US20080166209A1 - Molded Article Picker - Google Patents
Molded Article Picker Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080166209A1 US20080166209A1 US11/621,639 US62163907A US2008166209A1 US 20080166209 A1 US20080166209 A1 US 20080166209A1 US 62163907 A US62163907 A US 62163907A US 2008166209 A1 US2008166209 A1 US 2008166209A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- molded article
- floating element
- floating
- picker
- pressure structure
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/40—Removing or ejecting moulded articles
- B29C45/42—Removing or ejecting moulded articles using means movable from outside the mould between mould parts, e.g. robots
- B29C45/4225—Take-off members or carriers for the moulded articles, e.g. grippers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/72—Heating or cooling
- B29C45/7207—Heating or cooling of the moulded articles
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B11/00—Making preforms
- B29B11/06—Making preforms by moulding the material
- B29B11/08—Injection moulding
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29B—PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS
- B29B11/00—Making preforms
- B29B11/14—Making preforms characterised by structure or composition
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/40—Removing or ejecting moulded articles
- B29C45/42—Removing or ejecting moulded articles using means movable from outside the mould between mould parts, e.g. robots
- B29C2045/4241—Auxiliary means for removing moulded articles from the robot
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C45/17—Component parts, details or accessories; Auxiliary operations
- B29C45/72—Heating or cooling
- B29C45/7207—Heating or cooling of the moulded articles
- B29C2045/7214—Preform carriers for cooling preforms
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
- B29C2949/0715—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration the preform having one end closed
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
- B29C2949/072—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable wall thickness
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
- B29C2949/073—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration having variable diameter
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
- B29C2949/076—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape
- B29C2949/0768—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform
- B29C2949/077—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform characterised by the neck
- B29C2949/0772—Closure retaining means
- B29C2949/0773—Threads
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/07—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration
- B29C2949/076—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape
- B29C2949/0768—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform
- B29C2949/077—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration characterised by the shape characterised by the shape of specific parts of preform characterised by the neck
- B29C2949/0777—Tamper-evident band retaining ring
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
- B29C2949/22—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at neck portion
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
- B29C2949/24—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at flange portion
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
- B29C2949/26—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at body portion
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/20—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
- B29C2949/28—Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer at bottom portion
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/30—Preforms or parisons made of several components
- B29C2949/3024—Preforms or parisons made of several components characterised by the number of components or by the manufacturing technique
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C2949/00—Indexing scheme relating to blow-moulding
- B29C2949/30—Preforms or parisons made of several components
- B29C2949/3032—Preforms or parisons made of several components having components being injected
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
- B29C49/00—Blow-moulding, i.e. blowing a preform or parison to a desired shape within a mould; Apparatus therefor
- B29C49/071—Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
- B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
- B29K2105/25—Solid
- B29K2105/253—Preform
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to molded article pickers, and more specifically the present invention relates to, but is not limited to, a post-mold device including such a molded article picker, a molding system including the post-mold device, and a related method for the use of the molded article picker for handling a molded article.
- the productivity of the injection mold may be increased (i.e. by reducing the cycle time).
- post-mold devices, and related methods are known and have proven effective in optimizing, i.e. reducing, the injection molding machine cycle time.
- a just-molded, and hence only partially cooled, molded article is ejected from the injection mold and into a post-mold device, commonly known as a take-out device or end-of-arm-tool (EOAT), having a plurality of cooled carriers (otherwise known as a cooling tube, take-out tube, cooling sleeve, amongst others) for post-mold cooling of the molded article outside of the mold.
- a take-out device commonly known as a take-out device or end-of-arm-tool (EOAT)
- EOAT end-of-arm-tool
- U.S. Pat. No. Re. 33,237 describes a post-mold device for removing partially cooled injection molded preforms from the core side of an injection mold.
- the preforms are ejected from the mold directly into cooled carriers (such as that described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,732), and transported by the post-mold device to an outboard position adjacent the mold.
- the post-mold device may include multiple sets of carriers to accommodate multiple sets of preforms (i.e. multiple shots or batches of preforms).
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,780 describes a post-mold device similar to that of the '541 patent further including molded article pickers for removal of the preform from the cooled carrier of the first post-mold device.
- the molded article picker includes a pin operable to cooperate with a vacuum source to evacuate a volume defined within the preform to cause the preform to remain therewith as the molded article picker is moved away from the carrier.
- the second post-mold device mounted to a frame, may be rotated by 90 degrees to a discharge position and the vacuum to the molded article pickers may be terminated to allow the preforms to fall off the pins.
- the molded article picker of the second post-mold device further includes a sealing surface disposed on a front face of a tooling plate to sealingly cooperate with a front face of the preform in response to the evacuation of the volume.
- the preform is transferred over a small gap between the front face of the preform, arranged in the carrier of the first post-mold device, and the sealing surface of the molded article picker.
- a molded article picker for a post-mold device for transferring a molded article.
- the molded article picker includes a floating element being configured to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position and a pressure structure.
- the floating element is cooperable with the molded article to define a substantially enclosed volume including the pressure structure.
- the pressure structure is configured such that by evacuating the substantially enclosed volume the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into the retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article to the molded article picker.
- a post-mold device including a tooling plate and a molded article picker as described in the previous section arranged on the tooling plate.
- a molding system comprising a post-mold device, having a tooling plate and a molded article picker as described above arranged on the tooling plate for transferring a molded article.
- a method for transferring a molded article comprising the steps of bringing a floating element of a molded article picker in an extended position, at least in part, into abutment with a surface of the molded article and evacuating the enclosed volume defined by the molded article and the floating element such that the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into a retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article.
- FIG. 1 is a plan view of an injection molding machine including a presently preferred embodiment of the molded article picker being arranged on a tooling plate of a post-mold device;
- FIG. 2 is a plan view of a partially assembled tooling plate of a post-mold device that includes the presently preferred molded article picker.
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the molded article being transferred from a carrier to the presently preferred embodiment of the molded article picker with the floating element in the extended position;
- FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the molded article being transferred from the carrier to the presently preferred embodiment of the molded article picker with the floating element in the retracted position;
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the molded article picker with the floating element in the extended position.
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the alternative embodiment of the molded article picker of FIG. 5 with the floating element in the retracted position.
- FIG. 1 a top plan view of an exemplary injection molding machine 10 is shown, comprising an injection unit 11 , a clamp unit 12 , a first post-mold device 13 , and a second post-mold device 14 .
- An injection mold comprising a cavity and core half 35 , 17 , is shown arranged between the stationary and moving platens 16 , 41 of the clamp unit 12 .
- the mold 35 , 17 including molding inserts (not shown) of a stack assembly defining a molding cavity.
- the first post-mold device 13 is mounted on the stationary platen 16 and includes a beam 20 that projects to one side of the machine (e.g. the non-operator side) and upon which rides a carriage 21 , moved along the beam by (typically) a servo-electric driven belt drive (not shown).
- a tooling plate 107 is attached to the carriage 21 .
- Multiple sets of carriers 108 e.g. three sets in the exemplary embodiment, are mounted on plate 107 and may be cooled for transporting multiple molded shots of molded articles 109 (the ‘molded article’ also will be henceforth referred to as a ‘preform’ in keeping with the context of the exemplary embodiment) ejected from the mold from an inboard (loading) position (not shown).
- the second post-mold device 14 includes a tooling plate 100 upon which are mounted multiple sets of cooling pins 112 , two sets in the exemplary embodiment, and a set of molded article pickers 120 in accordance with the preferred embodiment.
- the molded article pickers 120 are provided in every third row. In other words, for every molded article picker 120 there are two cooling pins 112 on the tooling plate 100 .
- the number of sets of cooling pins 112 could be different, i.e. for every molded article picker 120 there could be only one cooling pin 112 or more than two cooling pins 112 , or the cooling pins 112 may be omitted entirely.
- a rotatable mount 40 , 45 attaches the tooling plate 100 to moving platen 41 for rotation through an arc.
- the rotation of the tooling plate 100 can be effected, for example, by an electric drive (not shown) mounted to the rotatable mount 40 , 45 .
- a shot or batch of molded articles or preforms 109 are transferred into a set of empty carriers 108 when the mold is open and the tooling plate 107 is positioned such that the empty carriers 108 are aligned with molded articles on the core half 17 .
- the tooling plate 107 is then moved to its outboard position by the carriage 21 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the mold is then closed and clamped for the next molding cycle.
- the tooling plate 100 of the second post-mold device 14 moves towards the molded article carriers 108 , whereby the sets of cooling pins 112 are arranged within the interior of the corresponding preforms 109 that have been most recently molded, and the molded article pickers 120 are arranged to engage an end portion, and in particular the front face 110 (as shown in FIGS. 3 & 4 ), of the preforms 109 that have been in the carriers 108 the longest, as will be described in more detail further below.
- a set of preforms 109 will have been held by the carriers 108 through three molding cycles before they are engaged by the molded article pickers 120 and withdrawn from the carriers 108 .
- the tooling plate 100 is then rotated by 90 degrees and the articles held by the molded article pickers 120 are dropped onto a conveyor (not shown) beneath the machine. The remaining articles continue to be held in their carriers 108 by means of a vacuum.
- the tooling plate 100 includes apertures for accommodating a plurality of columns and rows of molded article cooling devices 112 (the cooling device may be, for example, a cooling pin in keeping with the context of the exemplary embodiment, and henceforth will be referred to as such), and molded article pickers 120 (a representative pair of cooling pins 112 and a molded article picker 120 are shown for the three sets of this exemplary embodiment).
- the apertures of every third column are configured to accommodate a molded article picker 120 and the apertures of the remaining columns are configured to accommodate cooling pins 112 .
- FIGS. 3 & 4 A preferred embodiment of a molded article picker 120 according to the present invention is depicted in FIGS. 3 & 4 .
- a sectional view of the tooling plate 100 of the second post-mold device 14 is shown including two cooling pins 112 and a molded article picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively cooperating with three preforms 109 A, 109 B and 109 C being held within three carriers 108 of the first post mold device 13 .
- the molded article picker 120 comprises a floating element 123 that is movably connected to and guided by a base element 140 which, in turn, is mounted to the tooling plate 100 .
- a base element 140 which, in turn, is mounted to the tooling plate 100 .
- the base element 140 also could be an integral part of the tooling plate 100 .
- the floating element 123 can be moved between an extended or forward position (shown in FIG. 3 ) and a retracted or rear position (shown in FIG. 4 ).
- the floating element 123 of the molded article picker 120 is spring-biased in the extended position for receiving molded article 109 by means of at least one biasing and guiding assembly.
- Each biasing and guiding assembly comprises a compressible spring 126 that is coiled about a respective cylindrical guiding pin 128 depending from a radial flange 119 of the floating element 123 .
- the cylindrical guiding pin 128 is slidably arranged and guided within a cylindrical guiding recess 130 formed in the base element 140 and the tooling plate 100 .
- 3 & 4 comprises three such biasing and guiding assemblies consisting respectively of a compressible spring 126 , a cylindrical guiding pin 128 and a corresponding cylindrical guiding recess 130 .
- the three biasing and guiding assemblies of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are positioned with an angle of 120 degrees between each other relative to the central symmetry axis of the molded article picker 120 and radially spaced therefrom close to the outer edge of the radial flange 119 .
- Such a configuration is preferable in order to avoid any misalignment between the molded article picker 120 and a preform 109 to be transferred.
- a molded article picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention likewise could comprise less or more than three biasing and guiding assemblies.
- the motion of the floating element 123 of the molded article picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment between the extended or forward and the retracted or rear position is furthermore guided by a cylindrical lower guiding portion 125 of a pressure structure, preferably a vacuum pin 124 , which is arranged within a cylindrical bore through the base element 140 .
- the arrangement of the vacuum pin 124 within the cylindrical bore through the base element 140 should allow for a guided gliding movement of the vacuum pin 124 within the cylindrical bore and at the same time substantially prohibit the flow of fluid between the inner face of the cylindrical bore and the outer face of the guiding portion 125 of the vacuum pin 124 , as will be outlined in more detail below.
- the floating element 123 When no external forces are applied to the floating element 123 of the molded article picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment, due to the tendency of the at least one compressible spring 126 to relax itself from being compressed the floating element 123 will be spring-biased in the extended or forward position, as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the floating element 123 comprises a retainer 142 at the lower end of the guiding portion 125 of the vacuum pin 124 . Any further motion of the floating element 123 and, thus, the vacuum pin 124 beyond the extended position or forward position thereof is impeded due to the abutment of the retainer 142 and the bottom face of the base element 140 .
- the molded article picker 120 comprises furthermore a compliable sealing element 122 disposed on the upper face of the radial flange 119 of the floating element 123 .
- the sealing element 122 is made from a silicone rubber and is bonded to the radial flange 119 and adjacent portions of the floating element 123 in proximity thereto, as shown in FIGS. 3 & 4 , by means of a suitable adhesive material.
- a further retainer 127 can be provided in order assist in retaining the compliable sealing element 122 on the upper face of the of the radial flange 119 of the floating element 123 .
- the molded article picker 120 engages the molded article 109 by bringing the front face 110 of the molded article 109 in close contact and preferably into abutment with the upper face of the sealing element 122 on the upper face of the radial flange of the floating element 123 .
- a compliant material preferably silicone rubber
- a pressure channel 138 formed between the lower face of the tooling plate 100 and a backing plate 134 affixed thereto and in fluid communication with the interior of the vacuum pin 124 is connected via a manifold (not shown) to a pressure source and the enclosed volume V 1 defined by the interior of the molded article 109 and the interior of the vacuum pin 124 is evacuated via the pressure channel 138 .
- the enclosed volume V 1 defined by the interior of the molded article 109 and the interior of the vacuum pin 124 is essentially sealed from the environment, the floating element 123 is withdrawn by the vacuum force into the retracted or rear position shown in FIG. 4 .
- the molded article 109 being sealed to the floating element 123 (or more specifically to the sealing element 122 disposed on the upper face of the radial flange 119 thereof) is removed from the molded article carrier 108 and transferred to the molded article picker 120 . Thereafter the second post mold device 14 may be retracted and the first post mold device 13 is then free to retrieve the next shot of molded articles 109 from the molding structure 17 , 35 .
- the floating element 123 is displaced by a distance of about 7 mm from its retracted or rear position to its extended or forward position, e.g. after the vacuum has been turned off and the preforms 109 have been dropped onto a conveyor.
- the equilibration between the abutment of the front face 110 of a preform 109 of a subsequent batch and the sealing element 122 and the force exerted by the at least one spring 126 causes the floating element 123 to be displaced by about 2 mm in the direction of the retracted or rear position.
- the radial flange 119 thereof is seated in a cup-shaped recess defined by the top face and the side face of the base element 140 , such that the upper end of the sealing element 122 is substantially flush with the upper face of the tooling plate 100 .
- the guiding pins 128 essentially fill the whole space provided by the guiding recesses 130 , thereby compressing the springs 126 .
- a cylindrical sealing ring or gasket 132 could be provided in the top face of the base element 140 to provide for a fluid-tight engagement between the sealing ring 132 and the bottom face of the radial flange 119 in the retracted or rear position of the floating element 123 .
- Sealing rings could also be provided along the interfaces between the base element 140 and the tooling plate 100 and/or the tooling plate 100 and the backing plate 134 .
- FIGS. 5 & 6 another exemplary embodiment of a molded article picker 220 is depicted mounted to a second post mold device 214 .
- FIG. 5 depicts the molded article picker 220 in a configuration just prior to receiving a molded article 209 , i.e. in the extended or forward position
- FIG. 6 depicts the molded article picker 220 in a configuration after having received and withdrawn a molded article 209 from a carrier (not shown) of the first post-mold device (not shown), i.e. in the retracted or rear position.
- the molded article picker 220 includes a floating element 223 that is biased by a spring 226 to the extended or forward position, as shown in FIG. 5 , for receiving the molded article 209 .
- the floating element 223 retracts under a vacuum force, compressing the spring 226 , to the retracted or rear position as shown in FIG. 6 .
- the molded article picker 220 also includes a pressure structure comprising a vacuum pin 224 that is mounted to a tooling plate 200 via a base element 240 and a cup-shaped cylinder element 250 that is retained on the tooling plate 200 by a flange portion 244 of the base element 240 .
- the cylinder element 250 is retained on a front face of the tooling plate 200 by the base element 240 such that the cylinder element 250 has a limited degree of radial freedom such that it may align with a radial piston-like flange 219 of the floating element 223 .
- the floating element 223 includes a guide portion 225 having an inner surface that cooperates with an outer surface of the vacuum pin 224 such that the floating element 223 is kept in longitudinal axial alignment with the vacuum pin 224 as the floating element 223 is moved between its extended or forward position and its retracted or rear position.
- the floating element 223 also includes a spring seat 227 that receives a forward portion of the spring 226 .
- a rear portion of the spring 226 cooperates with a front face of the base element 240 .
- the spring 226 is kept in longitudinal alignment with the vacuum pin 224 and with the floating element 223 by close cooperation of the spring 226 around a spring guide portion 228 defined on the outer surface of the vacuum pin 224 .
- the vacuum pin 224 also includes a retainer 242 , preferably a spring clip, arranged in a groove defined around the vacuum pin 224 .
- the retainer 242 cooperates with a front face of the guide portion 225 of the floating element 223 to define a forward limit ( FIG. 5 ) of travel of the floating element 223 .
- the rear travel limit FIG.
- the floating element 223 is defined by close cooperation of a rear face of the radial piston-like flange 219 and a front face of the base element 240 .
- the floating element 223 may be fabricated, for example, from an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) such that a front face of the radial piston-like flange 219 is compliant to an extent that is provides a sealing face 222 that may readily form a seal with the front face 210 of the molded article 209 .
- UHMWPE ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene
- a pressure channel 238 is defined between a pocket formed in the tooling plate 200 and a backing plate 234 arranged behind the tooling plate 200 .
- the pressure channel 238 is to be connected to a pressure source, positive or negative, such as may be provided, for example, by a compressor or a vacuum pump, respectively.
- a pressure channel 243 is formed in the base member 240 for connecting the pressure channel 238 of the tooling plate 200 with a pressure channel 221 that extends through the vacuum pin 224 .
- an actuator pressure channel 229 is defined through a sidewall of the vacuum pin 224 .
- the actuator pressure channel 229 is preferably arranged on the vacuum pin 224 in a location adjacent the base member 240 .
- a close-fit, preferably fluid-tight, cooperation between an outer circumferential surface 246 of the radial piston-like flange 219 and an inner surface 252 is defined along the cylinder member 250 and may, optionally, include a piston seal disposed there between.
- the second post mold device 14 is translated to cause the molded article picker 220 to engage the molded article 209 , as explained previously with respect to the first exemplary embodiment, such that the front face 210 of the molded article 209 is arranged in close proximity, preferably in abutment, with the sealing face 222 of the floating element 223 .
- the pressure channel 238 is connected to a pressure source and an enclosed volume V 1 ′ ( FIG. 6 ) defined between the interior of the molded article 209 and the exterior of the molded article picker 220 is evacuated through the combination of the pressure channels 221 , 243 , and 238 .
- the enclosed volume V 2 ′ FIG.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention generally relates to molded article pickers, and more specifically the present invention relates to, but is not limited to, a post-mold device including such a molded article picker, a molding system including the post-mold device, and a related method for the use of the molded article picker for handling a molded article.
- A lot of injection molded articles, for example plastic preforms of the variety that are for blow molding into beverage bottles, require extended cooling periods to solidify into substantially defect-free molded articles. To the extent that the cooling of the molded article can be effected outside of the injection mold by one or more so-called post-mold devices, the productivity of the injection mold may be increased (i.e. by reducing the cycle time). A variety of such post-mold devices, and related methods, are known and have proven effective in optimizing, i.e. reducing, the injection molding machine cycle time.
- In a typical injection molding system a just-molded, and hence only partially cooled, molded article is ejected from the injection mold and into a post-mold device, commonly known as a take-out device or end-of-arm-tool (EOAT), having a plurality of cooled carriers (otherwise known as a cooling tube, take-out tube, cooling sleeve, amongst others) for post-mold cooling of the molded article outside of the mold.
- U.S. Pat. No. Re. 33,237 describes a post-mold device for removing partially cooled injection molded preforms from the core side of an injection mold. The preforms are ejected from the mold directly into cooled carriers (such as that described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,732), and transported by the post-mold device to an outboard position adjacent the mold. The post-mold device may include multiple sets of carriers to accommodate multiple sets of preforms (i.e. multiple shots or batches of preforms).
- Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,171,541 describes another post-mold device that includes a set of cooling pins for insertion into the interior of a partially cooled preform, the preform arranged in a cooled carrier of a first post-mold device, to discharge a cooling fluid therein. An example of the foregoing is sold under the trade name of COOLJET, a trade-mark of Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited.
- Commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,780 describes a post-mold device similar to that of the '541 patent further including molded article pickers for removal of the preform from the cooled carrier of the first post-mold device. The molded article picker includes a pin operable to cooperate with a vacuum source to evacuate a volume defined within the preform to cause the preform to remain therewith as the molded article picker is moved away from the carrier. The second post-mold device, mounted to a frame, may be rotated by 90 degrees to a discharge position and the vacuum to the molded article pickers may be terminated to allow the preforms to fall off the pins.
- An example of the foregoing post-mold device is sold under the trade name of COOLPIK, a trade-mark of Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited. The molded article picker of the second post-mold device further includes a sealing surface disposed on a front face of a tooling plate to sealingly cooperate with a front face of the preform in response to the evacuation of the volume. According to this solution the preform is transferred over a small gap between the front face of the preform, arranged in the carrier of the first post-mold device, and the sealing surface of the molded article picker.
- Although the above solution already constitutes a substantial improvement with respect to the prior art it has been found that in practice the transfer of the molded article from a carrier to the molded article picker sometimes fails. It is believed that this improper transfer is caused by an insufficient vacuum applied and the air flow resulting therefrom to transfer the molded article across the gap between the front face of the molded article and the sealing surface of the molded article picker. This occurs especially with molded articles having a shallow draft on the outside thereof. Consequently, it can happen that molded articles are not transferred properly, i.e. are left in the carrier, and, thus, block this carrier for the introduction of a molded article of the next shot of molded articles, which for obvious reasons is highly undesirable.
- There is, thus, a need for a molded article picker providing for an improved reliability of transfer of a molded article from a carrier on a first post-mold device to such a molded article picker on a second post-mold device.
- According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a molded article picker for a post-mold device for transferring a molded article. The molded article picker includes a floating element being configured to be movable between an extended position and a retracted position and a pressure structure. The floating element is cooperable with the molded article to define a substantially enclosed volume including the pressure structure. The pressure structure is configured such that by evacuating the substantially enclosed volume the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into the retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article to the molded article picker.
- According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a post-mold device including a tooling plate and a molded article picker as described in the previous section arranged on the tooling plate.
- According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a molding system comprising a post-mold device, having a tooling plate and a molded article picker as described above arranged on the tooling plate for transferring a molded article.
- According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring a molded article, comprising the steps of bringing a floating element of a molded article picker in an extended position, at least in part, into abutment with a surface of the molded article and evacuating the enclosed volume defined by the molded article and the floating element such that the molded article is sealed to the floating element and the floating element is drawn into a retracted position, thereby transferring the molded article.
- A better understanding of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention (including alternatives and/or variations thereof) may be obtained with reference to the detailed description of the exemplary embodiments along with the following drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an injection molding machine including a presently preferred embodiment of the molded article picker being arranged on a tooling plate of a post-mold device; -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a partially assembled tooling plate of a post-mold device that includes the presently preferred molded article picker. -
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the molded article being transferred from a carrier to the presently preferred embodiment of the molded article picker with the floating element in the extended position; -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the molded article being transferred from the carrier to the presently preferred embodiment of the molded article picker with the floating element in the retracted position; -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the molded article picker with the floating element in the extended position. -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the alternative embodiment of the molded article picker ofFIG. 5 with the floating element in the retracted position. - With reference to
FIG. 1 , a top plan view of an exemplaryinjection molding machine 10 is shown, comprising aninjection unit 11, aclamp unit 12, a firstpost-mold device 13, and a secondpost-mold device 14. An injection mold comprising a cavity andcore half platens clamp unit 12. Themold - The first
post-mold device 13 is mounted on thestationary platen 16 and includes abeam 20 that projects to one side of the machine (e.g. the non-operator side) and upon which rides acarriage 21, moved along the beam by (typically) a servo-electric driven belt drive (not shown). Atooling plate 107 is attached to thecarriage 21. Multiple sets ofcarriers 108, e.g. three sets in the exemplary embodiment, are mounted onplate 107 and may be cooled for transporting multiple molded shots of molded articles 109 (the ‘molded article’ also will be henceforth referred to as a ‘preform’ in keeping with the context of the exemplary embodiment) ejected from the mold from an inboard (loading) position (not shown). - The
second post-mold device 14 includes atooling plate 100 upon which are mounted multiple sets ofcooling pins 112, two sets in the exemplary embodiment, and a set of moldedarticle pickers 120 in accordance with the preferred embodiment. InFIG. 1 , themolded article pickers 120 are provided in every third row. In other words, for everymolded article picker 120 there are twocooling pins 112 on thetooling plate 100. However, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the number of sets ofcooling pins 112 could be different, i.e. for every moldedarticle picker 120 there could be only onecooling pin 112 or more than twocooling pins 112, or thecooling pins 112 may be omitted entirely. - A
rotatable mount tooling plate 100 to movingplaten 41 for rotation through an arc. The rotation of thetooling plate 100 can be effected, for example, by an electric drive (not shown) mounted to therotatable mount - In operation, a shot or batch of molded articles or
preforms 109 are transferred into a set ofempty carriers 108 when the mold is open and thetooling plate 107 is positioned such that theempty carriers 108 are aligned with molded articles on thecore half 17. Thetooling plate 107 is then moved to its outboard position by thecarriage 21, as shown inFIG. 1 . The mold is then closed and clamped for the next molding cycle. - Meanwhile, as the mold closes, the
tooling plate 100 of thesecond post-mold device 14 moves towards themolded article carriers 108, whereby the sets ofcooling pins 112 are arranged within the interior of thecorresponding preforms 109 that have been most recently molded, and themolded article pickers 120 are arranged to engage an end portion, and in particular the front face 110 (as shown inFIGS. 3 & 4 ), of thepreforms 109 that have been in thecarriers 108 the longest, as will be described in more detail further below. In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 & 2 , a set ofpreforms 109 will have been held by thecarriers 108 through three molding cycles before they are engaged by the moldedarticle pickers 120 and withdrawn from thecarriers 108. Thetooling plate 100 is then rotated by 90 degrees and the articles held by themolded article pickers 120 are dropped onto a conveyor (not shown) beneath the machine. The remaining articles continue to be held in theircarriers 108 by means of a vacuum. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thetooling plate 100 includes apertures for accommodating a plurality of columns and rows of molded article cooling devices 112 (the cooling device may be, for example, a cooling pin in keeping with the context of the exemplary embodiment, and henceforth will be referred to as such), and molded article pickers 120 (a representative pair of coolingpins 112 and a moldedarticle picker 120 are shown for the three sets of this exemplary embodiment). In particular, in this configuration the apertures of every third column are configured to accommodate a moldedarticle picker 120 and the apertures of the remaining columns are configured to accommodate cooling pins 112. - A preferred embodiment of a molded
article picker 120 according to the present invention is depicted inFIGS. 3 & 4 . A sectional view of thetooling plate 100 of the secondpost-mold device 14 is shown including two coolingpins 112 and a moldedarticle picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, respectively cooperating with threepreforms carriers 108 of the firstpost mold device 13. - The molded
article picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a floatingelement 123 that is movably connected to and guided by abase element 140 which, in turn, is mounted to thetooling plate 100. The person skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that, alternatively, thebase element 140 also could be an integral part of thetooling plate 100. As will be described in more detail further below the floatingelement 123 can be moved between an extended or forward position (shown inFIG. 3 ) and a retracted or rear position (shown inFIG. 4 ). - The floating
element 123 of the moldedarticle picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is spring-biased in the extended position for receiving moldedarticle 109 by means of at least one biasing and guiding assembly. Each biasing and guiding assembly comprises acompressible spring 126 that is coiled about a respectivecylindrical guiding pin 128 depending from aradial flange 119 of the floatingelement 123. Thecylindrical guiding pin 128 is slidably arranged and guided within acylindrical guiding recess 130 formed in thebase element 140 and thetooling plate 100. The preferred embodiment of the moldedarticle picker 120 shown inFIGS. 3 & 4 comprises three such biasing and guiding assemblies consisting respectively of acompressible spring 126, acylindrical guiding pin 128 and a correspondingcylindrical guiding recess 130. The three biasing and guiding assemblies of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are positioned with an angle of 120 degrees between each other relative to the central symmetry axis of the moldedarticle picker 120 and radially spaced therefrom close to the outer edge of theradial flange 119. Such a configuration is preferable in order to avoid any misalignment between the moldedarticle picker 120 and apreform 109 to be transferred. The person skilled in the art, however, will appreciate that a moldedarticle picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the invention likewise could comprise less or more than three biasing and guiding assemblies. - In addition to the above described biasing and guiding assemblies the motion of the floating
element 123 of the moldedarticle picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment between the extended or forward and the retracted or rear position is furthermore guided by a cylindricallower guiding portion 125 of a pressure structure, preferably avacuum pin 124, which is arranged within a cylindrical bore through thebase element 140. The arrangement of thevacuum pin 124 within the cylindrical bore through thebase element 140 should allow for a guided gliding movement of thevacuum pin 124 within the cylindrical bore and at the same time substantially prohibit the flow of fluid between the inner face of the cylindrical bore and the outer face of the guidingportion 125 of thevacuum pin 124, as will be outlined in more detail below. - When no external forces are applied to the floating
element 123 of the moldedarticle picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment, due to the tendency of the at least onecompressible spring 126 to relax itself from being compressed the floatingelement 123 will be spring-biased in the extended or forward position, as shown inFIG. 3 . In order to avoid a detachment of the floatingelement 123 from thebase element 140 and, thus, thetooling plate 100 due to the force exerted by the at least onespring 126, the floatingelement 123 comprises aretainer 142 at the lower end of the guidingportion 125 of thevacuum pin 124. Any further motion of the floatingelement 123 and, thus, thevacuum pin 124 beyond the extended position or forward position thereof is impeded due to the abutment of theretainer 142 and the bottom face of thebase element 140. - The molded
article picker 120 comprises furthermore acompliable sealing element 122 disposed on the upper face of theradial flange 119 of the floatingelement 123. Preferably, the sealingelement 122 is made from a silicone rubber and is bonded to theradial flange 119 and adjacent portions of the floatingelement 123 in proximity thereto, as shown inFIGS. 3 & 4 , by means of a suitable adhesive material. In addition, afurther retainer 127 can be provided in order assist in retaining thecompliable sealing element 122 on the upper face of the of theradial flange 119 of the floatingelement 123. - In operation, when the
tooling plate 100 of the secondpost-mold device 14 approaches thetooling plate 107 of the firstpost-mold device 13, during mold closing, the moldedarticle picker 120 engages the moldedarticle 109 by bringing thefront face 110 of the moldedarticle 109 in close contact and preferably into abutment with the upper face of the sealingelement 122 on the upper face of the radial flange of the floatingelement 123. As it is made of a compliant material, preferably silicone rubber, upon contact with thefront face 110 of the moldedarticle 109 the sealingelement 122 will be deformed and compressed. However, due to the force exerted upon theradial flange 119 of the floatingelement 123 by the at least onecompressed spring 126 as well as the tendency of thedeformed sealing element 122 to restore its original shape, a fluid-tight seal will be formed between thefront face 110 of the moldedarticle 109 and the sealingelement 122 disposed on upper face of theradial flange 119 of the floatingelement 123 of the moldedarticle picker 120 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Thereafter, apressure channel 138 formed between the lower face of thetooling plate 100 and abacking plate 134 affixed thereto and in fluid communication with the interior of thevacuum pin 124 is connected via a manifold (not shown) to a pressure source and the enclosed volume V1 defined by the interior of the moldedarticle 109 and the interior of thevacuum pin 124 is evacuated via thepressure channel 138. As the enclosed volume V1 defined by the interior of the moldedarticle 109 and the interior of thevacuum pin 124 is essentially sealed from the environment, the floatingelement 123 is withdrawn by the vacuum force into the retracted or rear position shown inFIG. 4 . Consequently, the moldedarticle 109 being sealed to the floating element 123 (or more specifically to the sealingelement 122 disposed on the upper face of theradial flange 119 thereof) is removed from the moldedarticle carrier 108 and transferred to the moldedarticle picker 120. Thereafter the secondpost mold device 14 may be retracted and the firstpost mold device 13 is then free to retrieve the next shot of moldedarticles 109 from themolding structure - For
preform 109 shown in the exemplary embodiment the floatingelement 123 is displaced by a distance of about 7 mm from its retracted or rear position to its extended or forward position, e.g. after the vacuum has been turned off and thepreforms 109 have been dropped onto a conveyor. Preferably, the equilibration between the abutment of thefront face 110 of apreform 109 of a subsequent batch and the sealingelement 122 and the force exerted by the at least onespring 126 causes the floatingelement 123 to be displaced by about 2 mm in the direction of the retracted or rear position. Out of this position the floatingelement 123 and the moldedarticle 109 sealed thereto are moved into the retracted or rear position over a distance of about 5 mm by applying a vacuum to the enclosed volume V1 defined by the interior of the moldedarticle 109 and thevacuum pin 124 via thepressure channel 138. - As can be taken from
FIG. 4 , in the retracted or rear position of the floatingelement 123 theradial flange 119 thereof is seated in a cup-shaped recess defined by the top face and the side face of thebase element 140, such that the upper end of the sealingelement 122 is substantially flush with the upper face of thetooling plate 100. In this position, the guidingpins 128 essentially fill the whole space provided by the guidingrecesses 130, thereby compressing thesprings 126. Optionally, a cylindrical sealing ring orgasket 132 could be provided in the top face of thebase element 140 to provide for a fluid-tight engagement between the sealingring 132 and the bottom face of theradial flange 119 in the retracted or rear position of the floatingelement 123. Sealing rings could also be provided along the interfaces between thebase element 140 and thetooling plate 100 and/or thetooling plate 100 and thebacking plate 134. - With reference to
FIGS. 5 & 6 another exemplary embodiment of a moldedarticle picker 220 is depicted mounted to a secondpost mold device 214.FIG. 5 depicts the moldedarticle picker 220 in a configuration just prior to receiving a moldedarticle 209, i.e. in the extended or forward position, whereasFIG. 6 depicts the moldedarticle picker 220 in a configuration after having received and withdrawn a moldedarticle 209 from a carrier (not shown) of the first post-mold device (not shown), i.e. in the retracted or rear position. - The molded
article picker 220 includes a floatingelement 223 that is biased by aspring 226 to the extended or forward position, as shown inFIG. 5 , for receiving the moldedarticle 209. The floatingelement 223 retracts under a vacuum force, compressing thespring 226, to the retracted or rear position as shown inFIG. 6 . The moldedarticle picker 220 also includes a pressure structure comprising avacuum pin 224 that is mounted to atooling plate 200 via abase element 240 and a cup-shapedcylinder element 250 that is retained on thetooling plate 200 by aflange portion 244 of thebase element 240. Preferably, thecylinder element 250 is retained on a front face of thetooling plate 200 by thebase element 240 such that thecylinder element 250 has a limited degree of radial freedom such that it may align with a radial piston-like flange 219 of the floatingelement 223. The floatingelement 223 includes aguide portion 225 having an inner surface that cooperates with an outer surface of thevacuum pin 224 such that the floatingelement 223 is kept in longitudinal axial alignment with thevacuum pin 224 as the floatingelement 223 is moved between its extended or forward position and its retracted or rear position. The floatingelement 223 also includes aspring seat 227 that receives a forward portion of thespring 226. A rear portion of thespring 226 cooperates with a front face of thebase element 240. Thespring 226 is kept in longitudinal alignment with thevacuum pin 224 and with the floatingelement 223 by close cooperation of thespring 226 around aspring guide portion 228 defined on the outer surface of thevacuum pin 224. Thevacuum pin 224 also includes aretainer 242, preferably a spring clip, arranged in a groove defined around thevacuum pin 224. Theretainer 242 cooperates with a front face of theguide portion 225 of the floatingelement 223 to define a forward limit (FIG. 5 ) of travel of the floatingelement 223. The rear travel limit (FIG. 6 ) of the floatingelement 223 is defined by close cooperation of a rear face of the radial piston-like flange 219 and a front face of thebase element 240. In this embodiment the floatingelement 223 may be fabricated, for example, from an ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) such that a front face of the radial piston-like flange 219 is compliant to an extent that is provides a sealingface 222 that may readily form a seal with thefront face 210 of the moldedarticle 209. - As can be taken from
FIGS. 5 & 6 , apressure channel 238 is defined between a pocket formed in thetooling plate 200 and abacking plate 234 arranged behind thetooling plate 200. In operation, thepressure channel 238 is to be connected to a pressure source, positive or negative, such as may be provided, for example, by a compressor or a vacuum pump, respectively. Furthermore apressure channel 243 is formed in thebase member 240 for connecting thepressure channel 238 of thetooling plate 200 with apressure channel 221 that extends through the vacuum pin 224.In addition, anactuator pressure channel 229 is defined through a sidewall of thevacuum pin 224. Theactuator pressure channel 229 is preferably arranged on thevacuum pin 224 in a location adjacent the base member 240.Lastly a close-fit, preferably fluid-tight, cooperation between an outercircumferential surface 246 of the radial piston-like flange 219 and aninner surface 252 is defined along thecylinder member 250 and may, optionally, include a piston seal disposed there between. - In operation, the second
post mold device 14 is translated to cause the moldedarticle picker 220 to engage the moldedarticle 209, as explained previously with respect to the first exemplary embodiment, such that thefront face 210 of the moldedarticle 209 is arranged in close proximity, preferably in abutment, with the sealingface 222 of the floatingelement 223. Thereafter, thepressure channel 238 is connected to a pressure source and an enclosed volume V1′ (FIG. 6 ) defined between the interior of the moldedarticle 209 and the exterior of the moldedarticle picker 220 is evacuated through the combination of thepressure channels FIG. 5 ) defined between the cup-shapedcylinder member 250 and the radial piston-like flange 219 of the moldedarticle picker 220 and the outer surface of thevacuum pin 224 is evacuated through the combination of pressure channels includingpressure channels 229, 221 (partly), 243, and 238, whereby the floatingelement 223 is retracted by a vacuum force to the retracted or rear position, as shown with reference toFIG. 6 , and, consequently, the moldedarticle 209 being sealed to the sealingface 222 of the floatingelement 223 is removed from the molded article carrier (not shown). Thereafter, the secondpost mold device 14 may be retracted and the firstpost mold device 13 is then free to retrieve the next shot of moldedarticles 209 from themolding structure - The description of the exemplary embodiments provides examples of the present invention, and these examples do not limit the scope of the present invention. It is understood that the scope of the present invention only is limited by the claims. The inventive concepts described above may be adapted for specific conditions and/or functions, and may be further extended to a variety of other applications that are within the scope of the present invention. For instance, it might well be the case that for molded articles having a shape different to the one of a preform a pressure structure other than a vacuum pin might be better suited to perform the function of the present invention, i.e. to seal the molded article to the floating element and to withdraw the floating element into its retracted position. Having thus described the exemplary embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and enhancements are possible without departing from the concepts as described. Therefore, what is to be protected by way of letters patent are limited only by the scope of the following claims.
Claims (39)
Priority Applications (7)
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US11/846,711 US7591975B2 (en) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-08-29 | Molded article picker |
CA2673016A CA2673016C (en) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-12-14 | Molded article picker |
CN200780049507.4A CN101578171B (en) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-12-14 | Molded article picker |
EP07855548A EP2109524B1 (en) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-12-14 | Molded article picker |
AT07855548T ATE523312T1 (en) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-12-14 | MOLDED BODY RECEIVING DEVICE |
PCT/CA2007/002266 WO2008083460A1 (en) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-12-14 | Molded article picker |
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US20220258396A1 (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2022-08-18 | S.I.P.A. Societa' Industrializzazione Progettazione E Automazione S.P.A. | Cooling and retaining pin for an apparatus for cooling and handling preforms made of plastic material |
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GB2469276B (en) * | 2009-04-06 | 2011-03-09 | Constantinos Sideris | Improved injection moulding of plastics articles |
WO2012003583A1 (en) * | 2010-07-05 | 2012-01-12 | Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. | Picking tool |
CA2851721C (en) * | 2011-11-09 | 2016-09-13 | Darrin Albert Macleod | Post-mold system |
US8511730B2 (en) | 2011-11-18 | 2013-08-20 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Apparatus and method for engaging and handling articles of manufacture |
US8926303B2 (en) * | 2013-03-06 | 2015-01-06 | Athena Automation Ltd. | Valve assembly for an injection molding machine |
US10800089B2 (en) * | 2014-07-17 | 2020-10-13 | Sacmi Imola S.C. | Device for unloading and storing preforms for the production of containers made of plastics |
CA2965390C (en) * | 2014-10-21 | 2018-09-04 | Athena Automation Ltd. | Post-mold retaining apparatus and method |
DE102018121878A1 (en) * | 2018-09-07 | 2020-03-12 | Mht Mold & Hotrunner Technology Ag | Removal element |
CN109467003B (en) * | 2018-12-30 | 2020-04-03 | 芜湖哈特机器人产业技术研究院有限公司 | Explosion-proof sucking disc device for inflammable and explosive article |
KR20210138645A (en) * | 2019-03-08 | 2021-11-19 | 레어사이트 잉크 | Devices, systems, and methods for selecting target analytes |
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- 2007-12-14 WO PCT/CA2007/002266 patent/WO2008083460A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-12-14 AT AT07855548T patent/ATE523312T1/en active
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20220258396A1 (en) * | 2019-07-25 | 2022-08-18 | S.I.P.A. Societa' Industrializzazione Progettazione E Automazione S.P.A. | Cooling and retaining pin for an apparatus for cooling and handling preforms made of plastic material |
US12005491B2 (en) | 2020-01-31 | 2024-06-11 | Howmedica Osteonics Corp. | Injection molding feedstock delivery system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2673016A1 (en) | 2008-07-17 |
EP2109524A4 (en) | 2010-03-24 |
US7591975B2 (en) | 2009-09-22 |
ATE523312T1 (en) | 2011-09-15 |
EP2109524B1 (en) | 2011-09-07 |
CA2673016C (en) | 2011-11-08 |
CN101578171A (en) | 2009-11-11 |
EP2109524A1 (en) | 2009-10-21 |
WO2008083460A1 (en) | 2008-07-17 |
CN101578171B (en) | 2014-11-26 |
US20080166441A1 (en) | 2008-07-10 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD., ONTARIO Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KINTZINGER, RAINER, MR.;MCCREADY, DEREK ROBERTSON, MR.;ROMMES, LUC, MR.;REEL/FRAME:018738/0195 Effective date: 20070110 |
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Owner name: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, CANADA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.;REEL/FRAME:020431/0495 Effective date: 20071213 Owner name: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,CANADA Free format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.;REEL/FRAME:020431/0495 Effective date: 20071213 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: EXPRESSLY ABANDONED -- DURING EXAMINATION |
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Owner name: HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD., CANADA Free format text: RELEASE OF SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:ROYAL BANK OF CANADA;REEL/FRAME:026647/0595 Effective date: 20110630 |