Slide Assembly for a Molding System
According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a slide bar for slidably linking a split mold insert to a first mold half of an injection mold for forming a preform capable of being blow-molded into a container. The slide bar comprises a base structure defining a first slide interface for linking the base structure to an actuating bar of the injection mold; a second slide interface for receiving the split mold insert; a third slide interface for cooperating with a locking structure of the first mold half of the injection mold; the second slide interface and the third slide interface formed on opposing extremes of the base structure.
1 . A slide bar for slidably linking a split mold insert to a first mold half of an injection mold for forming a preform capable of being blow-molded into a container, the slide bar comprising:
a base structure defining:
a first slide interface for linking the base structure to an actuating bar of the injection mold;
a second slide interface for receiving the split mold insert;
a third slide interface for cooperating with a locking structure of the first mold half of the injection mold;
said second slide interface and said third slide interface formed on opposing extremes of said base structure.
2 . The slide bar of claim 1 , wherein said first slide interface comprises a bore for receiving a fastener.
3 . The slide bar of claim 1 , wherein said third interface comprises a first tapered portion.
4 . The slide bar of claim 4 , wherein the locking structure comprises a second tapered portion complementary to said first tapered portion.
5 . The slide bar of claim 1 , wherein the split mold insert comprises a taper portion protruding above a top portion thereof, and wherein said third slide interface and said locking structure cooperate to implement a locking function and the taper portion cooperates with a receptacle associated with a cavity plate assembly to implement exclusively an alignment function.
6 . The slide bar of claim 1 , wherein said second slide interface comprises
an alignment interface for positioning the split mold insert relative to the slide bar; and
a coupling interface for securing the split mold insert, in use, to the slide bar.
7 . The slide bar of claim 6 , wherein said coupling interface comprises at least one bore configured to cooperate, in use, with at least one bore associated with the split mold insert, for accepting, in use, a fastener.
8 . The slide bar of claim 6 , wherein said alignment interface comprises a female alignment member configured to cooperate, in use, with a male alignment member associated with the split mold insert.
9 . The slide bar of claim 8 , wherein said male alignment member and said female member are generally trapezoidal in shape.
10 . The slide bar of claim 8 , wherein said male alignment member and said female alignment member are generally “T-shaped”.
11 . The slide bar of claim 6 , wherein said alignment interface comprises a male alignment member configured to cooperate, in use, with a female alignment member associated with the split mold insert.
12 . The slide bar of claim 11 , wherein said male alignment member and said female member are generally trapezoidal in shape.
13 . The slide bar of claim 11 , wherein said male alignment member and said female alignment member are generally “T-shaped”.
14 . The slide bar of claim 6 , wherein said alignment interface comprises a first receptacle configured to cooperate, in use, with a second receptacle associated with the split mold insert; said first receptacle is configured to accept, in use, a first portion of a positioning member and the second receptacle is configured, in use, to accept a second portion of the positioning member.
15 . The slide bar of claim 14 , wherein said positioning member comprises a dowel.
16 . The slide bar of claim 15 , wherein said first receptacle, said second receptacle and said dowel are configured in a tight tolerance arrangement.
17 . The slide bar of claim 14 , wherein said positioning member comprises a tubular dowel.
18 . The slide bar of claim 17 , wherein said first receptacle, said second receptacle and said tubular dowel are configured in a tight tolerance arrangement.
19 . A split mold insert configured to cooperate with the slide bar of claim 1 .
20 . A split mold assembly, comprising:
a split mold insert;
a slide bar for slidably linking the split mold insert to a first mold half of an injection mold for forming a preform capable of being blow-molded into a container, the slide bar comprising:
a base structure defining:
a first slide interface for linking the base structure to an actuating bar of the injection mold;
a second slide interface for receiving the split mold insert;
a third slide interface for cooperating with a locking structure of the first mold half of the injection mold;
said second slide interface and said third slide interface formed on opposing extremes of said base structure.
21 . The split mold assembly of claim 20 , wherein said first slide interface comprises a bore for receiving a fastener.
22 . The split mold assembly of claim 20 , wherein said third interface comprises a first tapered portion.
23 . The split mold assembly of claim 22 , wherein the locking structure comprises a second tapered portion complementary to said first tapered portion.
24 . The split mold assembly of claim 20 , wherein said split mold insert comprises a slide coupling interface, said slide coupling interface configured to cooperate, in use, with said second interface.
25 . The split mold assembly of claim 20 , wherein said split mold insert comprises a taper portion protruding above a top portion thereof, and wherein said third slide interface and said locking structure cooperate to implement a locking function and said taper portion cooperates with a receptacle associated with a cavity plate assembly to implement exclusively an alignment function.
26 . The split mold assembly of claim 20 , wherein said second slide interface comprises
an alignment interface for positioning the split mold insert relative to the slide bar; and
a coupling interface for securing the split mold insert, in use, to the slide bar.
27 . The split mold assembly of claim 26 , wherein said coupling interface comprises at least one bore configured to cooperate, in use, with at least one bore associated with the split mold insert, for accepting, in use, a fastener.
28 . The split mold assembly of claim 26 , wherein said alignment interface comprises a female alignment member configured to cooperate, in use, with a male alignment member associated with the split mold insert.
29 . The split mold assembly of claim 28 , wherein said male alignment member and said female member are generally trapezoidal in shape.
30 . The split mold assembly of claim 28 , wherein said male alignment member and said female alignment member are generally “T-shaped”.
31 . The split mold assembly of claim 26 , wherein said alignment interface comprises a male alignment member configured to cooperate, in use, with a female alignment member associated with the split mold insert.
32 . The split mold assembly of claim 31 , wherein said male alignment member and said female member are generally trapezoidal in shape.
33 . The split mold assembly of claim 31 , wherein said male alignment member and said female alignment member are generally “T-shaped”.
34 . The split mold assembly of claim 26 , wherein said alignment interface comprises a first receptacle configured to cooperate, in use, with a second receptacle associated with the split mold insert; said first receptacle is configured to accept, in use, a first portion of a positioning member and the second receptacle is configured, in use, to accept a second portion of the positioning member.
35 . The split mold assembly of claim 34 , wherein said positioning member comprises a dowel.
36 . The split mold assembly of claim 35 , wherein said first receptacle, said second receptacle and said dowel are configured in a tight tolerance arrangement.
37 . The slide bar of claim 34 , wherein said positioning member comprises a tubular dowel.
38 . The slide bar of claim 38 , wherein said first receptacle, said second receptacle and said tubular dowel are configured in a tight tolerance arrangement.
39 . A mold incorporating the split mold assembly of claim 20 .
40 . An injection molding system incorporating the mold of claim 39 .
41 . A slide bar for slidably linking a split mold insert to a first mold half of an injection mold for forming a part, the slide bar comprising:
a base structure defining:
a first slide interface for linking the base structure to an actuating bar of the injection mold;
a second slide interface for receiving the split mold insert;
a third slide interface for cooperating with a locking structure of the first mold half of the injection mold;
said second slide interface and said third slide interface formed on opposing extremes of said base structure.