An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine; an inspection device including a first placement unit, a second placement unit, an inspection unit, and a moving unit configured to change a relative position between the first placement unit and the inspection unit and a relative position between the second placement unit and the inspection unit; a third placement unit; a robot configured to convey the molded object; and a control device. The control device controls the injection molding machine, the robot, and the inspection device so as to mold a first molded object during a first molding period, inspect the first molded object placed on the first placement unit during a first inspection period, convey the first molded object after inspection from the first placement unit to the third placement unit during a first conveyance period, mold a second molded object during a second molding period, inspect the second molded object placed on the second placement unit during a second inspection period, convey the second molded object after inspection from the second placement unit to the third placement unit during a second conveyance period, and overlap the first inspection period and the second molding period and overlap the second inspection period and the first conveyance period.

A state determination device includes a data acquisition unit acquiring the number of productions and data related to a predetermined physical quantity as data indicating a state related to an injection molding machine, a first calculation unit calculating a feature amount indicating a feature of the state based on the data, a second calculation unit calculating a statistic as statistical data with reference to a statistical condition including a statistical function for calculating a predetermined statistic from a predetermined feature amount based on a calculated feature amount, a regression analysis unit performing regression analysis using a predetermined regression formula based on statistical data and the number of productions, and calculating a coefficient of the predetermined regression formula, and a determination unit calculating a divergence degree between a most recent statistic and an obtained regression formula, and determining whether or not the divergence degree is greater than a predetermined threshold value.

A molding condition setting device acquires data showing a state of an injection molding machine, calculates a feature showing the state of the injection molding machine on a basis of the acquired data, and calculates a feature fluctuation rate obtained by normalizing the feature on a basis of a reference value selected from among the features according to a prescribed condition. Meanwhile, the molding condition setting device acquires information relating to a change of the value of the operation command item and stores history of the change, and generates and stores history information in which the calculated feature fluctuation rate and the information relating to the change of the value of the operation command item are associated with each other.

A plasticizing device includes a plasticizing cylinder and a plasticizing screw arranged in the plasticizing cylinder. The plasticizing screw is rotatable about, and linearly movable along, a longitudinal axis. The plasticizing screw comprises a functioning section. A sensor is arranged in or on the plasticizing cylinder, and a distance to the surface of the functioning section of the plasticizing screw can be measured by the sensor. A detecting device can detect a type of the functioning section and/or an operating state of the functioning section, can detect a distance signal progression by a movement of the functioning section relative to the sensor, can compare the detected distance signal progression with a stored distance signal progression, and can issue a signal representing the type of functioning section and/or the operating state of the functioning section depending on a matching of the detected distance signal progression with a stored distance signal progression.

An injection molding machine management system includes a display unit configured to display working time information as information obtained by collecting information on working data of a factory or a production line including an injection molding machine for a predetermined period. The display unit displays, as the working time information, two or more continuous pieces of information in a band shape with time length directions aligned among first information as information on a planned stop time of the injection molding machine, second information as information on a preparation time of the injection molding machine or information on an abnormal stop time of the injection molding machine, third information as time information on a performance loss of the injection molding machine, fourth information as time information on a defect loss of the injection molding machine, and fifth information as information on a value working time of the injection molding machine.

A method and apparatus for producing hollow articles made of injection moulded plastic material by a mould having a die within which there is inserted a core, and at least one injector including a pin valve displaceable between a closing position and an opening position for injecting the pressurized plastic material into a space comprised between the die and the core. During the injection, any flexural deflection of the core is detected and the pin valve of the or of each injector is displaced in a controlled fashion to adjust a pressure and a flow rate of the injected plastic material, so as to reduce or eliminate such deflection of the core.

When an injection molding machine performs molding, the mold clamping force on the mold is adjusted on the basis of a mold displacement of the mold or the injection peak pressure and injection foremost position so that the molding is performed without causing flash and by an appropriate mold clamping force with which energy can be reduced. The amount of mold displacement and also the injection peak pressure and the injection foremost position are monitored during automatic operation. If there occurs no mold displacement change exceeding a threshold or if there occurs no injection peak pressure anomaly or injection foremost position anomaly exceeding thresholds, the automatic operation is continued. If the mold displacement change occurs or if the injection peak pressure anomaly and the injection foremost position anomaly occur, the operation of the injection molding machine is stopped.

A method of determining melt flow front travel in a molding apparatus includes setting a sensor threshold, receiving a sensor amount as an output from a sensor monitoring a nozzle of the molding apparatus, and determining that the sensor amount exceeds the sensor threshold. The method further includes receiving a screw location, calculating a travel distance of the screw from the screw location, and calculating melt flow front travel based on the travel distance of the screw. The method further includes receiving, via an interface, an operator generated value for the desired melt flow front travel to be reached, and sending, via an interface, an analog or digital output after the operator generated value has been reached. A method of detecting a leaking condition of a check valve is also included.

An injection molding machine includes: a screw inserted in an injection cylinder and configured to be movable in the axial direction; a motor configured to move the screw; a torque detection unit configured to detect the torque of the motor; a position detection unit configured to detect the position of the screw; a motor drive control unit configured to drive the motor while imposing torque limitation so that the motor's torque will not exceed a limit torque, to thereby advance the screw to the foremost position in the direction of injection; and a determination unit configured to determine that unmelted resin remains inside the injection cylinder if the moving speed of the screw becomes lower than or equal to a predetermined speed while the screw is advancing to the foremost position.

When an injection molding machine performs molding, the mold clamping force on the mold is adjusted on the basis of a mold displacement of the mold or the injection peak pressure and injection foremost position so that the molding is performed without causing flash and by an appropriate mold clamping force with which energy can be reduced. The amount of mold displacement and also the injection peak pressure and the injection foremost position are monitored during automatic operation. If there occurs no mold displacement change exceeding a threshold or if there occurs no injection peak pressure anomaly or injection foremost position anomaly exceeding thresholds, the automatic operation is continued. If the mold displacement change occurs or if the injection peak pressure anomaly and the injection foremost position anomaly occur, the operation of the injection molding machine is stopped.