Mold core-pin deflection transducer

Abstract

A transducer for measuring the amount of lateral deflection taking place at the tip of a core-pin inside a mold or die cavity. Non-uniform cavity pressure and cooling patterns make core-pins prone to deflection resulting in out-of-tolerance thin and thick wall sections of the finished part. The transducer provides a means of determining deflection as it occurs during the molding process for statistical quality control. Real time measurement of the core deflection allows discrimination of unacceptable and reject parts for an automatic part sorting process. In the preferred embodiment a plurality of strain gauges mounted on the core-pin outside of the mold cavity provide real time electric signals of lateral deflection that can be used to automatically segregate reject parts and provide for statistical process control. The electric signals are conditioned and manipulated with electronics and firmware to generate real time information corresponding to forces applied to the core-pin and deflections of the core-pin in response thereto. The information produced may be viewed graphically in real time and used to manually or automatically adjust molding parameters and reject out-of-spec products.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.