Abstract:
A cooling mold ( 262 ) includes a cooling portion ( 2632 ), and defines a channel. The cooling portion has a number of intersecting grooves ( 2636 ). The channel communicates with at least one of the grooves. The channel and the grooves are configured for gas to flow therethrough to a workpiece at least partly received in the cooling portion.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is related to two co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 11/636,317 and 11/636,318, entitled “HOT-MELTING METHOD WITH SIMULTANEOUS HEATING AND COOLING OF WORKPIECES” and “HOT-MELTING MACHINE WITH ROTATABLE WORKTABLE” respectively. Such applications have the same assignee as the instant application and have been concurrently filed herewith. The disclosure of the above identified applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention generally relates to a cooling mold typically used in a hot-melting machine. 
   BACKGROUND 
   With ongoing development in manufacturing technologies, hot-melting machines are now in widespread use in many industries. A hot-melting machine is configured for heating two or more workpieces affixed with hot-melting adhesive therebetween, in order to produce a whole workpiece unit. The workpiece unit is then cooled with a cooling mold so as to become hardened. Finally, the workpiece unit is removed from the hot-melting machine. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a typical hot-melting machine  10  is shown. The hot-melting machine  10  includes a worktable  11 , and a controller  12  supported on the worktable  11 . The worktable  11  includes a raised support platform  13 . A heater  14  and a cooler  15  are disposed on the support platform  13 , and protrude below the support platform  13 . The heater  14  includes a first driving mechanism  141 , and a heating board  142  disposed at a bottom end of the first driving mechanism  141  beneath the support platform  13 . The cooler  15  includes a second driving mechanism  151 , and a cooling mold  152  disposed at a bottom end of the second driving mechanism  152  beneath the support platform  13 . A guide rail  16  is disposed on the worktable  11  under the support platform  13 . The worktable  11  further includes a carrier  17  and a carrier driving mechanism  18 . The carrier driving mechanism  18  is configured for driving the carrier  17  to slide along the guide rail  16 . The controller  12  is configured for driving the heater  14 , the cooler  15 , and the carrier driving mechanism  18  to move. 
   Referring to  FIG. 7 , the cooling mold  152  is substantially rectangular. The cooling mold  152  includes a projecting portion  1521 . A recessed cooling portion  1522  is formed in the projecting portion  1521  according to a desired shape of a workpiece unit. A plurality of through holes  1523  are defined in a top of the cooling portion  1522 . The through holes  1523  run through the cooling mold  152 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 8 , in use, a workpiece is affixed to another workpiece by a hot-melting adhesive, in order to form a workpiece unit. The workpiece unit is loaded on the carrier  17 . The carrier driving mechanism  18  drives the carrier  17  to move along the guide rail  16  under control of the controller  12 , until the workpiece unit aligns with the heater  14 . The first driving mechanism  141  drives the heating board  142  to move down toward the workpiece unit under control of the controller  12 , until the heating board  142  abuts against the workpiece unit for heating. When a heating process for the workpiece unit is finished, the first driving mechanism  141  drives the heating board  142  to move up and separate from the workpiece unit and return to its original position. The carrier driving mechanism  18  drives the carrier  17  to move along the guide rail  16  until the workpiece unit aligns with the cooler  15 . The second driving mechanism  151  drives the cooling mold  152  to move down toward the workpiece unit under control of the controller  12 , until the cooling mold  152  abuts against the workpiece unit for cooling. Gas provided by a gas-compressor is injected into the cooling mold  152  via the through holes  1523  to cool the workpiece unit. When a cooling process for the workpiece unit is finished, the second driving mechanism  151  drives the cooling mold  152  to return to its original position. The carrier driving mechanism  18  drives the carrier  17  to move back along the guide rail  16  to return to its original position. Finally, the workpiece unit is unloaded from the carrier  17 . 
   In the hot-melting machine  10 , gas provided by the gas-compressor is injected into the cooling mold  152  via the through holes  1523  to cool the workpiece unit. A cooling area of the cooling mold  152  is relatively small, therefore the efficiency of cooling is low. In addition, the through holes  1523  may be defined in the cooling mold  152  randomly, in which case the cooling temperature of the workpiece unit is not uniform. 
   Therefore, a new cooling mold is desired in order to overcome the above-described shortcomings. 
   SUMMARY 
   A cooling mold includes a cooling portion, and defines a channel. The cooling portion defines a plurality of intersecting grooves. The channel communicates with at least one of the grooves. The channel and the grooves are configured for gas to flow therethrough to a workpiece at least partly received in the cooling portion. 
   Other novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present cooling mold. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a hot-melting machine having a cooling mold in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged, inverted isometric view of a heating board of the hot-melting machine of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged, isometric view of one of coolers of the hot-melting machine of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged, exploded, inverted isometric view of a cooling mold of the cooler of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flow chart of use of the hot-melting machine of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a conventional hot-melting machine. 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged, inverted isometric view of a cooling mold of the hot-melting machine of  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart of use of the hot-melting machine of  FIG. 6 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  shows a first cooler  26  and a second cooler  27  incorporated in a hot-melting machine  20 . The hot-melting machine  20  is taken here as an exemplary application for the purposes of describing details of the present cooling mold. The hot-melting machine  20  includes a frame  22 , a worktable  23 , at least three carriers  24 , a heater  25 , the first cooler  26 , the second cooler  27 , and a controller  28 . In the illustrated embodiment, there are four carriers  24 , which are disposed on the worktable  23 . 
   The frame  22  includes a support platform  221 . The support platform  221  is substantially rectangular, and is configured for supporting the heater  25 , the first cooler  26 , and the second cooler  27 . 
   The worktable  23  is substantially a round board. The worktable  23  is rotatably disposed in the frame  22  beneath the support platform  221 . 
   The carriers  24  are located on a periphery of the worktable  23 , and are uniformly spaced apart. The carriers  24  include a first carrier (not labeled), a second carrier (not labeled), a third carrier (not labeled), and a fourth carrier (not labeled), arranged in that order in a counterclockwise direction. Each carrier  24  is configured for holding a workpiece unit (not shown). A shape of each carrier  24  corresponds to that of the workpiece unit. 
   Referring also to  FIG. 2 , the heater  25  is attached to the support platform  221  of the frame  22 . The heater  25  includes a first driving mechanism  251 , and a heating board  252  disposed at a bottom end of the first driving mechanism  251  beneath the support platform  221 . The first driving mechanism  251  is configured for driving the heating board  252  to move down and up. The heating board  252  includes a protrusion  253 . A recessed heating portion  254  is formed in the protrusion  253 . The heating portion  254  has a shape corresponding to a shape of the workpiece unit. The heating board  252  further includes a recess  255  defined in a top of the heating portion  254 . 
   Referring also to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the first cooler  26  is attached to the support platform  221  of the frame  22 . The first cooler  26  includes a second driving mechanism  261 , and a first cooling mold  262  disposed at a bottom end of the second driving mechanism  261  beneath the support platform  221 . The second driving mechanism  261  is configured for driving the first cooling mold  262  to move down and up. The first cooling mold  262  includes a cooling board  263  and a securing board  264 . The securing board  264  connects the cooling board  263  to the second driving mechanism  261 . 
   The cooling board  263  is generally rectangular, and includes a protusion  2631 . A recessed cooling portion  2632  is formed in the protusion  2631 . The cooling portion  2632  has a shape corresponding to the shape of the workpiece unit. The cooling board  263  further includes a recess  2633  defined in a top of the cooling portion  2632 . The recess  2633  has a top surface  2634 . The cooling board  263  is similar to the heating board  252  described above, except that the cooling board  263  includes at least one exit hole  2635  defined at the top surface  2634  of the recess  2633 . The exit hole  2635  runs through the cooling board  263 . In the illustrated embodiments, there is only a single exit hole  2635 . The cooling portion  2632  further includes a plurality of intersecting grooves  2636  defined in the top and sides thereof. At least one of the grooves  2636  communicates with the recess  2633 . The grooves  2636  are exposed to an outside of the cooling bord  263  of the first cooling mold  262 . 
   The securing board  264  is substantially rectangular, and is configured for engaging with the cooling board  263 . The securing board  264  includes a lower surface  2641 , an upper surface  2642  opposite to the lower surface  2641 , and four side surfaces  2643  interconnecting the lower surface  2641  and the upper surface  2642 . The lower surface  2641  of the securing board  264  is adjacent to the cooling board  263 . The securing board  264  includes an entrance hole  2644  defined at one of the side surfaces  2643 . The entrance hole  2644  is bent, and an inner portion thereof defines a transfer hole  2645  that is exposed at the lower surface  2641 . When the securing board  264  is engaged with the cooling board  263 , the transfer hole  2645  communicates with the exit hole  2635 . The entrance hole  2644  and the exit hole  2635  cooperatively define an input channel (not labeled) communicating with the grooves  2636 , for passage of gas that is injected into the first cooling mold  262  via the entrance hole  2644  of the securing board  264 . The securing board  264  further includes a measuring hole  2646  defined at one of the side surfaces  2643 . In the illustrated embodiment, the measuring hole  2646  and the entrance hole  2644  are defined at the same side surface  2643 . The measuring hole  2646  is configured for receiving a thermometer (not shown). The thermometer measures a temperature of the first cooling mold  262 , so as to obtain an indication of a temperature of the workpiece unit. 
   In alternative embodiments, the cooling board  263  can be integrated with the securing board  264  as a single piece. The recess  255  of the heater  25  and the recess  2633  of the first cooler  26  can be omitted. In such case, the exit hole  2635  of the cooling portion  2632  can directly communicate with at least one of the grooves  2636 . The entrance hole  2644  of the securing board  264  can be defined at the upper surface  2642 , with the entrance hole  2644  running through the securing board  264 . 
   The second cooler  27  is substantially the same as the first cooler  26 . The second cooler  27  is disposed on the support platform  221  of the frame  22 . The second cooler  27  includes a third driving mechanism  271 , and a second cooling mold  272  disposed at a bottom end of the third driving mechanism  271  beneath the support platform  221 . The third driving mechanism  271  is configured for driving the second cooling mold  272  to move down and up. The second cooling mold  272  includes a cooling board  273  and a securing board  274 . The securing board  274  secures the cooling board  273  to the third driving mechanism  271 . 
   The controller  28  is configured for driving the worktable  23  to rotate. The controller  28  is also configured for driving the first driving mechanism  251  of the heater  25 , the second driving mechanism  261  of the first cooler  26 , and the third driving mechanism  271  of the second cooler  27  to move down toward the carriers  24  and up away from the carriers  24 . The controller  28  includes a display portion  281 . The display portion  281  is configured for displaying and setting various parameters; for example, a rotating speed of the worktable  23 , a distance of movement of the first driving mechanism  251 , a distance of movement of the second driving mechanism  261 , a distance of movement of the third driving mechanism  271 , etc. 
   The hot-melting machine  20  also includes a gas-compressor (not shown). The gas-compressor is configured for providing gas for the first cooler  26  and the second cooler  27 . 
   The hot-melting machine  20  further includes a plurality of sensors (not shown). The sensors are disposed on the heater  25 , the first cooler  26 , and the second cooler  27  respectively. Each sensor is configured for detecting the presence of a workpiece unit on a corresponding one of the carriers  24 , and signaling the controller  28  accordingly. 
   The hot-melting machine  20  still further includes a transparent protection plate  29 . The protection plate  29  is disposed in two sides of the frame  21  adjacent to the heater  25 , and is configured for separating the heater  25  from the outside environment. The protection plate  29  defines an opening  291  at one of the sides of the frame  21 . At any one time, one of the carriers  24  on the worktable  23  can protrude through the opening  291 . This enables convenient loading and unloading of a workpiece unit onto or from that carrier  24 . 
   When the first carrier protrudes through the opening  291 , the second carrier is aligned with the second cooler  27 , the third carrier is aligned with the first cooler  26 , and the fourth carrier is aligned with the heater  25 . 
   Referring also to  FIG. 5 , in use of the hot-melting machine  20 , in a starting position the first carrier protrudes through the opening  291 . Two workpieces are affixed to each other by a hot-melting adhesive to form a first workpiece unit. The first workpiece unit is loaded on the first carrier. The worktable  23  rotates clockwise until the first workpiece unit on the first carrier aligns with the heater  25 . The sensor on the heater  25  detects the presence of the first workpiece unit on the first carrier, and signals the controller  28  accordingly. The controller  28  drives the first driving mechanism  251  to move toward the first workpiece unit. The first driving mechanism  251  drives the heating board  252  to move down toward the first workpiece unit until the heating portion  254  abuts against the first workpiece unit for heating. Once the first workpiece unit is aligned with the heater  25 , the second carrier protrudes through the opening  291 . A second workpiece unit formed by two workpieces is loaded on the second carrier. 
   When a heating process for the first workpiece unit is finished, the first driving mechanism  251  drives the heating board  252  to move up and separate from the first workpiece unit and return to its original position. At this time, the worktable  23  rotates clockwise until the first workpiece unit on the first carrier aligns with the first cooler  26 , and the second workpiece unit on the second carrier aligns with the heater  25 . The sensor on the first cooler  26  detects the presence of the first workpiece unit on the first carrier, and the sensor on the heater  25  detects the presence of the second workpiece unit on the second carrier. The sensors then signal the controller  28  accordingly. The controller  28  drives the first driving mechanism  251  to move toward the second workpiece unit. The first driving mechanism  251  drives the heating board  252  to move down toward the second workpiece unit until the heating portion  254  abuts against the second workpiece unit for heating. At the same time, the controller  28  drives the second driving mechanism  261  to move toward the first workpiece unit. The second driving mechanism  261  drives the cooling board  263  to move down toward the first workpiece unit until the cooling portion  2632  abuts against the first workpiece unit for cooling. Gas provided by the gas-compressor is injected into the first cooling mold  262  via the input channel and the grooves  2636  to cool the first workpiece unit. When the first workpiece unit is aligned with the first cooler  26  and the second workpiece unit is aligned with the heater  25 , the third carrier protrudes through the opening  291 . A third workpiece unit formed by two workpieces is loaded on the third carrier. 
   When a heating process for the second workpiece unit is finished, the first driving mechanism  251  drives the heating board  252  to move up and separate from the second workpiece unit and return to its original position. When a cooling process for the first workpiece unit is finished, the second driving mechanism  261  drives the cooling board  263  to move up and return to its original position. At this time, the worktable  23  rotates clockwise until the first workpiece unit aligns with the second cooler  27 , the second workpiece unit aligns with the first cooler  26 , and the third workpiece unit aligns with the heater  25 . The corresponding sensors detect the presence of the first workpiece unit, the second workpiece unit, and the third workpiece unit on the first carrier, the second carrier, and the third carrier respectively. The sensors then signal the controller  28  accordingly. The controller  28  drives the first driving mechanism  251  to move toward the third workpiece unit. The first driving mechanism  251  drives the heating board  252  to move down toward the third workpiece unit until the heating portion  254  abuts against the third workpiece unit for heating. At the same time, the controller  28  drives the second driving mechanism  261  to move toward the second workpiece unit. The second driving mechanism  261  drives the cooling board  263  to move down toward the second workpiece unit until the cooling portion  2632  abuts against the second workpiece unit for cooling. The controller  28  drives the third driving mechanism  271  to move toward the first workpiece unit. The third driving mechanism  271  drives the cooling board  273  to move down toward the first workpiece unit until the cooling board  273  abuts against the first workpiece unit for cooling. When the first workpiece unit is aligned with the second cooler  27 , the second workpiece unit is aligned with the first cooler  26 , and the third workpiece unit is aligned with the heater  25 , the fourth carrier protrudes through the opening  291 . A fourth workpiece unit formed by two workpieces is loaded on the fourth carrier. 
   When a heating process for the third workpiece unit is finished, the first driving mechanism  251  drives the heating board  252  to move up and separate from the third workpiece unit and return to its original position. When a cooling process for the second workpiece unit is finished, the second driving mechanism  261  drives the cooling board  263  to move up and return to its original position. When a cooling process for the first workpiece unit is finished, the third driving mechanism  271  drives the cooling board  273  to move up and return to its original position. The worktable  23  rotates clockwise until the second workpiece unit aligns with the second cooler  27 , the third workpiece unit aligns with the first cooler  26 , the fourth workpiece unit aligns with the heater  25 , and the first workpiece unit protrudes through the opening  291 . The first workpiece unit is unloaded from the first carrier. Another workpiece unit formed by two workpieces is loaded on the first carrier, and a next cycle of operation of the hot-melting machine  20  begins. 
   In the hot-melting machine  20 , gas provided by the gas-compressor is injected into each of the first and second cooling molds  262 ,  272  to cool the respective workpiece unit via the input channel and the grooves  2636 . The grooves increase a cooling area of the cooling mold  262 ,  272 . This improves an efficiency of cooling, and helps ensure that the temperature of the workpiece unit is uniform throughout. Furthermore, the worktable  23  rotates according to the above-described cyclical operation. At each stage, the four carriers  24  respectively correspond to a loading/unloading step, a heating step, a first cooling step, and a second cooling step. The four steps run simultaneously, thereby improving an efficiency of operation of the hot-melting machine  20 . 
   It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.