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 use in a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, the drive unit 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; a fluid chamber adjoining at least one of the spindle and the spindle nut, the fluid chamber containing a lubricant; and a temperature control element configured to control the temperature of the lubricant in the fluid chamber, the temperature control element being arranged at least partially in and/or on the fluid chamber, the temperature control element including a sleeve at least partially surrounding at least one of the fluid chamber, the spindle, and the spindle nut.

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 at least a portion of the spindle, the spindle being enclosed by the fluid chamber.

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

5. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises an active cooling element.

6. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises a passive cooling element.

7. The drive unit according to claim 6, wherein a temperature control medium flows through the passive cooling element.

8. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element has a temperature control medium channel for receiving a temperature control medium suitable for cooling.

9. The drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the temperature control medium channel is arranged within the sleeve.

10. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the temperature control element comprises at least two openings for the supply and/or discharge of a temperature control medium.

11. The drive unit according to claim 10, wherein the at least two openings of the temperature control element are formed to be connected to a temperature control medium loop.

12. A drive unit for use in a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, the drive unit 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; a fluid chamber adjoining at least one of the spindle and the spindle nut, the fluid chamber containing a lubricant; a temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the lubricant in the fluid chamber, the temperature control element being arranged at least partially in and/or on the fluid chamber; and at least two sleeves engaging in one another, wherein a first sleeve of the at least two sleeves is arranged on the first machine component and a second sleeve of the at least two sleeves is arranged on the second machine component.

13. The drive unit according to claim 12, wherein the fluid chamber adjoins at least one of the spindle, the spindle nut, the first machine component, the second machine component, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve.

14. The drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing element for sealing the fluid chamber.

15. The drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary drive for driving the spindle.

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

17. An injection unit for use in a molding machine comprising the drive unit according to claim 1.

18. The injection unit according to claim 17, wherein the first machine component or the second machine component is connected in a linear movement-locking manner to an injection piston.

19. An injection-molding machine comprising the injection unit according to claim 17.

20. The drive unit according to claim 3, wherein the spindle is completely enclosed by the fluid chamber.

21. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the active cooling element is a fan and/or a pump to move a temperature control medium.

22. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the passive cooling element is at least one of a hole, a cooling fin, or a sleeve.

23. The drive unit according to claim 7, wherein the temperature control medium is one of a temperature control liquid and a temperature control gas, and the passive cooling element is at least one of a hole, a cooling fin, or a sleeve.

24. The drive unit according to claim 9, wherein the temperature control medium channel extends parallel and/or transverse to an axis of rotational symmetry of at least a portion of the sleeve.

25. The drive unit according to claim 10, wherein the at least two openings of the temperature control element are closable, and the at least two openings are arranged in an end face and/or a lateral surface of the sleeve.

26. The drive unit according to claim 14, wherein the sleeve is a first sleeve of the at least two sleeves, the sealing element being arranged between the first sleeve and a second sleeve of the at least two sleeves.

27. An injection unit for use in a molding machine comprising two drive units, each of the two drive units being configured according to claim 1.

28. The injection unit according to claim 17, wherein the first machine component or the second machine component is connected in a linear movement-locking manner to an injection screw.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages and details of the invention will be revealed below with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an injection unit with two drive units according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a temperature control element; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a temperature control element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIG. 1 shows a section through an embodiment of an injection unit 18 with two drive units 1 according to the invention.

(6) Each drive unit 1 for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component 2 relative to a second machine component 3, includes: an in particular rotationally drivable spindle 4 which is mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component 3, and 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 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.

(7) 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.

(8) Preferably, the spindle 4 of the drive unit 1 has a thread 8 running around at least a portion of the spindle 4. The spindle 4 is, preferably completely, enclosed by the fluid chamber 6.

(9) Preferably, the temperature control element 7 comprises at least one sleeve 9, which at least partially surrounds the fluid chamber 6 and/or the spindle 4 and/or the spindle nut 5.

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

(11) 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 to move a temperature control medium.

(12) 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.

(13) As shown in FIG. 1, particularly preferably, the temperature control element 7 has at least one passive cooling means (i.e., passive cooling element) 10 in the form of at least one sleeve 9.

(14) A passive cooling means 10 can, however, also be at least one hole, cooling fin or the like.

(15) 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.

(16) In the particularly preferred embodiment of FIG. 1, each drive unit 1 comprises at least two sleeves 9 that engage in one another. 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.

(17) Particularly preferably, 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.

(18) Preferably, 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.

(19) 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.

(20) 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.

(21) In this preferred variant, in each case a spindle 4 and an associated spindle nut 5 are formed corresponding to a ball screw.

(22) 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.

(23) In this embodiment, the first machine component 2 is a receiving plate for at least one injection piston 19.

(24) 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.

(25) 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.

(26) 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.

(27) An injection cylinder 20, which is essentially a housing of the injection unit 18, is furthermore shown in FIG. 1.

(28) In the description of the further figures that now follow, 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.

(29) 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 (i.e., passive cooling element) 10 in the form of a sleeve 9.

(30) As shown in this embodiment, it is particularly preferable 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.

(31) 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.

(32) The at least one temperature control medium channel 11 can be 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.

(33) As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 2, preferably the temperature control element 7 comprises at least two, preferably closable, openings 13 for the supply and/or discharge of a temperature control medium.

(34) The at least two openings 13 of the temperature control element 7 can be formed such that they can be connected to a temperature control medium loop, in particular already present in a molding machine.

(35) 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.

(36) 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

(37) 1 drive unit 2 first machine component 3 second machine component 4 spindle 5 spindle nut 6 fluid chamber 7 temperature control element 8 thread 9 sleeve 10 passive cooling means 11 temperature control medium channel 12 axis of rotational symmetry 13 openings 14 first sleeve 15 second sleeve 16 sealing element 17 rotary drive 18 injection unit 19 injection piston 20 injection cylinder