CLAMPING UNIT FOR A MOULDING MACHINE AND MOULDING MACHINE COMPRISING SUCH A CLAMPING UNIT

Abstract

A clamping unit for a moulding machine with a toggle mechanism, in which a movable moulding platen is movable with respect to a stationary moulding platen and/or can be acted on by a force by the toggle mechanism. The toggle mechanism is drivable by at least two drive units, and the at least two drive units are each connected in an articulated manner to at least one movably mounted toggle lever element of the toggle mechanism via at least one bearing point formed as an articulation.

Claims

1. A clamping unit for a moulding machine with a toggle mechanism, wherein a movable moulding platen is movable with respect to a stationary moulding platen and/or can be acted on by a force by means of the toggle mechanism, wherein the toggle mechanism is drivable by at least two drive units, wherein the at least two drive units are each connected in an articulated manner to at least one movably mounted toggle lever element of the toggle mechanism via at least one bearing point formed as an articulation.

2. The clamping unit according to claim 1, wherein the movably mounted toggle lever element is formed as a bearing plate, preferably as a crosshead, of the toggle mechanism, wherein the bearing plate has at least two bearing points for connecting at least one drive unit to the bearing plate and at least one fastening point for connection to the toggle mechanism.

3. The clamping unit according to claim 2, wherein the bearing plate has at least one articulation connecting the at least one fastening point to the at least two bearing points, with the result that a twisting between the at least two bearing points caused by a driving force and a reactive force can be at least partially compensated for by the at least one articulation.

4. The clamping unit according to claim 2, wherein the bearing plate is formed in one piece.

5. The clamping unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least one articulation is formed as a flexure hinge.

6. The clamping unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one articulation is formed through at least one clearance and the at least one clearance preferably has recesses, drilled holes and/or openings, and particularly preferably varies a thickness of the bearing plate and/or penetrates the thickness of the bearing plate.

7. The clamping unit according to claim 2, wherein the bearing plate has at least one guide, which is suitable for guiding the bearing plate on at least one guide pillar and/or at least one guide rail.

8. The clamping unit according to claim 7, wherein the at least one guide pillar and/or the at least one guide rail is mounted on an end plate of the clamping unit and preferably at least one fastening lug protruding from the end plate and/or a frame of the clamping unit.

9. The clamping unit according to claim 7, wherein at least one further articulation is formed between the at least one guide and at least one of the at least two bearing points.

10. The clamping unit according to claim 2, wherein, in an undeformed state of the bearing plate, the at least two bearing points and the at least one fastening point lie along a common imaginary connecting line and a driving force can be introduced into the bearing plate along a force direction via the at least two bearing points and a pivot axis of the at least one articulation runs at right angles to the connecting line and at right angles to the force direction.

11. The clamping unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least two drive units have at least one spindle drive and/or at least one piston-cylinder unit.

12. The clamping unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least two drive units have a hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, magnetic drive and/or a hybrid variant thereof.

13. The clamping unit according to claim 1, wherein the toggle mechanism is formed as a 5-point toggle mechanism.

14. The clamping unit according to claim 1, wherein the at least two drive units, preferably in each case, are mounted in an articulated manner, via at least one bearing joint, on an end plate.

15. A moulding machine with the clamping unit according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with the aid of the description of the figures with reference to the embodiments represented in the figures. There are shown in:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a clamping unit,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a clamping unit,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of a clamping unit,

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of a clamping unit,

[0043] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a bearing plate or a crosshead,

[0044] FIGS. 6-8 show different embodiments of an end plate,

[0045] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the embodiments from FIGS. 1 to 4,

[0046] FIGS. 10a-10c show a further embodiment of a bearing plate,

[0047] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a bearing plate, and

[0048] FIG. 12 shows a moulding machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a clamping unit 2 according to the invention for a moulding machine 1. Here, the clamping unit 2 has a moving moulding platen 4, which is mounted movable with respect to a fixed moulding platen 5.

[0050] In this embodiment, the fixed moulding platen 5 is not represented for reasons of clarity. Reference is made to FIG. 12 regarding the cooperation of the clamping unit 2 and the moulding machine 1.

[0051] The moving moulding platen 4 is guided with a guide with respect to the frame 20. This frame 20 can be formed as a machine frame for the entire moulding machine 1, for example, or also be provided separately merely for the clamping unit 2.

[0052] The guiding of the moving moulding platen 4 with respect to the frame 20 is effected via the guide rail 16, on which the movable moulding platen 4 is mounted such that it can slide.

[0053] The end plate 18 is arranged longitudinally displaceable with respect to the frame 20 along, for example, tie bars with the axis 33, which are fixedly connected to the moulding platen 5 (mould height adjustment), wherein the movement of the moulding platen 4 and a clamping force with respect to a fixed moulding platen 5 can be generated by the toggle mechanism 3 between the end plate 18 and the moving moulding platen 4.

[0054] The two drive units 6, 7, which are implemented as linear drives (for example spindle drives or piston-cylinder units), are provided for driving the toggle mechanism 3.

[0055] These linear drives 6, 7 are on the one hand mounted in an articulated manner on the end plate 18 by means of the bearing joint 23 and on the other hand are connected to the bearing plate 11 via the bearing point 8, which is formed as an articulation 12.

[0056] The bearing plate 11 of this embodiment is implemented as a crosshead 9 of the toggle mechanism 3 and, via the fastening points 10, connects the toggle levers to the drive units 6, 7 via the bearing points 8.

[0057] In this embodiment, the bearing plate 11, more specifically the crosshead 9, is guided via the guide 14.

[0058] This guide 14 has a guide pillar 15, which guide pillar 15 on the one hand is mounted in the end plate 18 itself and on the other hand is received on a fastening lug 19 of the end plate 18.

[0059] This fastening lug 19 of the end plate 18 can be formed in one piece with the end plate 18 or also be implemented by an additional component, which is connected to the end plate 18.

[0060] The bearing plate 11, more specifically the crosshead 9, is guided on the guide pillar 15 by the guide shoe 17.

[0061] Because the bearing point 8 of the drive units 6, 7 is formed as an articulation 12, a deformation of the crosshead 9 or the bearing plate 11, or also the drive units 6, 7, becomes possible without (or at least only to a small extent) the individual deformations of these components being transferred in each case to the others.

[0062] In this embodiment, this articulation 12, which connects the drive units 6, 7 to the bearing plate 11, is implemented as a flexure hinge, as is represented schematically in the lower bearing point 8 in FIG. 1 (reference may be made to FIGS. 5-8 with regard to more accurate designs and implementations of such a flexure hinge). In the present embodiment, it is provided that both bearing points 8 are formed as articulations 12.

[0063] Through this articulated mounting, the problem that the drive units 6, 7 can have variations in their driving forces, which cannot be corrected by control technology, is overcome.

[0064] Through this articulated mounting and the permitted deformation, these differences in the driving forces can be compensated for and converted into a deformation.

[0065] Alternatively, the possibility is also created that inclines of the crosshead 9 relative to an imaginary perpendicular can be adjusted in a targeted manner (for example because the drive units 6, 7 interdependently cover appropriate movement paths).

[0066] By adjusting inclines of the crosshead 9, clamping forces of the clamping unit 2 can be displaced asymmetrically. Through a corresponding asymmetrical displacement of the clamping forces, asymmetries of a mould 28 can in turn be compensated for in a targeted manner or vibrations can be damped.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a clamping unit 2 according to the invention, wherein again a crosshead 9, which represents the bearing plate 11, can be driven by means of two drive units 6, 7. The drive units 6, 7 are again connected to the bearing points 8 of the crosshead 9 via articulations 12.

[0068] However, unlike in FIG. 1, the drive units 6, 7 are jointly hinged to the end plate 18 via a single bearing joint 23.

[0069] A further difference from FIG. 1 is that the crosshead 9 or the bearing plate 11 is guided on the guide rail 16 on the frame 20 via a guide shoe 17. This guide 14 can substantially correspond to the guiding of the moving moulding platen 4 on the frame 20.

[0070] The remaining details of this embodiment correspond to those of FIG. 1.

[0071] FIGS. 3 and 4 show alternative embodiments to those of FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the drive units 6, 7, instead of a vertical orientation (in which the drive units 6, 7 are arranged one above the other), can also be arranged horizontally (or also one behind the other) with respect to one another. FIGS. 3 and 4 thus show the corresponding part of the clamping unit 2 in top view.

[0072] FIG. 3 again shows an embodiment in which the drive units 6, 7 are hinged to the end plate 18 by separate bearing joints 23, whereas FIG. 4 shows an embodiment in which the drive units 6, 7 are jointly connected to the end plate 18 via a single bearing joint 23.

[0073] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a bearing plate 11, more specifically a crosshead 9, of a clamping unit 2.

[0074] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 show different embodiment variants of an end plate 18 with flexure hinges with different variants for connecting the drives.

[0075] Here it can be seen how clearances 13 are provided in different ways around a bearing point 8.

[0076] Through these clearances 13, flexure hinges are formed around the bearing point 8, 23, which enable an articulated connection of a drive unit 6, 7 at the bearing point 8 around a pivot axis 22.

[0077] These clearances 13 can, for example, be formed by drilled holes, recesses and/or openings, which preferably vary a thickness of the bearing plate 11 and/or penetrate the thickness of the bearing plate.

[0078] The clearances 13 can be produced through a wide variety of manufacturing processes, such as preferably by moulding (e.g. corresponding shaping during the casting of the bearing plate) or forming (e.g. milling, drilling or other material-removing processes).

[0079] Depending on the arrangement, geometry or selection of the clearance 13, the pivot axis 22 can be oriented individually or for example, as can be seen in FIG. 7, a common pivot axis can also be formed for two bearing points 8.

[0080] The position of the bearing points 8 on the bearing plate 11 of one of the embodiments from FIG. 5 and FIG. 8 in the undeformed state is represented schematically in FIG. 9. Here, an imaginary connecting line 21 is shown, which connects the two bearing points 8 and the fastening point 10 to each other. In this FIG. 9, the two bearing points 8 and the fastening point 10 are represented as dots and are to be understood as the resulting engagement points of the forces transferred through them to the bearing plate 11.

[0081] Furthermore, the axes of symmetry 24 of the adjoining toggle lever elements of the toggle mechanism 3 and the axes of symmetry 25 of the drive units 6, 7 can be seen, which (because the bearing plate 11 is in an undeformed state) correspond to the direction of the linear movement and also the direction of a force that can be introduced by the drive units 6, 7.

[0082] In preferred embodiments, the pivot axis 22 of the articulation (flexure hinge) 12 formed through the clearances 13 runs at right angles to the imaginary connecting line 21 and the axes of symmetry 24, 25.

[0083] FIG. 10a shows a further embodiment of a bearing plate 11, which again has two bearing points 8 and two fastening points 10.

[0084] The bearing plate 11 represented here is designed as a crosshead 9 for a toggle mechanism, wherein the bearing plate 11 can be connected to toggle levers of the toggle mechanism 3 via connecting pins at the fastening points 10.

[0085] It can again be seen that, in an undeformed state of the bearing plate 11, the bearing points 8 and the fastening point 10 lie along a common imaginary connecting line 21 and a driving force can be introduced into the bearing plate 11 along a force direction (which in turn corresponds to the axis of symmetry 25 of the drive units 6, 7) via the bearing points 8, and a pivot axis 22 of the articulation 12 runs at right angles to the connecting line 21 and at right angles to the force direction.

[0086] FIG. 10b is a top view and FIG. 10c is a side view of the bearing plate 11 from FIG. 10a, wherein in FIG. 10c a spindle drive is indicated, which is attached to the bearing point 8 of the bearing plate 11 with its spindle nut.

[0087] FIG. 11 shows a further embodiment of a bearing plate 11, which, like the embodiment of FIG. 10, again has two bearing points 8 and two fastening points 10.

[0088] The bearing plate 11 represented is again formed as a crosshead 9 for a toggle mechanism 3. However, in this embodiment, the bearing points 8 are mounted on the bearing plate 11 via a pivot element 26 (kingpin)—put simply, a pin.

[0089] The moulding machine 1 represented in FIG. 12 has an injection unit 30 and a clamping unit 2, which are arranged together on a frame 20 (which is formed as a machine frame).

[0090] The clamping unit 2 has a stationary moulding platen 5, a movable moulding platen 4 and an end plate 18.

[0091] As a rule, the fixed moulding platen 5 is connected to the end plate 18 by tie bars, which are not represented in the figures for the sake of clarity.

[0092] The fixed moulding platen 5 is fixedly connected to the frame 20 of the moulding machine 1, wherein the end plate 18 is arranged adjustable along the guide rail 16 parallel to the frame 20 via the mould height adjustment and is therefore displaceably adjustable relative to the fixed moulding platen 5 for mould height adjustment.

[0093] The movable moulding platen 4 is movable relative to the frame 20 via a toggle mechanism 3.

[0094] Mould halves of a moulding tool 28 (represented dashed) can be clamped or mounted on the fixed moulding platen 5 and the moving moulding platen 4.

[0095] The moulding tool 28, represented clamped in FIG. 12, has at least one cavity. An injection duct, via which a plasticized material of the plasticizing unit 29 can be supplied, leads to the cavity.

[0096] The injection unit 30 of this embodiment has an injection cylinder 31 and an injection screw arranged in the injection cylinder 31. This injection screw is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and axially movable in the conveying direction along the longitudinal axis.

[0097] These movements are driven via a schematically represented drive unit. This drive unit preferably comprises a rotary drive for the rotational movement and a linear drive for the axial injection stroke.

[0098] FIG. 12 shows a moulding machine 1 with an injection unit 30, wherein the injection unit 30 shown in this embodiment has an injection screw which is also utilized for the plasticization of a material to be plasticized (and thus likewise forms the plasticizing unit 29 of the moulding machine 1).

[0099] The injection screw is mounted axially displaceable along a longitudinal axis in the injection cylinder 31.

[0100] The plasticizing unit 29 (and thus the injection unit 30) is in signalling connection with a control or regulation unit 27. Control commands are issued to the plasticizing unit 29 by the control or regulation unit 27.

[0101] The control or regulation unit 27 can be connected to an operating unit and/or a display device 32 or be an integral part of such an operating unit.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0102] 1 moulding machine [0103] 2 clamping unit [0104] 3 toggle mechanism [0105] 4 movable moulding platen [0106] 5 fixed moulding platen [0107] 6 drive unit [0108] 7 drive unit [0109] 8 bearing point [0110] 9 crosshead [0111] 10 fastening point [0112] 11 bearing plate [0113] 12 articulation [0114] 13 clearance [0115] 14 guide [0116] 15 guide pillar [0117] 16 guide rail [0118] 17 guide shoe [0119] 18 end plate [0120] 19 fastening lug [0121] 20 frame [0122] 21 connecting line [0123] 22 pivot axis [0124] 23 bearing joint [0125] 24 axis of symmetry [0126] 25 axis of symmetry [0127] 26 pivot element [0128] 27 control or regulation device [0129] 28 moulding tool [0130] 29 plasticizing unit [0131] 30 injection unit [0132] 31 injection cylinder [0133] 32 display device [0134] 33 longitudinal axis