DE20015569U1 - Positioning and / or coupling device between an extrusion tool and a downstream calibration tool - Google Patents

Description

Greiner Extrusionstechnik GmbH 15 Greinerstrasse 70

A-4550 Remsmünster

20 Positioning and/or coupling device between an extrusion tool

and a calibration tool downstream of it

25 The invention relates to a positioning and/or coupling device as described in the preamble of claim 1.

From DE 297 16 343 Ul an extrusion system with a shaping device is known in which the positioning of calibration tools relative to a first calibration tool arranged downstream of the extrusion tool is carried out via guide columns. The disadvantage here is the small distance that can be achieved with such a design for opening the device and pulling in the extruded object when starting up an extrusion system.

35 The present invention is based on the object of providing a positioning and/or coupling

device for an extrusion system which enables alternating coupling and decoupling between an extrusion tool and a calibration device with high positioning accuracy.

This object of the invention is achieved by the features of claim 1. The resulting surprising advantage is that when the production line is closed, a precise position transfer and coupling of a first calibration tool to the extrusion tool is made possible. When the production line is reopened, however, the first calibration tool is precisely transferred to the calibration device and coupled to it.

Another embodiment according to claim 2 is also advantageous, whereby a further function is achieved for the coupling plate which is essential for the quality of the extruded article and thus additional devices are saved. 15

A further advantageous embodiment is that according to claim 3, a compact design of the positioning and/or coupling device is thereby achieved.

By designing according to claims 4 to 8, it is possible to achieve a docking system that acts very precisely and produces a high coupling force.

The design according to claim 9 results in wedge surfaces which achieve high clamping forces between the coupling plate and the extrusion tool or the calibration tool for reliable coupling.
25

A design according to claim 10 is also advantageous, since this creates a free space which enables the alternate insertion of coupling blocks provided with coupling receptacles.

According to a design as described in claim 11, a technically easy-to-implement drive solution and trouble-free operation are ensured.

In this case, an embodiment according to claim 12 proves to be advantageous, whereby commercially available and cost-effective components are used for the actuator. 35

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According to an advantageous development according to claim 13, a simple, structural design of the coupling device is achieved.

However, a design according to claim 14 is also advantageous, whereby an alternative drive solution can be used.

However, a design according to claim 15 is also advantageous because it avoids one-sided displacement forces during the coupling process.

According to the advantageous further developments, as described in claims 16 to 19, a high positioning accuracy is achieved and thus the set-up effort when converting the extrusion process to different objects is simplified and costs minimized, since a direct docking of the first calibration tool to the extrusion tool is achieved without additional auxiliary or adjustment devices.

However, embodiments according to claims 20 to 22 are also advantageous since, in conjunction with the coupling device, they achieve exact alignment in mutually perpendicular planes and allow compensation of the thermal expansion of the tool without affecting the axis alignment.

Finally, a design according to claim 23 is also advantageous because it allows positioning or centering in the X and Y directions or in mutually perpendicular symmetry planes that accommodate a longitudinal center axis to be achieved without additional centering devices using only two elements, e.g. the coupling blocks. Due to the dimensional adjustment to the thermal expansion behavior, an exact centering of the extrusion tool and the coupling plate in the coupled state is achieved, particularly in the operating state, which is crucial for the quality of the extruded object.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

Show it:

Fig. 1 shows an extrusion system with the positioning and/or coupling device according to the invention in view;

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Fig. 2 is a partial view of the positioning and/or coupling device according to the invention;

Fig. 3 shows the positioning and/or coupling device according to the invention, sectioned along the lines IH-III in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows the positioning and/or coupling device according to the invention, sectioned along the lines IV-IV in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 shows a partial area of another embodiment of the positioning and/or coupling device, in section.

To begin with, it should be noted that in the different embodiments described, identical parts are provided with identical reference symbols or identical component designations, whereby the disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred analogously to identical parts with identical reference symbols or identical component designations. The position information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., also refers to the figure directly described and shown and, if the position changes, is to be transferred analogously to the new position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions in themselves.

Fig. 1 shows an extrusion system 1 which consists of an extruder 2, a shaping device 3 arranged downstream of the extruder, a cooling device 4 arranged downstream of the extruder, which may also be a calibration device, and a caterpillar take-off device 5 arranged downstream of the extruder for an extruded object 6. The caterpillar take-off device 5 serves to take off the object 6, for example a profile, in particular a hollow profile with profile sections which are assigned a hollow space inside the profile and those which are made of a solid material, from plastic, e.g. for window construction, in the extrusion direction 7 - according to the arrow - starting from the extruder 2 through the shaping device 3 and cooling device 4 and to cut it to length accordingly using devices not shown in detail, such as saws and the like. In this embodiment, the shaping device 3 consists of an extrusion tool 8, a calibration device 9 and support panels 10 in the cooling device 4. The support panels 10

but can also be designed as calibration apertures for the object 6 in addition to the supporting function.

In the area of the extruder 2 there is a receiving container 11 in which a material 12, such as a mixture or granulate for forming a plastic 13, is stored and is fed to the extrusion tool 8 by at least one conveyor screw 14 in the extruder 2. The extruder 2 also comprises a plasticizing unit 15, by which the material 12 is heated and plasticized according to its inherent properties under pressure and, if necessary, by supplying heat while the material 12 passes through it by means of the conveyor screws 14 and, if necessary, additional heating devices 16. Before entering the extrusion tool 8, the mass flow of the plasticized material 12 is guided in transition zones 17 to the desired profile cross-section.

The extrusion tool 8 with the plasticizing unit 15 and the receiving container 11 are supported or held on a machine bed 18, wherein the machine bed 18 is set up on a flat support surface 19, such as a flat hall floor.

The calibration device 9 with the cooling device 4 arranged downstream of it is arranged or held on a calibration table 20, wherein the calibration table 20 is supported via rollers 21 on a guide rail 22 fastened to the support surface 19. This mounting of the calibration table 20 via the rollers 21 on the guide rail 22 serves to be able to move the entire calibration table 20 with the inserts or devices arranged thereon in the extrusion direction 7 - according to the arrow - from or to the extrusion tool 8. In order to be able to carry out this adjustment movement more easily and precisely, for example, one of the rollers 21 is assigned a travel drive 23, as indicated schematically in dashed lines, which enables a targeted and controlled longitudinal movement of the calibration table 20 towards the extruder 2 or away from the extruder 2. Any solutions and units known from the state of the art can be used to drive and control this travel drive 23.

Following the extrusion tool 8, a positioning and/or coupling device 24 is arranged for the axially precise alignment between the extrusion tool 8 and the calibration device 9. This comprises a coupling plate 25, which forms a first calibration tool 27 with a calibration opening 26 and furthermore serves as a surface

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Smoothing device 28 acts through its known technical design.

The calibration device 9 is formed from a plurality of calibration tools 29 arranged one behind the other in the extrusion direction 7 - according to the arrow - and shown in simplified form and supported on a receiving plate and designed, for example, as a vacuum calibration, wherein the calibration of the extruded object 6 takes place within the individual shaping or calibration tools 29.

This calibration can, for example, comprise a combination of dry and wet calibration or just a complete dry calibration. Furthermore, access of ambient air to the object 6, at least between the extrusion tool 8 and the first calibration tool 27 and/or at least between the first calibration tool 27 and further calibration tools 29, can be completely prevented. Of course, it is also possible to allow access of ambient air to the object 6 at least in some areas between the individual calibration tools 27 and 29 or to arrange water baths.

The cooling device 4 for the object 6 emerging from the calibration device 9 comprises at least one cooling chamber 30, which is formed by a housing shown in simplified form and is divided into immediately successive areas by the support panels 10 arranged in the interior of the cooling chamber 30 and shown in simplified form. However, it is also possible to lower the interior of the cooling chamber 30 to a pressure lower than the atmospheric air pressure.

After leaving the extrusion tool 8, the object 6 has a cross-sectional shape predetermined by the extrusion tool 8, which is calibrated and/or cooled accordingly in the subsequent calibration tools 27 and 29 forming the calibration device 9, until the surface of the viscoplastic object 6 or its edge areas have cooled sufficiently so that its outer shape is stable and its dimensions are appropriate. After the calibration device 9, the object 6 passes through the cooling device 4 in order to achieve further cooling and, if necessary, calibration and thus to dissipate the residual heat still contained in the object 6.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the positioning and/or coupling device 24 is shown in detail, in which the first calibration tool 27 is designed in the form of the coupling plate 25.

shown. This is provided with the calibration opening 26 and forms the surface smoothing device 28 due to the special surface design of the calibration opening 26 and cooling arrangements. In these representations, the calibration tool 27 is shown coupled to the extrusion tool 8 and thus positioned and centered relative to mutually perpendicular symmetry planes 31, 32, the intersection line of which forms a longitudinal center axis 33. In contrast, the subsequent calibration tools 29 of the calibration device 9 are centered with respect to the longitudinal center axis 33 or the symmetry planes 31, 32, but are not coupled in a movement-proof manner.

On the other hand, the positioning and/or coupling device 24 enables a coupling of the calibration tool 27 to the calibration tools 29 of the calibration device 9 arranged downstream in the extrusion direction 7, during a simultaneous decoupling between the extrusion tool 8 and the coupling plate 25 or the calibration tool 27.

The coupling plate 25 has guide arrangements 36, 37 running in the longitudinal direction of opposite side surfaces 34, 35, which are formed in openings 40, 41 which are spaced apart from the side surfaces 34, 35 by a wall thickness 38 and run in the longitudinal direction of the side surfaces 34, 35 over an entire length 39 of the coupling plate 25. In the base surfaces 42 of the openings 40, 41 facing the plane of symmetry 31, guide grooves 43 with an approximately T-shaped cross section are provided, in which coupling elements 45 designed as sliders 44 are adjustably mounted. These slides 44 have a guide projection opposite to the guide groove 43 and are connected for movement via an actuator 46, e.g. a pressure cylinder 47 that can be acted upon by a pressure medium, via a piston rod 48, the pressure cylinder 47 being arranged on the front side of the coupling plate 25 and each slide 44 being adjustable with such an actuator 46. The slides 44 are strip-shaped elements and have link elements 51, 52 that protrude beyond the base surface 42 of the openings 40, 41 and extend from opposite ends 49, 50 in the direction of the longitudinal center axis 33, which are arranged running on opposite longitudinal side surfaces 53, 54. In the area of the end areas 55, 56 associated with the central axis 32, the link elements 51, 52 form clamping surfaces 59, 60 facing one another and running parallel at an angle 58 of approximately 2 to 20° in an adjustment direction - according to the double arrow 57. The link elements 51, 52 are arranged in a strip-like manner on a surface 61 of the slides 44 in a movement-proof manner or are connected in one piece, with the clamping surfaces 59, 60 being aligned at right angles to the surface 61.

Coupling blocks 64, 65 which project beyond the end faces 62, 63 facing the coupling plate 25 and which interact with the slides 44 or their link elements 51, 52 are arranged in a movement-proof manner, e.g. screwed on, on the extrusion tool 8 and/or the calibration tool 29. These have hook-shaped coupling extensions 66 which engage in the openings 40, 41 with the slides 44 which are adjustable in the guide arrangements 36, 37, for which purpose openings 67 are provided which cross the openings 40, 41. The hook-shaped design forms coupling receptacles 68 which alternately engage over the link elements 51, 52 of the slides 44 depending on the switching state of the actuator 46.

These coupling extensions 66 are provided with clamping surfaces 69, 70 that run at the same angle to the clamping surfaces 59, 60 of the link elements 51, 52. The coupling blocks 64, 65 with the coupling extensions 66 are fastened in an axially aligned position on the extrusion tool and calibration tool 29 and centrally to the plane of symmetry 32 opposite one another. By means of a lateral offset of the clamping surface 59, 60 of the link elements 51, 52 in the adjustment direction of the slides 44, it is now possible to alternately engage and couple the coupling plate 25 with the extrusion tool 8 or the calibration tools 29, depending on the switching position of the slides 44. At the same time, the coupling extensions 66, when engaging in the openings 67, cause a centering between the coupling plate 25 and the extrusion tool 8 and the calibration tool 29 in the coupled or engaged state to the plane of symmetry 32 through interacting side surfaces.

Centering receptacles 73 formed by recesses are provided on the end faces 72 of the coupling plate 25, which connect the side faces 34, 35 at right angles, in the middle of the plane of symmetry 31. Centering elements 74 projecting beyond the end faces 62, 63 of the extrusion tool 8 and the calibration tool are arranged. In the coupled or engaged state, the centering elements 74 are in engagement with the centering receptacles 73, whereby positioning in the further plane of symmetry 31 is achieved by centering surfaces 75 on the centering elements 74, which run parallel to this plane and interact with centering surfaces 76 of the centering receptacles 73.

However, as not further shown, an opposite design is also possible, in which the centering elements 74 are attached to the coupling plate 25 and protrude beyond it in opposite directions and the centering receptacles 73 are provided in the extrusion tool 8 on the one hand and in the calibration tool 29 on the other hand, into which the centering elements

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74 in the coupled or engaged state.

Fig. 5 shows another embodiment for centering the coupling plate 25 with the extrusion tool 8 and the calibration tool 29 in the coupled or engaged state, in which the centering is carried out both to the plane of symmetry 31 and to the plane of symmetry through the coupling blocks 64, 65. As already described above, the interacting side surfaces 71 of the coupling blocks 64, 65 and the openings 67 crossing the breakthroughs 40 form the centering around the plane of symmetry.

Around the plane of symmetry 31, which runs at a right angle thereto, opposing back surfaces 77 of the coupling blocks 64, 65 and mutually facing inner surfaces 78 of the openings 67 form the centering as soon as the coupling blocks 64, 65 are brought into engagement with the openings 67. However, the thermal expansion of the extrusion tool 8 must be taken into account in the design, since the temperature range extends between approximately 20 ^° C in the initial state and approximately 200 ^° C in the operating state, and thus a distance 79 of the back surface 77 from the plane of symmetry 31 in the cold state must be provided to be a thermal expansion dimension 80 smaller than a distance 81 of the inner surface 78 of the opening 67 from the plane of symmetry 31. In this way, in the operating state of the extrusion tool 8, exact centering around the plane of symmetry 31 in relation to the coupling plate 25 cooled to a constant temperature is achieved. To center the coupling plate 25 and the calibration tool following in the extrusion direction, it is not necessary to take the thermal expansion dimension 80 into account, since the temperature is kept approximately the same.

It should also be mentioned that the positioning and/or coupling device 24 or its elements and their arrangement must be designed to absorb high forces, since corresponding coupling and contact forces act between them, such as the pull-off force of the caterpillar pull-off 5, which causes a contact force between the extrusion tool 8 and the coupling plate 25 and between this and the calibration device 9. Even under these requirements, exact positioning and coupling must always be achieved, for which the previously described embodiments show exemplary ways.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that in order to better understand the structure of the positioning and/or coupling device 24, these and their components are shown partly not to scale and/or enlarged and/or reduced. 35

The problem underlying the independent inventive solutions can be taken from the description.

Above all, the individual embodiments shown in Fig. 1; 2, 3, 4; 5 can form the subject of independent, inventive solutions. The relevant inventive tasks and solutions can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

Claims (23)

1. Positioning and/or coupling device between an extrusion tool, in particular a nozzle tool, and a calibration tool arranged downstream of the extrusion tool of a calibration device of an extrusion system for continuously or discontinuously manufactured objects, characterized in that the positioning and/or coupling device ( 24 ) comprises a coupling plate ( 25 ) arranged between the extrusion tool ( 8 ) and the calibration device ( 9 ) and coupling elements ( 45 ) adjustably mounted on the coupling plate ( 25 ) via an actuator ( 46 ), which can be brought into or out of engagement with coupling receptacles ( 68 ) of coupling blocks ( 64 , 65 ) arranged on the extrusion tool ( 8 ) and/or the calibration device ( 9 ). 2. Positioning and/or coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling plate ( 25 ) with a calibration opening ( 26 ) forms a surface smoothing device ( 28 ) for the object ( 6 ). 3. Positioning and/or coupling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coupling elements ( 45 ) are formed as slides ( 44 ) adjustably guided in linear guide arrangements ( 36 , 37 ) of the coupling plate ( 25 ). 4. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling plate ( 25 ) has the guide arrangements ( 36 , 37 ) for the slides ( 44 ) parallel to at least two opposite side surfaces ( 34 , 35 ) and extending in the longitudinal direction thereof. 5. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide arrangements ( 36 , 37 ) are arranged in openings ( 40 , 41 ) which run parallel to the side surfaces ( 34 , 35 ) of the coupling plate ( 25 ) and penetrate the latter over an entire length ( 39 ). 6. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that guide grooves ( 43 ) are arranged in the openings ( 40 , 41 ), in which the coupling elements ( 45 ) are adjustably mounted in a direction parallel to the side surfaces ( 34 , 35 ). 7. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide grooves ( 43 ) are arranged in base surfaces ( 42 ) of the openings ( 40 , 41 ) which are closest to a plane of symmetry ( 31 ). 8. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling elements ( 45 ) are formed by strip-shaped slides ( 44 ) which are provided with guide projections extending in the longitudinal direction and engaging in the guide grooves ( 43 ). 9. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slide ( 44 ) has, on a surface ( 61 ) opposite the guide projections, link elements ( 51 , 52 ) projecting beyond them, which form clamping surfaces ( 59 , 60 ) lying opposite one another, running perpendicular to the surface ( 61 ) and at an angle to an adjustment direction. 10. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the clamping surfaces ( 59 , 60 ) are arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of a length of the slides ( 44 ). 11. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator ( 46 ) for the coupling elements ( 45 ) is designed as a linear drive. 12. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator ( 46 ) is formed by a pressure cylinder ( 47 ), in particular a compressed air cylinder, assigned to the coupling element ( 45 ) and acted upon by a pressure medium. 13. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure cylinder ( 47 ) is arranged on the coupling plate ( 25 ) in a movement-fixed manner and a piston rod ( 48 ) is drive-connected to the slide ( 44 ) adjustable in the guide arrangement ( 36 , 37 ). 14. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator ( 46 ) is formed by an electrically operated spindle drive, for example. 15. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a coupling movement of the coupling elements ( 45 ) runs in opposite directions. 16. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling blocks ( 64 , 65 ) which interact with the coupling elements ( 45 ) and form the positioning and/or coupling receptacles ( 68 ) are arranged in a movement-proof manner on the extrusion tool ( 8 ) and the calibration device ( 9 ). 17. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling blocks ( 64 , 65 ) with hook-shaped coupling extensions ( 66 ) project beyond mutually facing end faces ( 62 , 63 ) of the extrusion tool ( 6 ) and the calibration device ( 9 ) in the direction of the coupling plate ( 25 ). 18. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling extensions ( 66 ) of the coupling blocks ( 64 , 65 ) engage in openings ( 67 ) crossing the breakthroughs ( 40 , 41 ) for the positioning and/or coupling elements ( 45 ). 19. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coupling extension ( 66 ) cooperating with the coupling element ( 45 ) has a clamping surface ( 69 , 70 ) running at an angle parallel to the clamping surface ( 59 , 60 ) of the positioning and/or coupling element ( 45 ). 20. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that centering receptacles ( 73 ) for centering elements ( 74 ) arranged on the extrusion tool ( 6 ) and/or the calibration device ( 9 ) in a movement-proof manner and projecting beyond the mutually facing end faces (62, 63 ) of the extrusion tool ( 8 ) and/or the calibration device ( 9 ) in the direction of the coupling plate ( 25 ) are arranged on the longitudinal side surfaces ( 53 , 54 ) of the coupling plate ( 25 ) connecting the side surfaces ( 34 , 35 ) at a right angle. 21. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the centering elements ( 74 ) are arranged on the coupling plate ( 25 ) and interact with centering receptacles ( 73 ) arranged on the extrusion tool ( 8 ) and/or the calibration device ( 9 ). 22. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that cooperating centering surfaces ( 75 , 76 ) of the centering receptacles ( 73 ) and the centering elements ( 74 ) are arranged in planes running parallel to a plane of symmetry ( 32 ) of the coupling plate ( 25 ) receiving the longitudinal center axis ( 33 ). 23. Positioning and/or coupling device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that back surfaces ( 77 ) of the coupling blocks ( 64 , 65 ) or inner surfaces ( 78 ) of the openings ( 67 ) form centering planes running parallel to the plane of symmetry ( 31 ).