GB2253806A

GB2253806A - Mould and positioning holder for mould

Info

Publication number: GB2253806A
Application number: GB9104154A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Katsuji Takeno
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-02-27
Filing date: 1991-02-27
Publication date: 1992-09-23
Also published as: GB9104154D0

Abstract

The mold includes a synthetic resin die 12 for molding an article, e.g. a golf tee, the die being releasably mounted at a given position by a positioning holder which comprises fixing blocks 52, 54 and guide blocks 56a-56f linked by slide pin 58 (Fig 32, not shown) and screws 60 (Fig 3F, not shown) for easy-release of the die. The die's molding material filling space is filled with a molding material such as a clay-like substance, The die is then released from the positioning holder and, thereafter, the molded article of the molding material is taken out of the die's molding material filling space. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION TITLE OF THE INVENTION A MOLD AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MOLDED ARTICLE BY THE USE THEREOF BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a mold and a method of manufacturing a molded article by the use thereof, for example, relates to a mold for forming a golf tee and a method of manufacturing a molded article.

Description of the Prior Art The conventional molded article such as a golf tee is made by filling a molding material into a mold, pressing it and taking it out of the mold after drying and solidifying thereof.

According to the conventional method of manufacturing a molded article by the use of a conventional mold, however, it was impossible to take the molding material out of the mold before drying and solidifying thereof. Hence it was difficult to take out the molded articles successively, and this impeded improvement of productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a mold and a method of manufacturing a molded article by the use thereof, which improvement of productivity can be attained.

A first invention relates to a mold comprising a synthetic resin die having a molding material filling space for molding a molding material in a predetermined shape, and a positioning holder for releasably positioning the die at a predetermined position.

A second invention relates to a method of manufacturing a molded article comprising a step of preparing a synthetic resin die having a molding material filling space for molding a molding material in a predetermined shape, a step of preparing a positioning holder for releasably positioning the die at the predetermined position, a step of positioning the die by the positioning holder at the predetermined position, a step of filling the molding material in the molding material filling space of the die, a step of releasing the die from the positioning holder, and a step of taking the molded article formed of the molding material out of the die's molding material filling space.

According to the invented manufacturing method, first the die is positioned at the predetermined position. Then, the molding material filling space of the die is filled with the molding material and, thereafter, the die with the molding material filled therein is released from the positioning holder. Finally, the molded article formed of the molding material is taken out of the die's molding material filling space.

According to the present invention, the die with the molding material filled therein can be releasable from the positioning holder before drying and solidification of the molding material, hence the die's positioning at the predetermined position by the positioning holder, filling of the molding material into the die's molding material filling space and releasing the die from the positioning holder can be done successively. This means the possibility of sizably shortening the per-piece time required for manufacturing the molded article, and thus marked improvement of productivity can be attained.

These objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is an illustrative view showing the essential parts in one embodiment of the present invention.

Figs. 2A through 2C are views showing a die used in the mold of Fig. 1, Fig. 2A is its front view, Fig. 2B is its plan view and Fig. 2C is a sectional view taken along the line IIC-IIC in Fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A is a plan view showing a positioning holder for positioning the die shown in Figs. 2A through 2C.

Fig. 3B is a front view showing a fixing block, and Fig. 3C is a front view showing a guide block to be fixedly attached to the fixing block shown in Fig. 3b, and Fig. 3D is a front view showing another guide block connected to the guide block shown in Fig. 3C.

Fig. 3E is a sectional view taken along the line IIIE IIIE in Fig. 3A, and Fig. 3F is a sectional view taken along the line IIIF-IIIF in Fig. 3A.

Fig. 4 is an illustrative view of A golf tee manufactured by the mold shown in Fig. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 is an illustrative view showing essential parts in one embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment a mold for manufacture of golf tees, for example, will be described.

This mold 10 includes a die 12.

This die 12, as shown in Figs. 2A through 2C, includes two die members 14, 14 symmetrical in construction.

Each of these die members 14 has formed therein, for example, three die units 16 for forming golf tees 100 shown in Fig. 4. Each die unit 16 includes a semi-cylindrical head 18, and the lower end of this head 18 is tapered off downward to form a semi-cylindrical leg 20.

This leg 20 is formed to be smaller in diameter than the head 18 and the lower end thereof is formed as a sharply tapered inverted semi-conical tip portions 22. The lower end of this semi-conical tip portion 22 is trimmed to form a very small round bottom 22a for evacuating air during molding.

Hence this die unit 16 is formed a molding material filling space 24 in the same shape and size as a golf tee 100 halved vertically. The head 18 of the die unit 16 has formed along the inner periphery thereof a section of a draft angle 24a to facilitate insertion of a punch 70 as shown in Fig. 2C.

The three die units 16 are connected by, for example, a plate-like supporting member 76. In this case the three die unitsl6 are connected in parallel side by side at given intervals. The number of the die units 16 may be changed arbitrarily.

The longitudinal ends 26a and 26b of this supporting member 26 are bent at a proper angle toward the projected plane of the die unit 16.

On one longitudinal end of the supporting member 26 a round-sectioned pin 28 as one of the engaging means is formed on one concave face of the die unit 16, and in the other end thereof a hole 30 approximately same in diameter is made as the other of the engaging means.

The aforementioned die member 14 is press-molded monobloc of, for instance, a rigid plastic which is not subject to plastic deformation even when pressed at normal temperature.

By fitting the pins 28 planted on one and the mating holes 30 in the other of the opposite two die members 14, 14, three molding material filling spaces 24 can be formed approximately same in shape and size as, for example, the golf tee 100. As engaging means may as well be resorted to a method of connecting, for example, hinging the ends of the two die members 14, 14 instead of using the aforementioned pins 28 and holes 30.

Then, referring to Fig. 1 and Figs. 3A through 3F, explanation will be made of a positioning holder 50 for positioning the die 12 at the mating position with respect to the punch 70.

This positioning holder 50 includes, for example, two T-sectioned form fixing blocks 52 and 54 of the same size.

These fixing blocks 52 and 54 may, for example, be made of a rigid metal such as die steel (high-speed steel) or special steel.

Further, between the two fixing blocks 52 and 54, six guide blocks 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d, 56e and 56f, for example, arranged side by side. These guide blocks 56a through 56f may be made also, for example, of a rigid metal such as die steel (high-speed steel) or special steel.

About the center of guide blocks 56a through 56f there are provided two, for example, round-sectioned through-holes 57, through which, as shown in Fig. 3E, a round-sectioned slide pin 58 is set slidablly.

The fixing block 52 and the guide block 56f are, as shown in Fig. 3B, fixed by three fixing screws 55a, 55b and 55c. In this case, the fixing screw 55a is set above the center of the fixing block 52, while the fixing screws 55b and 55c are set below the center of the fixing block 52 at a proper interval. Similarly the fixing block 54 and the guide block 56a are fixed by three fixing screws 55a, 55b and 55c. In these fixing blocks 52 and 54 there are made each one vice fixing hole 59 for fixing each to a vice (not shown). This vice fixing hole 59 has set therethrough, for example, a screw (not shown) or the like and the fixing blocks 52 and 54 are fixedly secured to the jaws of the vice (not shown).The vice is combined with, for example, a hydraulic mechanism so that the fixing blocks 52 and 54 are held by the vice on both sides thereof so that the fixing blocks 52 and 54 can be pulled out along the longitudinal direction of the positioning holder 50.

Further, guide blocks 56a and 56b are, as shown in Fig.

3C and Fig. 3F, connected by connecting means, for example, two screws 60. These two screws 60 are set between the slide pins 58, 58 at a proper distance. Also, it is so designed that the height of these screws 60 measured from the lower end of the guide blocks 56a is the same as the height of the slide pin 58 as measured from the lower end of the guide block 56.

In this case, in the vertically center portion of the guide block 56a there are formed, for example, column-shaped sunken portions 61a of a predetermined length from one end thereof (on the side of the fixing block 54) toward the other end and through-holes 61b are made to open in the other side of the guide block 56a. Further, the guide block 56b has formed therein tapped holes 61c of a predetermined length to align with the through-out holes 61b. The fixing block 54 has formed therein recesses 61d to accommodate the heads 60a of the screws 60. These recesses 61d are formed with their diameter same as those of the sunken portions 61a, and are aligned with the sunken portions 61a.

The screws 60, each thereof, is inserted from this sunken portion 61a and the threaded tip portion thereof is screwed into the tapped holes 61c for securing the guide block 56 a to the guide block 56b. The head of each screw 60a is then fixed with its outer end a little inward of the recess 61d formed in the fixing block 54. Similarly, the guide block 56f and the guide block 56e are connected by two screws 60 as connecting means. The two screws 60 for connecting the guide blocks 56a and 56b are aligned with those for connecting the guide blocks 56f and 56e.

As shown in Figs. 3D and 3F, the guide block 56b and 56c are connected in the same manner with two screws 60 as connecting means. The two screws 60 connecting the guide blocks 56b and 56c are set below the screws 60 connecting the guide blocks 56a and 56b. That is, the guide block 56b has formed therein two column-shaped sunken portions 61a of the predetermined length extending from one end (on the fixing portion 56a side) toward the other end thereof a little below its vertical center, and the through-holes 61b are made to communicate with these sunken portions 61a to extend from the sunken portions 61a to the other end (on the guide block 56c side). Further the guide block 56c has formed therein tapped holes 61c aligned with the throughholes 61b. The guide block 56a has formed therein recesses 61d for accommodating the heads 60a of the screws 60.These recesses 61d are formed to be same as the sunken portions 61a in diameter and aligned with the latter. From each of these sunken portions 61a the screw 60 is inserted through the through-hole 61b and its tip portion 60b is screwed into the tapped hole 61c to secure the guide block 56b to 56c.

The screws 60 are then fixed with their heads 60a, the outer ends thereof, a little inward of the recess 61d formed in the guide block 56a. Similarly the guide blocks 56e and 56d are connected by two screws 60 as connecting means. The screws 60 connecting the guide blocks 56b with 56c and the screws 60 for connecting the guide blocks 56e with 56d are aligned.

Hence, with this positioning holder 50, the distance between the guide blocks 56a through 56f can be increased to a predetermined extent if fixing blocks 52 and 54 can be pulled out by the vice (not shown). This means that when the fixing blocks 52 and 54 are pulled out at the predetermined pitch, the guide blocks 56a and 56f fixed thereby are to be pulled out together. In this case, the guide blocks 56a and 56f are pulled out to where the end face 61e of each sunken portions 61a comes into contact with the head 60a of the screw 60. Hence a gap can be created between the guide blocks 56a and 56b as well as between the guide blocks 56e and 56f.Further, when the fixing blocks 52 and 54 are pulled out, the guide blocks 56b and 56e secured by the threaded end portions 60b of the screws 60 are pulled thereby until the head 60a of each screw 60 comes into contact with the end face 61e of the sunken portion 61a. Hence, a gap is created between the guide blocks 56b and 56c as well as between the guide blocks 56e and 56d.

Further, when the fixing blocks 52 and 54 are pulled out, the guide blocks 56c and 56d secured by the threaded end portions 60b of the screws are pulled out, hence a gap is created between the guide blocks 56c and 56d. In this embodiment a gap of 3-5 mm is created between any adjacent pair of the guide blocks 56a through 56f.

Further, in the top face of the fixing block 52 there are seen two guide holes 62 at a proper distance along the longitudinal direction thereof. These two guide holes 62 have set therethrough each one guide post (not shown) connected to a punch 70. Hence both of the punch 70 and positioning holder 50 are positioned.

In the opposed top of the six guide blocks 56a through 56f three die receiving holes 68 corresponding to three die units 16 of die members 14 are formed respectively. These die receiving holes 68 are for holding and inserting die units 16 of the die 12, formed in the same shape and size as the three die units 16 of the die members 14. Hence, the die receiving holes 68 between any adjacent two of these guide blocks 56a through 56f can mount the die units 16 of the die 12.

The opposite top corners of the six guide blocks 56a through 56f notched, for example, in L-sectioned form 64.

Hence, when these guide blocks 56a through 56f are connected by means of slide pin 58 or the like, a U-sectioned recess 66 is formed therebetween. When the die unit 16 of the die 12 is inserted in the die receiving hole 68, both ends of the supporting member 26 of the die 12 are inserted in the recess 66 so formed.

Now, the mode of operation of this mold 10 will be explained.

First the die 12 is set in the positioning holder 50 of the mold 10. In this case, the die unit 16 of the die 12 is inserted in the die receiving hole 68 of the positioning holder 50, and the supporting member 26 of the die 12 is inserted into the recess 66 of the positioning holder 50.

In this embodiment, by pulling out the fixing blocks 52 and 54 of the positioning holder 50 by the vice, a gap is created between each adjacent pair of the guide blocks 56a through 56f and by inserting the die 12 into the gap, the fixing blocks 52 and 54 are again fastened by the vice, therefore the die 12 can thus be simply set in the positioning holder 50 easily.

Then, a proper molding material for golf tee 100, for example, clay-like substance, is filled into the molding material filling space 24 of the die 12.

Thereafter, the after pressing down the molding material filled in the molding material filling space 24 using a push-in pin 72 of the punch 70, and then the mold 12 is pulled out of the die 12.

Next, the die 12 is taken out of the positioning holder 50. In this case, when a gap is created between an adjacent pair of guide blocks 56a through 56f by pulling out the fixing blocks 52 and 54 for the positioning holder 50 with the vice, the die 12 can be easily taken out of the positioning holder 50.

Then, the molding material in the die 12 thus taken out is solidified by air drying or drying in a heater. Thus, for example, this die 12 is useful even as a shape-retainer for solidifier and dryer. The molding material in the mold 12 may as well be solidified by drying in a state that the die 12 is set in the positioning holder 50.

Finally, the die 12 is divided into two die members 14, 14, and the dried and solidified golf tees (molded articles) are taken out.

In this embodiment, the die 12 can be taken out of the positioning holder 50 with the molding material contained therein before it is dried and solidified, hence setting of the die 12 in the positioning holder 50, filling the molding material into the die 12 and taking the die 12 out of the positioning holder 50 can be done successively. In case of mass production, therefore, the per-piece manufacturing time can be substant%ally shortened.

Further, since the die 12 can be divided into two die members 14, 14, the molded article stuck to the die 12 can be easily taken out of the die 12. In this case, since both end portions 26a and 26b of the supporting members 26 of the die 12 are bent outward, it is possible to divide the die 12 into two die members 14, 14 with ease by nipping the both end portions 26a and 26b thereof.

Although in the above embodiment, explanation was made with golf tee, for example, as the molded article, the present invention is able to apply to other molded articles.

The present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the annexed drawings but it is for the purpose of illustration and, needless to say, the description about the preferred embodiment of the invention is not to be taken as limitation and the spirit and scope of the invention are limited only by the wording of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A mold comprising: a synthetic resin dies having a molding material holding space for molding a molding material in a predetermined shape, and a positioning holder for releasably positioning said die at a predetermined position.

2. A mold according to claim 1, wherein said positioning holder includes two guide blocks which hold said die from both sides.

3. A mold according to claim 2, which further comprises a slide pin, which runs through said two guide blocks, and said two guide blocks are formed to be slidable along said slide pin.

4. A mold according to claim 3, which further comprises a connecting means for connecting said two guide blocks.

5. A mold according to claim 4, wherein said connecting means comprise a screw, a tapped hole is formed in either of said two guide blocks, a through-hole is formed in the other of said two guide blocks, and said two guide blocks are connected when said screw is set through said through-hole is screwed into said tapped hole.

6. A mold according to claim 5, which further comprises two fixing blocks for holding said two guide blocks from both sides.

7. A method manufacturing a molded article comprising: a step of preparing a synthetic resin die having a molding material filling space for molding a molding material in a predetermined shape, a step of preparing a positioning holder for releasably positioning said die at the predetermined position, a step of positioning said die by said positioning holder at the predetermined position, a step of filling the molding material in said molding material filling space of said die, a step of releasing the said from said positioning holder, and a step of taking the molded article formed of said molding material out of said molding material filling space of said die.

8. A method of manufacturing a molded article according to claim 7, which further comprises a step of pressurizing said molding material after said step of filling said molding material and before said step of taking out said molded article.

9. A method of manufacturing a molded article according to claim 8, which further comprises a step of drying and solidifying said molding material after said step of pressurizing said molding material and before the step of taking out said molded article.

10. A mold substantially as described herein by reference to the figures.

11. A method of molding substantially as described herein by reference to the figures.