TOOL AND METHOD FOR INJECTION MOULDING AN INJECTION-MOULDED PART IN A TOOL

Abstract

A tool for injection molding plastic parts includes a static overall frame and two structural units for forming a cavity. One of the structural units is arranged displaceably relative to the overall frame and the other structural unit in order to remove an injection-molded part from the cavity. The static overall frame is formed by at least two frame units, in particular a first ejector-side tool element and a second nozzle-side tool element, which are displaceable relative to one another, but in the production mode are displaceable within the scope of the elasticity, which is preferably less than a millimeter.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A tool for the injection molding of plastic parts, the tool comprising: a static overall frame formed by at least two frame units, wherein the at least two frame units include a first ejector-side tool element and a second nozzle-side tool element, which are displaceable relative to one another, but are displaceable in a production mode within the limits of elasticity, which is less than one millimeter; and two structural units for forming a cavity, wherein a first one of the two structural units is arranged displaceably relative to the overall frame and a second one of the two structural units for removing an injection-molded part from the cavity.

27. The tool of claim 26, wherein adjacent to and below one of the two structural units or the cavity, a removal of the discharged injection-molded parts takes place, and a transport device for the removal is associated with the tool.

28. The tool of claim 26, wherein the tool has a discharge for removing formed injection-molded parts from an area of the two structural units in a closed state of the tool.

29. The tool of claim 27, wherein an opening of the two structural units required for discharge is minimally larger than a minimum dimension of the plastic parts between 0-100% thereof or is not 0-100% larger than a width of the transport device provided for discharge.

30. The tool of claim 26, wherein the at least two frame units are displaceable within the scope of setting movements or due to wear protection less than five millimeters.

31. The tool of claim 26, wherein the discharge for removal of the injection molded parts takes place when the tool is in a closed state.

32. The tool of claim 26, wherein the displaceability of the first one of the two structural unit is ensured in the production mode, which comprises a discharge of the injection-molded part from the cavity.

33. The tool of claim 26, further comprising: a retaining element that ensures that the injection-molded part is retained on one of the two structural units during displacement of the first one of the two structural units.

34. The tool of claim 26, further comprising: an ejector unit configured to lift the injection-molded part from one of the two structural units.

35. The tool of claim 28, wherein the two structural units each comprise at least one mold insert, wherein a nozzle-side mold insert and a ejector-side mold insert form the cavity, wherein the at least one mold insert of the two structural units each remain in a respective frame unit during the production mode.

36. The tool of claim 35, wherein the discharge for removing the injection-molded parts is a drop chute.

37. The tool of claim 36, further comprising: at least one row of the at least one mold insert, wherein the drop chute extends parallel adjacent to the at least one row of the at least one mold insert.

38. The tool of claim 26, further comprising: a plurality of linearly movable transport carriages configured to transport the injection-molded part, wherein each transport carriage of the plurality of linearly movable transport carriages is configured to partially or completely receive the injection-molded part.

39. The tool of claim 38, wherein each of the plurality of linearly movable transport carriages has a rack and pinion extension arranged relative to a drive gearwheel in such a way that, when the drive gearwheel is moved, at least two transport carriages of the plurality of linearly movable transport carriages are arranged to be linearly movable in opposite directions to one another.

40. The tool of claim 26, wherein the first one of the two structural units consists of a mold unit and an ejecting unit, wherein the mold unit is movable to a greater extent than the ejecting unit.

41. The tool of claim 40, wherein displacement of the ejecting unit and mold unit is performed by a single drive.

42. The tool of claim 40, wherein the first ejector-side mold element has a locking mechanism configured so that unlocking of the locking mechanism causes a linear, lifting movement of the mold unit and the ejecting unit relative to a mold base plate.

43. The tool of claim 42, wherein the locking mechanism comprises a toothing between a first toothed rack, which is displaceably mounted in a direction perpendicular to teeth of the toothing, and a second toothed rack configured to apply pressure to the mold unit.

44. The tool of claim 40, wherein displaceability of at least one of the mold units or of the ejector units is effected by a guided stroke movement of one of the two structural units or of one or more plates acting on one of the two structural units, wherein the tool comprises a link guide configured to guide the stroke movement of a respective mold unit, ejector unit, or the one or more plates.

45. The tool of claim 44, wherein the link guide has at least two guide slots in which projections of a respective mold unit, the ejector unit, or the one or more plates engage, wherein the guide slots have a different pitch at least in some areas.

46. The tool of claim 45, wherein the tool is configured in such a way that a stroke movement of ejector rods of the ejector unit is less than a stroke movement of the mold unit.

47. A method for the injection molding of an injection-molded part in a tool comprising a static overall frame formed by at least two frame units, wherein the at least two frame units include a first ejector-side tool element and a second nozzle-side tool element, which are displaceable relative to one another, but are displaceable in a production mode within the limits of elasticity, which is less than one millimeter, and two structural units for forming a cavity, wherein a first one of the two structural units is arranged displaceably relative to the overall frame and a second one of the two structural units for removing an injection-molded part from the cavity, wherein the method comprises a production mode comprising: injection molding of an injection-molded part with the cavity closed; releasing from the cavity and cooling the injection-molded part by carrying out a stroke movement of the one of the two structural units with an ejector-side mold insert relative to a second one of the two structural units with a nozzle-side mold insert, forming an opening gap; and removing the injection-molded part from the opening gap between two the structural units, wherein the tool remains closed during execution of the production mode.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the release of the cavity is performed in a concerted stroke movement of the ejector-side mold unit with an ejector unit, wherein a stroke of the ejector-side mold unit and a stroke of the ejector unit are of different sizes.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein after the injection-molded part is removed from the opening gap, the injection-molded part is transferred to a drop chute by a linearly movable transport carriage, wherein the removal of the injection-molded part occurs at a same time as injection molding and releasing of a subsequent injection molded part of a subsequent pass, and wherein the removal the injection molded part is completed at the end the releasing from the cavity of the subsequent injection molded part of the subsequent pass.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the removal of a first batch of injection-molded parts from the tool is performed simultaneously with the molding and/or cooling of a second batch of injection-molded parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0102] The invention is explained in detail below with reference to several exemplary embodiments and with the aid of the following figures, wherein:

[0103] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a first variant of a tool according to the invention in the closed state;

[0104] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the tool according to the invention in the injection position in section A-A;

[0105] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view through the tool according to the invention in the injection position in section C-C, perpendicular to the sectional view of FIG. 2;

[0106] FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of the sectional view of FIG. 3;

[0107] FIG. 5 shows greater magnification of the sectional view of FIG. 4;

[0108] FIG. 6 shows an enlargement of a partial section of the section of FIG. 2 on two superimposed section planes;

[0109] FIG. 7 shows a top view of the end face of the first ejector-side tool element of the tool according to the invention in the injection position;

[0110] FIG. 8 shows a top view of the end face of the second nozzle-side tool element of the tool according to the invention in the injection position;

[0111] FIG. 9 shows a sectional view A-A through the tool perpendicular to the opening plane at process step A;

[0112] FIG. 10 shows a view of the end face of the nozzle-side tool element during process step A;

[0113] FIG. 11 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 10 during process step A;

[0114] FIG. 12 shows a detailed view of a transport carriage at process step A;

[0115] FIG. 13 shows a sectional view B-B perpendicular to sectional view A-A and to the opening plane at the level of the ejector package at process step A;

[0116] FIG. 14 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 13 during process step A;

[0117] FIG. 15 shows a sectional view A-A through the tool perpendicular to the opening plane at process step B;

[0118] FIG. 16 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 15 at process step B;

[0119] FIG. 17 shows a view of the end face of the nozzle-side tool element during process step B;

[0120] FIG. 18 shows a detailed view of a link guide 14 in process step B;

[0121] FIG. 19 shows a detailed view of a transport carriage at process step B;

[0122] FIG. 20 shows a sectional view A-A through the tool perpendicular to the opening plane at process step C;

[0123] FIG. 21 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 20 at process step C;

[0124] FIG. 22 shows a view of the end face of the nozzle-side tool element at process step C;

[0125] FIG. 23 shows a detailed view of a link guide 14 in process step C;

[0126] FIG. 24 shows a sectional view B-B-perpendicular to the sectional view A-A and to the opening plane at the level of the ejector package at process step C;

[0127] FIG. 25 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 24 at process step C;

[0128] FIG. 26 shows a sectional view A-A through the tool perpendicular to the opening plane at process step D;

[0129] FIG. 27 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 26 at process step D;

[0130] FIG. 28 shows a view of the end face of the nozzle-side tool element at process step D;

[0131] FIG. 29 shows a detailed view of a link guide 14 in process step D;

[0132] FIG. 30 shows a sectional view B-B perpendicular to sectional view A-A and to the opening plane at the level of the ejector package at process step D;

[0133] FIG. 31 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection-molding cavity of FIG. 30 at process step D;

[0134] FIG. 32 shows a sectional view A-A through the tool perpendicular to the opening plane at process step E;

[0135] FIG. 33 shows a detailed view of the area of the injection molding cavity of FIG. 26 at process step E;

[0136] FIG. 34 shows a view of the end face of the nozzle-side tool element during process step E;

[0137] FIG. 35 shows a sectional view A-A of a modified second variant of a tool according to the invention;

[0138] FIG. 36 shows a sectional view B-B of the second variant;

[0139] FIG. 37 shows an enlargement of FIG. 36;

[0140] FIG. 38 shows a detail view of an ejection device of FIG. 37;

[0141] FIG. 39 shows an enlargement of FIG. 35; and

[0142] FIG. 40 shows a detailed view of a link guide from FIG. 35.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0143] FIGS. 1-8 show a multi-part injection-molding tool 1 according to the invention comprising two tool halves 2, 3, namely an ejector side and a nozzle side. The tool halves 2 and 3 comprise, among other things, a plurality of plates which are arranged one above the other in a stacking direction A. The structure of both tool halves is explained in more detail in FIGS. 2-8. These figures are representations of one and the same tool 1 in a first process step A.

[0144] FIGS. 2 and 4 are each a sectional view perpendicular to the stacking direction A and to the plate plane of at least one tool base plate 4. The tool base plate 4 on the ejector side and also the tool base plate on the nozzle side each have a receptacle for positioning a pressurizing machine part, e.g., a pressure pin. The sectional view was selected for complete representation at different depths, i.e., at different heights of the sectional planes.

[0145] FIG. 2 is a sectional plane at the level of an ejector rod 21. The ejector-side tool half comprises a tool base plate 4, which is provided with a recess 5 for accommodating an element of a locking mechanism 6. The tool base plate 4 has a plate plane and defines a stacking direction A perpendicular to this plate plane.

[0146] In the stacking direction A towards the second nozzle-side tool half, two bearing strips 7 are arranged on the tool base plate 4 or at least one frame plate 91 is arranged, which rests against the tool base plate 4 and is immovably connected to it. A free space 13 is arranged between the bearing strips. Similarly, a recess can be arranged in the frame plate 91. The free space 13 or the recess serves to accommodate a mold insert retaining plate 11 and/or an ejector package retaining plate 12.

[0147] The frame plate 91 or bearing strip has a link guide 14. This link guide 14 comprises at least two guide slots 8 and 9 extending obliquely in the frame plate 91 or bearing strip, which differ from one another in part in their pitch. In FIG. 2, two guide slots 8 arranged next to each other can be seen in a sectional view K with a continuously and in particular constantly rising course and around two guide slots 9 also arranged next to each other, in the course of which the pitch changes or flattens. Two different guide slots 8 and 9 are preferably arranged one above the other, i.e., perpendicular to the plate plane. The guide slots do not necessarily have to pass through the frame plate 91 or the bearing strips, but can also be understood merely as elongated recesses which are worked into the material of the frame plate 91 or bearing strip in the manner of grooves.

[0148] The mold insert retaining plate 11 is traversed with channels 24 for supplying a medium. These channels 24 allow the introduction of compressed air, for example, to assist the ejection of an injection-molded part 50 or, alternatively, of a temperature-control medium to control the temperature of the mold insert.

[0149] The mold insert retaining plate 11 also has one or more mold inserts 16. These mold inserts are mostly made of metal and/or ceramic. They are movably attached to the tool half 2 by the mold insert retaining plate 11. The mold insert or the retaining plate are preferably guided by a frame plate 91 or frame insert 42 and centered. The respective mold insert has an end face which, together with a corresponding mold insert 17 of the second tool half, i.e., the nozzle side, defines a cavity 51 for the injection-molded part 50.

[0150] In FIG. 2, the locking mechanism 6 comprises two toothed racks 15 and 18, which can be displaced relative to one another parallel to their longitudinal extension, wherein the end faces of the teeth of the first toothed rack 15 are in contact with the end faces of the teeth of the second toothed rack 18 in the locked state. Between the teeth, the racks 15 and 18 have intermediate spaces with bottom surfaces.

[0151] Furthermore, the locking mechanism has at least one actuating element 10, e.g., a lever, motor cylinder, or the like, which can protrude from the contour of the tool 1 at the edge. By moving the actuating element 10, the actuating element is moved by a distance 101. In the process, the toothed rack 15 covers a travel distance 94 in a direction parallel to the opening plane E of the tool 1.

[0152] In the unlocked state, the end surfaces of the teeth of the first toothed rack 15 are in contact with the bottom surfaces of the spaces between the teeth of the second toothed rack 18. In other words, the toothed racks are interlocked.

[0153] The difference in height between the teeth of the racks and their bottom surfaces permits a stroke movement of the mold insert retaining plate 11 and the ejector package retaining plate 12 in the stacking direction S in the unlocked state. The ejector package retaining plate 12 has an ejector package 20. This typically comprises at least one or more ejector rods 21, which are displaceably mounted relative to the mold insert, for ejecting an injection-molded part from the mold insert. An ejector package 20 also preferably comprises an ejector retaining plate 22 and an ejector pressure plate 23. The ejector retaining plate 22 is used to hold and position the ejector rods 21. The ejector rods 21 have an end formation or reinforcement against which the ejector retaining plate 12 is initially pulled. The retaining plate presses in the process. The pressure plate presses when the ejector package is moved forward during a stroke H.

[0154] While the mold inserts perform a stroke or full stroke in relation to each other, the ejector package only performs a partial stroke T.

[0155] The mold inserts 16 are held by the mold insert retaining plate 11. They may each have a mold core in the center. This can be made of a better heat-conducting material than the remaining material of the mold insert, e.g., copper or the like. This can be seen particularly well in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0156] For holding the mold inserts 16, the mold insert retaining plate 11 has recesses for receiving the mold inserts 16. A conventional screw connection and pin centering is also conceivable.

[0157] The mold insert retaining plate 11 rests in some areas on a mold insert pressure plate 27. This is movable linearly and perpendicularly to the stroke movement and presses on the mold inserts 16 and/or the mold insert retaining plate 11 during a stroke movement in stacking direction S. The mold insert pressure plate 27 has a projection that engages in the guide slot 8 of the link guide 14. This converts the linear motion of the mold insert pressure plate 27 into the stroke motion. To move the mold insert pressure plate, it has an actuating element 19. The mold insert pressure plate 27 also has channels 25, which open into channels 26, which are arranged in the mold insert 16 and allow a temperature-control medium to be introduced into the mold insert 16. On the edge side, the mold insert pressure plate 27 and/or the mold insert retaining plate 11 can be provided with a gas or temperature-control medium connection to allow the aforementioned media to be introduced on the edge side. As a result of a linear movement at the actuating element 19, this can be moved around parallel to the opening plane in a region 101 around a travel distance.

[0158] FIG. 8 shows an opened end face of the second tool half 3, i.e., the nozzle side. Furthermore, the tool half 3 on the nozzle side has a tool base plate 80 and two frame plates 92 arranged thereon. As is typical for a frame, the frame plates have a central recess for mounting the mold inserts.

[0159] The relative movement of the nozzle-side tool half 3 with respect to the ejector-side tool half 2 can be guided via edge-side guide columns 40 when opening the tool 1, as can also be seen in FIG. 2. These engage in corresponding guide bushes 41 of the ejector-side tool half 2. If the tool 1 should be opened, e.g., for maintenance reasons, this movement is consequently guided. However, regular opening of both tool halves 2 and 3 for ejecting the injection-molded parts 50 is no longer necessary within the scope of the present invention.

[0160] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 29, the injection-molded parts 50 can be transported away via transport carriages 30, which are arranged in the direction of fall T below the nozzle-side mold insert 16 on the nozzle-side tool half 3. The falling direction T is arranged perpendicular to the stacking direction S. The carriages are mounted so as to be linearly movable, preferably movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction of fall T, relative to the mold insert 16 on the nozzle side by means of a drive. Several carriages 30 are connected to one another to form a unit which has a rack and pinion extension 31, which engages in a drive gearwheel 32 arranged centrally below the mold insert 16 or is intermeshed with the latter. In this case, a rack and pinion extension 31 of a first unit of carriages 30a is intermeshed with the drive gearwheel 32 above the latter, and a rack and pinion extension 31 of a second unit of carriages 30 is intermeshed with the drive gearwheel 32 below the latter. The first and second carriages 30′ and 30″ are thereby adjacent to each other in a receiving position X below the mold insert 16. When the gearwheel 32 rotates, a first carriage 30′ is moved to the right and a second carriage 30″ is simultaneously moved to the left to an ejection position Y. In the ejection position, the injection-molded parts 50 are each transferred into a drop chute 33, by which is also understood a vertical duct but also a chute or slope, which has at least the width of the injection-molded parts and which extends in the direction of drop F. These drop chutes 33 are arranged to the left and right of the mold insert 16 or an arrangement of several mold inserts 16 arranged one above the other and serve to transport the injection-molded parts out of the tool when it is otherwise closed.

[0161] In particular, the drop chutes 33 are arranged on the nozzle-side tool half 2. Furthermore, the nozzle-side mold insert 17 has a lead-through opening 29, for leading through a pressure-loaded linear-movable ejector rod 36. The pressure load can be generated, for example, by a spring, so that the ejector rod 36 is spring-mounted.

[0162] The transport carriage 30 has a receiving space 34 that is open at least at the top for receiving the injection-molded part.

[0163] Transferring the injection-molded parts from the carriage 30 into the chute in ejection position Y, the transport carriage 30 is tilted in ejection position Y so that the injection-molded part can slide into the chute due to its own weight.

[0164] The emptying of the carriage can be supported by a pressure surge. For this purpose, the carriage 30 has a nozzle opening 35. This can be arranged in the bottom of the carriage 30, for example. In the ejection position Y, the nozzle opening 35 corresponds with the channel 24 in such a way that a pressure surge imparted by the channel 24, for example by compressed air, is transmitted to the injection-molded part via the nozzle opening 35. Alternatively, a tilting movement of the carriage for emptying is also conceivable.

[0165] In the following, the movement sequence of individual components within the tool 1 will now be explained in more detail. The tool operates in a process cycle in which the tool base plates 4, 80 and the frame parts 91, 92 are not moved and form an outwardly closed tool. Reference sign F refers to a falling direction. It is understood that after the sequence of process steps the cycle starts again.

[0166] The first process step A is shown in FIGS. 9-14. In a first process step A, a clamping force is built up on the tool, if this has not already been built up in the final process step of the previous cycle, and a cavity 51 is filled between the ejector-side mold insert 16 and the nozzle-side mold insert 17. An injection-molded part is formed and begins to solidify in the cavity 51. A gap is arranged between the ejector retaining plate 12 and the mold insert pressure plate 27, which allows a partial stroke T between the two elements.

[0167] A gap between the tool base plate 4 and the mold insert pressure plate 27 allows a stroke H or a total stroke. The toothed rack 18 can be firmly connected to the mold insert pressure plate 27.

[0168] The toothed racks 15 and 18 are in a non-toothed position relative to each other. This allows the clamping force to be transmitted or generated by the machine. The position of the projections in the link guide corresponds to position I, i.e., the position in which both mold inserts 16 and 17 are in contact with each other, also known as the injection position.

[0169] There are no injection-molded parts 50 in the drop chute 33. The ejector rods 21 are retracted in the tool. The channels 26 can be filled with a temperature-control medium.

[0170] Optionally, a main chute and a secondary chute can be provided. The secondary chute is filled by the transport carriages. Several secondary chutes then fill the main chute or open into this main chute, e.g., in the case of large multi-cavity molds.

[0171] In the first process step A, injection-molded parts 50′ from the previous process cycle are each simultaneously located in a transport carriage 30. These are in the ejection position Y. Accordingly, the transport carriages are extended into the area of the drop chute 33 due to the rotation of the gearwheel 32 and the transmission of force to the rack and pinion extensions 32.

[0172] A pressure surge, e.g., by compressed air, is transmitted via the channel 24 and through the nozzle opening 35 to the injection-molded part in the transport carriage 30. This surge causes the injection-molded part to slide over an inclined plane into the drop chute 33 due to the tilted position.

[0173] A second process step B is shown in FIGS. 15-19. In the second process step B, the clamping force is initially maintained. A subsequent pressing of melt takes place to compress the injection-molded part. Further cooling of the injection-molded part 50 takes place in particular also by means of the cooling medium continuously conducted in the channels 26. Once the injection-molded part is sufficiently compacted, the clamping force is reduced. After this has been reduced, one of the toothed racks 18 of the locking mechanism, starting from a locking position, begins a movement process relative to the corresponding non-moving toothed rack 15 by a linear travel distance 94 until an unlocking position is reached. A closing force reduction by moving the toothed rack 15 is conceivable. The movement is linear and preferably occurs parallel to the opening plane E of the tool 1. A stroke space H is released.

[0174] Preferably at the same time, the injection-molded parts 50′ fall down inside the drop chute 33, from where they can optionally reach a collecting space inside the tool 1 or outside the tool 1.

[0175] The prescribed sequence is not mandatory. It is an advantage of the present invention that various process steps can be parallelized. The sequencing and parallelization of individual process steps depends on the speed of the individual steps.

[0176] In a third process step C, shown in FIGS. 20-25, the opening of the molding area takes place. In particular, the cavity 51 opens in the circumference of an opening gap 93. The protrusions of the link guide 14 move to a position ii and the mold insert pressure plate 14 has been moved by a partial stroke T. The ejector-side mold insert 16 is moved away from the nozzle-side mold insert 17. The movement is also performed by the ejector package 20 and the mold insert retaining plate 11 and mold insert pressure plate 27, which lower into and are received in the clearance 13 between the bearing strips 7 or in the frame plate 91.

[0177] The joint concerted movement of the mold insert 16, the mold insert retaining plate 11, the mold insert pressure plate 27, and the ejector package 20 occurs as part of a guided movement. In this process, individual elements, such as the ejector pressure plate 23 and the mold insert pressure plate 11, may have fixed or integrally formed edge projections 71, which engage in guide slots 8 and 9 of the link guide 70 of the bearing strips 7 fixed in process step C or the frame plate 91 fixed in process step C.

[0178] In FIGS. 18, 23 and 29, the link guide 14 is shown in detail. The respective process step can be derived from the position of the projections 71. In position i of the projection in the guide slot, the tool is in the injection position. It is also the end stop and the position of the projection within the guide slot 8 and 9 closest to the nozzle side.

[0179] In position ii of the protrusion in guide slot 8 or 9, cavity 51 is open, but the injection-molded part is held against the surface of ejector-side mold insert 16.

[0180] In position iii of the protrusion in the guide slot or 9, the cavity 51 is open and the ejector rods are extended and protrude to some extent from the surface of the ejector-side mold insert 16. It is conceivable that, by means of a so-called accelerator system, an ejector rod executes a shorter stroke. As a result, the injection-molded part will lie slightly angled in space with respect to the parting line. The injection-molded part will no longer lie flat against the ejector rods. Adhesion and grip between the ejector rods and the injection-molded part will therefore be greatly reduced. This ensures reliable demolding from the ejector-side elements. It is conceivable that demolding could be checked by additional sensors.

[0181] Position ii is reached in the third process step C. During the tool opening process, there is also an extension of the nozzle-side ejector rod 36, which presses the injection-molded part 50 against the surface of the mold insert 16. This serves to position it in the carriage 30.

[0182] In the third process step C, the transport carriages 30 are moved linearly from the ejection position Y in the plane of the drop chute 33 to the pick-up position X next to the drop chute 33 and below the respective mold insert 16 by moving the gearwheel 32.

[0183] From one section of the drop chute 33, the ejected injection-molded parts 50′ slide along an inclined plane 95 into another section of the drop chute 33.

[0184] From FIG. 25, it can be seen that in position ii, the mold inserts 16 can perform a partial stroke T1 and the ejector package 21 can perform a partial stroke T2, with the partial stroke T1 of the mold inserts being greater than the partial stroke T2 of the ejector package.

[0185] In a fourth process step D, as shown in FIGS. 26-31, a continuous demolding is performed. In this process, due to a different pitch of the guide slots 8 and 9 from position ii to position iii, as previously described, the mold insert 16 is moved more than the ejector package 20, which results in the ejector rods 21 protruding from the surface of the mold insert 16 with an ejector tip 97 due to the greater lowering of the mold insert 16, thereby lifting the injection-molded part from the mold insert 16. At the same time, the ejector rod 36 is retracted into the nozzle-side mold insert 17 so that the injection-molded part is released. The injection-molded part falls down. Meanwhile, the actuating element 19 has moved back to the starting position of FIG. 9. The travel distance 96 of the actuating element allows conclusions to be drawn about the total stroke of the components within the tool. In step D, the opening gap 93 is present, allowing the injection-molded parts 50 to fall into the transport carriages over a very low drop height. The protrusions in the guide slots 8 and 9 of the link guide 14 are at position iii, the demolding position.

[0186] From FIG. 31, it can be seen that the ejector package 20 rests on the mold insert retaining plate 11 and that the mold insert pressure plate 27 also rests on the tool base plate 4. The stroke 99 reflects the maximum travel distance of the ejector package 20. However, there is a gap 98 between the mold insert pressure plate 27 and the ejector pressure plate 23, which corresponds to the amount by which the ejector tips 97 protrude from the surface of the mold insert 16.

[0187] In a fifth process step E, shown in FIGS. 32-34, the mold inserts 16 and 17 and the other components associated with them are moved together to form the cavity 51 and build up a closing force. The closing force is preferably built up by the machine after moving the toothed rack 15. It is also possible to build up the force by moving the toothed rack 15. In this process, the protruding pins are upset in the stacking direction and a specific compressive stress is generated at the contact surfaces. This then produces the closing force. The two toothed racks 15 and 18 each have a travel distance 100 and 101 at their disposal. Cavity 51 is still unfilled, but the injection-molding process is imminent. The carriages 30 are still in the pickup position X, but will soon be moved to the ejection position Y.

[0188] At the same time, the injection-molded parts are picked up by the transport carriage 30, which then moves to the ejection position Y and optionally remains there in a tilted position.

[0189] The tool 1 is closed while the process steps A-E are running.

[0190] FIGS. 35-40 show a second variant of a tool 1′ according to the invention in modification to the first variant of the preceding figures. Instead of the ejector package 20, a mold core 105 is used in the central area of the mold insert 16.

[0191] Compressed air is used to eject the injection-molded part 50 via a compressed air channel or sequence of compressed air channels 104, 106, 107, which opens into the cavity 51 on the inside of the mold insert 16. The other operations (e.g., the movement of the transport carriage or the mold insert 16) of the injection mold remain substantially the same except for the movement of the ejector package.

[0192] In particular, the variant of the removal and especially preferably the variant of the transport carriage and the associated advantageous low drop height can also be transferred to other variants of injection molds in which the tool halves and thus the overall frame opens and closes in a conventional manner. The variant of the removal can thus be understood as an independent invention, which, however, in particular in the context of the variant of the moving component(s), brings additional synergetic advantages compared to the static and closed overall frame, in particular due to the combination of the low drop height, low stroke mass and the low opening stroke. Injection-molded parts with finer contours and/or made of easily breakable plastic can be produced in low cycle times.

[0193] The tool according to the invention enables a cycle time reduction of at least 0.15 s, preferably even of at least 0.3 sec. In some applications, this can reduce the total cycle time by up to 50% or even far beyond.

[0194] Another particular advantage is the parallelization of the movement of the mold insert or mold unit and the ejector unit. This enables an additional reduction in the cycle time.

[0195] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0196] 1 Injection-molding tool [0197] 2 First tool half (ejector) [0198] 3 Second tool half (nozzle) [0199] 4 Tool base plate (ejector side) [0200] 5 Recess for locking [0201] 6 Locking mechanism [0202] 7 Bearing strip [0203] 8 Guide slot [0204] 9 Guide slot [0205] 10 Actuating element [0206] 11 Mold insert retaining plate [0207] 12 Ejector retaining plate [0208] 14 Link guide [0209] 15 Base plate [0210] 16 Mold insert (ejector side) [0211] 17 Mold insert (nozzle side) [0212] 18 Support plate [0213] 19 Actuating element [0214] 20 Ejector package [0215] 21 Ejector rods [0216] 22 Actuating element [0217] 23 Ejector pressure plate [0218] 24 Channel (frame part) [0219] 25 Channel (mold insert pressure plate) [0220] 26 Channel (mold insert) [0221] 27 Mold insert pressure plate [0222] 30 Transport carriage [0223] 30a Unit of carriages [0224] 30b Unit of carriages [0225] 31 Rack and pinion extension [0226] 32 Gearwheel [0227] 33 Drop chute [0228] 34 Receiving space [0229] 35 Nozzle opening [0230] 36 Nozzle-side ejector rod [0231] 40 Guide column [0232] 41 Guide bush [0233] 42 Frame insert [0234] 50 Injection-molded part [0235] 51 Cavity [0236] 80 Tool base plate (nozzle side) [0237] 81 Centering ring [0238] 91 Frame part [0239] 92 Frame part [0240] 93 Opening gap [0241] 94 Linear travel distance [0242] 95 Inclined plane [0243] 96 Travel distance [0244] 97 Protruding tip [0245] 98 Additional stroke [0246] 99 Partial stroke [0247] 100 Travel distance [0248] 101 Travel distance [0249] 1′ Tool [0250] 104 Channel [0251] 105 Channel [0252] 106 Channel [0253] 107 Channel [0254] Position i [0255] Position ii [0256] Position iii [0257] Receiving position X [0258] Ejection position Y [0259] Falling direction F [0260] Opening plane E [0261] Stroke H [0262] Partial stroke T