Mold and hot runner controller located on the machine platen

• US 20040258787A1
• Filed: 06/21/2004
• Published: 12/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mold Masters 2007 Limited (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited (Hillenbrand Incorporated)
• Inventors: Olaru, George, Nguyen, James
• Granted Patent: US 7,258,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 425/143
• CPC Class Codes: B22D 17/32 Controlling equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2865 having position detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76006 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/7604 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76083 Position
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/7621 nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76244 ejectors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/7626 cavity walls
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76274 runners, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/7628 manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76434 Parameter setting
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76454 Electrical, e.g. thermocouples
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76498 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76521 power
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76735 cavity
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76752 runners, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76936 The operating conditions are corrected in the next phase or cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/76939 Using stored or historical data sets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/1774 Display units or mountings therefor; Switch cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/27 Sprue channels ; Runner channels or runner nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2806 : consisting of needle valve systems B29C45/2896 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/76 : Measuring, controlling or regulating measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/78 : of temperature

Abstract

A control module is attached to a machine platen of an injection molding machine. The control module is coupled to at least one sensor that reports a value of a processing condition associated with an injection mold and is disposed within the injection mold. The control module is also coupled to at least one controllable device that varies the processing condition of the injection mold and is disposed within the injection mold. The control module collects and processes sensor output, and provides a control signal to at least one controllable device. A display interface module is linked to the control module. The display interface module accepts user-entered data set-points, provides the user-entered data set-points to the control module, and collects the processed sensor output from the control module for display to a user.

Claims

1. An injection molding machine comprising:

an injection mold mounted to a machine platen, said injection mold having a mold hot-half and a mold cold-half;

at least one controllable device coupled to said injection mold for varying a processing condition of said injection mold;

at least one sensor coupled to said injection mold that reports a value of the processing condition; and

a control module, mounted on said machine platen, said control module being in communication with said at least one sensor and said at least one controllable device, said control module for collecting an output from said at least one sensor, processing said sensor output, and providing a control signal to said at least one controllable device.

2. The injection molding machine of claim 1, wherein said control module is coupled to said machine platen via a machine plate connector.

3. The injection molding machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a mold plate connector coupled to said mold hot-half, said mold plate connector providing a link between said at least one sensor and said control module.

4. The injection molding machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a machine plate connector for coupling said control module to said machine platen; and

a mold plate connector coupled to said mold hot-half, said mold plate connector providing a link between said at least one sensor and said control module,

wherein said machine plate connector is coupled to a machine cable that communicates with a mold cable that is coupled to said mold plate connector.

5. The injection molding machine of claim 4, wherein an adaptor is provided between said mold cable and said machine cable, said adaptor being removable and interchangeable to accommodate a plurality of different injection molds.

6. The injection molding machine of claim 1, wherein said controllable device is a heater.

7. The injection molding machine of claim 1, wherein said controllable device is a valve pin.

8. The injection molding machine of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor is a thermocouple.

9. The injection molding machine of claim 1, wherein said mold hot-half includes a manifold and a plurality of hot runner nozzles, and wherein at least one of said manifold and hot runner nozzles includes a sensor and a controllable device communicating with said control module.

10. The injection molding machine of claim 1, further comprising a display interface module located remotely from said control module, wherein said display interface module communicates with said control module.

11. The injection molding machine of claim 10, wherein said display interface module includes data entry means and data memory means.

12. The injection molding machine of claim 10, wherein said display interface module is attached to the injection molding machine.

13. The injection molding machine of claim 12, wherein said display interface module is portable and removably attachable to the injection molding machine.

14. The injection molding machine of claim 1, further comprising a power supply unit connected to said control module.

15. The injection molding machine of claim 14, wherein said power supply unit is located on said machine platen.