SK173298A3 - Articulated connection between two plastic members injection moulded to form one member, in particular plastic container with a carrier bow, and method for the production thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an articulated connection between two plastic members (1, 2) injection moulded to form one member. The first plastic member (1) has a pin (4), and the second plastic member (2) an eye (3), both plastic parts (1, 2) being connected to each other by way of ties (5) which can be separated according to the type of predetermined breaking points. To ensure that the articulated connection is stable and loadable, the invention provides that the pin (4) of the first plastic member (1) and the eye of the second plastic member (2) can be connected to each other via a groove (7) and a projection (6) corresponding to the groove (7) by pushing the eye (3) onto the groove (4). The pin (4) and the eye (3) are connected to each other via the ties (5) in such a manner that the eye (3) is arranged substantially externally and coaxially to the pin (4). Said articulated connection relates, in particular, to a plastic container with a carrier bow (8) flexibly arranged thereon, and results in a production method comprising essentially one operation.

Description

In the articulation of two plastic parts (1, 2) produced by one press operation, the first plastic part (1) is provided with a pin (4) and the second plastic part (2) with a ring (3), the two plastic parts being joined together 5), which can be defined by the points _t interrupt. A stable and load-bearing hinged joint is ensured by the pin (4) first. the plastic part (1) and the ring (3) of the second part ( ^r) (2) can be connected to each other by sliding the ring (3), which is provided with a protrusion (6), onto a pin (4) which is provided with a groove ( 7) a corresponding projection (6), wherein the pin (4) and the ring (3) are connected together by means of connecting strips (5) so that the ring (3) is coaxial with the pin (4) substantially on its outer side. Such a hinge relates in particular to a plastic container with a hinged handle (8). This arrangement allows a manufacturing process that essentially consists of one operation.

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Articulated joint of two plastic parts made by a single operation using a punch, in particular a plastic container with a handle and a method for its production.

Technical field.

The invention relates to an articulated joint of two plastic parts which are manufactured at the same time, by a single injection operation, with one plastic part provided with a pin and the other ring, the two parts being joined together by connecting strips which can be interrupted at a predefined location. constructing a plastic container with two articulated joints of the aforementioned type with a handle which are part of the container, and the present invention further provides a method of manufacturing such a plastic container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

The articulated joints of two plastic parts which are made by one-operation injection molding, in particular a plastic container with a handle, are usually produced in the form of mass production. If the parts are plastic, e.g. The container and the handle, made separately, make it difficult to connect them, since in this case, it is necessary to use a press-fit which requires suitable automatic machines. For this reason, there is an attempt to produce plastic components to be articulated, e.g. plastic container and handle, only one operation.

The articulated joints of two components which are produced in one operation, in particular plastic containers with push-on handles, are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,125,246 and DE-A 43 27 175. For example, after the production of plastic parts by compression molding, pins located at the top of the container body by breaking the connecting strips. In such a production by a single operation, it is possible to avoid the large number of manufacturing operations that are otherwise necessary in the manufacture of plastic parts by two separate operations.

In the prior art, the articulated joint of the parts produced by a single operation, especially in the case of jointly manufactured plastic containers, prevents a slip of the ring from the pin, which is located at the free end of the pin. Such a security element is, for example, a projection at the end of a pin as described in DE-A 43

175, which can be formed as a collar at the free end of the pin over its entire circumference. Since in the case of plastic parts produced by a single operation in the prior art, the rings which are pressed by means of connecting strips surround the pins, these plastic parts are movably connected to the pins immediately after breaking the connecting strips.

A drawback of the articulated joints of the previously known plastic parts molded in a single operation is that a protruding edge forms on the pin due to the security element. The forces acting on this edge can then break off the safety feature or the entire stud. Without the safety element, however, it is not possible to prevent the ring from slipping off the pin, so that the articulated joint of such a damaged pin is unusable. In addition, there is a risk of damaging the security element or the entire bolt by a force which acts on the edge of the bolt, so that the hinged joint breaks only after loading. Furthermore, it appears to be disadvantageous, especially in plastic containers, that the security element limits the axial dimension (width) of the ring. Thus, because the ring is narrower than the length of the protruding pin, the load carrying capacity of the whole handle and its torsional stiffness are reduced.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a rigid and load-bearing articulation of plastic parts formed in one piece by a single manufacturing operation, the ring of the other plastic part being permanently and reliably secured against sliding from the pin. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the object is solved by the fact that, in the articulation of the above-mentioned kind, the pin of the first plastic part is connected to the ring of the second part by means of a groove and a projection corresponding to the groove when the ring is pushed onto the pin, and the ring is positioned substantially coaxial with the pin on its outer side.

The invention is particularly suitable for a plastic container with the two articulated joints, the first plastic part being the container, the second the handle having rings on both sides, while the container has the aforementioned pins.

It is expedient if the circumferential groove is located on the pin and the collar as an inwardly directed projection in the ring.

The congruity of the protrusion and the circumferential groove is understood to mean that the ring can be pulled out of the connecting strip by applying a force and that its protrusion fits into the pin groove. The operation associated with this is hereinafter referred to as pressing the ring.

In order to avoid the use of sophisticated tools in the manufacture of the hinge, the ring is pressed with a pin so that only those molding elements which are simple in shape are necessary. In particular, it is advantageous to press the handle ring in a position relative to the container pin so that their relative position is coaxial and that the ring protrusion is located directly in front of the pin groove. The permissible tolerance of the injection-molding operation is increased by the fact that the handle ring is not inserted into the container pin until later. It is also particularly advantageous for the handling of the product that the pressing of the handle to the container can be carried out either directly in the production tool or later by a further operation.

The hinged joint is reached as soon as the inwardly directed ring protrusion engages in the pin groove and the ring is thus secured against slipping off the pin. In such a three-way joint, a projection which prevents the ring from slipping off the pin is on the inside of the ring for design reasons, thereby protecting it against both external forces and damages which may occur in this connection.

Furthermore, it is possible, in particular for plastic containers, to position the inwardly directed ring protrusion and the circumferential groove of the pin so that the ring is as close as possible to the outer wall of the container body, thereby avoiding abutting at the edges of the "handle-container" this could lead to damage to the handle or tear.

It is expedient for the circumferential groove of the pin to be formed by the outer wall of the container on one side and the radial projection, i. collar pivot on the other.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the collar of the pin has a conical shape, so that when the ring is sucked onto the pin, the resistance to displacement only increases slowly and the pin and the ring have the possibility to defect elastically.

The pin may have a known hollow pin shape and may be provided with at least one longitudinal slot. The diameter of the slit hollow pin can be reduced more easily by the force exerted on the pin when sliding the ring protrusion. The hollow pin provided with the slot has after pressing, i.e. after the ring projection has been inserted into the pin groove, again approximately the original diameter.

Another advantage of the slit hollow pin is that the force required to press the handle is less and that it is also possible to prevent possible damage to the protrusion of the handle ring or the radial shoulder of the pin.

In a preferred embodiment, the pin is provided with at least one nose in the longitudinal direction and the handle ring protrusion is then provided with the same number of recesses as the number of noses on the pin. This embodiment facilitates and confidently guides the handle ring on the pivot, since the ring cannot be crossed during insertion, and in addition the recesses in the projection allow for a more elastic deformation of the ring. Noses also act in the longitudinal direction. A particular advantage of this arrangement is achieved when the handle is swung into the "operating" position by providing a positive fit between the projection in the handle ring and the nose and thereby locking the handle. In this way, the handle does not jump out even in the event of lateral tensile stresses, such as occurs, for example, when the filled plastic container is pulled out of the rack laterally.

A further development of the invention is locking means which hold the handle in a deflected position. A locked lateral position of the handle is advantageous because in further operations on the plastic container after pressing the handle, e.g. when affixing labels or performing printing, interference is avoided without further action.

Such locking means preferably comprise protrusions which are located on both the handle and the side wall of the container and are pushed together by the weight of the deflected handle when the handle is laterally locked.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the axial length of the ring r exceeds

handles a little axial length of the pin. After pressing the handle, the pin is completely hidden in the handle ring. This appears to be particularly advantageous because the forces exerted externally have no contact point for acting on the pin. A further advantage of the handle ring wider than the pin length is that the handle rings can serve as a uniform and stable bearing surface during transport or during filling. Thus, for example, the handle rings are very advantageous as bearing surfaces when transporting plastic containers by rails, since they all have a uniform bearing surface without edges.

The cone may preferably have a triangular or square cross-section. The projection in the ring must then have a corresponding, i. the same shape. It is also possible in this way to obtain a positive connection between the pin and the handle ring and thus the locking effect.

The handle profile passes smoothly into the handle ring profile so that the handle ring forms a stable connection with the handle itself. In particular, it is advantageous to extend the smooth and smoothly double T-profile of the handle clamp. There is a solution in which the inwardly directed protrusion of the handle ring can be shaped as one part of the T-profile, which then passes into a double T-profile of the handle. The carrying capacity and stiffness of the handle thus constructed are very advantageous when handling a full plastic container. Likewise, the fracture of the handle can be prevented by fatigue of the material, which can be caused by repeated torsion. This will increase the service life and load capacity of the handle.

The production method problem is solved by the fact that in the production process mentioned at the outset, the two plastic parts are molded in a molded die with mold cavities at the same time, wherein the ring mold cavity is substantially positioned coaxially outside the pin mold cavity and by partially removing it from the die tool while maintaining the ring and the pin their coaxial position, the ring is pushed by axial force until the pin protrudes into the pin groove.

Advantageously, the two plastic parts can be molded as a single piece in the die tool so that the pin and the ring are joined together by means of connecting strips, and the strips can be broken off at predetermined locations. The ring is then subjected to a force to break the connecting strips.

This method is particularly suitable for the manufacture of plastic containers, the first plastic part being the container and the second the handle, which is provided with rings at both ends and the container then with the respective pins.

Since both plastic parts are manufactured in a die-stamping tool with corresponding mold cavities, it is not necessary to use more work steps. The plastic parts can be molded as two separate parts in the die tool or as parts joined together by means of connecting strips. The latter embodiment has the advantage that the two plastic parts, after being pressed and removed from the mold, retain their relative position by themselves so that the handle ring and the pin of the container are coaxial. As a further step, the ring can then be pushed onto the pin by the axial force.

On the other hand, the die tool can also be designed such that the plastic parts which have been molded without the fastening strips are held in position so that the ring is on the outer side of the pin and its axis after the plastic has cooled and at least partially removed from the die. wherein the ring is then pushed onto the pin by a suitable device. This integrated process can also prevent multiple manufacturing operations from being used.

Overview of the drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a pin and an opening, FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a pin with a pressed-on ring, FIG. 3 shows a top view of a pin and a ring, FIG. 4 is a top view of a pin and a pressed ring; and FIG. S shows a side view of a pin and a ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1 shows two plastic parts 1, 2 to be connected by a hinged connection. The first plastic part 1, which in the exemplary embodiment is shown as a cut-out of the handle, which is not fully shown in the figure, is provided with a ring 3. The second plastic part 2, which is indicated in the figure as a part of the plastic container is provided with a pin 4 which protrudes from the plastic part 2.

The two plastic parts 1 and 2 are joined together by interlocking strips 5 which can be interrupted. In FIG. 1, the connecting strips 5 are shown between the ring 3 and the pin

4. Since the connecting strips 5 are relatively thin and may e.g. thickness of film strip or thin lamella, can be easily interrupted by direct application of small force.

In FIG. 1 to 4, the axes of the pin 4 and the ring 3 are indicated in dotted lines. The central axes of the pin 4 and the ring 3 are preferably identical. The projection 6 of the ring 3, which faces inwardly of the ring 3, is coaxial with the pin 4 from the outside thereof. The projection 6 of the ring 3 is located in front of the groove 7 of the pin 4.

In FIG. 2 and 4, the ring 3 shown is pushed onto the pin 4. The connecting strips 5 connecting the two plastic parts 1, 2 are separated and the projection 6 has snapped into the groove 7. This ring 3, which is pushed onto the pin 4, is indicated below. as a pressed ring. The ring 3 is pushed coaxially onto the pin 4 during the pressing process. From the locked ring 3 in FIG. 2 it can be seen that the ring 3 is secured against slipping off the pin 4 and that the protrusion 6 is protected against externally applied forces.

In FIG. 2 and 4, cut-outs of the handle 8 and the outer wall 9 of the plastic container are shown. According to an exemplary embodiment, the handle can be attached from the outside of the plastic container.

The circumferential groove 7 of the pin 4 in the illustrated embodiment is formed by the outer surface 9 of the container wall and the collar 10 of the pin 4. The outer surface 9 of the container wall, to which the handle 8 abuts, is shown as an edge U of the double-edge container supported The ribs 12 are clearly visible to the container itself, as shown in FIG. 1 and 5.

The collar 10 of the pin 4 has a circular cross-section and a conical shape with a taper to the end of the pin 4. The cone dimensions are selected so that the ring 3 can be moved by its projection 6 over the conical collar 10 of the pin 4. The cross-section 6 of the ring 3 must then have the same cross-section so that the handle can snap onto the pin 4. In this case, any small deflection of the handle is locked due to the positive fit of the two parts.

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The cap 4 shown in FIG. 1, 2 and 5 is hollow. In a side view, FIG. 5, a slot 13 of the hollow pin can be seen, which makes it easier to reduce the diameter of the pin 4 when sliding the ring 3.

The recess 14 in the projection 6 is located at the position indicated in FIG. 5 against the slot 13. The hollow pin is also provided with a protruding nose 15, which slides into the recess 14, as indicated in FIG. In addition, the recess 14 makes it easier to widen the diameter of the ring 3 when it is slid onto the pin 4. When slipping the ring 3 onto the pin 4, it is therefore advantageous that the nose 15 protrudes into the recess 14 after separating the connecting strips.

As shown in FIG. 1 and 3, protrusions 18 are formed on the ring 3 and on the outer surface 9 of the container wall, which, when pressed, abut against each other in the deflected position of the handle 8 and prevent it from falling again. Over the inclined side surfaces 19, the projections 18 on the vertical side surfaces move as the handle 8 is raised from its lower position without being locked.

The axial length of the ring 3 is greater than the axial length of the pin 4. In FIG. 2 it is shown that the pin 4, when the ring 3 is pressed in, lies entirely within the ring and thus does not form any edges which could damage the joint under the influence of external forces. The position of the protrusion 6 within the ring 3 and the circumferential groove 7 on the pin 4 allows the pressed ring 3 to be positioned near the outer surface 9 of the container wall, thereby creating a slight space 15 between the outer surface 8 of the container and the ring 3. 2 and FIG. 4th

According to FIG. 4 and 5, the handle 8 forms a double T-profile 16, which further passes smoothly and smoothly into the simple T-profile 17 of the grip ring 3. In this case, it is advantageous to form a protrusion 6 which extends inwardly of the ring 3 as part of the T-profile 17 .

Claims (8)

An articulated joint of two plastic parts (1, 2) made by injection molding in one operation, the first plastic part (1) having a pin (4) and the second (2) ring (3), the two plastic parts being joined together by connecting strips (5) ) and the connecting strips can be broken at defined points, characterized in that the pin (4) of the first plastic part (1) and the ring (3) of the second plastic part (2) can be joined together by a groove (7) and a protrusion (6) ) by sliding the ring (3) onto the pin (4) and that the pin (4) and the ring (3) are connected to each other by means of connecting strips (5) so that the ring (3) is substantially coaxial with the pin ( 4) on its outside. An articulated joint according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic container is provided with two articulated joints according to claim 1, wherein the first plastic component is a container provided with pins and the second plastic component is then a handle which is provided with rings at both ends. An articulated joint according to claim 2, characterized in that the plastic container pins (4) are provided on their outside with at least one nose (15) in the longitudinal direction and with inwardly directed protrusions (6) of the handle ring (3) with recesses (4). 14), the number and shape of which correspond to the noses (15). The articulated joint according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the handle rings (3) and the outer wall (9) of the plastic container are provided with projections (18) which are pressed against each other when the handle (8) is laterally deflected. The articulated joint according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the axial length of the rings (3) of the plastic container handle (8) is equal to or greater than the axial length of the pins (4). The articulated joint according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the pin has a three- or four-sectional cross-section and that the projection (6) of the ring (3) is provided with an opening of a corresponding cross-section. Method of manufacturing an articulated joint according to the above claims, characterized in that the first and second plastic parts (1, 2) are molded simultaneously in a die-shaped die with mold cavities for both plastic parts (1,2), wherein the mold cavity for the ring (1). 3) is substantially located outside the shaped cavity for the pin (4) and is coaxial with it and that after the plastic has cooled and at least partially removed from the press tool, the ring (3) and the pin (4) are held in their coaxial position they are pushed onto each other by the axial force until the protrusion (6) engages in the groove (7). Method according to claim 7, wherein the plastic parts (1, 2) are molded in the die tool simultaneously so that the pin (4) is connected to the ring (3) by means of connecting strips (5) and that these connecting strips (5) ) can be interrupted at defined points, characterized in that the ring (3) is subjected to such an axial force that the connecting strip (5) is broken. FIG. 1 t »?) 3Ζ · ίιδ FIG. 2