Blow Molding Mold Clamp Assembly with Independent Drive
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mold clamp assemblies for blow molding machines require strong, heavy frames to withstand high clamp forces, leading to increased weight, cost, and operating expenses due to the need for heavy drives and frame reinforcement to prevent deformation and ensure parallel mold closure.
Innovation Solution
An extendable and retractable drive is connected directly to one mold half and uses a pivot arm mechanism with a tension member, transmitting clamp forces directly to the opposing mold half without going through the machine frame, thus eliminating bending moments and reducing the frame's strength and weight requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If clamp force is transmitted through the machine frame from one side of the mold to the other side, then the mold halves can be held closed during blow molding, but the frame must be made heavy and strong to counteract bending moments and prevent deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp force transmission path is segmented into two independent sides, each with its own drive mechanism. Instead of transmitting force through the frame from one side to the other, each mold half has an independent drive that applies clamp force locally, eliminating the need for a heavy frame to withstand bending moments.
Solution Approach 2:
A new intermediary structure (independent drive mechanisms on each side) is introduced to transmit clamp force directly to the mold halves without using the machine frame as the transmission medium. This intermediary system eliminates the bending moments that would otherwise require a heavy frame.
2Manufacturing precision
If the frame is made strong enough to withstand high clamp forces without deformation, then parallel mold closure is ensured, but the cost of the machine and operating cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp force transmission is segmented into independent paths on each side of the mold, eliminating the need for a heavy, expensive frame. Each side independently maintains its own clamp force, ensuring mold closure parallelism without requiring an expensive reinforced frame structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the expensive, heavy frame structure with lighter, more economical independent drive mechanisms on each side. This substitution reduces both the initial manufacturing cost and the operating cost while maintaining the required precision of mold closure.
3Force
If heavy frame members are used to transmit clamp force without bending, then the mold halves can be held closed, but the weight and size of the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The clamp force transmission system is divided into two independent sides, each with its own drive mechanism. This segmentation eliminates the need for heavy frame members to transmit force across the machine, as each side independently applies and maintains clamp force locally on its respective mold half.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of clamp force transmission is extracted from the machine frame and assigned to independent drive mechanisms on each side of the mold. This extraction removes the requirement for heavy frame members, significantly reducing the overall machine weight while maintaining effective clamp force transmission.
4Manufacturing precision
If the frame is reinforced to prevent deformation under clamp force, then mold closure parallelism is maintained, but the size of the drives necessary to operate the machine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The drive system is segmented into two independent drives, one on each side of the mold. Each drive independently controls the clamp force on its side, eliminating the need for a heavy reinforced frame. This segmentation allows for more compact drive mechanisms since they only need to handle half the total clamp force requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
Independent drive mechanisms serve as intermediaries on each side of the mold, directly applying clamp force without requiring force transmission through the frame. This eliminates the need for both frame reinforcement and oversized drives, as each compact drive independently maintains its side's clamp force.
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 design reduces the strength, weight, and cost of the machine frame while minimizing operating costs by directly transmitting clamp forces to the mold halves, allowing for efficient operation without frame deformation.
Implementation Method 1
transmitting clamp forces directly to the opposing mold half without going through the machine frame
Implementation Method 2
uses a pivot arm mechanism with a tension member, transmitting clamp forces directly
Data Source
AI summary
A mold clamp assembly for a rotary-type or shuttle-type blow molding machine is mounted on a frame and includes a mold opening and closing drive connected to the two mold halves independently of the frame so that when the mold halves are closed, clamp forces are not transmitted to the mold halves through the frame.