Patent ID: 7316260
Filing Date: 2008-01-08
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A mold clamping apparatus comprising: a base; a fixed die plate, fixed on the base, for mounting a fixed mold thereto; a movable die plate, disposed opposite the fixed die plate and movably on the base, for mounting a movable mold thereto; a mold opening/closing means for moving the movable die plate closer to and away from the fixed die plate; a plurality of mold clamping cylinders provided in the fixed die plate, each mold clamping cylinder being fitted with a mold clamping piston; a plurality of tie bars, each tie bar being detachably mountable at one end to each mold clamping piston and penetrating the movable die plate and extending; a coupling means for releasably coupling each tie bar to the movable die plate at a position that is determined based on the sum of the thickness of the fixed mold and the thickness of the movable mold; and a tie bar retreating means configured to move at least one of the plurality of tie bars that obstructs a mold replacement operation, such that when the movable die plate is in a backward position to form a space for the mold replacement operation, the tie bar retreating means moves the at least one tie bar backward to a retreat position, wherein the tie bar retreating means comprises a rack provided in the at least one tie bar along a long direction, a pinion that engages the rack and is rotatably provided in the movable die plate, and a drive section for rotating the pinion in opposite directions, and wherein said drive section is configured to be independent of the mold opening/closing means.