Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The present invention relates to an insertion and removal
system for a die-cast machine with machine parts that can
move relative to each other and with an insertion or removal
element that can be moved into the space between the machine
parts that have been moved apart, this element being driven
by a moveable section of the mould.
An apparatus of the type described heretofore in which when
the male die and a female die of a die-cast machine are moved
apart, a removal element, driven by the mould parts that are
moved, can be inserted between the two sections of the mould
in order to remove a workpiece and then on the subsequent
return movement of the mould sections into their closed
position, can be moved back, outwards, with the workpiece, is
already known. Such an element with a double head is also
known; with this an intermediate product can be installed in
one part of the opened mould and a finished workpiece can be
removed from the other portion of the plastic mould or vice
versa. However, such a double-headed element calls for a
complex structure, complicated control, and a longer period
during which the plastic mould is open, since the two
functions of the double head can only ba carried out with
additional driving means, and the tools have to move along
different working paths. However, the shortest possible
opening times of the die mould are required in order to
achieve the maximum utilization of a die-casting machine.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an
apparatus of the type described wherein it is possible to
bring about a further reduction of the insertion and removal
steps that interrupt production, and which is so configured
as to ensure reliable operation even at relatively high
operating speeds.
According to the present invention there is provided an
insertion and removal apparatus for a die-cast machine,
comprising mould parts that can be moved relative to each
other and an insertion or removal element that can be moved
into the space between the parts of the mould that have been
moved apart, this being driven by a moveable part of the
mould, wherein an insertion element and a removal element are
provided as separate parts that can be moved simultaneously
by the parts of the mould into and out of the space between
the parts of the mould.
Because of the adjustment both of a separate insertion
element and also of a separate removal element that takes
place simultaneously with the movement of the machine parts,
the time re~uired for relative adjustment of the mould parts
is used in optimal fashion and without any prolongation for
the insertion process and for the removal process, which is
only possible when using known elements when only one of the
two processes, which is to say only an insertion or only a
removal, is to be completed. During the time in which the
die-cast machine is in productive use, the insertion element
can be loaded with a pre-product and the removal element can
be freed of a workpiece that has been removed. The whole of
the die-casting time can be used for these processes, which
facilitates precise positioning of a pre-product in an
insertion element and the proper blow-out or drop-out of a
finished product from the removal element.
The reliable method of operation of the apparatus configured
according to the present invention can be improved even more
by the preferred features of the invention. Thus, at least
one part of the motion of the insertion element and/or the
removal element can be brought about (forced) by control
curves (radial cams) that are formed rigidly on those parts
of the mould that can be moved relative to each other,
against which adjusters of the elements or element carriers
are held under tension. Positioning inaccuracies caused by
free play can be greatly reduced by means of such fixed
radial cams, which is particularly important in the case of
insertion elements used to install cores, inserts, or housing
parts into a die~cast mould. If the elements are to follow
complicated movement paths, the insertion and/or the removal
element can be arranged on separate element carriers that are
supported on one of the parts of the mould in such a way as
to be moveable. In this case, too, additional drive elements
can be provided that are not driven directly by the parts of
the mould, but rather are only controlled by them, for
example, a piston-cylinder arrangement that is used to rotate
the insertion element.
The apparatus according to the present invention is
particularly suitable for plastic die-casting machines, in
which a printed casing foil section has to be installed in a
part of the mould by means of at least one insertion element
that is preferably in the form of a suction die (male suction
die), whereas a removal element, of which there is at least
one, and which is preferably formed as a suction retaining
arm picks up a finished die-cast part to which the printed
casing foil section has been applied simultaneously from the
other part of the mould. In this way, it is possible to
dispense with subsequent printing of the plastic cups.
Because of its appropriate configuration, the insertion
element permits precise positioning of the casing foil
section. A combination of the insertion and/or removal
elements with a control and monitoring system for the die-
cast machine makes it possible to establish whether or not
pre-products, such as the casing foil section referred to
above, have been picked up by the insertion element and
whether or not the removal element has actually picked up a
finished workpiece; this can be done by means of sensors
arranged on the elements. It is, of course, understood that
the apparatus configured according to the present invention
can also be used with only one of the two elements, in which
case the other element can be dispensed with for a production
process.
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The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the machine parts ofa first embodiment of a plastic die-cast machine;
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a die-cast machine
used for plastic which incorporates the die-cast tools with
the insertion and removal elements, with the tool being open;
Figure 3 is a view from below of the die-cast tool shown from
above in figure 2 in which the die-cast mould is open;
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic plan view corresponding to figure
2 of a die-cast tool of a second embodiment of a plastic die-
cast machine with the tool open and the insertion and removal
elements installed;
Figure 5 is a cross section through the open die-cast mould
on the line V-V in figure 4;
Figures 6a to 6c show partial views of the removal element in
three different ànd sequential operating positions of this
element.
Figures 1 to 3 show two machine parts 11 and 12 of a die-cast
machine used for plastic, these parts being moveable relative
to each other. Each tool part is provided with at least one-
half of a mould that works in conjunction with the second
half of a mould on the other tool part. Thus, the machine or
tool part 11 incorporates a male die 13 that works in
conjunction with a female die 14 and a mould base 15 and
these are both arranged on the machine part 12. The male die
13 and the female die 14 together with the mould base 15 form
a die-cast mould for the production of plastic cups. Figure
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1 also shows a second similar female die 14' with the mould
base 15' on the machine part 12.
The insertion and removal apparatus for a die-cast machine
has a separate insertion element in the form of a suction die
16 and a separate removal element in the form of a suction
retaining arm 17 for each die-cast mould, and these are shown
in figures 2 and 3. The suction die 16 is used to insert a
printed casing foil section 18 in the female mould 14 and is
so supported on a machine part 12 so as to be rotatable on a
shaft 19 and in figure 3 on a swinging arm 20 that is only
indicated by means of an axis line. The rotating motion of
the swinging arm 20 through an angle of 180D is effected by a
slide 21 that is also mounted on the machine part 12, this
being done in a manner not shown herein; a roller 22 of this
slide 21 lies against the control curve 23 that is formed on
a cam plate that is fixed rigidly to the adjustable machine
part 11. A serrated bar 25 is formed on the slide 21 and
this engages with a pinion 26 that is secured to the shaft
19, the tilting motion being imparted to the arm 20 by means
of this.
The suction die 16 is supported on the swinging arm 20 so as
to be able to rotate about a shaft 27 to which a notched-belt
pulley 28 is secured. This notched-belt pulley i5 connected
through a notched belt 20 to a notched-belt pulley 30 that is
freely rotatable on the shaft 19. The notched-belt pulley 30
is coupled to the piston rod 31 of an adjusting cylinder 22
with the help of which an additional turning motion through
90 can be imparted to the suction die 16. Figure 3 shows
the suction die 16 in different tilt positions, and this is
moved through the tilting movement of the swinging arm 20
between the female die 14 and a loading point 33 where a pre-
printed foil strip 34 is introduced, and from which the
casing foil section 18 is separated in a manner not shown
herein.
Figure 2 shows the arrangement of the removal element that is
configured as a suction retaining arm 17. The suction
retaining arm 17 is secured so as to be able to rotate about
a shaft 44 and is secured to a swinging arm 35 that is also
indicated only by an axis line. It is of an angular shape
and serves to pick up a plastic cup 40 that has already been
sprayed and is standing on the male die 13. Figure 2 shows
the suction retaining arm 17 in different pivoted positions.
The swinging arm 35 can be pivoted through an angle of 90.
To this end, a pinion 36 is secured to the pivoting axis 44
and this engages into a serrated bar 37 that is formed in a
manner not shown herein on a slide 38 that can move
longitudinally on the machine part 11. A roller 39 of the
slide 38 is held in contact with the radial cam 41 that is
formed on a cam plate 42 that is rigidly connected to the
machine part 12.
During the movement of the two machine parts 11 and 12, the
two swinging arms 20 and 35 are rotated about their axes of
rotation 19 and 44 by the cam controlled slides 21 and 38.
In the embodiment shown, both slides 21 and 38 are parts of a
compressed-air cylinder and are under pressure that holds the
rollers 22 and 39 of the slides 21 and 38 in constant contact
with the cam plate 23 or 41. As the mould opens into the
completely open position shown in figures 2 and 3, the
suction die 16 together with a casing foil section that is
picked up at the loading point 33 is moved inwards into the
female die 14. There, the casing foil section 18 is released
from the suction die 16 and held in the female die 14 by
means of a suction system (not shown herein) of the machine
part 12 that acts in the gap 43 (figure 1) between the female
die 14 and the base of the mould 15. At the same time, the
suction retaining arm 17 is moved with the swing arm 35
inwards to the male die 13 where it picks up the die-cast
plastic cup 40 that is still standing on the male die 13.
During the closing movement of the mould, during which the
two machine parts 11 and 12 are moved towards each other, the
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suction die 16 and the suction retaining arm 17 are pivoted
back outwards, when the suction retaining arm 17 brings the
plastic cup 40 into an outer ejection position.
Both the suction die 16 and the suction retaining arm 17 can
be fitted with sensors, in a manner not shown herein, that
are part of a control and monitoring system of the plastic
die-cast machine; these sensors determine whether or not the
two elements contain workpieces as they should or not.
It is understood that the pivoting range of the swing arms 20
and 35 and also the angle of rotation of the suction die can
be adjusted to other suitable values.
Figures 4 to 6 show the machine parts 11' and 12' of a
plastic die-cast machine which can be adjusted relative to
each other; in this machine, the insertion element and the
removal element are configured other than is shown in the
embodiment shown in figures 1 to 3. In these drawings,
comparable parts of the apparatus bear the same reference
numbers as in figures 1 to 3 r supplemented in each case by an
apostrophe. Here, too, the male die 13' and a female die 14'
together with the mould base 15' form a die-cast mould for
the production of conical plastic cups. Figure 5 also shows
a second similar female die 14' on the machine part 12'.
The insertion element 16' is in the form of a plate that can
rotate about a shaft 45, on which there is a suction
retaining bar 46 for each female die 14'. The rotary
movement of the plate 16' of the insertion element is
effected by means of a control curve that is connected
rigidly with one of the machine parts; this is not shown in
the drawing. Figure 4 only indicates one control curve 41'
for the removal element that is configured as a suction
retaining arm 17'. The insertion element 16' and the removal
element 17' are shown in figure 4 in their innermost end
position by way of dashed lines. Their outermost end
position i5 shown with a dashed-dotted line and their
pivoting range is indicated by means of an arc and a double-
headed arrow 47.
The insertion and removal system is associated with a
charging system 48 for the suction retaining bars 46. The
charging system 48 incorporates a~gripper for each suction
retaining bar 46 and this incorporates two gripper arms 49.1
and 49.2 that can pivot about a common axis. The unattached
ends 49.3 of the pivoting gripper arms are configured as
suction retaining points for the printed casing hull sections
18' that are to be applied, that are first held against the `
suction retaining bar with a central pressure bar 49.4 of the
gripper 49 before they are wrapped around the conical suction
retaining bar 46 by means of the individual gripper arms 49.1
and 49.2 that are moved individually by means of the
pneumatic piston-cylinder units 50.1 and 50.2. The gripper
construction that is used permits extremely precise
positioning of the printed hull casing section 18' that is
positioned with corresponding accuracy in the conical opening
51 of the female die 14'.
The removal element in the form of a suction retaining arm
17' that is supported so as to be able to rotate about an
axis of rotation 52 that is shown in figure 4 and whose
rotating movement is achieved by means of the control profile
41' produces a rotation of the cup about 90 in a plans that
is perpendicular to the plane of rotation when a finished
die-cast cup with its applied casing foil section is removed.
To this end, as is shown in figure 6, the suction holder 53
that grasps the plastic cup 40' at its base portion is
arranged at the end of a swinging arm 54 that is supported at
its other end so as to be able to pivot about an axis 55 in
the suction retaining arm 17'. The swinging arm 54 is fitted
with a coaxial toothed ring 56 that engages in a serrated bar
57 that can be moved relative to the suction retaining arm
17'. The serrated bar 57 is coupled mechanically with the
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pivoting mechanism for the suction retaining arm 17' (not
shown herein) such that its relative movement vis a vis the
suction retaining arm 17' takes place as a function of its
pivoted position such that in the inner pivoted position of
the suction retaining arm 17' that is shown in figure 6a, the
swinging arm 54 is oriented in the direction of the suction
retaining arm 17' and in the outer end position that is shown
in figure 6b, it assumes a position that is perpendicular to
the suction retaining arm 17'. In this position, the partial
vacuum at the suction holder 53 is switched off and the
swinging arm S4 is withdrawn by the return movement of the
serrated bar 57 in the direction indicated by the arrow 58
into the position that is shown in figure 6c. This means
that the plastic cup 40' can drop into a stacking chute in
the direction indicated by the arrow 59 in such a position
that it is ready for stacking.
In the embodiments of the insertion element and the removal
element shown in figures 4 to 6 the insertion element and the
removal element can also be fitted, in a manner not shown
herein, with sen~ors that are part of a control and
monitoring system for the plastic die-cast machine, with the
help of which it can be determined whether or not the two
elements contain workpieces as they should or not.
