The present invention relates to extrusion molding machines and methods of producing extrusion molded parts and, more particularly, to extrusion molding machines that adjust operating parameters of the extrusion molding machine during an extrusion molding run to account for changes in material properties and pressures of the extrusion material and methods of accounting for changes in extrusion molding material properties during an extrusion molding run and/or compounding of materials.

The present invention relates to extrusion molding machines and methods of producing extrusion molded parts and, more particularly, to extrusion molding machines that adjust operating parameters of the extrusion molding machine during an extrusion molding run to account for changes in material properties and pressures of the extrusion material and methods of accounting for changes in extrusion molding material properties during an extrusion molding run and/or compounding of materials.

A manufacturing apparatus for a molded product of a fiber-reinforced resin includes: a heating tube; a screw inserted in the heating tube; an injector provided on a front end side of the screw; a resin feeder configured to feed a matrix resin into the heating tube; a long-fiber feeder configured to feed a long fiber into the heating tube; and a short-fiber feeder configured to feed a short fiber shorter than the long fiber into the heating tube. The short-fiber feeder is closer to a rear end of the screw than the long-fiber feeder is.

A manufacturing apparatus for a molded product of a fiber-reinforced resin includes: a heating tube; a screw inserted in the heating tube; an injector provided on a front end side of the screw; a resin feeder configured to feed a matrix resin into the heating tube; a long-fiber feeder configured to feed a long fiber into the heating tube; and a short-fiber feeder configured to feed a short fiber shorter than the long fiber into the heating tube. The short-fiber feeder is closer to a rear end of the screw than the long-fiber feeder is.

A plasticization device includes a screw configured to rotate around a rotation axis and including a groove forming surface on which a groove channel in which a groove extends spirally is formed; a heating unit configured to heat the material supplied to the groove channel; and a barrel including a facing surface that faces the groove forming surface and that is provided with a discharge port through which the molten material is to be discharged due to rotation of the screw and due to heating of the heating unit. The groove is defined by a first side wall portion, a second side wall portion provided at a position farther from the rotation axis than the first side wall portion, and a bottom surface portion coupled between the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion. The groove of the groove channel has an interval between the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion that becomes narrower as a distance from the bottom surface portion along the rotation axis increases.

A plasticization device includes a screw configured to rotate around a rotation axis and including a groove forming surface on which a groove channel in which a groove extends spirally is formed; a heating unit configured to heat the material supplied to the groove channel; and a barrel including a facing surface that faces the groove forming surface and that is provided with a discharge port through which the molten material is to be discharged due to rotation of the screw and due to heating of the heating unit. The groove is defined by a first side wall portion, a second side wall portion provided at a position farther from the rotation axis than the first side wall portion, and a bottom surface portion coupled between the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion. The groove of the groove channel has an interval between the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion that becomes narrower as a distance from the bottom surface portion along the rotation axis increases.

A flow rate adjusting device includes a main body portion having a first opening portion to which a molten material is supplied, a second opening portion from which the molten material is discharged, a supply flow path communicating with the first opening portion and the second opening portion, and a cross hole intersecting the supply flow path; and a shaft-shaped valve portion disposed inside the cross hole. The valve portion has a tip end portion, a rear end portion, and a recessed portion provided between the tip end portion and the rear end portion and communicating with the first opening portion and the second opening portion, and the valve portion is rotated in the cross hole to change a position of the recessed portion, such that a flow path cross-sectional area of the supply flow path is changed to adjust a flow rate of the molten material discharged from the second opening portion; a storage chamber storing a part of the molten material flowing through the supply flow path between the first opening portion and the valve portion is defined by the tip end portion and an inner wall surface of the cross hole; the valve portion has a first contact surface provided between the recessed portion and the rear end portion and facing the rear end portion side; and the main body portion has a second contact surface to come into contact with the first contact surface from the tip end portion side.

A flow rate adjusting device includes a main body portion having a first opening portion to which a molten material is supplied, a second opening portion from which the molten material is discharged, a supply flow path communicating with the first opening portion and the second opening portion, and a cross hole intersecting the supply flow path; and a shaft-shaped valve portion disposed inside the cross hole. The valve portion has a tip end portion, a rear end portion, and a recessed portion provided between the tip end portion and the rear end portion and communicating with the first opening portion and the second opening portion, and the valve portion is rotated in the cross hole to change a position of the recessed portion, such that a flow path cross-sectional area of the supply flow path is changed to adjust a flow rate of the molten material discharged from the second opening portion; a storage chamber storing a part of the molten material flowing through the supply flow path between the first opening portion and the valve portion is defined by the tip end portion and an inner wall surface of the cross hole; the valve portion has a first contact surface provided between the recessed portion and the rear end portion and facing the rear end portion side; and the main body portion has a second contact surface to come into contact with the first contact surface from the tip end portion side.

An injection molding apparatus and method of fabricating a molded part are provided. The apparatus may include a barrel, a nozzle enclosing an end of the barrel and defining an opening in fluid communication with an inside of the barrel, and an extrusion screw positioned at least partially inside the barrel and rotatable relative to the barrel. The extrusion screw may include a screw tip. Relative axial movement between the barrel and the extrusion screw may open or close the opening of the nozzle to permit or prevent, respectively, material flow through the opening of the nozzle. The method may include clamping a mold, opening a nozzle, rotating the extrusion screw to pump a molten material into the mold until the mold is filled, closing the nozzle, and unclamping the mold to release a molded part.

An injection molding apparatus and method of fabricating a molded part are provided. The apparatus may include a barrel, a nozzle enclosing an end of the barrel and defining an opening in fluid communication with an inside of the barrel, and an extrusion screw positioned at least partially inside the barrel and rotatable relative to the barrel. The extrusion screw may include a screw tip. Relative axial movement between the barrel and the extrusion screw may open or close the opening of the nozzle to permit or prevent, respectively, material flow through the opening of the nozzle. The method may include clamping a mold, opening a nozzle, rotating the extrusion screw to pump a molten material into the mold until the mold is filled, closing the nozzle, and unclamping the mold to release a molded part.