Molding system having a residue cleaning feature and an adjustable mold shut height
View Patent ↗A method is provided of cleaning of a portion of a mold component, the portion of the mold component including a passage configured, in use, to allow passage of fluid and to prevent passage of melt, the method comprising: entering the mold component into a cleaning configuration, whereby a portion of the passage becomes part of a molding surface; performing a molding cycle to fill in at least the portion of the passage with molding material for incorporation and removal of a residue there from. Also provided is a mold having a first mold half and a second mold half, the halves being movable relative to each other. A mold shut height adjustment apparatus can provide for a change in the mold shut height.
1. An injection mold comprising:
(a) a first mold half;
(b) a second mold half, said first and second mold halves being supported and movable relative to each other, said first and second mold halves having a mold shut height when said mold is an operational configuration;
(c) a mold shut height adjustment apparatus at least partially embedded within one or both of the mold halves, the mold shut height adjustment apparatus operable to provide for a change in the mold shut height;
wherein said mold shut height adjustment apparatus is operable to vary the mold shut height to facilitate the reconfiguration of said mold between said first operational configuration and a second operational configuration and wherein said first operational configuration is a standard molding configuration having a first mold shut height and said second operational configuration is a vent cleaning configuration having a second mold height that is different than the first mold shut height.
2. The injection mold as claimed in claim 1 wherein first mold half comprises a core plate and wherein said mold shut height adjustment mechanism further comprises a core plate adjustment mechanism at least partially embedded within said core plate, said core plate adjustment mechanism being operable to adjust mold shut height.
3. The injection mold as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second mold half comprises a cavity plate and wherein said mold shut height adjustment apparatus comprises a cavity plate adjustment mechanism at least partially embedded within said cavity plate, said cavity plate adjustment mechanism being operable to adjust said mold shut height.
4. The injection mold of claim 1 , further comprising a stripper plate assembly, wherein the mold shut height adjustment apparatus is operable to provide a pre-defined gap between the stripper plate assembly and at least one of the first mold half and the second mold half.
5. The injection mold of claim 2 wherein said core plate adjustment mechanism comprises at least one core plate adjustment device received in a recess defined in said core plate, said at least one core plate adjustment device being operable to move between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said at least one core plate adjustment device comprises an engagement portion with an engagement surface, and said mold being operable such that when said core plate adjustment device is in said extended position, said engagement surface provides for an increased distance between said core plate and a stripper plate to thereby adjust said mold shut height.
6. The injection mold of claim 5 wherein said engagement portion is operable to move generally in a first direction when moving between said retracted position and said extended position and wherein said core plate adjustment device further comprises a driving portion positioned adjacent to said engagement portion, said driving portion operable to move in a second direction generally orthogonal to said first direction.
7. The injection mold as claimed in claim 6 wherein said at least one core plate adjustment device further comprises an actuating device and a connection mechanism and at least part of each of which is embedded in said core plate, said connection mechanism being operable to interconnect said driving portion to said actuating device.
8. The injection mold claim 5 wherein said core plate adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of core plate adjustment devices each received in a respective recess in an outward surface of said core plate and being spaced about said core plate, said plurality of core plate adjustment devices each being operable to move between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said at least one core plate adjustment devices each comprises an engagement portion with an engagement surface, and said mold being operable such that when each of said core plate adjustment devices is in said extended position, said engagement surface provides for an increased distance between said core plate and said stripper plate to thereby adjust said mold shut height.
9. The injection mold of claim 3 wherein said cavity plate adjustment mechanism comprises a cavity plate adjustment device at least partially received in a recess in a outward surface of said cavity plate, said cavity plate adjustment device being operable to be moved between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said cavity plate adjustment device has an engagement portion with an engagement surface, and said mold operable such that when said cavity plate adjustment device is in said extended position, said engagement surface provides for an increased distance between said cavity plate and a stripper plate to thereby adjust said mold shut height.
10. The injection mold of claim 9 wherein said engagement portion is operable to move generally in a first direction when moving between said retracted position and said extended position and wherein said cavity plate adjustment device further comprises a driving portion positioned adjacent to said engagement portion, said driving portion operable to move in a second direction generally orthogonal to said first direction.
11. The injection mold of claim 10 wherein said at least one cavity plate adjustment device further comprises an actuating device and a connection mechanism operable to interconnect said driving portion to said actuating device.
12. The injection mold of claim 9 wherein said cavity plate adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of cavity plate adjustment devices each at least partially received in a respective recess in an outward surface of said cavity plate and being spaced about said cavity plate, said plurality of cavity plate adjustment devices being operable to move between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein said at least one cavity plate adjustment devices each comprises an engagement portion with an engagement surface, and said mold operable such that when each of said cavity plate adjustment devices is in said extended position, said engagement surface provides for an increased distance between said cavity plate and a stripper plate to thereby adjust said mold shut height.