Molding cycle control method of an injection molder

• US 5,266,247 A
• Filed: 01/23/1992
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
• Inventors: Yokota, Akira
• Primary Examiner(s): HEITBRINK, JILL LYNNE
• Application Number:
  US07/809,557
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 264/40.1, 264/40.4, 264/40.5, 264/328.1, 425/135, 425/145, 425/146-150, 425/557, 425/559, 425/562
• US Class Current: 264/40.4
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/5096 decompression of the moulding material by retraction or opposite rotation of the screw
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/50 Axially movable screw
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/57 Exerting after-pressure on the moulding material B29C45/174 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/76 Measuring, controlling or regulating measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05

Abstract

A molding cycle control method of an injection molder includes a flow passage opening and closing mechanism which prevents a flow of a plasticized synthetic resin to be injected, aiming at shortening the time required for each molding cycle and the stability of weight value of molded products. The above-mentioned control method includes the flow passage opening and closing mechanism being closed under the state that the plasticized synthetic resin is injected and filled into a cavity of a mold and is applied with dwelling pressure. Thus, a dwelling process is conducted by the residual dwelling pressure at the mold side and simultaneously a measuring process for a next molding cycle is carried out at the screw side, thereby enabling the time required for each molding cycle to be shortened. Further, with the provision of the flow passage opening and closing mechanism and the check valve at the screw, a definite the predetermined value of resin pressure of the plasticized synthetic resin placed in the cylinder immediately before the injection and during the dwelling can be obtained. Furthermore, since a weight value of a molded product can be obtained through an operation, the injection molder can be controlled to keep constant the weight value of molded products constant.

Claims

1. A molding cycle control method for an injection molder comprising a cylinder with a screw therein and a flow passage opening and closing mechanism which is provided between the cylinder of the injection molder and a gate of a mold, the mold having a mold cavity, the opening and closing mechanism provided for the flow of a plasticized synthetic resin between the inside of the cylinder and the cavity of the mold, the method comprising the following steps:

(a) a pre-injection pressing process wherein after the synthetic resin is plasticized and measured, with the flow passage opening and closing mechanism closed to prevent the flow of the plasticized synthetic resin, a predetermined pushing force is applied to the screw to set the resin pressure value inside the cylinder equal to a predetermined value,

(b) a filling and dwelling process comprising a filling process wherein with the flow passage opening and closing mechanism open to allow the plasticized synthetic resin to flow, the screw is moved forward to inject and fill the plasticized synthetic resin into the cavity of the mold, and a dwelling process to apply a predetermined pushing force to the screw following the filling process, during which the flow passage opening and closing mechanism is closed the filling and dwelling process being conducted to fill a predetermined amount of the plasticized synthetic resin into the cavity,

(c) a measuring process wherein with the flow passage opening and closing mechanism closed to block the flow of plasticized synthetic resin, the screw is rotated and moved backward to measure a predetermined amount of the plasticized synthetic resin for a next molding cycle, and

(d) a suck-back process wherein with the flow passage opening and closing mechanism open to allow the plasticized synthetic resin to flow, the screw is moved backward to lower the pressure of the plasticized synthetic resin located between the gate of the mold and the front end of the screw at its forward movement side.

2. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claim 1, wherein in the pre-injection pressing process, a check valve mounted to the screw is closed to prevent a flow of the plasticized synthetic resin placed between the flow passage opening and closing mechanism and the check valve toward the direction of backward movement of the screw.

3. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claims 1 or 2, wherein during the dwelling and filling process, a predetermined amount of the plasticized synthetic resin to be filled in the cavity is determined based on the positional value of the screw or pressure values of the plasticized synthetic resin placed in the cylinder or in the cavity.

4. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claims 1 or 2, wherein during the dwelling and filling process, a predetermined amount of the plasticized synthetic resin to be filled in the cavity is determined on the basis of a predetermined travel distance of the screw from the position where the screw is positioned immediately before the injection.

5. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claims 1 or 2, wherein a predetermined amount of the plasticized synthetic resin to be filled in the cavity during the dwelling and filling process is represented by the following formula with a weight value G:

space="preserve" listing-type="equation">G=(1V.sub.I -1/V.sub.H)×

V+A×

X/V.sub.H

wherein;

V_I is a specific volume value of plasticized synthetic resin placed at its forward movement side of the front end of the screw in the cylinder immediately before the injection operation;

V_H is a specific volume value of the plasticized synthetic resin placed at its forward movement side of the front end of the screw in the cylinder during the dwelling process;

V is a volume of the plastifiable synthetic resin placed at its forward movement side of the front end of the screw in the cylinder immediately before the injection operation;

A is an internal sectional area of the cylinder; and

,

X is a travel distance of the screw from immediately before the injection to the dwelling operation.

6. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suck-back process is carried out with the plasticized synthetic resin placed in the gate of the mold solidified and blocked from flowing in the gate.

7. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claim 1, wherein the suck-back process is conducted during the measuring process.

8. The molding cycle control method of an injection molder as set forth in claim 1, wherein after the completion of the measuring process, the flow passage opening and closing mechanism is open and the suck-back process is carried out.

9. A control method for an injection molder comprising a cylinder having a screw therein and a flow passage opening and closing mechanism between the cylinder and a gate of a mold having mold cavity to selectively block the flow of resin between the cylinder and the mold, the method comprising:

a filling step comprising advancing the screw in the cylinder with the flow passage opening and closing mechanism open to inject resin from the cylinder into the mold cavity;

a dwelling step comprising applying a predetermined pressure to the resin injected into the cavity of the mold with the screw;

a measuring step comprising closing the flow passage opening and closing mechanism while the predetermined pressure is being applied, and retracting the screw to measure a predetermined amount of resin in the cylinder for the next molding cycle while the flow passage opening and closing mechanism remains closed;

a suckback step occurring after the resin has solidified in the gate of the mold comprising opening the flow passage opening and closing mechanism and retracting the screw to reduce the pressure on the resin between the front of the screw and the gate.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the measuring step comprises a first measuring step in which the a first predetermined amount of resin is measured in the cylinder before the suckback step, and a second measuring step in which an additional amount of resin is measured in the cylinder after the suckback step and prior to the next molding cycle.