates the mold carrier from the drive mechanism and thereby protects the drive mechanism against contamination on the mold carrier side.