EP2106867B1 - Gießvorrichtung - Google Patents

Gießvorrichtung Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2106867B1
EP2106867B1 EP09004312.6A EP09004312A EP2106867B1 EP 2106867 B1 EP2106867 B1 EP 2106867B1 EP 09004312 A EP09004312 A EP 09004312A EP 2106867 B1 EP2106867 B1 EP 2106867B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
processing
cylinder
mold
feed stock
casting machine
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.)
Active
Application number
EP09004312.6A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2106867A1 (de
Inventor
Ashley Stone
Martin R. Kestle
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 US12/098,368 external-priority patent/US20090000758A1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2106867A1 publication Critical patent/EP2106867A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2106867B1 publication Critical patent/EP2106867B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B22CASTING; POWDER METALLURGY
    • B22DCASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES
    • B22D17/00Pressure die casting or injection die casting, i.e. casting in which the metal is forced into a mould under high pressure
    • B22D17/007Semi-solid pressure die casting

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to devices for casting or molding parts.
  • Prior art in the field of light alloy castings is based on the premise that a melting pot is required for melting material, after which the molten material is transported into the die-casting machine.
  • the die-casting process is accomplished by melting material in big pot, transferring the material into a machine (manually or by robot) and injecting this molten material into a cavity with high force and low to high speed.
  • molten material resides in a big pot, it is a requirement of the process that the molten material is overheated (superheated). For magnesium this melt temperature is 700°-780° C.
  • Superheated melting is done to overcome cooling losses encountered in the process of melt transfer from pot to the die-casting machine.
  • Intense energy requirements for this process are a major drawback for this technology. Furthermore, handling the melt in the manufacturing process is riddled with losses and melt contamination. Intense oxidation of the melt results in poor castings. Injection of material into the cavity requires high speed, and turbulence from the process often results in extensive inclusions in the castings. Defects of this nature are detrimental for applications in the automotive industry, particularly for castings related to vehicle safety. From the above brief description of the current state of the art we can see a need for more efficient machines that will reduce energy consumption to a minimum and totally eliminate Green House Gas (GHG) use.
  • GFG Green House Gas
  • Die-casting is a manufacturing process used to produce a part in near-net shape with high dimensional accuracy and a good surface finish in a short cycle time.
  • the casting industry branched in two directions: Melt processing, where hot and cold chamber casting dominate, and semi solid slurry processing where Rheomolding and Thixomolding® routes have been adopted.
  • Cornell research foundation's U.S. Patent No. 5,501,266 discloses a process called Rheomolding.
  • Superheated liquid metal supplied from outside is cooled into a semi-solid state in the barrel of a special vertical-injection molding machine, with the growing dendrites of the solid state broken into small and nearly spherical particles by the shearing force generated by the screw and barrel.
  • the melt must be superheated up to 100° C above liquidus temperature.
  • the metal dies or molds, as they are known in the plastics industry
  • molten metal gets solidified into a predetermined shape. Once sufficiently cooled, the part is removed from the die.
  • the second well known process for casting light metal alloys is the hot chamber die casting method.
  • a hot chamber die casting machine we can see a hot chamber die casting machine.
  • the pressure chamber (cylinder) and the plunger are submerged in the molten metal in the pot (crucible).
  • Hot chamber die casting means, compared to cold chamber, that the molten metal is transported directly into the die via a heated channel called a "gooseneck", thus minimizing heat loss.
  • both of the above-mentioned processes use melt that is heated to higher than optimal casting temperatures to compensate for heat losses.
  • Hot chamber die-casting does not require the melt to be as hot as in cold chamber. To reduce heat losses of the melt, a significant portion of the injection system is submerged in molten metal at all times. The benefit of hot chamber die-casting is that melt travels a short distance and the cycle time is reduced.
  • high temperature and continued exposure to aggressive melt creates severe material deterioration problems.
  • both processes suffer poor reliability due to lack of suitable materials for melt containment and no means to overcome melt corrosion and high pressure and high applicable temperature. Both processes suffer from material shrinkage in the cast parts, from 5-15%.
  • Figure 16 shows an injection molding apparatus adopted from thermoplastic processing.
  • This apparatus has a composite cylinder with an inner diameter of 50 to 200mm and a length of approximately 2 to 5m.
  • a specially devised drive is coupled to a retractable helical screw designed to transport the alloy material along the cylinder.
  • the heat to melt the metal alloy is provided by a series of heated zones arranged along the cylinder.
  • the forward end of the cylinder is closed by the cylinder cover but allows material transfer into a nozzle portion at the distal end of the cylinder.
  • a specially designed check valve is placed at the forward end of the screw to facilitate injection of the molten slurry into the mold.
  • the cylinder is called a barrel and whole assembly is well known as an extruder.
  • the cylinder can be a monolithic tube or made from Inconel 718 with specially fitted Stellite liner to reduce corrosion. Stellite is a Cobalt alloy with specific corrosion and abrasion properties suitable to contain and convey molten magnesium.
  • solid chips of alloy material are supplied to the injection molding apparatus through a feeder portion often called a hopper.
  • the size of the chips is approximately 2-3 mm in diameter and generally is no longer than 10-12 mm.
  • the chips are produced from standard die casting alloys in ingot form.
  • the ingots are chipped to size by a separate machine designed for this purpose.
  • the comminuted chips are fed into a hopper and further processed in the injection molding extruder into a supposedly preferential state called a slurry-like melt, which is, in its best form, in a partially molten state.
  • the injection screw shears the melt and pushes the melt forward over a check valve on the distal end of the extruder and is subsequently injected into a closed and clamped injection mold.
  • the machine nozzle dispenses the thixotropic slurry into a mold portion of the SSIM apparatus, often called a sprue.
  • the sprue is a part of the mold assembly not described in
  • a casting machine made in accordance with one aspect of the present invention includes a processing cylinder formed in a thermally conductive block, said processing cylinder having a processing chamber and opposite first and second ends, the first end of the processing cylinder being configured to receive the metal feed stock.
  • the machine further includes an injector cylinder formed in the thermally conductive block adjacent the processing cylinder, the injector cylinder having a shooting pot coupled to the second end of the processing cylinder by a passage configured to permit feed stock to pass from the processing cylinder into the shooting pot, a nozzle coupled to the injector cylinder configured to couple to the mold.
  • the device includes a processing drive for driving the feed stock from the first end of the processing cylinder through the passage into the shooting pot and a heater thermally coupled to the processing cylinder.
  • the heater and processing cylinder are configured to heat the feed stock such that the feed stock becomes progressively more liquid as it passes from the first to the second end of the processing cylinder.
  • the machine further includes an injector plunger coupled to an injector actuator for driving the plunger sufficiently to force the metal from the shooting pot through the nozzle and into the mold.
  • a casting machine made in accordance with another aspect of the present invention includes a thermally conductive block having a processing cylinder and an adjacent injector cylinder formed therein.
  • the processing cylinder has opposite first and second ends, the first end configured to receive casting feed stock.
  • the block is thermally coupled to a heater.
  • the heater, block and processing cylinder are configured to heat the feed stock such that the feed stock becomes progressively more liquid as it passes from the first to the second end of the processing cylinder.
  • the injector cylinder has a shooting pot and an injector plunger coupled to a nozzle, the shooting pot being coupled to the second end of the feed stock processing cylinder by a passage.
  • the passage is configured to permit the one way movement of heated feed stock from the processing cylinder into the shooting pot.
  • the injector plunger is configured to inject the heated feed stock through the nozzle and into the mold.
  • a casting machine made in accordance with another aspect of the present invention includes a mold having a plurality of mold portions, each mold portion configured to mold a different portion of the part.
  • the casting machine further includes a plurality of molding units, each molding unit being coupled to one of said portions for molding said portion.
  • Each molding unit includes a thermally conductive block with a processing cylinder formed therein, said processing cylinder having opposite first and second ends, the first end configured to receive the feed stock.
  • the block is thermally coupled to a heater, which together with the block and the processing cylinder are configured to heat the feed stock such that the feed stock becomes progressively more liquid as it passes from the first to the second end of the processing cylinder.
  • the molding unites further include an injector cylinder formed in the block adjacent the processing cylinder, the injector cylinder having a shooting pot, an injector plunger and a nozzle, the nozzle being coupled to the mold portion.
  • the shooting pot is coupled to the second end of the feed stock processing cylinder by a passage configured to permit the movement of heated feed stock from the processing cylinder into the shooting pot.
  • the injector plunger is configured to inject the heated feed stock through the nozzle and into the mold.
  • the cast part is preferably produced from magnesium alloy, preferably AZ91D, in a novel machine that will be illustrated and described below.
  • This apparatus and method of casting high integrity parts is not limited to magnesium alloys and is equally applicable to any other type of metal, such as aluminum (A1), zinc alloys and any other alloy suitable for semisolid or liquidus processing.
  • a high integrity part is understood to be one with minimal or no porosity or inclusions and metallurgical composition with a preferred dendrites free structure.
  • specific temperature ranges used in the description will be relevant for magnesium alloy, but do not preclude the use of other alloys.
  • the maximum operating temperature for this invention is preferably 700°C, however the actual operating temperature is limited only by the current availability of special materials capable of withstanding the harsh conditions imposed by liquid alloys.
  • Other raw material that can be successfully processed according to this invention could potentially come from materials with much higher melt temperatures but when combined with at least one additional metallic alloy or at least one ceramic composition and/or structure will be processable at temperatures less than 700°C.
  • the present invention may find use in other molding applications such as thermosets, liquid metal, composites, powder metal molding and/or other process where processing temperature does not exceed 700°C.
  • the above-mentioned raw materials can be used in various forms and physical shapes where the only limitation is that they are in a preferential form that maximizes outside surface of the forms for maximum heat uptake. Heat energy is absorbed by conduction, and the amount of heat is proportional to the surface temperature of the bulk material.
  • the preferential form of the material would be one that absorbs a large quantity of heat as quickly as possible at a uniform rate through the total bulk of the material. Reducing the size of the particles of the feedstock can artificially increase the surface area.
  • Preferred particle shapes are formed of prolate spheroid (football like shapes) where polar diameter is 6-16mm and equatorial diameter is 2-4 mm.
  • the present invention is a casting machine unit for metal alloys and is shown generally as item 200, which has a thermally conductive block 10 (also called a processing barrel) having a plurality of processing cylinders 11 formed therein adjacent to and surrounding a centrally positioned injection cylinder 250 which is also formed in the block 10.
  • a thermally conductive block 10 also called a processing barrel
  • processing cylinders 11 Each of the processing cylinders 11 have opposite first ends 260 and second ends 262.
  • First end 260 is configured to receive the feed stock (not shown).
  • Second end 262 is coupled to shooting pot 19 of injector cylinder 250 by passage 13.
  • Processing plungers (also called stuffer rods) 84 are provided to drive the feed stock from first end 260 towards second end 262.
  • Heater 50 is coupled to block 10 and provides sufficient heat to progressively melt the feed stock as it passes from ends 260 to 262 such that the feed stock becomes progressively more liquid as it passes to end 262.
  • heater 50 and processing cylinders 11 are shaped such that the feed stock is not completely melted (i.e. liquidous) when it exits end 262 and passes to shooting pot 19.
  • Processing plunger 84 is coupled to a processing drive 26 (see figure 1 ) which is configured to urge the feed stock sufficiently such that it passes into shooting pot 19.
  • the feed stock may, under the right circumstances, be driven simply by the force of gravity; however, the processing drive preferably consists of an actuator of some type such as a pneumatic or hydraulic piston.
  • Injection plunger 20 is likewise coupled to an injector actuator or drive 22 which is configured to force the feed stock in shooting pot 19 through nozzle 21 and into the mold 60 and 62.
  • FIG. 1 this figure shows the general external configuration of the device.
  • Tie rods 42 and nuts 44 connect the upper platen 56 to an upper plate 34 which is connected to cylinders 22, 24 and 26.
  • Cylinder 22 contains piston 28 which is connected to injection plunger 20. This arrangement provides vertical movement of the plunger 20.
  • Cylinders 26 contain pistons 32 which are connected to a first member (also called stuffer plate) 80 by nuts 82.
  • the stuffer plate 80 is connected to the processing plungers 84 with screws 78. This arrangement provides vertical movement of the processing plungers 84.
  • Cylinders 24 contain pistons 30 which are connected to the top plate (or cap) 36. This arrangement provides a clamping force which keeps the stack of hot components loaded vertically in compression during the operation of the machine and eliminates the requirement for high-temperature fasteners.
  • Lower platen 58 holds the lower half of the mold 62 and can move downwards to open the mold and allow removal of the cast part.
  • Feed housing 64 has an opening into which the feedstock is supplied. Insulated blanket 48 prevents excessive heat loss from the hot internal components to the rest of the machine or the environment.
  • the vertically oriented thermally conductive block 10 receives solid metal feedstock from a port 63 in a feed housing 64, melts the metal feedstock and injects it using an injection plunger 20 into a mold 60 and 62 to create a solid metal part.
  • the feedstock is distributed across the upper surface of the thermally conductive block 10 using a rotating distributor 66.
  • the feedstock enters one or more vertical processing cylinders 11 in the thermally conductive block 10.
  • Motor 88 drives a pinion 86 which meshes with and drives gear 68.
  • Gear 68 is attached to the rotating distributor 66 using screws 70.
  • Distributor 66 can be stopped in a position where slots 67 in the distributor 66 align with the processing cylinders 11 in the thermally conductive block 10.
  • One or more processing plungers 84 reciprocate vertically through the slots 67 in the distributor 66 and inside the processing cylinders 11 in the thermally conductive block 10 to push the feedstock downward into the thermally conductive block 10. When in the uppermost position, the processing plungers 84 are clear of the distributor 66 such that the distributor 66 can rotate.
  • the thermally conductive block 10 is heated by heaters 50. Excessive heat loss to the environment and adjacent machine components is prevented by an insulating blanket 48.
  • the feedstock is pushed by the processing plungers 84 such that it makes contact with the walls of the processing cylinders 11 in the thermally conductive block 10 and is melted either partially or fully.
  • the resulting slurry is pushed by the processing plungers 84 through a passage 13 in the upper surface of the cap 12 which opens a check valve 16 off its seat 14 allowing the slurry to enter the shooting pot 19 beneath the injection plunger 20.
  • the injection plunger 20 has sealing rings 90 which prevent most of the material from flowing upwards past the rings 90.
  • any material which does leak past the sealing rings 90 is returned to the external processing cylinders 11 in the thermally conductive block 10 through angled drillings 15.
  • the injection plunger 20 is forced downwards at high speed by the piston 28 which moves inside cylinder 22.
  • the pressure of the slurry and gravity close the check valve 16 against seat 14 which prevents the pressurized slurry from returning into the processing cylinders 11 through passage 13.
  • the pressurized slurry is forced from the shooting pot 19 of the thermally conductive block 10 through the cap 12 and the nozzle 21 into the mold 60 and 62 which is held between an upper platen 56 and a lower platen 58.
  • the mold removes heat from the slurry such that a solid part is cast.
  • a heater 52 maintains the temperature of the cap 12 so that the slurry does not solidify inside it.
  • Another heater 54 maintains the temperature of the nozzle 21 when it is engaged with the mold 60 such that the slurry does not solidify inside the nozzle 21.
  • Tie rods 42 and nuts 44 couple the upper platen 56 to the upper plate 34 which provides a suitably rigid base for the cylinders 22.
  • tie rods 42 and nuts 44 couple the upper platen 56 to the upper plate 34 which provides a suitably rigid base for the cylinders 22 and 24.
  • Pistons 30 push down on top plate 36.
  • Top plate 36 pushes on the upper ring 38 which is designed to minimize heat flow from the hot components underneath to the cooler top plate 36.
  • the outer edge of the upper ring 38 has a retainer 74 which holds a bearing 72 which supports the distributor 66 and allows it to rotate. Screws 76 clamp the bearing 72 between the upper ring 38 and the retainer 74.
  • a scraper ring 40 is clamped between the upper surface of the thermally conductive block 10 and the upper ring 38.
  • the scraper ring 40 removes any material which may have leaked past the sealing rings 90 and has become stuck to the injection plunger 20. This material is returned to the external processing cylinders in the thermally conductive block 10 through angled drillings 15.
  • a sealing ring 18 prevents slurry from escaping to the outside through the joint between the cap 12 and the thermally conductive block 10. Leakage from the high pressure zone in the center bore of the thermally conductive block through the joint between the thermally conductive block 10 and the cap 12 is minimized by the high clamping forces provided by the clamping cylinders 24 and pistons 30. Any leakage from this joint simply mixes with the low-pressure slurry in the adjacent gallery in the cap 12.
  • Figure 4 shows a little more clearly the motor 88 which drives a pinion 86 which meshes with and drives gear 68.
  • Figure 17 shows how processing plungers 84 pass through openings 67 in distributor member 66 and between projecting fingers 67a.
  • Figures 5 through 9 show the sequence of operation of the devices.
  • the components are positioned such that the slurry is ready to be injected into the mold 60 and 62 by the injection plunger 20.
  • Nozzle ports ports in the lower end of cap 12
  • channels in the mold 60 and 62 to accept the slurry.
  • the slurry inside the nozzle ports (lower thin part of cap 12) is in a semi-solid state which prevents premature flow into the mold.
  • piston 24 pushes injection plunger 20 downwards to inject the slurry into the mold 60 and 62.
  • the pressure of the slurry overcomes the resistance to flow through the nozzle ports (ports in the cap 12).
  • processing plungers 84 may start to move upwards in preparation for receiving more solid feedstock through the feed housing 64. Once the part has been cast, it freezes off forming plugs of solidified material in the nozzle ports.
  • the processing plungers 84 are in the uppermost position which allows distributor ring 66 to rotate, distributing feedstock from the feed housing 64 into the top chamber of the thermally conductive block 10, the mold lower half 62, concurrently opens fully to allow the cast part to be extracted.
  • the processing plungers 84 are moving downward to push feedstock into the external processing cylinders in thermally conductive block 10. Feedstock which has already melted fully or partially is forced through a channel in the accumulation chamber (the upper surface of cap 12) through check valve 16 into the shooting pot (the cavity below the injection plunger 20), forcing the injection plunger to move upwards. Once the processing plungers 84 stop their downward movement, check valve 16 closes by gravity, preventing back-flow. This cycle can be repeated two or more times during each molding cycle to accumulate sufficient slurry to form the next cast part.
  • FIG 10 illustrates one such embodiment 100 which consists of a concentric structure of a processing barrel.
  • the processing chamber (or cylinder) 116 is around the injector barrel 110 and coupled to the shooting pot by passage 115.
  • the heaters (not shown) are mounted on the outside wall of the processing cylinder.
  • an alternate embodiment 120a which includes the injector cylinder 111 with plunger and shooting pot is in the centre.
  • the heaters (not shown) are mounted on the outside wall of the injector barrel.
  • External processing cylinders 122a are positioned around the injector barrel and each of them is heated separately.
  • On the bottom of the external processing cylinders a transfer valve can be mounted. Usually the bottom is directly connected to the accumulation chamber.
  • the feedstock conditioner 130a is used to eliminate moisture and oxygen molecules attached to the particles of feedstock material.
  • Preferred feedstock material is prolate spheroid (football like shape) but similar elongated cylinders or cigar shaped forms are also useable. For practicality reasons these ideally suited shapes are an approximation of the elongated chopped spaghetti chips. Solid ingots could further be cut or machined or chopped into suitably designed forms that closely resemble preferred shapes.
  • This invention is not limited by the type of feedstock used. This invention only requires comminuted material due to the need for short residence time processing to preserve the preferred metallurgical characteristics of the feedstock.
  • the preferred embodiment of this invention is to preserve all inherited feedstock properties and not change them.
  • the preferred embodiment of the feedstock conditioner 130a heats the feedstock to a maximum temperature of 425°C for magnesium.
  • the heat energy used by conditioner 130a comes from cooling mold 60 via a mold cooler. Mold cooler is coupled to conditioner 130a by pipes 101a, pump 102, pipe 100 and return pipe 101. A suitable heat transfer medium (or coolant) flows through the cooler, pipes and pump.
  • Heat removed from the cast part is conductively brought into the feedstock conditioner, and under an atmosphere of hot argon, proper purging of the feedstock material is accomplished. So, high energy efficiency is achieved by this invention when energy added to melt during viscosity modulation is then recovered and used for material pre-heating, therefore returned back into the process and not rejected into the atmosphere as is done in earlier disclosures cited here for reference.
  • Use of the heated argon in the preferred embodiment facilitates a bubbling effect of the feedstock where the feedstock behaves as a liquid for uniform heat transfer by convection and in addition to conduction. In addition to recovered energy, additional electrical energy may be added to this part of the process.
  • the feedstock is advanced into a feedstock distributor via tube 131 by gravity or by way of powered auger metering (not shown).
  • the mold heating/cooling plates are made to remove heat from the castings. Heating/cooling plates are attached to the mold to maintain optimal mold temperature.
  • the mold is heated to optimum temperature using an electric heater element (not shown) placed into the heater channel 5.
  • an electric heater element not shown
  • Heat is imparted to the mold and the cooling plate.
  • Atomized water 80% air and 20% water
  • Atomized water is injected into the cooling channels 1 through nozzles 4 inserted into holes 2.
  • the water droplets Smaller than 200 microns and preferably between 25 to 75 microns
  • the gaseous water is then forced to exit the cooling plate through the exhaust port 3 using compressed air from the spray nozzle.
  • the spray is turned off and compressed air is used to chase any remaining steam out.
  • the heater plate sits on the top of the cooling plate and faces the mold insert.
  • the cooling-heating plate has one side dedicated to cooling and on the other side facing the cavity insert electrical heaters are inserted into grooves.
  • At least one temperature feedback device is attached to the heating and/or cooling side of the plate to effectively and controllably regulate the temperature of the plate.
  • oil is not a good thermal conductor of heat and is very inefficient as either a cooling or heating medium. Because of this, expensive and large heat exchangers are used to heat a large volume of oil and for removing heat from the oil, water is then used. As well, often at such high operating temperatures oil fittings leak and constant potential for environmental contamination exists.
  • a modular molding machine made in accordance with one aspect of this invention is shown generally as item 160 and consists of a plurality (in this case two) of molding units 162.
  • Molding units 162 are each identical in every way to casting machine 200 shown in figure 1 and discussed above.
  • the molding units 162 each have a molding nozzle 21 which is coupled to a different portion of mold 130.
  • Each portion of mold 130 casts (or molds) a different portion of the finished part (not shown), therefore each molding unit 162 casts (or molds) a different portion of the part.
  • the cast part When the mold opens, the cast part is attached to the core portion of the mold and is presented to a robot for removal. Suitably placed ejector push rods facilitate removal of the casting. It is well known in the art that the process of part removal can be done with various automated machines such as robot devices.
  • the cavity inserts molding surfaces are conditioned for the next casting cycle by applying suitable means of mold release or mold lubricant by automatic means.
  • the present invention has several advantages over the prior art.
  • the arrangement of processing cylinder and shooting pot adjacent to one another in the same physical block of material offers a number of advantages compared with the prior art. Firstly, heat is effectively transferred from the heaters through the block to the shooting pot. Additional heaters are not required to maintain the shooting pot temperature as they are in a thixomolding machine. Also, the additional wall thickness of the cylinder provides improved resistance to cracking of the inner wall of the shooting pot due to the high internal stresses at that location. Also, any minor leaks from the high-pressure area of the shooting pot cannot escape directly into the environment as in a thixomolding machine, the leakage simply returns to the low-pressure chamber of the processing cylinder.
  • this cylinder arrangement is extremely compact compared with the prior art.
  • the vertical orientation of the device ensures that the liquid or semi-solid material being processed does not contaminate the solid portion of the feed material when the machine is not in operation.
  • the multiple processing cylinders offer increased surface area for conduction of heat to the feedstock.
  • the diameter of these cylinders can be independently dimensioned to that of the shooting pot, unlike a typical thixomolding machine where the cylinder is one diameter.
  • this compact, single block construction is less expensive to manufacture than the equivalent functional assemblies of hot-chamber die casting or thixomolding machines.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Injection Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Claims (19)

  1. Eine Gießmaschine zum Gießen von Teilen in einer Form aus einem Metall unter der Verwendung eines metallischen Ausgangsmaterials, welche Vorrichtung umfasst:
    a) einen Prozesszylinder (11), der in einem Wärmeleitblock (10) gebildet ist, welcher Prozesszylinder (11) eine Prozesskammer und gegenüberliegende erste (260) und zweite (262) Enden hat, welches erste Ende des Prozesszylinders konfiguriert ist, das metallische Ausgangsmaterial zu empfangen;
    b) einen Injektorzylinder (250), der in dem Wärmeleitblock (10) neben dem Prozesszylinder (11) gebildet ist, welcher Injektorzylinder (250) ein Abschussgefäß (19) hat, das mit dem zweiten Ende (262) des Prozesszylinders durch einen Kanal (13) verbunden und konfiguriert ist, zu erlauben, das Ausgangsmaterial von dem Prozesszylinder (11) in das Abschussgefäß (19) zu leiten, eine Düse (21), die mit dem Injektorzylinder (250) verbunden und konfiguriert ist, mit der Form verbunden zu werden,
    c) einen Prozessantrieb (26) zum Vortreiben des Ausgangsmaterials von dem ersten Ende des Prozesszylinders (11) durch den Kanal (13) in das Abschussgefäß (19), einen Erhitzer (50), der mit dem Prozesszylinder (11) wärmeleitend verbunden ist, welcher Erhitzer und Prozesszylinder konfiguriert sind, das Ausgangsmaterial so zu erhitzen, dass das Ausgangsmaterial zunehmend mehr flüssig wird, wenn es von dem ersten zu dem zweiten Ende des Prozesszylinders (11) gelangt, und
    d) einen Düsenkolben (20), der mit einem Düsenaktuator (22, 28) zum Bewegen des Düsenkolbens (20) verbunden ist, um das Metall von dem Abschussgefäß (19) durch die Düse (21) und in die Form (60, 62) zu treiben.
  2. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 1, bei welcher der Injektorzylinder (250) und der Prozesszylinder (11) nebeneinander positioniert sind.
  3. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 2, die eine Mehrzahl von Prozesszylindern (11) aufweist, die den Injektorzylinder (250) umgeben.
  4. Eine Gießvorrichtung zum Gießen eines Teils in einer Form, welche Gießvorrichtung eine Mehrzahl von Gießmaschinen wie im Anspruch 1 definiert aufweist, die mit der Form verbunden sind.
  5. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 3, bei welcher der Injektorzylinder (250) und die Prozesszylinder (11) in einem einzigen Wärmeleitblock (10) gebildet sind.
  6. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 5, bei welcher jeder der Prozesszylinder (11) mit dem Kanal (13) verbunden ist.
  7. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 6, bei welcher der Kanal (13) ein größeres Volumen als das Abschussgefäß (19) hat.
  8. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 1, bei welcher der Prozessantrieb (26) einen Prozesskolben (84) aufweist, der mit einem Prozessaktuator (32) verbunden ist, der konfiguriert ist, den Prozesskolben (84) in dem Prozesszylinder (11) zwischen dem ersten (260) und zweiten (262) Ende des Prozesszylinders (11) zu bewegen.
  9. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 3, welche weiterhin einen Verteiler (66) zum Verteilen des Ausgangsmaterials von einem Materialzufuhrgehäuse (64) in jeden der Prozesszylinder (11) aufweist.
  10. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 8, bei welcher der Prozessantrieb (26) einen Prozesskolben (84) für jeden Prozesszylinder (11) aufweist, der mit einem Prozessaktuator (32) verbunden ist, der zum Bewegen der Prozesskolben in den Prozesszylindern zwischen den ersten und den zweiten Enden der Prozesszylinder konfiguriert ist.
  11. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 10, bei welcher der Prozessantrieb weiterhin einen Stopfplatte (80) aufweist, die mit jedem der Prozesskolben (84) verbunden ist, und welche Stopfplatte mit dem Prozessaktuator (32) verbunden ist.
  12. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 9, welche weiterhin einen Verteiler (66) zum Verteilen des Ausgangsmaterials von einem Materialzufuhrgehäuse (64) in jeden der Prozesszylinder (11) aufweist, welcher Verteiler ein ringförmiges Element aufweist, das drehbar an dem Block neben den ersten Enden (260) der Prozesszylinder (11) montiert ist, welches ringförmige Element wenigstens einen Finger hat, der dimensioniert ist, das Ausgangsmaterial unter den Prozesszylindern aufzuteilen, wenn sich das ringförmige Element dreht.
  13. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 11, welche weiterhin einen Verteiler zum Verteilen des Ausgangsmaterials von einem Materialzufuhrgehäuse (64) in jeden der Prozesszylinder (11) aufweist, welcher Verteiler ein ringförmiges Element (66) aufweist, das drehbar an dem Block neben den ersten Enden (260) der Prozesszylinder (11) montiert ist, welches ringförmige Element eine Mehrzahl von Fingern hat, die dimensioniert sind, das Ausgangsmaterial unter den Prozesszylindern aufzuteilen, welches ringförmige Element (66) eine Mehrzahl von Kanälen (67) hat, um den Prozesskolben zu ermöglichen, dadurch zu gehen, welcher Prozesskolbenantrieb weiterhin konfiguriert ist, die Kolben von dem Prozesszylindern und weg von dem ringförmigen Element zurückzuziehen, um dem ringförmigen Element zu ermöglichen, sich relativ zu den Prozesszylindern zu drehen.
  14. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 1, bei welcher das Abschussgefäß (19) mit dem zweiten Ende (262) des Ausgangsmaterialprozesszylinders durch einen Kanal (13) verbunden ist, der konfiguriert ist, eine Einwegbewegung des erhitzten Ausgangsmaterials von dem Prozesszylinder in das Abschussgefäß zu ermöglichen.
  15. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 14, bei welcher der Kanal (13) ein Rückschlagventil (16) aufweist, um die Einwegbewegung des erhitzten Ausgangsmaterials zu ermöglichen.
  16. Die Gießmaschine des Anspruchs 1, die weiterhin eine Deckelplatte (36) aufweist, die auf dem Wärmeleitblock (10) neben den ersten Enden (260) der Prozesszylinder montiert ist, welche Deckelplatte konfiguriert ist, zu ermöglichen, dass die Prozess- (84) und Düsenkolben (20) dadurch gehen, welcher Wärmeleitblock eine Montageplatte (56) neben der Form (60, 62) hat und weiterhin einen Kompressionsaktuator (24, 30) aufweist, der mit der Deckelplatte (36) und der Montageplatte (34) verbunden ist, um die Deckelplatte (36), den Block (10) und die Montageplatte (56) unter Druck zu halten.
  17. Die Gießmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 16, bei welcher der Wärmeleitblock (10) isoliert ist.
  18. Die Gießmaschine nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 17, die weiterhin einen Formkühler zum Entfernen der Wärme von der Form aufweist, welcher Formkühler konfiguriert ist, einen Teil der von der Form entfernten Wärme zu dem Ausgangsmaterial zu führen, bevor das Ausgangsmaterial in den Prozesszylinder eintritt.
  19. Eine Maschine zum Gießen eines Teils aus einem Ausgangsmaterial, welche Maschine eine Form, die eine Mehrzahl von Formabschnitten hat, wobei jede der Formabschnitte konfiguriert ist, einen unterschiedlichen Abschnitt des Teils zu formen, und eine Mehrzahl von Gießvorrichtungen nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 17 aufweist, und jede der Gießeinrichtungen mit einem der Abschnitte zum Gießen dieses Abschnitts verbunden ist.
EP09004312.6A 2008-04-04 2009-03-26 Gießvorrichtung Active EP2106867B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US12/098,368 US20090000758A1 (en) 2007-04-06 2008-04-04 Device for Casting

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2106867A1 EP2106867A1 (de) 2009-10-07
EP2106867B1 true EP2106867B1 (de) 2013-11-27

Family

ID=40846992

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09004312.6A Active EP2106867B1 (de) 2008-04-04 2009-03-26 Gießvorrichtung

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2106867B1 (de)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN113953459B (zh) * 2021-10-26 2023-10-13 马鞍山迪川机械设备有限公司 一种新能源设备精密零件批量铸造模具
CN116851695B (zh) * 2023-07-31 2023-12-08 宁波市镇海欣胜金属制品有限公司 一种合金钢压铸设备及其压铸方法

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5501266A (en) 1994-06-14 1996-03-26 Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. Method and apparatus for injection molding of semi-solid metals
US6405784B2 (en) * 2000-04-28 2002-06-18 Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd. Injection molding method of metal mold
JP3783203B2 (ja) * 2001-03-12 2006-06-07 日精樹脂工業株式会社 低融点金属材料の射出装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2106867A1 (de) 2009-10-07

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10046386B2 (en) Device for casting
EP0765198B2 (de) Verfahren und vorrichtung für das spritzgiessen von metallen in halbfesten zustand
US6070643A (en) High vacuum die casting
US6021840A (en) Vacuum die casting of amorphous alloys
EP0859677B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum herstellen halbfester, thixotroper metallpasten
EP1415740B1 (de) Vorrichtung zum Schmelzen und Giessen von Materialien
US7028746B2 (en) Apparatus for molding metals
US5979535A (en) Methods for semi-melting injection molding
US20060151138A1 (en) Semi-solid molding method
KR101010287B1 (ko) 용융 알루미늄 고압 압출 장치 및 방법
US20040144516A1 (en) Method and apparatus for thixotropic molding of semisolid alloys
EP1132162B1 (de) Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Giessen von Metall
EP2106867B1 (de) Gießvorrichtung
US7121321B2 (en) Die-casting machine
US20030051851A1 (en) Devices and methods for melting materials
US7036551B2 (en) Method of molding low melting point metal alloy
US20070277952A1 (en) Rapid localized directional solidification of liquid or semi-solid material contained by media mold
CN100455381C (zh) 脱氧浇铸方法和脱氧浇铸设备
CN112658226A (zh) 一种不等厚深腔壳型铝合金构件挤压铸造装置及其使用方法
WO2021099980A1 (en) Die-casting mould and relative die-casting process
CN1819883A (zh) 水平式直接冷硬铸造设备和方法
Czerwinski et al. Basic and Auxiliary Hardware
Kallien et al. Pressure casting
EP1787740A2 (de) In situ Herstellung- und Zuführungsapparat und -verfahren von halbfestem Metall
JP2001105110A (ja) 金属成形方法及び金属成形装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA RS

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20100330

AKX Designation fees paid

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20111018

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20130619

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 642467

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20131215

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140123

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: VDEP

Effective date: 20131127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 642467

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20131127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20140227

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20140327

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20140326

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20140828

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140828

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: MM4A

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140326

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140331

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20140331

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

Representative=s name: JAESCHKE, RAINER, DIPL.-ING., DE

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: MEYER, NISVETA, DE

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: STONE, ASHLEY, WASHAGO, ON, CA

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20140228

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20090326

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 9

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 10

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131127

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R082

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R081

Ref document number: 602009020351

Country of ref document: DE

Owner name: MEYER, EDO, DE

Free format text: FORMER OWNER: MEYER, NISVETA, 22926 AHRENSBURG, DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732E

Free format text: REGISTERED BETWEEN 20210311 AND 20210317

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20230319

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20230320

Year of fee payment: 15

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20240326

Year of fee payment: 16

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20240323

Year of fee payment: 16