IL44915A - Apparatus for making composite moulded articles - Google Patents

Abstract

1468817 Moulding composite articles AIRFIX INDUSTRIES Ltd 22 May 1974 [12 June 1973] 27981/73 Heading B5A [Also in Division B8] Apparatus for moulding an article, e.g. a lid, including a blank 1, e.g. of card, metal, paper, or plastics, having a periphery 6 injection moulded thereon, comprises a core tool 12 having an end face 28 to engage the blank, a first cavity tool 10 having a face opposed to the face 28 to engage the other side of the blank, and a peripheral face 25 to engage the periphery of the core tool, and in part define a cavity around the blank, the tools 10 and 12 being relatively movable, or guide 30 to feed blanks under gravity between the tools in the open condition, and an injector 23 opposite the end face of the core tool. In operation, blanks are fed in the guide 30, the tools are closed so that the blank periphery is deformed at 3 in a second cavity member 11, and the periphery around the blank is injection moulded. In Fig. 1 the apparatus comprises several moulding stations and a stop 33 holds blanks in the guide whilst first blanks are being moulded. The finishing article is removed by an ejector 19. The blank is retained on core face 28 by vacuum at a port 34. [GB1468817A]

Description

This invention is concerned with improvements in and relating to the production of composite articles, such for example as lids or shallow receptacles, which, comprise a blj^k and an injection moulding, which in the case of a lid is a peripheral moulding round the blank. The blank may comprise a rectangular main panel having an edge panel on each edge which in the article is displaced from the general plane of the blank.

Additionally the margin of the blank adjacent each edge panel may be displaced out of the general plane of the blank and of the plane of the adjacent edge panel.

The blank may be made of a material such as card, metal, paper, synthetic plastics, board or any of these laminated, with one or more other materials.

It has been proposed, in U.S. Patent 3»463, 845» to manufacture a closure by injection moulding a peripheral retaining element on the periphery of a blank and for this purpose apparatus has been proposed which comprises a first cavity tool having a main face, a core tool having a main face, a blank being clamped between those main faces when the tools are closed, and a second core tool which receives the first core tool and is received by a recess in the cavity tool. Material is injected in the region of the recess and flows out of the recess to the periphery of the blank where the first core tool has a recess for receiving injected material which flows over the edge of the blank into the recess on the face of the blank remote from the cavity tool.

The present invention is directed to apparatus on which a closure can be made comprising a blank and a peripheral moulding in which injected material will be confined to one face of the blank. 44915/2 According to one aspect of the invention there provided apparatus for making a composite article including a blank and a peripheral injection moulding formed thereon, the apparatus comprising pair of mould tools which are relatively movable between an open condition and a closed condition in the latter of which they define a mould? cavity and a blank receiving cavity in which a blank will be clamped between the tools, guide means for guiding a blank under gravity from a position outside the path of relative movement of the tools to a position intersecting the path whereupon relative movement of the tools will cause the blank to be clamped therebetwee , and stop means operative to hold a blank in the guide means above the tool path when the tools are in the closed condition and, in the open condition of the tools, to allow the blank to fall to the tool path intersecting position, characterised in that Injection means in one of the tools open into the mould cavity opposite a f ce of the other tool over which a blank, clamped betwee the tools, extends.

Preferably the mould tools comprise a first cavity According to one aspect cf the invention there is • provided apparatus for making a composite article including^, blank and a peripheral injection moulding formed thereon, the apparatus comprising a pair of mould tools which are relatively movable between an open condition and a closed condition in the latter of which they define a mould cavity and a blank receiving cavity in which a blank will be clamped between the tools, guide means for guiding a blank under gravity from a position outside the path of relative movement of the tools to a position intersecting the path whereupon relative movement of the tools will cause the blank to be clamped therebetween, the sto p means operative to hold a blank in the guide means above the tool path when the tools are in the closed condition and, in the open condition of the tools, to allow the blank to fall to the tool path intersecting position, characterised in that injection means in one of the tools open into the mould cavity opposite a face of the other tool over which a blank, clamped between the tools, extends.

Preferably the mould tools comprise a first cavity tool comprising an end part at the periphery of which is a peripheral wall part, a second cavity tool movable elati^ to the first cavity tool between a cavity tool closed condition and a cavity tool open condition and which, in the cavity tool closed condition, forms with at least the wall part of the first cavity tool a part of the mould cavity, and a core tool movable relative to the cavity tools between the tool closed condition, in which it defines the blank receiving cavity with the first cavity tool, and the tool open condition, and the guide means comprises a pair of guideways for receiving opposite edges of a blank and for guiding a blank falling under gravity to the tool path intersecting position.

Preferably the guideways are positioned to that side of the second cavity tool remote from the first cavity tool whereby when in the tool path intersecting position, a blank will be driven by the core tool through the second cavity tool, thereby edge panels on the blank can be folded as the tools advance to the closed condition.

Preferably the stop means comprise a surface movable with the core tool.

The first cavity tool preferably includes an ejector part. The ejector part may comprise a part outside the peripheral wall part and, with the core tool, end part, peripheral wall part and second cavity tool, defines the moulding cavity. The ejector part is movable relative to the peripheral wall part to move a moulding away from the wall pcirt when the cavity tools are in the open condition.

Whe a multi-impression tool is to be provided, a second pair of tools may be provided below the first pair.

In this case two pairs of guideways are provided, one behind the other, one serving the upper tools and the other longer to serve the lower tools. The stop means will then serve to hold a blank in each pair of guideways so that, when the movement of the tools to the open condition occurs, a blank will drop down each pair of guideways, each to its respective tool path intersecting position.

The or each core tool may have a vacuum head on its blank engaging face to maintain relative positioning of the core tool and blank during relative closing movement „ The invention will be better understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which?- .

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic vertical section through tnulti-impression mould tools for setting up in an injection moulding machine; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the core tool; Figure 3 is a section along the line III-III of Figure 2; Figure is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a front elevation of hal of the cavity tool with detail of the wall portions omitted; Figure 6 is a section along the line Vl-Vl of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a section through a lid to be made with the tools of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a plan view of a pair of magazines; Figure 9 i« section on the line 1X-1X of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a detail of a delivery chute.

The lid comprises a blank 1 (Figure 7) of card, having a rectangular main panel 2 along each edge of which is an edge panel 3, a fold line ½ defining the junction between the main panel and each edge panel. The edge panels do not extend to the corners of the main panel which are preferably radiused„ The edge panels are displaced relative to the plane of the main panel and are bonded to a wall 5 of a continuous channel section injection moulding 6. The moulding includes an outer lip 7» spaced lugs 8, each of which will engage under an inward projection on the margin of a container which container margin will be received by the moulding 6, and a rib 9« To produce the lid, the tools shown in Figures 1 to 4 are set up in an injection moulding machine having a fixed and a movable platen. These tools comprise a main first cavity tool 10, a main second cavity tool 11 and a main core tool 12. Each main tool is a multi-impression tool, in this case a four impression tool, there being four first cavity tools only two of which, 10a_, 10_b, are shown, four second cavity tools only two of which, 11a, llb_, are shown and four core tools 12a, 12b_, I2jc, 12^.

The main cavity tool includes a back plate 13, a main plate i and a front plate 15. The front plate 15 forms a surround extending about first cavity tool end parts 17 each having projecting from its periphery a peripheral wall part 18 (Figure l) and ejector parts 19 each surrounding a part 17. The end parts 17 are provided with suitable cooling passages 20 which extend to connections 21 in the main plate l'i. A hot runner nozzle 22 is provided in respect of each side of each end part 17 and each nozzle terminates in a pin gate 23 » the location of which will be referred later.

The core tools are · carried by a plate 26 movable relative to a movable guide plate 27 which carries the second cavity tools.

In the core tool closed condition of Figure 1 , each core tool 12 , end part 17, second cavity tool 11 and ejector parts 19 together define a moulding cavity 251 and a in the region 28 blank cavity ffl is defined/between the front face of the core tool 12 and the end part 17 of the first cavity tool and extending into the moulding cavity 25 · I the core tool open position, the core tool carrier plate 26 has moved to the left as seen in Figure 19 as also has the plate 27 to move ! the second cavity tools 11 to a position in which they are sufficiently clear of the peripheral wall portions 18 to allow the mouldings to be sprung off by movement of the ejector parts 19 o The plate 26 moves a distance leftwards so as to position the front faces of the core tools to the left of blank guide channels 30 in the rear of plate 27 . The 30a channels 3P are extended above plate 27 by earsiri_* Each channel 30 comprises for each core tool a pair of opposed guideways 31 » 32 which are spaced apart to receive a blank therebetween. Guideways 31a » 32_a (Figures 1 to 3 ) serve core tool 12a , guideways" 31b , 32b_ (Figures 1 and 3 ) serve the core tool 12b below tool 1 a^ and guideways 31c , 32 c_ and 31 d , 32d serve tools 12c_ and 12d (Figure 2 ) . The guideways receive blanks from a magazine and are so positioned relative to the path of the core tools that when the core tools are in closed condition, as can be seen in Figure 1 , the core tools lie between the corresponding guideways.

Blanks dropped into the guidewaye when the core tools are in closed condition are arrested by the rest on a surface of the upper core tools 12ja and 12_c or, in the present apparatus on a surface of the upper ones of four keeps- 33 on the plate 26 . Now when the core tools move to the open condition relative to plate 27 » the blanks drop down their respective guideways each to a position spanning the path of relative movement of a core tool and opposite the left hand end of the respective cavity, e.g. 27a, 1 27b,» in plate 27 correspondin to the cavity of the associated second cavity tools and first cavity tools.

Upon movement of the core tools to the closed position, the front face of each core tool abuts the blank in front of it, holds it by vacuum applied centrally of the front face at 3^ and pushes the blank through the associated cavity of plate 27 and the second cavity tool. In moving forward the plate 26 picks up plate 27 and moves it to a position abutting the ejector part 19 which abuts the surrounding plate 15 » The edge panels of the blank will fold as the core tool drives the blank through the cavity in plate 27 and the second cavity tool. These edge panels will be received by a recess 35 in part defining moulding cavity 25 at each edge of the front face of the core tool. When the tools are closed each side of the blank or each edge panel overlies the associated pin gate 23 whereby, when synthetic plastics material is injected, the injected material presses the edge panel against the surface of recess 35 in the core tool to ensure that the edge panel is on the inwardly (relativ to the blank) directed face of the channel section moulding. moulding, the four keeps 33 » one in respect of each core tool; are provided, and these are received in channel 30 to give a solid abutment, in the region of the guideways, between the plate 26 , plate 27 and the second cavity tools on the plate 27. When the moulding is complete, the core tools and second cavity tools withdraw and the ejector parts 19 strip the mouldings from the pheripheral wall parts 18 of the first cavity tools. In the withdrawal movement, the core tools separates from the second cavity tools, the front faces of the core tools moving behind the planes of the two pairs of guideways, 31a * 32ja and 311? , 32b so that the blanks which have been resting on the upper keeps 33 of the upper core tools drop to their spanning positions and the cycle is repeated.

In addition to vacuum on the front face of each core tool, vacuum may be provided on the face of each end parts 17 as indicated at 36 .

A four impression tool has been described and shown but the number of impressions may be varied. Also planar end parts 17 are shown whereas these and the front face of the core tools may be shaped to deform the main panel of the blank as the tools close. Support plate 26 is carried by the movable platen of the machine and suitable guide bars and bushes are mounted on plate 26 and plate lA to ensure correct relationships of the core and first and second cavity tools.

Thus guide rods 37ja » 37b_ (Figure 6 ) are mounted on plate 26 and plate i respectively which respectively engage bushes in guide plate 27 » ejector part 19 and plate 1 ½ , and ejector part 19 and plate 27. A rod 38 (Figure l) 3&\a engaging behind the ejector parts 19· This rod 38 is operated by means carried on the movable platen of the machine whereby as the platen approaches the open condition of the tools, the rod is pulled by the platen to pull the ejector parts 19 away from plate 14. The ejector parts return, on forward movement of the platen under action of return springs (not shown) .

The plate 26 is coupled to the movable platen and pull rods 26a. (Figure 4) are provided on plate 26 which pull rods have heads 26jb which engage plate 27 as plate 26 moves to the left as seen in Figures 1 and 4. Stop rods on the machine frame (not shown) lie in the path of the plate 27 as it moves ax-Jay from the first cavity tool and arrest plate 27 at the correct position if that plate, through friction, travels back with the plate 26 during the leftwarde motion referred to.

Preferably the vacuum lines to the front faces of the cavity tools are coupled to sensors to which the electrically operated valve of the injection moulding machine intensifier is responsive. By providing such sensors, the valve is rendered inoperable if no blank is present in an impression of the mould tools and damage due to operation of the intensifier in the absence of a blank is avoided.

Preferably the vacuum to the core tools is cut off and positive pressure is applied when the injection is complete and vacuum is applied to the end parts 17 of the first cavity tools to hold the articles in position as the mould tools separate and assist detachment of the articles from tools 11, 12. superposed impressions is provided with a magazine.

Referring to Figures 8 to 10 each magazine has two inclinird blank support rails 40 and two side rails 4l all suitably supported by plates such as 42. On each side rail of each magazine run two upper rollers 43 and one lower roller 44 of a pusher 4 which will urge a pack of blanks ahead of it on the lower rails and between the side rails towards an adjustable gate 46 through which the blanks will not pass under the action of the pusher. A pair of withdrawal plates 47» one for each magazine, is carried by a yoke 48 actuated by a ram 9. Suitable control means actuate the ram and valves controlling vacuum heads 50 on the plates 47» so that a blank is drawn through each of the pair of gates simultaneously by the plates 7 and is dropped into a guide 51 located over a chute 52. The chute 2 is pivoted at 53 and itself actuated by a ram 4 for movement between the guideways. By control of ram 4 a pair of blanks will be deposited alternatively in guideways 31.2.» 32_a, 3 c » 32,0 and in 31bT 32h and 31d, 32d. This delivery of blanks to the guideways is sufficiently rapid that the giiideways are loaded while the core tools are in the closed condition and injection is taking place. The blanks are held in the guideways while the tools are closed and as above described drop into place as plates 26, 27 move to their separated condition. 44915/3

Claims (2)

1. CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for making a composite article including a blank and a peripheral injection moulding formed thereon, the apparatus comprising a pair of mould tools which are relatively movable between an open condition and a closed condition in the latte of which they define a mould cavity and a blank receiving cavity in which a blank will be clamped between the tools, guide means for guiding a blank under gravity from a position outside the path of relative movement of the tools to a position intersecting the path whereupon relative movement of the tools will cause the blank to be clamped therebetween, and stop means operative to hold a blank in the guide means above the tool path when the tools are in the closed condition and, in the open condition of the tools, to allow the blank to fall to the tool path intersecting position, characterised in that injection means in one of the tools open into the mould cavit opposite a face of the other tool over which a blank, clamped between the tools, extends.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 in which the mould tools ; comprise a core tool having an end face to engage a first face of a main panel of a blank and a peripheral face, a first cavity tool having an end face opposed to the end face oif the core tool for engaging the othe face of the main panel, an inner peripheral face adapted to cooperate with the peripheral faee of the core tool and an outer peripheral face, a second cavity too haring a inner face which cooperates with the outer peripheral face of the first cavity tool, a mechanical e ctor cooperating with said 'tools, means for moving the core tool, the first and second cavity tools and ejector 44915/3 relative to each other between open and closed conditions 5. Apparatus a oor-di-wj to- any- of—the previous claims wherein the blank' receiving cavity has a generally planar central part and the first cavity tool includes a first part inclined to the said central part and includes a second part extending outwardly from the first part, the injection means being positioned opposite the planar part of the core tool. 6. Apparatus according to any of the previous claims for making two composite articles simultaneously including a o&cond set of core tool, first cavity tool, second cavity tool and ejector positioned below the first core tool and associated first and second cavity tools and ejector, wherein the guide means is adapted to guide two blanks, one to each path of relative movement of each set of mould tools, a stop being operative in the tools closed condition to hold a blank for each set of core tool and cavity tool in the guide means. 7. Apparatus substantially as shown and described hereinabove. For the Applicants RS