Methods for controlling co-injection plastic pressure ratio between individual flow front layers
AssigneeImflux Inc.
InventorsGene Michael Altonen, Shawn J. Schnee, Aaron Timothy Neate, William Francis Lawless, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for co-injection molding of two molten plastic materials that allows monitoring and utilization of injection pressure and optionally melt pressure and/or flow front pressure during an injection run. A controller alters the injection pressure so as to achieve and maintain optimal or desired ratios of injection pressure, and optionally melt pressure and/or flow front pressure, of the two molten plastic materials. This allows for more precise part manufacture, including reducing the thickness of a skin or shell layer compared to a core layer of a molded part.
Claims10
A system for controlling melt pressure during co-injection molding, the system comprising:
- an injection molding machine comprising a first injection unit, a second injection unit, and a mold forming a mold cavity, wherein:
- (i) the first injection unit is adapted to inject a first material into the mold cavity at a first injection pressure, and
- (ii) the second injection unit is adapted to inject a second material into the mold cavity at a second injection pressure;
- a controller adapted to control operation of the injection molding machine, wherein:
- (i) the controller is adapted to adjust the first injection pressure based on comparing a first flow front pressure to a first optimal flow front pressure, and
- (ii) the controller is adapted to adjust the second injection pressure based on comparing a second flow front pressure to a second optimal flow front pressure;
- and
- two or more sensors coupled to the injection molding machine and the controller, wherein each of the two or more sensors is adapted to measure one or more variables of the injection molding machine and transmit the measured one or more variables to the controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.