An injection molding apparatus including: a valve pin driven by an actuator, the valve pin extending axially through at least a portion of the channel length of the fluid flow channel, the fluid flow channel and the valve pin being configured or adapted such that the valve pin is movable axially upstream and downstream between an upstream position where the downstream flow of the injection fluid is restricted by a bulbous protrusion (B) of the pin being axially aligned (AL) with the throat (T) of the channel, an intermediate position where downstream flow of injection fluid is unrestricted (WG) and a fully downstream position where downstream flow of injection fluid is stopped at both the gate and at the throat.

A space-saving pressure sensor for a metal or plastics processing tool is configured to perform date stamping during injection molding with the processing tool. The pressure sensor is configured to be inserted into a single drilled hole of the tool. A first cast-compatible mark and a second cast-compatible mark of the pressure sensor may be adjusted against one another in such a way that a variety of different date marks can be created, which may then be applied to different injection-molded products. The pressure sensor may be used within the framework of manufacturing an injection-molded product.

A fiber-reinforced polymer composition that comprises a polymer matrix that contains a propylene polymer is provided. The polymer matrix constitutes from about 30 wt. % to about 80 wt. % of the composition, and a plurality of long reinforcing fibers that are distributed within the polymer matrix. The fibers constitute from about 20 wt. % to about 70 wt. % of the composition. The polymer composition exhibits a spiral flow length of about 450 millimeters or more as determined in accordance with ASTM D3123-09, and after aging at a temperature of 150° C. for 1,000 hours, a Charpy unnotched impact strength greater than about 15 kJ/m.sup.2 as determined at a temperature of 23° C. in accordance with ISO Test No. 179-1:2010.

A method of monitoring and controlling a molding clamping apparatus in an injection molding or other molding process is disclosed. The method includes creating a target strain profile, receiving a deviation limit, receiving a change in strain relating to a mold while it is closing from a first strain gauge, identifying a deviation from a target strain profile based on the output from the first strain gauge, determining that the deviation exceeds the deviation limit, and adjusting the rate or force of clamp movement. The target strain profile may have a first portion relating to a clamp closing process, a second portion relating to a filling process, and a third portion relating to a clamp opening process. The first portion relating to the clamp closing process may include an intermediate portion relating to a coining process having an intermediate clamp force setpoint.

A method for determining positions of a real moulding material front during a process to be carried out with a moulding machine, wherein a simulation progression (SV) of a variable characteristic of the process is calculated, positions of a simulated moulding material front are determined from the simulation, the real process is carried out, and at least one measurement progression (MV) of the at least one characteristic variable is measured directly or indirectly, a transformation is chosen, which has at least one parameter (ΔV, kp, V.sub.unknown), the transformation is applied to the at least one simulation progression (SV), with the result that a transformed simulation progression (tSV) is formed, and a parameter value is determined for the parameter (ΔV, kp, V.sub.unknown) such that a deviation between the measurement progression (MV) and the transformed simulation progression (tSV) is minimized according to a predetermined error measure or according to an operator input.

A control device for an injection molding machine is equipped with a pressure acquisition unit configured to acquire a resin pressure, a pressure reduction control unit configured to, after the screw has reached a predetermined metering position, reduce the resin pressure to a target pressure by performing at least one of reverse rotation and sucking back of the screw, and a standby pressure control unit configured to, after the resin pressure has reached the target pressure, keep the resin pressure within a predetermined range by causing the screw to be rotated in a state in which a position of the screw in an axial direction of the cylinder is maintained.

To easily check a changing trend of machine state data on an injection molding machine during a predetermined period and/or in every predetermined period. An injection molding information management support device for managing machine state data regarding a machine state in operation of an injection molding machine during a predetermined period and/or in every predetermined period includes a machine state data acquisition unit that acquires a machine state data value for each molding cycle in the injection molding machine, and a frequency distribution data recording unit that converts the machine state data value into a preset class data value and records the class data value in a storage unit.

Injection molding apparatus (1) comprising:

an actuator (14, 940, 941, 942) comprising a rotor (940r, 941r, 942r) controllably rotatable by electric power, the actuator (14, 940, 941, 942) being interconnected to a controller (16) that generates drive signals (DC),

an electrical drive device (940d, 941d, 942d) comprising an interface that receives the drive signals (DC) and controllably distributes electrical energy or power in controllably varied amounts according to the drive signals (DC) to a driver (940dr, 941dr, 942dr) that drives the rotor (940r, 941r, 942r),

a valve pin (1040, 1041, 1042) having an axis (X) and a control surface (43, 45, 102m) drivable upstream and downstream through a downstream feed channel (17, 19, 160, 940c, 941c, 942c) the downstream feed channel having a complementary surface (47, 103s) adapted to interface with the control surface (43, 45, 102m) upstream and away from the gate.

Apparatus (3) for detecting a leak of molten plastics material in a hot runner mould (1) comprises a detecting circuit (28) which in turn comprises a plurality of tubular detecting elements (30) connected in series by connecting conduits (32). The detecting circuit (28) is located in galleries (25) in the hot runner mould (1) with the tubular detecting elements (30) located adjacent locations in the galleries (25) where leaks are likely to occur. A compressed air source (40) delivers compressed air at a regulated pressure through the detecting circuit (28) at a controlled flow rate controlled by a flow controller (45). A first pressure sensor (43) at the upstream end of the detecting circuit (28) and a second pressure sensor (44) at a downstream end of the detecting circuit (28) monitors the pressure upstream of the detecting circuit (28). The tubular detecting elements (30) are of heat stabilised silicone rubber material of deformable transverse cross-section, which is deformable by molten plastics material leaking into the gallery (25) adjacent the corresponding one of the tubular detecting elements (30). A microcontroller (47) monitors signals from the first and second pressure sensors (43) and (44) and on detecting an increase in the pressure read from the second pressure sensor (44) above a stored normal pressure value, the microcontroller (47) operates a sounder (52) and a relay (54) to activate a visual alert and to deactivate the moulding machine.

An injection molding apparatus (10) comprising a signal converter (1500) interconnected to a machine controller (MC) of an injection molding machine (IMM) that generates standardized signals (VPS), the signal converter (1500) receiving and converting the standardized signals (VS) to a command signal (MOPCS, PDCVS) that is compatible with a signal receptor or interface of an electrically powered actuator (940e, 941e, 942e) or a signal receptor, interface or driver of a proportional directional control valve (V, V1, V2) that drives a fluid driven actuator (940p, 941p, 942p) to respectively operate the electrically powered actuator (940e, 941e, 942e) or the proportional directional control valve (V, V1, V2) to move in a direction that operates to either begin an injection cycle and to end an injection cycle.