Gencorp, Inc.

Edward F Huff

Robert L Brown

Todd A England

Gregory L Baxter

David E Baxter, Deceased

Walter D Hunnicut

An injection press apparatus for molding/joining separate parts. The apparatus having a work table with first and second work stations for injecting material into a mold. A movable extruder/injection assembly is provided which has an extruder portion for extruding material, and an injection portion for injecting material. The extruder portion and injection portion are in fluid communication such that material is provided from the extruder portion to the injection portion prior to injection of material from the injection portion to the mold. The injection portion of extruder/injection assembly has a nozzle assembly for receiving and injecting material from the injection portion to a self-actuating mold clamp assembly at the first or second work stations. The first and second work stations support the mold clamp assembly which receives the molding material. The extruder/injection assembly is movable between the first and second work stations by a shuttle assembly.

Molding press apparatus

A shuttle assembly for an injection molding machine is provided. The shuttle assembly includes a shuttle-support unit adapted to be attached to the machine frame and a shuttle-mold interfacing unit, slidably coupled to the support unit. Mold-coupling members are provided for removably coupling a first movable mold platen unit and a second mold platen unit to the shuttle-mold interfacing unit. During operation of the shuttle assembly, a shuttle-drive unit selectively reciprocally indexes the shuttle-mold interfacing unit in a preferably horizontal shuttle-travel path between (i) a first shuttle position whereat the first movable mold platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a first unloading/loading position, and the second movable platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a clamping position; and (ii) a second shuttle position where the first movable mold platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a clamping position, and the second movable platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a second unloading position. In the preferred embodiment, the first unloading position and the second unloading position are located on opposite sides of the clamping position.

Shuttle assembly for use in an injection molding machine

An injection molding machine having a machine frame, an injection assembly coupled with the frame, a press assembly also coupled with the frame, a mold-mounting assembly coupled with the press assembly, and a mold pallet assembly secured to the press assembly by the mold mounting-assembly. The mold pallet assembly includes first and second mold pallet units which define a mold cavity when they are placed in a closed condition. The mold pallet assembly further includes alignment members which ensure correct alignment between the first and second mold pallet units when in a closed condition. The first mold pallet unit includes an injection assembly for engagement with the injection assembly. The mold-mounting assembly includes first and second mold-mounting devices, securing the first and second mold pallet units, respectively, to the press assembly. The mold-mounting assembly further includes a sensor which indicates the correct alignment of the mold pallet assembly relative to the press assembly. The press assembly moves the first and second mold pallet units between a closed condition and an open condition in which they are separated from each other. Movement of the first mold pallet unit by the press assembly engages the unit with the injection assembly.

Injection molding machine including quick-change mold assembly

A shuttle assembly for an injection molding machine includes a shuttle-support unit adapted to be attached to the machine frame and a shuttle-mold interfacing unit, slidably coupled to the support unit. Mold-coupling members removably coupling a first movable mold platen unit and a second mold platen unit to the shuttle-mold interfacing unit. During operation of the shuttle assembly, a shuttle-drive unit selectively reciprocally indexes the shuttle-mold interfacing unit in a preferably horizontal shuttle-travel path between (i) a first shuttle position whereat the first movable mold platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a first unloading/loading position, and the second movable platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a clamping position; and (ii) a second shuttle position where the first movable mold platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a clamping position, and the second movable platen unit, when coupled thereto, is situated at a second unloading position. In the preferred embodiment, the first unloading position and the second unloading position are located on opposite sides of the clamping position.

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Wadsworth, OH, United States of America

Edward F Huff