COLUMN-FREE CLOSING UNIT FOR AN INJECTION-MOULDING APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a column-free closing unit for an injection-moulding apparatus, wherein a fixed platen (5) is provided, and this platen is arranged on a first wing (3), wherein the fixed platen (5) is fixed to the first wing (3) at a fastening region (9), wherein a closing device (6) is provided, and this closing device acts on a second wing (4) and is connected to a movable platen (7), wherein the closing device (6) is designed to exert a pressing force in the direction of the fixed platen (5), wherein the fixed platen (5) is supported beneath the fastening region (9) via a supporting device, wherein the supporting device comprises a connecting bar (10), which run substantially orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis (8) of the machine, wherein the supporting device comprises at least one spring bar (11), wherein the spring bar (11) is designed to transmit the pressing force from the fixed platen (5) to the connecting bar (10), wherein the spring bar (11) runs substantially orthogonally in relation to the longitudinal axis (8) of the machine and in relation to the connecting bar (10).

Claims

1. Column-free closing unit for an injection-moulding apparatus, wherein the closing unit has a machine frame (1), optionally comprising two frame parts (2), wherein the machine frame (1) comprises a first wing (3) and a second wing (4), wherein a fixed Mould clamping plate (5) is provided, which is arranged on the first wing (3), wherein the fixed Mould clamping plate (5) is fixedly connected to the first wing (3) at a fastening region (9), wherein a closing device (6) is provided which engages on the second leaf (4) and which is connected to a movable mould clamping plates (7), wherein the closing device (6) is configured to move the movable mould clamping plates (7) along a machine longitudinal axis (8) and to exert a pressing force in the direction of the fixed mould clamping plates (5), wherein the stationary mould clamping plate (5) is elastically supported against the machine frame (1) below the fastening area (9) via a support device, wherein the support device comprises a Connecting beam (10) extending substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal axis (8) of the machine, characterized in that the supporting device comprises at least one cantilever (11) which is subjected to bending stress when the pressing force is applied, the cantilever (11) being designed to transmit the pressing force from the fixed mould clamping plates (5) to the connecting beam (10), and in that the cantilever (11) runs substantially orthogonal to the machine longitudinal axis (8) and substantially orthogonal to the connecting beam (10).

2. Closing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a connecting beam (10) connects the two frame parts (2) to one another, or in that two separate connecting beams (10) are provided, each of which is arranged on a frame part (2).

3. Closing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the support device comprises a plurality of, in particular two, spring beams (11), the spring beams (11) being arranged next to one another in the direction of longitudinal extent of a connecting beam (10).

4. Closing unit according to claim 2, characterized in that a spring bar (11) is arranged on each connecting bar (10) when two separate connecting bars (10) are provided.

5. The device according to claim 1, in that the spring beam (s) (11) is/are connected to the fixed mould clamping plates (5) at a support region (12), wherein the support region (12) is arranged in the lower half, preferably in the lower third, of the fixed mould clamping plates (5), and wherein the fastening region (9) is preferably arranged in the upper half of the fixed mould clamping plates (5), or that the spring beam (s) (11) is/are formed integrally with the fixed plates (5).

6. Closing unit according to claim 5, characterized in that the support region (12) is arranged above the corresponding connecting beam (10) with respect to the machine longitudinal axis (8).

7. The closing unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring beams (11) extend substantially parallel to one another when a plurality of spring beams (11) are provided.

8. The closing unit according to characterized in that an adjusting device is provided, which is configured to adjust the inclination of the fixed Mould clamping plate (5).

9. Locking unit according to claim 8, characterised in that the adjusting device comprises an angled contact surface (13), the angled contact surface (13) being arranged on one or more of the following components: on the fixed mould clamping plate (5) in the connection region to the spring beam (11), wherein the angled contact surface (13) being arranged in particular on the support region (12), on the cantilever (11) in the connection area to the fixed plates (5), on the cantilever (11) in the connecting area to the connecting cantilever (10), on the connecting beam (10) in the connecting region to the spring beam (11), wherein the angled contact surface (13) has an angle of inclination a of greater than 0? with respect to the longitudinal extension direction of the spring beam (11), wherein optionally at least one angled contact surface (13) is provided per spring beam (11).

10. Locking unit according to claim 8 characterised in that the adjusting device comprises an adjusting screw (22), an adjusting screw (22) optionally being provided on each spring bar (11).

11. Closing unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring beam (s) (11) is/are screwed to the fixed mould clamping plate (5), and/or in that the spring beam (s) (11) is/are screwed to the connecting beam (11).

12. Closing unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the spring beam (s) (11) is/are prestressed against the fixed mould clamping plate (5).

13. Closing unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the connecting beam (s) (10) is/are inserted into recesses in the frame parts (2), or in that the connecting beam (s) (10) is/are made in one piece with at least one frame part (2).

14. The device according to claim 1, the machine frame (1) has a substantially C-shaped frame geometry, or that the machine frame (1) has a substantially H-shaped frame geometry, wherein the machine frame (1) additionally comprises a third wing (14) and a fourth wing (15), wherein a compensation device (17) is arranged between the third wing (14) and the fourth wing (15).

15. Locking unit according to claim 14, characterised in that the compensation device (17) is operatively connected to the locking device (6).

16. Locking unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking device (6) comprises an electric, hydraulic and/or mechanical locking mechanism.

17. Arrangement of an injection-moulding apparatus with a closing unit according to claim 1, wherein an injection nozzle of the injection-moulding apparatus is arranged on the fixed mould mounting plate (5).

Description

[0066] The invention is explained in detail below with reference to exemplary, non-limiting exemplary embodiments.

[0067] In the drawings:

[0068] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a closing unit according to a first exemplary embodiment according to the invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 1;

[0070] FIG. 3 is another schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 1;

[0071] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 1 in detail; FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a closing unit according to a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention;

[0072] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a closing unit according to a third exemplary embodiment according to the invention;

[0073] FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 6.

[0074] Unless otherwise indicated, the following elements are shown in the figures: Machine frame 1, Frame part 2, First wing 3, second wing 4, fixed Mould clamping plate 5, Closing device 6, movable Mould clamping plate 7, Machine longitudinal axis 8, Fastening area 9, Connecting beam 10, Spring beam 11, First supporting area 12, Angled contact surface 13, Third wing 14, Third wing 15, Second supporting area 16, Compensation device 17, nozzle opening 18, Guide device 19, Fastening surface 20, Screw connection 21, Adjusting screw 22.

[0075] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a closing unit according to a first exemplary embodiment according to the invention. The closing unit in FIG. 1 comprises a Machine frame 1, which comprises two Frame parts 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the Machine frame 1 is C-shaped and comprises a First wing 3 and a Second wing 4.

[0076] Arranged on the First wing 3 is a fixed Mould clamping plate 5, which comprises a Nozzle opening 18 for the passage of the nozzle of an injection-moulding apparatus. The stationary Mould clamping plate 5 can therefore also be referred to as a nozzle plate.

[0077] A Closing device 6, which carries a movable Mould clamping plate 7, is arranged on the Second wing 4. The Closing device 6 is configured to apply a pressing force in the direction of the longitudinal axis 8 of the machine. In this exemplary embodiment, the Closing device 6 is a hydraulic Closing device 6. In a known manner, the movable Mould clamping plate 7 is guided in the region of its underside via a Guide device 19 on the Machine frame 1.

[0078] The stationary Mould clamping plate 5 is fixedly connected to the machine frame at a fastening region 9, which is designed in the form of two opposite fastening surfaces 20, each lying on a frame part 2. In this exemplary embodiment, the connection to the fastening region 9 is realized by screw connections (not shown). The mounting area 9 is located in the upper half of the fixed Mould clamping plates 5.

[0079] In the lower part of the stationary Mould clamping plates 5, the latter is supported against the Machine frame 1 via a supporting device, the supporting device comprising a Connecting beam 10 and two Spring beams 11 arranged next to one another.

[0080] The Connecting beam 10 connects the two Frame parts 2 to one another and is screwed to the Machine frame 1 (not shown). The Connecting beam 10 extends substantially orthogonally to the Machine longitudinal axis 8. In order to transmit the pressing force from the lower part of the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 to the Connecting beam 10 and thus further to the Machine frame 1, two spring beams 11 are provided between the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 and the Connecting beam 10, which are connected on the one hand via a support region 12 to the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 and on the other hand via a second support region 16 to the Connecting beam 10. The two spring beams 11 run essentially orthogonal to the Machine longitudinal axis 8 as well as essentially orthogonal to the Connecting beam 10.

[0081] The spring beams 11 are connected to the respective further components at the first support region 12 and at the second support region 16 via screw connections 21. The Spring beams 11 are designed in such a way that their spring hardness is constant in the range between 500 and 5,000 kN.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 1 along a plane parallel to the Longitudinal axis 8 of the machine. FIG. 2 illustrates the course of the cantilevers 11 starting from the First support area 12 downwards, i.e. pointing away from the end of the First wing 3.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 1 along a plane transverse to the Longitudinal axis 8 of the machine. Both Spring beams 11 can be seen here, which run essentially parallel to one another and are arranged next to one another on the Connecting beam 10.

[0084] The mode of operation of the closing unit according to the first exemplary embodiment described above is as follows: To produce a cast part, corresponding mould halves (not shown) are arranged on the mould clamping plates 5, 7. With the aid of the Closing device 6, the mould or tool halves are pressed against one another and the moulding material is injected into the tool via an injection-moulding apparatus (not shown) arranged in the region of the fixed Mould clamping plate 5. The injection of the casting material produces a buoyancy force that counteracts the locking force of the closing unit. These opposing forces would cause the wings 3, 4 to spread apart, which in turn means that the Mould clamping plates 5, 7 are no longer arranged parallel to one another. The support device is intended to counteract this phenomenon. The cantilevers 11 bend and thereby compensate for the outward deformation of the wings 3, 4. Since the spring hardness of the spring beams 11 is constant over the operating range of the locking force, a computational design using known means is possible. The parallelism of the Mould clamping plates 5, 7 can thereby be maintained in the selected operating range.

[0085] FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 1, similar to FIG. 2, wherein the area of the support unit and the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 is shown in detail in FIG. 4.

[0086] Also located in this region is the adjusting device, which in this example comprises an Angled contact surface 13 on the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 on the first support region 12, a wedge element 23 arranged between the Angled contact surface 13 and the Spring beam 11, and an Adjusting screw 22. The angle a of the Angled contact surface 13 compared to the direction of longitudinal extension of the cantilever 11 is approximately 4? in this example.

[0087] The inclination of the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 can be adjusted by the adjusting device before the application of the locking force. This allows a compensation of tolerances by production, assembly or the like, which could lead to a possible oblique position. In alternative embodiments not shown, the Angled contact surface 13 may additionally or alternatively be provided on the cantilever 11 and/or on the connecting cantilever 10, whereby a comparable effect can be achieved.

[0088] FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a closing unit according to a second exemplary embodiment according to the invention. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the closing unit here is not designed with a C-shaped frame, but with an H-shaped frame. The Machine frame 1 therefore comprises, in addition to the First wing 3 and the Second wing 4, a Third wing 14 and a Third wing 15, the two last-mentioned wings 14, 15 pointing downwards in the operating position of the closing unit. A Compensation device 17 in the form of two compensation cylinders is arranged between the Third wing 14 and the Third wing 15. The Compensation device 17 serves to compensate for the deformation of the machine frame, so that the support device only has to compensate for the deformation of the first wing. The

[0089] compensation device 17 is designed in a known manner as a hydraulic system.

[0090] Apart from the difference explained in the preceding paragraph, the closing unit according to the second exemplary embodiment has all the features and functions of the first exemplary embodiment. Therefore, these will not be discussed in more detail.

[0091] FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of a closing unit according to a third exemplary embodiment according to the invention. In contrast to the first exemplary embodiment, the supporting device comprises two separate connecting beams

[0092] The two connecting beams 10 are shaped as projections on the Frame parts 2 and serve to support the two spring beams 11. The spring beams 11 are formed integrally with the stationary Mould clamping plate 5 in the form of extensions. In this exemplary embodiment, too, the spring beams 11 are arranged next to one another. However, the connecting beams 10 are not connected to one another, and thus the frame parts are also not connected to one another at this point.

[0093] FIG. 7 shows a schematic sectional view of the closing unit of FIG. 6 along the plane A-A, wherein the separate connecting beams 10 can be seen here in detail.

[0094] Apart from the differences explained, the closing unit according to the third exemplary embodiment has all the features and functions of the first exemplary embodiment. Therefore, these will not be discussed in more detail.