# US 12,214,535 B2 · Vertical injection molding machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,535 B2 - Document ID: US12214535B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/174,048 - Filed: 2023-02-24 - Published: 2023-08-31 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-28 - Assignees: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. - Applicants: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd. - Inventors: Kiyotaka Nakayama - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214535B2 ## CPC - B29C 45/84: Safety devices {(B29C45/7626 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/03: Injection moulding apparatus (transfer moulding B29C45/02) - B29C 45/76: Measuring, controlling or regulating {(measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05)} - B29C 45/768: {Detecting defective moulding conditions (B29C45/84 takes precedence)} - B29C 2945/76163: Errors, malfunctioning - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract A vertical injection molding machine includes a mold clamping device configured to clamp a mold, an injection device provided on the mold clamping device, the injection device being configured to inject an injection material, a controller including an operation terminal, the operation terminal provided on an operation side of the vertical injection molding machine, and a safety fence surrounding other three sides of the vertical injection molding machine except for the operation side. Alight curtain and a cover are provided on the operation side. The light curtain includes a plurality of spaced light sources and the same number of light receiving sensors, the light curtain being configured to detect an entry into the mold clamping device from the operation side. The cover is disposed on or above the light curtain. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vertical injection molding machine comprising: a mold clamping device configured to clamp a mold; an injection device provided on the mold clamping device, the injection device being configured to inject an injection material; a controller comprising an operation terminal, the operation terminal provided on an operation side of the vertical injection molding machine; and a safety fence surrounding other three sides of the vertical injection molding machine except for the operation side, wherein a light curtain and a cover are provided on the operation side, wherein the light curtain includes a plurality of spaced light sources and the same number of light receiving sensors, the light curtain being configured to detect an entry into the mold clamping device from the operation side, and wherein the cover is disposed on or above the light curtain. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover is detachable or openable and closable. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 2, wherein the cover is provided with a limit switch, and an attachment and detachment state or an open and closed state of the cover is input to the controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 3, wherein the limit switch comprises a lock mechanism configured to prevent detachment or opening of the cover. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to restrict control of the vertical injection molding machine according to the attachment and detachment state or the open and closed state of the cover. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 3, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of boards connected to each other, and wherein the plurality of boards are slid to open and close the cover. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a plurality of boards connected to each other, the plurality of boards being slidable in a first direction and being overlapped with each other to open the cover, the plurality of boards being slidable in a second direction to close the cover, the second direction being opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 7, wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to an axial direction of a screw of the injection device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vertical injection molding machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover comprises an upper board and a lower board connected to each other by a first hinge, the lower board being provided on a post configuring the safety fence via a second hinge, wherein the upper board is rotatable between a first position engaging with the post and a second position overlapping the lower board, the second position being lower than the first position, and wherein the upper board and the lower board which, when being overlapped with each other, are rotatable together via the second hinge between the second position and a third position, the third position being lower than the second position.