GB2108622A

GB2108622A - Tool mountings

Info

Publication number: GB2108622A
Application number: GB08230403A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Josef Orlik
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-06
Filing date: 1982-10-25
Publication date: 1983-05-18
Also published as: DE3240499C2; DE3240499A1; CH659023A5; ATA477781A; SE8206284D0; FR2516015A1; GB2108622B; AT381893B; SE453809B; SE8206284L

Abstract

A fixing device for fixing tools for injection molding, deep-drawing, extruding, stamping or the like manufacturing machines, which tools consist of two parts, which are periodically movable towards and away from each other in operation, comprising for each of the two tool parts a plate (1) mounting on the machine and a backing plate (5) to carry the tool part. One of the plates (plate (1) is shown) is provided with at least two longitudinal bores (3), which extend in the direction of the working movement, and at least two transverse bores (4). Pinlike clamping members (7) protruding from the respective other plate (5) are adapted to be inserted into these longitudinal bores and each has a transverse bore (7b). A tightening bolt (8) is adapted to be introduced into each transverse bore (4) of the plate and has an eccentric portion (8a) to engage in transverse bores (76) so that when the clamping members have been fully introduced into the longitudinal bores the backing plate (5) can be clamped to the mounting plate (1) by a rotation of the tightening bolts. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixing device This invention relates to a fixing device for fixing tools in manufacturing machines, such as particularly injection molding, deep-drawing, extruding and stamping machines, which tools comprise two parts, which are periodically movable toward and away from each other in operation.

Such machines are presently provided for each of the two tool parts with a machine-side mounting plate which has fixing bores and to which the backing plate of the associated tool part can be fixed by screws inserted through the fixing bores. Another known fixing method uses clamping claws for connecting the backing plates of the tools to the machine-side mounting plates.

Both these fixing arrangements are most complicated and time-consuming and often require the use of special fixing tools because it is often difficult to get access to the rear side of the mounting plates. Owing to this difficulty of access, the fixing and releasing of the tool often involves a dropping of washers, nuts and clamping claws.

Besides, a frequency change of the tools results in a stripping of the screw threads of the bolts and tapped bores which are used. All this increases the down time of the machine at the expense of production.

For this reason it is an object of the invention to eliminate these disadvantages and to provide a fixing device by which the tools can be fixed most quickly and most reliably. The device should be so designed that even existing machines can easily be altered for the use of the new system.

In a fixing device for fixing tools for injection molding, deep-drawing, extruding, stamping or the like manufacturing machines, which tools consist of two parts, which are periodically movable towards and away from each other in operation, comprising for each of the two tool parts a mounting plate having bores for the fixing of the tool part, which is provided with a backing plate, this object is accomplished according to the invention in that the machine-side mounting plates, or intermediate plates which are adapted to be screw-connected to said machine-side mounting plates by means of existing fixing bores, or the backing plates of the tool parts, are provided with at least two longitudinal bores, which extend in the direction of working movement (axial direction) of the machine and are preferably diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the axis of the machine, and with at least two transverse bores, which intersect respective longitudinal bores at right angles, the longitudinal bores are adapted to receive pinlike clamping memebers, which protrude at right angles from the respective other plate (backing plate or mounting plate or intermediate plate), each of said clamping members has a preferably flattened transverse bore, the axis of which is substantially aligned with the axis of the associated transverse bore of the other plate when the mounting plate or intermediate plate and the backing plate abut each other, and a tightening bolt is provided for each transverse bore of the mounting or intermediate plate or backing plate and is adapted to be introduced into the transverse bore and on the level of the longitudinal bore that is intersected by the transverse bore has an eccentric portion so that when the clamping members have been fully introduced into the longitudinal bores and the tightening bolts have been fully inserted into the transverse bores the backing plate can be fixed to the mounting or intermediate plate by a rotation of the tightening belts.

Contrary to the known systems, the fixing device according to the invention can be used to fix and release the tools in a reliably manner virtually in seconds.

In a new machine, the fixing bores or clamping members may be provided on the machine-side mounting plate. For use with an existing machine, an intermediate plate is used, which is adapted to be screw-connected to the mounting plate in a simple manner with the aid of fixing bores existing in the mounting plate and is provided with the fixing bores or clamping members. That intermediate plate may suitably be designed to be suitable for the mounting of a large number of tools or preferably all tools in question.

The longitudinal and transverse bores are formed in the mounting plate or intermediate plate in the preferred embodiment but they may also be formed in the tool-side backing plate.

The pinlike clamping members protruding at right angles from one of the plates may consist of pins which are fixedly connected to the plate. But the design will suitably be adapted only if the clamping members are associated with the mounting plate or intermediate plate. In the other case it will be more advantageous from the aspect of manufacturing technology and economy to provide pinlike clamping members consisting of bolts, which are provided with a collar and are inserted through bores of that plate so that the same clamping members can be used for various tools in that case too.

According to another feature of the invention the tightening bolts have a square or hexagonal head. This permits a very quick and reliably tightening by means of a socket wrench.

In another embodiment of the invention a satisfactory guidance of the tightening belt during the tightening operation is ensured in that the transverse bores which intersect the longitudinal bores are continued with a smaller diameter after their intersection with the longitudinal bores and the tightening bolts have a portion which succeeds the eccentric portion and corresponds to the smaller diameter of the transverse bore.

To permit a permanent tightening, the eccentricity of the eccentric portion of the tightening bolt is suitably relatively small and is preferably about one-thirtieth of the diameter of that portion.

The invention will now be explained more in detail with reference to the drawing, which in its single figure shows an illustrative embodiment of the fixing device according to the invention in an explosive view.

The fixing device which is shown is intended for the alteration of an existing manufacturing machine (not shown), e.g., an injection molding machine, and comprises for each tool part to be fixed, e.g., each mould half, an intermediate plate 1, which is adapted to be screw-connected to a corresponding machine-side mounting plate (not shown) by means of bores 2 in the intermediate plate and of existing fixing bores in the mounting plate.

In addition to the bores 2, the intermediate plate 1 has two longitudinal bores 3, which like the bores 2 extend in the direction of the working movement (axial direction) of the machine, and two transverse bores 4, which intersect the longitudinal bores 3 at right angles and consist of blind bores, each of which has two portions 4a, 4b differing in diameter. The portion 4a which extends to the intersection with the longitudinai bore 3 is smaller in diameter than the longitudinal bore 3 and the succeeding portion 4b is smaller in diameter than the portion 4a.

The intermediate plates 1 are intended to remain mounted on the machine for a relatively long time and permit a quick fixing of a number of different tools, such as different molds.

For such quick fixing, the corresponding tool part (not shown) is connected to a backing plate 5, which has two longitudinal bores 6, which correspond to the bores 3 of the intermediate plate 1 and on that side which are remote from the intermediate plate are formed with counterbores 6a. Clamping members 7 can be inserted through said bores 6 and consist of bolts, which have a collar 7a and are provided near their leading ends with a flattened transverse bore 7b.

When these clamping members 7 have been fully inserted, their collar 7a are received in the counterbores 6a and those ends of the clamping members which are provided with the flattened transverse bores 7b protrude from the backing plate 5 to such an extent that when the backing plate 5 abuts the intermediate plate 1 the clamping members protrude into the longitudinal bores 3 of the intermediate plate just to such an extent that their flattened transverse bores 7b are on the same level as the transverse bores 4 of the intermediate plate and can be aligned with them for rotating the clamping members to a corresponding position.

Two tightening bolts 8 are provided for fixing and tightening the backing plate 5 on the intermediate plate 1 and are adapted to be introduced into the transverse bores 4 of the intermediate plate. Each of said tightening bolts has an eccentric portion 8a, which is on the level of the longitudinal bore 3 of the intermediate plate 1 and, as a result, on the level of the flattened transverse bore 7b of the clamping member 7 inserted into the longitudinal bore 3, when the tightening bolts have been entirely introduced into the transverse bore 4.

In that state the arrangement can be tightened in a most simple manner in that the tightening bolt is rotated by means of a wrench, particularly a socket wrench, which is engaged with the square head 8b of the bolt 8.

That portion of the tightening bolts 8 which can be inserted into the transverse bores 4 of the intermediate plate 1 has three different diameters.

The lowermost, smallest diameter 8c corresponds to the diameter of the portion 4b of the transverse bore 4 and serves as a lower bearing. The uppermost, largest diameter 8d of the tightening bolt corresponds to the diameter of the portion 4a of the transverse bore 4 and serves an an upper bearing. The eccentric portion 8a disposed between these two diameter portions Sc, 8d is smaller in diameter than the upper portion 8d and larger in diameter than the lower portion 8c and is slightly smaller in diameter than the smaller diameter of the flattened transverse bore 7b of the clamping member 7.

To permit a durable fixing, the eccentricity of the eccentric portion 8a of the tightening bolt 8 is small and in a preferred embodiment is about onethirtieth of the diameter of the eccentric portion.

To ensure a long life, the use of surfacehardened clamping members 7 and of tightening belts 8 of high-strength material is recommended.

It will be understood that different from the embodiment shown the clamping members 7 can be associated with the intermediate plate 1 and the fixing bores (longitudinal and transverse bores 3, 4) and the tightening bolts 8 can be associated with the backing plate 5.

Beside, the boltlike clamping members can be replaced by pinlike clamping members which are permanently connected to the associated plate.

But that arrangement will suitably be adopted only when the clamping members are associated with the intermediate plate rather than the backing plate.

It will be understood that the tightening bolt can be provided with a hexagonal head rather than a square head, to the same advantage.

If the intermediate plate is relatively large, it can be used not only for fixing different tools which are approximately equal in size but also for tools differing in size if fixing bores (bores 3, 4) are provided for the different sizes.

In connection with low tools or moulds, the intermediate plates serve also as reducer plates for adaptation to the overall height of the machine so that the spacing plates otherwise required can be omitted.

The embodiment shown having two tightening means per tool part is sufficient for small and medium-size tools. Four tightening devices per tool part will be used for larger tools.

The flattened transverse bores 7b of the clamping members 7 may be replaced by bores which are circular in cross-section if they are properly dimensioned. But flattened bores are the ideal solution.

For the sake of clearness, all other openings in the plates, e.g., for the connection to the tool and for receiving conduits, have been omitted in the drawing.

It is apparent that the invention provides a fixing system by which the tool can be reliably fixed and released within seconds and that existing manufacturing machines can easily be altered in adaptation to such system. In new machines, the machine-side mounting plate can be formed with the fixing bores of the illustrated intermediate plate 1 or with the clamping members of the illustrated backing plate 5 so that one plate per tool part can be saved.

Claims

1. A fixing device for fixing tools for injection molding, deep-drawing, extruding, stamping or the like manufacturing machines, which tools consist of two parts, which are periodically movable towards and away from each other in operation, comprising for each of the two tool parts a mounting plate having bores for the fixing of the tool part, which is provided with a backing plate, characterized in that the machine-side mounting plates, or intermediate plates (1) which are adapted to be screw-connected to said machineside mounting plates by means of existing fixing bores, or the backing plates (5) of the tool parts, are provided with at least two longitudinal bores (3), which extend in the direction of the working movement (axial direction) of the machine and are preferably diametrically opposite to each other with respect to the axis of the machine, and with at least two transverse bores (4), which intersect respective longitudinal bores (3) at right angles, the longitudinal bore (3) are adapted to receive pinlike clamping members (7), which protrude at right angles from the respective other plate (backing plate or mounting plate or intermediate plate), each of said clamping members has a preferably flattened transverse bore (7b), the axis of which is substantially aligned with the axis of the associated transverse bore (4) of the other plate when the mounting plate or intermediate plate (1) and the backing (5) plate abut each other, and a tightening bolt (8) is provided for each transverse bore (4) of the mounting or intermediate plate (1) or backing plate (5) and is adapted to be introduced into the transverse bore (4) and on the level of the longitudinal bore (3) that is intersected by the transverse bore (4) has an eccentric portion (8a) so that when the clamping members (7) have been fully introduced into the longitudinal bores and the tightening bolts (8) have been fully inserted into the transverse bore (4, 7b) the backing plate (5) can be fixed to the mounting or intermediate plate (1) by a rotation of the tightening bolts (8).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting or intermediate plate (1) is provided with the longitudinal and transverse bores.

3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pinlike clamping members (7) protruding at right angles from one of the plates (1, 5) are pins which are firmly connected to said plate.

4. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pinlike clamping members (7) protruding at right angles from one of the plates (1, 5) consist of bolts, which have a collar (7a) and extend through through bores (6) of said plate (5).

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the collars (7a) or the bolts (7) are adapted to be received by counterbores (6a) of the bores (6).

6. A device according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the tightening bolts (8) have a square or hexagonal head (8b).

7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clamping members (7) and tightening bolts (8) consist of high-strength material and are surface-hardened.

8. A device according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the transverse bores (4) which intersect the longitudinal bores (3) are continued with a smaller diameter after their intersection with the longitudinal bores (3) and the tightening bolts (8) have portion (8c) which succeeds the eccentric portion (8a) corresponds to the smaller diameter of the transverse bore (3).

9. A device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the eccentricity of the eccentric portion (8a) of the tightening pin (8) is relatively small and preferably amounts to approximately one-thirtieth of the diameter of that portion.