Injection Mould Clamping Unit with Integrated Locking Jaws
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mold clamping units for injection molding machines require separate units for locking bars with mold carriers and applying closing forces, leading to a non-compact and inefficient design.
Innovation Solution
A mold clamping unit with a stationary and movable mold carrier, where the force transmission element is connected to the movable mold carrier and features a floating collet that converts into a positive operative connection with the actuable section of the force transmission element, allowing for the application of closing force through a piston-cylinder unit, and an unlocking element for opening, thus integrating locking and force application into a single compact unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate units are used for locking bars and applying closing forces, then the locking function and force application can be independently optimized, but the overall device complexity increases and compactness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking device and the unit for applying closing forces into a single integrated mold clamping unit. The locking device includes a locking element that engages with the bar, while the piston-cylinder unit applies closing forces through the same locking device, eliminating the need for separate locking and force application mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides positive locking engagement with the bar through the locking element, simultaneously transmits closing forces from the piston-cylinder unit, and allows for floating movement to accommodate positioning tolerances. This multi-functional design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a floating collet is used for mounting the force transmission element, then overload protection and ease of maintenance are improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collet is designed as a floating, elastically deformable component that can dynamically adjust its position and engagement force. It features radial elasticity allowing it to deform and absorb overload forces, while maintaining continuous contact with the bar. This dynamic design provides automatic overload protection without requiring complex safety mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The collet's physical state changes from rigid to elastically deformable during operation. Its radial elasticity allows it to change shape under load, providing overload protection by deforming before failure. This parameter change enables a simple structural solution for protection against excessive forces.
3Productivity
If the locking device is integrated with the force application unit, then compactness and efficiency are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device and piston-cylinder unit are integrated into a single compact assembly where the piston rod directly actuates the locking element. This merging eliminates intermediate components and simplifies the force transmission path, improving efficiency while the modular design allows for standardized manufacturing of individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
While integrated, the unit is segmented into distinct functional modules: the locking element with its engagement features, the piston-cylinder assembly, and the floating collet. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured and tested separately using standard processes, then assembled into the integrated unit, balancing manufacturing ease with integration benefits.
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 solution enables a compact, efficient, and reliable application of closing forces, ensuring consistent quality of molded parts and allowing for better accessibility of the injection mold, while also providing overload protection and ease of maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element, in particular a spring, for storing a force
Implementation Method 2
a piston-cylinder unit (17, 117) for applying the closing force, wherein the locking device (15, 115) and the unit for applying the closing force are integrated into a common unit
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A mould-closing unit for an injection moulding machine for processing plastics has a mould support which is movable relative to a stationary mould support (10). A mould-moving device is provided to move the movable mould support into and out of closure of an injection mould. At least one force transmission element is connected to the movable mould support and at its end remote from the movable mould support has a section (14a) which is assigned to the stationary mould support (10) and can be actuated for operative engagement. The stationary mould support (10) is assigned a locking device (15), which can be moved into interlocking operative connection with the actuatable section (14a) to apply a closing force during closure of the injection mould. According to the method, these elements are used to create a method for locking a force transmission element to a mould support of the injection moulding machine. The fact that the locking device (15) has floating clamping jaws (16) which can be moved into interlocking operative connection with the actuatable section (14a) during closure of the mould to lock the force transmission element and the stationary mould support (10) and at the same time are connected to at least one piston (18) of a piston-cylinder unit (17) for applying the closing force, means that a mould-closing unit is created in which the locking mechanism for locking the tie bars to the mould support is integrated in a common unit with the unit for applying the closing force.