Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A MACHINE BASE FOR AN INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally relates to, but is not limited to, molding
systems, and more
specifically the present invention relates to, but is not limited to, a
machine base for an injection
molding machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Molding is a process by virtue of which a molded article can be formed from
molding material by
using a molding system. Various molded articles can be formed by using the
molding process, such
as an injection molding process. One example of a molded article that can be
formed, for example,
from polyethelene terephalate (PET) material is a preform that is capable of
being subsequently
blown into a beverage container, such as, a bottle and the like.
As an illustration, injection molding of PET material involves heating the PET
material (ex. PET
pellets, PEN powder, PLA, etc.) to a homogeneous molten state and injecting,
under pressure, the
so-melted PET material into a molding cavity defined, at least in part, by a
female cavity piece and a
male core piece mounted respectively on a cavity plate and a core plate of the
mold. The cavity plate
and the core plate are urged together and are held together by clamp force,
the clamp force being
sufficient enough to keep the cavity and the core pieces together against the
pressure of the injected
PET material. The molding cavity has a shape that substantially corresponds to
a final cold-state
shape of the molded article to be molded. The so-injected PET material is then
cooled to a
temperature sufficient to enable ejection of the so-formed molded article from
the mold. When
cooled, the molded article shrinks inside of the molding cavity and, as such,
when the cavity and
core plates are urged apart, the molded article tends to remain associated
with the core piece.
Accordingly, by urging the core plate away from the cavity plate, the molded
article can be
demolded, i.e. ejected off of the core piece. Ejection structures are known to
assist in removing the
molded articles from the core halves. Examples of the ejection structures
include stripper plates,
ejector pins, etc.
One consideration for economical operation of the molding system is cycle time
or, in other words,
time that elapses between a point in time when the cavity and core halves are
closed and the molded
articles are formed and a subsequent point in time when they are opened and
the molded articles are
removed. As one will appreciate, the shorter the cycle time, the higher the
number of molded
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articles that can be produced in a particular mold in a given time. One
attempt to minimize the cycle
time is a so-called "post-mold cooling" process. Generally speaking, the post-
mold cooling process
involves removing the molded articles from the mold once they are sufficiently
cooled to enable
ejection of the molded articles without causing significant deformation to the
molded articles during
its transfer to an auxiliary cooling structure. Post mold cooling then occurs
independently (but in
parallel) to the injection cycle of the molding machine.
An example of the auxiliary cooling structure is disclosed in a commonly owned
US patent
7,104,780 issued to Domodossola et al. on September 12, 2006. More
specifically, Domodossola et
al. discloses a platen-mounted, post-mold cooling apparatus for handling
molded articles in an
injection molding system having a fixed platen, a movable platen, a core half,
and a cavity half. The
post-mold cooling apparatus includes a take-off device for removal of molded
articles from either
the core half or the cavity half. The take-off device includes a platen
mounted robot, the robot
including an end-of-arm tool depending therefrom. The post-mold cooling
apparatus also includes a
treatment device coupled to the movable platen that is configured to cool the
molded articles carried
by the take-off device. In operation, the robot positions the end-of-arm tool
between the mold core
half and cavity half to extract the just molded articles from the mold's core
half whereafter the end-
of-arm tool is moved linearly outboard of the mold halves. A subsequent
movement of the movable
platen to close the mold in the next molding cycle causes the treatment
device's pins to engage the
molded articles in molded article carriers arranged on the end-of-arm tool.
When the movable platen
opens again, the molded articles are extracted from the molded article
carriers by the treatment
device pins. When the movable platen is fully open, the treatment device is
rotated to eject the
cooled parts from the machine.
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, to effect a retrieval of
a molded article from a
mold with an end-of-arm tool coupled to a platen mounted robot it is generally
necessary that the
mold open wide enough that the end-of-arm tool be able to safely enter and
exit between the core
and the cavity halves of the mold without striking them. In addition, the
amount of clearance
provided between the end-of-arm tool and the one of the core and cavity halves
from which the
molded article is to be received is minimized to the extent possible such that
the molded article may
be reliably transferred therebetween. To this end, the position to which the
mold opens and the
position of the take-off device relative to the mold core and cavity halves is
painstakingly
established when a molding system is first configured. Due to various business
considerations, an
entity operating the molding system may choose to routinely re-configure the
molding system, for
example, to change the shape and/or size of the preform to be produced. For
example, the entity
operating the molding system may choose to change molding cavities (for
example, by exchanging
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mold cavity inserts, etc.) to produce preforms having a larger length or a
smaller length.
Adjustments to the position of the end-of-arm tool relative to the core and
cavity halves may be
implemented, for example, by means of inserting, or removing, spacer blocks
between the end-of-
arm tool and the robot. Undesireably, the foregoing practice requires the
machine operator to
maintain an inventory of spacers. Alternatively, the end-of-arm tool may be
positioned at an
extended reach from a mold mounting face of a first platen of the injection
molding machine from
which the robot is mounted, thereby ensuring a suitable clearance to one of
the mold core or cavity
halves mounted to the mold mounting face, and thereafter the operator need
only select a mold open
distance that provides for the required clearance to the other of the mold
core and cavity halves that
is mounted to a mold mounting face of a second platen of the injection molding
machine. While the
foregoing practice provide for flexibility and ease of adjustment it does come
at the price of
increased mold stroke which contributes to a longer molding cycle time. That
is, the mold stroke
must be longer than might otherwise be required but for the end-of-arm tool
being positioned at the
extended reach.
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, it is typical that an
injection molding machine that
includes a robot with a end-of-arm tool would also have a service main for
supplying the end-of-arm
tool, amongst other things, with a connection to source and sink of a working
fluid such as, for
example, compressed air and vacuum, respectively. Accordingly, it is typical
to have pressure tanks
associated with the injection molding machine to maintain the working fluid at
a requisite pressure.
Undesirably, the pressure tanks are both large and expensive.
As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, it is typical that an
injection molding machine
includes a machine base. The machine base may be configured to define a tank
for providing a
reservoir of hydraulic fluid. The tank is not configured as a pressure tank,
but rather is connected
through a breather port to the ambient environment for maintaining the
pressure in the tank at
substantially ambient levels. Of course, slight variations in pressure within
the tank may occur at
certain times in the machine cycle as fluid enters or exits the tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a machine base is
provided for an
injection molding system. The machine base comprises a base structure and a
first pressure tank
defined by the base structure. The first pressure tank is configured to
provide, in use, one of a source
of, or a sink for, a working fluid at a first pressure that is sustained, at
least in part, at one of above
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or below ambient pressure, the first pressure tank in fluid communication with
a service main
associated with the injection molding system.
A technical effect, amongst others, of the aspects of the present invention
may include decreased
cost of manufacture of the injection molding system. It should be expressly
understood that not all
of the technical effects, in their entirety, need be realized in each and
every embodiments of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A better understanding of the embodiments of the present invention (including
alternatives and/or
variations thereof) may be obtained with reference to the detailed description
of the exemplary
embodiments along with the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a molding system according to a non-
limiting embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a first perspective view of a portion of a molding system
according to a further non-
limiting embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a second perspective view of the portion of the molding system of
Figure 2;
Figure 4 depicts a perspective view of a portion of an injection base of the
molding system of Figure
2 that includes a service main;
Figure 5 depicts a perspective view of a partial section through the portion
of an injection base of
Figure 4 revealing pressure tanks formed in the injection base.
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and are may be illustrated by
phantom lines, diagrammatic
representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details that are
not necessary for an
understanding of the exemplary embodiments or that render other details
difficult to perceive may
have been omitted.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
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With reference to Figure 1, there is depicted a schematic representation of a
molding system 100
that has been configured in accordance with a non-limiting embodiment of the
present invention.
For illustration purposes only, it shall be assumed that the molding system
100 comprises an
injection molding system for processing molding material, such as, PET for
example. However, it
should be understood that in alternative non-limiting embodiments, the molding
system 100 may
comprise other types of molding systems, such as, but not limited to,
compression molding systems,
metal molding systems and the like. It should be further understood that
embodiments of the present
invention are applicable to the molding system 100 incorporating any
multicavitation mold,
including PET molds, thinwall articles molds, closures molds and the like.
Within the non-limiting embodiment of Figure 1, the molding system 100
comprises a first platen
102 and a second platen 104. The molding system 100 further comprises an
injection unit 106 for
plasticizing and injection of molding material. In operation, the second
platen 104 is moved towards
and away from the first platen 102 by means of stroke cylinders (not shown) or
any other suitable
means. Clamp force (also referred to as closure or mold closure tonnage) can
be developed within
the molding system 100, for example, by using tie bars 108, 110 and a tie-bar
clamping mechanism
112, as well as (typically) an associated hydraulic system (not depicted) that
is usually associated
with the tie-bar clamping mechanism 112. It will be appreciated that clamp
tonnage can be
generated using alternative means, such as, for example, using a toggle-clamp
arrangement (not
depicted) or the like.
A first mold half 114 of a mold can be associated with the first platen 102
and a second mold half
116 of the mold can be associated with the second platen 104. In the specific
non-limiting
embodiment of Figure 1, the first mold half 114 comprises one or more mold
cavities 118. As will
be appreciated by those of skill in the art, the one or more mold cavities 118
may be formed by
using suitable mold inserts or any other suitable means. As such, the first
mold half 114 can be
generally thought of as a "mold cavity half'. The second mold half 116
comprises one or more mold
cores 120 complementary to the one or more mold cavities 118. As will be
appreciated by those of
skill in the art, the one or more mold cores 120 may be formed by using
suitable mold inserts or any
other suitable means. As such, the second mold half 116 can be generally
thought of as a "mold core
half'.
The first mold half 114 can be coupled to the first platen 102 by any suitable
means, such as a
suitable fastener (not depicted) or the like. The second mold half 116 can be
coupled to the second
platen 104 by any suitable means, such as a suitable fastener (not depicted)
or the like. It should be
understood that in an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present
invention, the position of
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the first mold half 114 and the second mold half 116 can be reversed and, as
such, the first mold
half 114 can be associated with the second platen 104 and the second mold half
116 can be
associated with the first platen 102.
Figure 1 depicts the first mold half 114 and the second mold half 116 in a so-
called "mold open
position" where the second platen 104 is positioned generally away from the
first platen 102 and,
accordingly, the first mold half 114 is positioned generally away from the
second mold half 116. For
example, in the mold open position, a molded article (not depicted) can be
removed from the first
mold half 114 and/or the second mold half 116. In a so-called "mold closed
position" (not depicted),
the first mold half 114 and the second mold half 116 are urged together (by
means of movement of
the second platen 104 towards the first platen 102) and cooperate to define
(at least in part) a
molding cavity (not depicted) into which the molten plastic (or other suitable
molding material) can
be injected, as is known to those of skill in the art. It should be
appreciated that one of the first mold
half 114 and the second mold half 116 can be associated with a number of
additional mold
elements, such as for example, one or more leader pins (not depicted) and one
or more leader
bushings (not depicted), the one or more leader pins cooperating with one more
leader bushings to
assist in alignment of the first mold half 114 with the second mold half 116
in the mold closed
position, as is known to those of skill in the art.
The molding system 100 further comprises a robot 122 operatively coupled to
the first platen 102.
The means by which the robot 122 can be operatively coupled to the first
platen 102 will be
described in detail later. The robot 122 comprises a support member 124, an
actuating arm 126
coupled to the support member 124 and an end-of-arm tool 127 coupled to the
actuating arm 126.
The end-of-arm tool 127 includes a take-off plate 128 with a plurality of
molded article carriers 130
coupled thereto. Generally speaking, the purpose of the plurality of molded
article carriers 130 is to
receive molded articles from the one or more mold cores 120 (or the one or
more mold cavities 118)
and/or to implement post mold cooling of the molded articles. In the specific
non-limiting example
being illustrated herein, the plurality of molded article carriers 130
comprises a plurality of water-
cooled tubes, or cooling tubes, for receiving a plurality of molded preforms.
However, it should be
expressly understood that the plurality of molded article carriers 130 may
have other configurations.
The exact number of the plurality of molded article carriers 130 is not
particularly limited. For
example, if a three-position post mold cooling cycle is to be implemented and
if the molding system
100 comprises 72 instances of the one or more mold cavities 118 (for example,
12 rows of 6), the
take-off plate 128 can comprise 216 instances of the plurality of molded
article carriers 130 (i.e.
twelve rows of 18). Other configurations are, of course, also possible and are
only limited by
business considerations of an entity managing the molding system 100. The
robot 122 further
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includes a drive structure 160 arranged on the support member. A tool receiver
162 is associated
with the drive structure 160, the tool receiver 162 is configured to receive
the end-of-arm tool 127.
The drive structure 160 is configured to reposition, in use, the tool receiver
162, and with it the end-
of-arm tool 127, between a plurality of operational positions including "an
inboard position"
wherein the end-of-arm tool 127 is positioned between the first and second
mold halves for
receiving molded articles and an "outboard position" wherein the end-of-arm-
tool 127 is positioned
beside the first and second mold halves.
The molding system 100 further comprises a treatment device 132 operatively
coupled to the second
platen 104. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate how the treatment
device 132 can be
operatively coupled to the second platen 104 and, as such, it will not be
described here in any detail.
The treatment device 132 comprises a mounting structure 134 used for coupling
the treatment
device 132 to the second platen 104. The treatment device 132 further
comprises a plenum 129
coupled to the mounting structure 134. Coupled to the plenum 129 is a
plurality of treatment pins
133. The number of instances of the plurality of treatment pins 133 generally,
but not necessarily,
corresponds to the number of instances of the plurality of molded article
carriers 130.
Generally speaking, the purpose of the plenum 129 is to supply services (such
as, for example,
vacuum and/or air stream) to the plurality of treatment pins 133. In some
embodiments of the
present invention, the plenum 129 can further comprise a rotating mechanism
(not separately
depicted in Figure 1) that rotates the plenum 129 relative to the second
platen 104 to dislodge
molded articles disposed on at least some of the plurality of treatment pins
133. Accordingly, the
purpose of the plurality of treatment pins 133 can include some or all o (i)
engaging molded
articles received in the plurality of molded article carriers 130 and to
provide air to cool the molded
articles from within; (ii) to remove the molded articles from the plurality of
molded article carriers
130; and (iii) to eject the molded articles onto a conveyor belt or onto any
other suitable means. It
should be noted that some of the plurality of treatment pins 130 may perform
some or all of the
functions recited above. For example, in some embodiments of the present
invention, certain
occurrences of the plurality of treatment pins 133 may exclusively execute a
cooling function, while
others may exclusively execute an ejection function. In alternative non-
limiting embodiments of the
present invention, all instances of the plurality of treatment pins 133 may
perform both the cooling
and the ejection functions.
Naturally, the molding system 100 may comprise a number of additional
components, such as a hot
runner (not depicted) associated, for example, with the first mold half 114.
Furthermore, the
molding system 100 may optionally or additionally comprise auxiliary equipment
(not depicted),
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such as dehumidifiers, heaters and the like. All this equipment is known to
those of skill in the art
and, as such, will not be discussed at any length here. It should be expressly
understood that the
molding system 100 may have other configurations and the description presented
above has been
provided as an example only and is not intended to be limiting in any form. In
other non-limiting
embodiments of the present invention, the molding system 100 can have other
configurations with
more or fewer components.
The means by which the robot 122 can be operatively coupled to the first
platen 102 will now be
described in greater detail. A first platen mounting interface 142 is defined
on the support member
124. The first platen mounting interface 142 is configured to cooperate, in
use, with a first support
member mounting interface 152 defined on the first platen 102, or more
specifically on a platen
base 103 that forms a base structure of the first platen 102. Optionally, the
first platen mounting
interface 142 may cooperate, in use, with another, or alternate, first support
member mounting
interface 152' that is also defined on the first platen 102, or more
specifically on the platen base 103.
In the non-limiting embodiment the foregoing pair, that is plurality, of first
support member
mounting interfaces 152, 152' are spaced apart in a direction of a
longitudinal axis X of the injection
molding system. The longitudinal axis X of the injection molding system
corresponds to the
direction along which one or both of the the first and second platens move for
opening or closing of
the mold. In a further non-limiting embodiment, not shown, the first platen
102 may include yet
further instances of the first support member mounting interfaces 152, 152'.
The plurality of first
support member mounting interfaces 152, 152' provide a first subset of a first
plurality of interface
configurations for mounting the support member 124 to the first platen 102 in
any one of a plurality
of robot mounting configurations. A technical effect of providing the
foregoing is a built-in
flexibility for reconfiguring the position of the robot 122 along the
longitudinal axis X of the
injection molding system 100.
In more detail, a first platen retaining structure 146 is defined on the first
platen mounting interface
142. The first platen retaining structure 146 is configured to be associated,
in use, with one of a first
support member retaining structure 156 defined on each of the first support
member mounting
interface 152, 152' for connecting the support member 124 to the first platen
102 in the any one of
the plurality of robot mounting configurations. A fastener (not shown) may be
used to link the first
platen retaining structure 146 to the first support member retaining structure
156. As shown, a
plurality of the first platen retaining structures 146 are defined on the
first platen mounting interface
142 and a plurality of the first support member retaining structure 156 are
defined on each of the
first support member mounting interface 152, 152'. The plurality of first
platen retaining structures
146 and the plurality of the first support member retaining structures 156 are
spaced apart in a
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direction of a lateral axis Z of the injection molding system. The lateral
axis Z of the injection
molding system is a horizontal axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal
axis X of the injection
molding system. The lateral axis Z is the axis along which the end-of-arm tool
127 is repositioned
by the drive structure 160 of the robot 122. The plurality of first platen
retaining structures 146 and
the plurality of the first support member retaining structures 156 provide for
a second subset of the
first plurality of interface configurations for mounting the support member
124 to the first platen
102 in any one of a plurality of robot mounting configurations. A technical
effect of providing the
foregoing is a built-in flexibility for reconfiguring the position of the
robot 122 along the lateral axis
Z of the injection molding system 100.
In the non-limiting embodiment, a platen alignment structure 144 is defined on
the first platen
mounting interface 142, the platen alignment structure 144 is configured to be
associated, in use,
with one of a support member alignment structure 154, 154' defined on each of
the first support
member mounting interface 152, 152'. The platen alignment structure 144 is
configured as a tongue
(not shown) that is configured to cooperate, in use, with one of the support
member alignment
structures 154, 154' that are each configured as a groove. The tongue is
associated with a bottom
surface of the support member 124 and the groove is associated with a top
surface of the platen base
103. Alternatively, in another non-limiting embodiment, not shown, the platen
alignment structure
144 may be configured as a groove and the support member alignment structures
154, 154' may be
each configured as a tongue. Likewise, in a further non-limiting embodiment,
not shown, a plurality
of the platen alignment structures 144 may be defined on the first platen
mounting interface 142,
and/or a plurality of the support member alignment structures 154, 154' may be
defined on the first
support member mounting interface 152, 152'.
With reference to Figures 2 and 3, there is depicted a portion of a molding
system 200 that has been
configured in accordance with a further non-limiting embodiment of the present
invention. The
portion of the injection molding system 200 shown includes a machine base 207
upon which a first
platen 202 is supported and a robot 222 depending from the first platen 202.
The means by which
the robot 222 is be operatively coupled to the first platen 202 will now be
described in greater detail.
A first platen mounting interface 242 is defined on the support member 224.
The first platen
mounting interface 242 is configured to cooperate, in use, with a first
support member mounting
interface 252 defined on the first platen 202, or more specifically on a
platen base 203 that forms a
base structure of the first platen 202, in any one of a first plurality of
interface configurations for
mounting the support member 224 to the first platen 202 in any one of a
plurality of robot mounting
configurations. A technical effect of providing the foregoing is a built-in
flexibility for
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reconfiguring the position of the robot 122 along the longitudinal axis X of
the injection molding
system 200.
A first platen retaining structure 246 is defined on the first platen mounting
interface 242. The first
platen retaining structure 246 is configured to be associated, in use, with
one of a first support
member retaining structure 256 defined on the first support member mounting
interface 252 for
connecting the support member 224 to the first platen 202 in the any one of
the plurality of robot
mounting configurations. A fastener (not shown) may be used to link the first
platen retaining
structure 246 to the first support member retaining structure 256. As shown,
plurality of the first
platen retaining structures 246 are defined on the first platen mounting
interface 242 and a plurality
of the first support member retaining structure 256 are defined on the first
support member
mounting interface 252. The plurality of first platen retaining structures 246
and the plurality of the
first support member retaining structures 256 are spaced apart in a direction
of a longitudinal axis X
of the injection molding system 200. The longitudinal axis X of the injection
molding system 200
corresponds to the direction along which one or both of the the first platen
202 and second platen
(not shown) move for opening or closing of a mold (not shown). The plurality
of first platen
retaining structures 246 and the plurality of the first support member
retaining structures 256
provide for a first plurality of interface configurations for mounting the
support member 224 to the
first platen 202 in any one of a plurality of robot mounting configurations.
In addition, to the
foregoing, a platen alignment structure 244 is defined on the first platen
mounting interface 242, the
platen alignment structure 244 is configured to be associated, in use, with
one of a support member
alignment structure 254 defined on the first support member mounting interface
252. As shown, the
platen alignment structure 244 is configured as a tongue, or outwardly
projecting member, that is
associated with an upper portion of the support member 224. The platen
alignment structure 244 is
configured to cooperate, in use, with the support member alignment structure
254 that is configured
as a groove associated with a side of the platen base 203 of the first platen
202. The groove is
associated with the non-operator side of the platen base 203, but may,
alternatively be formed, for
example, on the operator side thereof. The tongue and groove structures of the
first platen alignment
structure 244 and the support member alignment structure 254, respectively,
are aligned with the
longitudinal axis X of the injection molding system 200. Alternatively, in
another non-limiting
embodiment, not shown, the platen alignment structure 244 may be configured as
a groove and the
support member alignment structure 254 may be each configured as a tongue.
The means by which the robot 222 is be operatively coupled to the first platen
202 also includes a
second platen mounting interface 272 defined on the support member 224, the
second platen
mounting interface 272 is configured to cooperate, in use, with a second
support member interface
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282 defined on the first platen 202 in any one of a second plurality of
interface configurations to
assist with the mounting of the support member 224 to the first platen 202 in
the any one of the
plurality of robot mounting configurations.
The second platen mounting interface 272 is defined on a structural member 275
that is associated
with a lower portion of the support member 224. The support member interface
282 defined on an
elongate boss 281 associated with a side of the platen base 203 of the first
platen 202. The elongate
boss 281 is associated with the non-operator side of the platen base 203, but
may, alternatively be
formed, for example, on the operator side thereof. The first support member
mounting interface 252
is arranged above the second support member interface 282. A second platen
retaining structure 276
is defined on the second platen mounting interface 272. The second platen
retaining structure 276 is
configured to be associated, in use, with a second support member retaining
structure 286 defined
on the second support member interface 282 to assist with the connecting of
the support member
224 to the first platen 202 in the any one of the plurality of robot mounting
configurations. As
shown, a plurality of the second platen retaining structure 276 are defined on
the second platen
mounting interface 272 and a plurality of the second support member retaining
structure 286 defined
on the second support member interface 282. The second platen mounting
interface 272 and the
second support member interface 282 do not include complementary alignment
structures but
instead rely on the alignment provided by the platen alignment structure 244
of the first platen
mounting interface 242 in cooperation with the support member alignment
structure 254 defined on
the first support member mounting interface 252. That is not to say that in
yet another non-limiting
embodiment of the present invention, not shown, that the second platen
mounting interface 272 and
the second support member interface 282 may also include complementary
alignment structures.
With reference to Figure 3, the robot 222 also includes an end-of-arm tool
interface 264 defined on
the tool receiver 262. The end-of-arm tool interface 264 is configured to
cooperate, in use, with a
tool receiver interface (not shown) defined on the end-of-arm tool 127 (Figure
1) for releasably
connecting the end-of-arm tool 127 with the tool receiver 262. A first service
conduit is configured
in the tool receiver 262 for connecting, in use, a service, for example a
source or sink of a working
fluid, with the end-of-arm tool 127. A service porta1266 of the first service
conduit is defined on the
end-of-arm tool interface 264, the service portal 266 configured to cooperate,
in use, with a
complementary service portal (not shown) defined on the tool receiver
interface (not shown). A first
tool retaining structure 268 is defined on the end-of-arm tool interface 264,
the first tool retaining
structure 268 is configured to be associated, in use, with a second tool
retaining structure defined on
the tool receiver interface to connect the end-of-arm tool 127 with the tool
receiver 264. A first tool
alignment structure 269 is defined on the end-of-arm tool interface 264, the
first tool alignment
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structure 269 configured to be associated, in use, with a second tool
alignment structure defined on
the tool receiver interface to align the end-of-arm tool 127 with the tool
receiver 264.
Referring back to Figure 2, the robot 222 further includes a robot service
structure 280 that is
configured for extensibly connecting, in use, the first service conduit in the
tool receiver 262 with a
service main 211 (shown more clearly in Figure 4) associated with the machine
base 207. The robot
service structure 280 includes a service frame 290, a track support 300, and a
service track 320. The
service frame 290 configured to be mounted, in use, to a machine base 207 of
the injection molding
system 200. The track support 300 is configured to support a first portion of
the service track 321. A
second portion of the service track coupled to the tool receiver 262. A track
support mounting
interface 291 is defined on the service frame 290. The track support mounting
interface 291 is
configured to cooperate, in use, with a service frame mounting interface 301
defined on the track
support 300 in any one of plurality of track support interface configurations
for mounting the track
support 300 to the service frame 290 in any one of a plurality of track
support mounting
configurations. A flexible conduit 310 is supported in the track support 300,
the flexible conduit
310 coupling, in use, the first service conduit in the tool receiver 262 with
the service main 211
associated with the machine base 207. A track support retaining structure 292
is defined on the track
support mounting interface 291, the first track support retaining structure
292 is configured to be
associated, in use, with a service frame retaining structure 302 defined on
the service frame
mounting interface 301 for connecting the track support 300 to the service
frame 290 in the any one
of the plurality of track support mounting configurations. The track support
retaining structure 292
in accordance with this non-limiting embodiment is one of a slot or a bore,
and the service frame
retaining structure 302 is the other one of the slot or the bore, and a
fastener connecting, in use, the
track support retaining structure 292 with the service frame retaining
structure 302. The robot
service structure 280 further includes a control valve 320 disposed between
the flexible conduit 310
and the service main 211.
Referring back to Figure 3, the drive structure 260 of this non-limiting
embodiment includes,
amongst other things, a guide structure 261, a motor 265, and a transmission
263. The guide
structure 261 is coupled to the support member 224, the guide structure 261
configured for guiding,
in use, the tool receiver 262 between the plurality of operational positions
as previously defined
with respect to the operation of the robot 122 of Figure 1. The motor 265 is
coupled to the support
member 124, 224. The transmission 263, such as, for example, a belt and pulley
arrangement, is
coupled to the support member 224, and operatively connects the motor 265 with
the tool receiver
262. The transmission 263 is configured for driving, in use, the tool receiver
262 between the
plurality of operational positions.
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Lastly, the robot 222 includes a detection apparatus 330 that is configured to
detect the presence of
molded article arranded in the end-of-arm tool 127. The detection apparatus is
configured as
generally described in in a commonly owned US patent 6,315,543 issued to
Lausenhammer et al. on
November 13, 2001. The detection apparatus includes a first operative
structure 331 coupled to the
support member 224, and a second operative structure 332 coupled to the
service frame 290.
A method of configuring a robot 122, 222 on the first platen 102, 202 of the
injection molding
system 100, 200 includes the steps of adjustably coupling the first platen
mounting interface 142,
242 with the first support member mounting interface 152, 152', 252 in any one
of a first plurality of
interface configurations for mounting the support member 124, 224 to the first
platen 102, 202 in
any one of a plurality of robot mounting configurations. The method further
including the step of
aligning the platen alignment structure 144, 244 with a support member
alignment structure 154,
154', 254 and coupling the first platen retaining structure 146, 246 with the
first support member
retaining structure 156, 256 for connecting the support member 124, 224 to the
first platen 102, 202
in the any one of the plurality of robot mounting configurations.
In the case of the further non-limiting embodiment involving the injection
molding system 200 of
Figures 2 and 3, the method further including the step of adjustably coupling
the second platen
mounting interface 272 with the second support member interface 282 in any one
of a second
plurality of interface configurations to assist with the mounting of the
support member 224 to the
first platen 202 in the any one of the plurality of robot mounting
configurations. The foregoing
including the coupling of the second platen retaining structure 276 with a
second support member
retaining structure 286. The method further including adjustably coupling the
track support
mounting interface 291 with the service frame mounting interface 301 in any
one of plurality of
track support interface configurations for mounting the track support 300 to
the service frame 290 in
any one of a plurality of track support mounting configurations. The foregoing
including the
coupling of the track support retaining structure 292 with the service frame
retaining structure 302
for connecting the track support 300 to the service frame 290 in the any one
of the plurality of track
support mounting configurations. The method may further include connecting a
control valve 320
between the flexible conduit 310 and a service main 211 associated with the
machine base 207.
With reference to Figure 4 an enlarged view of a portion of the machine base
207 is depicted, as
outlined in Figure 2, that has been configured in accordance with another
aspect of the present
invention within the non-limiting embodiment of the injection molding system
200. It should be
noted that the control valve 320 (shown in Figure 2) has been omitted in the
enlarged view of Figure
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4. With further reference to Figure 5 a partial section view through the
portion of the machine base
207 is depicted that reveals a first and second pressure tank configured
therein. The machine base
207 includes a base structure 209 and the first pressure tank 340 defined by
the base structure 209.
The first pressure tank 340 configured to provide, in use, one of a source of,
or a sink for, a working
fluid at a first pressure that is sustained, at least in part, at one of above
or below ambient pressure,
the first pressure tank 340 being in fluid communication with a service main
211 associated with the
injection molding system 200. A second pressure tank 350 is also defined by
the base structure 209.
The second pressure tank 350 is configured to provide, in use, one of a source
of, or a sink for, the
working fluid at a second pressure that is sustained, at least in part, at one
of above or below
ambient pressure, the second pressure tank 350 being in fluid communication
with the service main
211. In the present non-limiting embodiment, for providing sources of both
high and low vacuum to
the end-of-arm tool 127, the first pressure tank 340 and the second pressure
tank 350 may be
configured for operating, in use, with the first pressure and the second
pressure being unequal and
below the ambient pressure.
With reference to Figure 5, the base structure 209 of the non-limiting
embodiment is a weldment of
a plurality of base members 220. The plurality of base members 220 includes,
amongst others, a
first base member 221, a second base member 222, a third base member 224, a
fourth base member
226, a fifth base member 228, a sixth base member 230, a seventh base member
232, an eigth base
member 234, a ninth base member 236, a tenth base member 238, and an eleventh
base member 229
(Figure 4). The first pressure tank 340 is formed by the weldment of a first
group of selected
members of the plurality of base members 220, including the fourth base member
226, the fifth base
member 228, the sixth base member 230, the eigth base member 234, the ninth
base member 236,
and the eleventh base member 229 (Figure 4). A second service conduit 344 is
associated with the
base structure 209. A first portal 345 of the second service conduit 344 is
arranged inside the first
pressure tank 340 and a second portal 346 of the second service conduit 344 is
arranged outside the
first pressure tank 340 in an enclosure 240 for connection, in use, to a
working fluid pressure
actuator. The working fluid pressure actuator may include, for example, a
vacuum pump,
compressor, and the like.
Likewise, the second pressure tank 350 is formed by the weldment of a second
group of selected
members of the plurality of base members 220, including the fourth base member
226, the sixth
base member 230, the eigth base member 234, the ninth base member 236, the
tenth base member
238, and the eleventh base member 229 (Figure 4). A third service conduit 354
is associated with
the base structure 209. A first portal 355 of the third service conduit 354 is
arranged inside the
second pressure tank 350 and a second portal 346 of the third service conduit
344 is arranged
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outside the second pressure tank 350 in the enclosure 240 for connection, in
use, to a working fluid
pressure actuator.
With reference to Figure 4, the service main 211 is defined on the base
structure 209 and includes a
fourth service conduit 342 that passes through the eleventh base member 229
adjacent the first
pressure tank 340 for connecting a service structure interface 219 defined on
an outside surface of
the eleventh base member 229 with the first pressure tank 340 defined, at
least in part, by an inside
surface of the eleventh base member 229. The service main also includes a
fifth service conduit 352
that passes through the eleventh base member 229 adjacent the second pressure
tank 350 for
connecting the service structure interface 219 with the second pressure tank
350. The service
structure interface 219 is configured to cooperate, in use, with a service
main interface (not shown)
associated with the robot service structure 280 of the robot 222. The service
structure interface 219
further includes a first retaining structure 215 configured to be associated,
in use, with a second
retaining structure defined by the service main interface. The robot service
structure 280 includes
the control valve 320, the service main interface (not shown) defined on the
control valve 320.
The description of the embodiments of the present inventions provides examples
of the present
invention, and these examples do not limit the scope of the present invention.
It is to be expressly
understood that the scope of the present invention is limited by the claims
only. The concepts
described above may be adapted for specific conditions and/or functions, and
may be further
extended to a variety of other applications that are within the scope of the
present invention. Having
thus described the embodiments of the present invention, it will be apparent
that modifications and
enhancements are possible without departing from the concepts as described.
Therefore, what is to
be protected by way of letters patent are limited only by the scope of the
following claims:
