Mold Plate Locking Device with Nitrided Wedge Block
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current coupling devices for multi-plate molds, especially those used in tripartite injection or compression molds, often fail due to the high forces applied, leading to premature failure and requiring modifications for strength, which is not always effective.
Innovation Solution
A locking device featuring a biased wedge block with beveled side walls, a latch bar, and a cam bar, all made from high-strength steel alloys with nitriding or nitride coating, allowing for angled engagement and smooth transition between plate movements, and a driver bar for ejector systems to facilitate part removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If thin steel coupling devices are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the strength and reliability deteriorate due to high forces causing premature failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from thin steel to thick-walled steel construction, and by applying nitriding surface treatment to enhance hardness and wear resistance. These parameter changes directly address the reliability issue caused by high forces while maintaining a relatively simple device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite material approach by combining high-strength steel with nitriding surface treatment, creating a composite structure that has both the toughness of steel and the surface hardness from nitriding. This resolves the contradiction between simple structure and high reliability under heavy loads.
2Strength
If extra material is added to coupling devices for strength, then the strength improves, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding extra material through complex modifications, the patent changes the base parameter by using thick-walled steel and applies nitriding treatment. This achieves superior strength without requiring complex manufacturing processes or additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the need for complex structural modifications by directly enhancing the base component through material selection and surface treatment. This eliminates the need for adding extra material or modifying existing thin-walled structures.
3Reliability
If high-strength steel alloys with nitriding treatment are used, then the durability and wear resistance improve, but the manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies nitriding surface treatment, which is a standardized thermal processing parameter change that enhances surface hardness and wear resistance. This provides improved durability through a well-established manufacturing process rather than through complex structural designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The nitriding treatment applies local quality enhancement by treating only the surface layer of the steel component. This provides high wear resistance at the contact surfaces while maintaining the toughness of the bulk material, achieving high reliability without requiring the entire component to be overly complex.
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
The solution provides enhanced durability and versatility for multi-plate molds, preventing premature failure and allowing for smooth plate separation and part ejection, suitable for various mold configurations including 3-plate, stripper plate, and dual ejection molds.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the latch end, the cam end, and the wedge block second side wall is nitrided or nitride coated
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~4B
Figure 5A~6B
AI summary
A locking device for a mold including more than one movable plate. A spring-biased wedge block includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall that is beveled with respect to the first side wall. A latch bar includes an inclined latch end for engaging with the second side wall of the wedge block. A cam bar includes a cam end for engaging with the first side wall of the wedge block. At least one of the wedge block, the latch bar or the cam bar is formed of a 4340 steel alloy, and at least one of the latch end, the cam end, or the wedge block second side wall is nitrided or nitride coated.