Upstream nozzle sensor for injection molding apparatus and methods of use

• US 10,107,697 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2017
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imflux Inc. (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Imflux Inc. (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Pollard, Rick Alan, Allen, Bryan Keith, Huang, Chow-Chi, Altonen, Gene Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunlap, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hollington, Octavia
• Application Number:
  US15/615,996
• Publication Number:
  US 20180003575A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 73862045
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/7619 barrel
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76381 Injection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76481 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76498 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76545 Flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76658 Injection unit
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76859 Injection
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1603 Multi-way nozzles specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2708 Gates B29C45/2703 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/30 Flow control means disposed within the sprue channel, e.g. "torpedo" construction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/77 of velocity or pressure of moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2218 the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 19/147 Details about the mounting of the sensor to support or covering means

Abstract

A strain gauge nozzle adapter that may be placed between a barrel end cap and a nozzle body of an injection molding system, the strain gauge nozzle adapter having a strain gauge pin that measures strain within the strain gauge nozzle adapter for use in approximating conditions within an injection molding system, such as pressure or the location of a melt flow front. The strain gauge nozzle adapter may include a plurality of strain gauge pins. An alternative material insert in the strain gauge nozzle adapter may surround a strain gauge pin to amplify meaningful measurements obtained by the strain gauge pin so that noise measurements do not compromise the accuracy of approximation of conditions within a mold.

Claims

1. An external sensor nozzle adapter for an injection molding system comprising:

a melt flow inlet attachable to a barrel end cap;

a melt flow outlet attachable to a nozzle body;

a melt flow conduit extending between the melt flow inlet and the melt flow outlet, the melt flow conduit having an internal melt flow conduit wall and an external melt flow conduit wall;

an aperture for an external sensor on the external melt flow conduit wall, the aperture having a bottom that is at least a minimum distance from the internal melt flow conduit wall; and

an external sensor in the aperture,

wherein the external sensor nozzle adapter includes an alternative material insert surrounding the aperture, the alternative material insert made from a material that amplifies the strain experienced by the external sensor nozzle adapter.

2. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 1, wherein the external sensor is a strain gauge pin.

3. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 1, wherein the minimum distance is at least 0.5 mm.

4. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 1, wherein the alternative material insert has a lower flex modulus than the surrounding external sensor nozzle adapter.

5. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 4, wherein the alternative material insert is made of brass and the minimum distance is at least 0.5 mm.

6. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 5, wherein the alternative material insert is made of aluminum and the minimum distance is at least 0.5 mm.

7. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 1, wherein the external sensor nozzle adapter has a plurality of apertures and each of the plurality of apertures has an external sensor inserted therein.

8. The external sensor nozzle adapter of claim 7, wherein the plurality of apertures are located in the same circumferential plane of the external sensor nozzle adapter.