US 11,718,005 B2
Flow control of an injection molding system
Anton Jorg, Bayern (DE); Scott Greb, Washington Township, MI (US); and Christian Striegel, Hessen (DE)
Assigned to Incoe Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US)
Filed by Incoe International, Inc., Rodermark (DE)
Filed on Jun. 18, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/444,677.
Prior Publication US 2020/0398468 A1, Dec. 24, 2020
Int. Cl. B29C 45/30 (2006.01); F16K 1/52 (2006.01); F16K 21/18 (2006.01); G05D 16/20 (2006.01); B29C 45/28 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 45/30 (2013.01) [F16K 1/52 (2013.01); F16K 21/185 (2013.01); G05D 16/2097 (2019.01); B29C 2045/2824 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An injection molding system comprising:
a first actuator system including:
a first piston drive having at least two pressure line connectors to drive a piston to open or close a molding nozzle;
first pressure lines connected to a changeover valve having at least two changeover pressure line connectors, wherein the first changeover valve pressure line connector is connected to a first pressure line and the second changeover valve pressure line connector is connected to a second pressure line, wherein the second pressure line is connected to the first pressure line connector of the first piston drive;
an electronically adjustable flow control valve having a first pressure line connector and a second pressure line connector, wherein the first pressure line connector of the adjustable flow control valve is connected to the first pressure line to allow a connection to the first pressure line connector of the changeover valve, and the second pressure line connector of the adjustable flow control valve is connected to a third pressure line which establishes a connection to the second pressure line connector of the piston drive;
a first electronic flow sensor for sensing flow rate in the first, second and/or third pressure lines;
a controller connected to the adjustable flow control valve and to the first electronic flow sensor, configured to electronically adjust the flow control valve depending on information of the first electronic flow sensor, and controlling timing and speed of the movement of the piston;
a second actuator system, including:
a second piston drive having at least two pressure line connectors to drive another piston to open or close a molding nozzle;
second pressure lines connectable to one or more changeover valves having a pressure line connector and a tank line connector and at least two changeover pressure line connectors, wherein the first changeover valve pressure line connector is connectable to a first pressure line and the second changeover valve pressure line connector is connectable to a second pressure line, wherein the second pressure line is connected to one of the two pressure line connectors of the second piston drive, and wherein the first pressure line is connected to the other one of the two pressure line connectors of the piston drive;
a second electronic flow sensor for sensing the flow rate in the first or second pressure line of the second actuator system; and
wherein the controller is connected additionally to the second electronic flow sensor of the second actuator system wherein the first and the second actuator systems are configured to be controlled in a cascade, and wherein the flow control valve is also configured to be controlled by the information of the second electronic flow sensor of the second actuator system.