Patent Application
20240059001
The present invention relates to an arrangement, and a method for operating an arrangement with a first clamping unit and at least one second clamping unit for a molding machine.
In practice, it is apparent that the desire for larger clamping units for molding machines is increasing, for example, in order to manufacture larger injection-molded parts.
At the same time, modern clamping units are pushing the limits of what is reasonably feasible in terms of their size, because they will simply no longer be able to be transported effectively if their size is further increased. Restrictions in this respect originate for example from maximum transport weights, standard container sizes and the available space during transport by rail or by HGV, thus basically the transport infrastructure.
As it is not easy to improve the transport infrastructure in this respect, a desire for larger clamping units can be satisfied only with substantially increased technical effort, by constructing the clamping units for example such that they can be freighted in separate parts or in groups of components.
The object of the present invention is therefore to provide larger clamping units for molding machines, without having to make a disproportionately large amount of technical effort.
This object is achieved with respect to the clamping unit described below, namely by an arrangement with a first clamping unit for a molding machine, including:
Arranged next to the first clamping unit is at least one second clamping unit, including:
The control or regulating unit is designed:
Protection is also sought for a method for operating an arrangement with a first clamping unit and at least one second clamping unit for a molding machine, wherein:
Protection is furthermore sought for a molding machine with an arrangement according to the invention.
By molding machines may be meant injection-molding machines, transfer-molding machines, presses and the like.
At first glance, it seems to be somewhat farfetched that two clamping units arranged next to each other can jointly carry at least one mold and be operated synchronously. However, tests by the applicant have surprisingly revealed that the static requirements for the clamping unit and the requirements for the accuracy of the synchronous control or regulation can indeed be met.
Of course, even larger clamping units can be realized by providing further (third, fourth etc.) clamping units next to the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit.
In a preferred embodiment, the first and the at least one second clamping unit in each case have a fixed platen, wherein the first fixed platen and the at least one second platen are implemented separate from each other.
The possibility of arranging several clamping units next to each other and/or one above another, in particular with clamping axes aligned parallel to each other, has the advantage of realizing clamping sides or platen surfaces that are as large as desired in a flexible manner while the individual component size remains the same.
It is advantageous that the handling, manufacture, and transport can be effected using standard equipment.
The possibility of arranging several clamping units next to each other has the further advantage that through a variable positioning of the movable platens, the at least one mold need not necessarily be cuboid-shaped, whereby an optimization of the geometry and/or mass of the at least one mold is made possible.
The first clamping unit and the at least one second clamping unit, or the first fixed platen, the first movable platen, the second fixed platen and optionally the second movable platen, are formed to jointly carry at least one mold.
It is also possible for the first clamping unit and the at least one second clamping unit to have a single fixed platen, with the result that the first fixed platen, the first movable platen, and optionally the second movable platen jointly carry at least one mold.
The joint carrying is to be understood such that at least one mold is jointly carried by at least two clamping units.
In other words, this means that at least one mold at least partially extends into at least two mold regions of at least two clamping units.
A further advantage is that through a variable positioning of the movable platens and/or the tension and pressure rods and/or drives an optimum clamping force distribution can be realized. For example, a weight saving can thereby be made possible for the platens.
Advantages of smaller clamping units are, for example, that:
The arrangement according to the invention can be realized for both horizontal and vertical molding machines. That is to say the clamping units arranged next to each other have clamping axes which are parallel to each other and which can be aligned vertically or horizontally.
By a clamping axis is meant the substantially linear movement direction in which a movable platen can be moved.
Both already existing clamping units and additional clamping units can be used for the implementation of the arrangement according to the invention, whereby it is for example made possible that an arrangement according to the invention can be realized in the course of a retrofitting.
In principle, many clamping units from the state of the art have separate drives for a fast stroke movement, and a power stroke. This can also be provided for the first clamping unit and/or the second clamping unit in the invention.
By a drive may be meant, for example, a hydraulic cylinder and/or a spindle drive.
The fast stroke, which can be realized for example by means of an electric, hydraulic or magnetic drive, serves to move the movable platens faster in order to be able to carry out a closing or opening movement.
The power stroke serves for clamping force application in the sense of applying a force and is not necessarily to be understood literally as a movement.
The drives, which are different from each other, for the fast stroke and the power stroke can also be called fast stroke drive and power stroke drive respectively.
The power stroke drives, for example four hydraulic cushions of a two-plate clamping unit, can then be called clamping force mechanism.
In the present case, there is a first clamping force mechanism of the first clamping unit and a second clamping force mechanism of the second clamping unit.
By the fact that the clamping force application to the first and the second movable platen are carried out synchronously may be meant that there is at least one point in time at which a partial clamping force is applied in each case to both the first movable platen and the second movable platen. This means, in other words, that the time intervals between the partial clamping force applications for the first and the second clamping unit have at least a certain overlap.
In particularly preferred embodiments, the partial clamping force applications to the first and the second movable platen can be completely synchronous. That is to say, the intervals between the partial clamping force applications can be identical, with respect to both their length and their start and end points.
The sum of the partial clamping forces gives a total clamping force.
It is to be mentioned that the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit can be clamping units of the same or in each case different types.
In preferred embodiments, the movements of the first and the second movable platen can be implemented synchronously, by which may be meant that there is at least one point in time at which both the first movable platen and the second movable platen are moved. This means, in other words, that the time intervals in which the movable platens of the first and the second clamping unit are moved have at least a certain overlap.
In particularly preferred embodiments, in particular when the first fixed platen, the first movable platen, the second fixed platen and the second movable platen jointly carry at least one mold, the movements of the first and the second movable platen can be completely synchronous. That is to say, the start and end positions, the start and end points and/or the speeds of the movable platens can be identical.
The clamping units are moved sequentially, wherein a single clamping force mechanism and/or drive could be provided for two or more clamping units.
The first clamping unit and the at least one second clamping unit can in each case have at least one hydraulic and/or electric drive.
By a hydraulic drive is meant, for example, a hydraulic cylinder or hydraulic or pressure cushion, wherein this is preferably used for the power stroke.
By an electric drive is meant, for example, an electric machine the driving movements of which can be converted into linear movements via a ball screw or spindle drive, wherein electric drives can preferably be used for a fast stroke movement.
The clamping force application to the first and the at least one second clamping unit can be based on different clamping force mechanisms, which is why the first and second clamping units can consist of different components.
As a particularly preferred embodiment, the first and second clamping units in each case have at least one fixed platen and a movable platen, i.e., they are two-plate clamping units.
Alternatively, the first clamping unit and the at least one second clamping unit can also have several, preferably three, plates, for example through the additional arrangement of in each case one end plate.
In the case of the use of hydraulic drives, it is preferable that the first clamping force mechanism is connected to a first hydraulic line system, and the at least one second clamping force mechanism is connected to at least one second hydraulic line system.
A hydraulic line system is a system of hydraulic lines, via which hydraulic oil is fed to one or more hydraulic cylinders and via which a pump system drives one or more consumers, such as for example hydraulic cylinders, by means of a pressure application.
A hydraulic line system can comprise different types of valves and/or be connected to different types of valves.
The detailed implementation, e.g. the type and/or arrangement of the valves, of a hydraulic line system usually depends on whether a fast stroke movement or a power stroke is involved.
The arrangement of at least one valve, in particular of at least one proportional valve, for example a 4/3-way proportional valve, via which the direction and/or speed of the at least one hydraulic cylinder can be controlled or regulated, is preferred for the operation of a first clamping unit and/or at least one second clamping unit.
The direction and/or speed of the at least one hydraulic cylinder can be controlled or regulated by unblocking and/or blocking selected lines of the first hydraulic line system and/or of the at least one second hydraulic line system, in particular by different types of valves, wherein the fluid flow within the first hydraulic line system and/or the at least one second hydraulic line system is controlled or regulated.
In the case of two-plate clamping units, two hydraulic cylinders per clamping unit are preferably used, which are preferably driven by a single pump system.
A pump system comprises at least one pump and/or is part of a closed or open hydraulic line system and/or is connected to a hydraulic line system.
The advantage of the use of a common pump system for feeding two or more hydraulic cylinders is that a symmetrical introduction of force is possible because of the lines connected directly to each other, which can be understood to be communicating vessels. That is to say the introduction of force and/or clamping force application to the individual hydraulic cylinders can be effected completely synchronously and with the same pressure profile.
If two or more clamping units are now arranged against each other, i.e. next to each other and/or one above another, it is particularly preferably provided that the first hydraulic line system, preferably connected to the first clamping force mechanism and/or fast stroke mechanism, and the at least one second hydraulic line system, preferably connected to the at least one second clamping force mechanism and/or fast stroke mechanism, are implemented such that they can be interconnected.
For this purpose, at least one valve, in particular a control valve, via which the hydraulic lines of the first hydraulic line system and the at least one second hydraulic line system can be interconnected, is arranged between the first hydraulic line system and the at least one second hydraulic line system.
When two or more hydraulic line systems are interconnected, there is a continuous fluid flow and/or a closed hydraulic oil circuit within the combined hydraulic line systems. That is to say the first hydraulic line system and the at least one second hydraulic line system produce a single system of communicating hydraulic lines.
When two or more clamping units are operated with a single system of communicating hydraulic lines, the first clamping force mechanism and/or at least one fast stroke drive and the at least one second clamping force mechanism and/or at least one fast stroke drive can be fed using one or more pump systems.
When two or more clamping units are operated with a single system of communicating hydraulic lines, the first clamping force mechanism and/or at least one fast stroke drive and/or the at least one second clamping force mechanism and/or at least one fast stroke drive can be controlled or regulated using one or more valves, such as e.g. proportional valves.
Whether one or more pump systems and/or valves are used depends on various factors.
These factors can be for example of a mechanical and/or drive-technology, electrical-engineering or control-technology and/or safety-related and/or practical and/or economic nature and/or can depend on the molding machine and/or the mold and/or material properties or the like.
Through the operation of two or more clamping units with a single system of communicating hydraulic lines, an asymmetrical clamping force application, which is in many cases unintentional, can be avoided.
In particular, in the event of failure, for example when a valve, e.g. proportional valve, fails, the parallelism of the first movable platen and the at least one second movable platen can thereby be substantially retained.
In the case of separate individual operation of the first clamping unit and/or the at least one second clamping unit, the first clamping force mechanism and/or at least one fast stroke drive and the at least one second clamping force mechanism and/or at least one fast stroke drive can be operable entirely independently of each other.
This means that in the case of individual operation of two or more clamping units, the first hydraulic line system and the at least one second hydraulic line system are preferably decoupled from each other.
It is particularly preferable that the first clamping unit and the at least one second clamping unit are mechanically movement-coupled, in particular when the first clamping force mechanism and the at least one second clamping force mechanism are operated completely synchronously, thus in parallel operation.
However, a mechanical movement coupling is not imperative.
The mechanical movement coupling can be effected by at least one jointly carried mold or by one or more mechanical coupling elements.
Mechanical coupling elements are for example flexible connecting elements (e.g. a flexure bearing and/or Flex-Link element), tongue and groove systems (e.g. by means of keys), screw connections (optionally with spring pretensioning, e.g. by means of plate springs) or screwed-on thin connecting plates, which are attached to the fixed and/or the movable platens and/or the clamping frames of the first and the at least one second clamping unit.
Flexible connecting elements favorably have substantially elastic properties, therefore allow a temporary deformation and/or have an elastic effect.
A mechanical movement coupling is preferably provided for clamping axes, arranged substantially parallel to each other, of the first and the at least one second clamping unit, in particular in order to achieve identical movement profiles of the first and the at least one second clamping unit. Identical movement profiles can be understood such that the start and end points and the movement speeds of the first and the at least one second movable platen are identical.
In order to achieve identical movement profiles of the first and at least one second movable platen, the mechanical movement coupling is preferably implemented such that the movable platens are arranged coplanar relative to each other, which means that they lie substantially in one plane.
In the mechanically decoupled or coupled state of the first and at least one second movable platen of an arrangement with parallel-aligned clamping axes, the movable platens can arrive at different positions that are substantially parallel to each other. This means, in other words, that the spacing between the first fixed platen and the first movable platen can differ from the spacing between the at least one second fixed platen and the at least one second movable platen.
As an alternative to a mechanical coupling of the fixed platens, there can be a material-bonding connection, for example by gluing, welding, or soldering.
It is particularly preferable that the first and the at least one second clamping unit are controlled or regulated coupled.
By coupled control or regulation may be meant that relevant control or regulation parameters, such as e.g., an actual or target value of a partial clamping force, a deformation, a tension and/or pressure value, a driving power parameter etc., of the first clamping unit influence the control of the at least one second clamping unit, and vice versa.
In the case of a mechanical movement coupling of the first and the at least one second clamping unit, the first and the at least one second clamping unit are usually controlled or regulated coupled by the control or regulating unit, for example based on position sensors.
It is particularly preferable that at least one movable separator is arranged between the first clamping unit and the at least one second clamping unit.
By a movable separator is meant, for example, a displaceable separating protective device.
When the first fixed platen, the first movable platen, the second fixed platen and the second movable platen jointly carry at least one mold, the separator is arranged outside the first mold region of the first clamping unit and outside the second mold region of the at least one second clamping unit.
By a mold region is meant the region between a fixed and a movable platen, which can receive and/or carry at least one mold.
Due to the separator the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit can also be operated separately. For this purpose, the separator can be brought in between the first clamping unit and the second clamping unit.
The separator can preferably be formed as a separating protective device.
As a particularly preferred embodiment variant the first and at least one second clamping unit in each case have at least one, preferably four, tension rods or rails which at least partially penetrate the fixed and/or movable platens.
In the case of the use of at least one tension rod, it is possible for at least one of these tension rods to be arranged on adjacent side edges of the fixed and/or movable platens of two clamping units lying next to each other with clamping axes aligned parallel to each other, with the result that the drives bring about partial clamping forces for both of these clamping units by these tension rods.
Each tension rod, which is arranged on adjacent side edges of the fixed and/or movable platens, penetrates the first fixed platen and/or the first movable platen and/or the second fixed platen and/or the second movable platen.
To put it simply, this means that two adjacent clamping units share one or more tension or pressure rods.
For two clamping units arranged against each other, this means for example that instead of eight tension rods (with four tension rods per clamping unit, as usually used) only six tension rods are provided.
That can be advantageous, for example, from an economic point of view, as the number of tension rods and corresponding drives can be reduced.
It is preferable that, in the case of the use of tension rods or rails, pressure cushions are used as drives for the clamping force application, thus as power stroke drives.
As a preferred embodiment, the first and second clamping units in each case have at least one, preferably precisely one, preferably centrally arranged, pressure rod.
As a preferred embodiment, the first and second clamping units in each case have at least one toggle joint mechanism.
It is preferable that, in the case of the use of tension rods or toggle joints, hydraulic cylinders are used as drive for the clamping force application. However, other drives are also entirely conceivable, such as for example spindle drives in the case of toggle joint mechanisms.
It is particularly preferable that, in the case of the use of tension rods or rails, at least one pulling device is provided.
These pulling devices are formed to pull the tension rods out of the mold regions of the first and the at least one second clamping unit, with the result that the tension rods lie outside the mold regions. A free space thereby forms, whereby a simplified assembling and disassembling of the molds is possible, which is eminently advantageous in the case of molds with large dimensions.
It is preferable that the first clamping force mechanism and/or the at least one second clamping force mechanism is locked for the clamping force application.
The locking can be effected by the drive and/or by a locking mechanism.
By a locking mechanism is meant for example a locking nut.
The arrangement of the first and at least one second clamping unit is preferably provided such that a spatially flexible arrangement of one or more injection units is made possible.
By a spatially flexible arrangement of the injection units is meant for example that the at least one injection unit can be positioned at all possible angles to the clamping axes of the clamping units, e.g. parallel and/or at right angles to the clamping axes.
In each case, at least one opening can be provided in the fixed and/or movable platens, which makes it possible for the at least one injection unit to dock with and/or press against the at least one mold.
By an opening in the fixed platen and/or in the movable platen is meant, in particular, a cutout the inner wall of which has conical and/or cylindrical sections.
The at least one opening is preferably implemented such that the at least one injection unit can be pressed in a positive-locking manner against the fixed platen and/or the movable platen and/or against the at least one mold.
The advantages of a spatially flexible arrangement of injection units are for example that an optimization of the injection process and/or an optimization of the at least one mold and/or a flexible adaptation to existing structural conditions of a molding machine are made possible.
The optimization of the injection process by means of a flexible arrangement of injection units can be understood for example such that the positions on the at least one mold in which injection is performed can be chosen in a spatially flexible manner, which can be advantageous in particular in the case of geometries that are complex to cast in a mold.
If the injection units can be arranged in a spatially flexible manner, the possibility of optimizing the at least one mold in terms of its geometry exists, which for example in turn makes an optimization of the clamping force application and/or the mold mass possible.
Structural conditions of a molding machine, for example the available space within existing molding machines, can also be taken into consideration in an advantageous manner by means of a spatially flexible arrangement of injection units.
Further advantages and details of the invention are revealed by the figures and the associated description of the figures, in which:
In this embodiment, the first clamping unit 2 includes a first fixed platen 3, a first movable platen 4 and a first clamping force mechanism 6, and the at least one second clamping unit 8 includes a second fixed platen 9, a second movable platen 10 and a second clamping force mechanism 11.
In this embodiment, the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 in each case include four tension rods 17 and drives 16, in particular power stroke drives 26.
As an alternative to the implementation with tension rods 17, at least one pressure rod 17 and/or a toggle joint can for example also be provided.
Furthermore,
For example, both clamping units could have separate control or regulating units 7 which are connected to each other via a data connection such that the clamping force application can be synchronized.
In this embodiment the control or regulating unit 7 controls or regulates the four drives 16, in particular power stroke drives 26, of the first clamping force mechanism 6 and the four drives 16 of the second clamping force mechanism 11.
It is to be mentioned that the control or regulating unit 7 is favorably arranged directly on the machine. In principle, the control or regulating unit 7 could, however, also be realized as a computer server, which is arranged remote from the machine. The control or regulating unit could alternatively or additionally also be realized by distributed computing. Of course, mixed forms are also conceivable.
If further clamping units are arranged next to the first clamping unit 2 and/or the second clamping unit 8, the control or regulating unit 7 in this embodiment also controls the drives 16 of the clamping force mechanisms and/or fast stroke drives 25 of these further clamping units.
However, drives 16 and tension rods 17 can also be provided for a fast stroke.
In the description of the embodiments shown in
The control or regulating unit 7 is represented simplified in
According to the invention, the control or regulating unit 7 is in any case contained in all embodiments with at least the functional features which have already been described.
In the example of
In this embodiment the spacing between the first fixed platen 3 and the first movable platen 4 of the first clamping unit 2 differs from the spacing between the second fixed platen 9 and the second movable platen 10 of the second clamping unit 8 and/or from the spacing between a third fixed platen and a third movable platen of a third clamping unit, and the shape of the jointly carried mold 5 is stepped.
As a single stepped mold 15 is jointly carried by the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 and the third clamping unit in the embodiment in
If, however, several molds 15 are carried by the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 and possible further clamping units, only those movable platens which jointly carry one mold 15 are displaced synchronously.
As an alternative to the fact that each of the clamping units can have its own fixed platen, it is also conceivable for several clamping units to share one fixed platen.
The at least one movable platen of the at least one clamping unit which solely carries a mold can be displaced asynchronously relative to the movable platens of the other clamping units which can jointly carry a mold.
An arrangement of pulling devices 18 in particular on the upper tension rods 17 makes sense in order to simplify a lifting in and/or out of the at least one mold 5.
The arrangement of the injection units 19 can be effected at all possible angles to the clamping axes of the first clamping unit 2 and/or the second clamping unit 8.
Moreover, the injection units 19 can be arranged such that they can be pressed against the at least one mold 5 by means of the openings provided for this purpose in the first fixed platen 3 and/or the second fixed platen 9 and/or the first movable platen 4 and/or the second movable platen 10 and/or over the first mold region 14 and/or the second mold region.
The injection units 19 could also be arranged against separate openings.
Any other arrangements of injection units 19 are generally possible.
In this embodiment the first clamping unit 2 and the at least one second clamping unit 8 in each case have at least two fast stroke drives 25.
All following circuit diagrams relate to two clamping units arranged against each other, i.e. next to each other or one above the other. The principles of these circuit diagrams can, however, be transferred to any desired number of clamping units arranged against each other, i.e. next to each other and/or one above another.
As this embodiment involves in particular a circuit diagram for at least one fast stroke movement, the drives 16 are preferably fast stroke drives 25.
Fast stroke drives generally serve to carry out a rapid movement or shift of movable platens for the purpose of closing and opening movements of a clamping unit.
It may also be the case that the drives 16 are power stroke drives 26, which are provided for the clamping force application to a mold.
During the power stroke, the movements or shifts of the platens are usually very small or negligibly small.
It may be mentioned that the movable platens to which a clamping force has been applied by the hydraulic cylinders are not represented in any of
In the embodiment of
No power stroke takes place in a force-free position. However, precisely a fast stroke could take place in this position or in the case of the circuitry in
The circuit diagram of
That is to say the first movable platen 4 and the second movable platen 10 are operated independently of each other in this example.
Thus, the movement directions and/or the speeds of the first clamping force mechanism 6 and/or the at least one fast stroke drive 25 of the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping force mechanism 11 and/or the at least one fast stroke drive 25 of the at least one second clamping unit 8 can be set independently of each other.
In
Moreover, all drives 16, in particular fast stroke drives 25, are fed via a single pump system 22 here.
This means that the fast stroke drives 25 of the first clamping unit 2 and the fast stroke drives 25 of the second clamping unit 8 can be controlled coupled or independently of each other.
It is preferably provided that the control valves 27 between the first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21 for the separate individual operation, as represented in
A currentless state of the control valves 27 in the coupled state is advantageous from a mechanical and/or drive-technology and/or safety-technology point of view.
In the circuit diagram in
The control valves 27 are thus preferably in the energized state here.
It is generally possible for not only two hydraulic line systems but any desired number of hydraulic line systems to be coupled to each other, wherein the number of hydraulic line systems preferably corresponds to the number of clamping units arranged against each other.
In all descriptions of examples of hydraulic circuit diagrams that follow, primarily the differences from the example shown in
Unlike the circuit diagram in
Preferably, one pump system 22 is allocated in each case to the first hydraulic line system 20 and to the second hydraulic line system 21.
The at least one pump system 22 can, however, also be arranged at any desired point on the first hydraulic line system 20 and/or on the second hydraulic line system.
As the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 are also operated individually in this embodiment, as already shown in the circuit diagram in
The first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21 are thus preferably fed by one pump system 22 in each case.
Here too, the control valves 27 are preferably energized in the decoupled state.
A pump system control valve 28, via which the two pump systems 22 can be interconnected, is arranged between the two pump systems 22.
In contrast to the control valves 27, which can preferably serve to interconnect the line systems 20, 21, the at least one pump system control valve 28 preferably serves to interconnect the pump systems 22.
In this embodiment the pump system control valve 28 is preferably in the energized state, with the result that the pump systems 22 are decoupled.
This means that the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 are controllable or regulatable completely synchronously, and that the first movable platen 4 and the second movable platen 10 are movable and/or a clamping force can be applied to them synchronously.
The fast stroke drives 25 of the first clamping unit 2 are preferably fed via the first hydraulic line system 20 and controlled or regulated via a valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24, and the fast stroke drives 25 of the second clamping unit 8 are fed via the second hydraulic line system 21 and controlled or regulated via a further valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24.
Furthermore, two control valves 27 are preferably arranged between the first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21, and a pump system control valve 28 is arranged between the two pump systems 22.
In the embodiment of a circuit diagram in
Furthermore, the pump system control valve 28 between the pump systems 22 is set here such that the pump systems 22 are interconnected.
Here, it can furthermore be seen that all fast stroke drives 25 present are controlled or regulated by a single valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24, (represented on the left-hand side) via the coupled line systems.
All fast stroke drives 25 could also be fed using a single pump system 22. For this, the pump system control valve 28 between the two pump systems 22 would have to be set to a decoupled state.
Parallel operation of the fast stroke drives 25 of the first clamping unit 2 and the fast stroke drives 25 of the second clamping unit 8 with a single pump system 22 is preferably used in the case of lower required speeds of the hydraulic cylinders.
Controlling all hydraulic cylinders via a single valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24, has the advantage that only one proportional valve 24 is relevant in terms of control technology for the entire movement sequences of the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 and the setting and/or control or regulation is therefore easier.
On the other hand, in the case of the control or regulation by means of a single valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24, the valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24, would have to be chosen to be correspondingly large because of the large number of hydraulic cylinders to be actuated.
That can furthermore result in the disadvantage that in the case of very slow movements and/or when the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping unit 8 are operated individually the sharpness, i.e. the precision of the control, is worse.
Here, a circuit diagram is shown in which the first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21 can be coupled to each other by means of two control valves 27, wherein these can be fed by two pump systems 22, and wherein the control of the first clamping force mechanism 6 and/or the fast stroke drives 25 of the first clamping unit 2 and the second clamping force mechanism 11 and/or the fast stroke drives 25 of the second clamping unit 8 can be effected by means of at least two valves 23, in particular proportional valves 24.
An advantage of the circuit diagram in
This means for example that the proportional valve 24 represented on the left can be optimized for the first hydraulic line system 20 and/or the first clamping force mechanism 6 and/or the fast stroke drives 25 of the first clamping unit 2.
In the same way, the proportional valve 24 represented on the right can be optimized for the second hydraulic line system 21 and/or the second clamping force mechanism 11 and/or the fast stroke drives 25 of the second clamping unit 8.
Through the optimization of the valves 23, in particular proportional valves 24, in parallel operation identical speeds of all hydraulic cylinders and/or identical clamping force profiles and/or clamping force sequences can be achieved.
In
That can have the advantage that in the event of failure, for example if a valve 23, in particular proportional valve 24, fails, a hydraulic compensation between the first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21 is guaranteed.
As the control valves 27 between the first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21 can have great importance in drive-technology and/or mechanical and/or safety-technology terms in parallel operation, it is preferably provided that the control valves 27 are electrically monitored.
All valves 23, in particular proportional valves 24, and/or control valves 27 and/or pump system control valves 28 are favorably electrically monitored.
For example, with an electrical monitoring of the valves 23, in particular proportional valves 24, and/or control valves 27 and/or pump system control valves 28 a controlled operation stop can be triggered in the event of failure.
In this example the first hydraulic line system 20 and the second hydraulic line system 21, wherein each system or each clamping force mechanism 6, 11 in each case comprises four drives 16 or power stroke drives 26 respectively, are fed by a pump system 22 and coupled to each other by means of a control valve 27.
The totality of the hydraulic drives 16, in particular power stroke drives 26, of an individual clamping unit is to be understood as a single clamping force mechanism.
This means that the four hydraulic drives 16, thus the four hydraulic cylinders, of the first clamping unit 2 correspond to the first clamping force mechanism 6, and that the four hydraulic drives 16 of the second clamping unit 8 correspond to the second clamping force mechanism 11.
This circuit diagram relates to the control or regulation of power stroke drives 26, such as e.g. pressure cushions.
The examples of circuit diagrams shown in
Other circuitries are also conceivable provided they make a reasonable operation of two or more clamping units arranged against each other possible.
From a hydraulic point of view the same principles apply in general to circuit diagrams for fast stroke movements and for power strokes.
A circuit diagram should at least satisfy safety-technology aspects, but can depend on a wide variety of requirements and/or objectives, for example the conditions of a molding machine and/or a mold and/or the production sequences and/or the material requirements etc.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| A 50626/2022 | Aug 2022 | AT | national |
