Clamping unit for a molding machine, in particular for an injection-molding machine, with a machine frame, an end plate arranged on the machine frame, a platen movably mounted on the machine frame, a stationary platen arranged on the machine frame, at least two, in particular four, tie bars, via which a clamping force can be transmitted, and a mold height adjustment apparatus for adjusting the mold height for a molding tool which can be or is fitted on the platen, wherein the mold height adjustment apparatus has

i. a rotatable adjustment element gripping on at least one tie bar,
ii. a drive device for rotating the rotatable adjustment element and
iii. a locking device for securing the rotatable adjustment element against a rotational movement relative to the at least one tie bar.

An injection device includes: a heating cylinder; a screw disposed in the heating cylinder; and a pair of piston cylinder components disposed on two sides of the heating cylinder. The pair of piston cylinder components are installed so that one end portion of each of the pair of piston cylinder components is connected to a mold clamping device, and the heating cylinder and the screw are integrally driven in a direction close to or away from the mold clamping device by expansion and contraction of the pair of piston cylinder components. One of the pair of piston cylinder components is provided with a stop mechanism configured to stop expansion and contraction of the piston cylinder component.

A clamp assembly for an injection molding machine includes (a) a clamp cylinder housing and (b) a clamp piston affixed to an end portion of a tie bar and slidable within the housing among a clamping position, a mold break position, and a meshing position disposed axially intermediate the clamping and the mold break positions. The clamp assembly further includes (c) a clamp chamber for urging the clamp piston towards the clamping position when pressurized; (d) a return device for urging the clamp piston towards the meshing position when pressure in the clamp chamber is relieved; and (e) a mold break chamber for urging the clamp piston towards the mold break position when pressurized. The mold break chamber is bounded axially by opposed surfaces of the tie bar and the return device.

An injection molding system includes an injection station, a molding device, and a plunger. The injection station includes a platform including an opening and an injector over the platform. The molding device is disposed between the platform and the injector and over the opening, wherein the molding device includes a mold cavity and a clamping unit for clamping the molding device. The plunger under the platform, wherein the plunger includes a base and a rod extendable through the opening toward the molding device and retractable toward the base. An injection molding method includes conveying a molding device to an injection station and disposing the molding device between an injector and a platform; disposing a plunger under the platform; moving the injector towards the molding device; applying a plunging force on the molding device by extending the rod through the opening; and injecting a molding material into a mold cavity.

A mold clamping device includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base and supporting a stationary mold, a movable platen movable on the base and supporting a movable mold, and a mold clamping mechanism for clamping the movable mold against the stationary mold. Tie bars extend from the stationary platen completely through both the movable platen and the mold clamping mechanism. A shaft supporting plate is fixed to the base and has openings through which the tie bars slidably extend for supporting the tie bars. The shaft supporting plate terminates at its lower end portion in two spaced-apart shoes that are fixed to the base. The bottom surface of each shoe has a larger area than the cross-sectional area of the shaft supporting plate situated vertically above the shoe.

The invention relates to a mold-closing unit for an injection molding machine for processing plastics, comprising a mold-moving device for moving the movable mold support into and out of closure of an injection mold. At least one force transmission element is connected to the movable mold support and at its end remote from the movable mold support has a section (14a) which is assigned to the stationary mold support. The stationary mold support (10) is assigned a locking device (15) having a plurality of locking elements (70) which can be moved into interlocking operative connection with the actuatable section (14a). The locking device (15) has at least one actuator (16) which is movable in the closing direction (s-s) and on which, during movement of the actuator, the locking elements (70) are movable transversely to the closing direction (s-s) along a sliding block guide (60) in and out of an interlocking operative connection with the actuatable section (14a). The actuator is at the same time connected to at least one piston (18) of a piston-cylinder unit (17) for applying the closing force.

A mold clamping device includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base and supporting a stationary mold, a movable platen movable on the base and supporting a movable mold, and a mold clamping mechanism for clamping the movable mold against the stationary mold. Tie bars extend from the stationary platen completely through both the movable platen and the mold clamping mechanism. A shaft supporting plate is fixed to the ends of the tie bars and terminates at its lower end portion in two spaced-apart shoes that have flat bottom surfaces in direct sliding contact with the base. The flat bottom surface of each shoe has a larger area than the cross-sectional area of the shaft supporting plate situated vertically above the shoe.

A mold clamping device includes a base, a stationary platen, a movable platen, a mold clamping mechanism, a tie bar, and a half nut. This mold clamping device further includes a shaft supporting plate supporting a tip of the tie bar. This shaft supporting plate is fixed to the tip of the tie bar, and is mounted on the base so as to be freely movable.

An injection device includes: a heating cylinder; a screw disposed in the heating cylinder; and a pair of piston cylinder components disposed on two sides of the heating cylinder. The pair of piston cylinder components are installed so that one end portion of each of the pair of piston cylinder components is connected to a mold clamping device, and the heating cylinder and the screw are integrally driven in a direction close to or away from the mold clamping device by expansion and contraction of the pair of piston cylinder components. One of the pair of piston cylinder components is provided with a stop mechanism configured to stop expansion and contraction of the piston cylinder component.

A plastic injection molding machine and molding method related to an injection molding machine for stack molds, wherein the central portion of the mold remains fixed and it has two molding faces that act on the fixed central portion by means of a hydraulic chamber that produces the clamping force and prevents the deformations due to bending on the molding faces. Likewise, it relates to a molding method.