Stack mold transfer device
View Patent ↗Stack mold transfer device are disclosed that include first and second transfer members having respective first and second transfer channels, first and second valve seats, and first and second valve members. The first valve member defining a flow portion and a first sealing surface and the second valve member defining a second sealing surface and a receiving pocket. When the first and second transfer members are in an engaged configuration, the first and second transfer channels form a common transfer channel. When the transfer device is in a closed-flow configuration, the flow of molding material is blocked, and when the transfer device is in an open-flow configuration, the first sealing surface of the first valve member is slidably received in the receiving pocket of the second valve member and the flow portion of the first valve member is positioned to allow molding material flow within the common transfer channel.
1. A stack mold transfer device actuatable between an open-flow configuration and a closed-flow configuration, the stack mold transfer device comprising:
a first transfer member having a first transfer channel, a first valve seat, and a first valve member slidably disposed within and extending through the first transfer channel, the first valve member having a flow portion and a first valve sealing surface defined along an outer circumferential length of a first end of the first valve member, with a second end of the first valve member being operably coupled to a first actuator; and
a second transfer member having a second transfer channel, a second valve seat, and a second valve member slidably disposed within and extending through the second transfer channel, the second valve member having a second sealing surface and a receiving pocket extending within a first end of the second valve member, wherein the receiving pocket has an inner diameter sized to slidably receive the first valve sealing surface of the first end of the first valve member,
wherein when the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in an engaged configuration the first transfer channel of the first transfer member and the second transfer channel of the second transfer member form a common transfer channel, and
wherein when the transfer device is in the closed-flow configuration, the first valve sealing surface engages the first valve seat and the second valve sealing surface engages the second valve seat to block a molding material flow within the common transfer channel, and
wherein when the transfer device is in the open-flow configuration the first ends of the first and second valve members are actuated to slide together into the second transfer channel,
whereby the first valve sealing surface is disengaged from the first valve seat and the second valve sealing surface is disengaged from the second valve seat,
whereby the first valve sealing surface surrounding the first end of the first valve member is slidably received in the receiving pocket of the second valve member to be overlapped thereby and to create a longitudinally-extending, circumferential sealing area therebetween, and
whereby the flow portion of the first valve member is positioned to allow the molding material flow within the common transfer channel.
2. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein a downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member projects beyond a transfer seal of the first transfer member when the first valve member is in a closed-flow position.
3. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein a downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member projects beyond a transfer seal of the first transfer member and into the receiving pocket of the second valve member when the transfer device is in the closed-flow configuration, and the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in the engaged configuration.
4. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between a downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member and a bottom surface of the receiving pocket when the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in the engaged configuration, and the transfer device is in the open-flow configuration.
5. A stack mold transfer device for delivering a molding material across a parting line of a stack molding apparatus, the stack mold transfer device comprising:
a first transfer member having a first transfer channel, a first valve seat, and a first valve member slidably disposed within and extending through the first transfer channel, the first valve member having a flow portion and a first valve sealing surface defined along an outer circumferential length of a first end of the first valve member; and
a second transfer member having a second transfer channel, a second valve seat, and a second valve member slidably disposed within and extending through the second transfer channel, the second valve member having a second sealing surface and a receiving pocket extending within a first end of the second valve member, wherein the receiving pocket has an inner diameter sized to slidably receive the first valve sealing surface of the first end of the first valve member,
wherein when the stack molding apparatus is in a mold-closed configuration and the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in an engaged configuration, the first transfer channel and the second transfer channel form a common transfer channel, and
wherein when the stack molding apparatus is in the mold-closed configuration and the transfer device is in a closed-flow configuration, the first valve sealing surface at the first end of the first valve member engages the first valve seat and the second valve sealing surface at the first end of the second valve member engages the second valve seat to block the molding material flow within the common transfer channel, and a gap is provided between a downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member and a bottom surface of the receiving pocket at the first end of the second valve member, and
wherein when the transfer device is in an open-flow configuration, the first end of the first valve member is slidably received within the receiving pocket at the first end of the second valve member and the first ends of the first and second valve members so positioned slide together into the second transfer channel
whereby the flow portion of the first valve member is positioned across the parting line of the stack molding apparatus to allow the molding material flow within the common transfer channel, and
whereby the first valve sealing surface of the first valve member is disengaged from the first valve seat and the second valve sealing surface of the second valve member is disengaged from the second valve seat.
6. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein one of the first valve member and the second valve member further comprises an alignment protrusion and the other of the first valve member and the second valve member further comprises an alignment socket.
7. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 6 , wherein the alignment protrusion mates with the alignment socket prior to the first transfer member engaging with the second transfer member when the transfer device is translated from a disengaged configuration to the engaged configuration.
8. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 6 , wherein the alignment protrusion mates with the alignment socket prior to the first end of the first valve member being slidably received in the receiving pocket of the second valve member when the transfer device is translated from the closed-flow configuration to the open-flow configuration.
9. A stack mold transfer device actuatable between an open-flow configuration and a closed-flow configuration, the stack mold transfer device comprising:
a first transfer member having a first transfer channel, a first valve seat, and a first valve member slidably disposed within and extending through the first transfer channel, the first valve member having a flow portion and a first valve sealing surface that surrounds an end of the first valve member; and
a second transfer member having a second transfer channel, a second valve seat, and a second valve member slidably disposed within and extending through the second transfer channel, the second valve member having a second valve sealing surface and a receiving pocket,
wherein the second valve member further comprises a vent channel in fluid communication with atmosphere that extends from the receiving pocket thereof, and
wherein when the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in an engaged configuration the first transfer channel of the first transfer member and the second transfer channel of the second transfer member form a common transfer channel, and
wherein when the transfer device is in the closed-flow configuration, the first valve sealing surface engages the first valve seat and the second valve sealing surface engages the second valve seat to block a molding material flow within the common transfer channel, and
wherein when the transfer device is in the open-flow configuration, the first valve sealing surface is disengaged from the first valve seat and the second valve sealing surface is disengaged from the second valve seat, and the first valve sealing surface surrounding the end of the first valve member is slidably received in the receiving pocket of the second valve member, and the flow portion of the first valve member is positioned to allow the molding material flow within the common transfer channel.
10. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 9 , wherein the vent channel in the second valve member is in fluid communication with a secondary vent channel in a valve bushing.
11. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 9 , wherein the vent channel in the second valve member is in fluid communication with a secondary vent channel in a piston that is coupled to the second valve member.
12. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 11 further comprising:
a check valve disposed in the vent channel or the secondary vent channel.
13. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a biasing member biasing the second valve member whereby the second valve sealing surface engages the second valve seat.
14. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein a depth of the receiving pocket is sized to slidably receive a longitudinally-extending segment at the first end of the first valve member having the first valve sealing surface when the first valve member is translated, to thereby permit the first valve sealing surface to be disengaged from the first valve seat while the second valve sealing surface remains engaged with the second valve seat.
15. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 further comprising:
a pin slidably disposed in the second valve member.
16. The stack molding apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the receiving pocket is defined by an inner surface of the second valve member and an end of the pin.
17. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow portion of the first valve member comprises at least one tunnel segment formed within the first valve member that has a first port defining an inlet and a second port defining an outlet.
18. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 1 , wherein the second valve member includes a relief taper.
19. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 18 , wherein an angle between the receiving pocket and the second valve sealing surface is greater than an angle between the receiving pocket and the relief taper.
20. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein the downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member projects beyond a transfer seal of the first transfer member when the first valve member is in a closed-flow position.
21. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein the downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member projects beyond a transfer seal of the first transfer member and into the receiving pocket of the second valve member when the transfer device is in the closed-flow configuration, and the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in the engaged configuration.
22. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein a portion of the gap is maintained between the downstream surface of the first end of the first valve member and the bottom surface of the receiving pocket when the first transfer member and the second transfer member are in the engaged configuration, and the transfer device is in the open-flow configuration.
23. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein a depth of the receiving pocket is sized to slidably receive the first end of the first valve member when the first valve member is translated, to thereby permit the first valve sealing surface to be disengaged from the first valve seat while the second valve sealing surface remains engaged with the second valve seat.
24. The stack mold transfer device according to claim 5 , wherein the flow portion of the first valve member comprises at least one tunnel segment formed within the first valve member that has a first port defining an inlet and a second port defining an outlet.