Method for fast manufacturing and assembling of hot runner systems

• US 20040158340A1
• Filed: 11/21/2003
• Published: 08/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
• Original Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
• Inventors: Fischer, Jonathon, Babin, Denis
• Granted Patent: US 7,236,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/97
• 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 connected to a computer network and accessible by a plurality of simultaneous users for specifying and ordering injection molding systems, comprising in combination:

a configuring subsystem that uses one or more of customer defined parameters and one or more manufacturing process determined parameters to generate a designed system; and

a processing subsystem for processing the designed system, the processing subsystem being in communication with the configuring subsystem.

2. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the configuring subsystem and the processing subsystem communicate with a business subsystem.

3. The computer implemented system of claim 2, wherein the business subsystem provides a cost and schedule for manufacturing the designed system.

4. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the processing subsystem includes a business subsystem.

5. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the configuring subsystem is in communication with a web page server and the computer network.

6. The computer implemented system of claim 5, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

7. The computer implemented system of claim 5, wherein the computer network is an Intranet.

8. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the processing system generates drawings for the designed system.

9. The computer implemented system of claim 1, wherein the configuring subsystem provides for verification of the designed system.

10. A computer implemented system connected with a computer network and accessible by a plurality of simultaneous users for specifying and ordering injection molding systems, comprising in combination:

a configuring subsystem that uses one or more of customer defined parameters and one or more of manufacturing process determined parameters to generate a designed injection molding system; and

a business subsystem for calculating a cost and schedule for the designed injection molding system that was generated by the configuring subsystem, the business subsystem being in communication with the configuring subsystem.

11. The computer implemented system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the configuring subsystem and the business subsystem communicate with a processing subsystem.

12. The computer implemented system of claim 11, wherein the processing subsystem processes the designed system to provide system drawings and information for a bill of material.

13. The computer implemented system of claim 10, wherein the configuring subsystem is in communication with a web page server and the computer network.

14. The computer implemented system of claim 13, wherein the computer network is the Internet.

15. The computer implemented system of claim 13, wherein the computer network is an Intranet.

16. The computer implemented system of claim 10, wherein the configuring subsystem provides for verification of the designed injection molding system.

17. In a computer network-based system, an automated method for specifying and ordering injection molding systems, comprising:

partially manufacturing a plurality of hot runner components to include partially manufactured manifold plates that form at least a portion of a hot runner system in a first phase;

placing the hot runner components in inventory;

receiving one or more customer determined parameters;

removing the hot runner components from inventory configuring an injection molding system using the one or more customer determined parameters and one or more manufacture process determined parameters to generate a configured system;

submitting the configured system for processing to a processing subsystem; and

further manufacturing the hot runner components in accordance with the customized specifications of the order in a second phase.

18. The method of claim 17, further including creating drawings based on the one or more customer determined parameters and the one or more manufacture process determined parameters.

19. The method of claim 17, further including creating a bill of materials based on the configured system.

20. The method of claim 17, further including determining manufacturing parameters such as, machine and tool codes based on the configured system.