RECIPROCATING SCREW

Injection Molding. Any standard design plunger or reciprocating screw injection machine can be used for PEA 340, although a reciprocating screw machine is preferred (32). Slow injection into mold cavities avoids surface or internal melt fracture, and control of ram speed is important at low... 

In the intermittent processes, single or multiple parisons are extruded using a reciprocating screw or ram accumulator. In the former system the screw moves forward to extrude the parisons and then screws back to prepare the charge of molten plastic for the next shot. In the other system the screw extruder supplies a constant output to an accumulator. A ram then pushes melt from the accumulator to produce a parison as required. 

Fig. 4.31 Typical cycle in reciprocating screw injection moulding machine...

There are a number of important features in reciprocating screw injection moulding machines and these will now be considered in turn. 

Figure 20 A horizontal reciprocating screw injection molding machine.

Horizontal reciprocating screw machines (Fig. 20). Vertical screw/ram machines (Fig. 21). 

In recent years, the trend has been toward an increasing use of the reciprocating screw machines. One of the most common reasons given for the change is that the first in-last out principle applies for screw/ram... 

To ensure consistency, the two critical areas for control specific to injection molding are shot size control and temperature control on the injection system, i.e., screw portion for the reciprocating screw machines, and both the screw and ram sections for the screw/ram machines. As mentioned previously, for temperature and cure control, the use of microprocessor controls has significantly improved the performance of injection molding machines, including control of the shot size. 

The use of multinozzle injection machines. In general, this type of machine has a horizontal reciprocating screw that feeds four injection nozzles each connected to a single cavity mold thus minimizing waste. However, one concern with this approach is the need to have the mold accurately lined up (the top and bottom surfaces of the mold will be in the vertical plane) to eliminate compound leakage at the nozzle/mold interface. 

It is usually done by computer controlled electronic weighing scales that supply precise amounts of each ingredient to a high intensity mixer. The still-dry, free-flowing blend is then charged to a feed hopper where it is screw fed into a continuous mixer such as an extruder and/or kneader. Under the action of a mixer s reciprocating screw in the confined volume of the mixer chamber, the blend begins to flux or masticate into the required plastic state. 

Journal of Injection Molding Technology 5,No.3, Sept.2001,p.l52-9 MICROCELLULAR FOAM PROCESSING IN RECIPROCATING-SCREW INJECTION MOLDING MACHINES Jingyi Xu Pierick D Trexel Inc. 

Two systems have been used in injection molding machines to melt and inject the polymer. The most commonly used types use a reciprocating screw, which has many... 

William Willert filed a patent on the in-line, now more commonly known as the reciprocating screw injection molding machine in 1952. In 1953 Reed Prentice Corp. was the first to use Willert s invention, building a 600-ton machine. The patent was issued in 1956. By the end of the decade almost all the injection molding machines being built were of the reciprocating screw type. 

Albert (Aly) A. Kaufman, one of the early pioneers of extrusion, who established Prodex in New Jersey and later Kaufman S. A. in France, and introduced many innovations into extrusion practice, told one of the authors (Z.T.) that in one of the Annual Technical Conference (ANTEC) meetings long before in-line plasticating units came on board, he told the audience that the only way to get a uniform plasticized product is if the ram is replaced by a rotating and reciprocating screw. Aly never patented his innovative ideas because he believed that it is better to stay ahead of competition then to spend money and time on patents. 

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