US 11,685,094 B2 · Heat removal system and method for an injection molding machine

Abstract

An injection molding heat removal sensing and control system and method are provided for determining and controlling a heat transfer rate for a mold in a molding machine. The system includes an inflow temperature sensor for sensing an inflow temperature for coolant provided to the mold, an outflow temperature sensor for sensing an outflow temperature for coolant exiting the mold, and a flow rate sensor for sensing a flow rate for coolant through the mold. The electronic processor is also configured to calculate a heat transfer rate for the mold from the inflow temperature, the outflow temperature, the flow rate for the coolant, and the calculated mass and the temperature of the molten plastic. The processor determines a time lag between when heat enters the mold and when heat is removed by the coolant and pre-emptively adjusts coolant flow rate to provide uniform heat transfer throughout a molding cycle. The heat transfer rate and total energy removed can be determined and provided on the display.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for determining heat removal of a molding machine having a mold, comprising:

sensing an inflow temperature for a coolant provided to the mold;
sensing an outflow temperature for the coolant exiting the mold;
sensing a coolant flow rate of the coolant through the mold;
sensing a heat transfer into the mold via determining a mass of molten plastic that is provided at a determined temperature;
calculating a heat transfer rate for the mold with an electronic processor based at least on the inflow temperature, the outflow temperature, the coolant flow rate, and the determined mass and the determined temperature of the molten plastic;
determining a time lag between when heat enters the mold and when heat is removed by the coolant with the electronic processor;
pre-emptively adjusting coolant flow rate to provide uniform heat transfer throughout a molding cycle in view of the heat transfer rate and the time lag;
and
stopping operation of the molding machine when a temperature gradient between the inflow temperature and the outflow temperature is outside a predetermined range of values.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heat removal system and method for an injection molding machine

Life of this patent

Heat removal system and method for an injection molding machine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17