Abstract: A plasticizing barrel for a plastics processing machine includes a body having a hollow cylindrical configuration and defining an axis; and a coating formed on an inner wall surface of the body and including at least one groove extending in axial direction of the body. The coating, e.g., a wear-resisting protective layer, may be produced through centrifugal casting, whereby the grooves are formed by projections of a negative mold inserted in the hollow-cylindrical body.

Abstract: A cooling station for data carrier disks, in particular for injection-molded substrates of optically readable data carriers, such as CD, CD-R, DVD, CD single, DVD single and the like, has at least three rotatable cooling spindles which are arranged in spaced-apart parallel relationship such that a substrate bears simultaneously upon all cooling spindles. Each cooling spindle has at least two threads with thread grooves of different width to thereby accommodate in the same cooling station, e.g. CD substrates and DVD substrates. As an alternative, or in addition, four or more cooling spindles may be provided and arranged in such a manner that respectively three cooling spindles are provided for transport of substrates with a particular substrate diameter. In this way, substrates of different diameter, e.g., standard CD and CD single, can be accommodated in a same cooling station.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for making bonded discs, at least one of two substrates is coated with adhesive and positioned in a transfer station. A central handling system grabs the substrates from the transfer station and deposits them a joining station for subsequent bonding. The central handling system includes a carousel having gripper arms which are moved by the carousel horizontally and/or vertically into a number of indexing positions, wherein at least one gripper arm has two gripper elements arranged behind one another in radial direction. After bonding, the joining station is opened and the joined disc is withdrawn and subjected to an inspection. Handling of the substrates and the joined disc is realized in a circular manner for transport along two concentric circular paths of different diameter, thereby defining an inner circle and an outer circle, with one substrate transported on the inner circle and the other substrate transported on the outer circle.

Abstract: In a method for producing a multi-component molded plastic article from a first thermoplastic component and a second component made of a cross-linking elastomer, the thermoplastic component, after being produced, is subjected to a plasma gas stream in a predetermined bonding zone, and the elastomer component is only then molded onto the thermoplastic component.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for vacuum-pressing of disk-shaped substrates, in particular DVD substrates into a finished DVD, wherein the device has a vacuum chamber with two substrate holders and an intermediate element that can be displaced inside the vacuum chamber; and wherein the intermediate element divides the vacuum chamber into a first low-pressure chamber and a second chamber that can be alternatingly connected to vacuum or to an overpressure, which makes the device particularly suited for use with a hot-melt thermoplastic adhesive.

Abstract: A gas charging unit for adding gas to a liquid polyurethane component, in particular a filler-laden polyurethane component of a polyurethane injection molding unit, includes a mixing vessel having an inlet opening and receiving a liquid polyurethane component via the inlet opening. Arranged in the mixing vessel in alignment with the inlet opening and axially adjustable in relation to the inlet opening is at least one movable mixing element to mix the polyurethane component fed into the mixing vessel with gas injected into the polyurethane component via a nozzle.

Abstract: A method for visual remote control with faithful imaging, whereby a control unit for a plastics processing machine includes a first display screen on which changing display screen information is displayed in pixels arranged line-by-line and the control unit is connected to a remote control unit which includes a second display screen. A universal applicability of a remote control unit is ensured by means of a compression method by which the display content of a control unit is transmitted essentially identically onto the display screen of the remote control unit.

Abstract: A caterpillar take-off device for hauling off extrusion products, in particular plastic tubes, includes at least two caterpillar tracks arranged symmetrically in relation to a length axis of the caterpillar take-off device, at least during take-off process by changing the distance from the caterpillar tracks to the length axis. In the event of a change in cross-section of the extrusion product, the change is measured and the distance of the caterpillar tracks from the length axis is automatically adjusted such that the symmetry axis of the extrusion product coincides with the longitudinal axis of the caterpillar take-off unit.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a stationary platen, a movable platen constructed for movement relative to the stationary platen, at least one tie bar for tension-proof connection of the fixed and movable platens, and a traction transmitting securing device including a securing element, disposed on a rear side of one of the platens, for interacting with the tie bar within an engagement zone. The securing element and the tie bar are provided with a number of projections and recesses in axial spaced-apart relationship to establish a form-fitting connection, whereby the projections and the recesses are pressed together when exposed to a tensile stress and interlock at an axial clearance which increases along the engagement zone in axial direction corresponding to the tensile stress of the tie bar.

Abstract: A multi-format spindle transport device for transporting and cooling flat substrates, in particular data carriers that can be optically read includes four spindles arranged in parallel relationship in a spindle holder, and a drive for rotating the spindles. The spindle holder is configured in such a way that the relative spatial arrangement of the spindles in relation to one another can be adjusted, so that substrates of different formats can be engaged simultaneously by all four spindles.

Abstract: To produce multicomponent molded plastic articles by injection molding, at least one component is manufactured using an injection molding compounder. A swivel platen machine with two working zones is used to produce multicomponent parts having cores or layers of fiber material or non-woven material. Fiber material may be shaped into a preform in a mold cavity in one working zone, and a preform that has been produced in a previous cycle is simultaneously encapsulated in or injected with plastic in the other working zone. The swivel platen is then rotated about its axis, transporting the preform from the one working zone into the other working zone, while the finished plastic article is removed.

Abstract: In a two plate closing unit of an injection molding machine the stationary and the movable mold mounting plates are connected by columns, wherein the columns that traverse the fixed mold mounting plate are fixedly connected to a clamping cylinder in which the columns configured at their ends as pressure plungers configured for generating a clamping pressure reciprocate, and while some of the clamping plungers are dual action plungers, the clamping plungers are coupled to a spindle drive and drive unit, such that the spindle drive is at the same time the control drive for a stepped plunger and the closing force and the closing and opening motion is realized by a single drive which operates the spindle and the plunger cylinder unit.

Abstract: A mold portion of a molding tool for making plastic articles includes a base body defining a cavity surface and having formed therein at least one heating channel, and at least one cooling channel separated from the heating channel and having a cross section which is smaller than a cross section of the heating channel. The cooling channel is positioned hereby closer to the cavity surface than the heat channel and thus is in an area between the heat channel and the cavity surface, thereby defining a cavity-proximal cooling channel and a cavity-distal heat channel. Before the injection process, the cavity surface is heated by the heat channel to a higher temperature than the demolding temperature of the plastic article to be formed. At the end of the injection process, the cavity surface is cooled by the cooling system.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for making molded plastic skins includes a housing shell, and a mold shell which is movably supported on the housing shell for movement thereto and has a wall which is determinative for shaping the contour of a plastic skin. The mold shell and the housing shell define together a hollow space for throughflow of a heat-transfer medium. Flow passageways for heat transfer medium may be provided by subdividing the hollow space between the mold shell and the housing shell by means of partition walls to thereby force the heat-transfer medium to flow along a predetermined path.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for an extruder with at least two co-rotating extruder screws having driveshafts includes a housing and a drive motor which is received in the housing and including a stator and a rotor. The rotor is operatively connected to driveshafts of the extruder screws and has arranged thereon a toothed surface in direct engagement with complementary toothed surfaces of at least two of the driveshafts of the extruder screws.

Abstract: A metering device for an injection molding unit includes a base body having an antechamber in fluid communication with a feed channel for introduction of plastic material, and a metering chamber in fluid communication with a injection channel. The antechamber and the metering chamber are connectable with one another by a closeable passageway. Movably arranged in the base body between the antechamber and the metering chamber is a displacement member in the form of a piston to separate the antechamber and the metering chamber. The piston has a first end face which demarcates the antechamber and a second end face which demarcates the metering chamber, with the first end face defining an effective area which is smaller than an effective area of the second end face.

Abstract: In a compounder-type injection molding machine having an extruder for continuously producing a melt and at least one injection device is fluidly connected to the extruder to receive melt, a reservoir is provided which is in fluid communication with the extruder as well as with the injection device for temporary storage of melt. In order to maintain a pressure at a desired level at the outlet of the extruder, a pressure sensor is provided for ascertaining a melt pressure state downstream of an outlet of the extruder. The pressure sensor outputs a signal, commensurate with the melt pressure state, to a control unit for activating a drive in the reservoir or a drive in the injection device in response to the signal according a predetermined algorithm.

Abstract: To displace a moving mold mounting plate (3), a threaded spindle drive is inserted between the moving mold mounting plate (3) and a fixed mold mounting plate (16), whereby one end of each threaded spindle is mounted in the fixed mold mounting plate (16) and is configured as a piston (9) of a hydraulic piston and cylinder unit. The pistons are mounted in the fixed mold mounting plate (16) in hydraulic cylinders and an increased clamping force is created for the platen clamping mechanism by an appropriate impingement of the piston (9). In addition, the invention provides a detachable anti-rotation mechanism (23) for the threaded spindles (15). The invention thus allows an inclined position of the mold mounting plates (3, 16) to be corrected, by the targeted rotation of one or more threaded spindles.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a plasticizing unit and a closing unit which has at least one column which passes through and is moveable relative to a supporting element. A jacket at least partially surrounds the column at formation of an annular space and bears directly against the supporting element, wherein the jacket has at least one connection piece for providing a communication between the annular space and a suction unit.

Abstract: In a method of cooling a sheet-shaped or web-shaped substrate, such as a plastic sheet or a plastic web, the substrate is moved along a cooling path, and heat radiating from the substrate is absorbed and/or reflected along at least one zone of the cooling path to provide a controlled cooling pattern, by using covering elements which are disposed above and/or below the substrate, whereby the zone can be adjusted by the arrangement and/or number of covering elements.