GB1144491A - Compression moulding machine - Google Patents

Abstract

1,144,491. Platen latching means. TANGYES Ltd. 7 March, 1966 [9 March, 1965], No. 9880/65. Heading B5A. In a compression moulding machine comprising a vertically reciprocable, piston 15 actuated, lower platen structure 17 and an upper platen structure 18 which is pivotable about a horizontal shaft 36 from an open to a closed position in which it is then latched and wherein a mould tool 23 is then pressed into contact with mould tool 24, the upper platen is pivotably actuated by a double-acting power cylinder 32 piston-rod which is connected to one arm 35a of a bell-crank lever 35, fixed on the shaft 36, and the other arm 35b whereof is connected to the top platen structure 17 with lost motion, between the top platen 20 and an abutment member 40 attached thereto. A pair of latch bars 29 are each located in a groove 27 along one side of the top platen 20 and are each connected to an arm 42 fixed to the horizontal shaft 36, via universally articulated fork members (43), Fig. 2, not shown, whereby during the period that the lost motion between the platen 20 and arm 35b is being taken up, the bars 29 are displaced along the grooves 27 and, via fixed elements (31) engaging in inclined grooves (30) (Fig. 3, not shown), on the lower face of the bars (29), are displaced transversely respectively into or out of locking engagement between the grooves (27) and opposed grooves on the moulding press frame. The press may be operated in an automatic sequence by an automatic timing device and a guard arrangement for protecting the operator is provided whereby an interlock prevents opening of the guard when the top platen 18 is in operative position and to prevent lowering of the top platen 18 when the guard is open. The lower platen structure is retracted by a pair of fluid-pressure cylinders 46. The shaft 36 also loosely carries pivotal hinge members 39 secured to the platen 20.