U.S. patent application number 12/881701 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-30 for continuous molding machine post-molding device.
This patent application is currently assigned to Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.. Invention is credited to John DI SIMONE.
Application Number | 20100330225 12/881701 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39330500 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-30 |
View All Diagrams
United States Patent
Application |
20100330225 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DI SIMONE; John |
December 30, 2010 |
CONTINUOUS MOLDING MACHINE POST-MOLDING DEVICE
Abstract
Disclosed, amongst other things, is a first aspect of the
present invention, there is provided a continuous molding machine
(10) that includes a frame (14), a plurality of molding devices
(16) that are mounted to the frame (14) in a circular array
thereon, and a cam (31) movably linked to both the frame (14) and
to the plurality of molding devices (16) for driving functions
thereof including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a molded
article ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gate
function; and a mold clamping function. The continuous molding
machine (10) also includes a first molded article handling device
(90) that is configured to handle just-molded molded articles (2)
from the plurality of molding devices (16). Moreover, the
continuous molding machine (10) includes a post-molding device
(68), the post-molding device (68) includes a post-mold cooling
table (70) that is movably linked to the frame (14) of the
continuous molding machine (10), and a quantity of molded article
holders (72) linked to the post-mold cooling table (70), the
quantity of molded article holders (72) being configured to receive
and hold the just-molded molded articles (2).
Inventors: |
DI SIMONE; John;
(Woodbridge, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.;CO/AMC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GRP
500 QUEEN STREET SOUTH
BOLTON
ON
L7E 5S5
CA
|
Assignee: |
Husky Injection Molding Systems
Ltd.
Bolton
CA
|
Family ID: |
39330500 |
Appl. No.: |
12/881701 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11554277 |
Oct 30, 2006 |
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12881701 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
425/547 ;
425/526 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B29K 2105/253 20130101;
B29C 43/085 20130101; B29C 45/46 20130101; B29C 45/03 20130101;
B29C 45/66 20130101; B29C 2045/667 20130101; B29C 45/7207 20130101;
B29C 2043/3288 20130101; B29C 2043/3681 20130101; B29C 45/27
20130101; B29C 45/12 20130101; B29C 45/28 20130101; B29C 43/04
20130101; B29K 2067/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
425/547 ;
425/526 |
International
Class: |
B29C 45/72 20060101
B29C045/72 |
Claims
1. A continuous molding machine post-molding device, the
post-molding device comprising: a post-mold cooling table movably
linked to a frame of a continuous molding machine; a quantity of
molded article holders linked to the post-mold cooling table, the
molded article holders configured to receive and hold just-molded
molded articles from a plurality of molding devices that are
non-movably connected to the frame; and the quantity of molded
article holders at least equals a total number of molding cavities
defined in the mold structures in the continuous molding
machine.
2. The post-molding device according to claim 1, wherein: the
quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total
number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the
continuous molding machine.
3. The post-molding device according to claim 1, wherein: the
post-mold cooling table is rotatably linked to the frame and the
quantity of molded article holders are arranged in a circular array
on the post-mold cooling table.
4. The post-molding device according to claim 2, wherein: the
quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total
number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the
continuous molding machine and wherein the multiples of molded
article holders are interlaced in a single circular row.
5. The post-molding device according to claim 2, wherein: the
quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total
number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the
continuous molding machine and wherein the multiples of molded
article holders are in concentric circular rows.
6. A continuous molding machine, comprising: a frame; a plurality
of molding devices that are mounted to the frame in a circular
array thereon; and a cam movably linked to both the frame and to
the plurality of molding devices for driving functions thereof
including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a molded article
ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gate function;
and a mold clamping function; a first molded article handling
device that is configured to handle just-molded molded articles
from the plurality of molding devices; a post-molding device, the
post-molding device comprising a post-mold cooling table that is
movably linked to the frame of the continuous molding machine, and
a quantity of molded article holders linked to the post-mold
cooling table, the quantity of molded article holders being
configured to receive and hold the just-molded molded articles.
7. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6, further
comprising: a rotor movably linked to the frame, the cam and the
first molded article handling device being connected thereto.
8. The continuous molding machine according to claim 2, further
comprising: a second molded article handling device connected to
the rotor, the second molded article handling device being
configured to handle the just-molded molded articles between the
first molded article handling device and the post-molding
device.
9. The continuous molding machine according to claims 8, further
comprising: a third molded article handling device connected to the
frame, the third molded article handling device being configured to
handle molded articles from the post-molding device.
10. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6, wherein:
the quantity of molded article holders at least equals a total
number of molding cavities are defined in the plurality of molding
devices.
11. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6, wherein:
the quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of a total
number of molding cavities defined in the plurality of molding
devices.
12. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6, wherein:
the quantity of molded article holders are interlaced in a single
circular row.
13. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6, wherein:
the quantity of molded article holders are arranged in concentric
circular rows.
14. The continuous molding machine according to claim 6, further
comprising: a molded article handling device that comprises: a
base; a base arm rotatably mounted to the base; a slide arm
slidably linked to the base arm; the slide arm configured to retain
a molded article holder; a further cam non-rotatably linked to the
base; the slide arm movably linked to the further cam for driving a
sliding of the slide arm with respect to the base arm; whereby the
molded article holder is translatable along a profiled path for
retrieving just-molded articles from the plurality of molding
devices.
15. The continuous molding machine of claim 14, wherein: the base
is configured to be connected to a rotor of the continuous molding
machine, the rotor rotatable with respect to the plurality of
molding devices of the continuous molding machine; the further cam
defines the profiled path to include a first tracking portion that
allows the molded article holder to track with the plurality of
molding devices as the rotor sweeps there-past.
16. The continuous molding machine of claim 14, wherein: the base
is configured to be connected to a rotor of the continuous molding
machine, the rotor rotatable with respect to the plurality of
molding devices of the continuous molding machine; the cam defines
the profiled path to include a second tracking portion that allows
the molded article holder to track with at least one of: another
molded article handling device; or the molded article holder of the
post-molding device as the rotor sweeps there-past.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 11/554,277 filed Oct. 30, 2006, the entire disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention generally relates to, but is not
limited to, molding machines, and more specifically the present
invention relates to, but is not limited to, a continuous molding
machine post-molding device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,833,329 (Inventor: ULMACHNEIDER, Lawrence,
A., Published: 3 Sep. 1974) describes a continuous injection
molding system that includes a rotatable rotor member having a
plurality of mold assemblies disposed about the periphery thereof.
Each mold assembly has an injection chamber and an openable mold
cavity. A stationary molten plastic supply means is disposed
adjacent the periphery of the rotor member and is arranged to
supply for example molten thermoplastic material to the injection
chamber of a mold assembly as it is continuously moved past the
supply means. Each mold assembly has an injection means arranged
for movement into the injection chamber after the mold assembly has
moved past the supply means to inject the molten thermoplastic
material in the injection chamber into the mold cavity. Means is
arranged to open each of the molds after the molten material
injected therein has solidified, and to close the mold after
removal of the solidified material therefrom and before the mold
reaches the supply means. The means to open the molds and the
injection means include a mold lifting hydraulic cylinder and an
injection ram, respectively, and corresponding operating valves
which engages and are actuated by a stationary cam member as the
mold assembly is rotated about the stationary base assembly.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,864 (Inventor: BRAUN, Dieter, B.,
Published: 11 Nov. 1975) describes a continuous injection molding
system that includes a mold that is closed about an elongated
element at a receiving location, and synthetic plastic material is
introduced into the mold to injection-mold a synthetic plastic
member about the element within the mold. The mold with the
elongated element is advanced in a circular path until the material
of the synthetic plastic member has hardened, and thereupon the
mold is opened at a discharging location. The molds are closed by a
pressure ram via a pressure spring as rollers roll along rails
having a wavy configuration.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,080,148 (Inventor: WISE, Joseph, Published:
21 Mar. 1978) describes a continuous injection molding system that
includes a rotatable wheel having molding cavities formed in the
perimeter thereof. Movable coring pins are mounted on the wheel
perimeter and have cam track follower means which ride in
stationary cam tracks positioned adjacent the wheel and which move
the coring pins in and out of said cavities as said wheel
rotates.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,620 (Inventor: BRUN, Charles, Jr.,
Published: 1 Jul. 1997) describes an injection molding system for
serially molding articles that includes a circular array of molds,
arranged in mold clamp assemblies, and a runner system coupling an
extruder output with the circular array of molds. Each clamp
assembly includes separate mold actuation mechanisms. The runner
system includes an accumulator chamber which is defined in part by
a vertically reciprocal piston that is actuated by a hydraulic
cylinder. A valve is connected between the runner system and an
input leading to an accumulator chamber of each mold of the
circular array for sequentially directing the plasticized resin
into each of the molds to form a molded article therein. A molded
article extractor sequentially removes the molded article from each
of the molds, and a molded article handling apparatus coupled to
the molded article extractor arranges the molded articles in a
series for removal through the central area.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a continuous molding machine post-molding device. The
post-molding device preferably includes a post-mold cooling table
movably linked to a frame of a continuous molding machine, a
quantity of molded article holders linked to the post-mold cooling
table, the molded article holders configured to receive and hold
just-molded molded articles from a plurality of molding devices
that are non-movably connected to the frame and the quantity of
molded article holders at least equals a total number of molding
cavities defined in the mold structures in the continuous molding
machine.
[0008] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a continuous molding machine that includes a frame, a
plurality of molding devices that are mounted to the frame in a
circular array thereon, and a cam movably linked to both the frame
and to the plurality of molding devices for driving functions
thereof including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a molded
article ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gate
function; and a mold clamping function. The continuous molding
machine also includes a first molded article handling device that
is configured to handle just-molded molded articles from the
plurality of molding devices. Moreover, the continuous molding
machine includes a post-molding device, the post-molding device
having a post-mold cooling table that is movably linked to the
frame of the continuous molding machine, and a quantity of molded
article holders linked to the post-mold cooling table, the quantity
of molded article holders being configured to receive and hold the
just-molded molded articles.
[0009] A technical effect, amongst others, of the aspects of the
present invention is the provision of a continuous molding machine
having a simplified configuration whereby complex systems of
components, such as the molding devices, are mounted to a
stationary frame.
[0010] Preferable embodiments of the present invention are subject
of the dependent claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A better understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the
present invention (including alternatives and/or variations
thereof) may be obtained with reference to the detailed description
of the exemplary embodiments along with the following drawings, in
which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a continuous molding machine
according to a first exemplary embodiment (which is the preferred
embodiment);
[0013] FIG. 2 is a side view of the continuous molding machine of
FIG. 1 with a frame cover and guard removed;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a conceptual exemplary embodiment of the
continuous molding machine of FIG. 1;
[0015] FIG. 4A is a first perspective view of a mold according to a
first exemplary embodiment (which is the preferred embodiment) for
use in the continuous molding machine of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4B is a second perspective view of the mold according
to the first exemplary embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 4C is a perspective view of a pair of molding devices
that includes the mold of FIGS. 4A & 4B, the molding devices
shown mounted on a table (shown in phantom) of the continuous
molding machine according of FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a rotor of the continuous
molding machine of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a set of cams of the
continuous molding machine of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a hot runner of the
continuous molding machine of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the continuous
molding machine of FIG. 1 that depicts a first and second molded
article handling device during a step of transferring molded
article from the mold to a post-molding device;
[0022] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of the continuous
molding machine of FIG. 1 that depicts a third molded article
handling device during a step of transferring molded article from
the post-molding device to a molded article transport device;
[0023] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a continuous
molding machine according to a second exemplary embodiment that
includes another exemplary embodiment of the molded article
handling device.
[0024] The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be
illustrated having phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and
fragmentary views. In certain instances, details that are not
necessary for an understanding of the exemplary embodiments or that
render other details difficult to perceive may have been
omitted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0025] With reference to FIG. 1, a continuous molding machine 10 is
shown. The continuous molding machine 10 is configured for a
continuous production of molded articles 2. In accordance with an
exemplary embodiment, the molded articles 2 are preforms of the
type that are subsequently blow molded into bottles (not shown).
The preforms are preferably injection molded from a molding
material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Of course, other
types of molded articles may be made from a variety of resins and
in accordance with other molding processes (e.g. compression
molding, extrusion molding, etc.).
[0026] In accordance with the exemplary embodiment, the continuous
molding machine 10 includes a stationary frame 14 upon which are
mounted a plurality of molding devices 16 in a circular array.
Rotatably mounted to the frame 14 is a rotor 30 that upon rotation
will drive the molding devices 16 through a cycle of operations as
will be described in detail hereinafter. The continuous molding
machine 10 also includes a hot runner 40 for distribution of
molding material to the molding devices 16. The continuous molding
machine 10 also preferably includes a post-molding device 68 for
post-mold cooling of the molded articles once they have been
removed from the molding devices 16. Furthermore, the continuous
molding machine 10 also preferably includes a molded article
transport device 80 for transport of the molded articles 2 from the
post-molding device 68, or directly from the molding devices 16, to
an auxiliary process such as a blow molding machine (not shown), or
to storage and/or packaging of the molded articles 2.
[0027] In accordance with another non-limiting embodiment (not
shown), the plurality of the mold structures 16 may be arranged in
a linear array. In such an embodiment, the cam 31 may be movably
linked, linearly, to the frame 14 and to the mold structure 16. In
operation, the cam body is configured to be linked to the frame 14
and to the mold structure 16 for linear motion relative thereto to
drive the plurality of the mold structures 16 that are arranged in
the linear array.
[0028] The structure of the frame 14 will now be described in more
detail. The frame 14 includes a frame cover 20 that provides an
annularly-shaped wall covering a periphery of a sub-frame 15. For
safety, a guard 12 is arranged above a top surface of the frame
cover 20. The guard 12 preferably includes a movable gate (not
shown) through which the mechanisms within the continuous molding
machine may be accessed for sake of maintenance. The sub-frame 15
is shown in FIG. 2 as including a series of base uprights 26 that
extend upwardly from outer ends of base spokes 24, the base spokes
24 extending radially from a central hub 11. A top surface of the
base upright 26 provides a mounting surface for a collector track
82 of the molded article transport device 80. The base upright 26
also includes an inwardly extending member (not shown) for
supporting an annular table 22. The annular table 22 is preferably
an annular shaped body that is configured to provide a stationary
base upon which the plurality of molding devices 16 may be mounted.
The annularly-shaped table 22 is preferably concentrically mounted
with the central hub 11 of the sub-frame 15. The molding devices 16
are preferably are preferably arranged in an equi-angularly spaced
circular array around the table 22 as shown in FIG. 1 (Not all of
the molding devices 16 of the array are shown in FIG. 1).
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1, 5 & 6 the rotor 30 is shown
in greater detail. The rotor 30 includes a rotor hub 32 with a
plurality of rotor spokes 33 radially extending therefrom.
Downwardly extending from the ends of the rotor spokes 33 are rotor
uprights 34. On the inside surface of the rotor uprights 34 are
shown an upper roller 118 and a lower roller 119. The upper and
lower rollers 118 and 119 are configured to rotatably engage a top
and a bottom surface of the table 22 for guidably supporting an
outer periphery of the rotor 30 as it rotates around the table 22.
On an outside surface of the rotor uprights 34 is a cooling table
mount 116. The cooling table mount 116 configured to rotatably
connect a post-mold cooling table 70 (FIG. 1) of the post-molding
device 68 between a set of rollers. In particular, the cooling
table mount 116 includes a bottom roller 126 configured to
rotatably engage a bottom surface of the cooling table 70, and a
pair of side rollers 124 configured to rotatably engage an inside
and an outside circular side surface of the cooling table 70. A top
roller 122 mounted on the outside surface of the of the rotor
upright 34 engages a top surface of the cooling table 70. An
inwardly extending hook feature at the base of the rotor upright 34
provides a cam mount 39 for receiving a shooting pot cam 31C. An
inside surface of the rotor upright 34, just above the upper roller
118, provides a side cam mount 110 for receiving a mold stroke cam
31B. Extending between a pair of rotor uprights 34 is a bottom cam
mount 114 for receiving a shooting pot cam 31C. The bottom surface
of the rotor spoke 33 provides a top cam mount 112 for receiving a
clamping cam 31A. Also provided between a pair of the rotor
uprights 34, above the bottom cam mount 114, is a handling device
mount 117. The handling device mount 117 preferably configured to
receive a pair of molded article handling devices including a first
molded article handling device 90 and second molded article
handling device 92. The first molded handling device retrieves the
just-molded molded articles 2 from the molding devices 16 whereas
the second molded article handling device 92 re-handles the molded
articles 2 from the first molded article handling device 90 to a
holder 72 mounted to the top surface of the post-mold cooling table
70 (reference FIG. 1). Lastly, a drive 28 for rotation of the rotor
30 relative to the frame 14 is shown in FIG. 5, the drive 28 is
preferably mounted to the sub-frame 15 with a belt connection to
the rotor hub 32 for rotation of the rotor 30. Another drive (not
shown) is located between the rotor 30 and the cooling table 70 for
rotation of the cooling table relative to the rotor.
[0030] With reference to FIGS. 1 & 7, the hot runner 40 will
now be described in more detail. The hot runner 40 includes the
main melt conduit 42 that extends through the frame cover 20 that
provides a connection between an extruder (not shown) and a hub
melt distributor 44. The extruder is preferably configured to
operate in a continuous manner, although operation in a
semi-continuous manner is not precluded. The main melt conduit 42
as shown in FIG. 2 includes a downwardly extending portion and an
upwardly extending portion 42' such that the melt conduit 42 does
not interfere with the molding device 16 mounted to the table 22.
Extending radially from the hub melt distributor 44 is a plurality
of radially extending spoke melt conduits 46. In accordance with an
exemplary embodiment, the spoke melt conduits 46 are T-shaped with
a top portion of the "T" configured to include several melt drops
that feed several manifolds 47. The manifolds 47 preferably include
a series of fingers that each includes a melt drop for feeding a
separate molding devices 16 with molding material. Those skilled in
the art would appreciate that the configuration of the hot runner
40 may be varied considerably and that the connections between the
components of the hot runner 40 and with the molding devices 16
includes a seal (not shown) that accommodates radial and lateral
thermal expansion of the components. In the exemplary embodiment a
sliding seal (not shown) is configured at an interface between the
components by the provision of a compressive sealing force across
the interface as is generally known to those skilled in the art.
The description of the seals will not be described in any further
detail as the provision of such is within the skill of those in the
art.
[0031] With reference to FIG. 3, a simplified conceptual depiction
of the continuous molding machine 10 is shown that readily depicts
the structure and operation of the continuous molding machine. In
particular, the conceptualized continuous molding machine 10
includes a single molding device 16 mounted on the table 22 and
that the rotor 30 is represented by a single spoke. Shown in space
(partially) but in reality connected to the rotor 30 are a clamp
cam 31A, a mold stroke cam 31B, and a shooting pot cam 31C. In
addition, a simplified hot runner 40 is shown feeding molding
material to the molding devices 16 from the bottom of the mold out
of view. In operation, the rotor 30 is made to rotate about the
table 22 and that as the rotor 30 sweeps around the molding devices
16 the cams 31A, 31B, and 31C interact with the molding device 16
to cause the operation of various molding functions. The
interaction between the cams 31A, 31B, and 31C and the molding
device 16 preferably imparts at least a portion of the energy
required to perform the molding functions. The molding functions
include, but not limited to, a mold stroke function, a molded
article ejection function, an melt handling function, a valve gate
function, and a mold clamping function, as will be described in
more detail hereinafter.
[0032] With reference to FIG. 4C it is shown the exemplary
embodiment of the molding device 16 includes a mold 50. As best
shown with reference to FIG. 4A the mold 50 includes a frame 51
that is configured to be mountable to the table 22. The frame 51
includes a linear race 52 on a front surface thereof. Running on
the linear race are linear bearings 53 for slidably connecting core
and stripper plates 54 and 56. Accordingly, the core plate 54 and
the stripper plate 56 may ride up and down relative to the frame 51
in a guided manner. A cam follower 61A is provided on an exposed
side surface of the core plate 54. Likewise a cam follower 61B is
provided on a similarly exposed face of the stripper plate 56. The
cam followers 61A and 61B are configured to cooperate with a mold
stroke cam profile 120A and ejection cam profile 120B that are
provided as tracks in the mold stroke cam 31B, as shown with
reference to FIG. 6. A closer inspection of the cam profiles 120A
and 120B will reveal that as the mold stroke cam is driven past the
stationary cam followers 61A and 61B of the mold 50, that the core
plate 54 and stripper plate 56 will be forced to move up and down
relative to the table 22 whereby the mold functions of mold stroke
and ejection are provided.
[0033] With reference again to FIG. 4A, a pair of slides 57 are
shown that are guidably mounted to the stripper plate 56 by guides.
The slides 57 are configured to receive a bifurcated pair of split
inserts 58 (commonly known as `neck rings`) which may be configured
to form a trapped outer portion of the molded article (such as a
thread finish of a preform). With reference to FIG. 4B, it is shown
that the slides 57 are driven to engage and disengage the split
inserts 58 by action of a mold cam 62 interacting with a pair of
cam followers 61C that are connected on a side surface of the
slides 57. Accordingly, as the stripper plate 56 is moved relative
to the core plate 54 by virtue of the cam profiles and the mold
stroke cam 31B, the slides may be operated between the engaged
configuration and the disengaged configuration. Accordingly the
molded article may be stripped from the molding surface of a core
insert 55 that is mounted to the core plate 54. The core insert 55
is configured to mold an inner surface of the molded article.
Lastly, the mold 50 includes a cavity plate 59 that is configured
to be mountable directly to the table 22. The cavity plate 59 is
configured to receive a cavity insert 60 which forms an outer
surface of the molded article that isn't otherwise formed by the
split inserts 47.
[0034] With reference to FIG. 4C, further detail of the mold 50 is
shown, including a cam follower 61F that is configured on a top
surface of the core plate 54. The cam follower 61F configured to
engage with a mold clamp camming profile 120F that is provided
along a bottom surface of the clamp cam 31A as shown in FIG. 6.
Accordingly, as the clamp cam 31A is driven past the cam follower
61F, a clamping force may be imparted thereby to keep the mold 50
closed during injection of the molding material whereby the mold
clamping function is provided.
[0035] The molding device 16 also includes a shooting pot actuator
48 that is configured to cooperate with a shooting pot (not shown).
The shooting pot is preferably defined in the manifold 47 for
injecting molding material into the mold 50. The shooting pot is
preferably configured to hold a single shot of molding material
sufficient to fill a molding cavity defined within the mold 50,
preferably with a small buffer of small buffer of molding material.
The shooting pot actuator 48 is fed by the manifold 47 of the hot
runner 40. The structure of shooting pots is well known to those
skilled in the art and hence will not be described in any further
detail. The shooting pot actuator 48 includes a frame 100 mountable
on the bottom of the table 22. On a face of the frame 100 is
provided a linear race 102 upon which rides a linear bearing 103
slidably connecting a bearing block 104 to the frame 100. Mounted
on the top face of the bearing block 104 is a piston rod 106, the
opposite end of the piston rod 106 being received in, and
co-operable with the shooting pot defined in the manifold 47. On a
front face of the bearing block 104 is provided a cam follower 61D
that is configured to engage with an injection cam profile 120D
configured in the shooting pot cam 31C (reference FIG. 6).
Accordingly, as the shooting pot cam 31C rotates about or relative
to the molding device 16, the cam follower 61D riding in the cam
profile 120D will cause the piston rod 106 to extend into the
shooting pot for injecting the molding material into the holding
cavity and for subsequently retracting from the shooting pot
whereby a next shot of molding material is drawn therein whereby
the melt handling function is provided. The cam profile 120D may be
configured as a track that positively traps the cam follower 61D
between upper and lower profiles.
[0036] Alternatively, the cam profile (not shown) may have a single
profile and that the cam follower 61D is kept engaged with the
single cam profile by means of a spring-bias linking the bearing
block 104 with the table 22.
[0037] As a further alternative (not shown), the continuous molding
machine may forego a cam actuation of the shooting pot actuators 48
in favor of a independently controllable linear actuators (such as
a linear motor, hydraulic cylinder, etc.). In so doing, additional
processing flexibility can be retained in the system where
required.
[0038] Preferably, the device further includes a valve gate
actuator 49 for the positioning of a valve pin (not shown) that
controllably connects the molding cavity to the shooting pot. The
valve gate actuator 49 is preferably configured in the same manner
as the shooting pot actuator 48. Accordingly, a cam follower 61E is
arranged in a valve gate cam profile 120E of the shooting pot cam
31C for actuation of the valve pin whereby the valve gate function
is provided. Alternatively, the manifold 47 may be configured to
include a thermally gated nozzle, whereby the valve gate actuator
would not be required.
[0039] The post-mold cooling device 68 in FIG. 8 will now be
described in more detail. The post-mold cooling device 68 includes
a post-mold cooling table 70 rotatably mounted to the rotor 30, as
described previously, with a plurality of molded article holders 72
arranged in equi-angularly spaced circular array on a top surface
of the table. Alternatively, the cooling table 70 may be rotatably
connected to the frame 14 directly (as opposed to indirectly via
the rotor 30). The mold article holders 72 are preferably
water-cooled tubes such as those described in commonly assigned
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,732 (Inventor: SCHAD, Robert, Published: 8 Mar.
1988) for providing additional cooling of the molded article 2. The
rotor 30 may include a rotary manifold (not shown) for connecting
the molded article holders 72, via a network of channels in the
cooling table 70, with a source/sink of coolant.
[0040] The arrangement of the molded article holders 72 on the
post-mold cooling table 70 may have a simple low density
configuration as shown in reference to arrangement `A`, in FIG. 1,
in which case there is a one-to-one relationship with one molded
article holder 72 for each molding device 16. Alternatively, there
may be a many-to-one relationship with multiples of molded article
holders 72 arranged on the table relative to the number of molding
devices 16. For example, with reference to arrangement `B`, in FIG.
1, there are provided three circular and concentric rows of molded
article holders 72 with the corresponding holders 72 of the rows
being radially aligned on the cooling table 70. As a further
alternative, the additional molded article holders 72 may be
interlaced between the primary molded article holders 72 along a
common circular row around the periphery of the table, as shown
with reference to arrangement `C`, in FIG. 1.
[0041] To remove the molded articles 2 from molded article holder
72 for placement into the molded article transport device 80, there
is provided a third molded article handling device 98 that is
mounted on the frame 14 of the continuous molding machine 10 as
shown with reference to FIG. 9.
[0042] With reference to FIG. 8, the first and second molded
article handling devices 90 and 94 can be seen as including a
molded article holder 92 and picker 96, respectively, mounted at
the end of an arm, the arm being rotatably mounted to the handling
device mount 117 on the rotor 30. In operation, the arm of the
first molded article handling device 90 will rotate to position the
holder 92 to retrieve a molded article 2 from the mold 50,
whereupon the arm will rotate again to position the molded article
2 outside of the mold 50. Once outside of the mold 50, the molded
article 2 is removed from the holder 92 by the picker 96 of the
second molded article handling device 94, whereupon the arm of the
second molded article handling device 94 will rotate to position
the molded article 2 for insertion into the molded article holder
72. The first and second molded article handling devices may also
include an actuator for a raising and lowering of the holder 92
and/or picker 96 to assist in acquiring and releasing of the molded
article 2. In the exemplary embodiment the mold stroke cam 31B
includes a part handling window 121 through which the holder 92 of
the first molded article handling device 90 intermittently extends
to access the molded articles 2 as they are released from the mold
50.
[0043] To synchronize a continuous placement of the just-molded
articles 2 into empty molded article holders 72, the cooling table
70 is rotated at a different angular rate than the rotor 30. The
cooling table 70 may be rotated faster or slower than the rotor
30.
[0044] With reference to FIG. 9, the molded article transport
device 80 includes an outlet track 84 for transport of the molded
articles 2 away from the continuous molding machine 10 to the
auxiliary process, storage, and/or packaging operations of the
molded articles 2 as described hereinbefore. With reference to FIG.
1, it is shown that the molded article transport device 80 further
includes an optional circular collector track 82 for additional
buffering of molded articles 2 after they have been removed from
the post-molding device 68 by the third molded article handling
device 98. The track 82 includes a device (not shown) for
transporting the molded articles 2 along the track 82. The device
may include, for example, a paddle rotatably driven around the
collector track 82 by a chain or other type of mechanical device.
The provision of the collector track is optional.
[0045] With reference to FIG. 10, an exemplary alternative
embodiment of the first molded article handling device 290 is
shown. The molded article handling device 290 includes a base 291,
a base arm 299 rotatably mounted to the base, a slide arm 293
slidably linked to the base arm 299 with a molded article holder
292 configured at a free end thereof, a cam 295 non-rotatably
linked to the base 291. The slide arm 293 configured to be movably
linked to the cam 295 for driving a sliding of the slide arm 293
with respect to the base arm 299, whereby the molded article holder
292 is translatable along a profiled path for retrieving
just-molded articles from a molding device 16 of a continuous
molding machine 10. Preferably, the cam 295 defines a profiled path
for the holder 292 that includes a first tracking portion 297 that
allows the molded article holder 292 to track with the molding
device 16 as the rotor 30 sweeps there-past. Likewise, the cam 295
also preferably defines the profiled path to include a second
tracking portion 297 that allows the molded article holder 292 to
track with another molded article handling device or the molded
article holder 72 of a post-molding device 68 as the rotor 30
sweeps there-past. In the exemplary embodiment the slide arm 293
and the cam 295 are movably linked by a cam follower 294 rotatably
linked to the slide arm 293, the cam follower 294 driven along a
cam profile 298 in the cam 295 by the rotation of the base arm
299.
[0046] In accordance with another alternative embodiment of the
invention (not shown) at least one of the handling devices 90, 94,
98 may be configured to position an insert (not shown) in the
molding device 16. The insert may be, for example, a volume of
molding material to be compression molded in the molding device 16.
Alternatively, the insert could, for example, be a label, a neck
finish, a radio frequency identification device, etc.
[0047] The description of the exemplary embodiments provides
examples of the present invention, and these examples do not limit
the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the scope
of the present invention is limited by the claims. The concepts
described above may be adapted for specific conditions and/or
functions, and may be further extended to a variety of other
applications that are within the scope of the present invention.
Having thus described the exemplary embodiments, it will be
apparent that modifications and enhancements are possible without
departing from the concepts as described. Therefore, what is to be
protected by way of letters patent are limited only by the scope of
the following claims:
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