A method of monitoring and controlling a sequential valve gate molding 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 first valve gate from a first strain gauge, identifying whether a deviation exists from a first portion of the target strain profile based on the output from the first strain gauge, determining whether any existing deviation exceeds the deviation limit, and adjusting the position of a first valve gate pin in the first valve gate if it does. The method may further include control of subsequent valve gates. Multiple strain gauges may be used to control a single valve gate, and/or each strain gauge may control more than one valve gate.

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 processa 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 (V, 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 (V, 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 production management device includes circuitry configured to display, on a display unit, detection results detected by a detection unit in a process of producing a product upon a plurality of products being produced by a production device; and display, upon receiving selection of a detection result or information for identifying the product, a detection result of a first product together with a detection result of a second product and a detection result of a third product on the display unit, the first product being identified by the detection result or the information for identifying the product, the second product being produced by the production device immediately before the first product, and the third product being produced by the production device immediately after the first product.

A method including a first step of performing clamping of a mold, injection and dwelling in an injection molding machine, a second step of performing a conveyance and a cooling of the mold outside of the machine, and a third step of performing a conveyance of the mold into the machine, an opening of the mold and an ejection of a molded part in the machine. The second step is performed for a first mold, the third step and the next first step are performed for a second mold. The first mold is conveyed by a first conveyance apparatus which is arranged on one lateral side of the machine. The second mold is conveyed by a second conveyance apparatus which is arranged on the other lateral side and is independently driven from the first conveyance apparatus.

A resin molding mold of the present disclosure includes: a slide core slidably attached to a guide rail; and a sensor for detecting a force applied to the guide rail when the slide core slides.

In an injection molding system, a holding force changing means reduces a holding force to a predetermined level or less if a predetermined or higher load is detected by an external load detection means after a molded article is transported to a work area of an operator by a molded article transport device. Thus, the operator can easily take out and inspect the molded article.

A fastener sealing tool that utilizes curable material to seal the area around a fastener connected to a surface. In one embodiment of the invention the fastener sealing tool is a manually operated tool, hand operated by a user who visually identifies the fastener to be sealed and then operates the fastener sealing tool to seal the desired fastener. In a second embodiment of the invention the fastener sealing tool is an end of arm tool for a robot that automatically identifies or is programmed to move to the location of the fastener, and then seal the fastener using the fastener sealing tool. The fastener sealing tool utilizes a load cell to control the flow of material and to detect certain unwanted conditions.

In order to injection mold parts at a constant flow front velocity in a mold cavity of an injection molding system, particularly where the mold cavity has a varying thickness along its length, mold modeling software is used to calculate the cross-sectional area as a function of the distance from the gate, percentage of fill, or length of the mold cavity. Based on that cross-sectional area, the mold modeling software determines an appropriate recommended ram force profile and/or melt pressure profile that would result in filling the mold cavity at a constant flow rate. An injection molding system is then operated according to the recommended ram force profile and/or melt pressure profile.

An injection molding system includes an injection molding apparatus that performs injection molding with a die and a conveyor apparatus on one side of the injection molding apparatus that inserts the die into the injection molding apparatus, where the conveyor apparatus includes an actuator connectable to the die. The injection molding system also includes a die detection unit that detects the conveyed die, an actuator detection unit that detects a state of the actuator, and a controller that controls the conveyor apparatus to prohibit a conveying operation of the die based on detection results by the die detection unit and the actuator detection unit.

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 processa 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 (V, 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 (V, 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.