Injection molding machine with associated securing/clamping assembley and related control system and method

• Main Authors: GLAESENER, PIERRE, CHOI, CHRISTOPHER W.M, KESTLE, MARTIN RICHARD
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 06.05.1999
• Edition: 6
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; CASTING; CASTING OF METALS; CASTING OF OTHER SUBSTANCES BY THE SAME PROCESSES OR DEVICES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POWDER METALLURGY; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

A tandem injection molding machine, comprises a stationary platen including at least two stationary mold halves, said at least two stationary mold halves located on opposed sides of said stationary platen and a first movable platen movable relative to said stationary platen and having a mold half adapted to engage one of said stationary mold halves to form a first mold and a second movable platen movable toward said stationary platen and including a mold half adapted to engage the other of said stationary mold halves to form a second mold. Each of said first and second molds have a hot runner leading thereto. At least one injection unit for delivers melt to said hot runners of said first and second molds. Tie bars extend between and connect said stationary platen, said first movable platen and said second movable platen. Means secures at least one of said first movable platen, said second movable platen and said stationary platen to at least one of said tie bars, wherein said means for securing includes engagement means for placing said means for securing into and out of locking engagement with said at least one tie bar such that when said engagement means is out of locking engagement with said at least one tie bar, said means for securing and said at least one tie bar are relatively movable, wherein said engagement means is rotatable into and out of engagement with said at least one tie bar.