Method for fast manufacturing and assembling of hot runner systems

• US 7,877,163 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
• Original Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
• Inventors: Fischer, Jonathon, Babin, Denis
• Primary Examiner(s): Bahta; Kidest
• Application Number:
  US12/372,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20090157526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 700/18, 700/67, 700/98, 700/100, 700/180, 700/182, 700/197, 700/200, 700/201, 705 26- 29, 705/400, 703/6, 703/9, 703/12, 707/101, 264/453
• US Class Current: 700/200
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/007 injection moulding tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2725 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2738 specially adapted for manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/76 Measuring, controlling or regulating measuring in general G01; controlling or regulating in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31104 Remote configuration of parameters of controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/34038 Web, http, ftp, internet, intranet server
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45244 Injection molding
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]

Abstract

The method and apparatus of the present invention includes a computer implemented injection molding configuring subsystem which enables a customer to interactively specify and design a system using a mix of parameters that the customer specifies and are manufacturing process determined. The configuring subsystem is connected to a computer network such as the Internet. The method and apparatus of the present invention further includes a computerized business and processing subsystem in communication with the configuring subsystem. The computerized business subsystem automatically provides a cost and schedule for a system configured by the configuring subsystem and additionally processes an order for the system. The processing subsystem automatically processes the customer'"'"'s inputs and generates drawings for the configured system. Prior to receiving the customer'"'"'s order, hot runner system components may be partially manufactured in a first phase and placed in inventory. The partially manufactured hot runner components may then be removed from inventory after receiving a customer'"'"'s order, and further manufactured and assembled in accordance with the customer'"'"'s parameters in a second phase.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for use in designing a customized hot-runner system, the computer-implemented system being accessible by a user or by a plurality of users, wherein the computer-implemented system comprises in combination:

an online customer computer system connected to a computer network, the online customer computer system having a user input screen and being operative to display on the user input screen hot-runner component options to be selected by a user;

wherein the hot-runner component options are established so that the hot-runner component options to be selected by a user include manifold types, nozzle types, and nozzle pitches;

wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to electronically receive selected hot-runner component options from the user, the selected hot-runner component options including a selected manifold type, a selected nozzle pitch, and a selected nozzle type;

wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to process the selected component options to create a customized hot-runner system configuration based on the selected hot-runner component options; and

wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to generate a drawing of the customized hot-runner system utilizing the customized hot-runner system configuration.

2. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user the drawing.

3. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user the drawing by providing for online viewing of the drawing by the user.

4. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user the drawing by providing for downloading of the drawing.

5. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user the drawing by providing for transmission of the drawing utilizing electronic mail.

6. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative for online display of the drawing and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative so that displayed on the user input screen is an option for downloading the drawing.

7. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative for online display of the drawing and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative so that displayed on the user input screen are options for selecting a file type for the drawing.

8. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative so that displayed on the user input screen are options for selecting a file type for the drawing, the options including a TIF file format and a DXF file format.

9. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative so that displayed on the user input screen are options for selecting a format for the drawing, the options including an option for the drawing in a format that includes a 3D model of the customized hot-runner system.

10. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide the user the drawing of the customized hot-runner system in a format that includes a 3D model of the customized hot-runner system.

11. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the user input screen on which the hot-runner component options are displayed includes a plurality of computer screen displays.

12. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to calculate a cost of the customized hot-runner system based on the customized hot-runner system configuration and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user a quote for the customized hot-runner system.

13. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to calculate a cost of the customized hot-runner system utilizing the customized hot-runner configuration and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user a quote for the customized hot-runner system, and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen an option to order the customized hot-runner system.

14. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen a previously displayed hot-runner component option.

15. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option to utilize a nozzle pitch recommended by the computer implemented system.

16. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option for the user to enter a user specified value for a nozzle pitch.

17. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option for the user to enter a user specified value that determines a nozzle pitch for the customized hot-runner system.

18. The computer-implemented system of claim 1, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option to utilize a nozzle pitch recommended by the computer-implemented system, and an option for the user to enter a user specified value that determines a nozzle pitch for the customized hot-runner system.

19. A computer-implemented system for use in designing a customized hot-runner system, the computer-implemented system being accessible by a user or by a plurality of users, wherein the computer-implemented system comprises in combination:

an online customer computer system connected to a computer network, the online customer computer system having a user input screen and being operative to display on the user input screen hot-runner component options to be selected by a user;

wherein the hot-runner component options are established so that the hot-runner component options to be selected by a user include manifold types, nozzle types, and nozzle pitches;

wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to electronically receive selected hot-runner component options from the user, the selected hot-runner component options including a selected manifold type, a selected nozzle pitch, and a selected nozzle type;

wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to process the selected component options to create a customized hot-runner system configuration based on the selected hot-runner component options;

wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to determine a cost of the customized hot-runner system utilizing the customized hot-runner system configuration, and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide the user a quote for the customized hot-runner system.

20. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide the user the quote by providing for display of the quote for viewing by the user.

21. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen an option to view a quote of the customized hot-runner system, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to receive a selected option to receive a quote from the user, and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display the quote for viewing by the user.

22. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative so that the computer-implemented system utilizes an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for determining the cost of the customized hot-runner system.

23. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen an option to order the customized hot-runner system.

24. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen an option to order the customized hot-runner system, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to receive a selected option to order from the user, and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to process the selected option to order utilizing the customized hot-runner system configuration.

25. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen an option to order the customized hot-runner system, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to receive a selected option to order from the user, and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to process the selected option to order from the user utilizing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.

26. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen an option which when selected results in access to the customized hot-runner system configuration being provided to a person other than the user.

27. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to generate a drawing of the customized hot-runner system configuration, and wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to provide to the user the drawing.

28. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to display on the user input screen a recommended component option based on a component option that was previously selected.

29. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to load a previously saved customized hot-runner system configuration.

30. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option to utilize a nozzle pitch recommended by the computer-implemented system.

31. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option for the user to enter a user specified value for a nozzle pitch.

32. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option for the user to enter a user specified value that determines a nozzle pitch for the customized hot-runner system.

33. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is operative so that for display of the option for nozzle pitches, the computer-implemented system provides an option to utilize a nozzle pitch recommended by the computer-implemented system, and an option for the user to enter a user specified value that determines a nozzle pitch for the customized hot-runner system.

34. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to receive an order that includes system specifications specified by the user, the specifications including a specification that corresponds to a stocked manifold in a partially manufactured state, and a specification for a nozzle pitch.

35. The computer-implemented system of claim 19, wherein the computer-implemented system is further operative to receive an order that includes system specifications specified by the user, the specifications including a specification that corresponds to a stocked manifold in a partially manufactured state and a specification that determines a location of bores to be bored out of the stocked manifold.