Abstract: A shooting pot actuator for an injection molding machine having two plates carrying pusher rods for pushing against injection plungers within the shooting pots. The plates are mounted outside the mold and the clamp unit, and the pushers extend through bores in the stationary platen of the clamp unit to reach the injection plungers. The actuator reduces the cost and complication of mold design and production, and permits simplified adjustment of the injection plunger stroke.

Abstract: A shooting pot actuator for an injection molding machine having two plates carrying pusher rods for pushing against injection plungers within the shooting pots. The plates are mounted outside the mold and the clamp unit, and the pushers extend through bores in the stationary platen of the clamp unit to reach the injection plungers. The actuator reduces the cost and complication of mold design and production, and permits simplified adjustment of the injection plunger stroke.

Abstract: A failsafe device, or pressure relief mechanism, for a shooting pot actuator in an injection molding machine. The shooting pot actuator has a multiple pusher rods mounted on one, or more, plates. Moving the plate holding the pusher rods depresses the shooting pot injection pistons and injects molten material into a number of mold cavities. To avoid damage to the machine from the pusher rods if an injection piston seizes, a failsafe device is used to mount the pusher rods to the plates. A shearing member is interposed, or sandwiched, between first and second apertures. Typically, the shearing member is a plate that, in normal operating conditions, blocks rearward movement of the pusher rod. However, when a predetermined shear force is applied to the shear plate, the shearing member shears and the pusher rod retracts within the channel, thereby alleviating the pressure.

Abstract: Construction includes a stationary platen and a movable platen movable with respect to the stationary platen from a closed position in clamping engagement with the stationary platen to an open position spaced from the stationary platen. At least two tiebars are provided connecting the stationary platen to the movable platen, and a stroke cylinder within each tiebar operative to move the platens from an open to closed position and from a closed to open position. Clamping means are provided to clamp the platens together in the closed position, and including means carried by the tiebars to engage the clamping means.

Abstract: A shooting pot actuator for an injection molding machine having two plates carrying pusher rods for pushing against injection plungers within the shooting pots. The plates are mounted outside the mold and the clamp unit, and the pushers extend through bores in the stationary platen of the clamp unit to reach the injection plungers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for unloading and cooling molded parts from an injection molding machine having an index turret block rotatable about a central axis. The device comprises a cooling turret block rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the central axis, which cooling turret block has a plurality of faces. At least one of the faces includes a plurality of nozzles for applying a cooling fluid to surfaces of the molded parts while the molded parts are resident on the index turret block. At least two of the other faces of the cooling turret block include a plurality of receiving tubes for receiving molded parts from the index turret block for further cooling. The cooling turret block of the present invention is capable of cooling multiple sets of molded parts.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved drive system for rotatable members in molding machines. The drive system comprises at least one frameless, brushless electric motor having a stator mounted to the machine and a rotor directly coupled to the rotatable member. Each rotor is coupled to the rotatable member so that the axis of rotation of the rotor is concentric to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved injection molding machine and process. The injection molding machine includes a first mold half with at least one mold cavity or mold core and a rotatable turret means rotatable on an axis for rotating a pair of mating mold halves into alignment with the first mold half. Each mating mold half includes at least one mold core or mold cavity matable with the first mold half for forming a mold for forming at least one molded article. The turret block is movable so that a first one of the mating mold halves can be brought into contact with the first mold half. The machine also includes an injection system for injecting molten material into the mold to form the molded article(s). After the injection cycle is completed, the turret block with the molded article(s) thereon is moved away from the first mold half and is rotated by 180 degrees to align a second one of the mating mold halves with the first mold half and to bring the molded article(s) to an ejection position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for cooling molded parts and for transporting the molded parts from a receiving position to a holding/ejecting position. The device of the present invention has particular utility with an index molding machine having a rotary turret block with at least two movable mold halves thereon. The cooling device includes a cooling station assembly having a plurality of blowing tubes for applying a cooling fluid to external surfaces of molded parts, a take-off plate having a plurality of holders for receiving cooled molded parts and a connecting plate connecting the take-off plate and the cooling station assembly. The connecting plate is connected to the take-off plate by a pivotable connection and is connected to the cooling station assembly by a rigid connection. The connecting plate is movable along an axis substantially parallel to one of the faces upon which the molded parts to be cooled and removed are positioned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a modular combined grease oil system for lubricating moveable parts of a machine and for recovering oil for reuse. The system includes a lubrication unit for automatically applying a lubricant such as a grease to various points on a machine, such as the clamping unit of an injection molding machine, after a predetermined number of operation cycles. The system further includes an oil recovery unit for retrieving oil from at least one hydraulic unit to prevent leakage, for collecting the retrieved oil, for removing contaminants from the collected oil, and for transferring the oil to a storage tank for reuse. A method of operation of the system is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooling device to be used with an index molding machine having a rotary turret block with at least two movable mold halves thereon. The cooling device includes a frame attached to a support for the rotary turret block, cooling tubes for receiving and cooling at least one molded part, which cooling tubes are mounted to a surface of a carrier plate connected to the frame, and an actuation device for moving the carrier plate between a first orientation where the cooling tubes are aligned with the at least one molded part and a second orientation where the at least one molded part cooled within the cooling tubes. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cooling device also includes at least one blowing tube for blowing cool air onto the at least one molded part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved drive system for rotatable members in molding machines. The drive system comprises at least one frameless, brushless electric motor having a stator mounted to the machine and a rotor directly coupled to the rotatable member. Each rotor is coupled to the rotatable member so that the axis of rotation of the rotor is concentric to the axis of rotation of the rotatable member.

Abstract: A friction clamp assembly for securing a mold of an injection molding machine in a closed position includes a column rigidly secured to a moving platen carrying a mold half and a gripper bush assembly for frictionally engaging and locking the column in a desired position. The clamp assembly further includes a clamp piston for clamping the moving platen in a mold closed position. The clamp assembly transmits a clamping force to portions of a moving platen other than end portions via the column so that platen parallelism is maintained during closing, injection and hold pressure portions of a molding cycle while platen bending is substantially avoided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved gripper bushing assemblies for use with injection molds, molding machines and other devices. In a first embodiment, the gripper bushing assemblies include an elongated flexible gripping sleeve positioned about a column member such as a tiebar. The sleeve is secured to a member such as a moving platen and is used to clamp the platen to the tiebar in a desired location. The gripper bushing assemblies further include one or more spacers intermediate the sleeve and the platen. The spacers engage the sleeve via a mechanical interlock. The sleeve and spacer(s) are capable of accommodating tiebar stretching which may occur as a result of clamping forces being applied to the mold via the platen. In a second embodiment, the spacer(s) are omitted and the gripping sleeve has a male thread which engages a female thread on the platen.