Parametric injection molding system and method
AssigneesBaxter International Inc., Umetrics AB
InventorsLee Merrill Hutson, Svante Wold
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and system for controlling the quality of a product produced by an injection molding production process. The invention includes performing a multivariate analysis on injection molding process data collected real-time and determining whether the real-time data is within a predetermined production control limit. When the real-time production data exceeds the control limit, the process is considered out of control and product produced during the out of control condition is removed real-time from the injection molding production process.
Claims17
A method of controlling the quality of a product produced by an injection molding process comprising:
- generating an injection molding process model from injection molding process data, the injection molding process model having a control limit, wherein the generating of the injection molding process model comprises performing a multivariate analysis on the injection molding process data using a multivariable analysis selected from the group consisting of performing a principal component analysis, calculating a Hotelling T2 value, calculating a DModX value, performing a projection to latent structures analysis, and combinations thereof;
- collecting real-time injection molding process data;
- determining whether the real-time injection molding process data is within the control limit;
- and
- removing the product from the injection molding process when the real-time data process data exceeds the control limit.
A method for parametrically releasing a product produced by an injection molding production process comprising:
- collecting real-time production data from the injection molding production process;
- comparing the real-time production data to a predetermined production control limit generated by a multivariable analysis selected from the group consisting of performing a principal component analysis, calculating a Hotelling T2 value, calculating a DModX value, performing a projection to latent structures analysis, and combinations thereof
- determining whether the real-time production data is within the predetermined production control limit;
- and
- removing from the injection molding production process any product produced when the real-time production data exceeds the control limit.
An automated system for controlling the quality of a product produced by an injection molding production process comprising:
- a data analysis module for generating a predetermined injection molding production control limit by a multivariable analysis selected from the group consisting of performing a principal component analysis, calculating a Hotelling T2 value, calculating a DModX value, performing a projection to latent structures analysis, and combinations thereof;
- a data collection device for collecting real-time injection molding production process data;
- a prediction module for determining whether the real-time injection molding process data is within the control limit;
- and
- a diversion device in operative communication with the prediction module, the diversion device removing from the injection molding production process any product produced when the real-time injection molding production process data exceeds the control limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.