An injection molding system capable of easily calculating relative position information between a movable part of an injection molding machine and a movable part of a peripheral device is provided. A first control unit 110 of an injection molding machine 2 calculates first relative position information which is relative position information of a first movement position M1 set to a movable part 50 in relation to a first reference position K1 set to a first connection portion 80. A second control unit 210 of a robot 3 calculates second relative position information which is relative position information of a second movement position M2 set to a hand 65 in relation to a second reference position K2 set to a second connection portion 85. The first control unit 110 and the second control unit 210 calculate inter-drive-unit relative position information which is relative position information between the first movement position M1 and the second movement position M2 on the basis of the first relative position information and the second relative position information.

Non-time dependent calculated variables based on measured strain are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure strain at the mold cavity or at another location within the injection molding system, and then calculate at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.

Non-time dependent calculated variables based on measured strain are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure strain at the mold cavity or at another location within the injection molding system, and then calculate at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.

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.

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 includes: a controller configured to instruct an operation indicated by first or second operation information associated with at least either first or second image information displayed on a display, or to execute processing by a system program, wherein the first and second operation information is information about an injection molding operation according to a first or second production condition, and operation information about first and second molds or operation information about a mold clamping mechanism from beginning to completion of the injection molding operation, the display displays a plurality of operating points indicating positions of the first mold, the second mold or the mold clamping mechanism relative to time or process from the beginning of the injection molding operation, and line segments connecting the plurality of operating points, and the first and second image information are displayed on the operating points.

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 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; (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; (c) a lead screw rotatably supported by, and axially fixed relative to, the base plate; and (d) a lead nut coupled to the lead screw and rotationally fixed relative to the core plate. The lead nut is translatable in response to rotation of the lead screw between a first and a second abutment surface fixed relative to the core plate. The lead nut alternately bears against the first abutment surface for moving the core plate to the plate advanced position and the second abutment surface for moving the core plate to the plate retracted position.

There is disclosed a method (400) of ejecting a molded article (310, 312) from an injection mold (100). The method (400) comprises: during a second portion of the mold opening cycle of the injection mold (100), the second portion occurring later in time relative to a first portion of the mold opening cycle of the injection mold (100): controlling velocity of at least one of: (i) the moveable mold half (102, 502) relative to the stationary mold half (104, 504), (ii) the ejector (230) relative to the moveable mold half (102, 502); and (iii) an ejector actuator linked to the core insert (112, 114, 512, 514); and (iv) a stripper actuator that is linked to the stripper sleeve (116, 516); the controlling executed such that the molded article (310, 312, 506) is ejected from the molding component with a substantially zero departure-velocity along the first axis of operation.

A die casting machine includes a plurality of ejector pins capable of advancing and retracting together with respect to the internal portion of a die; an electric motor capable of driving the plurality of ejector pins; a position sensor capable of detecting the positions of the plurality of ejector pins; a force sensor capable of detecting the pressure which is given to the molding material inside the die by the plurality of ejector pins; a display device capable of displaying images, and a control device controlling the electric motor and display device. The control device includes a drive control part which controls the electric motor so as to generate a driving force making the plurality of ejector pins advance to the inside of the die after the start of injection and before die opening, and a display control part which controls the display device so as to display the position detected by a position sensor and the pressure detected by a force sensor along a common time axis.