Air Ring for a Stripper Assembly
An air ring is provided for a stripper plate assembly. The air ring is removably situated within bores defined in the stripper plate. An air manifold is also defined within the stripper plate, which is connected to a pressurized air source for communication of a pressurized air flow to each of the bores air ducts within each air ring direct the pressurized air flow from the air manifold towards a preferred location on the molded article that passed through the air ring.
1 . A stripper plate assembly comprising:
a stripper plate defining at least one bore, each of the at least one bore for passthrough of a mold core;
an air manifold defined within the stripper plate, operable to be connected to a pressurized air source for communication of a pressurized air flow to each of the at least one bore;
an air ring, removably situated within each of the at least one bore, defining at least one air duct operable to direct the pressurized air flow from the air manifold towards a preferred location on a molded article attached to the mold core.
2 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air flow urges the molded article to detach from its respective mold core.
3 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pressurized air flow cools the molded article.
4 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air manifold includes plurality of channels, and at least some of the plurality of channels are in communication with more than one of the at least one bore.
5 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the air ring includes an circumferential groove on an exterior surface of the air ring, the circumferential groove being in communication with the at least one air duct.
6 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the circumferential groove is defined between a pair of opposing flanges on the exterior surface of the air ring.
7 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein the at least one air duct is located in a first flange, the first flange being located on a stationary-portion facing side of the stripper plate assembly.
8 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein an angle of the at least one air duct in the air ring is specifically adapted for the molded article.
9 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein in the size of an aperture exiting the at least one air duct is specifically adapted for the molded article.
10 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 5 , wherein in the shape of an aperture of the at least one air duct is specifically adapted for the molded article.
11 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bore comprises a plurality of bores, and the plurality of bores are organized into banks joined by a common trough.
12 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein each bore includes a land portion for supporting the air ring on a first side.
13 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein fasteners having flanges are used to retain the air ring on a second side.
14 . The stripper plate assembly of claim 1 , wherein each bore includes a tapered portion for direction of the pressurized air flow towards the molded article.
15 . A molded object manufactured using an injection molding system having a stripper plate assembly in accordance with stripper plate assembly of claims 1 - 14 .
16 . An air ring for an injection molding system, comprising a generally cylindrical body that is removably situated within a bore on a plate in the injection molding system, the air ring defining at least one air duct operable to direct a pressurized air flow received at a first end of the at least one air duct out through a second end of the at least one air duct.
17 . The air ring of claim 16 , wherein the first end of the at least one air duct is in communication with an air manifold in the plate, and the second end directs the pressurized air towards a preferred location on a molded article that extends through the cylindrical body.
18 . The air ring of claim 17 , wherein the pressurized air flow urges the molded article to detach from an associated mold core.
19 . The air ring of claim 17 , wherein the pressurized air flow cools the molded article.
20 . The air ring of claim 17 , wherein the air ring includes an circumferential groove on an exterior surface of the air ring, the circumferential groove being in communication with the at least one air duct.
21 . The air ring of claim 20 , wherein the circumferential groove is defined between a pair of opposing flanges on the exterior surface of the air ring.
22 . The air ring of claim 20 , wherein the at least one air duct is located in a first flange, the first flange being located on a stationary-portion facing side of the plate.
23 . The air ring of claim 20 , wherein an angle of the at least one air duct in the air ring is specifically adapted for the molded article.
24 . The air ring of claim 20 , wherein in the size of an aperture exiting the at least one air duct is specifically adapted for the molded article.
25 . The air ring of claim 20 , wherein in the shape of an aperture of the at least one air duct is specifically adapted for the molded article that extends through the air ring.
26 . A molded object manufactured using the air ring in accordance with the air ring of claims 16 - 25 .
27 . An injection molding system having a first mold portion and a second mold portion, comprising:
a mold cavity being defined on one of the first mold portion and the second mold portion;
a mold core being defined on the other of the first mold portion and the second mold portion;
an injection assembly operable to convey a molding material to the first mold portion;
a stripper plate, located between the first mold portion and the second mold portion, and defining at least one bore, each of the at least one bore for passthrough of a molded article located on the mold core;
an air manifold defined within the stripper plate, operable to be connected to a pressurized air source for communication of a pressurized air flow to each of the at least one bore;
an air ring, removably situated within each of the at least one bore, defining at least one air duct operable to direct the pressurized air flow from the air manifold towards a preferred location on a molded article that is attached to the mold core.