Claims:STATEMENT OF CLAIMS
We claim,
1. A fixture 100 for deflashing or removing unwanted material from mold parts, the mold parts being held or supported by a holder 108, the fixture 100 comprising:
a frame or a body 102 having a predetermined contour and predetermined dimensions;
the frame 102 having a top surface 102a and a bottom surface 102b;
the frame 102 having a plurality of openings 104 defined at predetermined locations;
the plurality of openings 104 extending from the top surface 102a to the bottom surface 102b;
the frame 102 includes plurality of locking elements 106,
wherein
the plurality of openings 106 includes an entrance end defined at the bottom surface 102b of the frame 102 and an exit end defined at the top surface 102a of the frame 102; and
the mold parts are configured to be transferred or ejected from the entrance end towards the exit end; and
the plurality of locking elements 106 are configured to lock the frame 102 to the holder 108.
2. The fixture 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings 104 includes shape and dimensions corresponding to a shape of the mold parts.
3. The fixture 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of locking element 106 is selected from a group comprising bolt and nut, locating pin and knob, screw.
4. The fixture 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entrance end includes a dimension lesser than dimension of the mold part.
5. The fixture 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holder 108 supporting the mold parts is connected to a conveyor means or lifting means to transfer or eject the mold parts through the plurality of openings 104.
6. The fixture 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mold parts are configured to be pressed against the entrance end having a sharp cutting edge to remove flash 110 or burr.
7. A method 500 for deflashing or removing unwanted material from mold parts, the mold parts being held or supported by a holder 108, the method 500 comprising steps of:
clamping a frame or a body 102 having a predetermined contour and predetermined dimensions against the holder 108; and
transferring or pressing the holder 108 against the frame 102 to remove flash 110 from the mold parts,
wherein
the frame includes a plurality of openings 104 extending from a top surface 102a to a bottom surface 102b;
the frame 102 includes plurality of locking elements 106,
wherein
the plurality of openings 106 having an entrance end defined at the bottom surface 102b of the frame 102 and an exit end defined at the top surface 102a of the frame 102; and
the mold parts configured to be transferred or ejected from the entrance end of the frame 102 towards the exit end of the frame 102; and
the entrance end includes a sharp cutting edge to remove flash 110 or burr from the mold parts.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to mold parts, more particularly but not exclusively to a fixture to deflash or remove unwanted material from mold parts and a method thereof.
BACKGROUND
[002] In recent years, industry has developed efficient methods for producing mold parts through injection molding. Currently, plastic slugs are forced under extremely high pressures at very high speeds into molds in order to form the plastic into the shape of the desired article. Rubber injection molding successfully alters the plastics process by heating the rubber and placing it under significantly more pressure per square inch of cavity surface in molding process.
[003] A major shortcoming with injection molding of rubber is that excess unwanted material is molded adjacent to the article or work piece. This is known as flashing. The flashing of the article usually occurs at joints in the mold, at the split line between two halves, at the inlet for the material, or across open cavities formed in the article. Flashing almost always forms around the entire perimeter of the molded article.
[004] Deflashing is the process of removing the unwanted flashing from the article. This process is very labor intensive because of the length of time it takes and the inability to automate it. The workpiece is usually fixed in place and then a person uses a sharp knife, (i.e. manually), to cut away the flash from the perimeter or edges of the workpiece. Once the flashing has been cut away, the process of deflashing is completed by smoothing the newly exposed edges with emery cloth or other slightly abrasive material.
[005] The process of deflashing can be longer, depending upon the complexities of the workpiece and more laborers would be required to complete the deflashing process early. Deflashing has also been attempted through abrasive particle blasting, such as sand blasting. This process has not met success as it results in damaging the exterior surface of the article. As would be expected, the surface finish of the manufactured article is very important while sand blasting can remove the flashing, it devastates the surface of the article which is unacceptable.
[006] Therefore, there exists a need for a fixture for deflashing unwanted material from manufactured articles and a method for deflashing unwanted material from manufactured articles which obviates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECT
[007] The principal object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a fixture to deflash or remove unwanted material or burr from mold parts.
[008] Another object of the embodiments of this invention is to provide a method for deflashing or removing unwanted material or burr from mold parts.
[009] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] The embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, through out which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a fixture to deflash unwanted material from mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fixture having deflashed mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottom mold having deflashed mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of flash removed from the mold plate, according to embodiments as disclosed herein; and
[0015] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method for deflashing or removing unwanted material or burr from mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0017] The embodiments herein achieve a fixture to deflash or remove unwanted material or burr from mold parts. Further the embodiments herein achieve a method of providing a fixture to deflash or remove unwanted material or burr from mold parts. Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS 1 through 5, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0018] The embodiments herein are described with reference to a fixture used for deflashing for rubber articles manufactured by the injection molding process. The rubber molds or articles are usually formed using a molding assembly. The molding assembly includes a top mold and a bottom mold which are held to form a predetermined shape and size required for a predetermined mold object. The flashing of the article usually occurs at joints in the mold, at the split line between two halves, at the inlet for the material, or across open cavities formed in the article.
[0019] FIG. 1 depicts a top view of a fixture to deflash unwanted material from mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the fixture 100 for deflashing or removing unwanted material from mold parts includes a frame or a body 102, the frame 102 having a top surface 102a and a bottom surface 102b, a plurality of openings 104 defined in the frame 102, a holder 108 and a plurality of locking elements 106.
[0020] The fixture 100 includes the frame 102 or a body 102 having a predetermined shape and predetermined dimensions. Further, the frame 102 includes the top surface 102a and the bottom surface 102b (not shown). The frame 102 further includes the plurality of openings 104 defined at predetermined locations of the frame 102. The plurality of openings 104 extends from the top surface 102a of the frame 102 to the bottom surface 102b (not shown) of the frame 102 (i.e. the plurality of openings 104 form a through hole or opening in the frame 102). The plurality of openings 104 includes dimensions and shape corresponding or slightly lesser compared to dimensions and shape of the mold parts. The number of plurality of openings 104 defined in the frame 102 corresponding to the number of mold parts of predetermined shape and size.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fixture having deflashed mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. The plurality of openings 104 includes an entrance end (not shown) at the bottom surface 102b of the frame 102 and an exit end (not shown) at the top surface 102a of the frame 102.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mold plate having deflashed mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the frame 102 is disposed above the holder 108 (also referred as bottom mold in the description). The bottom mold 108 includes the mold parts which are cured or hardened or toughened by the molding process. The mold parts are configured to be transferred or ejected from the entrance end of the opening 104 towards the exit end of the opening 104. The entrance end of the opening 104 is made up of a sharp cutting edge such that the flash or burrs 110 of the mold parts are removed during the transfer of mold parts from the holder 108 to the frame 102. The cutting edge or cutting surface can be hardened as per requirement and product material. The mold parts are pressed or transferred axially through the plurality of openings 104 as shown in FIG. 4 to remove the flash or burr.
[0023] Further, the holder 108 supporting the mold parts is connected to a conveyor means or lifting means to transfer or eject the mold parts through the plurality of openings 104. The conveyor means or the lifting means could be any mechanism or machine which can transfer the mold parts from the holder 108 to the frame 102. In an embodiment, the fixture 100 can be fixed to a sliding arrangement for transferring the mold parts automatically from an injection moulding machine or a Robotic arrangement to the fixture 100. The fixture can be used to remove flash for rubber or plastic products. The flashes or burrs 110 remains or stays in between bottom mold 108 and fixture 100 after deflashing the mold parts. The fixture 100 is unlocked or de-clamped from the holder 108 after deflashing or removing the flash 110 from the mold parts.
[0024] Further the fixture 100 includes the plurality of locking elements 106 configured to lock the frame 102 to the holder 108 having the mold parts. During the process of deflashing, the plurality of locking elements clamps or locks the frame 102 against the holder 108. The plurality of locking elements may be selected from a group comprising of bolt and nut, locating pin and clamping knob, screw, hydraulic cylinder and the like.
[0025] Further, the fixture 100 is made out of steel. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any material for fabricating the fixture 100 as can be deduced from the description and corresponding drawings. The fixture 100 can be used for a single cavity or multi cavities mould plate.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting a method for deflashing or removing unwanted material or burr from mold parts, according to embodiments as disclosed herein. A method for deflashing or removing unwanted material or burr from mold parts is provided. At step 502, the method includes clamping a frame or a body 102 having a predetermined contour and predetermined dimensions against the holder 108. And at step 504, the method includes, transferring or pressing the holder 108 against the frame 102 to remove flash 110 from the mold parts.
[0027] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.