Patent ID: 12246478

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to certain embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all features are shown. Indeed, embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.

FIG.1shows a first variation of an injection mold1in a perspective manner in a partially sectioned view.FIG.2shows a detailed view of the sectioned viewFIG.1.FIG.3shows in a perspective view the first variation of an injection mold1according toFIG.1.FIG.4shows a cropped section view across the variation according toFIG.3along section line II.FIG.5shows a detailed view of the variation according toFIG.4also displaying hidden edges, indicated by the box in FIG.4.FIG.6shows a cropped section view across the variation according toFIG.3along section line II.FIG.7shows a cropped section view across the variation according toFIG.3along section line II andFIG.8shows a first variation of a valve pin coupling device6in a partially sectioned and exploded view.

InFIGS.1and3a first variation of an injection mold1according to the disclosure is shown, which comprises an actuator assembly2. The actuator assembly2comprises a displaceable actuator plate4for actuating at least one valve pin3during operation in an axial direction z. The actuator plate4is arranged in the axial direction z between a top plate23and a nozzle plate into which the valve pin3extends in the axial direction z, in order open and close a valve gate, which is adjacent a cavity of the injection mold1.

The actuator assembly2further comprises a valve pin coupling device5, as best visible inFIGS.2and4to8, which interconnects the valve pin3, which is indicated inFIG.4, and the actuator plate4in the axial direction z. The valve pin coupling device5is interconnected to the actuator plate4and is manually switchable between a coupled state and a decoupled state. In the coupled state of the valve pin coupling device, which is visible inFIGS.4and5for the first variation, the valve pin3in the axial direction z is interconnected to the actuator plate4. Accordingly, in the decoupled state of the valve pin coupling device, which is shown inFIGS.6and7for the first variation, the valve pin3in the axial direction z is disconnected from the actuator plate4.

The actuator assembly2of the first variation shown inFIG.1comprises multiple valve pin coupling devices5interconnected to the actuator plate4each coupling a single valve pin3to the actuator plate4. More particularly, the actuator plate4comprises a through-bore28in the axial direction z for each valve pin coupling devices5, which are partially arranged within the respective through-bore28.

The construction of the valve pin coupling device5can be easily seen inFIG.8, which shows a first variation of the valve pin coupling device5in a partially sectioned and exploded view. As illustrated, the valve pin coupling device5comprises a coupling device first part6, a coupling device second part12, a coupling device switching element14and at least one coupling means11. The coupling device first part6has a side wall7extending in the axial direction z, and comprises at least one passage8extending across the side wall7from a first side face9to a second side face10. Inside the passage8at least one coupling means11is arranged displaceable in the passage8. The coupling means11protrudes at least above one of the first side face9or the second side face10of the side wall7. The coupling device second part12is arranged adjacent to the first side face9, comprising a coupling recess13suitable to receive the coupling means11protruding above the first side face9. The coupling device switching element14is arranged adjacent to the second side face10and comprises a decoupling recess15. The coupling device switching element14is arranged displaceable with respect to the coupling device first part6between a coupled first position and a decoupled second position.

In the coupled first position, as exemplarily shown inFIG.4, the coupling means11arranged in the passage8of the coupling device first part6is pressed via the coupling device switching element14into the coupling recess13of the coupling device second part12, thereby coupling the coupling device first part6and the coupling device second part12. In the decoupled second position, which is shown inFIGS.6and7, the coupling means11arranged in the passage8of the coupling device first part6is partially arranged in the decoupling recess15such that the coupling device first part6and the coupling device second part12are decoupled from each other.

For an easy switching of the valve pin coupling device4between the coupled state and the decoupled state, the coupling device switching element14is in communication with the outside of the injection mold1and therefrom displaceable between the coupled first position and the decoupled second position. This is achieved in the shown variation in that the coupling device switching element14comprises a set pin16extending in the axial direction z and being displaceable in the axial direction z having the decoupling recess15extending inward in a radial direction18. This first variation is illustrated inFIGS.1,2and4to7. Furthermore, the coupling device second part comprises a sleeve19arranged partially between the coupling device first part6and the actuator plate4having the coupling recess13extending outward in a radial direction18.

Between the set pin16and the sleeve19the coupling device first part6is arranged, which comprises a first opening26in the axial direction z which is encompassed by the side wall7and forms a hollow cylinder. The passage8connects the inside and the outside of the hollow cylinder. In this variation, as best observable inFIGS.2and8, the first side face9is on the outside of the hollow cylinder and the second side face10is on the inside of the hollow cylinder. Displaceable within the passage8arranged is a ball shaped coupling means11. The shape of the coupling means11of the first variation, is best visible inFIG.5as the shown hidden edges reveal the coupling means in the form of balls. The same is observable inFIG.8. For a good coupling performance and an easy switching four passages8are arranged in a symmetrical manner in the side wall7and within each passage8a ball shaped coupling means11is arranged. The set pin16is partially accommodated inside the first opening26, with the second side face10of the side wall7adjacent to the set pin16. Arranged adjacent to the first side face9of the side wall7on the outside of the hollow cylinder is the sleeve19. During operation the sleeve19is usually fixedly interconnected to the actuator plate4in the axial direction z and held in position relative to the actuator plate4in the axial direction z by a retaining ring31.

In the coupled state of the first variation shown inFIGS.4and5of the valve pin coupling device5the coupling device switching element14is in the coupled first position. The set pin16in the coupled first position is pressing the ball shaped coupling means11outward in a radial direction18into the coupling recess13arranged on the inside of the sleeve19. The ball shaped coupling means11are thus partially arranged in the passage8and partially in the coupling recess13. Thereby the coupling device first part6is coupled in the axial direction z with the sleeve19.

In the decoupled state of the first variation, as shown inFIGS.6and7of the valve pin coupling device5the coupling device switching element14is in the decoupled second position. The decoupling recess15of the set pin16is in the decoupled second position of the set pin16on the same level in the axial direction z as the ball shaped coupling means11. This allows the ball shaped coupling means11to be displaced inwardly in a radial direction18and to be partially received by the decoupling recess15. The ball shaped coupling means11are not protruding above the second side face10of the side wall7. Thereby the coupling device first part6is decoupled in the axial direction z from the sleeve19. InFIG.7compared toFIG.6the actuator plate4is displaced in the axial direction z towards the top plate23. Since the coupling device first part6is decoupled from the sleeve19in the axial direction z, only the sleeve19is displaced with the actuator plate4. The coupling device first part6and the thereto interconnected valve pin3are not displaced, which leads to the valve gate not being opened, meaning the cavity is switched off.

For manually controlling the coupling state of the valve pin coupling device4, the injection mold1comprises a latching device21accessible from the outside of the injection mold1. The latching device21, as shown inFIGS.1to4and6to7, is arranged displaceable and interconnected to the coupling device switching element14, such that the coupling device switching element14is displaceable between the coupled first position and the decoupled second position by means of the latching device. In the shown first variation, the latching device21is configured to secure the coupling device switching element14in the decoupled second position, illustrated inFIGS.6and7. An easy handling of the valve pin coupling device5is achieved, as latching device21comprises a latching device slider22which is laterally accessible from the outside of the Injection mold1and which is therefrom displaceable perpendicular to the axial direction z between an engaging position, in which it exerts a force on the coupling device switching element14and a disengaging position. The latching device slider22is, as best visible inFIGS.1and3, attached to the top plate23of the injection mold1. The latching device slider22is furthermore arranged inside a groove of the top plate23, such that it does not protrude above a side face of the top plate23.

In the shown first variation, the set pin16extends through the top plate23with a set pin end region25, with which the latching device slider22interacts, when moved from the disengaging position into the engaging position, as illustrated inFIGS.6and7. In order to interact with the set pin end region25the device slider22comprises a wedge-shaped slider end region20. When moving the latching device slider22from the disengaging position into the engaging position, the wedge-shaped slider end region20makes contact with the set pin end region25. In particular, a slider surface24of wedge-shaped slider end region20, which is inclined relative to the axial direction z contacts with the set pin end region25, as shown inFIGS.4,6and7. As the wedge-shaped slider end region20and thus the inclined slider surface24is moved past the set pin end region25, it pushes the set pin16in the axial direction z towards the nozzle plate. This allows the latching device slider22to displace the set pin16between the coupled first position and the decoupled second position, resulting in an easy switching of the valve pin3decoupling device by a displacement of the latching device slider22.

For best performance the valve pin coupling device4further comprises a spring element27, observable inFIG.8, which is compressed during a displacement of the set pin16from the coupled first position into the decoupled second position. This becomes obvious in the first variation when comparing the spring element27inFIG.4to the same spring element27inFIGS.6and7. The spring element27provides the means to reverse the switching process once the slider is moved from the engaging position back into the disengaging position. For this reason, the spring element27is arranged between the set pin16and the coupling means11body and exerts a separating force therebetween in the axial direction z in the decoupled state.

The shown first variation further comprises a securing element29, which is interconnected to the set pin16limiting its movement in the axial direction z relative to the coupling device first part6by interacting the coupling device first part6. As best visible inFIGS.2,4and6to8, the securing element29is detachably arranged in a second opening30of the set pin16extending perpendicular to the axial direction z.

Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than 11 limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from scope of the invention.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

1Injection mold2Actuator assembly3Valve pin4Actuator plate5Valve pin coupling device6Coupling device first part7Side wall8Passage (side wall)9First side face10Second side face11Coupling means12Coupling device second part13Coupling recess14Coupling device switching element15Decoupling recess16Set pin18Radial direction19Sleeve20wedge-shaped slider end region21Latching device22Latching device slider23Top plate24Slider surface (inclined)25Set pin end region26First opening (coupling device first part)27Spring element28Through-bore (actuator plate)29Securing element30Second opening (set pin)31Retaining ring