A system includes a cavity, an injection nozzle configured to inject material into the cavity, and a plurality of sensors at sensor locations. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to measure parameters at one of the sensor locations. The system lacks a strain gauge. The system further includes a controller configured to control a flow rate of the injection of material into the cavity. The controller is configured to receive the measured parameters and compare the received information to predetermined curves. The controller is configured to control the flow rate when the measured parameters deviate from the predetermined curves.

Injection molding apparatuses and methods wherein a valve pin is controllably driven upstream and downstream along an axis between a first closed position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a full open position and one or more intermediate positions, wherein the valve pin is drivable to be disposed or held in a selected intermediate position for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

Injection molding apparatuses and methods wherein a valve pin is controllably driven upstream and downstream along an axis between a first closed position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a full open position and one or more intermediate positions, wherein the valve pin is drivable to be disposed or held in a selected intermediate position for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

A method is disclosed for micro-molding articles. The method comprises melting and pre-pressurizing thermoplastic material to a first level, within a plasticizing barrel. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to a second level, within a hot runner. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to an ultra-cavity packing pressure within a valve gate nozzle.

A system includes a cavity, an injection nozzle configured to inject material into the cavity, and a plurality of sensors at sensor locations. Each of the plurality of sensors is configured to measure parameters at one of the sensor locations. The system lacks a strain gauge. The system further includes a controller configured to control a flow rate of the injection of material into the cavity. The controller is configured to receive the measured parameters and compare the received information to predetermined curves. The controller is configured to control the flow rate when the measured parameters deviate from the predetermined curves.

An Injection molding apparatus injection molding apparatus (10a) comprising: one or more first downstream channels (166, 166a, 166b) and associated first gates (34, 34a, 34b) that deliver injection fluid (18) to a first cavity (300a) of a mold system (302, 303) and to one or more second downstream channels (168, 168a, 168b) and associated second gates (32, 32a, 32b) that deliver injection fluid to a second cavity (300b) of the mold system (302, 303), the mold system being clamped together under a selected force, the apparatus including a first upstream valve (118) that enables and disables flow of the injection fluid to the first gates (34, 34a, 34b) and a second upstream valve (108) that enables and disables flow of the injection fluid to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b),
the apparatus including a control system (20) adapted to open or enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more first gates (34, 34a, 34b) at a first selected time and to further instruct the second upstream valve (108) to open or enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b) at a second selected time that is delayed relative to the first selected time during the course of an injection cycle.

Methods and apparatuses for improving multilayer preform injection molding. The apparatus may be an apparatus for injection molding. The apparatus may include an injection unit, a first mold, a second mold, and a main runner. The apparatus may also include a sub-runner branched and connected from the main runner and feeds molten resin to a cavity. The apparatus may further include a main closing and opening unit configured to close and open the main runner. In addition, the apparatus may include a sub-closing and sub-opening unit configured to close and open the sub-runner.

An injection molding hot runner system adapted for leak detection during injection molding includes a manifold and a housing surrounding the manifold, wherein the manifold and the housing are spaced apart defining one or more pockets, the manifold comprises at least one junction point establishing a connection to a component attached to the manifold, wherein at the at least one junction point a sensor is located in the pocket, wherein the sensor is configured to indicate a leak when getting in contact with the molten plastic due to a leak at the junction point.

The invention relates to a system for controlling a shutter arranged to slide in a plastic material injection nozzle, comprising: a hydraulic or pneumatic actuating cylinder (1) coupled to said shutter to make it slide between a shutting off position of the nozzle and a maximum opening position of the nozzle, a device (2) for controlling the actuating cylinder (1), comprising at least two elements among: an element adapted to regulate the stroke of the actuating cylinder to a first constant speed, an element adapted to regulate the stroke of the actuating cylinder to a second constant speed, greater than the first speed, an element adapted to selectively block the stroke of the actuating cylinder, a sequential control unit comprising at least two control paths (30, 31, 32) configured to send selectively an electrical control signal to the device (2) via one and/or the other of said control paths (30,31,32) such that: under the effect of a first signal sent via the first control path (30), one of the elements is activated, under the effect of a second signal sent via the second control path (31), another element is activated.

A phase adjusting device includes: a torque acquisition unit acquiring a torque; a position acquisition unit acquiring the rotational position of the first motor; a first motor control unit rotating the first motor in a first rotational direction until the torque exceeds a threshold, and then in a second rotational direction until the torque exceeds the threshold again; a storage control unit storing, in a storage unit, a first rotational position when the first motor is rotated in the first rotational direction and the torque exceeds the threshold and a second rotational position when the first motor is rotated in the second rotational direction and the torque exceeds the threshold again; a phase position calculator calculating a third rotational position, based on the first and second rotational positions; and a second motor control unit rotating the first motor to the third rotational position.