CA1036768A - Injection molding apparatus - Google Patents
Injection molding apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1036768A CA1036768A CA203,830A CA203830A CA1036768A CA 1036768 A CA1036768 A CA 1036768A CA 203830 A CA203830 A CA 203830A CA 1036768 A CA1036768 A CA 1036768A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- chamber
- conduit
- screw
- rotor
- compounding
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 7
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 82
- 238000013329 compounding Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 39
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 claims abstract description 12
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000000465 moulding Methods 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000806 elastomer Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000005060 rubber Substances 0.000 claims description 9
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 230000006854 communication Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000012778 molding material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 abstract description 13
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 abstract description 13
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 abstract description 12
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000003638 chemical reducing agent Substances 0.000 description 6
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000013529 heat transfer fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002844 continuous effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052729 chemical element Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007769 metal material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/46—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould
- B29C45/53—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould using injection ram or piston
- B29C45/54—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould using injection ram or piston and plasticising screw
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/46—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould
- B29C45/47—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould using screws
- B29C45/50—Axially movable screw
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/46—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould
- B29C2045/466—Means for plasticising or homogenising the moulding material or forcing it into the mould supplying the injection unit directly by a compounder
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
- Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
Abstract
INJECTION MOLDING APPARATUS
Abstract Apparatus for compounding and injection molding plastic and elastomeric materials, including solid ingredients, which be-come gelatinous at temperatures above ambient temperature in a continuous operation having parallel material processing rotors in side-by-side communicating chambers closed except for a mate-rial discharge opening adjacent the other end, the latter opening communicating with a reciprocating type injection screw offset from and extending transversely of the axes of rotation of the rotors which injects material into a mold without loss of temper-ature and/or without exposure to the atmosphere in timed relation to the opening and closing of the mold.
Abstract Apparatus for compounding and injection molding plastic and elastomeric materials, including solid ingredients, which be-come gelatinous at temperatures above ambient temperature in a continuous operation having parallel material processing rotors in side-by-side communicating chambers closed except for a mate-rial discharge opening adjacent the other end, the latter opening communicating with a reciprocating type injection screw offset from and extending transversely of the axes of rotation of the rotors which injects material into a mold without loss of temper-ature and/or without exposure to the atmosphere in timed relation to the opening and closing of the mold.
Description
This invention relates to apparatus for compounding and injection molding plastic and like mixes, and elastomeric materials.
Apparatus having a reciprocating type injection screw for injection molding of plastic, elastomeric and like materials precompounded in a separate apparatus are well known.
The present invention provides 8 novel unitary apparatus for com-pounding and injection into a mold materials which become gelatinous at tem-peratures above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics and like mixes, which apparatus minimizes loss of heat and is otherwise efficient in operation, avoids possible contamination of the material and has a high production rate.
Thus, in accordance with one broad aspect of the invention there is provided, in apparatus for compounding and injection in a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: structure forming a tubular material compounding chamber; one or more rotors supported for rotation in said chamber and having a material compounding section comprising blade portions with convex leading sides, twisting in opposite directions, and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof;
means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided in apparatus for compounding and injecting into a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: structure forming a tubular material compounding ~ - 2 - ~
chamber comprising: two side-by-side intercommunicating substantially cylindrical portions; two rotors one supported for rotation in each cylindri-cal portion of said chamber and each having a material compounding section comprising axially arranged blade portions twisting in opposite directions with their adjacent ends trailing and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof; n~eans for rotating said rotors;
said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor;
means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
More specifically, the invention provides a novel apparatus of the character referred to in which the material being molded is compounded and plasticized in a processing chamber, closed except for material inlet and outlet opening at opposite end, having one or more material processing rotors therein and from which processing chamber the material is fed directly to a reciprocating type injection screw for injecting the material into a mold in time with the operation of mechanism that opens and closes the mold. The apparatus further includes means for controlling the temperature of the materials as it progresses through the apparatus.
Since the compounding and molding of the material is carried out in a single piece of apparatus as a continuous process the apparatus is very efficient and is especially suited to the molding of material quite sensitive to temperature changes.
The invention~which may also include the molding apparatus will be better understood and further advantages, as well as objects thereof, will become apparent from the accompanying drawing and ensuing description of the preferred embodiment of the inven-_ 2a -103676~
tion.
Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of apparatus embody-ing the present invention; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view with portions in elevation approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is a material compounding and molding apparatus, designated generally by the reference character A, and through which material being worked moves as a continuous or substantially continuous operation. The apparatus comprises material compounding and injecting elements or apparatus including housing and/or frame structure B supported on a base C and molding elements or apparatus designated general-ly by the reference character D supported for movement towards and from the frame structure B. The material compounding ele-ments may be similar to any known and/or commercially available elements, for example, of the types disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 081,986. The material compounding elements of the preferred embodiment are similar to those shown in copending Canadian patent application No. 163,866 filed February 16, 1973 entitled Contin-uous Mixer now Canadian Patent No. 970,769. The injecting elements or apparatus and the molding elements or apparatus D
may also be similar to any known and/or commercially available elements or apparatus.
The apparatus shown comprises two cast metal material pro-cessing rotors E,F, having helical material processing blade por-tions and a cast metal rotatable and reciprocable material injec-tor screw G which controls the flow of material through the ap-paratus. The rotors E,F are supported for rotation in a tubular chamber the lower part of the downstream end of which is inter-~36768 1 sected by a chamber or conduit extending transversely thereof and in which the screw G is located. The rotors E,F are are rotated in opposite directions by a variable speed electric motor H
through a gear-type speed reducer J. The injecting or injector screw G is rotated by a variable speed electric motor K through a gear-type speed reducer L.
The tubular chamber in which the rotors E,F are supported for rotation comprises two side-by-side elongated partial cylin-drical apertures 10,12, of like diameter and which are in contin-uous longitudinal communication with one another. Rotors E,F areprovided with material processing blades preceded by material conveying screw thread sections and are located in the apertures 10,12, respectively. The combined portions of the apertures 10, 12 through which the material conveying screw thread sections of the rotors extend are hereinafter sometimes referred to as the feed chamber and the combined portions through which the material processing blades extend as the mixing or compounding chamber.
Material to be processed is fed to the material conveying screw thread sections of rotors E,F as by gravity, through a feed hopper 28. From the mixing chamber the compounded material dis-charges through a downwardly opening aperture in the discharge end of the compounding or mixing chamber of the apparatus, the injection screw chamber or conduit 40 and to the injection screw G.
The feed hopper 28 and material mixing and compounding chamber are a part of a sub-frame assembly 44 slidably supported on the top side of a part of the frame B for movement along suit-able guideways S0, 52 thereon extending lengthwise of the axis of the rotors E,F. A bearing assembly 54, which supports the left-hand ends of the rotors E,F is detachably connected to and car-ried by the sub-frame assembly 44. The left-hand ends of the ro-tors E,F engage within the inner races of anti-friction bearings 1 in the bearing assembly 54 with a sliding fit. Suitable seals are provided to prevent the escape of material being processed from the left-hand side of the feed chamber. Adaptor assemblies 56, 58 carried by the bearing assembly and connected to the left-hand ends of the rotors E,F by slip couplings or connectors pro-vide for the circulation of heat transfer fluid through the ro-tors~
The sub-frame assembly 44 has a planar bottom side 92 which engages and rests upon a planar surface 94 on the top side of the injector screW chamber sub-frame assembly 96. The sub-frame assembly 96 is supported on the top of a part of the frame structure B and is connected to the speed reducer L by an assem-bly 98 detachably connected to the sub-frame assembly 96 and the speed reducer L. The planar surface on the bottom side of the sub-frame 44 is held in close engagement with the planar surface on the top side of the sub-frame assembly 96 by machine screws 100 threaded into suitable tapped apertures in flanges along op-posite sides of the sub-frame assembly 44 and engaging the upper side of flanges extending along opposite sides of the sub-frame assembly 96.
The right-hand end of the sub-frame assembly 44 abuts a-gainst the left-hand end of a seal assembly 102 connected to and carried by a bearing sub-frame assembly 104 which rotatably sup-ports the right-hand end of the rotors E,F. The bearing sub-frame assembly is fixedly connected to the top side of a part of the frame B~ The rotors E,F, are driven from the speed reducer J through suitable couplings 114,116. The rotor E in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figure 2 and the rotor F in the op-posite direction. The rotor E is the slower of the two rotors and is driven at about 90% to 95% of the speed of rotor F.
Both rotors E,F are of similar-construction, differing on-ly in that the processing or compounding blades are of different lV;~6768 1 length axially of the rotors and twist in opposite directions, that is, one t~ists in the direction of rotation and the other in the other direction as to provide the desired action. The rotors are similar to those shown in the aforementioned Canadian patent No.
970,769 and both rotors may be considered as haYing a generally cylindrical body portion provided with a double thread feed screw at the material infeed followed by mixing blades on the mixing blade section. The blades adjacent to the discharge or downstream end of the rotor which blades twist in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation terminate above the injection screw G
extending along the body portion of the rotor to or approximately to the vertical centerline of the injection screw G. Beginning at or approximately at the upstream end of the compounding chamber discharge aperture the rotor blades fade or merge into the cylin-drical body portion of the rotor on a radius slightly larger than that of the chamber 40 in which the screw G reciprocates and ro-tates. The radius is such that it is tangent with the exterior of the rotor body portion at or approximately at the plane of the vertical centerline of the injector screw G. From the plane of the vertical centerline of the injector screw, the diameter of the cylindrical rotor body portion increases on the aforementioned radius to the end of the compounding chamber where it terminates in a cylindrical section.
While a preferred rotor processing blade construction has been referred to, it is to be understood that other constructions may be employed.
The injection screw G is located in the injection screw sub-frame assembly 96 having the cylindrical chamber or conduit 40 therein within which the screw is located. The right-hand end of the screw G has a cylindrical part 120 which is rotatably sup-ported in the right-hand end of the chamber 40 of assembly 96 and an aperture 122 in the left-hand end of a member 124 of the sub-~0367~;8 frame assembly 98, which aperture 122 is a continuation of the chamber 40. A part 126 of the screw G of reduced diameter at the right of the aperture 122 is fixedly keyed in a bore or aperture 130 in the left-hand end of a piston member 132 slidably supported in the assembly 98 and having a piston head 134 slidably within a cylinder chamber 136 in the member 140 of the assembly 98. The piston 1~2 and cylinder member 140 are elements of or constitute a single acting reciprocating type fluid pressure motor 142. The piston element 132 is provided with a counterbore 144 extending into its right-hand end within which an internally spline collar-like member 146 is fixedly secured and which slidably receives a spline part 148 of the output shaft 150 of the speed reducer L.
Suitable mechanism, not shown, is provided for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder chamber 136 at right-hand sides of the piston head 134 for reciprocating the injection screw G in the chamber 40. Suitable seals are provided at the necessary lo-cations.
The right-hand end of the chamber 40 within which the screw G rotates and reciprocates is closed by a member 160 having an aperture 162 therethrough in axial alignment with the chamber 40.
A nozzle 164 is secured to the member 160 by a ring member 166 suitably secured to the left-hand side of the member 160 as by screws, not shown. The left-hand end of nozzle normally extends into an enlarged end of an inlet aperture 170 in a mold 172 se-cured to a part of the mold sub-frame structure 178. The frame structure for the molding elements may be supported on the base C and is preferably relatively movable toward and from the pro-cessing and injecting elements to facilitate changing the nozzle, etc., as desired.
In operation, material to be molded is fed to the compound-ing elements or part of the molding apparatus through the feed hopper 32 and progresses through the compounding chamber where it B 7.
~036768 is compounded, etc., by rotors E.~. The compounding chamber dis-charges the material into the right-hand end of the chamber 40 and the injection screw G shown in the drawings in the position which it occupies at the conclusion of a die feeding stroke. At this stage of the operation the screw G will normally be station-ary with pressure maintained on the injected material by the mo-tor 142. At a predetermined time the pressure on the piston head 134 is released and motor H actuated to rotate the screw G in the direction to further advance material through the chamber 40.
This results in linear movement of the screw toward the right as viewed in Figure 2, returning it and the piston 132 to their ori-ginal right-hand position. Concurrently the space at the left-hand end of the screw G is filled by material fed into the cham-ber 40 from the processing chamber by continuous rotation of the rotors E,F, etc.
At a predetermined time in the operation the dies are opened and the molded article ejected therefrom. The dies are subsequently reclosed and in timed relation to the reclosing of the dies fluid is admitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder chamber 136 as viewed in Figure 2 advancing the screw G causing it to inject a charge of moldable material into the dies. Rota-tion of the motor K may or may not be occurring at this time.
Forward movement of the piston 132 is limited by the abutment of the piston head 134 against a member 180 fixed in the cylinder housing 140. The amount of charge injected into the mold at any reciprocation of the screw G is determined by the extent to which the piston 132 is retracted into the cylinder 136 upon each oper-ation. This can be controlled in a manner well understood in the art.
The temperature in the various parts of the apparatus can be controlled by the circulation of heat transfer fluid through various passages located closely adjacent the inside walls or 8.
103*768 surfaces of the various chambers. Independent control of supply and exhaust of heat transfer fluid to the various chambers per-mits maximum temperature control and flexibility to establish the required temperature at different locations within the apparatus.
From the foregoing description of the preerred embodiment it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and impro~ed apparatus for compounding and molding rubber, elastomer, plastic and like material mixes as a continuous opera-1~ tion.
F~ .
Apparatus having a reciprocating type injection screw for injection molding of plastic, elastomeric and like materials precompounded in a separate apparatus are well known.
The present invention provides 8 novel unitary apparatus for com-pounding and injection into a mold materials which become gelatinous at tem-peratures above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics and like mixes, which apparatus minimizes loss of heat and is otherwise efficient in operation, avoids possible contamination of the material and has a high production rate.
Thus, in accordance with one broad aspect of the invention there is provided, in apparatus for compounding and injection in a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: structure forming a tubular material compounding chamber; one or more rotors supported for rotation in said chamber and having a material compounding section comprising blade portions with convex leading sides, twisting in opposite directions, and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof;
means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided in apparatus for compounding and injecting into a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: structure forming a tubular material compounding ~ - 2 - ~
chamber comprising: two side-by-side intercommunicating substantially cylindrical portions; two rotors one supported for rotation in each cylindri-cal portion of said chamber and each having a material compounding section comprising axially arranged blade portions twisting in opposite directions with their adjacent ends trailing and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof; n~eans for rotating said rotors;
said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor;
means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
More specifically, the invention provides a novel apparatus of the character referred to in which the material being molded is compounded and plasticized in a processing chamber, closed except for material inlet and outlet opening at opposite end, having one or more material processing rotors therein and from which processing chamber the material is fed directly to a reciprocating type injection screw for injecting the material into a mold in time with the operation of mechanism that opens and closes the mold. The apparatus further includes means for controlling the temperature of the materials as it progresses through the apparatus.
Since the compounding and molding of the material is carried out in a single piece of apparatus as a continuous process the apparatus is very efficient and is especially suited to the molding of material quite sensitive to temperature changes.
The invention~which may also include the molding apparatus will be better understood and further advantages, as well as objects thereof, will become apparent from the accompanying drawing and ensuing description of the preferred embodiment of the inven-_ 2a -103676~
tion.
Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of apparatus embody-ing the present invention; and Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view with portions in elevation approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
The preferred embodiment of the invention is a material compounding and molding apparatus, designated generally by the reference character A, and through which material being worked moves as a continuous or substantially continuous operation. The apparatus comprises material compounding and injecting elements or apparatus including housing and/or frame structure B supported on a base C and molding elements or apparatus designated general-ly by the reference character D supported for movement towards and from the frame structure B. The material compounding ele-ments may be similar to any known and/or commercially available elements, for example, of the types disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 081,986. The material compounding elements of the preferred embodiment are similar to those shown in copending Canadian patent application No. 163,866 filed February 16, 1973 entitled Contin-uous Mixer now Canadian Patent No. 970,769. The injecting elements or apparatus and the molding elements or apparatus D
may also be similar to any known and/or commercially available elements or apparatus.
The apparatus shown comprises two cast metal material pro-cessing rotors E,F, having helical material processing blade por-tions and a cast metal rotatable and reciprocable material injec-tor screw G which controls the flow of material through the ap-paratus. The rotors E,F are supported for rotation in a tubular chamber the lower part of the downstream end of which is inter-~36768 1 sected by a chamber or conduit extending transversely thereof and in which the screw G is located. The rotors E,F are are rotated in opposite directions by a variable speed electric motor H
through a gear-type speed reducer J. The injecting or injector screw G is rotated by a variable speed electric motor K through a gear-type speed reducer L.
The tubular chamber in which the rotors E,F are supported for rotation comprises two side-by-side elongated partial cylin-drical apertures 10,12, of like diameter and which are in contin-uous longitudinal communication with one another. Rotors E,F areprovided with material processing blades preceded by material conveying screw thread sections and are located in the apertures 10,12, respectively. The combined portions of the apertures 10, 12 through which the material conveying screw thread sections of the rotors extend are hereinafter sometimes referred to as the feed chamber and the combined portions through which the material processing blades extend as the mixing or compounding chamber.
Material to be processed is fed to the material conveying screw thread sections of rotors E,F as by gravity, through a feed hopper 28. From the mixing chamber the compounded material dis-charges through a downwardly opening aperture in the discharge end of the compounding or mixing chamber of the apparatus, the injection screw chamber or conduit 40 and to the injection screw G.
The feed hopper 28 and material mixing and compounding chamber are a part of a sub-frame assembly 44 slidably supported on the top side of a part of the frame B for movement along suit-able guideways S0, 52 thereon extending lengthwise of the axis of the rotors E,F. A bearing assembly 54, which supports the left-hand ends of the rotors E,F is detachably connected to and car-ried by the sub-frame assembly 44. The left-hand ends of the ro-tors E,F engage within the inner races of anti-friction bearings 1 in the bearing assembly 54 with a sliding fit. Suitable seals are provided to prevent the escape of material being processed from the left-hand side of the feed chamber. Adaptor assemblies 56, 58 carried by the bearing assembly and connected to the left-hand ends of the rotors E,F by slip couplings or connectors pro-vide for the circulation of heat transfer fluid through the ro-tors~
The sub-frame assembly 44 has a planar bottom side 92 which engages and rests upon a planar surface 94 on the top side of the injector screW chamber sub-frame assembly 96. The sub-frame assembly 96 is supported on the top of a part of the frame structure B and is connected to the speed reducer L by an assem-bly 98 detachably connected to the sub-frame assembly 96 and the speed reducer L. The planar surface on the bottom side of the sub-frame 44 is held in close engagement with the planar surface on the top side of the sub-frame assembly 96 by machine screws 100 threaded into suitable tapped apertures in flanges along op-posite sides of the sub-frame assembly 44 and engaging the upper side of flanges extending along opposite sides of the sub-frame assembly 96.
The right-hand end of the sub-frame assembly 44 abuts a-gainst the left-hand end of a seal assembly 102 connected to and carried by a bearing sub-frame assembly 104 which rotatably sup-ports the right-hand end of the rotors E,F. The bearing sub-frame assembly is fixedly connected to the top side of a part of the frame B~ The rotors E,F, are driven from the speed reducer J through suitable couplings 114,116. The rotor E in a clock-wise direction, as viewed in Figure 2 and the rotor F in the op-posite direction. The rotor E is the slower of the two rotors and is driven at about 90% to 95% of the speed of rotor F.
Both rotors E,F are of similar-construction, differing on-ly in that the processing or compounding blades are of different lV;~6768 1 length axially of the rotors and twist in opposite directions, that is, one t~ists in the direction of rotation and the other in the other direction as to provide the desired action. The rotors are similar to those shown in the aforementioned Canadian patent No.
970,769 and both rotors may be considered as haYing a generally cylindrical body portion provided with a double thread feed screw at the material infeed followed by mixing blades on the mixing blade section. The blades adjacent to the discharge or downstream end of the rotor which blades twist in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation terminate above the injection screw G
extending along the body portion of the rotor to or approximately to the vertical centerline of the injection screw G. Beginning at or approximately at the upstream end of the compounding chamber discharge aperture the rotor blades fade or merge into the cylin-drical body portion of the rotor on a radius slightly larger than that of the chamber 40 in which the screw G reciprocates and ro-tates. The radius is such that it is tangent with the exterior of the rotor body portion at or approximately at the plane of the vertical centerline of the injector screw G. From the plane of the vertical centerline of the injector screw, the diameter of the cylindrical rotor body portion increases on the aforementioned radius to the end of the compounding chamber where it terminates in a cylindrical section.
While a preferred rotor processing blade construction has been referred to, it is to be understood that other constructions may be employed.
The injection screw G is located in the injection screw sub-frame assembly 96 having the cylindrical chamber or conduit 40 therein within which the screw is located. The right-hand end of the screw G has a cylindrical part 120 which is rotatably sup-ported in the right-hand end of the chamber 40 of assembly 96 and an aperture 122 in the left-hand end of a member 124 of the sub-~0367~;8 frame assembly 98, which aperture 122 is a continuation of the chamber 40. A part 126 of the screw G of reduced diameter at the right of the aperture 122 is fixedly keyed in a bore or aperture 130 in the left-hand end of a piston member 132 slidably supported in the assembly 98 and having a piston head 134 slidably within a cylinder chamber 136 in the member 140 of the assembly 98. The piston 1~2 and cylinder member 140 are elements of or constitute a single acting reciprocating type fluid pressure motor 142. The piston element 132 is provided with a counterbore 144 extending into its right-hand end within which an internally spline collar-like member 146 is fixedly secured and which slidably receives a spline part 148 of the output shaft 150 of the speed reducer L.
Suitable mechanism, not shown, is provided for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinder chamber 136 at right-hand sides of the piston head 134 for reciprocating the injection screw G in the chamber 40. Suitable seals are provided at the necessary lo-cations.
The right-hand end of the chamber 40 within which the screw G rotates and reciprocates is closed by a member 160 having an aperture 162 therethrough in axial alignment with the chamber 40.
A nozzle 164 is secured to the member 160 by a ring member 166 suitably secured to the left-hand side of the member 160 as by screws, not shown. The left-hand end of nozzle normally extends into an enlarged end of an inlet aperture 170 in a mold 172 se-cured to a part of the mold sub-frame structure 178. The frame structure for the molding elements may be supported on the base C and is preferably relatively movable toward and from the pro-cessing and injecting elements to facilitate changing the nozzle, etc., as desired.
In operation, material to be molded is fed to the compound-ing elements or part of the molding apparatus through the feed hopper 32 and progresses through the compounding chamber where it B 7.
~036768 is compounded, etc., by rotors E.~. The compounding chamber dis-charges the material into the right-hand end of the chamber 40 and the injection screw G shown in the drawings in the position which it occupies at the conclusion of a die feeding stroke. At this stage of the operation the screw G will normally be station-ary with pressure maintained on the injected material by the mo-tor 142. At a predetermined time the pressure on the piston head 134 is released and motor H actuated to rotate the screw G in the direction to further advance material through the chamber 40.
This results in linear movement of the screw toward the right as viewed in Figure 2, returning it and the piston 132 to their ori-ginal right-hand position. Concurrently the space at the left-hand end of the screw G is filled by material fed into the cham-ber 40 from the processing chamber by continuous rotation of the rotors E,F, etc.
At a predetermined time in the operation the dies are opened and the molded article ejected therefrom. The dies are subsequently reclosed and in timed relation to the reclosing of the dies fluid is admitted to the right-hand end of the cylinder chamber 136 as viewed in Figure 2 advancing the screw G causing it to inject a charge of moldable material into the dies. Rota-tion of the motor K may or may not be occurring at this time.
Forward movement of the piston 132 is limited by the abutment of the piston head 134 against a member 180 fixed in the cylinder housing 140. The amount of charge injected into the mold at any reciprocation of the screw G is determined by the extent to which the piston 132 is retracted into the cylinder 136 upon each oper-ation. This can be controlled in a manner well understood in the art.
The temperature in the various parts of the apparatus can be controlled by the circulation of heat transfer fluid through various passages located closely adjacent the inside walls or 8.
103*768 surfaces of the various chambers. Independent control of supply and exhaust of heat transfer fluid to the various chambers per-mits maximum temperature control and flexibility to establish the required temperature at different locations within the apparatus.
From the foregoing description of the preerred embodiment it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and impro~ed apparatus for compounding and molding rubber, elastomer, plastic and like material mixes as a continuous opera-1~ tion.
F~ .
Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In apparatus for compounding and injecting in a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: struc-ture forming a tubular material compounding chamber; one or more rotors supported for rotation in said chamber and having a material compounding section comprising blade portions with convex leading sides, twisting in opposite directions, and orientated more length-wise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof;
means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said struc-ture also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material con-veying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said struc-ture also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material con-veying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
2. In apparatus for compounding and injecting into a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes; struc-ture forming a tubular material compounding chamber; a rotor sup-ported for rotation in said chamber and having a material com-pounding section comprising blade portions with convex leading sides, twisting in opposite directions, and orientated more length-wise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof;
means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said struc-ture also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to ro-tate said screw; means for reciprocating said screw; and an in-jection molding nozzle at one end of said conduit.
means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said struc-ture also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to ro-tate said screw; means for reciprocating said screw; and an in-jection molding nozzle at one end of said conduit.
3. In apparatus for compounding and molding materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: structure forming a tubular material compounding chamber; a rotor supported for ro-tation in said chamber and having a material compounding section comprising blade portions with convex leading sides, twisting in opposite directions, and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumferentially thereof; means for rotating said rotor at a controlled speed; said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in communication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an open-ing adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the en-trance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw ro-tatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis off-set below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw;
means for reciprocating said screw; an injection molding nozzle at one end of said conduit; mold elements operatively connected to said nozzle; means opening and closing said mold elements;
control means for rotating and for reciprocating said screw in timed relation to the opening and closing of said mold elements;
and said structure forming said chamber and said conduit and said mold elements having passageways therein for the circulation of heat exchange medium closely adjacent the interior walls of said chamber, said conduit and said mold elements.
means for reciprocating said screw; an injection molding nozzle at one end of said conduit; mold elements operatively connected to said nozzle; means opening and closing said mold elements;
control means for rotating and for reciprocating said screw in timed relation to the opening and closing of said mold elements;
and said structure forming said chamber and said conduit and said mold elements having passageways therein for the circulation of heat exchange medium closely adjacent the interior walls of said chamber, said conduit and said mold elements.
4. In apparatus for compounding and injecting into a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient temperature, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes: struc-ture forming a tubular material compounding chamber comprising:
two side-by-side intercommunicating substantially cylindrical portions; two rotors one supported for rotation in each cylindri-cal portion of said chamber and each having a material compound-ing section comprising axially arranged blade portions twisting in opposite directions with their adjacent ends trailing and ori-entated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumfer-entially thereof; means for rotating said rotors; said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in com-munication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being pro-vided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said con-duit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material con-veying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
two side-by-side intercommunicating substantially cylindrical portions; two rotors one supported for rotation in each cylindri-cal portion of said chamber and each having a material compound-ing section comprising axially arranged blade portions twisting in opposite directions with their adjacent ends trailing and ori-entated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circumfer-entially thereof; means for rotating said rotors; said structure also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and in com-munication with one end of said chamber; said chamber being pro-vided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said con-duit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material con-veying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw.
5. In apparatus for compounding and injecting into a mold materials which become gelatinous at above ambient tempera-ture, such as, rubbers, elastomers, plastics, and like mixes:
structure forming a tubular material compounding chamber compris-ing: two side-by-side interconnecting substantially cylindrical portions; two rotors one supported for rotation in each cylindri-cal portion of said chamber and each having a material compound-ing section comprising axially arranged blade portions twisting in opposite directions with their adjacent ends trailing, and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circum-ferentially thereof; means for rotating said rotors; said struc-ture also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and intersecting one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw; and an injection molding nozzle at one end of said conduit.
structure forming a tubular material compounding chamber compris-ing: two side-by-side interconnecting substantially cylindrical portions; two rotors one supported for rotation in each cylindri-cal portion of said chamber and each having a material compound-ing section comprising axially arranged blade portions twisting in opposite directions with their adjacent ends trailing, and orientated more lengthwise of the axis of the rotor than circum-ferentially thereof; means for rotating said rotors; said struc-ture also forming a material conveying conduit adjacent to and intersecting one end of said chamber; said chamber being provided with an opening adjacent the end thereof opposite said conduit for the entrance of material to be molded; a material conveying screw rotatably and slidably supported in said conduit with its axis offset below the axis of said rotor; means to rotate said screw; and means for reciprocating said screw; and an injection molding nozzle at one end of said conduit.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US37556173A | 1973-07-02 | 1973-07-02 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1036768A true CA1036768A (en) | 1978-08-22 |
Family
ID=23481356
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA203,830A Expired CA1036768A (en) | 1973-07-02 | 1974-07-02 | Injection molding apparatus |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5038756A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1036768A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2432034C3 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1459140A (en) |
| IN (1) | IN142216B (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1016273B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009052639A3 (en) * | 2007-10-23 | 2009-06-11 | Husky Injection Molding | A spline insert for coupling a hydraulic piston shaft to a hollow electrical motor in an injection molding drive assembly |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4036545A (en) * | 1976-05-06 | 1977-07-19 | Molex Incorporated | Connector assembly |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH445838A (en) * | 1965-09-16 | 1967-10-31 | Buehler Ag Geb | Screw injection molding machine |
| US3700374A (en) * | 1969-07-14 | 1972-10-24 | Intercole Automation Inc | Continuous mixer with screw discharge control |
| JPS4837462A (en) * | 1971-09-16 | 1973-06-02 | ||
| DE2153683C3 (en) * | 1971-10-28 | 1978-04-06 | Katashi Nagano Aoki (Japan) | Filling device for a plastic screw plasticizing device |
-
1974
- 1974-06-28 GB GB2883174A patent/GB1459140A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-07-01 DE DE2432034A patent/DE2432034C3/en not_active Expired
- 1974-07-02 CA CA203,830A patent/CA1036768A/en not_active Expired
- 1974-07-02 IT IT51870/74A patent/IT1016273B/en active
- 1974-07-02 JP JP49075790A patent/JPS5038756A/ja active Pending
- 1974-12-02 IN IN2664/CAL/1974A patent/IN142216B/en unknown
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2009052639A3 (en) * | 2007-10-23 | 2009-06-11 | Husky Injection Molding | A spline insert for coupling a hydraulic piston shaft to a hollow electrical motor in an injection molding drive assembly |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| IT1016273B (en) | 1977-05-30 |
| DE2432034B2 (en) | 1981-01-22 |
| DE2432034A1 (en) | 1975-01-23 |
| IN142216B (en) | 1977-06-11 |
| DE2432034C3 (en) | 1981-10-08 |
| GB1459140A (en) | 1976-12-22 |
| JPS5038756A (en) | 1975-04-10 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| KR100483415B1 (en) | Kneading apparatus and method for kneading rubber-based composition using the same | |
| US3764118A (en) | Continuous mixer | |
| US3023455A (en) | Mixers | |
| US10315347B2 (en) | Injection molding apparatus with spherical rotor | |
| US3335461A (en) | Reciprocating screw injection molding machine | |
| EP1733863B1 (en) | Injection molding apparatus | |
| US4300840A (en) | Kneader for compounded resin | |
| EP3546178A1 (en) | Injection unit and injection molding machine | |
| US6890091B2 (en) | Kneading apparatus, including selectable discharge ports, for kneading rubber or rubber compositions | |
| US3884607A (en) | Plasticizing extrusion device employing worms | |
| US3700374A (en) | Continuous mixer with screw discharge control | |
| CA1036768A (en) | Injection molding apparatus | |
| US3666386A (en) | Direct radially extruding mixer | |
| US3829067A (en) | Apparatus for compounding rubber, elastomer, plastic and like mixes | |
| US3209408A (en) | Antifriction plasticizer head for plastic-extruding machines | |
| US3863905A (en) | Apparatus and method for processing plastic material | |
| US3319297A (en) | Injection molding machine | |
| CN211891703U (en) | Injection mechanism of injection molding machine | |
| CN211868465U (en) | Injection molding mechanism for engineering plastic test mold | |
| US3358334A (en) | Plastic working machine impelling material to be worked against a rotating cone | |
| CN111037881A (en) | Method for controlling extrusion compactness of desulfurized rubber powder | |
| US3997147A (en) | Continuous mixer | |
| CN216658680U (en) | Drying equipment and injection molding system for granular materials | |
| CN116118097A (en) | A hydraulic injection molding machine with continuous rotary feeding | |
| RU2706625C1 (en) | Auger plasticator for injection molding polymers |