Multilayer Molding Intermediate Platen Mold Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-material injection molding apparatuses and mold clamping devices are limited in the size of molds they can use due to constraints on mold height and vertical dimensions, restricting the use of molds with smaller heights or larger vertical dimensions than the platen spacing.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer molding apparatus with a fixed platen, movable platen, and intermediate (rotary) platen, where the intermediate platen and rotary platen have matching or varying thicknesses, allowing for direct or indirect mold mounting and incorporating mold mounting plates and push-out pins to facilitate larger mold usage without increasing the thickness of the intermediate platen in the mold opening/closing direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the intermediate platen and rotary platen have large thickness in the mold opening/closing direction to accommodate ejectors and mold mounting, then the mold mounting area is sufficient, but the overall size of the apparatus increases and limits the use of molds with small height or large vertical dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from mounting molds on the rotary platen surface to mounting molds on the intermediate platen surface, changing the spatial dimension of mold placement. This allows molds with large vertical dimensions to be mounted without increasing the intermediate platen thickness, as the mold mounting area is provided on the intermediate platen's large surface area rather than requiring additional thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate platen serves as an intermediary component that provides a dedicated mold mounting surface. By introducing this intermediate mounting surface on the intermediate platen, the system can accommodate various mold sizes without requiring the rotary platen or intermediate platen to have excessive thickness, thus resolving the contradiction between mounting area and thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the upper platen and lower platen are made longer in the mold opening/closing direction to hold larger molds, then larger molds can be clamped, but the apparatus complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the mold mounting function from the platen structure by providing dedicated mold mounting surfaces on the intermediate platen. This segmentation allows the upper and lower platens to maintain their original lengths while still accommodating various mold sizes through the intermediate platen's mounting surfaces, reducing the need to extend the main platen structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the vertical distance between upper platen and lower platen is increased to accommodate molds with large vertical dimensions, then larger molds can be used, but the apparatus size and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the intermediate platen's surface area in a different spatial dimension to provide mold mounting. By mounting molds on the intermediate platen's large surface rather than extending the vertical distance between upper and lower platens, the system can accommodate molds with large vertical dimensions without increasing the overall vertical spacing, thus avoiding the associated cost and size increases.
Data Source
AI summary
A multilayer molding apparatus, comprising: a fixed platen; a movable platen; an intermediate platen positioned between the fixed platen and the movable platen to be movable in the direction to come close or be opened, and having a surface facing the fixed platen, a surface facing the movable platen, and a housing space that goes therethrough from the surface facing the fixed platen to the surface facing the movable platen; and a rotary platen rotatably supported by the intermediate platen inside the housing space of the intermediate platen, and having at least one pair of parallel surfaces facing the fixed platen and the movable platen, wherein at least one of the surfaces of the intermediate platen facing the fixed platen and the movable platen is a mold mounting surface on which a mold can be mounted directly or indirectly.