Claims
- 1. A barrel assembly for use in an injection molding machine comprising:
a barrel, and a first barrel coupler, said barrel having a first portion, said barrel having a discharge end and an opening; said barrel having a lengthwise axial bore extending between said discharge end and said opening for receiving a reciprocating screw, said first barrel coupler disposed on said first portion of said barrel, wherein said first barrel coupler isolates a second portion of said barrel from an axial force.
- 2. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage coupler to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel.
- 3. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an barrel axial force linkage member, said barrel axial force linkage member is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said barrel axial force linkage member distributes said axial carriage force.
- 4. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a thermal insulator, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said thermal insulator thermally reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage assembly.
- 5. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a barrel linkage insulator, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage assembly.
- 6. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and a barrel axial force linkage, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage coupler to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force.
- 7. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and a thermal insulator, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage coupler to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 8. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an barrel axial force linkage, and a thermal insulator, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force, and said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 9. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and a barrel linkage insulator, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage coupler to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 10. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an barrel axial force linkage, and a barrel linkage insulator, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 11. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a thermal insulator, and a barrel linkage insulator, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 12. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and an barrel axial force linkage, and a thermal insulator, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage coupler to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and wherein said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force, and wherein said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 13. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
an barrel axial force linkage, and a thermal insulator, and a barrel linkage insulator, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force, and said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and thermally isolates said barrel assembly from a carriage.
- 14. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and an barrel axial force linkage, and a barrel linkage insulator, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage member to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 15. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and a thermal insulator, and a barrel linkage insulator, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage member to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 16. The barrel assembly of claim 1, further comprising:
a second barrel coupler, and a thermal insulator, and an barrel axial force linkage, and a barrel linkage insulator, said second barrel coupler is disposed on said second portion of said barrel, said barrel axial force linkage is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said thermal insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, said barrel linkage insulator is disposed on said first barrel coupler, wherein said second barrel coupler is adapted to cooperate with said second portion of said barrel and a second carriage member to permit axial movement of said barrel and prevent rotational movement of said barrel, and said barrel axial force linkage distributes said axial carriage force, and said thermal insulator reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage, and said barrel linkage insulator distributes said axial carriage force and reduces conductive heat transfer between said barrel assembly and a carriage.
- 17. The barrel assembly of claim 2, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14, 15, or 16, wherein there is one or more of said second barrel coupler.
- 18. The barrel assembly of claim 17 wherein at least one of said second barrel coupler is an barrel interlocking member, formed in an outer surface of said second portion.
- 19. The barrel assembly of claim 18, wherein said barrel interlocking member is a substantially flat pad.
- 20. The barrel assembly of claim 18, wherein said barrel interlocking member is a spline.
- 21. The barrel assembly of claim 18, wherein said barrel interlocking member is an axially aligned slot.
- 22. The barrel assembly of claim 17, wherein said second barrel coupler is retained on said barrel section.
- 23. The barrel assembly of claim 3, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, or 16 wherein there is one or more of said barrel axial force linkage.
- 24. The barrel assembly of claim 23, wherein at least one of said barrel axial force linkage member is of unitary construction with said first barrel coupler.
- 25. The barrel assembly of claim 23, wherein at least one of said barrel axial force linkage member is retained to said first barrel coupler.
- 26. The barrel assembly of claim 4, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, or 16 wherein there are one or more of said thermal insulator.
- 27. The barrel assembly of claim 26, wherein at least one of said thermal insulator is of unitary construction with said first barrel coupler.
- 28. The barrel assembly of claim 26, wherein at least one of said thermal insulator is retained to said first barrel coupler.
- 29. The barrel assembly of claim 5, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, or 16 wherein there are one or more of said barrel linkage insulator.
- 30. The barrel assembly of claim 29, wherein at least one of said barrel linkage insulator is unitary construction with said first barrel coupler.
- 31. The barrel assembly of claim 29, wherein at least one of said barrel linkage insulator is retained to said first barrel coupler.
- 32. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, further comprising:
a barrel liner, said barrel liner is retained within said axial bore wherein said barrel liner isolates and protects said barrel from mechanical or chemical degradation related to a melt of material.
- 33. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, further comprising:
a feed throat, said feed throat is located on said second portion, wherein said freed throat is for introducing feed material.
- 34. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, further comprising:
a reciprocating screw, said reciprocating screw is located and centered within said axial bore, wherein said reciprocating screw is for transporting feed material.
- 35. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, wherein said barrel is of unitary construction.
- 36. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, wherein said barrel is an assembly of a plurality of barrel section.
- 37. The barrel assembly of claim 36, wherein said barrel section include a flange at its ends in cooperation with a plurality of fasteners to retain adjacent said barrel section.
- 38. The barrel assembly of claim 37, wherein said flange is of unitary construction on said barrel.
- 39. The barrel assembly of claim 37, wherein said flange is retained on said barrel section.
- 40. The barrel assembly of claim 39, wherein said flange is threaded on said barrel.
- 41. The barrel assembly of claim 36, wherein said barrel section are threadably connected.
- 42. The barrel assembly of claim 36, wherein said adjacent barrel section are retained by welding.
- 43. The barrel assembly of claim 36, wherein adjacent said barrel section are clamped.
- 44. The barrel assembly of claim 36, wherein a seal is disposed between said adjacent barrel section to prevent leakage of melt of material.
- 45. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, wherein said first barrel coupler is of unitary construction with said first portion of said barrel.
- 46. The barrel assembly of claim 18, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, or 31, wherein said first barrel coupler is retained to said first portion of said barrel.
- 47. The barrel assembly of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 wherein said first barrel coupler prevents rotation of said barrel assembly.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED COPENDING PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] The following patent applications, which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention and filed concurrently herewith, cover subject matter related to the subject matter of the present invention and are incorporated herein by reference:
[0002] Serial Number Title
[0003] Cradle For A Quick Barrel Change.
[0004] Force Isolating Cradle Assembly.
[0005] Injection Unit