Self-Aligning Blow Molding Station for Precise Mold Half Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing blow molding machines face challenges in maintaining precise alignment of mold halves due to deviations, tolerances, and deformations, leading to suboptimal container quality and increased wear on centering elements.
Innovation Solution
A blow molding station design featuring self-aligning mold halves mounted on sliding bearings or elastomeric bodies, which automatically adjust to ensure precise alignment without the need for active alignment mechanisms like pressure pads or pancake cylinders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If active alignment mechanisms like pressure pads or pancake cylinders are used to maintain mold half alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mold half is designed to self-align through its own weight acting on the tiltable mounting, eliminating the need for external active alignment mechanisms like pressure pads or pancake cylinders. The system serves itself by using gravity to maintain proper alignment during the blow molding process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical alignment systems (pressure pads, pancake cylinders) with a simpler gravity-based tiltable mounting mechanism. This substitution reduces device complexity while maintaining alignment precision through the natural action of gravity on the mold half.
2Manufacturing precision
If active alignment mechanisms are used to compensate for deviations and tolerances, then manufacturing precision is improved, but wear on centering elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mold half self-aligns through its weight acting on the tiltable mounting, reducing reliance on centering elements. This self-service mechanism minimizes the frequency and intensity of contact with centering elements, thereby reducing wear and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting is designed to be tiltable, allowing dynamic adjustment of the mold half position. This dynamic capability enables the system to compensate for deviations and tolerances automatically, reducing the need for rigid centering elements and minimizing wear.
3Manufacturing precision
If complex alignment mechanisms are implemented to ensure precise mold half positioning, then container quality is improved, but construction complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the mold half's own weight to achieve alignment through the tiltable mounting, eliminating the need for complex active alignment mechanisms. This self-service approach simplifies construction while maintaining the precision needed for high-quality container production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mounting parameter from rigid to tiltable, allowing the mold half to adjust its position automatically. This parameter change enables precise positioning without complex mechanisms, simplifying construction while improving container quality.
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 design enhances container quality by eliminating seams and reducing wear on centering elements, simplifying construction, and lowering costs by eliminating complex alignment mechanisms.
Implementation Method 1
the mold carrier, on which the self-aligning mold half is mounted, has a sliding bearing for the self-aligning mold half
Implementation Method 2
the elastomeric body is vulcanized to the self-aligning mold half and the mold carrier
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a blow molding station (10) for forming a preform into a container for a blow molding machine (52) for producing plastic containers, comprising a first mold carrier (12), a second mold carrier (14), a first mold half (16) mounted on the first mold carrier (12), and a second mold half (18) mounted on the second mold carrier (14), wherein at least one of the mold carriers (12, 14) is pivotably mounted, and the blow molding station (10) is open in a first pivot position of the pivotably mounted mold carrier (12, 14) for inserting a preform into one of the mold halves (16, 18) or for removing a container from one of the mold halves (16, 18), and closed in a second pivot position of the pivotably mounted mold carrier (12, 14) in which the second mold half (18) and the first mold half (16) are in contact with each other. is, wherein at least one of the mold halves (16,18) is self-aligning for the change to the second pivot position with respect to the other mold half (16, 18). The invention provides a blow molding station (10) that is simpler in design and further compensates for tolerances, deviations and deformations between the mold halves.