Injection molding machine with accessible ejector assembly

Claim 2

In an injection molding machine, a combination comprising a first platen; a second platen movable toward and away from said first platen, said platens having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from eacha other and one of said platens having at said second side thereof reinforcing means defining a compartment and two lateral windows located opposite each other, communicating with and affording access to said compartment; and ejector means including at least one knockout element movable relatife to said one platen, and coupling means connecting said knockout element with said actuating means, said coupling means comprising a crosshead having a portion located in said compartment and further portions extending into and movable relative to said lateral windows in response to operation of said actuating means.

Claim 3

A combination as defined in claIm 1, wherein said actuating means is operable to move said crosshead through strokes of predetermined length and the length of said lateral windows, as considered in the direction of movement of said crosshead, at least equals the combined length of one of said strokes and the thickness of the respective portions of said crosshead.

Claim 4

In an injection molding machine, a combination comprising a first platen; a second platen movable toward and away from said first platen, said platens having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from each other, and each of said platens having a substantially square outline and four corner portions, said second platen having sleeves provided at the four corner portions thereof and reinforcing means comprising two substantially parallel reinforcing ribs extending between a different pair of said sleeves and two additional reinforcing means extending transversely of and between said parallel ribs, said reinforcing ribs defining a compartment and at least one lateral window communicating with and affording access to said compartment; parallel tie rods secured to said first plate and extending through said sleeves to guide said second platen during movement toward and away from said first platen; and ejector means including at least one knockout element movable relative to said second platen, actuating means operable to move said knockout element relative to said second platen, and coupling means connecting said knockout element with said actuating means, said coupling means comprising two crossheads crossing each other, one of which is located in said compartment between said additional reinforcing ribs and being accessible by way of said window.

Claim 5

In an injection molding machine, a combination comprising a first platen; a second platen movable toward and away from said first platen, said platens having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from each other, and each of said platens having a substantially square outline and four corner portions, said second platen having sleeves provided at the four corner portions thereof and reinforcing means comprising two substantially parallel reinforcing ribs extending between a different pair of said sleeves and two additional reinforcing means extending transversely of and between said parallel ribs, said reinforcing ribs defining a compartment and at least one lateral window communicating with and affording access to said compartment; parallel tie rods secured to said first plate and extending through said sleeves to guide said second platen during movement toward and away from said first platen; and ejector means including at least one knockout element movable relative to said second platen, actuating means operable to move said knockout element relative to said second platen, and coupling means connecting said knockout element with said actuating means, said coupling means comprising two crossheads crossing each other, one of which is located in said compartment between said additional reinforcing ribs and being accessible by way of said window.

Claim 6

A combination as defined in claim 3, wherein said reinforcing means defines two windows each provided in a different one of said additional ribs, the other of said crossheads having portions extending outwardly from said compartment through said windows and being movable in the respective windows in response to operation of said actuating means.

Claim 7

In an injection molding machine, a combination comprising a first platen; a second platen movable toward and away from said first platen and having four corner portions and a projection at each of said corner portions, said platens having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from each other, and one of said platens having at said second side thereof reinforcing means defining a compartment and two lateral windows located opposite each other and communicating with and providing access to said compartment, said projections being outwardly adjacent to said windows and defining two passages, each of which registers with a different one of said windows; ejector means including at least one knockout element movable relative to said one platen, actuating means operable to move said knockout element relative to said one platen, and coupling means connecting said knockout element with said actuating means, at least a portion of said coupling means being located in said compartment and being accessible by way of said window; and moving means for moving said second platen relative to said first platen, said moving means comprising a toggle mechanism having links articulately connected with said projections.

Claim 8

In an injection molding machine, a combination comprising a first platen; a second platen movable toward and away from said first platen and having four corner portions and a projection at each of said corner portions, said platens having first sides facing each other and second sides facing away from each other, and one of said platens having at said second side thereof reinforcing means defining a compartment and two lateral windows located opposite each other and communicating with and providing access to said compartment, said projections being outwardly adjacent to said windows and defining two passages, each of which registers with a different one of said windows; ejector means including at least one knockout element movable relative to said one platen, actuating means operable to move said knockout element relative to said one platen, and coupling means connecting said knockout element with said actuating means, at least a portion of said coupling means being located in said compartment and being accessible by way of said window; and moving means for moving said second platen relative to said first platen, said moving means comprising a toggle mechanism having links articulately connected with said projections.

Claim 9

A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said windows are located at a predetermined level and said projections include a first pair of projections located above said level and a second pair of projections located below said level.