Methods of using retrofitted injection molding machines with reduced pressures
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. The retrofit mold cycle has a maximum injection pressure that is less than a maximum injection pressure of the original mold cycle. The retrofit mold cycle can also have more constant injection pressures than the original mold cycle.
Claims19
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 the original mold cycle has a maximum original injection pressure, and wherein the native controller at least partially controls injection pressures of the machine according to the original mold cycle;
- 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 the retrofit mold cycle has a maximum retrofit injection pressure, and wherein the retrofit controller at least partially controls injection pressures of the machine according to the retrofit mold cycle, 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 maximum retrofit injection pressure is 10-60% less than the maximum original injection pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.