DEVICE FOR FORMING OR MOLDING PLASTIC ELEMENTS ON SURFACES OF A SEMI-FINISHED PRODUCT

Abstract

A device for forming or molding elements on surfaces of a semi-finished product includes a C-shaped bracket element for displacing using a manipulator to a defined position with respect to a semi-finished product. An arrangement implemented for injection molding is disposed on a first leg and a backing holder is disposed on the second leg of the C-shaped bracket element. A semi-finished product can be disposed between the backing holder and the arrangement. A first molding tool is disposed in the direction toward a surface of the semi-finished product. The arrangement and/or the backing holder is/are displaceable against the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product, such that the open side of the first molding tool applies pressure to the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product and the backing holder contacts and applies pressure to the opposite surface of the semi-finished product.

Claims

1. A device for forming or molding elements on one or more surfaces of a semi-finished product, the device comprising: a C-shaped bracket element configured to be positioned in a locally defined manner along at least one axis relative to the semi-finished product by a manipulator; an arrangement adapted for injection molding disposed on a first leg the C-shaped bracket element, and a backing holder is disposed on a second leg of the C-shaped bracket element opposite the arrangement implemented for injection molding, wherein the device is adapted such that a semi-finished product can be disposed between the backing holder and the arrangement when an element is to be formed; and a first molding tool disposed in a direction toward a surface of the semi-finished product on which the element is to be formed, the first molding tool being open in a direction toward the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product and having a negative contour of the corresponding element, wherein the arrangement and/or the backing holder is displaceable against the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product, such that the open side of the first molding tool applies pressure to the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product and the backing holder contacts and applies pressure to an opposite surface of the semi-finished product when an element is produced by means of injection molding, and wherein the first molding tool and backing holder are then disposed opposite each other.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a second molding tool on the backing holder and open in the direction toward the surface of the semi-finished product.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein differently formed molding tools are interchangeably attachable to the arrangement or to the backing holder.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement and/or the backing holder can be translationally displaced by means of a drive in the direction of the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product and in the direction opposite thereto.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the C-shaped bracket element (1) is formed with a retaining clip and a positioning clip, wherein the retaining clip (1.5) disposed outboard of or parallel to the positioning clip and is connected to a manipulator by means of a hinge.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising a linear guide is provided on at least one leg of the positioning clip for positioning the molding tools relative to each other, or a molding tool relative to the position of the backing holder.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the linear guide enables displacing the at least one leg of the positioning clip perpendicular to a longitudinal axis thereof.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the C-shaped bracket element is formed at least partially of glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic.

9. The device according to claim 5, wherein the arrangement and the backing holder are pivotally joined to the corresponding first and second legs or to the retaining clip by means of hinges.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement comprises a plasticization unit for metered feeding of plasticized material into the molding tool.

11. The device according to claim 5, wherein the retaining clip and/or the positioning clip are/is formed at least partially of glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an interface for connecting the device to the manipulator.

13. A system comprising: a device for forming or molding elements on one or more surfaces of a semi-finished product, the device being configured to be positioned in a locally defined manner along at least one axis relative to the semi-finished product by a manipulator; and a manipulator for locally defined positioning and/or orienting the device relative to the semi-finished product.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the manipulator is a linear drive.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the manipulator is a robot.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the manipulator is a pulling device or handling linkage such that the device can be manually positioned.

17. A device for forming or molding elements on one or more surfaces of a semi-finished product, the device comprising: a C-shaped bracket element formed at least partially of glass- or carbon-fiber-reinforced-plastic; an arrangement adapted for injection molding disposed on a first leg of the C-shaped bracket element, and a backing holder disposed on a second leg of the C-shaped bracket element opposite the arrangement adapted for injection molding, wherein the device is adapted such that the semi-finished product can be disposed between the backing holder and the arrangement when an element is to be formed; and a first molding tool disposed in a direction toward a surface of a semi-finished product on which an element is to be formed, the first molding tool being open in the direction toward the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product and having a negative contour of the corresponding element, wherein the arrangement and/or the backing holder is displaceable against the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product, such that the open side of the first molding tool applies pressure to the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product and the backing holder contacts and applies pressure to an opposite surface of the semi-finished product when an element is produced by means of injection molding, and wherein the molding tool and backing holder are then disposed opposite each other.

18. A method for forming or molding one or more elements on one or more surfaces of a semi-finished product using a device for forming or molding elements, wherein the device comprises a C-shaped bracket element having an arrangement adapted for injection molding disposed on a first leg of the C-shaped bracket element, and a backing holder disposed on a second leg of the C-shaped bracket element opposite the arrangement implemented for injection molding, the method comprising: displacing and positioning the device in a locally defined manner along at least one axis relative to the semi-finished product using a manipulator, such that the semi-finished product is disposed between the backing holder and the arrangement when an element is to be formed.

Description

[0040] The invention is described below in greater detail using examples.

[0041] Shown are:

[0042] FIG. 1 a schematic section view of an example of a device according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 a kinematic model of an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention; and

[0044] FIG. 3 an embodiment example of a device according to the invention having a multi-axis robot as a manipulator.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows an example of a device according to the invention, wherein a C-shaped bracket element 1 is made largely of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), so that the entire intrinsic weight of the device is a maximum of 120 kg, but preferably less than 100 kg, and particularly preferably a maximum of 50 kg.

[0046] An arrangement 1.4 is attached to a first leg 1.1 of the C-U-shaped bracket element 1. The arrangement is formed by a plasticization cylinder 1.4.3 having a heater and in which a screw feeder 1.4.2 is rotatably supported. A feeder 1.4.5 for element material present in granulate form, potentially a pure plastic but also a filled plastic or a plastic, metal, or ceramic mixture, is connected to the arrangement 1.4. The plasticized element material fed to the first molding tool 1.4.1 and in the present example also to the second molding tool 1.3.1 can be metered by means of the number of revolutions of the screw feeder or the rotational speed thereof.

[0047] The device can be positioned on a semi-finished product 2 by means of an additional manipulator 3, as explained in the general part of the description, for forming an element on the semi-finished product 2.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows how the device is positioned in a locally defined manner on the semi-finished product 2. The backing holder 1.3 disposed on the second leg 1.2 of the C-shaped bracket element 1 has also been displaced against the bottom surface of the semi-finished product here by means of the hydraulic drive 4. The displacing has taken place such that the sealing surface of the second molding tool 1.3.1 contacts said surface of the semi-finished product 2 and thereby the sealing surface of the first molding tool 1.4.1 also contacts the opposite surface of the semi-finished product 2. Compressive forces thereby act there to ensure that no element material can escape from the two molding tools 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 when injection molding, until the element material has cooled off sufficiently that demolding can take place by displacing the backing holder 1.3 in the opposite direction.

[0049] To this end, the device has been positioned by means of the drive, not shown, so that the first and second molding tool 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 are positioned exactly so that an element can be produced, even inside a hole formed in the semi-finished good 2. Bushings, clips, or seal plugs can thus be produced as elements.

[0050] In the example shown here, the first and second molding tools 1.3.1 and 1.4.1 are each identical in design, but this is not absolutely necessary.

[0051] An embodiment of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1, wherein an arrangement 1.4 and a hydraulic drive 4 are rigidly connected by means of a bracket element 1, has the disadvantage that spreading of the bracket element 1 occurs due to a force applied by the hydraulic drive 4, leading to undesired shifting of the molding tools 1.4.1 and 1.3.1 relative to each other. Said shifting can be reduced by means of a flexurally rigid yet massive embodiment of the bracket element 1.

[0052] The kinematic model shown in FIG. 2 alternatively presents an advantageous embodiment of a device according to the invention, wherein the substantial functions of the C-shaped bracket element 1—“transmitting force” and “positioning the molding tools”—are functionally separated. A molding tool 1.4.1 and the backing holder 1.3, or the two molding tools 1.4.1 and 1.3.1, are thereby guided toward each other by means of a leg of the positioning bracket 1.6, such that only one degree of freedom remains in the direction of force application line of the hydraulic drive 4 and is relieved by a linear guide 1.7. The compressive force is applied by means of a holding bracket 1.5 for pressing a molding tool 1.4.1 and the holding bracket 1.3 or two molding tools 1.4.1 and 1.3.1 against the corresponding surface of the semi-finished product 2 under pressure while the processing is being performed. The holding bracket 1.5 is rotatably connected by means of the hinge 5 to a manipulator (not shown) or to the arrangement 1.4 implemented for injection molding and the backing holder 1.3.

[0053] The bending open, as occurs in the mounting bracket 1.5 when the pressure forces act, can be compensated for by means of the linear guide 1.7 present on one leg of the positioning bracket 1.6, so that no bending load arises in the positioning bracket 1.6 due to the effects of the compression forces.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the invention, wherein a C-shaped bracket element 1 is displaced by means of a manipulator 3 implemented as a multi-axis robot. The closing force is generated by a drive 4 implemented as a hydraulic cylinder. The forming of plastic elements on a semi-finished product 2 (not shown) is performed by an arrangement 1.4 implemented as an injection molding unit and mounted on the C-shaped bracket element 1.