A method including a first step of performing clamping of a mold, injection and dwelling in an injection molding machine, a second step of performing a conveyance and a cooling of the mold outside of the machine, and a third step of performing a conveyance of the mold into the machine, an opening of the mold and an ejection of a molded part in the machine. The second step is performed for a first mold, the third step and the next first step are performed for a second mold. The first mold is conveyed by a first conveyance apparatus which is arranged on one lateral side of the machine. The second mold is conveyed by a second conveyance apparatus which is arranged on the other lateral side and is independently driven from the first conveyance apparatus.

A method including a first step of performing clamping of a mold, injection and dwelling in an injection molding machine, a second step of performing a conveyance and a cooling of the mold outside of the machine, and a third step of performing a conveyance of the mold into the machine, an opening of the mold and an ejection of a molded part in the machine. The second step is performed for a first mold, the third step and the next first step are performed for a second mold. The first mold is conveyed by a first conveyance apparatus which is arranged on one lateral side of the machine. The second mold is conveyed by a second conveyance apparatus which is arranged on the other lateral side and is independently driven from the first conveyance apparatus.

An apparatus (1) for handling and cooling plastic preforms comprising a rotatable handling station (2), provided with a plurality of retaining and cooling pins (3) for preforms and adapted to cooperate with an extraction plate (4) adapted to extract the preforms from an injection mold; an aeraulic circuit (5) connected to said station and comprising an aspiration duct (6) for aspirating air from the inside of the station; a delivery duct (7) for sending air to said station; cooling means (8) arranged along the delivery duct for cooling the air sent to said station; aspiration means (9, 19, 29) connected at least to the aspiration duct and to the delivery duct, and wherein switching means are further provided, to pass from a first circuit configuration, in which there is an air passage from the delivery duct to the inside of the station, to a second circuit configuration in which there is an air passage from the inside of the station to the aspiration duct, whereby, in the first configuration, air is blown by means of the plurality of pins, while, in the second configuration, air is aspirated by means of said plurality of pins.

An edge device interface system and method for monitoring, recording, and calculating control and response signals generated by and between an injection molding system including an injection-molding machine and a robotic handling device. The edge device interface system of the invention includes an edge device interposed between the connector of the injection-molding machine and the connector of a robotic handling device using standardized connectors. The edge device interface system may be interposed between the connector of the injection-molding machine and the connector of a robotic handling device to emulate the function of either device as desired. The edge device interface system and method utilizes data observed both from standardized connectors and auxiliary inputs to provide insight into molding process steps and equipment, including what components of the injection molding system that may be contributing to any molding process instability or inefficiency, and for generating signals for real-time adjustment of the molding process.

An edge device interface system and method for monitoring, recording, and calculating control and response signals generated by and between an injection molding system including an injection-molding machine and a robotic handling device. The edge device interface system of the invention includes an edge device interposed between the connector of the injection-molding machine and the connector of a robotic handling device using standardized connectors. The edge device interface system may be interposed between the connector of the injection-molding machine and the connector of a robotic handling device to emulate the function of either device as desired. The edge device interface system and method utilizes data observed both from standardized connectors and auxiliary inputs to provide insight into molding process steps and equipment, including what components of the injection molding system that may be contributing to any molding process instability or inefficiency, and for generating signals for real-time adjustment of the molding process.

An injection molding machine includes a machine base; a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a stationary mold section; a moving platen slidably supported by the base for holding a moving mold section; a rotary apparatus slidably supported by the base axially intermediate the stationary and moving platens for supporting a plurality of center mold sections and moving the center mold sections among axial positions directed toward the stationary and moving mold sections and lateral positions directed toward the operator and non-operator side of the machine; and a part-handling apparatus mounted to the stationary platen. The part-handling apparatus includes an end-of-arm tooling disposed laterally outboard of the rotary apparatus. The end-of-arm tooling is movable laterally between an engaged position for interacting with molded articles in one of the center mold sections in the lateral positions, and a disengaged position spaced laterally outwardly from the engaged position.

An injection molding machine includes a machine base; a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a stationary mold section; a moving platen slidably supported by the base for holding a moving mold section; a rotary apparatus slidably supported by the base axially intermediate the stationary and moving platens for supporting a plurality of center mold sections and moving the center mold sections among axial positions directed toward the stationary and moving mold sections and lateral positions directed toward the operator and non-operator side of the machine; and a part-handling apparatus mounted to the stationary platen. The part-handling apparatus includes an end-of-arm tooling disposed laterally outboard of the rotary apparatus. The end-of-arm tooling is movable laterally between an engaged position for interacting with molded articles in one of the center mold sections in the lateral positions, and a disengaged position spaced laterally outwardly from the engaged position.

Provided is an attaching/detaching structure that operates reliably with simple operation. The attaching/detaching structure attaches/detaches a second connecting member (4) to/from a first connecting member (3). An operation chamber (8) formed in a base member (5) of the second connecting member (4) is connected to the outside of the base member (5) via an insertion hole (7) opened to a seating surface (6) of the first connecting member (3). Two clamp arms (10) and (11) are provided in the operation chamber (8) so as to be symmetrical around an axial center of the operation chamber (8). An engaging portion (16, 17) is formed at one end (10b, 11 b) in longitudinal direction of each of the clamp arms (10, 11). An engaging member (32) protruding from the second connecting member (4) can be inserted into the insertion hole (7). A lock portion (34) in which the engaging portions (16, 17) can be engaged is formed in the engaging member (32).

A handling system and/or a grouping unit of a handling system and a method for handling individual parts that have to be removed from a preceding production process, in particular injection-molded parts in the form of pipette tips that are produced in groups in an injection molding machine with a multiple tool and must be removed from the multiple tool for the further handling, the multiple tool including at least one distributing star having a plurality of mold cavities, whereby a removal arrangement is defined by the multiple tool for the further handling of the injection-molded parts. The method includes removing the finished injection molded parts, loading the parts into a grouping unit to produce a grid arrangement, and removing the parts from one grouping unit with a second grouping unit.

A handling system and/or a grouping unit of a handling system and a method for handling individual parts that have to be removed from a preceding production process, in particular injection-molded parts in the form of pipette tips that are produced in groups in an injection molding machine with a multiple tool and must be removed from the multiple tool for the further handling, the multiple tool including at least one distributing star having a plurality of mold cavities, whereby a removal arrangement is defined by the multiple tool for the further handling of the injection-molded parts. The method includes removing the finished injection molded parts, loading the parts into a grouping unit to produce a grid arrangement, and removing the parts from one grouping unit with a second grouping unit.