Patent Description:
<CIT> describes an injection molding mold including an insert in-part defining the mold cavity. The insert has a molding head at the mold cavity, a shank extending into a socket in the mold, a mortice in the shank for receiving a retainer to hold the insert in place and, preferably, a camming surface on the end of the shank for dislodging the insert from the mold. The retainer will preferably be a sliding pin having a bifurcated keeper portion providing two tapered prongs engaging opposed slots on the insert's shank for holding the insert in place during molding and subsequently for camming the insert loose from the socket at replacement time.

According to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for blind installation of injection mold components is as defined in claim <NUM>.

The disclosure includes a system for blind securing injection mold components to an injection molding machine. The system may comprise a shuttle plate that has at least one locking mechanism. Each locking mechanism may have a larger installation area and a smaller lock area. Each injection mold component may have a notch that has a corresponding geometry to the lock area such that the injection mold component is configured to be inserted into the installation area and the shuttle plate is configured to move to seat the notch into the lock area and secure the injection mold component to the shuttle plate.

In some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the system for blind installation of injection mold components may comprise two shuttle plates that operate in opposition to lock the injection mold component into the lock area. In some example embodiments, that lock area may have one of a semicircular edge, a square edge, and a hex edge. The injection mold component may be any injection molding component or device that may be needed to be installed, changed or replaced in an injection molding machine including knockout rods, pins, slides, sleeves, cores, cavities, strippers, ejector pins, or other change components.

In some example embodiments of the present disclosure, a retainer plate is used for mounting at least one locking component. The locking component may comprise an installation portion and a lock portion. Each injection mold component may have a notch that has a corresponding geometry to the lock portion. Each locking component may be configured to move and seat the notch into the lock portion to secure the injection mold component to the locking component. In various example embodiments, two locking components located on opposing sides of the injection mold component may be used to secure the injection mold component to the retaining plate. In some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the locking component may be an aperture or may comprise a hinge or a C-clamp. The installation portion may be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically. In some example embodiments of the present disclosure, the installation area is partially intersected by two key slots. In other example embodiments of the present disclosure, the installation area may be fully intersected by a key slot and the notch may comprise a hole through the injection mold component.

Those skilled in the art will realize that this invention is capable of embodiments that are different from those shown and that details of the devices and methods can be changed in various manners without departing from the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regarded as including such equivalent embodiments as do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this invention, and its many advantages, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, some of the reference numerals are used to designate the same or corresponding parts through several of the embodiments and figures shown and described. Corresponding parts are denoted in different embodiments with the addition of lowercase letters. Variations of corresponding parts in form or function that are depicted in the figures are described. It will be understood that variations in the embodiments can generally be interchanged without deviating from the invention.

Injection molding machines typically comprise molds that have channels from a source of molten plastic that lead to a cavity that is shaped into the form of the final molded part. Molten plastic is injected through these channels into the cavity to create the final molded part. The mold is typically of two parts that are split along a line of the final molded part that would allow for the separation of the part from the mold. The plastic part may require various injection mold components such as pins, slides, sleeves, cores, etc. that may move to form details or assist with the removal or ejection of the final part from the mold. Additional injection mold components may need to be changed out to form different versions of the parts that could include varying orifices, diameters, lengths, widths, or other dimensions while utilizing much of the remainder of the mold.

There are a variety of types of injection molding machines. These include single mold machines with one or more injection units (the injection unit heats the plastic and forces it into the mold) and two mold machines with two or more injection units. The single mold machines would typically include stack and cube molds with or without additional movement for subsequent plastic injection or assembly. Stack molds comprise two or more generally linear levels of mold cavities that are fed by a single injection unit for each type or color of plastic entering the mold. Cube molds comprise stationary and moving mold cavities in which a portion of the mold rotates to save cycle time, accept another plastic material, assembly, or ejection and are fed by one or more injection units.

Two-mold machines have two or more injection units in opposition. The "B" side of each mold is attached to an ejector system. The center ejector system, or "tombstone", supports the clamp pressure of both molds and provides a method of ejecting parts from both molds. In a two-mold machine the molds could be the same or different. The stack height of each mold could be the same or different.

In all the various types on injection molding machines, there is a premium on the space and weight of the various machine components. There is also a premium on the downtime experienced in switching out various injection mold components. The standard method of securing injection mold components is to install them in the mold (both prior to installing the mold or after the mold is installed on the machine) and then securing them into the machine with screws or bolts. Using the standard method requires significant clearance or space for manual installation, removal, and replacement of various injection mold components.

What is presented is an improved system and method for installation, removal, and replacement of injection mold components to an injection molding machine. The system and method disclosed herein allows for the blind installation of injection mold components, which means that if the operator knows where on the mold the injection mold component needs to be installed, the operator does not have to remove the mold from the injection molding machine. This saves significant effort and time on the part of the operator and reduces overall downtime required to change out injection mold components.

<FIG> shows one embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components <NUM> to an injection molding machine disclosed herein. In this embodiment, a retainer plate that is a shuttle plate <NUM> is mounted to the injection molding machine specifically at the location on the injection molding machine where the injection mold components <NUM> are to be installed. <FIG> shows the shuttle plate <NUM> in the installation position. There is at least one locking mechanism <NUM> on the shuttle plate <NUM>. The location and number of locking mechanisms <NUM> is determined by the application, but generally, the locking mechanisms <NUM> are located to align with the various components of the injection molding machine where specific injection mold components <NUM> are required to perform specific functions.

As best seen in <FIG>, each locking mechanism <NUM> has a larger installation area <NUM> and a smaller lock area <NUM>. Each injection mold component <NUM> has a notch <NUM> that has a corresponding geometry to the smaller lock area <NUM>. Each said injection mold component <NUM> is configured to be inserted into the installation area <NUM> and the shuttle plate <NUM> is configured to move to seat the notch <NUM> into the lock area <NUM> and secure the injection mold component <NUM> to the shuttle plate <NUM>.

Blind installation of injection mold components <NUM> in an injection is easily achieved using the system disclosed herein. As shown in <FIG>, the shuttle plate <NUM> is moved to allow user access to the installation area <NUM> of the locking mechanism <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the user then inserts the required number and type of injection mold components <NUM> in the installation area <NUM> of a corresponding locking mechanism <NUM> in the shuttle plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the shuttle plate <NUM> is moved so that the notch <NUM> of each injection mold component <NUM> is seated into the lock area <NUM> in their corresponding locking mechanism <NUM> in the shuttle plate <NUM>.

This system can be used for any injection mold component <NUM> that need to be added, removed, or replaced in an injection molding machine. This includes knockout rods, pins, slides, sleeves, cores, cavities, strippers, ejector pins, and other change components.

The configuration of the locking mechanism <NUM> shown in <FIG> shows that the lock area <NUM> as a semi-circular shape. This means that an injection mold component <NUM> that has notch <NUM> that has a corresponding geometry <NUM> to is free to rotate within the shuttle plate <NUM> unless it is otherwise anchored elsewhere in the injection molding machine. However, it is understood that other configurations of lock areas <NUM> are possible. <FIG> shows an embodiment of locking mechanism 14a has lock area 18a that is a square edge and the notch 20a of the injection mold component 10a has a corresponding square geometry to fit into the lock area 18a. <FIG> shows an embodiment of locking mechanism 14b has lock area 18b that is a hex edge and the notch 20b of the injection mold component 10b has a corresponding square geometry to fit into the lock area 18b. In either of the configurations shown in <FIG>, the respective injection mold components 10a, 10b are not rotatable within their respective lock areas 18a, 18b. The installation areas <NUM>, 18a, 18b in any configuration of locking mechanism <NUM>, 14a, 14b need only be large enough to allow installation of the respective injection mold component <NUM>, 10a, 10b and do not have to have any particular geometry.

Another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components 10c to an injection molding machine is shown in <FIG>. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment disclosed in <FIG>, however in this embodiment, two shuttle plates 12c work in opposition to lock installed injection mold components 10c in place. In this embodiment, two shuttle plates 12c are aligned so that their locking mechanisms 14c overlap. In addition, each locking mechanism 14c is aligned in opposition to each other. <FIG> show the two shuttle plates 12c in the installation position with an injection mold component 10c inserted into the installation area 16c of the locking mechanism 14c of both shuttle plates 12c. As shown in <FIG>, locking the injection mold components 10c in place is achieved by moving the two shuttle plates 12c in the directions indicated by the arrows. The notch 20c of the injection mold components 10c have a corresponding geometry to the lock areas 18c of both shuttle plates 12c. Moving the shuttle plates 12c seat the notch 20c of each injection mold component 10c the lock areas 18c of both locking mechanism 14c and provide a more secure installation.

<FIG> shown another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components 10d. Similar to the earlier embodiments, in this embodiment, the locking component 14d is a shutter that pivots to move the installation portion 16d and the lock portion 18d into place to secure the injection molding component 10d. However, in this embodiment, the locking components 14d are mounted to a retainer plate (not shown) that allows the actuation of the locking components 14d. Each injection mold component 10d has a notch 20d that has a corresponding geometry to the lock portion 18d of the locking mechanism. Securing the injection mold component 10d is achieved by the user inserting the injection mold component 10d at the required location and actuating the locking mechanism 14d to pivot the lock portion 18d into the notch 20d. The locking components 14d may be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components 10e comprising two locking components 14e similar to those shown in <FIG> that to secure the injection mold component 10e. Similar to the earlier embodiments, in this embodiment, the locking components 14e comprises installation portions 16e and a lock portions 18e. In this embodiment, the locking components 14e are also mounted to a retainer plate (not shown) that allows the actuation of the locking components 14e. Each injection mold component 10e has a notch 20e that has a corresponding geometry to the lock portion 18e of the locking mechanism 14e. Securing the injection mold component 10e is achieved by the user inserting the injection mold component 10e at the required location and actuating the locking mechanisms 14e to pivot both lock portions 18e into the notch 20e. The locking components 14e may be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

<FIG> show another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components 10f comprising a series of locking mechanisms 14f that surround the notch 20f of the injection mold component 10f. In the embodiment shown, four locking mechanisms 14f are located within a retainer plate 12f. Securing the injection mold component 10f is achieved by the user inserting the injection mold component 10f at the required location and actuating the locking mechanisms 14f to move the lock portions 18f into the notch 20f. The locking components 14f may be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

<FIG> show another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components <NUM>. Similar to the earlier embodiments, in this embodiment, the locking component <NUM> is a C-clamp that slides to move the installation portion <NUM> and a lock portion <NUM> to secure the injection mold components <NUM>. As with some of the earlier embodiments, in this embodiment, the locking components <NUM> are mounted to a retainer plate (not shown) that allows the actuation of the locking components <NUM>. Each injection mold component <NUM> has a notch <NUM> that has a corresponding geometry to the lock portion <NUM> of the locking mechanism. Securing the injection mold component <NUM> is achieved by the user inserting the injection mold component <NUM> at the required location and actuating the locking mechanism <NUM> to slide the lock portion <NUM> into the notch <NUM>. The locking components <NUM> may be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components <NUM> comprising two locking components <NUM> similar to those shown in <FIG> that to secure the injection mold component <NUM>. Similar to the earlier embodiments, in this embodiment, the locking components <NUM> comprises installation portions <NUM> and a lock portions <NUM>. In this embodiment, the locking components <NUM> are also mounted to a retainer plate (not shown) that allows the actuation of the locking components <NUM>. Each injection mold component <NUM> has a notch <NUM> that has a corresponding geometry to the lock portion <NUM> of the locking mechanism. Securing the injection mold component <NUM> is achieved by the user inserting the injection mold component <NUM> at the required location and actuating the locking mechanisms <NUM> to move both lock portions <NUM> into the notch <NUM>. The locking components <NUM> may be actuated mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components 10i. In this embodiment the retainer plate 12i has at least one locking mechanism 14i. The locking mechanism 14i comprises an installation area 16i and a lock area 18i. The installation area 16i is configured to receive an injection mold component 10i. The lock area 18i comprises at least one key slot 24i that runs the length of the retainer plate 12i and at least partially intersects the installation area 16i of the locking mechanism. A key 26i is insertable into the key slot 24i. Each injection mold component 10i has a notch 20i that has a geometry configured such that the insertion of the key 26i into the key slot 24i intersects the installation area 16i and the notch 20i to lock the injection mold component 10i into the retainer plate 12i.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components 10j that is a variation of the embodiment shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the installation area 16j is partially intersected by two key slots 24j and up to two keys 26j may be used to secure the injection mold component 10j into the retainer plate 12j.

<FIG> shows another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components <NUM> that is another variation of the embodiment shown in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the installation area <NUM> is fully intersected by a key slot <NUM>. The notch <NUM> is a hole that aligns with the key slot <NUM>. The injection mold component <NUM> is secured to the retainer plate <NUM> by inserting a key <NUM> inserted into the key slot <NUM> and through the notch <NUM>.

<FIG> shown another embodiment of the system for blind installation of injection mold components <NUM>l. In this embodiment, the locking component <NUM>l is an aperture that telescopes to move the lock portion <NUM>l into place to secure the injection molding component <NUM>l. In this embodiment, the locking components <NUM>l are mounted to a retainer plate (not shown) that allows the actuation of the locking components <NUM>l. Each injection mold component <NUM>l has a notch <NUM>l that has a corresponding geometry to the lock portion <NUM>l of the locking mechanism <NUM>l. Securing the injection mold component <NUM>l is achieved by the user inserting the injection mold component <NUM>l at the required location and actuating the locking mechanism <NUM>l to telescope the lock portion <NUM>l into the notch <NUM>l.

Claim 1:
A system for blind installation of injection mold components, the system comprising:
an injection mold component (10i);
a retainer plate (12i) comprising at least one locking mechanism (14i), wherein
said locking mechanism (14i) has an installation area (16i) and a lock area (18i), and
said lock area (18i) comprises at least one key slot (24i) that at least partially intersects said installation area (16i); and
a key (26i) insertable into each said key slot (24i), wherein
said installation area (16i) of said retainer plate (12i) is configured to receive said injection mold component (10i) without removing the mold from the injection molding machine,
said injection mold component (12i) has a notch (20i) that has a geometry configured such that insertion of said key (26i) into said at least one key slot (24i) intersects said installation area (16i) of said retainer plate (12i) and said notch (20i) of said injection mold component (10i) to lock said injection mold component (10i) into said retainer plate (12i), characterised in that
said at least one key slot (24i) extends along the complete length of said retainer plate (12i).