Continuous molding machine post-molding device

Abstract

Disclosed, amongst other things, is a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a continuous molding machine ( 10 ) that includes a frame ( 14 ), a plurality of molding devices ( 16 ) that are mounted to the frame ( 14 ) in a circular array thereon, and a cam ( 31 ) movably linked to both the frame ( 14 ) and to the plurality of molding devices ( 16 ) for driving functions thereof including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a molded article ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gate function; and a mold clamping function. The continuous molding machine ( 10 ) also includes a first molded article handling device ( 90 ) that is configured to handle just-molded molded articles ( 2 ) from the plurality of molding devices ( 16 ). Moreover, the continuous molding machine ( 10 ) includes a post-molding device ( 68 ), the post-molding device ( 68 ) includes a post-mold cooling table ( 70 ) that is movably linked to the frame ( 14 ) of the continuous molding machine ( 10 ), and a quantity of molded article holders ( 72 ) linked to the post-mold cooling table ( 70 ), the quantity of molded article holders ( 72 ) being configured to receive and hold the just-molded molded articles ( 2 ).

1 . A continuous molding machine post-molding device, the post-molding device comprising:
 a post-mold cooling table movably linked to a frame of a continuous molding machine;   a quantity of molded article holders linked to the post-mold cooling table, the molded article holders configured to receive and hold just-molded molded articles from a plurality of molding devices that are non-movably connected to the frame; and   the quantity of molded article holders at least equals a total number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the continuous molding machine.   
     
     
         2 . The post-molding device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the continuous molding machine.   
     
     
         3 . The post-molding device according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the post-mold cooling table is rotatably linked to the frame and the quantity of molded article holders are arranged in a circular array on the post-mold cooling table.   
     
     
         4 . The post-molding device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the continuous molding machine and wherein the multiples of molded article holders are interlaced in a single circular row.   
     
     
         5 . The post-molding device according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of the total number of molding cavities defined in the mold structures in the continuous molding machine and wherein the multiples of molded article holders are in concentric circular rows.   
     
     
         6 . A continuous molding machine, comprising:
 a frame;   a plurality of molding devices that are mounted to the frame in a circular array thereon; and   a cam movably linked to both the frame and to the plurality of molding devices for driving functions thereof including at least one of: a mold stroke function; a molded article ejection function; a melt handling function; a valve gate function; and a mold clamping function;   a first molded article handling device that is configured to handle just-molded molded articles from the plurality of molding devices;   a post-molding device, the post-molding device comprising a post-mold cooling table that is movably linked to the frame of the continuous molding machine, and a quantity of molded article holders linked to the post-mold cooling table, the quantity of molded article holders being configured to receive and hold the just-molded molded articles.   
     
     
         7 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a rotor movably linked to the frame, the cam and the first molded article handling device being connected thereto.   
     
     
         8 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a second molded article handling device connected to the rotor, the second molded article handling device being configured to handle the just-molded molded articles between the first molded article handling device and the post-molding device.   
     
     
         9 . The continuous molding machine according to  claims 8 , further comprising:
 a third molded article handling device connected to the frame, the third molded article handling device being configured to handle molded articles from the post-molding device.   
     
     
         10 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders at least equals a total number of molding cavities are defined in the plurality of molding devices.   
     
     
         11 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders is a multiple of a total number of molding cavities defined in the plurality of molding devices.   
     
     
         12 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders are interlaced in a single circular row.   
     
     
         13 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the quantity of molded article holders are arranged in concentric circular rows.   
     
     
         14 . The continuous molding machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a molded article handling device that comprises:
 a base; 
 a base arm rotatably mounted to the base; 
 a slide arm slidably linked to the base arm; 
 the slide arm configured to retain a molded article holder; 
 a further cam non-rotatably linked to the base; 
 the slide arm movably linked to the further cam for driving a sliding of the slide arm with respect to the base arm; 
 whereby the molded article holder is translatable along a profiled path for retrieving just-molded articles from the plurality of molding devices. 
   
     
     
         15 . The continuous molding machine of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the base is configured to be connected to a rotor of the continuous molding machine, the rotor rotatable with respect to the plurality of molding devices of the continuous molding machine;   the further cam defines the profiled path to include a first tracking portion that allows the molded article holder to track with the plurality of molding devices as the rotor sweeps there-past.   
     
     
         16 . The continuous molding machine of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the base is configured to be connected to a rotor of the continuous molding machine, the rotor rotatable with respect to the plurality of molding devices of the continuous molding machine;   the cam defines the profiled path to include a second tracking portion that allows the molded article holder to track with at least one of: another molded article handling device; or the molded article holder of the post-molding device as the rotor sweeps there-past.