System for detecting injection holding material
AssigneeMasimo Corporation
InventorJames Price Coffin IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is provided for detecting a substantially transparent injection molding material. The injection molding material contains a fluorescent colorant, which is invisible when not exposed to ultraviolet light, but becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light. A method of detecting the injection molding material involves exposing the injection molding material to ultraviolet light and examining the material during exposure.
Claims17
A method of determining whether an injection mold is substantially free from any leftover molding material, the method comprising:
- injecting molding material including a fluorescent colorant into a mold to create a workpiece;
- releasing the mold;
- directing ultraviolet light into at least a portion of the mold with sufficient energy to cause emissions from the fluorescent colorant of any remaining molding material to be detectable;
- and
- when remaining molding material is detected, removing the remaining molding material.
An optical inspection system for determining whether an injection mold is suitable for reinjection of molding materials, the optical inspection system comprising:
- a reusable mold which accepts flowable materials comprising a fluorescent colorant, wherein the flowable materials cool to form a workpiece in the shape of the mold;
- and
- a light source which directs ultraviolet light toward the reusable mold with sufficient energy to energize the fluorescent colorant of any leftover flowable materials within the reusable mold.
An optical inspection system for determining whether flaws or other abnormalities occurred in a workpiece made from an injection molding process, the optical inspection system comprising:
- a light source which directs a first light toward a workpiece made from materials including a fluorescent colorant, wherein the first light comprises light of a wavelength not visible to humans with sufficient energy to cause the fluorescent colorant to emit a second light;
- an inspection device which inspects the workpiece by detecting the second light, wherein the second light comprises light of a wavelength visible to humans.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.