High speed locking clamp

Abstract

A securing/clamping system for use with platens of a molding machine including a stationary platen having a first mold half affixed thereto, a movable platen having a second mold half affixed thereto, the movable platen travelling along a plurality of tiebars, and reciprocatively moving between a mold open and mold closed position, and a system for applying a clamping force to the movable platen.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A securing/clamping system for use with platens of a molding machine, which comprises: 
       a stationary platen having a first mold half affixed thereto;  
       a movable platen having a second mold half affixed thereto, said movable platen travelling along a plurality of tiebars;  
       means for reciprocatingly moving said movable platen between a mold open and a mold closed position;  
       means for applying a clamping force to said movable platen in the mold closed position comprising at least one column having a first end affixed to the movable platen and a second end spaced from the movable platen, with a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth on said second end, a clamp piston adjacent the second end of the column, and lock means engaging the clamp piston operative to engage and disengage the circumferentially spaced teeth, wherein in the clamped position the clamp piston presses against the lock means which in turn presses against said column.  
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , including a clamp block connected to the fixed platen on said tiebars, with the moving platen positioned between the stationary platen and clamp block. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , including a plurality of said columns. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein said clamp piston is housed in said clamp block, and wherein each of said columns pass through corresponding holes in the clamp piston. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein each of said columns includes at least one axial groove circumferentially spaced between the teeth. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , including at least three of said axial grooves. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein said lock means are lock nuts and including means to rotate said lock nuts into and out of engagement with said teeth. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the lock nuts are mounted on the clamp piston. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 8 , including means to retain the lock nuts on the clamp piston. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , including means to retain the clamp piston on the clamp block. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 1 , including a single column. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , including a plurality of circumferentially spaced teeth on the clamp piston which engage teeth on said column. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein said clamp piston is housed in a clamp block and said column passes through a corresponding hole in said clamp piston. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 13 , wherein said column includes at least one axial groove circumferentially spaced between the teeth. 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14 , including means to rotate the clamp piston to engage and disengage the clamp piston teeth and the column teeth. 
     
     
       16. The system according to  claim 1 , wherein said column is spaced from said tiebars. 
     
     
       17. A securing/clamping system for use with platens of a molding machine, which comprises: 
       
         a stationary platen having a first mold half affixed thereto;  
       
       
         a movable platen having a second mold half affixed thereto, said movable platen travelling along a plurality of tiebars;  
       
       
         means for reciprocatingly moving said movable platen between a mold open and a mold closed position;  
       
       
         means for applying a clamping force to said movable platen in the mold closed position comprising at least two columns, each having a first end affixed to the movable platen and a second end spaced from the movable platen, with a plurality of spaced teeth on said second end, a clamp piston adjacent the second end of the columns, and lock means engaging the clamp piston operative to engage and disengage the spaced teeth, wherein in the clamped position the clamp piston presses against the lock means which in turn presses against said columns,  
       
       
         including a clamp block connected to the stationary platen on said tiebars, with the moving platen positioned between the stationary plate and clamp block, wherein said clamp piston is housed in said clamp block, and wherein each of said columns pass through corresponding holes in the clamp piston. 
       
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein each of said columns includes at least one axial groove spaced between the teeth. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , including at least three of said axial grooves. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein said lock means are lock nuts and including means to rotate said lock nuts into and out of engagement with said teeth. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , wherein the lock nuts are mounted on the clamp piston. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 21 , including means to retain the lock nuts on the clamp piston. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 22 , including means to retain the clamp piston on the clamp block. 
     
     
       24. The system of  claim 17 , including more than two said columns. 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 17 , wherein said spaced teeth on the second end are circumferentially spaced. 
     
     
       26. A securing/clamping system for use with platens of a molding machine, which comprises: 
       
         a stationary platen having a first mold half affixed thereto;  
       
       
         a movable platen having a second mold half affixed thereto, movable between a mold open and mold closed position, said movable platen travelling along a plurality of tiebars;  
       
       
         at least one means for applying a clamping force to said movable platen in the mold closed position comprising one column having a first end affixed to the movable platen and a second end spaced from the movable platen, with a plurality of spaced teeth on said second end, a clamp piston adjacent the second end of the column, and a plurality of spaced teeth on the clamp piston operative to directly engage and disengage the spaced teeth on the column, wherein in the engaged position the spaced teeth on the clamp piston transmits the said clamping force to the said column. 
       
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 26 , including a clamp block connected to the stationary platen by said tiebars, with the movable platen positioned between the stationary platen and the clamp block. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 27 , wherein the clamp block has a forward end and the clamp piston is adjacent the forward end of the clamp block and adjacent the second end of the column. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 28 , wherein said clamp piston is housed in said clamp block, and wherein said column passes through corresponding holes in the clamp piston. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 29 , wherein said column includes at least one axial groove spaced between the teeth. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 30 , including at least three of said axial grooves. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 26 , including means to rotate the clamp piston to engage and disengage the clamp piston teeth and the column teeth. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 26 , wherein said spaced teeth on the column and on the clamp piston are outwardly extending elements including flat faces of said teeth extending perpendicular to said column. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 27 , wherein said clamp piston is housed in said clamp block, and wherein said column passes through a corresponding hole in said clamp piston. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 32 , wherein said means to rotate includes a pressure actuated cylinder. 
     
     
       36. The system of  claim 32 , wherein said means to rotate includes a motor driven gear. 
     
     
       37. The system of  claim 27 , including means for reciprocatingly moving said movable platen between a mold open and a mold closed position. 
     
     
       38. The system of  claim 37 , wherein said means for reciprocatingly moving includes at least one cylinder at least in part supported by said clamp block. 
     
     
       39. The system of  claim 37 , wherein said means for reciprocatingly moving includes at least one cylinder at least in part supported by the movable platen. 
     
     
       40. The system of  claim 26 , wherein said spaced teeth on the second end are circumferentially spaced and wherein said spaced teeth on the clamp piston are circumferentially spaced.