US 11,872,736 B2
Injection molding apparatus and method for automatic cycle to cycle cavity injection
Mark Moss, Sarasota, FL (US)
Assigned to SYNVENTIVE MOLDING SOLUTIONS, INC., Peabody, MA (US)
Filed by Synventive Molding Solutions, Inc., Peabody, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 1, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/108,006.
Application 17/108,006 is a continuation of application No. 15/724,589, filed on Oct. 4, 2017, granted, now 10,875,226.
Application 15/724,589 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2017/043100, filed on Jul. 20, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/364,488, filed on Jul. 20, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2021/0078226 A1, Mar. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B29C 45/27 (2006.01); B29C 45/76 (2006.01); B29C 45/77 (2006.01); B29C 45/17 (2006.01); B29C 45/80 (2006.01); B29C 45/28 (2006.01); B29C 45/13 (2006.01); B29C 45/23 (2006.01); B29C 45/22 (2006.01); B29C 45/00 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 45/2703 (2013.01) [B29C 45/13 (2013.01); B29C 45/1773 (2013.01); B29C 45/22 (2013.01); B29C 45/23 (2013.01); B29C 45/2725 (2013.01); B29C 45/281 (2013.01); B29C 45/2806 (2013.01); B29C 45/762 (2013.01); B29C 45/77 (2013.01); B29C 45/80 (2013.01); B29C 2045/0032 (2013.01); B29C 2045/2865 (2013.01); B29C 2945/7607 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76043 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76086 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76093 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76167 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76187 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76287 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76454 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76468 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76488 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76551 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76648 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76859 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76876 (2013.01); B29C 2945/76936 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving at a controller a first signal, indicative of a start of injection or a position of a screw barrel that feeds fluid material to an injection molding system on a first injection cycle, and transmitting to a downstream actuator a gate open signal at a predetermined open gate target time (X) based on the first signal;
receiving at a downstream actuator the gate open signal and initiating withdrawal movement of a downstream valve pin from a downstream gate;
detecting via a position sensor actual withdrawal movement of the downstream valve pin from the downstream gate and transmitting a signal indicative of the actual gate open time (A) to the controller;
receiving at the controller the signal from the position sensor and automatically generating an automatic adjusted instruction time (X′) based on the difference (delay time Y) between the actual gate open time (A) and the predetermined open gate target time (X), for use in a subsequent cycle,
forming a first one or more parts or objects within a one or more mold cavities during the first injection cycle,
inspecting or measuring the first one or more parts or objects,
manually adjusting (Q) the predetermined open gate target time (X) on the subsequent injection cycle for one or more of the valve pins based on the inspecting or measuring,
instructing via the controller the valve pins on the subsequent injection cycle to open at an overall adjusted instruction time (X″) that includes or accounts for the automatic adjusted instruction time (X′) and the manual adjustment (Q).