Universal Mounting Brackets for Attaching a Hot Injection Manifold to the Lower Die Set of an Injection Blow Molding Machine

Abstract

Tooling for the injection station of an injection blow molding machine includes a set of individual mounting bracket assemblies that attach an elongated manifold block to the lower die set of the machine. The relatively slender brackets are designed to have minimal thermal contact with the manifold block without sacrificing stability and structural integrity. Standard sizes of the brackets maybe manufactured in advance to accommodate manifold blocks of different lengths but standard widths.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of an injection station of an injection blow mold machine with the upper die set removed and with tooling in accordance with the present invention secured to the lower die set of the station;

FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of the manifold block with a set of mounting brackets in accordance with the principles of the present invention attached thereto;

FIG. 3 is a top isometric view of a central guide bracket of the set of brackets used with the manifold block in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom isometric view of the guide bracket;

FIG. 5 is a top isometric view of one of the outboard hold-down brackets of the set associated with the manifold block of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a bottom isometric view of the hold-down bracket of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical, transverse cross-sectional view through the tooling of FIG. 1 taken in the center of the tooling to illustrate the relationship between the central guide bracket, the manifold block and the lower die set; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view through the tooling of FIG. 1 similar to FIG. 7 but taken at an outboard location to illustrate the relationship between a hold-down bracket, the hot manifold block and the lower die set.

Claims

1. Tooling for use at the injection station of an injection blow molding machine, said tooling comprising: an elongated manifold block having an inlet for receiving hot molten plastic material from a source thereof and a plurality of outlets for distributing the material to a plurality of mold cavities at the injection station; anda plurality of transversely extending brackets spaced along the length of the manifold block and attached thereto,at least certain of the brackets being adapted to be detachably secured to a lower die set at the injection station for removably attaching the manifold block to the lower die set.

2. Tooling as claimed in claim 1, said plurality of brackets including a guide bracket having at least one projection adapted to be received within a guide slot in the lower die set.

3. Tooling as claimed in claim 1, each of said brackets having a width that is several times less than the length of the manifold block.

4. Tooling as claimed in claim 1, each of said brackets having a top side provided with a pair of load-supporting surfaces engaging the bottom of the manifold block at a pair of transversely spaced locations across the width of the manifold block,said top side further being provided with recessed top surfaces adjacent said load-supporting surfaces,said recessed top surfaces being out of thermal contact with the bottom of the manifold block.

5. Tooling as claimed in claim 4, said top side further being provided with a pair of opposed, inwardly facing, transversely spaced apart abutments engaging opposite front and rear faces of the manifold block to confine the manifold block in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis.

6. Tooling as claimed in claim 5, said load-supporting surfaces including a pad located between said abutments,there being a first recessed top surface between the pad and a first of said abutments and a second recessed top surface between the pad and the second of said abutments.

7. Tooling as claimed in claim 6, said load-supporting surfaces further including a shelf adjacent said second abutment and spaced from said pad.

8. Tooling as claimed in claim 6, said pad having a fastener passing therethrough and securing the bracket to the manifold block.

9. Tooling as claimed in claim 4, each of said brackets further having a bottom side provided with a pair of lower load-bearing surfaces disposed to contact the lower die set at a pair of transversely spaced locations across the width of the manifold block,said bottom side further being provided with recessed bottom surfaces adjacent the lower load-bearing surfaces disposed to be out of thermal contact with the lower die set when the manifold block is attached to the lower die set.

10. Tooling as claimed in claim 1, each of said brackets having a bottom side provided with a pair of lower load-bearing surfaces disposed to contact the lower die set at a pair of transversely spaced locations across the width of the manifold block,said bottom side further being provided with recessed bottom surfaces adjacent the lower load-bearing surfaces disposed to be out of thermal contact with the lower die set when the manifold block is attached to the lower die set.

11. Tooling as claimed in claim 10, said plurality of brackets including a guide bracket having at least a pair of aligned projections adapted to be received within a guide slot in the lower die set,said lower load-bearing surfaces being located adjacent said projections in recessed relationship therewith.

12. Tooling as claimed in claim 9, said certain brackets each having an extension projecting rearwardly from the manifold block,further comprising a fastener passing through the extension for releasably securing the bracket to the lower die set.

13. Tooling as claimed in claim 12, said extension having a slot that is elongated in a transverse direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the manifold block,said fastener being disposed within said slot to permit adjustment of the manifold block in a transverse direction when the fastener is loosened.

14. Tooling as claimed in claim 1, said plurality of brackets including a central guide bracket and at least a pair of outboard hold-down brackets spaced longitudinally along the manifold block from said central guide bracket on opposite sides thereof.

15. Tooling as claimed in claim 14, said central guide bracket being devoid of fasteners for securing the central guide bracket to the lower die set,said outboard hold-down brackets each having a fastener for securing the same to the lower die set.

16. Tooling as claimed in claim 15, each of said brackets having a width that is several times less than the length of the manifold block.

17. A guide bracket assembly for use in attaching a manifold block to-the lower die set at the injection station of an injection blow mold machine, said guide bracket assembly comprising: an elongated bracket having a top side, a bottom side, and a pair of opposite ends,said top side being provided with a pair of load-supporting surfaces for engaging the bottom of the manifold block at a pair of transversely spaced locations across the width of the manifold block,said top side further being provided with recessed top surfaces adjacent said load-supporting surfaces disposed to be out of thermal contact with the bottom of the manifold block when the guide bracket is attached thereto,said bottom side being provided with a pair of longitudinally aligned projections adapted to be received within a guide slot in the lower die set; anda fastener for securing the bracket to the bottom of the manifold block.

18. A guide bracket assembly as claimed in claim 17, said top side further being provided with a pair of opposed, inwardly facing, transversely spaced apart abutments for engaging opposite front and rear faces of the manifold block to confine the manifold block in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis.

19. A guide bracket assembly as claimed in claim 18, said load-supporting surfaces including a pad located between said abutments,there being a first recessed top surface between the pad and a first of said abutments and a second recessed top surface between the pad and the second of said abutments.

20. A guide bracket assembly as claimed in claim 19, said load-supporting surfaces further including a shelf adjacent said second abutment and spaced from said pad.

21. A guide bracket assembly as claimed in claim 20, said fastener passing through said pad.

22. A guide bracket assembly as claimed in claim 20, said bottom side further being provided with recessed bottom surfaces adjacent the lower load-bearing surfaces disposed to be out of thermal contact with the lower die set when the guide bracket is engaged with the lower die set.

23. A hold-down bracket assembly for use in attaching a manifold block to the lower die set at the injection station of an injection blow mold machine, said hold-down bracket assembly comprising: an elongated hold-down bracket having a top side, a bottom side, and a pair of opposite ends,said top side being provided with at least a pair of load-supporting surfaces for engaging the bottom of the manifold block at a pair of transversely spaced locations across the width of the manifold block,said top side further being provided with recessed top surfaces adjacent said load-supporting surfaces disposed to be out of thermal contact with the bottom of the manifold block when the hold-down bracket is attached thereto,said bottom side being provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced, loading-bearing surfaces adapted to engage the lower die set when the hold-down bracket is attached thereto;a first fastener for securing the hold-down bracket to the bottom of the manifold block; anda second fastener for securing the hold-down bracket to the lower die set.

24. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 23, said top side further being provided with a pair of opposed, inwardly facing, transversely spaced apart abutments for engaging opposite front and rear faces of the manifold block to confine the manifold block in a direction transverse to its longitudinal axis.

25. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 24, said load-supporting surfaces including a pad located between said abutments,there being a first recessed top surface between the pad and a first of said abutments and a second recessed top surface between the pad and the second of said abutments.

26. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 25, said load-supporting surfaces flirter including a shelf adjacent said second abutment and spaced from said pad.

27. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 26, said first fastener passing through said pad.

28. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 26, said bottom side further being provided with recessed bottom surfaces adjacent the lower load-bearing surfaces disposed to be out of thermal contact with the lower die set when the hold-down bracket is engaged with the lower die set.

29. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 28, further comprising an extension on one end of the hold-down bracket,said second fastener passing through the extension.

30. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 29, said extension having a slot that is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hold-down bracket,said second fastener being disposed within said slot.

31. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 23, further comprising an extension on one end of the hold-down bracket,said second fastener passing through the extension.

32. A hold-down bracket assembly as claimed in claim 31, said extension having a slot that is elongated in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the hold-down bracket,said second fastener being disposed within said slot.