MOLDING APPARATUS WITH OPTICAL ALIGNMENT MECHANISM

Abstract

A molding apparatus includes a first mold part, a second mold part, and an alignment assembly. The two mold parts have an alignment axis and are configured for mating with each other to delimit molding cavity. The two mold parts respectively have a first surface and a second surface, which face each other. The alignment assembly is associated with the two mold parts and includes a light emitting member and a light receiving member. The two members are linked to the two mold parts, respectively. The light emitting member is configured for delivering light to a first location of the first surface at a predetermined position relative the alignment axis. The light receiving member is configured for receiving the light emitted at a second location of the second surface, at a same position relative the alignment axis as the first location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present molding apparatus can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present molding apparatus. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of a molding apparatus, according to a preferred embodiment, having two mold parts, showing the two hold parts separated from each other;

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but showing the two hold parts mated together;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, schematic view of section III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, but showing the two mold parts being misaligned with respect to each other; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic, cross-sectional view of an alternative molding apparatus, according to another preferred embodiment.

Claims

1. A molding apparatus comprising: a first mold part having a first surface;a second mold part having a second surface facing toward the first surface, at least one of the first and second mold parts having an alignment axis, the first and second mold parts being configured for mating with each other together to define at least one molding cavity; andat least one alignment assembly associated with the first and second mold parts, each alignment assembly comprising:a light emitting member operatively associated with the first mold part, the light emitting member being configured for emitting light at a first location of the first surface at a predetermined distance from the alignment axis and at a given angular position relative thereto; anda light receiving member operatively associated with the second mold part, the light receiving member being configured for receiving the light emitted at a second location of the second surface, the second location being oriented at a same distance from the alignment axis and at a same angular position relative thereto as the first location.

2. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second mold parts comprises a mold base defining a receiving cavity and a mold core received in the receiving cavity, the two mold cores being configured for mating with each other to form one molding cavity, the first and second surfaces being respectively defined at the corresponding mold bases of the first and second mold parts.

3. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second mold parts comprises a mold base defining a receiving cavity, a mold block received in the received cavity, and a plurality of inserters, each mold block defining a plurality of sockets for receiving the inserters therein, each inserter of the first mold part being configured for mating with a corresponding inserter of the second mold part to form a molding cavity.

4. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first and second surfaces are defined at respective ones of the two mold bases and the two mold blocks.

5. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the mold cavities vary in space dimensions and in peripheral contours.

6. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting member and the light receiving member each comprise a light transmission cable, the light transmission cables of the light emitting member and the light receiving member being respectively optically linked to the first and second locations of the first and second surface.

7. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first and second surfaces define two respective orifices at the first and second locations, the two mold parts defining two channels respectively communicating with the two corresponding orifices, the two channels being configured for respectively directing the two light transmission cables of the light emitting member and the light receiving member to the two corresponding orifices.

8. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two orifices have the same cross-sectional space dimensions and are both oriented at a direction perpendicular to the alignment axis.

9. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two channels correspondingly extend from orifice bottoms of the two orifices to outside of the first and second mold bases, respectively.

10. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light receiving member comprises a photoelectric conversion circuit optically coupled with the light transmission cable thereof and an analog-digital conversion circuit electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion circuit.

11. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein each light transmission cable is one of an optical fiber and an optical cable.

12. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light emitting member comprises at least one light source of a laser source and a light emitting diode source.

13. A molding apparatus comprising: a fixed mold part having a first surface and an alignment axis;a movable mold part having a second surface facing toward the first surface, the two mold parts being configured for mating with each other together along the alignment axis to define at least one molding cavity;a light emitting member operatively associated with the fixed mold part, the light emitting member being configured for emitting light at a first location of the first surface at a predetermined distance from the alignment axis and at a given angular position relative thereto; anda light receiving member operatively associated with the movable mold part, the light receiving member being configured for receiving the light emitted at a second location of the second surface, the second location being oriented at a same distance from the alignment axis and at a same angular position relative thereto as the first location.

14. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the first and second mold parts comprises a mold base defining a receiving cavity and a mold core received in the receiving cavity, the two mold cores being configured for mating with each other to form one molding cavity, the first and second surfaces being respectively defined at the corresponding mold bases of the first and second mold parts.

15. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein each of the first and second mold parts comprises a mold base defining a receiving cavity, a mold block received in the received cavity, and a plurality of inserters, each mold block defining a plurality of sockets for receiving the inserters therein, each inserter of the first mold part being configured for mating with a corresponding inserter of the second mold part to form a molding cavity.

16. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the light emitting member and the light receiving member each comprise a light transmission cable, the light transmission cables of the light emitting member and the light receiving member being respectively optically linked to the first and second locations of the first and second surface.

17. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second surfaces define two respective orifices at the first and second locations, the two mold parts defining two channels respectively communicating with the two corresponding orifices, the two channels being configured for respectively directing the two light transmission cables of the light emitting member and the light receiving member to the two corresponding orifices.

18. The molding apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the light receiving member comprises a photoelectric conversion circuit optically coupled with the light transmission cable thereof and an analog-digital conversion circuit electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion circuit.