Side shuttle apparatus and method for an injection molding machine

Abstract

Servo side shuttle apparatus and method for a molding machine includes structure and/or steps whereby a shuttle plate is disposed adjacent at least one of a first mold half and a second mold half of the molding machine. A guidance assembly is coupled to the mold half and guides the shuttle plate linearly across a molding face of the mold half. A drive mechanism is provided to drive the shuttle plate in a linear direction. An operation structure is coupled to the shuttle plate and is configured to perform an operation on a molded article disposed either in the mold cavity or on the mold core. The operation may include removing the molded article from a mold core, applying a label to a mold cavity, and/or closing the lid of a molded article while it is resident on the mold core.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Molding machine side shuttle apparatus, comprising: 
 a shuttle plate having a portion always disposed inboard of a perimeter of a first mold half of the molding machine;    a guidance assembly configured to be coupled to the first mold half, and configured to guide said shuttle plate linearly across a molding face of the first mold half;    a drive to drive said shuttle plate linearly, whereby said shuttle plate is moved only linearly across the molding face of the first mold half; and    operation structure coupled to said shuttle plate and configured to (i) remove a molded article from one of a mold core and a mold cavity, and (ii) perform a further operation on at least one of (iia) a molded article disposed in/on a mold structure of the first mold half, and (iib) the mold structure of the first mold half.    
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation on a plastic injection-molded article that is disposed on a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation on the molded article that is disposed on a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation on the molded article that is disposed in a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation on a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation on a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure comprises structure configured to remove the molded article from a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure comprises structure configured to remove the molded article from a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation of applying a work piece to a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation of applying a label to the mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation of applying a work piece to a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation of moving a lid on the molded article.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operation structure is configured to perform the further operation of applying an insert to the molded article.  
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first floating plate and a second floating plate disposed on opposite sides of said shuttle plate.  
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said shuttle plate has a portion that is always disposed inboard of a second mold half of the molding machine.  
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a plastic injection molding machine.  
     
     
         17 . Molded article removal apparatus, comprising: 
 a plate configured to be coupled to a mold portion, and including a removal device that is configured to grasp the molded article from at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity; and    drive structure configured to be coupled to the mold portion, and configured to drive said plate (i) such that said plate is driven only in one or more coplanar linear directions, and (ii) such that said removal device removes the molded article from the at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity.    
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said plate comprises a plurality of shuttle plates each coupled to the mold portion such that a portion of each shuttle plate is always disposed within a perimeter of the mold portion.  
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , further comprising a drop chute configured to receive molded articles from each of said plurality of shuttle plates.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein at least one of said plurality of shuttle plates is always completely disposed within the perimeter of the mold portion.  
     
     
         21 . Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said drive structure comprises: 
 a servo motor;    a drive shaft coupled to said servo motor;    a gear coupled to said drive shaft; and    a geared linear rail coupled between said drive shaft and said shuttle plate.    
     
     
         22 . Apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the mold portion comprises at least one of (i) a mold core plate having a plurality of cores disposed thereon, and (ii) a mold cavity plate having a plurality of cavities disposed thereon, and wherein said shuttle plate includes a plurality of arms disposed to access one of the plurality cores and the plurality of cavities.  
     
     
         23 . Apparatus according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a suction cup coupled to each said arm; and    a vacuum channel configured to proved low pressure air to said suction cup.    
     
     
         24 . Molded article work piece application apparatus, comprising: 
 a plate configured to be coupled to a mold portion, and including a work piece application device that is configured to apply a work piece to at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity; and    drive structure configured to be coupled to the mold portion, and configured to drive said plate (i) such that said plate is driven only in one or more coplanar linear directions, and (ii) such that said work piece application device applies the work piece to the at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity.    
     
     
         25 . Apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein said work piece application device comprises a label application device that is configured to apply a label to an inside surface of the mold cavity.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said label application device includes a label attraction member to grasp the label.  
     
     
         27 . Apparatus according to  claim 26 , further comprising a floating plate device having: 
 a first floating plate disposed on a first side of said plate and having a article suction member for grasping a just-molded article from the mold core;    a second floating plate disposed on a second side of said plate and having the label attraction member for grasping the label; and    biasing structure disposed between said plate and at least one of said first and second floating plates, and configured to allow said first and second floating plates to move in a direction orthogonal to a plane of said plate as the mold core and the mold cavity move with respect to each other.    
     
     
         28 . Apparatus according to  claim 27 , wherein said drive structure is configured to move in a first direction to (i) move the article suction member to a position adjacent a just-molded article on the mold core, and (ii) move the label attraction member, which is holding the label, to a position adjacent the mold cavity, and wherein after the article is stripped from the mold core, said drive structure is configured to move in a second direction to (iii) move the article suction member to a position to eject the just-molded article from the mold, and (iv) move the label attraction member to a position adjacent a label feed location.  
     
     
         29 . Apparatus according to  claim 28 , further comprising retention structure disposed adjacent the mold cavity and configured to retain the label within the mold cavity after the mold has closed.  
     
     
         30 . Molded article lid closing apparatus, comprising: 
 a plate configured to be coupled to a mold portion, and including a lid closing device that is configured to at least partially close a lid of a molded article that is resident on one of a mold core and a mold cavity, said plate including a molded article removal device configured to remove a molded article from one of a mold core and a mold cavity; and    drive structure configured to be coupled to the mold portion, and configured to drive said plate (i) such that said plate is driven only in one or more coplanar linear directions, and (ii) such that the lid of the molded article that is resident on one of the mold core and the mold cavity is at least partially closed.    
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the molded article comprises an injection molded plastic article that is resident on the mold core when the drive structure drives said plate to close the lid to an angle of between about 90 degrees and about 175 degrees with respect to an injection-molded position.  
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein said molded article removal device includes a suction member configured to extract the molded article from the mold core, and wherein said lid closing device includes a tab member affixed to said plate on one side of said suction member.  
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein, after said suction member has extracted the molded article from the mold core, said drive structure is configured to drive said plate in a direction to place the molded article adjacent a molded article evacuation location.  
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to  claim 34 , further comprising a closing structure coupled to the mold and configured to close the lid further as said drive structure drives said plate the direction to place the molded article adjacent a molded article evacuation location.  
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to  claim 35 , further comprising a closing member coupled to the mold and configured to snap the lid closed on the molded article as the mold cavity closes with respect to the mold core.  
     
     
         36 . A injection molding machine, comprising: 
 a mold cavity plate having a plurality of mold cavities;    a mold core plate having a plurality of mold cores;    a driver for opening and closing the mold core plate and the mold cavity plate with respect to each other;    injection structure configured to inject molten plastic into said plurality of mold cavities;    molded part evacuation structure configured to evacuate molded articles from the injection molding machine; and    a shuttle device configured to move linearly between the mold core plate and the mold cavity plate when they are separated by a predetermined clearance, said shuttle device being configured to extract a plurality of molded article from the plurality of cavities or the plurality of cores, said shuttle device having at least a portion thereof inboard of a periphery of the mold cavity plate when the mold core plate and the mold cavity plate are in the closed position.    
     
     
         37 . A injection molding machine according to  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a shuttle device driver; and    linkage structure configured to transmit driving force from said shuttle device driver to said shuttle device, to cause said shuttle device to move only in coplanar linear directions.    
     
     
         38 . An injection molding machine according to  claim 36 , further comprising a plurality floating plate devices, each coupled to a respective said shuttle device, each floating plate device comprising: 
 molded article grasping structure disposed on an upper surface of said floating plate device and configured to grasp a molded article from a corresponding mold core;    molded article grasping structure disposed on a lower surface of said floating plate device and configured to deposit a work piece in a corresponding mold cavity; and    biasing structure configured to allow said floating plate structure to move perpendicularly with respect to the linear direction of said shuttle device, to grasp the molded article from the corresponding mold core and to deposit the work piece in the corresponding mold cavity.    
     
     
         39 . An injection molding machine according to  claim 36 , further comprising lid-closing structure coupled to each said shuttle device and configured to close a lid of a molded article when the molded article is resident on either the corresponding mold cavity or the corresponding mold core.  
     
     
         40 . An injection molding machine according to  claim 36 , further comprising a plurality of openings disposed in at least one of the mold core plate and the mold cavity plate and configured to park the plurality of shuttle devices inboard of a periphery of the mold cavity plate when the mold core plate and the mold cavity plate are in the closed position.  
     
     
         41 . Mold machine shuttle structure, comprising: 
 a plurality of shuttle members, each configured to be coupled to a portion of the mold and to extract a molded article from one of a mold core and a mold cavity;    shuttle guide structure configured to be coupled to the portion of the mold and to limit the movement of each of said plurality of shuttle members to only coplanar linear directions, the coplanar linear directions being substantially parallel to a face of the mold; and    shuttle drive structure configured to (i) be coupled to the mold portion, (ii) drive each of said plurality of shuttle members in only the coplanar linear directions, and (iii) park each of said plurality of shuttle members in a position where at least a portion of each of said plurality of shuttle members is disposed within a periphery of the mold portion when the mold is in a closed position.    
     
     
         42 . Molding machine side shuttle apparatus, comprising: 
 shuttle means having a portion always disposed inboard of a perimeter of a first mold half of the molding machine, for shuttling between the first mold half and a second mold half when the mold halves are in an open position;    guidance means, coupled to the first mold half, for guiding said shuttle means linearly across a molding face of the first mold half;    drive means for driving said shuttle means linearly, whereby said shuttle means is moved only linearly across the molding face of the first mold half; and    operation means coupled to said shuttle means and configured to (i) remove a molded article from one of a mold core and a mold cavity, and (ii) perform a further operation on at least one of (iia) a molded article disposed in/on a mold structure of the first mold half, and (iib) the mold structure of the first mold half.    
     
     
         43 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means performs the further operation on a molded plastic article that is disposed in a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         44 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means performs the further operation on the molded article that is disposed on a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         45 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means performs the further operation on the molded article that is disposed in a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         46 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means performs the further operation on a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         47 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means performs the further operation on a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         48 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means comprises removing means for removing the molded article from a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         49 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means comprises removing means for removing the molded article from a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         50 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means comprises applying means for applying a work piece to a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         51 . Apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein said operation means comprises applying means for applying a label to the mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         52 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means comprises applying means for applying a work piece to a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         53 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means comprises moving means for moving a lid on the molded article.  
     
     
         54 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said operation means comprises applying means for applying an insert to the molded article.  
     
     
         55 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , further comprising first floating means and second floating means disposed on opposite sides of said shuttle means.  
     
     
         56 . Apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein said shuttle means portion is always disposed inboard of the second mold half of the molding machine.  
     
     
         57 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said molding machine comprises a plastic injection molding machine.  
     
     
         58 . A method of performing an operation on a molded article resident in at least one of a mold cavity and a mold core in a molding machine, comprising the steps of: 
 opening at least one of a mold cavity plate and a mold core plate to expose the molded article;    moving a shuttle member only in one or more linear directions across a face of at least one of the mold cavity plate and the mold core plate to a position to access the molded article;    removing the molded article from at least one of the mold cavity and the mold core;    moving the shuttle member only in one or more linear directions from the molded article access position to a park position where at least a portion of the shuttle member is within a perimeter of at least one of the mold cavity plate and the mold core plate; and    closing the at least one of the mold cavity plate and the mold core plate while said at least a portion of the shuttle member is within the perimeter of the at least one of the mold cavity plate and the mold core plate.    
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein said removing step performs the removing operation on a plastic injection-molded article that is disposed on a mold core of the mold core plate.  
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein said removing step performs the removing operation on the molded article that is disposed on a mold core of the mold core plate.  
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein said removing step performs the removing operation on the molded article that is disposed in a mold cavity of the mold cavity plate.  
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 58 , further comprising the step of performing a further operation on a mold cavity of the first mold half.  
     
     
         63 . A method according to  claim 58 , further comprising the step of performing a further operation on a mold core of the first mold half.  
     
     
         64 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein the removing step removes the molded article from a mold cavity of the mold cavity plate.  
     
     
         65 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein the removing step removes the molded article from a mold core of the mold core plate.  
     
     
         66 . A method according to  claim 58 , further comprising an applying step that applies a work piece to a mold cavity of the mold cavity plate.  
     
     
         67 . A method according to  claim 66 , wherein said applying step applies a label to the mold cavity of the mold cavity plate.  
     
     
         68 . A method according to  claim 66 , wherein said applying step applies a work piece to a mold core of the mold core plate.  
     
     
         69 . A method according to  claim 58 , further comprising the step of moving a lid on the molded article.  
     
     
         70 . A method according to  claim 58 , further comprising the step of applying an insert to the molded article.  
     
     
         71 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein said removing step removes the molded article from a mold core of the mold core plate at the same time an applying step applies a work piece to a mold cavity of the mold cavity plate.  
     
     
         72 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein said shuttle plate portion is always disposed inboard of a second mold half of the molding machine.  
     
     
         73 . A method according to  claim 58 , wherein said molding machine comprises a plastic injection molding machine.  
     
     
         74 . A molded article removal method, comprising the steps of: 
 driving a shuttle plate only in one or more coplanar linear directions;    grasping the molded article from at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity with a removal device coupled to the shuttle plate; and    driving the shuttle plate only in one or more coplanar linear directions to remove the molded article from the at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity.    
     
     
         75 . A method according to  claim 74 , wherein the shuttle plate is always disposed within a perimeter of the mold core.  
     
     
         76 . A method according to  claim 75 , wherein the mold portion comprises at least one of (i) a mold core plate having a plurality of cores disposed thereon, and (ii) a mold cavity plate having a plurality of cavities disposed thereon, wherein the shuttle plate includes a plurality of arms disposed to access one of the plurality cores and the plurality of cavities, and wherein the second driving step includes the step of driving the shuttle plate such that the arms of the shuttle plate are always disposed within the perimeter of the mold core.  
     
     
         77 . A method according to  claim 76 , wherein said grasping step comprises the step of grasping molded articles with a suction device coupled to each said arm and configured to grasp the molded article.  
     
     
         78 . A molded article work piece application method, comprising the steps of: 
 driving a shuttle plate only in one or more coplanar linear directions;    applying a work piece to at least one of (i) a molded article resident in at least one of a mold core and a mold cavity, and (ii) at least one of the mold core and the mold cavity, with a work piece application device coupled to the shuttle plate; and    driving the shuttle plate only in one or more coplanar linear directions to move the work piece application device to a work piece pick up location.    
     
     
         79 . A method according to  claim 78 , wherein said work piece application device comprises a label application device, and wherein said applying step comprises the step of applying a label to an inside surface of the mold cavity.  
     
     
         80 . A method according to  claim 79 , wherein said label application device includes a label suction member and an article suction member, and wherein said applying step comprises the step of applying the label with the label suction member.  
     
     
         81 . A method according to  claim 80 , wherein the first driving step drives the shuttle plate in a first direction to (i) move the article suction member to a position adjacent a just-molded article on the mold core, and (ii) move the label suction member, which is holding the label, to a position adjacent the mold cavity, and wherein after the article has been stripped from the mold core, the second driving step drives the shuttle plate a second direction to (iii) move the article suction member to a position to eject the just-molded article from the mold, and (iv) move the label suction member to a position adjacent the work piece pick up location.  
     
     
         82 . A method according to  claim 81 , further comprising the step of retaining the label within the mold cavity after the mold has closed.  
     
     
         83 . A method according to  claim 78 , wherein said applying step comprises the step of applying a label to an inside surface of the mold cavity at a same time as the molded article is stripped from the mold core.  
     
     
         84 . A method according to  claim 78 , further comprising the step of closing the mold core and the mold cavity, and wherein said closing step includes the step of causing the work piece application device to pick up a label from a label pickup location.  
     
     
         85 . A molded article lid closing method, comprising the steps of: 
 first, driving a shuttle plate only in one or more coplanar linear directions; and    during the first driving step, (i) at least partially closing a lid of a molded article that is resident on one of a mold core and a mold cavity, with a lid closing device that is coupled to the shuttle plate, and (ii) grasping a molded article that is resident on one of the mold core and the mold cavity;    second, driving the shuttle plate only in one or more coplanar linear directions after the lid of the molded article is at least partially closed.    
     
     
         86 . A method according to  claim 85 , further comprising the step of, during the second driving step, further closing the partially closed lid of the molded article, with closing structure coupled to the a mold.  
     
     
         87 . A method according to  claim 86 , wherein the molded article comprises an injection molded plastic article that is resident on a mold core, and wherein the partially closing step closes the lid to an angle of between about 90 degrees and about 175 degrees with respect to an injection-molded position.  
     
     
         88 . A method according to  claim 87 , wherein said plate includes a suction member configured to remove the molded article from the mold core, and wherein the partially closing step includes the step of partially closing the lid using a tab member affixed to the shuttle plate on one side of the suction member.  
     
     
         89 . A method according to  claim 88 , wherein, after said suction member has removed the molded article from the mold core, the second drive step drives the shuttle plate in a direction to place the molded article adjacent a molded article evacuation location.