Polygonal Guide Rail Pillars for Precise Mould Box Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional injection moulding machines with cylindrical main guide rail pillars are complex, expensive to manufacture, and suffer from uneven temperature distribution leading to wear, while alignment systems occupy valuable space, reducing cavity and core space.
Innovation Solution
Implementing main guide rail pillars with a polygonal cross-sectional shape, such as rectangular, to simplify the clamping unit and mould box design, providing stable and precise alignment, and allowing for reduced material use and cost by using a single guide rail pillar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cylindrical main guide rail pillars are used, then the construction is stable, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to high precision requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the guide rail pillars from cylindrical to polygonal cross-section. This parameter change allows the use of simpler manufacturing processes while maintaining the required guidance precision, as polygonal shapes are easier to manufacture with standard machining operations compared to cylindrical shapes requiring high-precision turning and grinding.
2Manufacturing precision
If alignment systems are added to ensure correct alignment, then alignment precision improves, but the device complexity and space occupation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment function into the main guide rail pillars themselves by giving them a polygonal cross-section. The polygonal shape provides both structural support and alignment guidance in a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate alignment systems such as conical surfaces or positioning bars, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If multiple main guide rail pillars are used, then alignment and stability improve, but the available mould volume and access for extraction improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the guidance function into discrete polygonal guide rail pillars positioned at strategic locations rather than using a continuous cylindrical structure. This segmentation allows for optimized placement that provides sufficient alignment stability while minimizing the space occupied by the guide rails, thereby maximizing the available mould volume and improving access for product extraction.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3A
Figure 3B~4A
AI summary
A clamping unit (270) for an injection moulding machine (200), the clamping unit (270) comprising - a clamping unit frame; - a base plate (10) fixedly arranged at a first end of the clamping unit frame; - a second end structure (15) fixedly arranged at a second end of the clamping unit frame; and - a mould box (1), wherein the mould box (1) comprises - a first mould plate (20); - a second mould plate (30) movably arranged relative to the first mould plate (20) along a longitudinal axis (A); and - a main guide rail system (40') configured for guiding the second mould plate linearly away from and towards the first mould plate (20), wherein the main guide rail system (40') comprises a main guide rail pillar (40), wherein the main guide rail pillar (40) comprises a first end (43) and a second end (44), the first end (43) of the main guide rail pillar (40) being fixedly connected to the base plate (10) of the clamping unit (270), and the second end (44) of the main guide rail pillar (40), being fixedly connected to the second end structure (15) of the clamping unit (270), and wherein the main guide rail pillar (4) has a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A), and wherein the cross-section forms a polygon