METHODS FOR FORMING INJECTED MOLDED PARTS AND IN-MOLD SENSORS THEREFOR
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for use in forming a molded part, the method comprising:
- providing a mold having a cavity and a movable pin;
injecting a moldable material into the cavity;
biasing the movable pin to maintain an end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during the curing of the moldable material and until the moldable material is cured; and
monitoring movement of the biased movable pin during curing of the moldable material in the mold.
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Abstract
A method for use in forming a molded part includes providing a mold having a cavity and a movable pin, injecting a moldable material into the cavity, biasing the movable pin to maintain an end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during the curing of the moldable material and until the moldable material is cured, and monitoring movement of the biased movable pin during curing of the moldable material in the mold. Also disclosed is a sensor engageable with an end of a movable pin of a mold for monitoring the forming of a moldable part, and systems employing the same.
33 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for use in forming a molded part, the method comprising:
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providing a mold having a cavity and a movable pin; injecting a moldable material into the cavity; biasing the movable pin to maintain an end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during the curing of the moldable material and until the moldable material is cured; and monitoring movement of the biased movable pin during curing of the moldable material in the mold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A sensor for use in forming of a moldable part in a cavity of a mold, said sensor comprising:
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a housing connectable to the mold; a movable pin disposed in said housing, said movable pin having an end engageable with a moldable material in the cavity of the mold; an elastic member supported in said housing and engageable with said movable pin for applying a biasing force on said end of said movable pin to maintain said end of said movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during curing of the moldable material and until the moldable material is cured; and means for monitoring movement of said movable pin when said movable pin is in contact with the moldable material during curing of the moldable material in the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for controlling the forming of a plurality of molded parts in a cavity of a mold, the method comprising:
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monitoring at least one of an in-mold part dimension of a part and in-mold shrinkage of a part based on movement of a movable pin biased to maintain an end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity mold during curing of the moldable material until the moldable material is cured; and controlling a plurality of operating parameters for forming the plurality of molded parts based on the monitored at least one of the in-mold part dimension of the part and the in-mold shrinkage of the part. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for controlling the forming of a plurality of molded parts in a cavity of a mold, the system comprising:
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a sensor for monitoring at least one of an in-mold part dimension and an in-mold shrinkage of the part based on movement of a movable pin biased to maintain an end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during curing of the moldable material until the moldable material is cured; and a processor operable to control a plurality of operating parameters for forming the plurality of molded parts based on the monitored at least one of the in-mold part dimension of the part and the in-mold shrinkage of the part. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. An article of manufacture comprising:
at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code logic to control the forming of a plurality of molded parts in a cavity of a mold, said computer readable program code logic when executing performing the following; obtaining at least one of an in-mold dimension of the part and an in-mold shrinkage of the part based on monitoring a movable pin biased to maintain the end of the movable pin in contact with the moldable material in the cavity during curing of the moldable material until the moldable material is cured; and controlling a plurality of operating parameters for forming the plurality of molded parts based on the monitored at least one of the in-mold dimension of the part and the in-mold shrinkage of the part. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35)
Specification