Method and system to eliminate dropping of molds for a molding machine arrangement

A molding machine system comprising:

• a crane including a hoist on a trolley for setting and pulling of molds, the crane further including:
• a crane position sensing arrangement for determining a position of the crane and hoist;
• a crane load sensor for sensing a load supported on the hoist;
• a molding machine for receiving a mold and for being operating to create molded products, the molding machine including:
• a movable magnetic platen and a fixed magnetic platen for securing the mold thereto, the movable magnetic platen being movable to open and close a mold;
• a flux sensor for sensing whether the magnetic platens are magnetized and supporting the mold by a magnetic circuit that is completed via presence of ferrous material in the mold, or sensing that the magnetic platens are demagnetized and the magnetic circuit is not completed;
• an input device for selecting operating conditions for the molding machine;
• a display for displaying operating conditions for the molding machine;
• and
• an electronic processor for when a set-up mode is selected, the electronic processor being configured to:
• enable movement of the movable magnetic platen when the crane position sensing arrangement senses that the crane is above the molding machine;
• the crane load sensor senses a load that is less than a marginal load value;
• and the flux sensor senses that the magnetic platens are magnetized and the magnetic circuit is completed;
• and
• enable movement of the movable magnetic platen to remove/insert the mold when the crane position sensing arrangement senses that the crane is above the molding machine;
• the crane load sensor senses a load that is greater than the marginal load value;
• and the flux sensor senses that the magnetic platens are demagnetized and the magnetic circuit is not completed.