Article of manufacture having computer readable program code for molding an article and method of molding an article by providing computer readable program code

• US 5,898,591 A
• Filed: 08/12/1996
• Issued: 04/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siebolt Hettinga
• Original Assignee: Siebolt Hettinga
• Inventors: Osborne, Richard, Hettinga, Siebolt
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garland, Steven R.
• Application Number:
  US08/695,422
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 364/475.02-475.1, 425/144, 425/145, 425/147-150, 425/170, 425/171, 425/135, 425/140, 425/162, 425/169, 264/40.1-40.7
• US Class Current: 700/204
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/766 the setting or resetting of moulding conditions, e.g. before starting a cycle
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/768 Detecting defective moulding conditions B29C45/84 takes precedence

Abstract

An article of manufacture is provided where the article of manufacture comprises a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means therein. The computer readable program code means causes a computer to receive information, establish a molding profile based on the information, operate a molding machine to mold an article according to the molding profile, receive additional information corresponding to detected irregularities on the molded article, establish a modified molding profile based on the additional information received, and operate the molding machine to mold an additional article according to the modified molding profile. The additional information received by the computer which corresponds to detected irregularities on the molded article may be provided by a human operator, by a second computer, or by any other means.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising means for causing a molding machine to mold an article, said means for causing a molding machine to mold an article comprising:

a) a computer,

b) means for receiving information;

c) means for establishing a molding profile based on said information;

d) means for operating said molding machine based on said molding profile, said molding machine thereby molding said article;

e) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive additional information through a graphic user interface, said additional information corresponding to detected irregularities on said article molded by said molding machine;

f) means for establishing a modified molding profile based on said additional information; and

g) means for operating said molding machine based on said modified molding profile, said molding machine thereby molding an additional article.

2. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving information comprises:

(a) said computer; and

(b) means for causing said computer to receive said information.

3. The article of manufacture according to claim 2, wherein said means for causing said computer to receive said information comprises computer readable program code.

4. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a molding profile comprises means for applying at least one algorithm to said information.

5. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said means for operating said molding machine based on said molding profile comprises said computer connected to said molding machine, said computer in communication with said molding machine.

6. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said means for establishing a modified molding profile comprises means for applying at least one algorithm to said additional information.

7. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said means for operating said molding machine based on said modified molding profile comprises said computer connected to said molding machine, said computer in communication with said molding machine.

8. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, further comprising a computer usable medium.

9. The article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein said computer usable medium comprises a floppy disc.

10. The article of manufacture according to claim 8, wherein said computer usable medium comprises a CD-ROM.

11. The article of manufacture according to claim 1, wherein said means for receiving information comprises means for receiving said information from a human through a graphic user interface.

12. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing a computer to output electronic signals to a molding machine causing said molding machine to mold an article, said computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising:

a) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive information;

b) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to establish a molding profile based on said information;

c) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to output electronic signals to said molding machine causing said molding machine to mold said article, said electronic signals dependent on said molding profile;

d) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive additional information through a graphic user interface, said additional information corresponding to detected irregularities on said article molded by said molding machine;

e) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to establish a modified molding profile based on said additional information; and

f) computer readable program code means for causing the computer to output additional electronic signals to said molding machine causing said molding machine to mold an additional article, said additional electronic signals dependent on said modified molding profile.

13. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein said computer usable medium is a floppy disk.

14. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein said computer usable medium is a CD-ROM.

15. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, further comprising computer readable program code means for enabling a user to communicate said information to said computer through a graphic user interface.

16. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein said article and said additional article are comprised of plastic.

17. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein said means for establishing a modified molding profile comprises means for applying an algorithm to said additional information.

18. The article of manufacture according to claim 12, wherein said computer readable program code means for causing said computer to receive information comprises means for causing said computer to receive said information from a human through a graphic user interface.

19. A method of operating a molding machine, said method comprising:

a) providing a computer, said computer communicatingly connected to said molding machine,

b) receiving information;

c) establishing a molding profile based on said information;

d) operating said molding machine based on said molding profile, said molding machine thereby molding said article;

e) providing computer readable program means for causing the computer to receive additional information through a graphic user interface, said additional information corresponding to detected irregularities on said article molded by said molding machine;

f) establishing a modified molding profile based on said additional information; and

g) operating said molding machine based on said modified molding profile, said molding machine thereby molding an additional article.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of receiving information comprises:

(a) providing a computer; and

(b) causing said computer to receive said information.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said step of causing said computer to receive said information comprises providing computer readable program code.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of establishing a molding profile comprises applying at least one algorithm to said information.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of operating said molding machine based on said molding profile comprises providing a computer connected to said molding machine, said computer in communication with said molding machine.

24. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of establishing a modified molding profile comprises applying at least one algorithm to said additional information.

25. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of operating said molding machine based on said modified molding profile comprises providing a computer connected to said molding machine, said computer in communication with said molding machine.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said computer usable medium comprises a floppy disc.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said computer usable medium comprises a CD-ROM.

28. The method according to claim 19, further comprising providing a computer usable medium.

29. The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of receiving information comprises receiving said information from a human through a graphic user interface.

30. A method of molding an article comprising:

a) providing a molding machine, said molding machine having a mold unit, said mold unit having a male mold section and a female mold section which on being brought together form a mold cavity;

b) providing a computer, said computer communicatingly connected to said molding machine;

c) providing computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive information;

d) providing computer readable program code means for causing the computer to output electronic signals to said molding machine causing said male mold section and said female mold section to come together to form said mold cavity, and causing a plastic material to be injected into said mold cavity to form an article, said electronic signals dependent on said information;

f) removing said article from said mold unit;

g) detecting irregularities on said article;

h) providing computer readable program code means for causing the computer to receive additional information through a graphic user interface, said additional information corresponding to said irregularities on said article;

i) providing computer readable program code means for causing the computer to establish a modified molding profile by applying at least one algorithm to said additional information;

j) providing computer readable program code means for causing the computer to output additional electronic signals to said molding machine causing said male mold section and said female mold section to come together to form said mold cavity, and causing a plastic material to be injected into said mold cavity to form an additional article, said additional electronic signals dependent on said modified molding profile; and

k) removing said additional article from said mold unit.

31. The method according to claim 30, further comprising:

a) providing a graphic user interface, said graphic user interface in communication with said computer; and

b) communicating said information to the computer through the graphic user interface.