Method for monitoring and controlling an injection molding process using a strain gauge
AssigneeImflux Inc.
InventorsWilliam Francis Lawless, III, Rick Alan Pollard, Brian Matthew Burns, Gene Michael Altonen
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Abstract
Methods of monitoring and controlling a molding process using a sensed change in strain provided by a strain gauge are provided. A target strain profile is created for a molding process of a molding apparatus. An upper and lower deviation limit from the target strain profile for the molding process is provided. If a sensed change in strain exceeds a deviation limit, an alarm is activated.
Claims28
A method of monitoring and controlling a molding apparatus comprising:
- creating, by one or more processors, a target strain profile for a molding process of a molding apparatus;
- receiving, via an interface, an upper deviation limit and a lower deviation limit for the molding process;
- receiving, as an output from a strain gauge, a change in strain in the molding apparatus;
- identifying, by the one or more processors, a deviation from the target strain profile based on the sensed change in strain;
- comparing, by the one or more processors, the deviation to the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit;
- and
- when the deviation exceeds the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit, activating, by the one or more processors, an alarm.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing processor-executable instructions, that, when executed, cause one or more processors to:
- create by one or more processors a target strain profile for a molding process of a molding apparatus;
- receive via an interface an upper deviation limit and a lower deviation limit for the molding process;
- receive as an output from a strain gauge a change in strain in the molding apparatus;
- identify with the one or more processors a deviation from the target strain profile based on the sensed change in strain;
- compare by the one or more processors the deviation to the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit;
- and
- when the deviation exceeds the upper deviation limit or the lower deviation limit, activate an alarm by the one or more processors.
The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed, cause the one or more processors to:
- when the corrective action is not taken within the set period of time, send an instruction to the controller to stop the molding process.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.