IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,337,512
Granted Patent B2
US 12,337,512 · App. 17/611,498 · Granted Jun 24, 2025

Conveyance apparatus, injection molding system, and control method

Inventors: Yuichi Yanahara (Moriyama, JP); Junko Tajima (Irvine, CA); Yohei Minatoya (Bunkyo-ku, JP)
Assignees: Canon Virginia, Inc.; Canon U.S.A., Inc.
B29C45/1756B29C45/0408
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,337,512
App. No.
17/611,498
Granted
Jun 24, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for an injection molding system including an injection molding machine that includes a supporting member for movably supporting the mold at a molding operation position and a conveyance apparatus that includes a supporting member for supporting the mold and that extends from the conveyance apparatus into the injection molding machine includes performing an injection molding process with a first mold at the molding operation position, unloading the first mold from the molding operation position, loading a second mold to the molding operation position, and opening the second mold at the molding operation position while at least a part of the first mold is on a section of the supporting member of the conveying apparatus extending into injection molding machine.

Claims (63)

1. A conveyance apparatus for conveying a mold into an injection molding machine comprising:

an actuator configured to convey the mold;

a frame of the conveyance apparatus; and

a supporting member fixed on the frame and configured to support the mold, wherein:

the mold includes a first part connected with the actuator and a second part, with a cavity formed between the first part and the second part,

a first clamping plate is fixed to the first part of the mold,

a second clamping plate is fixed to the second part of the mold,

the supporting member includes a first supporting member and a second supporting member,

the first supporting member is configured to support the first clamping plate,

the second supporting member is configured to support the second clamping plate,

a section of the second supporting member extends from the base-frame into the injection molding machine in a direction of movement of the mold, and

the second supporting member includes a mechanism for changing a position of the second supporting member relative to the frame in the direction of movement of the mold.

2. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the frame does not extend into the injection molding machine in the direction of movement of the mold.

3. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the section of the second supporting member extending into the injection molding machine includes a plurality of rollers arranged in a direction for guiding movement of the mold along the direction.

4. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a fastening unit for fastening the section of the second supporting member extending into the injection molding machine.

5. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 ,

wherein the actuator is located between the first supporting member and the second supporting member in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the mold.

6. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein, when the mold is conveyed, a position of the second supporting member relative to the frame does not change in the direction of movement.

7. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:

a section of the first supporting member extends from the frame into the injection molding machine in the direction of movement of the mold, and

the first supporting member includes a mechanism for changing a position of the first supporting member relative to the frame in the direction of movement of the mold.

8. An injection molding system comprising:

an injection molding machine configured to perform injection molding with a mold; and

the conveyance apparatus of claim 1 .

9. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of rollers for conveying a mold in the direction of movement of the mold, wherein:

the mold is moved along the plurality of rollers into the injection molding machine, and

the plurality of rollers are uniformly spaced from within the injection molding machine to outside of the injection molding machine.

10. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of rollers are arranged in single formation that extends from within the injection molding machine to outside of the injection molding machine.

11. A conveying apparatus for conveying a mold with respect to an injection molding machine, the conveying apparatus comprising:

a plurality of rollers for conveying a mold in a horizontal direction,

a frame; and

a supporting member fixed on the frame and configured to support moving the mold into the injection molding machine in the horizontal direction along the plurality of rollers, wherein:

a section of the supporting member extends in the horizontal direction from the frame into the injection molding machine,

the mold is moved into the injection molding machine in the horizontal direction along the plurality of rollers, and

the plurality of rollers are uniformly spaced from within the injection molding machine to outside of the injection molding machine.

12. A conveying apparatus for conveying a mold with respect to an injection molding machine, the conveying apparatus comprising:

a plurality of rollers for conveying a mold in a horizontal direction,

a frame; and

a supporting member fixed on the frame and configured to support moving the mold into the injection molding machine in the horizontal direction along the plurality of rollers, wherein:

a section of the supporting member extends in the horizontal direction from the frame into the injection molding machine, and

the plurality of rollers are arranged in single formation that extends from within the injection molding machine to outside of the injection molding machine.

13. A conveyance apparatus for conveying a mold into an injection molding machine comprising:

an actuator configured to convey the mold;

a frame of the conveyance apparatus; and

a supporting member fixed on the frame and configured to support the mold, wherein:

the mold includes a first part connected with the actuator and a second part, with a cavity formed between the first part and the second part,

a first clamping plate is fixed to the first part of the mold,

a second clamping plate is fixed to the second part of the mold,

the supporting member includes a first supporting member and a second supporting member,

the first supporting member is configured to support the first clamping plate,

the second supporting member is configured to support the second clamping plate,

a section of the first supporting member extends from the frame into the injection molding machine in a direction of movement of the mold, and

the first supporting member includes a mechanism for changing a position of the first supporting member relative to the frame in the direction of movement of the mold.

14. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the frame does not extend into the injection molding machine in the direction of movement of the mold.

15. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the section of the first supporting member extending into the injection molding machine includes a plurality of rollers arranged in a direction for guiding movement of the mold along the direction.

16. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising a fastening unit for fastening the section of the first supporting member extending into the injection molding machine.

17. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 13 ,

wherein the actuator is located between the first supporting member and the second supporting member in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the mold.

18. The conveyance apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein, when the mold is conveyed, a position of the first supporting member relative to the frame does not change in the direction of movement.

19. An injection molding system comprising:

an injection molding machine configured to perform injection molding with a mold; and

the conveyance apparatus of claim 13 .

Continuity (3)
Provisional Application 62849697 · May 17, 2019
Provisional Application 62849625 · May 17, 2019
Related Publication 20220212382A1 · Jul 7, 2022
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