A mold apparatus for producing a molded article by injection molding includes (a) a base plate for mounting to a platen of an injection molding machine; and (b) a core plate movably coupled to the base plate and axially translatable relative to the base plate between a plate advanced position and a plate retracted position. A method of resetting the core plate includes energizing a mechanical actuator in a retraction direction to exert a retraction force against the core plate and axially translate the core plate relative to a base plate from the plate advanced (molded part ejection) position to a plate retracted (mold injection) position; and then, prior to applying clamping tonnage, relieving the retraction force to axially unload the mechanical actuator, wherein the actuator is isolated from axial force exerted across the mold during application of the clamping tonnage.

An injection molding machine device includes at least two guide rods. One end of each guide rod is fixed to a rack, and the other end of each guide rod is fixed to a fixed base body. A movable base body is provided opposite to the fixed base body. The movable base body slides along the guide rods relative to the fixed base body. At least one correction mechanism is located between the movable base body and the guide rail to adjust a movement of the movable base body in a vertical direction. A predetermined clearance value and/or a predetermined contact force value exist between the components. At least one sensor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller correspondingly controls the correction mechanism by determining whether corresponding detecting values of the sensor match with the predetermined clearance values and/or the predetermined contact force values.

An injection molding machine device includes at least two guide rods. One end of each guide rod is fixed to a rack, and the other end of each guide rod is fixed to a fixed base body. A movable base body is provided opposite to the fixed base body. The movable base body slides along the guide rods relative to the fixed base body. At least one correction mechanism is located between the movable base body and the guide rail to adjust a movement of the movable base body in a vertical direction. A predetermined clearance value and/or a predetermined contact force value exist between the components. At least one sensor is electrically connected to a controller. The controller correspondingly controls the correction mechanism by determining whether corresponding detecting values of the sensor match with the predetermined clearance values and/or the predetermined contact force values.

A system for programming a protection device for a molding machine includes a controller for actuating a plurality of molding machine actuators in an actuation sequence, each distinct actuation constituting a respective machine component actuation of an associated machine component. An HMI is operable to: present a GUI specific to a chosen machine component actuation; and for each of a plurality of other machine component actuations, define within the GUI, based on operator input, a rule specifying a state of the chosen machine component actuation relative to a state of the other machine component actuation for preventing interference between the two machine component actuations. The controller is configured, based on the rules defined within the GUI, to trigger an action, upon violation of any one of the rules, for reducing a risk of interference between the chosen machine component actuation and a respective one of the other machine component actuations.

A system for programming a protection device for a molding machine includes a controller for actuating a plurality of molding machine actuators in an actuation sequence, each distinct actuation constituting a respective machine component actuation of an associated machine component. An HMI is operable to: present a GUI specific to a chosen machine component actuation; and for each of a plurality of other machine component actuations, define within the GUI, based on operator input, a rule specifying a state of the chosen machine component actuation relative to a state of the other machine component actuation for preventing interference between the two machine component actuations. The controller is configured, based on the rules defined within the GUI, to trigger an action, upon violation of any one of the rules, for reducing a risk of interference between the chosen machine component actuation and a respective one of the other machine component actuations.

In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

A controller includes a mold movement control unit that moves a movable mold between a first position separated from a fixed mold and a second position at which mold closing is completed; a determining unit determines the presence of abnormalities in at least one of the movable mold and the fixed mold on the basis of inspection information acquired from at least one of the movable mold and the fixed mold and outputs a confirmation signal related to the presence of abnormalities; and a mold stopping unit that stops movement of the movable mold on the basis of whether the confirmation signal output from the determining unit is acquired while a safety confirmation condition is satisfied after the mold movement control unit starts moving the movable mold from the first position toward the second position.

A controller includes a mold movement control unit that moves a movable mold between a first position separated from a fixed mold and a second position at which mold closing is completed; a determining unit determines the presence of abnormalities in at least one of the movable mold and the fixed mold on the basis of inspection information acquired from at least one of the movable mold and the fixed mold and outputs a confirmation signal related to the presence of abnormalities; and a mold stopping unit that stops movement of the movable mold on the basis of whether the confirmation signal output from the determining unit is acquired while a safety confirmation condition is satisfied after the mold movement control unit starts moving the movable mold from the first position toward the second position.

Moving servo motors of molds in synchronization with the operations of platens which enables fine patterns or shapes to be formed even on a large molded article. A mold clamping device forms patterns or the like on a molded article by detecting a mold position of a second platen among first, second, third platens with digital mold opening/closing position detector, and driving servo motors for molds of the molds in synchronization with a digital mold opening/closing position signal from the digital mold opening/closing position detector.