Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a machine base; a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a stationary mold section; a moving platen slidably supported by the base for holding a moving mold section; a rotary apparatus slidably supported by the base axially intermediate the stationary and moving platens for supporting a plurality of center mold sections and moving the center mold sections among axial positions directed toward the stationary and moving mold sections and lateral positions directed toward the operator and non-operator side of the machine; and a part-handling apparatus mounted to the stationary platen. The part-handling apparatus includes an end-of-arm tooling disposed laterally outboard of the rotary apparatus. The end-of-arm tooling is movable laterally between an engaged position for interacting with molded articles in one of the center mold sections in the lateral positions, and a disengaged position spaced laterally outwardly from the engaged position.

Abstract: A cooling plate for an injection molding machine includes a plate body, a plurality of sockets in the plate body for receiving respective spigot portions of a plurality of cooling tubes, and a cooling fluid conduit system in the plate body for cooling the cooling tubes. The cooling plate further includes an air conduit system in the plate body for providing air flow communication with the cooling tubes. Each socket forms a blockable flow passage between the cooling fluid conduit system and the air conduit system.

Abstract: An injection unit for an injection molding machine includes a cylindrical body rotatably supported in a housing interior for rotational coupling with a plasticizing screw. The cylindrical body is fixed to rotate with the plasticizing screw about an injection axis. A gear train in the housing includes a central gear mounted about, and fixed to rotate with, the cylindrical body, the central gear having an uppermost extent vertically above the injection axis and opposed first and second lateral extents on horizontally opposed sides of the injection axis. A rotary drive for powering rotation of the plasticizing screw includes a first motor having a first motor shaft rotatable about a first motor axis, the first motor axis parallel to the injection axis, the first motor axis at a first elevation below the uppermost extent of the central gear, and laterally outboard of the first lateral extent of the central gear.

Abstract: A method for injection molding comprises forming a set of first articles in a mold of an injection molding machine and forming a set of second articles in the mold of the injection molding machine. The method includes transferring the set of first articles from the mold to a first set of first receivers of a tooling plate, and then moving the first set of first receivers to align with the set of second articles. Thereafter the set of second articles is transferred from the mold toward the first set of first receivers and into assembled condition with the set of first articles held in the first set of first receivers.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a machine base extending along a horizontal machine axis; a stationary platen fixed to the base; a moving platen supported by the base; a center section supported by the base axially intermediate the stationary and moving platens; at least one mold stroke actuator for translating the moving platen and the center section along the machine axis between a mold-open position and a mold-closed position; a two-stage first injection unit supported by the base behind the stationary platen for injecting a first resin through the stationary platen; and a two-stage second injection unit supported by the base behind the moving platen for injecting a second resin through the moving platen. The second injection unit is translatable along the machine axis to accommodate translation of the moving platen during movement between the mold-open and mold-closed positions.

Abstract: A platen apparatus for supporting a mold portion in an injection molding machine includes a platen body and a mold mounting face adjacent a front of the platen body for supporting a mold half. The mold mounting face includes a rotary central surface that is rotatable about an axis relative to the platen body and a fixed peripheral surface that is fixed relative to the platen body. The peripheral surface is disposed about a periphery of the central surface. The central surface and the peripheral surface are alignable in a common vertical plane.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a first mold section comprising mold cores for forming threaded articles, the first mold cores movable between a molding position for interacting with a second mold section in a mold area to form the threaded articles, and an auxiliary position outside the mold area, and a removal device for removing the threaded articles from the mold cores. The removal device includes a plurality of unscrewing chucks for engaging the threaded articles when the mold cores are in the auxiliary position. The chucks are supported by a carrier plate and each chuck is rotatable about a respective unscrewing axis. The removal device further includes an orbiting plate coupled to the unscrewing chucks by respective crank arms, the orbiting plate effecting synchronized rotation of the unscrewing chucks via the crank arms for unscrewing the threaded articles from the mold cores.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a stationary platen and a moving platen mounted on a machine base, and a rotary apparatus for rotatably supporting a center mold section. The rotary apparatus includes a carriage body including a carriage upper portion supported by first and second carriage rails, and a carriage lower portion extending downward from the carriage upper portion laterally intermediate the first and second carriage rails. The rotary apparatus further includes a rotary table mounted atop the carriage body for rotatably supporting the center mold section. The rotary table is mounted to the carriage body by a rotary table bearing having a combination of bearing elements to bear axial, rotational, and moment loads. The machine further includes a plurality of tie bars extending between the moving platen and the stationary platen. The tie bars are free from engagement by the rotary apparatus.

Abstract: A method for receiving and ejecting molded articles includes: (a) drawing air from a cooling tube cavity into an air channel through a plate bore to draw at least a portion of a molded article into the cavity; (b) moving a valve within the plate bore from a first position for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel to a second position for reducing air flow through the plate bore relative to the first position; and (c) when the valve is in the second position, urging pressurized air from the air channel to the cavity through the plate bore to assist ejection of the molded article from the cavity.

Abstract: A shooting pot assembly for a two-stage injection unit includes: (a) a housing; (b) a plunger chamber in the housing; (c) an injection plunger in the plunger chamber; and (d) a conduit network including (i) a feed conduit, (ii) an outlet conduit, and (iii) a transfer conduit. The shooting pot assembly further includes (e) a purge valve assembly having a purge conduit open to the plunger chamber and in fluid communication with the transfer conduit via the plunger chamber when the plunger is in the advanced position. The purge valve assembly further includes a purge valve closure member movable between a closed position, in which the purge conduit is blocked, and an open position, in which the purge conduit is open for flushing stale melt from the transfer conduit through the purge conduit via supply of fresh melt into the transfer conduit from the feed conduit.

Abstract: A method of operating an injection molding machine includes translating a movable platen from a closed position to a part transfer position by overshooting the transfer position in an opening direction away from a stationary platen to an over-travel position, and then translating the moving platen back to the transfer position in a closing direction, opposite the opening direction. Movement of a take-out device towards an advanced position, in which the take-out device reaches between mold halves carried by the stationary and movable platens, occurs while the movable platen is moving between the over-travel and transfer positions, prior to coming to rest in the transfer position. When resting in the transfer position, the method includes transferring molded articles from a first mold section mounted to the movable platen to retained engagement on the take-out device reaching between the platens.

Abstract: A method for controlling an injection cycle of an injection molding machine incudes advancing an injection screw axially forward toward an injection nozzle from a shot-size position to an injection position to inject melt from a shot chamber into a hot runner of a mold and from the hot runner to fill cavities of the mold. Then the injection screw is retracted away from the nozzle, from the injection position to a decompression position axially rearward of the shot-size position, to relieve melt pressure in the hot runner. Then the screw is advanced toward the nozzle from the decompression position to an intermediate position axially intermediate the injection position and the shot-size position. The method then includes rotating the screw to re-fill the shot chamber with melt and urge the screw to retract from the intermediate position to the shot-size position.

Abstract: A platen apparatus for a mold center section of an injection molding machine includes a first mold mounting surface on a first front face of a first wall, the first mold mounting surface for supporting a first mold section, and a second mold mounting surface on a second front face of a second wall, the second wall spaced apart from the first wall in an axial direction and providing a generally hollow chamber therebetween. The second mold mounting surface is for supporting a second mold section and is directed away from the first mold mounting surface. The platen apparatus further includes a plurality of compression members extending between the first and second walls for maintaining a wall spacing between the first and second walls, and an ejector assembly mounted between the first and second walls for ejecting molded articles from the first and second mold sections.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for an injection molding machine includes a clamp piston slidable within a housing among a clamping position, a mold break position, and a meshing position disposed axially intermediate the clamping and the mold break positions. A clamp chamber urges the clamp piston towards the clamping position when pressurized, and a return device urges the clamp piston from the clamping position to the meshing position when pressure in the clamp chamber is relieved. At least one mold break actuator is coupled to a mold break engagement surface disposed within the housing. The mold break actuator is adjustable to accommodate retraction of mold break surface when the clamp piston moves to the clamping position, and to forcefully push the mold break surface forward against the clamp piston when moving the clamp piston to the mold break position.

Abstract: An injection unit for an injection molding machine includes a cylindrical body rotatably supported in a housing interior for rotational coupling with a plasticizing screw. The cylindrical body is fixed to rotate with the plasticizing screw about an injection axis. A gear train in the housing includes a central gear mounted about, and fixed to rotate with, the cylindrical body, the central gear having an uppermost extent vertically above the injection axis and opposed first and second lateral extents on horizontally opposed sides of the injection axis. A rotary drive for powering rotation of the plasticizing screw includes a first motor having a first motor shaft rotatable about a first motor axis, the first motor axis parallel to the injection axis, the first motor axis at a first elevation below the uppermost extent of the central gear, and laterally outboard of the first lateral extent of the central gear.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for an injection molding machine includes (a) a clamp cylinder housing and (b) a clamp piston affixed to an end portion of a tie bar and slidable within the housing among a clamping position, a mold break position, and a meshing position disposed axially intermediate the clamping and the mold break positions. The clamp assembly further includes (c) a clamp chamber for urging the clamp piston towards the clamping position when pressurized; (d) a return device for urging the clamp piston towards the meshing position when pressure in the clamp chamber is relieved; and (e) a mold break chamber for urging the clamp piston towards the mold break position when pressurized. The mold break chamber is bounded axially by opposed surfaces of the tie bar and the return device.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a machine base extending along a horizontal machine axis; a stationary platen fixed to the base; a moving platen supported by the base; a center section supported by the base axially intermediate the stationary and moving platens; at least one mold stroke actuator for translating the moving platen and the center section along the machine axis between a mold-open position and a mold-closed position; a two-stage first injection unit supported by the base behind the stationary platen for injecting a first resin through the stationary platen; and a two-stage second injection unit supported by the base behind the moving platen for injecting a second resin through the moving platen. The second injection unit is translatable along the machine axis to accommodate translation of the moving platen during movement between the mold-open and mold-closed positions.

Abstract: A method for receiving and ejecting molded articles includes: (a) drawing air from a cooling tube cavity into an air channel through a plate bore to draw at least a portion of a molded article into the cavity; (b) moving a valve within the plate bore from a first position for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel to a second position for reducing air flow through the plate bore relative to the first position; and (c) when the valve is in the second position, urging pressurized air from the air channel to the cavity through the plate bore to assist ejection of the molded article from the cavity.

Abstract: A method for injection molding comprises forming a set of first articles in a mold of an injection molding machine and forming a set of second articles in the mold of the injection molding machine. The method includes transferring the set of first articles from the mold to a first set of first receivers of a tooling plate, and then moving the first set of first receivers to align with the set of second articles. Thereafter the set of second articles is transferred from the mold toward the first set of first receivers and into assembled condition with the set of first articles held in the first set of first receivers.

Abstract: A cooling plate assembly includes (a) a cooling plate having a plate front surface; (b) an air channel extending within a thickness of the cooling plate; (c) a plate bore extending into the cooling plate from the plate front surface for providing fluid communication between the air channel and a cavity of a cooling tube mountable to the cooling plate; and (d) a valve within the plate bore. The valve is movable between a first position in which a first air flow passage extending within the plate bore is open for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel, and a second position in which the first air flow passage is obstructed to reduce air flow between the cavity and the air channel, and in which a second air flow passage extending within the plate bore is open for conducting air from the air channel to the cavity.