Patent ID: 6524091
Filing Date: 2003-02-25
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A pressure control mechanism for applying pressure to a platen of a molding machine, the pressure control mechanism comprising:at least one piston having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough for receiving a tie rod of the molding machine therein, a first front pressure applying surface, and a second rear surface spaced longitudinally from said front surface; a gripping mechanism supported on each of said pistons, wherein said gripping mechanism comprises a substantially cylindrical body having a longitudinally extending bore therethrough, a front support surface coupled to the rear surface of said piston such that the bore in said piston and the bore in said substantially cylindrical body are aligned with one another and a pair of gripping jaws operatively coupled in said substantially cylindrical body to be slidably movable with respect to one another and transversely movable with respect to the longitudinal extent of the bore in the substantially cylindrical body; moving means structured and arranged to cause relative movement of said gripping jaws towards one another to thereby grip said tie rod extending through said aligned bores, wherein said moving means comprises a rotatable disc operatively coupled to said gripping jaws; and movement translation means structured and arranged to translate a rotation of said disc into a transverse movement of said gripping jaws wherein said movement translation means comprise slots in one of said gripping jaws and said rotatable disc and corresponding projections carried by the other of said rotatable disc and said gripping jaws, such that upon rotation of said rotatable disc each projection is moved along its corresponding slot to thereby cause transverse sliding movement of said gripping jaws, each of said slots having a first portion and a second portion contiguous with said first portion, wherein said second portion is arranged at an angle relative to said first portion.