EP1554106A2 - Tube de refroidissement et son procede d'utilisation - Google Patents

Tube de refroidissement et son procede d'utilisation

Info

Publication number
EP1554106A2
EP1554106A2 EP03750186A EP03750186A EP1554106A2 EP 1554106 A2 EP1554106 A2 EP 1554106A2 EP 03750186 A EP03750186 A EP 03750186A EP 03750186 A EP03750186 A EP 03750186A EP 1554106 A2 EP1554106 A2 EP 1554106A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tube
cooling
porous
channel
molded plastic
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03750186A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Witold Neter
Joachim Johannes Niewels
Richard Matthias Unterlander
Tomasz Uracz
Zbigniew Romanski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Husky Injection Molding Systems SA
Original Assignee
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US10/246,916 external-priority patent/US6737007B2/en
Application filed by Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd filed Critical Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd
Publication of EP1554106A2 publication Critical patent/EP1554106A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • B29C45/0053—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor combined with a final operation, e.g. shaping
    • 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
    • B29C45/72—Heating or cooling
    • B29C45/7207—Heating or cooling of the moulded articles
    • 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
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/09—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
    • 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
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/09—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
    • B29C48/11—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels comprising two or more partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. honeycomb-shaped
    • 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
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
    • 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
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/4205—Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means
    • 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
    • B29C35/00—Heating, cooling or curing, e.g. crosslinking or vulcanising; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C35/16—Cooling
    • B29C2035/1616—Cooling using liquids
    • 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
    • B29C45/72—Heating or cooling
    • B29C45/7207—Heating or cooling of the moulded articles
    • B29C2045/7214—Preform carriers for cooling preforms
    • 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
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
    • B29C2049/023—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison using inherent heat of the preform, i.e. 1 step blow moulding
    • 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
    • B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
    • B29C2791/001—Shaping in several steps
    • 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
    • B29C2791/00—Shaping characteristics in general
    • B29C2791/004—Shaping under special conditions
    • B29C2791/006—Using vacuum
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
    • B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/22—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at neck portion
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/24—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at flange portion
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/26—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at body portion
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
    • B29C2949/28—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at bottom portion
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/30—Preforms or parisons made of several components
    • B29C2949/3024—Preforms or parisons made of several components characterised by the number of components or by the manufacturing technique
    • 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
    • B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
    • B29C2949/30—Preforms or parisons made of several components
    • B29C2949/3032—Preforms or parisons made of several components having components being injected
    • 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
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/001—Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations
    • B29C48/0017—Combinations of extrusion moulding with other shaping operations combined with blow-moulding or thermoforming
    • 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
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/09—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels
    • B29C48/10—Articles with cross-sections having partially or fully enclosed cavities, e.g. pipes or channels flexible, e.g. blown foils
    • 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
    • B29C48/00—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C48/03—Extrusion moulding, i.e. expressing the moulding material through a die or nozzle which imparts the desired form; Apparatus therefor characterised by the shape of the extruded material at extrusion
    • B29C48/12—Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles
    • 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
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/02—Combined blow-moulding and manufacture of the preform or the parison
    • B29C49/06—Injection blow-moulding
    • 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
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/4242—Means for deforming the parison prior to the blowing operation
    • B29C49/42421—Means for deforming the parison prior to the blowing operation before laying into the mould
    • 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
    • B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C49/42—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
    • B29C49/64—Heating or cooling preforms, parisons or blown articles
    • B29C49/6409—Thermal conditioning of preforms
    • B29C49/6427—Cooling of preforms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/60—Multitubular or multicompartmented articles, e.g. honeycomb

Definitions

  • the present invention relates, in general, to cooling tubes and is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to cooling tubes used in a plastic injection-molding machine to cool plastic parts, such as plastic parisons or preforms. More particularly, the present invention relates to a structural configuration of these cooling tubes, and also to method of manufacturing and using such tubes, for example in the context of a manufacturing process for preforms made from polyethylenetetraphthlate (PET) or the like.
  • PET polyethylenetetraphthlate
  • molding machines have evolved to include post mold cooling systems that operate simultaneously with the injection molding cycle. More specifically, while one injection cycle is taking place, the post mold cooling system, typically acting in a complementary fashion with a robotic part removal device, is operative on an earlier formed set of molded articles that have been removed from the mold at a point where they are still relatively hot, but sufficiently solid to allow limited handling.
  • Post mold temperature conditioning (or cooling) molds, nests or tubes are well known in the art. Typically, such devices are made from aluminum or other materials having good thermal conductivity properties. Further, it is known to use fluid- cooled, cooling tubes for post-mold temperature conditioning of molded plastic parts, such as plastic parisons or preforms. Typically, such tubes are formed by conventional machining methods from solid stock.
  • EP patent 0 283 644 describes a multi-position take-out plate that has a capacity to store multiple sets of preforms for more than one injection cycle.
  • each set of preforms is subjected to an increased period of accentuated conduction l cooling by retaining the preforms in the cooling tubes for more than one injection cycle.
  • the quality of the preforms is enhanced.
  • a set of preforms is ejected (usually by a mechanical ejection 5 mechanism) from the take-out plate onto a conveyor to allow a new set of preforms to be inserted into the now vacant set of cooling tubes.
  • European patent EP 0 266 804 describes an intimate fit cooling
  • the L0 tube for use with an end-of-arm-tool (EOAT) .
  • the intimate fit cooling tube is water cooled and is arranged to receive a partially cooled preform. More particularly, after the preform has undergone some cooling within the closed mold, the mold is opened, the EOAT extended between the cavity and core sides of
  • cooling tube to include a means to achieve and/or maintain contact between the outer surface of the preform and the . internal side walls of the cooling tube.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,047,873 discloses an injection blow mold in 5 which the cavity has a sintered porous sidewall that permits a vacuum to draw the parison into contact with the cooling tube sidewall.
  • U.S. Patent No. 4,208,177 discloses an injection mold cavity 0 containing a porous element that communicates with a cooling fluid passageway subjecting the cooling fluid to different pressures to vary the flow of fluid through the porous plug.
  • U.S. Patent Nos . 4,295,811 and US 4,304,542 disclose an 5 injection blow core having a porous metal wall portion.
  • the operational mass (i.e. including cooling water) of the cooling tube is of particular concern considering that a typical robot take-out system may include one or more sets of cooling tubes in an array, and therefore the cumulative mass
  • the robot quickly becomes a significant operating and/or design consideration (i.e. inertia or momentum considerations for the robot) .
  • the robot typically operates to remove many tens of preforms in a single cycle (with present PET systems producing up to one hundred and
  • the cooling tube Accordingly, it is desirable to configure and manufacture the cooling tube according to a simplified structure and method, respectively. Furthermore, it is desirable to configure the cooling channels as relatively open channels in an effort to reduce the operational mass of the cooling tube.
  • U.S. Patent Nos. 4,102,626 and 4,729,732 are typical of prior art systems in that they show a cooling tube formed with an external cooling channel machined in the outer surface of the tube body, a sleeve is then assembled to the body to enclose
  • WO 97/39874 discloses a tempering mold that has circular cooling channels included within its body.
  • EP 0 700 770 discloses another configuration that includes an inner and outer tube assembly to form cooling channels therebetween.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,870,921 discloses an extrusion die for use in producing aluminum alloy articles of extruded shapes or tube having a void with defined internal dimension.
  • a tube assembly for operating on a malleable molded plastic part.
  • the tube assembly comprising a porous tube having a profiled inside surface, and a vacuum o structure configured to cooperate with the porous tube to provide, in use, a reduced pressure adjacent the inside' surface.
  • the reduced pressure causes an outside surface of the malleable molded plastic part, locatable within the tube assembly, to contact the inside surface of the porous insert so 5 as to allow a substantial portion of the outside surface of the malleable part, upon cooling, to attain a profile substantially corresponding to the profile of the inside surface.
  • the porous tube is cylindrically- shaped, and the vacuum structure is provided by locating the L0 porous tube in a tube body and by providing at least one vacuum channel adjacent the outside surface of the porous tube, in use, for connection to a vacuum source.
  • the porous tube of the various embodiments of the present invention effectively causes, under cooling, a re-shaping of the molded part to its exact final shape defined by the profile of the
  • the reduced pressure/ effective vacuum acting through the porous material essentially acts to draw the malleable preform into the final shape whilst ensuring that cooling is optimized by continuous surface contact with a thermally efficient heat dissipation material and path.
  • injection molding machine structure and/or steps are provided with a molding structure that molds at least one plastic part .
  • at least one porous cooling cavity is configured ⁇ to hold and cool the at least one plastic part after it has been molded by the molding structure.
  • At least one vacuum channel is respectively configured to provide a lower-than- ambient pressure to the at least one porous cavity to cause the at least one plastic part to contact the inside surface of the 5 at least one porous cavity.
  • a tube assembly for receiving a molded plastic part having a profile.
  • a porous substrate includes an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface profiled to reflect at least a portion of the profile of the molded plastic part; and a vacuum channel located adjacent the outer surface, the vacuum channel supporting, in use, an initial establishment of a 5 differential pressure from the outside surface of the porous substrate to the inside surface thereof, to induce contact, in use, between the received molded plastic part and the inside surface.
  • a tube assembly for operating on a malleable molded plastic part.
  • the tube assembly comprising a tube body, and a porous insert located in the tube body.
  • the porous insert includes an inside surface and an
  • the tube assembly further includes at least one vacuum channel ⁇ in fluid communication with the porous insert.
  • the vacuum channel configured for connection, in use, with a vacuum source to
  • !0 provide a reduced pressure adjacent the inside surface to cause an outside surface of the malleable molded plastic part, locatable within the tube assembly, to contact the inside surface so as to allow a substantial portion of the outside surface of the malleable part, upon cooling, to attain a
  • the tube assembly also includes a cooling structure configured for connection, in use, with a heat dissipation path for cooling the molded plastic part in contact with the inside surface of the porous insert.
  • a method for shaping a malleable molded plastic part including the steps of: (i) receiving the molded plastic part into a porous tube; (ii) providing a reduced pressure adjacent a profiled inside surface of the porous tube causing a portion of an outside surface of the molded plastic part to move into contact therewith and thereby attain a substantially corresponding shape; and (iii) extracting heat from the molded plastic part through a heat dissipation path to solidify the molded plastic part at least to the extent required to ensure that the shape of the outside surface of the molded plastic part is preserved; and (iv) ejecting the molded plastic article; wherein the outer surface of the molded plastic part is provided with a final shape that is defined by the profiled inside surface profile of 5 the porous tube .
  • an end-of-arm tool comprising a carrier plate for mounting, in use, to a O robot in a molding system, and at least one tube assembly arranged on the carrier plate.
  • the tube assembly is configured for receiving, in use, a molded plastic part.
  • the tube assembly comprising a porous tube having an inside surface and an outside surface, the inside surface profiled to reflect at
  • the vacuum structure is configured to cooperate with the porous tube to provide, in use, a reduced pressure adjacent the inside surface to cause an outside surface of a malleable molded plastic part, locatable within
  • the tube assembly to contact the inside surface of the porous insert so as to allow a substantial portion of the outside surface of the malleable part, upon cooling, to attain a profile substantially corresponding to the profile of the inside surface.
  • a tube assembly comprising a tube with an inside surface provided on a porous substrate, and a fluid flow -structure.
  • the fluid comprising a tube with an inside surface provided on a porous substrate, and a fluid flow -structure.
  • 0 flow structure is configured to cooperate with the porous substrate to cause, in use, a malleable molded plastic part, locatable within the tube assembly, to be drawn into contact with the inside surface so as to allow a substantial portion of an outside surface of the malleable part, upon cooling, to
  • the molded plastic part is formed by the process of: (i) receiving a malleable molded plastic part into the porous tube; (ii) reducing pressure adjacent the profiled inside surface of said porous tube causing the portion of the outside surface of the molded plastic part to move into contact with the profiled inside surface of the porous tube, thereby to attain a shape substantially corresponding to the profiled inside surface; (iii) extracting heat from the molded plastic part through a heat dissipation path to solidify the molded plastic part sufficiently such that the outer shape of the molded plastic part is preserved; and (iv) ejecting the molded plastic article.
  • the portion of the outside surface of the molded plastic part takes on a surface finish reflecting that of the profiled inside surface of the porous insert.
  • the porous tube is formed of a porous substrate with the profiled inside surface having interstitial spaces preferably within a range of about 3 to 20 microns.
  • an injection-molded plastic part cooling tube that is extruded to define a cylindrically-shaped tube with an inside surface, an outside surface, and at least one cooling channel .
  • injection molding machine structure and/or steps are provided with a mold structure which molds a plurality of plastic parts.
  • a plurality of extruded cooling cavities provided and configured to hold and cool the plurality of plastic parts after they are molded by the mold structure.
  • Each cooling cavity including a plurality of cooling channels defined by the extrusion and configured to provide for a coolant flow through the plurality of cooling cavities to extract heat from the plurality of plastic parts while they are held by the plurality of cooling cavities.
  • a method for extruding an injection-molded-plastic-part cooling tube includes the steps of extruding a hollow aluminum tube having an inside surface, an outside surface, and at least one cooling channel .
  • a tube • assembly includes a tubular porous insert for vacuum forming a molded article, and to improve cooling efficiency.
  • the porous insert includes an inner surface that is contoured to substantially correspond with the final desired molding surface of the molded article.
  • Pressure channels in the porous insert provide a conduit for establishing a region of relatively low vacuum pressure and for evacuating air through the porous structure of the porous insert, thereby drawing a deformable molded article into contact with the contoured inside surface.
  • the present invention advantageously provides a cooling tube structure that functions to cool rapidly and efficiently a just-molded plastic part located within the cooling tube, thereby improving robustness of the preform and generally enhancing cycle time.
  • the rapid cooling afforded by the present invention beneficially reduces the risk of the presence of unacceptably high levels of acetaldehyde in the finished plastic product, such as a drink container.
  • the present invention seeks to maintain a required and defined shape of the molded part, such ' as a preform.
  • the present invention advantageously provides an extruded cooling tube that is easily manufactured and which is of a lightweight construction that, beneficially, reduces robot specification requirements and/or improves robot cycle time.
  • cooling tube has enhanced cooling capabilities as a consequence of improved and integrally formed channeling.
  • alternative embodiments of the present invention provide tube assemblies that are capable of vacuum forming a molded article.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical injection molding machine including a robot, and end-of-arm tool;
  • FIG. 2 depicts a section through a cooling tube assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 depicts a sectional, but exaggerated view, through the cooling tube assembly of the FIG. 2 embodiment, with a freshly .5 molded part just loaded;
  • FIG. 4 depicts a section through the cooling tube assembly of the FIG. 2 at a later point in time
  • FIG. 5 depicts a section through the cooling tube assembly of an alternate embodiment
  • FIG. 6 depicts a view on section 5-5 of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 7 depicts a section through the cooling tube assembly of a second alternate embodiment
  • FIG. 8 depicts a section through the cooling tube assembly of a third alternate embodiment. 10
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cooling tube according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 is a view along section A-A' of FIG. 9 cooling tube; ,5
  • FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a cooling tube porous insert
  • FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a cooling tube according to an
  • FIG. 1 shows a typical injection molding machine 10 capable of co-operating with a device supporting the cooling tube of the L5 present invention.
  • the molding machine 10 produces a number of plastic preforms (or parisons) corresponding to the number of mold cavities defined by complementary mold halves 12, 14 located within the machine 10.
  • the injection-molding machine 10 includes, without specific limitation, molding structure such as a fixed platen 16 and a movable platen 18. In operation, the movable platen 18 is moved relative to the fixed platen 16 by means of stroke cylinders
  • a robot 26 is provided, adjacent the fixed 16 and movable platen 14, to carry an end of arm tool (EOAT) 28, such as a take-out plate.
  • EOAT end of arm tool
  • the take-out plate 28 contains a number of preform cooling tubes 30
  • S5 at least corresponding in number to the number of preforms 32 produced in each injection cycle, and may be a multiple thereof.
  • the robot 26 moves the take-out plate into -alignment with, typically, a core side of the mold and then waits until molded
  • 10 articles e.g. preforms 32
  • 10 articles are stripped from respective cores into respectively aligned cooling tubes 30 by operation of a stripper plate 33.
  • Cooling tubes 30 are generally shaped to reflect the external 5 profile of the molded article (e.g. preform 32), so in the context of a PET preform the cooling tubes 30 are preferably cylindrically-shaped, open-ended, hollow tubes, each having a channel at the base thereof connected to a vacuum or suction unit 34 operational to draw and/or simply hold the preforms 32 10 in the tubes 30.
  • the take-out plate 28 will be cooled either by connection to a suitable thermal sink and/or by a combination of techniques, including internal water channels, as will be 15 understood.
  • FIG. 2 shows a cooling tube assembly 50 comprising an inner porous insert 52 made, preferably, of a material such as porous aluminum having a porosity in the range of about 3 to 20
  • the porous properties of the substrate are generally achieved from either its material configuration or a chemical removal (or adjustment) treatment process in which interstitial spaces are induced into the substrate, thereby producing an internal structure that is somewhat analogous to either
  • the present invention can make use of communicating channels through the substrate material having a size outside the range of 3 to 20 microns, albeit that readily commercially available materials, such as METAPOR TM and PORCERAX" (both manufactured by the International Mold Steel
  • Porosity is, in any event, a function of surface finish, and machining of working of the surface can affect porosity through the material, as will be understood.
  • the inner porous insert
  • the inner porous insert 52 is made from a structure having definite strength and mechanically resilient properties, although the inner porous insert could also be made from substances like graphite. It is preferably that the inner porous insert 52 is a thermal conductor, with it being particular preferably that the thermal conduction properties are good, e.g. a metal-based or sintered composite material .
  • METAPOR TM is combination of aluminum and epoxy resin having a mix ratio of between about 65-90% aluminum powder and 35-10% epoxy resin.
  • a typical cooling tube assembly 50 may have an internal length dimension of about 100 millimetres (mm) , with an interior diameter of about 25mm and an outer diameter of about 40mm, with these dimensions reflecting the size of the molded article.
  • tubes may be made of different diameters and lengths to suit the particular preform shape being cooled.
  • the porous insert 52 is preferably located in a tube body 54, which is surrounded by a sleeve 56.
  • Cooling channels (or passageways) 58 are optionally cut or otherwise formed adjacent to the tube body 54, and convey a cooling fluid (e.g. air., gas, or liquid) to cool the body 54 and the insert 52, thus drawing heat from the molded plastic part in the porous insert 52.
  • a cooling fluid e.g. air., gas, or liquid
  • Each cooling channel preferably configured to have a cross-section comprising a plurality of arcuate, elongated slots which extend around greater than 50% of a circumference of an inside diameter of a respective cooling cavity.
  • the tube body 54 could simply be directly thermally coupled to a heat sink to reduce a combined overall weight of the tubes and end-of-arm- tool 28, provided that the heat sink is capable of drawing sufficient heat from a preform in unit time.
  • Seals 60-63 between the sleeve 56 and the tube body 54 contain the cooling fluid in the grooves 4.
  • Channels 66 are cut or otherwise formed in the exterior surface of porous insert 52 and provide a means to apply a vacuum through the porous structure of the porous insert 52.
  • the outer surface of the porous insert 52 is configured such that a good surface contact is maintained between the insert 52 and the tube body 54, thereby to optimize heat transfer from the porous insert to the molded plastic part.
  • the vacuum is applied through the porous insert such that a freshly loaded molded plastic part 32, shown in FIG. 3, is caused to expand in size to touch an inner surface 82 of the porous insert, as shown in FIG. 4.
  • heat is conducted from the molded plastic part 32 to and through the porous insert 1 to the cooled tube body 54.
  • FIG. 3 is representative of a time when the preform is being introduced into the cooling tube assembly 50.
  • a positive pressure may be applied (by means of a fluid injector and lip seals) to the inside of the preform, to cause the preform to contact at least a portion of the cooling tube inside surface, although this requires a sealed system.
  • Any appropriate pressure differential may therefore be applied between the inside surface of the cooling tube and the outside surface of the plastic part, depending on the shape of the part and the cycle time provided for the cooling. It is preferred that the entire outer surface of the preform (cylindrical outer surface and spherical outer surface at the distal tip, i.e.
  • the dome 80 contact the porous insert cooling tube, although an outer profile of the preform may, in fact, prevent this along, for example any inwardly tapering portion 84 proximate the neck finish of the preform 32.
  • the cooling tube and vacuum structure may be designed to bring any portion (s) of the preform into contact with the cooling tube, depending on the
  • the vacuum may be applied in one, two, or three ' or more stages to effect various cooling profiles of the plastic part. For example, a thick portion of a preform may be brought into immediate contact with the cooling
  • the preform is in contact with the cooling tube 50 for sufficient time only to allow robust handling of the preform without any fear of damage arising, with this dependent upon
  • the porosity of the porous insert 52 can be lowered to improve the surface finish (i.e. inner surface 82) of the porous insert 52 in contact with the molded plastic part and ' thereby minimize
  • the vacuum will cause the molded plastic part to expand in diameter and perhaps length.
  • the molded part is subjected to a vacuum applied to most of its external surface, while its internal surface is exposed to ambient pressure.
  • support ledge 100 of the molded part 32 prevents the part from entering further into the tube 50 as the part cools and shrinks.
  • the vacuum draws the closed end of the part further into the tube while the support ledge prevents the opposed end from following.
  • the vacuum causes the part to change shape to substantially eliminate the clearance that initially exists between the part's outer surface and the corresponding inner surface of the porous insert 52.
  • End seal 104 (of FIG. 3) at the open end of the cooling tube 50 provides a means to initially establish (and as necessary maintain) the vacuum within the assembly and to continue to cause the part 8. If there are sections of the porous insert 52 that do no engage with portions of the preform, such as region 106 shown in FIG. 4 below support ledge 100, then the end seal 104 is required to ensure that the molded parts remains in contact with the inner wall 82 and thereby to resist the effect of shrinkage of the part 8 as it cools, otherwise the end seal 104 may be omitted.
  • the tube assembly 50 is preferably fastened to a carrier or take-out plate 110 by a screw 112.
  • the insert 52 is retained in the assembly by a collar 114, which is threaded onto the end of the tube body 54 or fastened or otherwise coupled by any other conventional means.
  • a cooling fluid channel inlet 116, and a cooling fluid channel outlet 118 are provided in the carrier plate 110.
  • a vacuum channel (or passageway) 120 is also provided in the carrier plate 110. After sufficient cooling time has elapsed, the vacuum is replaced with pressurized airflow (by inversion of the vacuum pump function) , and the part is ejected from the tube assembly 50 by this pressure.
  • FIGs . 5 and 6 show an alternative embodiment for a cooling tube 150 in which the tube body 54 and the sleeve are 56 replaced with an extruded tube that contains integral cooling channels.
  • An aluminum extrusion 152 forms the tube body and contains integral cooling channels 154 that are alternately connected to each other by grooves 156 at each end of the tube. Sealing rings 158 close the ends of the tube to complete the cooling circuit's integrity.
  • a porous aluminum insert 160 having external grooves 162 that act as a channel for the vacuum, is located (inside the cooling tube 150) by a spacer 164 and a collar 166 attached to the tube by a thread or any other conventional fastening mechanism.
  • the tube assembly is fastened to the carrier plate 110 by any suitable external clamping means, such as a bolt 168.
  • This alternative embodiment has a lower cost of manufacture and an improved cooling efficiency by virtue of its extruded body component.
  • FIG. 7 shows a second alternative embodiment for cooling a molded part having a different shape.
  • the end seal reference numeral 104 of FIG. 3
  • a porous insert 200 is held within the extruded tube 152 by a collar 201 that is threaded 202 onto the top of the cooling tube (in this case the extruded tube 152) or fastened by any suitable means.
  • the collar 152 typically made from aluminum or the like, extends inwardly to conform to the inner profiled shape 204 of an open end of the insert 200 that matches, or is slightly larger, than that of the part being cooled.
  • the collar 201 provides a seal of sufficient efficacy to allow the vacuum applied to the porous insert to cause the
  • FIG. 8 shows how a lip seal 210 can provide the necessary initial sealing to permit a vacuum to become
  • a porous cooling tube constructed in accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention is manufactured by milling or extruding a cooling tube assembly having a porous cooling tube insert and, optional but preferable, cooling fluid channels.
  • the porous insert may be polished, painted, or
  • the cooling fluid channels may be wholly enclosed inside the tube, or may be formed by placing a sleeve over open channels formed in the outer surface of the porous insert. Vacuum channels may be milled or extruded
  • the closed end of the cooling tube may be machined into the tube, or may comprise a plug fitted into one open end of a cooling cylinder. Appropriate seals are then fitted to
  • the just-molded plastic part is extracted from a mold cavity and carried by the carrier plate to a cooling
  • the cooling fluid circulates through the cooling channels, extracting heat from the porous insert, which extracts heat from the molded part.
  • sufficient cooling is complete (when the exterior surfaces of the molded part have solidified and achieved sufficient rigidity) , the vacuum is released and the molded part is ejected, for example, into a bin for shipping. If desirable, a positive pressure can be applied through the vacuum channels to force the molded part from the cooling tube.
  • the disclosed post mold cooling device preferably uses a vacuum to slightly expand the part to contact the cooled surface and to maintain contact as part cools, thereby counteracting shrinkage that tends to draw the part away from the cooled surface.
  • the present invention may also be described with respect to embodiments in which the cooling tube includes an extruded tube.
  • the extruded cooling tube has particular use in a plastic injection molding machine, although the present invention is
  • the present invention can find application in a part transfer mechanism from an injection molding machine and a blow-molding machine.
  • FIG. 9 shows a sectional view through a cooling tube 350 of an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the cooling tube 350 preferably comprises an extruded one-piece tube 352 with an outside surface 384, an inside surface 382 for operating on the
  • the cooling tube 350 includes a cooling circuit for cooling inside surface 382 that includes longitudinally oriented cooling channels 354 formed by extrusion between the inside surface 382 and the outside surface 384 of the tube 352.
  • the cooling channels 354 are connected together in a desired
  • the connecting channels 356 are located at the top and base of tube 352, between the outside surface 384 and the inside surface 382, and extend between two or more cooling channels 354.
  • the connecting channels 356 are closed on one 'side by sealing rings 358.
  • the sealing rings 358, including seals 359, are retained in a groove at the top and base of the cooling tube 350 by snap rings 366 or other known fastening means.
  • the cooling tube 350 further includes a central plug 364 inserted into its base and retained by shoulder 367, the central plug 364 including a contoured inside surface 303 for supporting and otherwise operating on the bottom of a preform 32.
  • the central plug 364 also includes a pressure channel 394, for connection to a vacuum source, for the purpose of assisting in the transfer of a preform 32 into the cooling tube 350.
  • the coolant inlet and outlet channels 390 and 392 of the cooling circuit being provided in the central plug 364.
  • the tube 352 preferably comprises a one-piece extruded tube with longitudinal cooling channels 354 that may have a cross sectional profile selected from a wide range of shapes.
  • machining techniques e.g. milling
  • an extruded tube can be identified as one having an integral cooling channel having a length generally greater than four times the minor diameter of the cooling channel 354, or one as having a substantially constant non-cylindrical cooling channel 354 shape.
  • the cooling channels 354 formed in the extrusion process provides channels for cooling fluid to circulate in the tube, extracting heat from the preform 32 through the tube inside surface 382.
  • the cooling tube may include four cooling channels
  • channels 354 are preferably arcuate-shaped, elongated slots that present a larger cooling surface area than drilled holes.
  • the cumulative angular extent of all elongated slots is greater than 180 degrees, the angular extent of each elongated slot being the measure of the contained angle of an arc concentric with the cooling tube with its terminus points defining a
  • the preferred coolant channel 354 cross-sectional profile provides for a relatively lightweight cooling tube 350, that results in an overall mass reduction in the carrier plate assembly 11 that may be considerable given
  • some carrier plate assemblies include upwards of 432 tubes (i.e. a carrier plate assembly with 3 sets of 144 cooling tubes) , thereby allowing a lighter duty and hence lower cost robot to be used and/or allowing the plate to move faster thereby saving some cycle time and reducing energy consumption.
  • the four arcuate shape channels shown in FIG. 10 could be changed to only two larger arcuate shapes (not shown) so that one channel represents the input and the other the output, thereby
  • the central plug 364 preferably includes a contoured inside surface 303 shaped to substantially match that of the part being cooled.
  • the central plug 364 is preferably made from
  • Provision for the pressure channel 394 is preferably at the plug's center.
  • the central plug 364 is preferably at the plug's center.
  • a tube fastener 368 such as a screw or bolt, is provided to couple the cooling tube 350 to the takeout plate 28. Alternate means of assembling the plug 14 and fastening the cooling tube 350 to the take-out plate 28 may be
  • Exemplary physical dimensions of a cooling tube 350 for an arbitrary preform 32 according to the present invention suggest a representative length of about 100mm long, an interior diameter of about 25mm, and outer diameter of about 41mm.
  • the cooling channels 354 are preferably about l-4mm in thickness, about 80mm in circumference, and about 100mm (preferably the same length as tube) in axial length.
  • tubes of different diameters and lengths would be made to suit the geometry of any preform 32, and hence wide variations in the coolant channel 354 dimensions are possible.
  • the cooling tube 350 is preferably made from Aluminium.
  • an extruding process is used to form a tube 352 including the cooling channels and a hole, the hole preferably sized to be smaller than any of the plastic parts destined for cooling in the tube .
  • the extrusion process is consistent with known techniques.
  • the tube 352 is then cut to length and the molding surface and any other desired features (such as connecting channels 356, sealing ring 358 grooves, and any coolant inlet/outlet or pressure channels, coupling structure, etc.) are then machined.
  • the central plug 364 is then machined, including adding desired features (such as coolant 390, 392 and pressure channel 394) .
  • the central plug 364 with all necessary seals is then installed into the cooling tube 350, and the sealing rings 358 with seals 359 installed into the sealing ring grooves in the top and bottom of the cooling tube 350, so that the entire assembly is ready for installation onto the take-out plate 28.
  • the connecting channels 356 at the top end of the tube 352 may be provided by machining through alternate separation walls (not shown) of the cooling channel 354.
  • similar alternate separation walls are machined to connect the cooling channels 354 and provide connections to the cooling fluid inlet channel 390 and the cooling fluid outlet channel 392.
  • the cooling channels 354 in the tube wall could be connected directly to the corresponding ports in the take-out plate 28.
  • the cooling tube is extruded to define a cylindrically- shaped tube with an inside surface, an outside surface, and at least one cooling channel 354 formed on the outer surface of the tube 352.
  • a tubular sleeve fits-around the tube 352 thereby enclosing the cooling channels 354. Seals are provided .0 between the tube 352 and sleeve to provide a water-tight connection.
  • the cooling channels may be connected as previously described in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the cooling tube is extruded to define a cylindrically- shaped tube with an inside surface, an outside surface, and at least one cooling channel 354 formed on the outer surface of a tubular sleeve that fits-around the tube 352 thereby enclosing
  • the cooling channels may be connected as previously described in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the cooling tube is used similarly to that described in US 4,729,732. It is preferred that the internal dimensions of the cooling tube are slightly smaller than the external dimensions of the preform being cooled. Thus, as the preform shrinks, its external size is reduced, and a vacuum
  • the internal dimensions of the cooling tube can be manufactured to be the
  • the mold opens by stroking the movable platen 18 away from the fixed platen 16, and the robot arm (carrying the carrier plate assembly 11) moves between the mold halves 12 and 14 so that the cooling tubes 50 can receive a set of preforms 32 that are ejected from cores 23.
  • Applied suction may 5 be used to encourage transfer of the preforms 32 from the cores 23 to the cooling tubes 350, and/or to retain the preforms therein.
  • the carrier plate assembly 11 is then moved out from between the mold halves 12, 14, and then orientated so that the carrier plate assembly 11 is sequentially or selectively placed L0 adjacent to a cooling station, a receiving station, or a conveyor.
  • the preforms may then be transferred thereto.
  • An extruded cooling tube according to the present invention can benefit from a cost reduction relative to conventionally manufactured tube due to substantially reduced machining requirements .
  • the tube assembly 350 of FIG. 9 may be modified to include a tubular porous insert 452, as shown in FIG. 11, along the inside surface 382 for vacuum forming a preform 32 and to improve preform 32 cooling efficiency due to a better heat
  • the porous insert 452 includes an inner surface 482 and outer surface 483, the
  • the outer surface 483 may be segmented by a set of longitudinally directed pressure channels 466.
  • the pressure channels 466 provide a conduit for establishing a region of very low vacuum
  • the porous insert 452 is preferably made from a highly thermally conductive material, such as aluminum.
  • the material selection for the porous insert further characterized by the requirement for a porous structure with a porosity preferably 5 in the range of about 3-20 microns.
  • the porous insert 452 may be advantageously manufactured in a process that includes the step of extrusion.
  • the tube assembly 450 includes a tube 454 that may be machined from available tube stock, however an extruded tube such as tube 352 (as exemplified in FIG. 9) may also be used.
  • the tube 454 includes an insert bore 455 for
  • porous insert 452 receiving a porous insert 452, as exemplified in FIG. 11.
  • the porous insert 452 is retained in the tube 454 by a central plug 464, the central plug 464 received in a first and second plug bore 457, 458 of the tube 454.
  • the central plug 464 is further retained in the tube 454 by its shoulder 467 bearing against
  • the shoulder 467 on the central plug 464 corresponds to a step in the diameter of the central plug 464 with a narrowed portion at its upper end that provides an annular channel 465 between the central plug 464 and the second plug bore 458 of the tube 454.
  • the annular channel 465 connects the pressure channels 466 of porous insert 452 with a channel 420 that is formed in the central plug 464 that is in turn connected in use to a first vacuum channel in take-out plate 28.
  • the central plug 464 includes a contoured inside surface 403 that substantially
  • the central plug 464 further includes inlet and an outlet coolant channel 490, 492, and a pressure channel 494, for connection to coolant inlet and outlet channels 116, 118 and a second pressure -channel in the
  • the tube assembly 454 further includes a sleeve 456 that is retained on the outer
  • the tube 454 further includes a groove at its open and for receiving an end seal 404 that provides in use an airtight seal between the preform support ledge 100 and the tube assembly 450 for enclosing the volume formed between the preform 32 and tube assembly 450, thereby enabling the development of the required low vacuum forming pressure.
  • the primary components of the tube assembly 450 are preferably made from a highly thermally conductive material, such as aluminum.
  • the take-out plate 28 provides cooling fluid inlet and outlet channels and first and second vacuum channels to correspond with the ports on the central plug 464.
  • a preform 32 is drawn into the tube assembly 450 by a relatively high flow rate suction acting through the pressure channel 494 that further retains the preform 32 once the preform support ledge 100 is sealed against the end seal 404 thereby stopping air flow.
  • a high vacuum is then applied through the vacuum channel 420 in the central plug 464, then through the annular channel 465 and pressure channels 466, whereupon the vacuum acts through the porous wall of the porous insert 452.
  • the volume of air between the preform 32 and the inner surface 482 of the porous insert 452 is at least partially evacuated to cause the drawing of the preform outer surface into contact with the porous insert 452.
  • the preform 32 is cooled by conduction, its heat moving through a path from the preform outer surface to the porous insert 452, to the tube 454, and to the circulating coolant. Once enough heat has been removed from the preform 32 to ensure that it will retain its shape, the high vacuum acting through the vacuum channels 466 is released and a positive pressure is applied through the pressure channel 494 to assist in the ejection of the preform 32.
  • the tube assembly of the present invention has been described in the context of a plastic injection molding machine, it will be appreciated that it is equally applicable to any technology in which, following part formation, cooling of that part is undertaken by a cooling tube or the like, e.g. in a part transfer mechanism between an injection molding machine and a blow-molding machine.
  • the scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions .

Abstract

L'invention concerne un ensemble tube destiné à être utilisé sur une pièce en plastique moulé malléable. Ledit ensemble tube comprend un insert/tube poreux comportant une surface intérieure profilée, et une structure à vide conçue pour coopérer avec le tube poreux. Lorsque l'ensemble est utilisé, le vide développe une pression réduite à proximité adjacente de la surface intérieure afin d'induire l'entrée en contact de la surface extérieure de la pièce en plastique moulé malléable, située dans l'ensemble tube, avec la surface intérieure de l'insert poreux, et permettre ainsi à une partie substantielle de la surface extérieure de la pièce malléable, lors du refroidissement, d'avoir un profil correspondant sensiblement à celui de la surface intérieure. Le tube de refroidissement peut comporter un tube extrudé comportant au moins un canal de refroidissement produit par extrusion, le tube de refroidissement extrudé peut être conçu pour fonctionner sans l'insert poreux.
EP03750186A 2002-09-19 2003-09-02 Tube de refroidissement et son procede d'utilisation Withdrawn EP1554106A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US246916 1981-03-23
US10/246,916 US6737007B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2002-09-19 Cooling tube with porous insert
US321940 2002-12-17
US10/321,940 US6916168B2 (en) 2002-09-19 2002-12-17 Cooling tube for cooling a portion of an injection molded article
PCT/CA2003/001336 WO2004026561A2 (fr) 2002-09-19 2003-09-02 Tube de refroidissement et son procede d'utilisation

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EP1554106A2 true EP1554106A2 (fr) 2005-07-20

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EP03750186A Withdrawn EP1554106A2 (fr) 2002-09-19 2003-09-02 Tube de refroidissement et son procede d'utilisation

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EP (1) EP1554106A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP4368801B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR100747406B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN1681638B (fr)
AU (1) AU2003269622B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR0314320A (fr)
CA (1) CA2493961C (fr)
IL (1) IL166459A0 (fr)
MX (1) MXPA05002870A (fr)
NO (1) NO20051875L (fr)
NZ (1) NZ538057A (fr)
RU (1) RU2296673C2 (fr)
TW (1) TWI225002B (fr)
WO (1) WO2004026561A2 (fr)

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AU2003269622B2 (en) 2006-09-07
RU2005111552A (ru) 2005-12-10
CA2493961C (fr) 2008-11-18
AU2003269622A1 (en) 2004-04-08
JP2005538869A (ja) 2005-12-22
CN1681638B (zh) 2011-08-24
CA2493961A1 (fr) 2004-04-01
MXPA05002870A (es) 2005-06-22
WO2004026561A3 (fr) 2004-06-24
JP4368801B2 (ja) 2009-11-18
WO2004026561A2 (fr) 2004-04-01
NZ538057A (en) 2006-11-30
TW200416126A (en) 2004-09-01
IL166459A0 (en) 2006-01-15
NO20051875D0 (no) 2005-04-18
TWI225002B (en) 2004-12-11
CN1681638A (zh) 2005-10-12
KR100747406B1 (ko) 2007-08-07
NO20051875L (no) 2005-06-16
BR0314320A (pt) 2005-07-26
RU2296673C2 (ru) 2007-04-10
KR20050047542A (ko) 2005-05-20

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