Novel External Latch Lock Design

DME (Madison Heights, Mich.) has introduced the patent-pending EZ-Latch—an external latch lock that can be used in a range of different mold designs requiring plate control. Such mold designs could include molds with three-plate sequencing, two-stage ejection, early return systems or a moving (core) and stationary side (cavity) ejection application. DME notes that it can be an alternative to more expensive hydraulic cylinders used for sequencing plates.

The locking mechanism is normally triggered by springs or friction devices, but these can be prone to failure over time and can require custom manufacturing to meet the specific application needs. By comparison, DME says the EZ-Latch is more reliable, reducing the chance of failure during processing, which in turn, eliminates unnecessary machine downtime and costly tool repairs.

Other benefits include the possibility to use the latch locks with thinner mold plates. While traditional external locks need to be vertically mounted, DME says the EZ-Latch Lock can be installed horizontally, allowing it to be used on plates as thin as 7/8 in. In terms of manufacturing and installation, the EZ-Latch Lock requires no machining modifications. Only the appropriate body and latch bar lengths need be selected.

The system comes in multiple lengths to sequence plates with a wide range of stroke requirements and create optimized timing for the mold movements. A long-latch-bar version providing longer delayed ejection is also available. The company notes that standard sizes can accommodate most, if not all, mold base sizes and applications, but DME can also provide special sizes upon request.