Drive unit for a molding machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12479142-B2
Application number	US-202318378775-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2023
Priority date	Oct 13, 2022
Publication date	Nov 25, 2025
Grant date	Nov 25, 2025

Abstract

A drive unit for a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, includes a rotationally drivable spindle mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component, a spindle nut arranged in a rotational movement-locking manner on the first machine component for positive-locking engagement with the spindle, and a fluid chamber which at least adjoins the spindle and/or the spindle nut, and contains a lubricant. A temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the lubricant is arranged in and/or on the fluid chamber at least in areas.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A drive unit for use in a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, the drive unit comprising:
a rotationally drivable spindle mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component; a spindle nut arranged in a rotational movement-locking manner on the first machine component for positive-locking engagement with the spindle; a fluid chamber adjoining at least one of the spindle and the spindle nut, the fluid chamber containing a lubricant; and a temperature control element configured to control the temperature of the lubricant in the fluid chamber, the temperature control element being arranged at least partially in and/or on the fluid chamber, the temperature control element including a sleeve at least partially surrounding at least one of the fluid chamber, the spindle, and the spindle nut.

2 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the lubricant is an oil.

3 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the spindle has a thread running around at least a portion of the spindle, the spindle being enclosed by the fluid chamber.

4 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control element comprises a Peltier element.

5 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control element comprises an active cooling element.

6 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control element comprises a passive cooling element.

7 . The drive unit according to claim 6 , wherein a temperature control medium flows through the passive cooling element.

8 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control element has a temperature control medium channel for receiving a temperature control medium suitable for cooling.

9 . The drive unit according to claim 8 , wherein the temperature control medium channel is arranged within the sleeve.

10 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control element comprises at least two openings for the supply and/or discharge of a temperature control medium.

11 . The drive unit according to claim 10 , wherein the at least two openings of the temperature control element are formed to be connected to a temperature control medium loop.

12 . A drive unit for use in a molding machine for longitudinally displacing a movable first machine component relative to a second machine component, the drive unit comprising:
a rotationally drivable spindle mounted in a linear movement-locking manner on the second machine component; a spindle nut arranged in a rotational movement-locking manner on the first machine component for positive-locking engagement with the spindle; a fluid chamber adjoining at least one of the spindle and the spindle nut, the fluid chamber containing a lubricant; a temperature control element for controlling the temperature of the lubricant in the fluid chamber, the temperature control element being arranged at least partially in and/or on the fluid chamber; and at least two sleeves engaging in one another, wherein a first sleeve of the at least two sleeves is arranged on the first machine component and a second sleeve of the at least two sleeves is arranged on the second machine component.

13 . The drive unit according to claim 12 , wherein the fluid chamber adjoins at least one of the spindle, the spindle nut, the first machine component, the second machine component, the first sleeve, and the second sleeve.

14 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a sealing element for sealing the fluid chamber.

15 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a rotary drive for driving the spindle.

16 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the spindle and the spindle nut are formed corresponding to a ball screw.

17 . An injection unit for use in a molding machine comprising the drive unit according to claim 1 .

18 . The injection unit according to claim 17 , wherein the first machine component or the second machine component is connected in a linear movement-locking manner to an injection piston.

19 . An injection-molding machine comprising the injection unit according to claim 17 .

20 . The drive unit according to claim 3 , wherein the spindle is completely enclosed by the fluid chamber.

21 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the active cooling element is a fan and/or a pump to move a temperature control medium.

22 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the passive cooling element is at least one of a hole, a cooling fin, or a sleeve.

23 . The drive unit according to claim 7 , wherein the temperature control medium is one of a temperature control liquid and a temperature control gas, and the passive cooling element is at least one of a hole, a cooling fin, or a sleeve.

24 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein the temperature control medium channel extends parallel and/or transverse to an axis of rotational symmetry of at least a portion of the sleeve.

25 . The drive unit according to claim 10 , wherein the at least two openings of the temperature control element are closable, and the at least two openings are arranged in an end face and/or a lateral surface of the sleeve.

26 . The drive unit according to claim 14 , wherein the sleeve is a first sleeve of the at least two sleeves, the sealing element being arranged between the first sleeve and a second sleeve of the at least two sleeves.

27 . An injection unit for use in a molding machine comprising two drive units, each of the two drive units being configured according to claim 1 .

28 . The injection unit according to claim 17 , wherein the first machine component or the second machine component is connected in a linear movement-locking manner to an injection screw.

Assignees

• Engel Austria Gmbh

Inventors

• Weilig Roland
• Balka-Hintersteiner Christoph

Classifications

• B29C2945/76692

  drive means · CPC title

• B29C2945/76531

  Temperature · CPC title

• B29C2045/5052

  screws axially driven by a rotatable nut cooperating with a fixed screw shaft · CPC title

• B29C2035/1608

  using Peltier-effect · CPC title

• B29C45/78

  of temperature · CPC title