DRIVE UNIT FOR A MOLDING MACHINE

Abstract

A drive unit for a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, includes a rotationally drivable spindle mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component, a spindle nut arranged in a rotational movement-locking manner on the first machine component for positive-locking engagement with the spindle, and a fluid chamber which at least adjoins the spindle and/or the spindle nut, and contains a lubricant. A temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the lubricant is arranged in and/or on the fluid chamber at least in areas.

Claims

1. A drive unit for a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, comprising: a rotationally drivable spindle mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component; a spindle nut arranged in a rotational movement-locking manner on the first machine component for positive-locking engagement with the spindle; and at least one fluid chamber, which at least adjoins the spindle and/or the spindle nut, containing a lubricant, wherein at least one temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the lubricant is arranged in and/or on the fluid chamber at least in areas.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the lubricant is an oil.

3. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the spindle has a thread running around the spindle at least in areas, which is, preferably completely, enclosed by the fluid chamber.

4. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises at least one sleeve, which surrounds the fluid chamber and/or the spindle and/or the spindle nut at least in areas.

5. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises a Peltier element.

6. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises at least one active cooling means, preferably at least one fan and/or at least one pump, particularly preferably for moving a temperature control medium.

7. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element has at least one passive cooling means, preferably at least one hole and/or at least one cooling fin and/or a sleeve.

8. The drive unit according to claim 7, wherein a temperature control medium, preferably a temperature control liquid and/or a temperature control gas, can flow through the at least one passive cooling means, preferably the at least one hole and/or the at least one cooling fin and/or the at least one sleeve.

9. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element has at least one temperature control medium channel for receiving a temperature control medium which is preferably suitable for cooling.

10. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein the at least one temperature control medium channel is arranged within the sleeve, preferably running parallel and/or transverse to an axis of rotational symmetry of the sleeve at least in areas.

11. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises at least two, preferably closable, openings for the supply and/or discharge of a temperature control medium, which openings are preferably arranged in an end face and/or a lateral surface of a sleeve.

12. The drive unit according to claim 11, wherein the at least two openings of the temperature control element are formed such that they can be connected to a temperature control medium loop.

13. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises at least two sleeves that engage in one another, wherein a first sleeve is arranged on the first machine component and a second sleeve is arranged on the second machine component.

14. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the fluid chamber adjoins the spindle and/or the spindle nut and/or the first machine component and/or the second machine component and/or the first sleeve and/or the second sleeve.

15. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit has at least one sealing element, preferably between the first sleeve and the second sleeve, for sealing the fluid chamber.

16. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit comprises at least one rotary drive for driving the spindle.

17. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the spindle and the spindle nut are formed corresponding to a ball screw.

18. An injection unit for a molding machine with at least one drive unit, preferably two drive units, according to claim 1.

19. The injection unit according to claim 18, wherein the first machine component or the second machine component is connected in a linear movement-locking manner to an injection piston, preferably an injection screw.

20. An injection-molding machine comprising the injection unit according to claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Further advantages and details of the invention are revealed by the figures and the associated description of the figures, in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an injection unit with two drive units according to the invention;

[0058] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a temperature control element;

[0059] and

[0060] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a temperature control element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a section through an embodiment of an injection unit 18 with two drive units 1 according to the invention.

[0062] Each drive unit 1 for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component 2 relative to a second machine component 3, comprising [0063] an in particular rotationally drivable spindle 4 which is mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component 3, and [0064] a spindle nut 5 which is arranged in a rotational movement-locking manner on the first machine component 2 for positive-locking engagement with the spindle 4, and [0065] at least one fluid chamber 6, which at least adjoins the spindle 4 and/or the spindle nut 5, containing a lubricant, preferably an oil or grease,
is characterized in that at least one temperature control element 7 for controlling the temperature of the lubricant is arranged in and/or on the fluid chamber 6 at least in areas.

[0066] Preferably the spindle 4 of the drive unit 1 has a thread 8 running around the spindle 4 at least in areas, which is, preferably completely, enclosed by the fluid chamber 6.

[0067] Preferably the temperature control element 7 comprises at least one sleeve 9, which surrounds the fluid chamber 6 and/or the spindle 4 and/or the spindle nut 5 at least in areas.

[0068] It may also be the case that the temperature control element 7 comprises a Peltier element and/or an active cooling means, preferably at least one fan and/or at least one pump, particularly preferably for moving a temperature control medium.

[0069] It may also be the case that an active cooling means that is already present in the injection unit 18 and/or the molding machine can be used in order to move a temperature control medium.

[0070] For example, a present cooling loop of an injection unit 18 and/or molding machine can also be used to move the temperature control medium, such as e.g. water.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 1, it is particularly preferably provided that the temperature control element 7 has at least one passive cooling means 10 in the form of at least one sleeve 9.

[0072] A passive cooling means 10 can, however, also be at least one hole, cooling fin or the like.

[0073] By a passive cooling means 10 is essentially meant a component part which does not have a drive or the like and/or through and/or around which a fluid can flow for heat transfer.

[0074] In the particularly preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, each drive unit 1 comprises at least two sleeves 9 that engage in one another, wherein a first sleeve 14 is arranged on the first machine component 2 and a second sleeve 15 is arranged on the second machine component 3.

[0075] It is particularly preferably provided that the fluid chamber 6 adjoins the spindle 4 and/or the spindle nut 5 and/or the first machine component 2 and/or the second machine component 3 and/or the first sleeve 14 and/or the second sleeve 15.

[0076] It is preferably provided that the drive unit 1 has at least one sealing element 16, preferably between the first sleeve 14 and the second sleeve 15, for sealing the fluid chamber 6.

[0077] The first sleeve 14, that is e.g. the thrust sleeve, and the second sleeve 15, that is e.g. the sealing sleeve, can, as shown in FIG. 1, engage in one another and/or at least partially overlap.

[0078] As shown in the particularly preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, it is particularly preferably provided that each drive unit 1 comprises at least one rotary drive 17 for driving the spindle 4 and/or at least one injection piston 19.

[0079] In this preferred variant, in each case a spindle 4 and an associated spindle nut 5 are formed corresponding to a ball screw.

[0080] In the embodiment of an injection unit 18 shown in FIG. 1, the first machine component 2 is connected in a linear movement-locking manner to an injection piston 19, preferably an injection screw and/or an injection cylinder.

[0081] In this embodiment, the first machine component 2 is a receiving plate for at least one injection piston 19.

[0082] In principle, the second machine component 3 can also be connected to an injection piston 19, preferably an injection screw and/or an injection cylinder.

[0083] In this embodiment, the second machine component 3 is a mounting plate, on which at least the spindles 4 are mounted and/or the second sleeves 15 are arranged and/or rotary drives 17 are arranged.

[0084] The second sleeves 15 can also be understood to be a type of sealing sleeve, in particular which seal and/or delimit the fluid chambers 6.

[0085] An injection cylinder 20, which is essentially a housing of the injection unit 18, is furthermore shown in FIG. 1.

[0086] In the description of the further figures that now follows, primarily the differences from the first embodiment will be discussed, to avoid repetitions. Otherwise, the above description of the first embodiment, to the extent to which it may be applicable, also applies to the embodiments also described in the following.

[0087] FIG. 2 shows several views and sections of an embodiment of a temperature control element 7 of a drive unit 1 with a passive cooling means 10 in the form of a sleeve 9.

[0088] As shown in this embodiment, it is particularly preferably provided that the temperature control element 7 has at least one temperature control medium channel 11 for receiving a temperature control medium which is preferably suitable for cooling.

[0089] A temperature control medium channel 11 substantially makes an internal channeling and/or distribution of a temperature control medium possible, in order to control the temperature of, in particular to cool, the temperature control element 7.

[0090] It can be provided that the at least one temperature control medium channel 11 is arranged within the sleeve 9, preferably running parallel and/or transverse to an axis of rotational symmetry 12 of the sleeve 9 at least in areas.

[0091] As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, it is preferably provided that the temperature control element 7 comprises at least two, preferably closable, openings 13 for the supply and/or discharge of a temperature control medium.

[0092] It can be provided that the at least two openings 13 of the temperature control element 7 are formed such that they can be connected to a temperature control medium loop, in particular already present in a molding machine.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows two perspective views of the embodiment of a temperature control element 7 of a drive unit 1 shown in FIG. 2, wherein the temperature control element 7 is a passive cooling means 10 in the form of a sleeve 9.

[0094] In general it is conceivable that the drive unit 1 comprises an acquisition unit and/or can be connected to an acquisition unit, wherein an acquisition unit is substantially formed for the acquisition of data, e.g. relating to the temperature of the lubricant and/or component parts.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0095] 1 drive unit [0096] 2 first machine component [0097] 3 second machine component [0098] 4 spindle [0099] spindle nut [0100] 6 fluid chamber [0101] 7 temperature control element [0102] 8 thread [0103] 9 sleeve [0104] 10 passive cooling means [0105] 11 temperature control medium channel [0106] 12 axis of rotational symmetry [0107] 13 openings [0108] 14 first sleeve [0109] 15 second sleeve [0110] 16 sealing element [0111] 17 rotary drive [0112] 18 injection unit [0113] 19 injection piston [0114] 20 injection cylinder