An in-mold lid closing apparatus, comprising:
- a first lid engagement member extending along a direction substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of a lid portion of a first in-mold lid and a second lid engagement member extending along a direction substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of a lid portion of a second in-mold lid;
- a first actuation assembly connected to a first portion of the first lid engagement member and to a first portion of the second lid engagement member and a second actuation assembly connected to a second opposing portion of the first lid engagement member and to a second opposing portion of the second lid engagement member, the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly configured to dispose each lid engagement member between a first linear position and a second linear position relative to the respective first in-mold lid and the second in-mold lid and between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to the respective first in-mold lid and the second in-mold lid;
- the first actuation assembly comprising:
- a linear actuator having a first base, a first translation element moveably coupled to the first base, and a second translation element moveably coupled to the first base, the first translation element of the first actuation assembly configured to translate relative to the first base along a first linear direction and the second translation element of the first actuation assembly configured to translate relative to the first base along a second linear direction, the second linear direction opposing the first linear direction,
- a first rotary actuator having a first support coupled to the first translation element and a rotary element coupled to the first support and to the first portion of the first lid engagement member, and
- a second rotary actuator having a second support coupled to the second translation element and a rotary element coupled to the second support and to the first portion of the second lid engagement member;
- and
- the second actuation assembly comprising:
- a linear actuator having a second base, a first translation element moveably coupled to the second base, and a second translation element moveably coupled to the second base, the first translation element of the second actuation assembly configured to translate relative to the second base along the first linear direction and the second translation element of the second actuation assembly configured to translate relative to the second base along the second linear direction, the second linear direction opposing the first linear direction,
- a first rotary actuator having a first support coupled to the first translation element and a rotary element coupled to the first support and to the second portion of the first lid engagement member, and
- a second rotary actuator having a second support coupled to the second translation element and a rotary element coupled to the second support and to the second portion of the second lid engagement member;
- and
- a controller disposed in electrical communication with the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly, the controller configured to:
- transmit a first drive signal to the first actuation assembly and a second drive signal to the second actuation assembly to drive one of the linear position and the rotational position of the first lid engagement member and the second lid engagement member, and
- adjust at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal based upon a comparison of a first feedback signal received from the first actuation assembly identifying a position of the first portion of the first lid engagement member and a second feedback signal received from the second actuation assembly identifying a position of the second portion of the second lid engagement member.