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 of operating an injection molding machine includes translating a movable platen from a closed position to a part transfer position by overshooting the transfer position in an opening direction away from a stationary platen to an over-travel position, and then translating the moving platen back to the transfer position in a closing direction, opposite the opening direction. Movement of a take-out device towards an advanced position, in which the take-out device reaches between mold halves carried by the stationary and movable platens, occurs while the movable platen is moving between the over-travel and transfer positions, prior to coming to rest in the transfer position. When resting in the transfer position, the method includes transferring molded articles from a first mold section mounted to the movable platen to retained engagement on the take-out device reaching between the platens.

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 storage container manufactured from an injection molding process which includes a mold and at least one injector. The mold has a top surface, a bottom wall, a plurality of side surfaces, and at least two separable sections. Where the at least two separable sections are in a closed position, a cavity is formed in the mold. The at least one injector is disposed through at least one of the plurality of sidewalls and further disposed into the cavity. The storage container has a plurality of sidewalls, an upper edge, and a bottom surface. At least one of the plurality of sidewalls of the resulting storage container contains at least one sprue mark.

In an injection molding machine in which intermediate molds are disposed movably in a mold opening/closing direction between a movable platen attached with a movable mold and a stationary platen attached with a stationary mold, setting is simplified when individually setting a setting value related to molding using the movable mold and the intermediate mold and a setting value related to molding using the stationary mold and the intermediate mold. In a method for controlling an injection molding machine in which intermediate molds are disposed movably in a mold opening/closing direction between a movable platen attached with a movable mold and a stationary platen attached with a stationary mold, single setting enables setting of both of a setting value related to molding using the movable mold and the intermediate mold and a setting value related to molding using the stationary mold and the intermediate mold.

A safety apparatus includes a safety bar that is capable of moving in a mold clamping direction and a mold opening direction, in conjunction with a moving platen provided with a movable mold, and a latch that contacts the safety bar when a door, which is provided in a cover of an injection molding device, is open, wherein the latch includes a notch in a surface thereof on the mold-opening-direction side.

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.

A molding method of a connector portion including an electric wire with a core wire, a terminal metal fitting and a mold portion, the molding method of insert-molding the mold portion with a plurality of molding dies forming a cavity corresponding to the mold portion, includes an injection step of closing the molding dies so that the insulating coating is compressed and deformed and injecting and filling a mold resin as a synthetic resin material of the mold portion into the cavity; and a mold opening step of separating the molding die in a mold opening direction while the mold resin has fluidity so that leakage of the mold resin is prevented by an elastic return pressure of the insulating coating.

A control device of an injection molding machine, for controlling operations of multiple elements operating during the period of mold closing or mold opening, includes: an operation starting condition setting unit for, concerning at least part of the elements, setting an operation starting condition of one of the elements that operates in conjunction with another one thereof by an operator operating an operation unit; a group setting unit for classifying the elements based on the operation starting conditions so that elements operating in conjunction with each other belong to the same group; an operation sequence setting unit for setting order of the operations of the elements belonging to the same group based on the operation starting conditions; and a drive command generator for generating drive commands for driving the injection molding machine so as to cause the elements belonging to the same group to operate in the set order.