Split-Follower Mould Positioning With Wedge Preload Against Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection moulding devices with split followers experience premature wear due to increased friction from higher clamping forces, leading to misalignment and the need for lengthy maintenance, compromising product quality and longevity.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates centring and pre-loading wedge-shaped elements with compensating and adjusting plate inserts, subjected to thermal treatments for minimized wear, allowing easy and quick adjustment of centring surfaces to maintain alignment and extend service life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If higher clamping forces are used to mould increasingly resistant plastic materials with smaller wall thicknesses, then the moulding capability is improved, but the friction between centring surfaces increases leading to accelerated wear
Solution Approach 1:
A wedge-shaped element is introduced as an intermediary component between the movable mould element and the stationary mould element. This wedge-shaped element provides a dedicated centring surface that contacts the centring surface of the movable mould element, thereby protecting the original centring surfaces from direct contact and accelerated wear during high-clamping-force operations
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the centring mechanism by introducing a wedge-shaped element with specific inclination angles. The wedge-shaped element has a first inclination angle and a second inclination angle that are optimized to distribute contact forces and reduce friction on the centring surfaces while maintaining effective centring under high clamping forces
2Device complexity
If traditional moulds are used with split followers, then the mould structure is simple, but the positioning accuracy deteriorates due to wear and requires frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The wedge-shaped element acts as a mediator that ensures accurate positioning of the movable mould element relative to the stationary mould element. By providing a dedicated centring interface, it maintains positioning accuracy even after extended use, eliminating the need for frequent maintenance while adding only minimal structural complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The wedge-shaped element performs preliminary centring action before the actual moulding cycle begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that the movable mould element is correctly aligned with the stationary mould element, preventing wear and maintaining positioning accuracy throughout the moulding process
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
Ensures high-quality, dimensionally precise moulded products by compensating for wear, reducing maintenance needs, and extending the mould's service life.
Implementation Method 1
centring and pre-loading wedge-shaped elements
Implementation Method 2
minimize wear through thermal treatment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
An injection moulding device (10) for plastics comprising a first mould element (11), to which mould split follower elements (14-17) are connected, and a second mould element (12) which define, together, a moulding cavity (18). At least one of the mould elements is movable along a longitudinal axis (Y) between a mould opening configuration and a mould closing configuration (C). The moulding device (10) further comprises a positioning device (19,23;20;21;22,24) configured to ensure the correct position of the mould split follower elements (14-17) in the mould closing configuration (C). The positioning device (19,23;20;21;22,24) includes a plurality of centring and preloading wedge-shaped elements (19-22) and compensating and adjusting plate inserts (23,24).