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 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.

An Injection molding apparatus injection molding apparatus (10a) comprising: one or more first downstream channels (166, 166a, 166b) and associated first gates (34, 34a, 34b) that deliver injection fluid (18) to a first cavity (300a) of a mold system (302, 303) and to one or more second downstream channels (168, 168a, 168b) and associated second gates (32, 32a, 32b) that deliver injection fluid to a second cavity (300b) of the mold system (302, 303), the mold system being clamped together under a selected force, the apparatus including a first upstream valve (118) that enables and disables flow of the injection fluid to the first gates (34, 34a, 34b) and a second upstream valve (108) that enables and disables flow of the injection fluid to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b),
the apparatus including a control system (20) adapted to open or enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more first gates (34, 34a, 34b) at a first selected time and to further instruct the second upstream valve (108) to open or enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b) at a second selected time that is delayed relative to the first selected time during the course of an injection cycle.

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 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.

An injection mold for molding a flip-top closure having a body portion and a lid attached to the body portion by a living hinge has first and second mold portions for defining first and second portions of the flip-top closure respectively, a lid closing tool for closing the lid of the flip-top closure on the body portion after a molding of the flip-top closure in the injection mold and before an ejection of the flip-top closure from the injection mold, and first and second linear actuators operatively connected to the lid closing tool for moving the lid closing tool about first and second axes respectively. The first and second linear actuators are controllable to move the lid closing tool along a lid closing path for closing the lid. An in-mold lid closing device and a method for making a flip-top closure are also disclosed.

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.

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.

An LWRT plus fabric injection overmolding process for the direct injection molding of thermoplastic features onto the B-side of a formed, finished Light Weight Reinforced Thermoplastic panel. The panel having an A-side finish cloth, non-woven, TPO, Vinyl or similar material placed into the injection molding press and injection molding tool, and then the features are injection molded onto the panel without damaging the A-side finish.