Mold tool with quick connect knockout bar

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10584729-B2
Application number	US-201615083893-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2016
Priority date	Apr 3, 2015
Publication date	Mar 10, 2020
Grant date	Mar 10, 2020

Abstract

A quick connector is used for releasably connecting a knockout bar and a mold tool. The quick connector includes an inner body that is attached to the knockout bar or the mold tool and is configured to receive a male fitting of the other of the knockout bar or the mold tool. The quick connector also has an outer sleeve movable along the inner body between (i) a locking position, where the outer sleeve causes locking elements of the quick connector to engage the male fitting to lock the male fitting in the inner body, and (ii) an unlocking position, where the locking elements do not engage the male fitting and do not lock the male fitting in the inner body. The quick connector includes a retaining element that functions to retain the outer sleeve in the unlocking position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A quick connector for releasably connecting a knockout bar to a mold tool, said quick connector comprising:
an inner body coupled with one of the knockout bar and the mold tool, said inner body configured to receive a male fitting of the other of the knockout bar and the mold tool;
a radially movable locking element movably disposed at a periphery of said inner body;
an outer sleeve comprising a slotted guide, said outer sleeve being axially and rotatably movable along said inner body between
(i) a locking position, where said outer sleeve causes said locking element to engage the male fitting to lock the male fitting in said inner body, and
(ii) an unlocking position, where said locking element does not engage the male fitting and does not lock the male fitting in said inner body; and

a retaining element protruding from said inner body and configured to engage said slotted guide on said outer sleeve, wherein said retaining element functions to retain said outer sleeve in said unlocking position.

2. The quick connector of claim 1 , wherein said outer sleeve is biased towards said locking position.

3. The quick connector of claim 2 , wherein said retaining element retains said outer sleeve in said unlocking position with a biasing force that urges said outer sleeve towards said locking position.

4. The quick connector of claim 1 , wherein, when said outer sleeve is in said unlocking position, said retaining element engages said slotted guide to limit movement of said outer sleeve towards said locking position so as to retain said outer sleeve in said unlocking position.

5. The quick connector of claim 4 , wherein said slotted guide includes a first portion that retains said retaining element with said outer sleeve in said unlocking position and a second portion that allows said outer sleeve to move to said locking position.

6. The quick connector of claim 5 , wherein said outer sleeve rotates relative to said inner body to move said retaining element between said first and second portions of said slotted guide.

7. The quick connector of claim 5 , wherein said outer sleeve is biased in an axial direction, such that said first portion of said slotted guide is orthogonal to the axial direction to prevent axial movement of said retaining element relative to said outer sleeve.

8. The quick connector of claim 1 , wherein said outer sleeve includes an anti-slip feature disposed an outer surface of said outer sleeve, said anti-slip feature oriented for moving said outer sleeve between said locking and unlocking positions.

9. The quick connector of claim 1 , comprising a bearing disposed between said inner body and said outer sleeve to permit low friction axial and rotational movement therebetween.

10. The quick connector of claim 1 , wherein said outer sleeve surrounds said inner body and is axially and rotatably movable relative to said inner body, wherein said outer sleeve rotates between said locking and unlocking positions.

11. The quick connector of claim 1 , wherein said locking element is movable radially inward within a cavity of said inner body, and wherein the mold tool is part of an injection molding press configured to mold a plastic part and the knockout bar is configured to remove the plastic part from the injection molding press.

12. A method for releasably connecting a knockout bar to a mold tool, the method comprising:
providing a quick connector having: (i) an inner body coupled with one of the knockout bar and the mold tool, said inner body configured to receive a male fitting of the other of the knockout bar and the mold tool; (ii) a radially movable locking element movably disposed at a periphery of said inner body; (iii) an outer sleeve comprising a slotted guide, and (iv) a retaining element protruding outward from said inner body;
moving said outer sleeve along said inner body from a locking position, where said outer sleeve causes said locking element of said quick connector to engage the male fitting to lock the male fitting in said inner body, to an unlocking position, where said locking element does not engage the male fitting and does not lock the male fitting in said inner body; and
retaining said outer sleeve in said unlocking position by engaging said retaining element in said slotted guide.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising rotating said outer sleeve relative to said inner body to retain said outer sleeve in said locking position with said retaining element.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said retaining element engages said slotted guide to limit movement of said outer sleeve towards said locking position so as to retain said outer sleeve in said unlocking position.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein said slotted guide includes a first portion that retains said retaining element with said outer sleeve in said unlocking position and a second portion that permits movement of said retaining element to move said outer sleeve out of said locking position.

16. A quick connector for releasably connecting a knockout bar to a mold tool, said quick connector comprising:
an inner body coupled with one of the knockout bar and the mold tool, said inner body having a cavity and a locking element that is movable radially inward within the cavity to engage a male fitting on the other of the knockout bar and the mold tool;
an outer sleeve comprising a slotted guide, said outer sleeve surrounding said inner body and being axially movable relative to said inner body between
(i) a locking position, where said locking element moves radially inward to engage the male fitting, and
(ii) an unlocking position, where said locking element is withdrawn radially outward to disengage from the male fitting; and

a retaining element that protrudes outward from said inner body, engages said slotted guide, and retains said outer sleeve in said unlocking position.

17. The quick connector of claim 16 , wherein said retaining element comprises a pin protruding radially outward from said inner body, said pin movably engaged in a slot of said outer sleeve, wherein said slot includes a holding portion configured to retain said pin with said outer sleeve in said unlocking position.

18. The quick connector of claim 16 , wherein said outer sleeve is biased toward said locking position, such that said retaining element retains said outer sleeve in said unlocking position against the biasing force, and wherein said outer sleeve is rotatable relative to said inner body for moving said outer sleeve between said locking and unlocking positions.

19. The quick connector of claim 16 , further comprising an extension body disposed between said inner body and said knockout bar, said extension body having an axial length configured to extend outside of a mold for exposing said outer sleeve.

20. The quick connector of claim 16 , wherein said outer sleeve rotates and moves axially relative to said inner body to move said outer sleeve into engagement with said retaining element for holding said outer sleeve in said unlocking position.

Assignees

• Magna Mirrors Of America Inc

Inventors

• Barnum Randy R

Classifications

• B29C45/401

  Ejector pin constructions or mountings · CPC title

• F16B7/0426 Primary

  for rods or for tubes without using the innerside thereof · CPC title

• F16B21/16

  with grooves or notches in the pin or shaft · CPC title