초록 ▼

Methods and assemblies related to a rotary automatic transfer rail for injection molding are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention includes a mold assembly. The mold assembly may include first, second, and third mold plates. The mold plates may be positioned generally parallel to one another. The

Methods and assemblies related to a rotary automatic transfer rail for injection molding are disclosed. In one aspect, the invention includes a mold assembly. The mold assembly may include first, second, and third mold plates. The mold plates may be positioned generally parallel to one another. The mold assembly may include an automatic transfer rail assembly. The automatic transfer rail assembly may include a rail. The automatic transfer rail assembly may include a carrier. The carrier may have first and second members. The carrier may be translatable along the rail between a first closed position and an open position. The carrier may be rotatable about the rail. In some embodiments, molded articles need not be transferred from mold components to a robot and then back to different mold components.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A mold assembly, comprising: first, second and third mold plates positioned generally parallel to one another, at least one of the mold plates having a sprue hole; and an automatic transfer rail assembly coupled to one of the mold plates, the automatic transfer rail assembly

What is claimed is: 1. A mold assembly, comprising: first, second and third mold plates positioned generally parallel to one another, at least one of the mold plates having a sprue hole; and an automatic transfer rail assembly coupled to one of the mold plates, the automatic transfer rail assembly including: a rail extending generally parallel to the first, second, and third mold plates, and a carrier coupled to the rail, the carrier having first and second members and being translatable along the rail between (a) a first closed position in which the first member is positioned functionally between the first mold plate and the second mold plate and the second member is positioned functionally between the second mold plate and the third mold plate, and (b) an open position in which the first and second members are outside of the first, second, and third mold plates, wherein the mold assembly is configured to assist in performing a first injection molding operation between the first and second mold plates and a second injection molding operation between the second and third mold plates, and wherein the carrier is rotatable about the rail (a) to the first closed position, and (b) to a second closed position in which the first member is positioned functionally between the second mold plate and the third mold plate and the second member is positioned functionally between the first mold plate and the second mold plate. 2. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the second injection molding operation comprises cooling one or more previously molded articles. 3. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the second injection molding operation comprises molding. 4. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the second injection molding operation comprises receiving an insert to be molded over. 5. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the automatic transfer rail assembly further comprises a ball screw and ball spline combination to cause the carrier to translate and rotate. 6. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member holds a a mold component. 7. The mold assembly of claim 1, wherein the first member comprises a mold component. 8. The mold assembly of claim 1, further comprising a guide coupled to one of the mold plates, the guide being configured to receive the first member as the carrier translates from the open position to the closed position. 9. The mold assembly of claim 8, further comprising a linkage mechanism coupled to one of the mold plates, the linkage mechanism being configured to continually position the guide halfway between the first mold plate and the second mold plate. 10. A method for injection molding an article, the method comprising: providing a mold assembly having (a) first, second, and third mold plates positioned generally parallel to one another, at least one of the mold plates having a sprue hole, and (b) an automatic transfer rail assembly coupled to one of the mold plates, the automatic transfer rail assembly including (i) a rail extending generally parallel to the first, second, and third mold plates, and (ii) a carrier coupled to the rail, the carrier having first and second members; translating the carrier along the rail from a first open position in which the first and second members are outside of the mold plates to a first closed position in which the first member is positioned functionally between the first and second mold plates and the second member is positioned functionally between the second and third mold plates; closing the mold assembly while the carrier is in the first closed position; performing a first injection molding operation at a first processing station between the first and second mold plates; opening the mold assembly; and translating the carrier along the rail from the first closed position to the first open position. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: rotating the carrier about the rail from the first open position to a second open position in which the carrier is outside of the mold plates; translating the carrier along the rail from the second open position to a second closed position in which the first member is positioned functionally between the second mold plate and the third mold plate and the second member is positioned functionally between the first and second mold plates; closing the mold assembly; performing the first injection molding operation at the first processing station; performing a second injection molding operation at a second processing station between the second and third mold plates; opening the mold assembly; and translating the carrier along the rail from the second closed position to the second open position. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising rotating the carrier about the rail from the second open position to the first open position. 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first injection molding operation comprises receiving an insert to be molded over and the second injection molding operation comprises molding over the insert. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein the second injection molding operation comprises processing one or more molded articles formed by the first injection molding operation. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second injection molding operation comprises cooling one or more molded articles formed by the first injection molding operation. 16. The method of claim 10, wherein the mold assembly further comprises a guide and the method further comprises receiving the first member with a guide as the carrier translates from the open position to the closed position. 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising continuously positioning the first member halfway between the first mold plate and the second mold plate as the mold assembly opens and as the mold assembly closes. 18. A mold assembly, comprising: first, second, and third mold plates positioned generally parallel to one another, at least one of the mold plates having a sprue hole; and an automatic transfer rail assembly coupled to one of the mold plates, the automatic transfer rail assembly including: a rail extending generally parallel to the first, second, and third mold plates, and a carrier coupled to the rail, the carrier (a) having first and second members, (b) being translatable along the rail between (i) a first closed position in which the first member is positioned functionally between the first mold plate and the second mold plate and the second member is positioned functionally between the second mold plate and the third mold plate, and (ii) an open position in which the first and second members are outside of the first, second, and third mold plates, and (c) being rotatable about the rail (i) to the first closed position, and (ii) to a second closed position in which the first member is positioned functionally between the second mold plate and the third mold plate and the second member is positioned functionally between the first mold plate and the second mold plate.