Injection Molding Machine

(1) Resin
Resin is plastic, a high polymer substance made by synthesizing,
which is solidified by cooling. Resin is used as the main raw material of paint,
adhesive, and the like.
Plastic is a solid formed into a useful, man-made shape with a high polymer substance as
the main raw material.
(2) Mold
Molds, mainly made of metal, are used to quickly create uniform products at low costs.
The insides of molds are formed producing space in which molded parts are shaped.
Molds in which a cooling circuit or heater is assembled play the role of a heat
exchanger.

Mold with receptacle box (on the stationary side)

(3) Injection molding machine

Resin as the material is fed through the opening in the hopper, and it eventually turns
into a molten material by being heated and kneaded while fed forward as the screw
rotates.
At the same time, the amount of molten resin equivalent to the volume of the molded
part is injected into the molds.
The molds are mounted on the die plate of the clamping unit, opening/closing operation
is performed for the molds, and then the molded part is taken out from the molds when
they are opened.
An injection molding machine continuously performs the above process.
The mechanism of a plastic injection molding machine is "melting the material, pouring
the molten material into molds, and solidifying it by cooling in order to produce
products."
 Controller Hopper
Injection
Clamping Unit
Unit

Clamping Unit

Breaker
Safety Gate Control
Panel Power supply connection
2. Operation of Injection Molding Machine
(1) Start of molding ：
Cycle Start is executed in the state where charging of resin is
complete.
The movable platen starts moving forward (molds closed).
(2) Closing molds, and building up pressure ：
The movable platen moves forward for closing the molds, and
pressure is built up with the preset clamping force.
(3) Nozzle touching ：
The injection unit advances when pressure has been built up, and
the spur bush of the molds and the nozzle of the injection unit
come into contact with each other (nozzle touching).
(4) Injection, charging, and cooling ：
The charged molten resin is injected into the space in shape of the
molded part (which is called a cavity) in the molds. After
completion of injection, the molds serve as a heat exchanger,
absorbing heat from the molten resin, and cooling /solidifying it to
produce the molded part. During this time, the screw in the barrel
rotates and molten resin is charged for the next injection. Molten
resin charged for one shot is stored up at the end of the barrel.
(5) Retracting nozzle and opening molds:
When the cooling timer reaches the set time, the injection unit
retracts for opening the molds so as to take out the molded part.
When the cooling timer reaches the set time, the injection unit
retracts for opening the molds so as to take out the molded part.
The molds open and the ejector works for the molded part to be
taken out of the molds. The machine continuously produces
molded parts, repeating the operations (1) to (5).

Start of molding
Closing molds, and building up pressure
Nozzle touching
Injection, charging, and cooling
Retracting nozzle
 Start of molding Injection, charging, and cooling

Closing molds, and building up pressure Retracting nozzle and opening molds

Nozzle touching
3. Structures of Motor-driven Injection Molding Machine and
Hydraulic Injection Molding Machine
(1) Difference between the structures
1) Motor-driven injection molding machine

Servomotor for injection

Servomotor for clamping
Servomotor for charging

Servomotor for ejection

Geared motor for nozzle touch operation
Geared motor for mold thickness adjustment
 2) Hydraulic injection molding machine

Mold clamping
Extrusion Mold opening/closing cylinder
cylinder
cylinder
Injection cylinder
Hydraulic motor for
charging

Cylinder for nozzle touch

Hydraulic oil
tank
Pump
3-phase induction
motor
 4. Structure of Injection Unit

(1) Structure of motor-driven injection unit

Servomotor for injection

Direct drive (having

rotary mechanism in it)
Hopper
Screw
pulley
Barrel

Timing belt

Pulley
Operating range Ball screw for injection

Timing belt
Servomotor for charging
 (2) Structure of hydraulic injection unit

Injection cylinder

Hydraulic motor for

charging

Cylinder for nozzle touch

3-phase induction
motor
Hydraulic oil tank Pump
5. Structure of Clamping Unit

(1) Classification of clamping units

The clamping units used with the injection molding machines of Toshiba Machine can
be roughly classified into the following three types:
<1> Direct-pressure mold clamping unit ： For hydraulic-driven, small and medium
machines
<2> Hybrid mold clamping unit ： Tie-rod lock type ... For hydraulic-driven, large
machines
Direct lock type... For hydraulic- driven, super-large machines
Direct lock type ... For motor-driven, super-large machines
<3> Toggle-type mold clamping unit ： For all motor-driven injection molding machines
 Direct-pressure
mold clamping unit

Toggle-type mold
clamping unit

Hybrid mold
clamping unit
6. Structure and Operation of Toggle-type Mold Clamping Unit

(1) Structure of toggle-type mold clamping unit

The rotary motion of the servomotor for mold open/close operation is converted to a
linear motion by the ball screw for mold open/close operation. The cross head
containing a ball nut advances and retracts on the ball-screw shaft. The cross head is
connected to the links A and B through the link C. The link A is connected to the
movable platen, and the link B to the link housing.
The stationary platen is fixed to the frame, and connected to the link housing by
means of the tie rod. The link housing is structured in a way that it can slide on the
frame, and the movable platen is structured in a way that it can slide on both the tie
rod and the frame.
 Crosshead
Link housing (advanced
state) Link C
all screw for mold Link B Link A
opening/closing Fixed die plate

Movable die plate

(advanced state)

Crosshead
Crosshead (returned state)
(returned
state)
Link C Link A
Crosshead
Link B
 Movable Tie bar
Link housing die Fixed die
all screw for mold
Link B Link A
opening/closing

Pulley for
mold
opening/ closing Link C

Crosshead
(2) Principle of operation of toggle-type mold clamping unit

<1> Opening of molds (movable platen)

<2> Closing of molds (movable platen)

PL surfaces contact.