In-mold non-time dependent determination of injection molded part ejection readiness
AssigneeImflux Inc.
InventorsNicholas Mulkern Unkovic, Gene Michael Altonen, Daniel Lumpkin, William Francis Lawless, III, H. Kenneth Hanson, III, Chow-Chi Huang
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Abstract
Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal ejection time of a part from a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. The part is ready to be ejected from the mold upon the measured variable reaching a threshold value indicative of, for example, a part temperature dropping below an activation temperature.
Claims9
A method for determining whether a part is ready to be ejected from a mold cavity during an injection molding cycle, the method comprising:
- measuring at least one non-time dependent variable during the injection molding cycle;
- upon the measured at least one non-time dependent variable reaching a threshold value indicative of the part being structurally sound, ejecting the part from the mold cavity;
- wherein the at least one non-time dependent variable comprises at least one of a Shore D Durometer or a Rockwell R hardness value measured via a hardness sensor.
A method for determining whether an injection molded part is ready to be ejected from an injection mold cavity, the method comprising:
- measuring one or more non-time dependent variables at a location outside of the mold cavity, wherein the at least one non-time dependent variable comprises at least one of a Shore D Durometer or a Rockwell R hardness value measured via a hardness sensor;
- upon the measured one or more non-time dependent variables reaching a threshold value indicative of the part being structurally sound, ejecting the part from the mold cavity.
A method for determining whether an injection molded part is ready to be ejected from an injection mold cavity, the method comprising:
- in a first injection molding cycle, injecting a first shot of molten plastic material into a mold cavity;
- during the first injection molding cycle, measuring a first non-time dependent variable value of a non-time dependent variable, the first non-time dependent variable value being indicative of a part being structurally sound;
- during a second injection molding cycle subsequent to the first injection molding cycle, injecting a second shot of molten plastic material into the mold cavity;
- during the second injection molding cycle, measuring a second non-time dependent variable value of the non-time dependent variable;
- and ejecting the part from the mold cavity when the second non-time dependent variable value is approximately equal to the first non-time dependent variable value;
- wherein the non-time dependent variable comprises at least one of a shore D Durometer or a Rockwell R hardness value measured via a hardness sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.