Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base and an injection unit mounted to the base, and a first platen for holding a first mold section and a second platen for holding a second mold section. The first and second platens are supported by the base, and are movable along a machine axis between mold-open and mold-closed positions. At least a first tie bar engagement apparatus is associated with a first tie bar and includes a first bore in the first platen for receiving the respective tie bar therethrough at least when the platens are in the mold-closed position; and a first roller mounted to the first platen proximate the first bore. The first roller is rotatable about a first roller axis that is oriented horizontally and perpendicular to the machine axis.

Abstract: An injection molding machine can include a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a first mold section and a moving platen for holding a second mold section. The moving platen can be slidably supported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base. The injection molding machine can also include a stack mold carriage for holding a mold center section. An actuator can be coupled to the stack mold carriage for translating the stack mold carriage along the machine axis towards and away from the stationary platen, the actuator comprising a driven member coupled to a carriage connection portion. The carriage connection portion can transfer motion from the driven member to translation of the stack mold carriage. The carriage connection portion can be joined to the stack mold carriage at an elevation below the platen slide surface.

Abstract: An injection unit includes a cylinder casing comprising an inner cylindrical surface extending along an axis, and a piston housed in the casing and translatable along the axis between an advanced and a retracted position. The piston includes a piston radial surface in facing relation to the inner cylindrical surface, and the piston radial surface has a measurement detection feature. A probe is fixed relative to the cylinder casing, the probe communicating with the measurement detection feature when the piston is in and moving between the advanced and retracted positions to measure the translation of the piston.

Abstract: An injection molding machine comprises: a machine base having a top surface, and a pair of platens supported on the top surface of the machine base, at least one of the platens translatable along a machine axis between open and closed positions. An end-effector is moveable relative to the machine base between an advanced position and a retracted position for interacting with parts associated with production in the injection molding machine. An upright has a lower end adjustably coupled to the machine base and an upper end spaced apart from the top surface of the machine base and coupled to the end-effector.

Abstract: A locking device, releasably securing a tie bar to a platen, includes a housing with a bearing surface affixed to the platen coaxial with the tie bar, and a rotatable lock nut received in the housing and comprising: an inner bore with radial elements engaging the tie bar to transfer an axial clamp load to the lock nut, the elements defining an engagement portion along a lock nut first axial extent; an outer surface with at least a first step face abutting the bearing surface to transfer the axial damp load to the platen, the step face having a first radially outer extent; and a narrowing section having a second axial extent from a first position having a first diameter proximate the step face to a second position having a second lesser diameter spaced axially towards a second platen, the first diameter being less than the first radially outer extent.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base, a platen mounted to the base for supporting a mold portion and a linear support fixed to the base. A retainer is coupled to the linear support and is translatable relative to the linear support along a longitudinal axis between a retracted position and an advanced position. The injection molding machine also includes an injection unit slidably supported on the linear support and coupled to the retainer. The injection unit is pivotable relative to the retainer and translatable with the retainer relative to the linear support. The injection unit includes a bearing surface resting directly upon the linear support for transferring weight of the injection unit thereto.

Abstract: A method for injection molding comprises pre-positioning a clamp piston within a cylinder housing to a datum position axially intermediate a clamping position and an unclamped position, the clamp piston affixed to a tie bar, the clamp piston and cylinder housing cooperating to provide a clamp chamber and an unclamp chamber in a clamp cylinder housing on axially opposite sides of the clamp piston for urging the clamp piston towards the clamping and unclamped positions, respectively, when pressurized. Pre-positioning the clamp piston can include leaving a positioning gap between portions of a mold before releasably locking a tie bar to one of the moving or stationary platens, and then advancing the moving platen to substantially close the positioning gap after the releasable locking has been completed.

Abstract: An injection molding machine can include a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a first mold section and a moving platen for holding a second mold section. The moving platen can be slidably supported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base. The injection molding machine can also include a stack mold carriage for holding a mold center section. An actuator can be coupled to the stack mold carriage for translating the stack mold carriage along the machine axis towards and away from the stationary platen, the actuator comprising a driven member coupled to a carriage connection portion. The carriage connection portion can transfer motion from the driven member to translation of the stack mold carriage. The carriage connection portion can be joined to the stack mold carriage at an elevation below the platen slide surface.

Abstract: An injection drive unit includes a hollow cylindrical casing rotatably supported by a housing, the cylindrical casing having an axis and a front end and a back end spaced apart along the axis; a piston in the cylindrical casing, the piston axially slidable relative to the cylindrical casing along the axis between advanced and retracted positions, and the piston rotationally locked with the cylindrical casing to rotate therewith; and a cylinder cap generally closing off the back end of the cylindrical casing and providing a first pressure chamber between the piston and the cylinder cap, the cylinder cap including a stationary part affixed to the housing and a rotary part affixed to the cylindrical casing, at least the stationary part providing a stationary end face opposed to the piston and against which fluid in the first pressure chamber bears when pressurized.

Abstract: An injection molding machine comprises a first platen and a second platen, the first platen movable relative to the second platen in an axial direction between open and closed positions, and a plurality of tie bars extending generally between the first and second platens for coupling together the first and second platens. At least a first locking device is mounted to the first platen and associated with a first one of the tie bars for selectively locking and unlocking the moving platen relative to the tie bar. At least a first clamping mechanism is mounted to the second platen and associated with the first tie bar, the clamping mechanism including clamp and unclamp chambers on either side of a piston for moving the piston towards clamp and unclamp positions to exert a clamping force and a mold break force, respectively.

Abstract: A method for injection molding comprises pre-positioning a clamp piston within a cylinder housing to a datum position axially intermediate a clamping position and an unclamped position, the clamp piston affixed to a tie bar, the clamp piston and cylinder housing cooperating to provide a clamp chamber and an unclamp chamber in a clamp cylinder housing on axially opposite sides of the clamp piston for urging the clamp piston towards the clamping and unclamped positions, respectively, when pressurized. Pre-positioning the clamp piston can include leaving a positioning gap between portions of a mold before releasably locking a tie bar to one of the moving or stationary platens, and then advancing the moving platen to substantially close the positioning gap after the releasable locking has been completed.

Abstract: A combination comprises first and second platens of an injection molding machine, a tie bar extending from the second platen to the first platen, and a locking device for releasably securing together the tie bar and the first platen.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base, a platen mounted to the base for supporting a mold portion and a linear support fixed to the base. A retainer is coupled to the linear support and is translatable relative to the linear support along a longitudinal axis between a retracted position and an advanced position. The injection molding machine also includes an injection unit slidably supported on the linear support and coupled to the retainer. The injection unit is pivotable relative to the retainer and translatable with the retainer relative to the linear support. The injection unit includes a bearing surface resting directly upon the linear support for transferring weight of the injection unit thereto.

Abstract: An injection drive unit includes a hollow cylindrical casing rotatably supported by a housing, the cylindrical casing having an axis and a front end and a back end spaced apart along the axis; a piston in the cylindrical casing, the piston axially slidable relative to the cylindrical casing along the axis between advanced and retracted positions, and the piston rotationally locked with the cylindrical casing to rotate therewith; and a cylinder cap generally closing off the back end of the cylindrical casing and providing a first pressure chamber between the piston and the cylinder cap, the cylinder cap including a stationary part affixed to the housing and a rotary part affixed to the cylindrical casing, at least the stationary part providing a stationary end face opposed to the piston and against which fluid in the first pressure chamber bears when pressurized.

Abstract: An energy efficient drive system is provided for use on typical injection molding machines whereby a single electric motor drives both the extruder screw and a hydraulic motor that continuously charges a hydraulic accumulator during the extrusion process. During the injection cycle, the charge in the accumulator is directed to stroke the extruder screw and inject melt into the mold cavities. Another embodiment utilizes a similar arrangement on the clamp mechanism of the injection molding machine whereby the charge in the accumulator is directed to hold the mold closed during the injection cycle.

Abstract: A static mixer comprising a mixer body with a first and a second array of intermeshed and interconnecting passageways formed therein that connect, and provide a convoluted flow path between, flow faces at ends of the mixer body. The first and second arrays of passageways preferably interconnect such that the boundaries of adjacent intermeshed passageways overlap to form mixing portals. When used in an injection molding system, a singular melt flow is initially divided at the first flow face of the static mixer, wherein the melt flow divides into the intermeshing passageways and further divides and re-combines at the locations of mixing portals before exiting the static mixer at the second flow face as homogenized melt.

Abstract: An energy efficient drive system is provided for use on typical injection molding machines whereby a single electric motor drives both the extruder screw and a hydraulic motor that continuously charges a hydraulic accumulator during the extrusion process. During the injection cycle, the charge in the accumulator is directed to stroke the extruder screw and inject melt into the mold cavities. Another embodiment utilizes a similar arrangement on the clamp mechanism of the injection molding machine whereby the charge in the accumulator is directed to hold the mold closed during the injection cycle.

Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to stack mold carriers in an injection molding machine with a rotating turret. Services to the rotating turret are provided by a rotary union attached to the translating mold carrier at the turret's axis of rotation. Hence, services such as oil, water, air and electrical power are provided to the rotating turret thereby allowing the turret to rotate in either direction. The rotating turret is attached to linkages which open and closed the molds through connection to a moving and a stationary platen which interface with the rotating turret to form molded articles therein.

Abstract: A plastic article is formed in an injection mold by injecting molten plastic into the injection mold at an elevated temperature, cooling the plastic from the molten condition to a solid condition, and crystallizing a portion of the plastic by slowing down the cooling of said portion.