PROTECTION DEVICE FOR AN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE

Abstract

Protection device for an injection moulding machine with lateral frame elements or lateral covers, and fixed tool and movable tool clamping plates, wherein the clamping plates are arranged between the lateral frame elements or the lateral covers and the movable tool clamping plate can travel along a closing axis which runs parallel to the lateral frame elements or the lateral covers in relation to the fixed tool clamping plate, wherein first cover elements are arranged on the top side of the machine, both on an operator side and on the operator opposite side, which first cover elements extend parallel to the closing axis, the first cover elements being configured for a radial movement and wherein on the top side of the machine second cover elements which extend perpendicularly to the closing axis, wherein the second cover elements being configured for radial movement.

Claims

1. A protection device for an injection moulding machine comprising lateral frame elements or lateral covers as well as a fixed tool clamping plate and a movable tool clamping plate, wherein the fixed tool clamping plate and the movable tool clamping plate are arranged between the lateral frame elements or the lateral covers and the movable tool clamping plate can travel along a closing axis which runs parallel to the lateral frame elements or lateral covers in relation to the fixed tool clamping plate, wherein a number of first cover elements is arranged on the top side of the injection moulding machine, both on an operator side as well as on an operator opposite side opposite the operator side, the first cover elements extending parallel to the closing axis, wherein the arrangement of the first cover elements is configured such that a radial movement of the first cover elements is possible and wherein on the top side of the injection moulding machine a number of second cover elements is arranged which extend perpendicularly to the closing axis, wherein the arrangement of the second cover elements is configured such that a radial movement of the second cover elements is possible.

2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements are fixed to the lateral frame elements or lateral covers by connection elements.

3. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein traverses, struts and/or panels are provided between the lateral frame elements or lateral covers, the traverses, struts and/or panels serve for fixing the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements.

4. The protection device according to claim 3, wherein the fixing of the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements to the traverses, struts or panels takes place by connection elements.

5. The protection device according to claim 2, wherein the connection elements are configured such that the connection elements facilitate a radial movement of the first cover elements and the second cover elements.

6. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein holding devices are provided on the lateral frame elements or the lateral covers, wherein the holding devices are configured such that the holding devices form contact surfaces for the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements.

7. The protection device according to claim 3, wherein holding devices are provided on the traverses, struts or panels, wherein the holding devices are configured such that the holding devices form contact surfaces for the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements.

8. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the first cover elements and the second cover elements are made of steel plate.

9. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements have handling devices.

10. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein the first cover elements and/or the second cover elements have locking devices.

11. An injection moulding machine comprising a protection device according to claim 1.

Description

[0020] Additional advantages and details of the present invention are reported based on the exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings are schematic representations. In the figures:

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective representation of a protection device according to the invention in a closed state;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective representation of the protection device from FIG. 1 in an open state;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the protection device from FIG. 1 in a closed state;

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a close-up view of the protection device from FIG. 1 in an open state;

[0025] FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of a transition from a first cover element to a second cover element;

[0026] FIG. 6 shows a further close-up view of the transition from FIG. 5.

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a protection device 1 for an injection moulding machine 2 with lateral frame elements 3, 4 in a closed state. The injection moulding machine 2 comprises a fixed tool clamping plate 5 and a movable tool clamping plate 6, wherein the movable tool clamping plate 6 can travel along a closing axis A-B which lies in parallel to the lateral frame elements 3, 4 in relation to the fixed tool clamping plate 5. Fixed protection panels 13, 14 are affixed between the lateral frame elements 3, 4, which cover the movable parts of a driving mechanism which is not represented in detail.

[0028] First cover elements 9, 10 are fixed to the lateral frame elements 3, 4 on an operator side 7 and on an operator opposite side 8 such that they can be moved radially. The first cover elements 9, 10 are positioned such that they lie at a right angle to the inside of lateral frame elements 3, 4, i.e. they lie flat on the top side of the injection moulding machine 2. Second cover elements 11, 12 are arranged between the lateral frame elements 3, 4. The second cover elements 11, 12 are fixed to the protection panels 13, 14 such that they can be moved radially and also lie rectangular to the inside of lateral frame elements 3, 4 and, consequently, flat on the surface of the injection moulding machine 2, so that they overlap the first cover elements 9, 10. The first cover elements 9, 10 and the second cover elements 11, 12 together form, on the top side of the injection moulding machine 2, a cover for the tool area located between the fixed tool clamping plate 5 and the movable tool clamping plate 6, so that an intervention in the tool area from outside in the form of a reaching out to the lateral frame elements 3, 4 is not possible for a person present in the periphery of the injection moulding machine 2.

[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the protection device 1 from FIG. 1 in an open state. It can be seen that, by the means of a radial movement of the first cover elements 9, 10 as well as the second cover elements 11, 12 upwards, e.g. in the form of an unfolding, access to the tool area located between the fixed tool clamping plate 5 and the movable tool clamping plate 6 was established. The first cover elements 9, 10 form a vertical extension of lateral frame elements 3, 4 on the operator side 7 and the operator opposite side 8. The resulting vertical extensions of the lateral frame element 3 through the first cover element 9 as well as the lateral frame element 4 through the first cover element 10 are connected to each other through the second cover elements 11, 12. In this manner, a safety guard completely enclosing the tool area results, which ensures access to the tool area from the top side and which, however, prevents an intervention by a person present in the periphery of injection moulding machine at the same time, since upon an attempt at intervention, the respective first or second cover element folds down and thus covers the tool area at the appropriate location.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows a close-up view of the protection device 1 from FIG. 1 in a closed state. It can be seen that the second cover elements 11, 12 are fixed to the protection panels 13, 14 via hinges 15, 16, 17, 18. Likewise, the first cover elements 9, 10 are fixed to the lateral frame elements 3, 4 via hinge connections; however, these hinge connections are not visible due to the perspective chosen in FIG. 3. Nevertheless, the invention is not limited to the fixing of the second cover elements 11, 12 to the protection panels 13, 14 reported within the frame of this exemplary embodiment. The second cover elements 11, 12 can also be fixed without further ado to the lateral frame elements 3, 4 or other machine parts. Handling devices 19, 20, 21, 22 are affixed on the first cover elements and second cover elements 9, 10, 11, 12, which facilitate an easy moving of the first cover elements and second cover elements 9, 10, 11, 12 for opening and closing the protection device. The protection panels 13, 14 present holding devices 23, 24, 25, 26 which serve for restricting the radial movement path of the second cover elements 11, 12 and thus for adhering to the preferred opening angle of the protection device 1 in an open state.

[0031] FIG. 4 is a close-up view of the protection device 1 from FIG. 1 in an open state. The first cover elements and second cover elements 9, 10, 11, 12 are folded upwards by a radial rotary motion. Thereby, the first cover elements 9, 10 form a vertical extension of the lateral frame elements 3, 4 and the second cover elements 11, 12 connect the vertical extension formed to a safety guard enclosing the tool area lying between the fixed tool clamping plate 5 and the movable tool clamping plate 6. It can be seen that the second cover element 12 rests on the holding device 25, 26, so that the maximum opening angle of the second cover element 12 is restricted. Such holding devices are provided also for the first cover elements 9, 10 and the further second cover element 11, which, however, are not visible due to the perspective chosen in FIG. 4. The holding devices for the first cover elements 9, 10 and the second cover elements 11, 12 are arranged such that the opening angle of the first cover elements 9,10 and of the second cover elements 11, 12 lie in the preferred range between 91 and 100.

[0032] FIG. 5 shows a close-up view of a transition from a first cover element 10 to a second cover element 11. A holding device 29 is affixed on the protection panel 14, which limits the radial movement path of the first cover element 10 towards the tool area. The holding device 29 is positioned such that the first cover element 10, when resting on the holding device 29 in the closed state of the protection device 1, lies rectangular to the inside of the lateral frame element 4 facing the tool area. The first cover element 10 presents a locking device 30 configured in the form of a lug on its horizontal end adjacent to its second cover element 11. The first cover element 10 and the second cover element 11 can be locked to each other by means of a simple nut and bolt connection via the locking device 30.

[0033] FIG. 6 is a further close-up view of the transition from FIG. 5. It can be seen that the first cover element 10 and the second cover element 11 are locked to each other via the locking device 30 and a drill in the second cover element 11 by means of a screw 31 and a bolt 32. In this manner, it is guaranteed that the protection device 1 forms a rigid system and that the shocks generated by the movable machine parts of the injection moulding machine 2 have no negative effects on the protection device 1 during the injection moulding process.