Process and Communication Interface for Tracking Injection Molded Parts

• US 20080078827A1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: Husky Injection Molding Systems Limited
• Inventors: GEISS, David Werner
• Application Number:
  US11/536,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20080078827A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2071 comprising electronic elements or detection means, e.g. chips, RFIDs or barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/7878 Preform or article handling, e.g. flow from station to station
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2945/7629 Moulded articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/079 Auxiliary parts or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/7686 the ejected articles, e.g. weight control
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/42412 Marking or printing
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/78 Measuring, controlling or regulating
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/253 Preform
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A process and communication interface for tracking injection molded parts including the reading and/or storing of information from/to an information device attached to a container by a molding machine control system having a communication device for communicating with the information device.

Claims

1. A communication interface (29) between a control system (51) of a molding machine (50) and an information device (28) attached to a molded part storage container (56), the interface (29) comprising:

a communication device (30) of the molding machine control system (51) configured to communicate with the information device (28) on the container (56).

2. The communication interface (29) of claim 1, wherein the communication device (30) is configured to store information in the information device (28) concerning the molded parts loaded into container (56) by the molding system (50).

3. The communication interface (29) of claim 1, wherein the communication device (30) is configured to receive information from the information device (28) concerning the identity of the container (56) for storage with information concerning the parts loaded into the container (56) into a business system.

4. The communication interface (29) of claim 1 wherein the information device (28) is a wireless communication device.

5. The communication interface (29) of claim 1 wherein the information device (28) is an RFID device.

6. The communication interface (29) of claim 5, wherein the RFID device includes an antenna (44) and a memory chip (42).

7. The communication interface (29) of claim 2 wherein the information includes at least one of:

composition;

part description;

color;

dimensions;

quantity;

weight;

material;

environmental conditions during manufacture; and

date of manufacture of the parts loaded into the container.

8. A process for tracking an injection molded part, comprising:

configuring a communication interface (29) between a communication device (30) of a molding machine control system (51) and information device (28) attached to a molded part storage container (56) for performing at least one of;

i) transmitting information relating to the molded part from the control system (51) for storage in the information device (28);

ii) receiving information stored in the information device (28) in the control system (51) for updating a business control system that is linked to the control system 51.

9. The process of claim 8, further including:

reading the information recorded on the information device (28); and

transmitting the information to a control system of a station (74) receiving the container (56).

10. The process of claim 9, wherein:

the station (74) is one of;

i) a blow molding machine;

ii) a coating machine;

iii) a crystallization device;

iv) a gate cutting machine.