CA2703321C

CA2703321C - Injecting unit with a force-absorbing closed system

Info

Publication number: CA2703321C
Application number: CA2703321A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Hans Rabe; Dirk Issel; Volker Fritzlar; Jorg Meyer; Steffen Franz; Andreas Fensterer
Original assignee: ZHAFIR PLASTICS MACHINERY GmbH
Current assignee: Haitian Plastics Machinery Group
Priority date: 2007-10-22
Filing date: 2008-10-22
Publication date: 2014-01-14
Anticipated expiration: 2028-10-22
Also published as: CN101903155B; CA2703321A1; EP2212085B1; JP2011500380A; EP2212084B1; CA2703330C; DE102007063653B4; WO2009053036A1; JP2011501709A; JP5065498B2; DE102007063653A1; EP2212083A1; CN101903157B; JP5065496B2; CA2703310A1; CN101903156A; CN101903155A; WO2009053045A1; DE102007063654B4; CN101903156B

Abstract

The invention relates to an injection unit (101)in which a frame having side walls (1) and traverses (5, 14) connecting the side walls (1) to one another absorbs the forces of the injection unit (101) as a closed system,

Description

Specification Injection Unit with a Force-Absorbing Closed System The invention relates to an injection unit for an injection molding machine.
Injection molding machines are known in many designs from the state of the art and customarily comprise four cylindrical crossbeams for transferring the force generated by a closing mechanism. This has the disadvantage that these crossbeams are arranged inside the space between the tool clamping plates and therefore limit the size of the tool molds.
Furthermore, injection molding machines without crossbeams are known in which the closing mechanism and the tool clamping plates are arranged in a C-shaped machine frame. Such an injection molding machine without crossbeams is described, for example, in AT 3 91 2 93 B. The advantage of such an injection molding machine without crossbeams, namely, the easier accessibility of the space between the tool clamping plates, is opposed by the disadvantage that the machine frame of such an injection molding machine must be constructed in an expensive massive manner of construction in order to prevent a bending up of the shanks of the machine frame under the action of the closing force. At the same time, expensive mechanisms are required for ensuring the necessary parallelism between the tool clamping plates.
A problem of the present invention is to make an injection unit available that does not have the above-cited disadvantages.
The present invention provides an injection unit for an injection molding machine, the injection unit comprising a frame with sidewalls and traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other, which frame receives the forces of the injection unit as a closed system, the injection unit further comprising a movable injection aggregate that is received between the sidewalls.

la According to the present invention, the injection unit comprises a frame with at least two sidewalls as well as traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other and forms a closed system in such a manner that it receives the forces applied by the closing unit and in

2 which the frame for the injection unit comprises at least two sidewalls as well as traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other, which frame forms a closed system in such a manner that it receives the forces applied by the injection unit.
In the instance in which the forces of the closing unit of the injection molding machine are to be received in addition to the forces of the injection unit, two separate frames with the above design as well as one common frame for the closing unit and the injection unit can be used.
In addition, the present invention provides an injection molding machine comprising an injection unit as defined herein.
A core idea of the invention is, in other words, not to divert or receive the forces acting in the injection molding machine by crossbeams but rather by a closed system in the form of a frame. The concept "closed system" signifies in this connection on the one hand that the frame is not an open, for example, C-shaped frame or the like and on the other hand that the forces introduced during the operation of the machine by the closing unit and/or the injection unit are substantially completely received by the frame and therefore no passing on or only a relatively very slight passing on of these forces into the machine bed or the machine frame takes place. The latter therefore only serves to support the closed system and must therefore be constructed to be distinctly less massive and with less warping resistance and with a lesser processing quality, which reduces the total cost of the injection molding machine. Therefore, the closing unit and the injection unit can be used with almost any desired machine bed.
The advantages of injection molding machines without crossbeams, in particular, the simple insertion and removing of tools can be combined with the aid of the invention with the advantages of traditional injection molding machines with four crossbeams in particular the uniform distribution of force.
The invention creates an injection molding machine in which the space between the tool clamping plates can be used without limitation. It is furthermore advantageous that the passing on of the closing force and injection force does not take place via the machine =

3 frame. The forces are kept in the closed system. A bending up of a closed system, as was the case with a C-frame, is excluded. Compared to other solutions, the invention is additionally distinguished in that the parallelism of the tool clamping plates is ensured without additional mechanisms.
The traverses can carry the inertia forces of a few or of all movable parts of the injection unit, to which end elements of holding, guiding and/or fastening for these parts are provided on the sidewalls and/or on the traverses. A movable injection aggregate that is received between the sidewalls. The sidewalls can be fastened on the stationary tool clamping plate in order to introduce the nozzle contact force. Traverses can be provided between the sidewalls on the side opposite the fastening of the stationary tool clamping plate to the sidewalls, which traverses ensure a defined distance of the sidewalls to each other. Guides can be arranged on the sidewalls for receiving the injection aggregate.
The sidewalls can form the substantially complete protective jacketing for the injection unit. Window-like openings can be arranged in the sidewalls in the area of the nozzle space of the injection unit. At least one protective door can be provided for the nozzle space for opening and closing such a window-like opening. The protective door can be movably fastened to a sidewall, preferably using a guide arranged on the sidewall. The sidewalls can be equal or can have mirror symmetry.
The frame of the closing unit and of the injection unit preferably consists of two sidewalls. Traverses are distributed in any number between the sidewalls in such a manner that a closed system for receiving the forces from the closing unit and/or the inkjet results. As a result of a purposeful placing of traverses in any number between the sidewalls a very flexible stabilizing of the frame and an adaptation to different machine parameters is possible. The traverses can have different lengths so that the frame width can be varied. The force is introduced into the sidewalls, for example, via bolts or wedges serving to connect the traverses to the sidewall. The force of the closing unit or injection unit is then received between the traverses and distributed in the closed system (sidewalls with traverses). To this end the traverses are preferably symmetrically arranged. Thus, the entire system receives the forces of the closing unit or injection unit and furnishes the required elasticity necessary for the building up of force as in a bent =
3a lever drive to the system in the cooperation of sidewalls and traverses.
Speaking pictorially, the entire system receives the expansion of the traditional crossbeams with the aid of its intrinsic elasticity.
It is especially advantageous if the sidewalls and/or the traverses simultaneously carry the inertia forces of a few or of all movable parts of the closing unit and/or of the injection unit, to which end elements of holding, guidance and/or fastening for these parts are provided on the sidewalls and/or on the traverses. In other words, the sidewalls and/or the traverses serve not only to receive the forces of the injection unit and/or closing unit but also as carrying elements for essential parts of the injection molding machine, in particular the movable as well as the stationary tool clamping plate. As a result of this direct connection to the sidewalls and/or the traverses, complicated and expensive additional fastening apparatuses and/or mounting apparatuses are eliminated, which further reduces the total cost of the machine.

4 The injection molding machine comprises a stationary tool clamping plate and a movable tool clamping plate for receiving the mold tool halves, which movable tool clamping plate can be driven translatorily by a drive. The drive can be the closing mechanism or a separate rapid return motion drive. As regards the forces applied by the closing unit, it proved to be especially advantageous if the stationary tool clamping plate and the supporting element of the drive are firmly connected to the sidewalls of the frame in such a manner that the closing force of the closing unit is conducted via the closed system onto the stationary tool clamping plate.
Guides are provided on the sidewalls for an especially simple, secure and nevertheless loadable fastening of machine parts on the frame. In particular, guides are fastened immediately on the insides of the sidewalls of the frame for receiving the movable tool clamping plate, to the guide carriage of which guides the movable tool clamping plate is coupled. In other words, the sidewalls serve not only to transfer the closing forces but at the same time to guide the movable tool clamping plate. Thus, the sidewalls, the tool clamping plates and all drive components of the closing unit preferably form a self-enclosed system for receiving forces. The drive of the closing mechanism of the closing unit can also be moved with the aid of such guides.
If a receiving of forces from the injection unit by the frame is also provided, then the machine is preferably constructed in such a manner that the movable injection aggregate of the injection unit is taken up between the sidewalls.
In this case the sidewalls are preferably fastened directly to the stationary tool clamping plate for the introduction of the nozzle contact force. This prevents the nozzle contact force from causing a tipping of the stationary tool clamping plate. At the same time, it proved to be especially appropriate to provide traverses on the side opposite the fastening of the stationary tool clamping plate to the sidewall between the sidewalls that ensure a defined distance of the sidewalls to each other.
Guides are provided on the sidewalls of the frame for the injection unit in order to receive the injection aggregate between the sidewalls, as was already described above in connection with the fastening of the movable tool clamping plate to the frame for the closing unit.

The following embodiments have proven themselves independently of whether the frame is designed only to receive the forces of the closing unit, only to receive the forces of the injection unit or to receive the forces of both units.
The sidewalls significantly determine the outer appearance of the machine.
They are preferably designed in such a manner that they form a protective jacketing for the closing unit and/or the injection unit and substantially completely replace the customarily used protective sheets.
Therefore, the using of additional jacketing elements is almost or totally superfluous. However, if further jacketing elements are required, for example, smaller additional sheets, they can be very readily and economically attached. In other words, the protective jacketing of the closing unit and of the injection unit serves to receive forces and to form a closed system.
If window-like openings are arranged in the sidewalls in the area of the tool space of the closing unit and/or in the area of the nozzle space of the injection unit, a simple access to the tools space and/or the nozzle space is made possible without this adversely affecting the functionality of the frame, and particularly its function of receiving force and its function of carrying inertia force.
The height of the window openings preferably corresponds to the height of the clamping plates, so that the access to them is greatly simplified. In addition, as a result of the elimination of the crossbeams a very simple inclusion and removal of the injection molding forms between the sidewalls up, down and to the side is possible.
If the openings provided in this manner are provided with protective doors, high safety requirements can be met. The protective doors can therefore be directly connected to the sidewalls and no additional holding frame or mounting frame is required. If the holding doors are movably fastened to the sidewall, preferably using a guide arranged on the sidewalls, then the opening and closing of the window-like openings is not only especially simple but at the same time can also take place in a very secure and reliable manner. Instead of the openings provided with doors, viewing windows can also be provided. Doors and viewing windows can also be fastened on the traverses so that a machine unit can be created that is almost completely closed even outside of the sidewalls.

If the sidewalls are designed to be equal or have mirror symmetry, this results in a frame whose construction is especially simple and which can therefore be manufactured economically. At the same time, in the case of such a construction the receiving of the injection forces and/or of the closing forces as well as the assembling of the machine parts can be realized in an especially simple manner.
According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided an injection molding machine with a closing unit and an injection unit, in which a frame with sidewalls and traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other receives the forces of the closing unit as a closed system, and/or in which a frame with sidewalls and traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other receives the forces of the injection unit as a closed system, wherein the sidewalls and/or the traverses carry the inertia forces of a few or of all movable parts of the closing unit and/or of the injection unit, to which end elements of holding, guiding and/or fastening for these parts are provided on the sidewalls and/or on the traverses and wherein the injection unit comprises a movable injection aggregate that is received between the sidewalls.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in detail in the following using the drawings.
Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention with a closing unit, Fig. 2 shows the closing unit of fig. 1 in a cross section in front of the drive for the closing mechanism, Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention with a closing unit, Fig. 4 shows a mounting unit consisting of sidewalls and consoles such as are used in the embodiment shown in fig. 3, Fig. 5 shows a closing unit according to another embodiment of the invention with sliding doors located on the inside, 6a Fig. 6 shows the closing unit of fig. 5 in a cross section between the tool clamping plates, Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention with an injection unit, and Fig. 8 shows an injection molding machine with a closing unit in accordance with the invention and with an injection unit in accordance with the invention.

All figures show the invention only schematically and with its essential components. The same reference numerals correspond to elements with the same or comparable function.
The closing unit 100 of an injection molding machine, which closing unit is shown in fig. 1, shows a front and a rear sidewall 1. The sidewalls 1 have the form of upright plates and extend substantially over the entire length of closing unit 100. The sidewalls 1 are directly fastened to a stationary tool clamping plate 2 and to a receiving console 3 for the closing mechanism 4 by bolts 15 and other reinforcement consoles 5. Closing mechanism 4 is a bent lever closing mechanism with the drive 12. Reinforcement consoles 5 serve as traverses (struts) and form, with sidewalls 1, the frame of the invention for the closing unit, which frame receives and transmits the entire flow force during the buildup of the closing force. The frame lies with sidewalls 1 on the machine bed 11 of closing unit 100. Sidewalls 1 serve at the same time as a protective jacketing.
Guide rails 6 are fastened to the insides of sidewalls 1 in the longitudinal direction of the machine on which rails guide carriages 7 move. Guide carriages 7 receive a movable tool clamping plate 8, a tool height adjustment 9 and an abutment 10 for closing mechanism 4. At least one guide rail 6 is provided on each sidewall 1. However, for an especially secure guidance the guide rails can also be arranged in pairs (top and bottom) on each sidewall 1.
As is apparent from fig. 2 even the drive 12 for closing mechanism 4 is movably supported via guide carriages 7 on guide rails 6. Paired guide rails (top and bottom) can also be provided here.
The closing unit shown in fig. 3, alternatively with a hydraulic closing system 13 here, shows an embodiment in which the two sidewalls 1 with receiving console 3, reinforcement consoles 5 and force introduction consoles 14 and bolts 15 form an assembly unit.
Stationary tool clamping plate 2 is permanently connected to force introduction consoles 14.
This arrangement has the advantage that sidewalls 1 and consoles 5 and force introduction consoles 14 form a unit that can be assembled in advance and that stationary tool clamping plate 2 for the plate parallelism is adjustably fastened to force introduction consoles 14. The assembly unit shown in fig. 4 consists of sidewalls 1 with receiving console 3 permanently connected by bolts 14, of reinforcement consoles 5 and of force introduction consoles 14.
Thus, the two above-described embodiments are distinguished on the one hand in that sidewalls 1 result in a closed system via bolts 15 or wedges with traverses and consoles 3, 5, 14 and/or stationary tool clamping plate 2 and with the supporting element of closing mechanism 4, 13 together in which system the closing forces are received. On the other hand, the sidewalls also carry the inertia forces of the movable parts of closing unit 100. Surfaces and bores worked on the insides of sidewalls 1 are provided for mounting consoles 3, 5 and bolts 15 or wedges, etc.
The arranging of sidewalls 1 left and right adjacent to stationary tool clamping plate 2 brings it about that the space up to movable tool clamping plate 8 can be completely used for the molding tool. In order to gain access to the tool space, sidewalls 1 have appropriate openings 20.
Moreover, other openings are provided for the mounting of closing mechanism 4, 13. Sidewalls 1 therefore do not have to be constructed like a continuous plate for being used as part of the closed system but rather can also comprise openings. In the embodiments of the invention described here sidewalls 1 are provided with openings in such a manner that they comprise an upper and a lower horizontal strut 22 in addition to a front and a rear vertical strut 21. As long as sidewalls 1 form a frame with the traverses that realize the principle of the closed system, sidewalls 1 can also have another form. Sidewalls 1 do not have to be limited to the form of a frame. For example, even T-shaped sidewalls are possible that are composed of a vertical strut and a horizontal strut.
Frames 16 for protective doors 17 for the tool space are fastened to the outsides of sidewalls 1.
However, instead of frames 16, linear guides 18 fastened to the outsides of sidewalls 1 can also be used. Alternatively, the protective doors can also run in linear guides fastened directly on the insides of the sidewalls. Such an embodiment is shown in fig. 5 and 6.
Furthermore, other linear guides 18 are provided on the upper edges of sidewalls 1 in which guides sliding doors 19 are movably held. Openings 20 in the form of viewing windows are provided in the area of closing mechanism 4 in the sidewalls that are covered by removable viewing panes or sheets or are provided with shiftable protective doors. Protective doors 17 can be coupled to each other or also to sliding doors 19 so that a common actuation is possible.
An injection unit 101 in accordance with the invention is described in the following and the statements made previously and referring to closing unit 100 apply analogously. Also, the data described above referring to the guides, the protective jacketings, the doors, etc. applies in a corresponding manner. Therefore, these points will no longer b separately discussed in the following.
Injection unit 101, that is directly connected to stationary tool clamping plate 2, has a movable injection aggregate 23 that empties through stationary tool clamping plate 2 into the tool mold.
Injection unit 101 shown in fig. 7 shows a front and a rear sidewall 1 directly connected to stationary clamping plate 2 and traverses 5. Guides like the guides already described above in conjunction with the fastening of movable tool clamping plate 2 on the frame for closing unit 100 are provided on sidewalls 1 for receiving injection aggregate 23 between sidewalls 1. In particular, guide rails 6 are fastened on the insides of sidewalls 1 whose guide carriages 7 receive injection aggregate 23 with the plasticizing unit 24. Sidewalls 1 rest on machine bed 11 of injection unit 101 and are symmetrically coupled by connection bolts 15 to stationary tool clamping plate 2. Connecting bolts 15 are arranged in such a manner that the nozzle contact force applied via a traction rod or pressure rod 25 does not allow a tilting of stationary or clamping plate 2. Frames 16 for protective doors 17 of the nozzle space are arranged on the outsides of sidewalls 1.
It turned out to be especially appropriate to provide traverses 5 between sidewalls 1 on side 26 of the frame that is located opposite the fastening of stationary tool clamping plate 2 to sidewalls 1, which traverses ensure a defined distance of sidewalls 1 to each other.
All features shown in the specification, the following claims and the drawings can be essential for the invention individually as well as in any combination with each other.

List of reference numerals 1 sidewall 2 stationary tool clamping plate 3 receiving console 4 mechanical closing mechanism

5 reinforcing console

6 guide rail

7 guide carriage

8 movable tool clamping plate

9 tool height adjustment

10 abutment

11 machine bed

12 drive for closing mechanism

13 hydraulic closing system

14 force introduction console bolts 16 frame 17 protective doors 18 linear guide 19 sliding door opening 21 vertical strut 22 horizontal strut 23 injection aggregate 24 plasticizing unit traction rod / pressure rod 26 turned-away side 100 closing unit 101 injection unit 110 injection molding machine

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An injection unit for an injection molding machine, the injection unit comprising a frame with sidewalls and traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other, which frame receives the forces of the injection unit as a closed system, the injection unit further comprising a movable injection aggregate that is received between the sidewalls.

2. The injection unit according to claim 1, in which the sidewalls and/or the traverses carry the inertia forces of a few or of all movable parts of the injection unit, to which end elements of holding, guiding and/or fastening for these parts are provided on the sidewalls and/or on the traverses.

3. The injection unit according to claim 1, in which the sidewalls are fastened on a stationary tool clamping plate in order to introduce the nozzle contact force.

4. The injection unit according to claim 3, in which traverses are provided between the sidewalls on the side opposite the fastening of the stationary tool clamping plate to the sidewalls, which traverses ensure a defined distance of the sidewalls to each other.

5. The injection unit according to any one of claims 1, 3 and 4, with guides arranged on the sidewalls for receiving the injection aggregate.

6. The injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the sidewalls form the substantially complete protective jacketing for the injection unit.

7. The injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, with window-like openings arranged in the sidewalls in the area of the nozzle space of the injection unit.

8. The injection unit according to claim 7, with at least one protective door for the nozzle space for opening and closing such a window-like opening.

9. The injection unit according to claim 8, in which the protective door is movably fastened to a sidewall.

10. The injection unit according to claim 9, wherein the protective door is fastened using a guide arranged on the sidewall.

11. The injection unit according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the sidewalls are equal or have mirror symmetry.

12. An injection molding machine comprising an injection unit as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. An injection molding machine with a closing unit and an injection unit, in which a frame with sidewalls and traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other receives the forces of the closing unit as a closed system, and/or in which a frame with sidewalls and traverses connecting the sidewalls to each other receives the forces of the injection unit as a closed system, wherein the sidewalls and/or the traverses carry the inertia forces of a few or of all movable parts of the closing unit and/or of the injection unit, to which end elements of holding, guiding and/or fastening for these parts are provided on the sidewalls and/or on the traverses and wherein the injection unit comprises a movable injection aggregate that is received between the sidewalls.

14. The injection molding machine according to claim 13, with a stationary tool clamping plate and a movable tool clamping plate for receiving the mold tool halves, which movable tool clamping plate can be driven translatorily by a drive, and in which the stationary tool clamping plate and the supporting element of the drive are firmly connected to the sidewalls in such a manner that the closing force of the closing unit is conducted via the closed system onto the stationary tool clamping plate.

15. The injection molding machine according to claim 14, with guides arranged on the sidewalls for receiving the movable tool clamping plate and/or for receiving the drive of the closing mechanism.

16. The injection molding machine according to claim 13, in which the sidewalls are fastened on the stationary tool clamping plate for introducing the nozzle contact force.

17. The injection molding machine according to claim 16, in which traverses are provided between the sidewalls on the side opposite the fastening of the stationary tool clamping plate to the sidewalls, which traverses ensure a defined distance of the sidewalls to each other.

18. The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 13, 16 and 17, with guides are arranged on the sidewalls for receiving the injection aggregate.

19. The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 13 to 18, in which the sidewalls form the substantially complete protective jacketing for the closing unit and/or the injection unit.

20. The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 13 to 19, with window-like openings arranged in the sidewalls in the area of a tool space of the closing unit and/or in the area of the nozzle space of the injection unit.

21. The injection molding machine according to claim 20, with at least one protective door for the tool space or the nozzle space, which door is provided for opening or closing such a window-like opening.

22. The injection molding machine according to claim 21, in which the protective door is movably fastened to a sidewall.

23. The injection molding machine according to claim 22, wherein the protective door is fastened using a guide arranged on the sidewall.

24. The injection molding machine according to any one of claims 13 to 23, in which the sidewalls are equal or have mirror symmetry.