Rotating Cube Injection Molding for Multi-Component Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection-molding devices with rotating cube technology face challenges in efficiently producing multi-component plastic parts with precise positioning and small tolerances, often requiring additional processing units and grippers on both sides of the device, which complicates the production and handling of components.
Innovation Solution
An injection-molding device with rotatable cavity halves on a center block, allowing for the formation of cavities in multiple parting planes, enabling the production of sub-elements from distinct materials, and a working device for assembly and removal of components on the same side surface, eliminating the need for external processing units and improving precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additional processing units and grippers are installed on both sides of the injection-molding device, then the handling of multi-component parts is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple processing functions (injection molding, assembly, and part removal) into a single integrated rotating cube tool system. The cube tool rotates to present different faces to processing units, eliminating the need for separate processing units on both sides of the device and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining full functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces rotational movement as a new dimension to the traditional linear injection-molding process. By rotating the cube tool about a vertical axis, the system can present different faces to processing units sequentially, enabling multi-component assembly without requiring additional lateral processing units
2Productivity
If components are removed and processed on different sides of the rotatable mold carrier element, then multi-component parts can be produced, but the removal and further processing of components becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the removal and processing operations into a single-sided operation. All components are removed and processed from one side of the rotating cube tool, simplifying the operational workflow while maintaining the ability to produce multi-component parts through rotational positioning
3Adaptability or versatility
If grippers are provided on both sides of the injection-molding device, then components can be removed from different sides, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating cube tool serves multiple functions: it acts as both the mold carrier and the positioning mechanism for component removal. By rotating to present different faces, a single gripper system can access and remove different components, eliminating the need for duplicate grippers on both sides while maintaining full adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and a method for producing plastic moldings from at least two different sub-elements (15; 16) that includes first and second mold halves (3) and a rotatable center block (6) with center and third mold halves (8; 17) interposed therebetween. The center and third mold halves define first and second parting planes with the first and second mold halves. First cavities are defined in the first parting plane, into which a first plastic component is introduced to produce preforms (12). When the first parting plane is opened, the performs (12) remain on the center mold halves (8) and are brought into the second parting plane when the center block (6) is rotated, in which second parting plane second cavities are at least partially defined by the preforms (12), into which a second plastic component is introduced and first sub-elements (15) are produced. Second sub-elements (16) are produced in the additional cavities. When the second parting plane is opened, the sub-elements (15; 16) remain on the center and third mold halves (8) and are rotated into a lateral assembly position when the center block (6) is rotated.