MOLD DEGATER
A mold assembly and method of operation utilizes a degater for separating plastic in runners and gates from a desired completed part prior to curing of the plastic material to provide desirable cut on completed part. Cutting edges of the degater are disposed proximate to the gates to trim excess plastic from a completed part prior to curing or hardening of the plastic part.
1 . A device for removing plastic runner and gate material from a plastic part comprising:
a mold including at least a first part and a second part defining a mold cavity and a plurality of runners and gates that provide a passage for injecting plastic material into the mold cavity;
a degater disposed in one of the first and second parts that includes a cutting edge corresponding with the gates;
a biasing member that biases the degater toward a cutting position where the cutting edge is moved through the gates to separate plastic material within the mold cavity from plastic material within the runners;
an actuator that holds the degater in a first position against the force of the biasing member, the actuator movable to a release the degater from the first position to the cutting position; and
a controller that controls actuation of the actuator to release the degater once plastic is injected and packed a desired amount within the mold cavity.
2 . The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the degater comprises a central body portion and cutting edges extending outward from the central body portion, the cutting edges corresponding with a profile of the gates.
3 . The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises a fixed part of the mold and the second part comprises a movable part of the mold, the degater disposed within the movable part of the mold.
4 . The device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the fixed part of the mold includes the actuator and upon closing of the movable part onto the fixed part, the actuator moves the degater to the first position.
5 . The device as recited in claim 1 , including a holding member that holds the degater in the cutting position against the packing pressure within the mold cavity.
6 . The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controller actuates the actuator to release the degater prior to complete curing of the plastic material within the mold cavity, and after packing of the mold cavity to obtain a desired part density.
7 . The device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the gates define openings to the mold cavity on a show side of a plastic part formed by the mold cavity.