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US 9,718,229 B2Granted
Methods of using retrofitted injection molding machines with reduced temperatures
AssigneeImflux Inc.
InventorsGene Michael Altonen, Michael Thomas Dodd
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An injection molding machine that uses a mold and a native controller to operate according to an original mold cycle to mold plastic objects is retrofitted with a retrofit controller; the retrofitted machine uses the mold and the retrofit controller to operate according to a retrofit mold cycle to mold plastic objects. When molding according to the retrofit mold cycle, the injection molding machine uses lower temperatures, when compared to molding according to the original mold cycle.
Claims18
A method of using an injection molding machine, the method comprising:
- first, injection molding using a first injection molding machine, a first mold, and a native controller to injection mold production versions of a plastic object according to an original mold cycle for the first mold, the first injection molding machine including an injection unit, a nozzle in fluid communication with the injection unit, and the first mold, which is in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the native controller is programmed with at least a portion of the original mold cycle, wherein during the original mold cycle, the first injection molding machine has an average original mold cycle machine temperature profile;
- and
- second, injection molding using a second injection molding machine, a second mold, the native controller, and a retrofit controller to injection mold production versions of the plastic object according to a retrofit mold cycle for the second mold, the second injection molding machine including an injection unit, a nozzle in fluid communication with the injection unit, and the second mold, which is in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the retrofit controller is programmed with at least a portion of the retrofit mold cycle, wherein during the retrofit mold cycle the second injection molding machine has an average retrofit mold cycle machine temperature profile, wherein the native controller controls at least one of cooling the plastic object, opening the mold, ejecting the molded object, closing the mold, and recovering the second injection molding machine for a new cycle;
- wherein the average retrofit mold cycle machine temperature profile is 5-50° C. less than the average original mold cycle machine temperature profile.
1 more element
A method of using an injection molding machine, the method comprising:
- first, injection molding using an injection molding machine, a mold, and a native controller to injection mold production versions of a plastic object made from a plastic material according to an original mold cycle, the injection molding machine including an injection unit, a nozzle in fluid communication with the injection unit, and the mold, which is in fluid communication with the nozzle, wherein the native controller is programmed with at least a portion of an original mold cycle for the mold, wherein during the original mold cycle the plastic material has an average original mold cycle melt temperature, measured at the nozzle of the first injection molding machine;
- and
- second, injection molding using the injection molding machine, the mold, the native controller, and a retrofit controller to injection mold production versions of the plastic object made from the plastic material according to a retrofit mold cycle, wherein the retrofit controller is programmed with at least a portion of a retrofit mold cycle for the mold, wherein during the retrofit mold cycle the plastic material has an average retrofit mold cycle melt temperature, measured at the nozzle of the second injection molding machine, wherein the native controller controls at least one of cooling the plastic object, opening the mold, ejecting the molded object, closing the mold, and recovering the second injection molding machine for a new cycle;
- wherein the average retrofit mold cycle melt temperature is 5-50° C. less than the average original mold cycle melt temperature.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.