Provided is a molding support apparatus that supports production of a molded product of a composite material, and the apparatus includes: a hardware processor that calculates a Talbot feature of the molded product, based on a Talbot image acquired from an X-ray Talbot imaging apparatus that images the molded product, and identifies, using the calculated Talbot feature, an item that allows adjustment of the Talbot feature from among a plurality of types of items constituting a production process for producing the molded product.

A system for coinjection molding a multi-layer container includes an injection molding apparatus, a camera, and a controller. The injection molding apparatus is configured to coinject a plurality of polymeric materials into a mold cavity to form a multi-layer container including an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer. The camera is configured to capture an image indicating a location of the barrier layer within the multi-layer container. The controller is configured to monitor the location of the barrier layer using the image captured by the camera, compare the location of the barrier layer to a threshold location, and provide a control signal to the injection molding apparatus based on the location of the barrier layer relative to the threshold location.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine configured to inject a molten material into a mold to mold a molded object; a tray moving unit configured to move a plurality of trays in a work area including a placement position; and a robot configured to place the molded object on a tray moved to the placement position among the plurality of trays. The tray moving unit moves a tray after placement, which is a tray on which the molded object is placed by the robot, from the placement position to a position different from the placement position in the work area, and moves a tray before the placement, which is a tray on which the molded object is not yet placed by the robot, from a position different from the placement position in the work area to the placement position.

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.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine configured to operate in accordance with a command generated using a first language, and inject a molten material into a mold to mold a molded object; a robot configured to operate in accordance with a command generated using a second language, and convey the molded object; and a control device configured to control the injection molding machine and the robot. When determining that an error occurs in at least one of the injection molding machine and the robot, the control device transmits, to the injection molding machine, a command generated using the first language and for causing the injection molding machine to execute a return operation, and transmits, to the robot, a command interpretable by the second language and for causing the robot to execute a return operation, so as to cause the injection molding machine and the robot to execute the return operations.

A method of controlling operation of a tire filling mixing machine, by: (a) mixing a rubber/polyurethane and a catalyst in a first mixer to form a virgin polyurethane; (b) grinding cured polyurethane core bits in a grinder; (c) mixing the virgin material and the ground material in a second mixer thereby forming a mixed flatproofing material; (d) injecting the mixed flatproofing material into a tire; (e) measuring the ratio of ground material to virgin material in the mixed flatproofing material; (f) comparing the measured ratio of ground material to virgin material to a pre-stored preferred ratio of ground material to virgin material; and (g) increasing or decreasing the relative percentages of virgin material and ground material entering the second mixer by an amount that is a fraction of the difference between the measured ratio and the pre-stored preferred ratio.

An additive feeder system is presented which is operable for use in a plastic injection molding machine including an injection component and a clamping component. The additive feeder system includes a feeder control unit, a feeder supply mechanism and feeder dosage control mechanism. The additive feeder system is operable to provide a specific dosage of the additive materiel in real-time for mixing with the raw material to achieve desired product characteristics. The additive feeder system may be applied to injection molding and extrusion, such as molding processes, plastic molding processes, blow molding, compression molding, extrusion molding, injection molding and laminating, and comprising additive feeders, for example for color mixing and nutrient supplements.

A method for manufacturing an injection molded container includes operating an injection molding apparatus to inject one or more polymeric materials into a mold cavity to form a container. The container includes an energy director ring protruding from an inside surface of the container and extending circumferentially along the inside surface. The method includes welding a filter onto the inside surface by applying a welding force to the inside surface. The energy director ring causes the welding force to be concentrated at a location of the energy director ring, thereby forming a circumferential weld that secures the filter to the inside surface the location of the energy director ring.

In an injection molding system, a molded part transport apparatus and a worker share an area to perform cooperative work. When a molded part check mode is valid, conforming product identification inspection of a molded part is performed in an area where the worker works, and molded part sorting means sorts the molded part on the basis of a result of the inspection. As a result, the conforming product identification inspection of the molded part can be performed and the molded part can be sorted with the safety of the worker is maintained.

Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a molding system (100) comprising control structure that includes a mold (120) that is configured to mold a molded article (180), a controller (170) with which to control the operation of the molding structure, and a vision system (174) with which to appreciate a parameter of the molded article (180) for control of molding system (100).