The invention describes a robot (5) and/or robot controller (17) and a method for validation of programmed workflow sequences or teaching programs (20) of a robot (5) preferably with a robot controller (17), wherein the robot (5) is preferably mounted on or next to a processing machine, in particular an injection molding machine (4), and serves for the extraction, handling, manipulation or further processing of injection-molded parts (3) which have just been produced. The travel parameters, equipment features and functionalities of the physical robot (5) are stored in a configuration file (27) on the control side. The robot controller (17) creates a virtual robot model (21) from these stored data. For validation of a workflow sequence, the robot controller (17) uses the current teaching program (20) in the robot controller (17) whereby the visualization of the workflow sequence is displayed directly on an output unit of the robot controller (17).

An image display device displays an image such that a pair of reference symmetric structure portions, e.g. a pair of guide pins, are included in a captured image displayed on a display section, the pair of reference symmetric structure portions being located symmetrically with respect to a second virtual plane which extends in the opening direction and the vertical direction and includes a virtual center line of the molding apparatus which extends in the opening direction. A teaching execution section is used to determine the lateral position of an approach frame in the take-out operation by changing the position of the approach frame such that the center of an imaging range is located at a middle position between the pair of reference symmetric structure portions included in the captured image.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine configured to inject a molten material into a mold to mold a molded object; a tray moving unit configured to move a plurality of trays in a work area including a placement position; and a robot configured to place the molded object on a tray moved to the placement position among the plurality of trays. The tray moving unit moves a tray after placement, which is a tray on which the molded object is placed by the robot, from the placement position to a position different from the placement position in the work area, and moves a tray before the placement, which is a tray on which the molded object is not yet placed by the robot, from a position different from the placement position in the work area to the placement position.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine; an inspection device including a first placement unit, a second placement unit, an inspection unit, and a moving unit configured to change a relative position between the first placement unit and the inspection unit and a relative position between the second placement unit and the inspection unit; a third placement unit; a robot configured to convey the molded object; and a control device. The control device controls the injection molding machine, the robot, and the inspection device so as to mold a first molded object during a first molding period, inspect the first molded object placed on the first placement unit during a first inspection period, convey the first molded object after inspection from the first placement unit to the third placement unit during a first conveyance period, mold a second molded object during a second molding period, inspect the second molded object placed on the second placement unit during a second inspection period, convey the second molded object after inspection from the second placement unit to the third placement unit during a second conveyance period, and overlap the first inspection period and the second molding period and overlap the second inspection period and the first conveyance period.

An injection molding system includes: an injection molding machine configured to operate in accordance with a command generated using a first language, and inject a molten material into a mold to mold a molded object; a robot configured to operate in accordance with a command generated using a second language, and convey the molded object; and a control device configured to control the injection molding machine and the robot. When determining that an error occurs in at least one of the injection molding machine and the robot, the control device transmits, to the injection molding machine, a command generated using the first language and for causing the injection molding machine to execute a return operation, and transmits, to the robot, a command interpretable by the second language and for causing the robot to execute a return operation, so as to cause the injection molding machine and the robot to execute the return operations.

The present invention concerns a handling plate for handling or aftertreatment of a plurality of mouldings, wherein the handling plate has a plurality of handling and/or aftertreatment tools arranged in columns and rows. In order to provide a treatment plate which can be used in relation to different tools it is proposed according to the invention that the spacings between the handling and/or aftertreatment tools are variable within the columns and/or within the rows.

This invention relates to a handling device for the removal of plastic injection-molded parts, designed as pipette tips, medical reaction vessels or contact-lens molds, from an injection mold tool (11), having a removal gripper having a plurality of receiving positions (1-32; 104, 105) for receiving one injection-molded part from each of the cavities in each instance.

Method for manufacturing plastic preforms (10) by injection moulding, consisting of sub-preforms (11, 12) injected at the same time, wherein (1) the injection mould (3) containing the injected composite preform (10) and secondary sub-preform (12) is 1 st closed, and a gripper (4) provided with a set of receiving members (16) is set in a standby position (A) aside from the mould (3); in a 2nd step (2) the mould (3) is opened, wherein each primary core (33) bears an injected composite preform (10), and the secondary core (33) a secondary inner preform (12); the gripper (4) is then driven (3) in motion between the standby position (A) and a take-over position (B), wherein the injected preforms (10, 12) are cooled and taken over from the core side (31) by the gripper (4) by means of suction means (6); wherein the gripper (4) is further moved (4) into a further operating position (C), in which it places the received secondary inner preforms (12) onto the respective primary cores (33) and continues to hold said preforms (11), with formation of integrated preforms (10) which are expelled to a discharge unit.

A method for cooling molded preforms includes transferring preforms of a first injection cycle from a mold to retained engagement on a take-out plate, the preforms having exterior surfaces and interior surfaces targeted for cooling. The preforms are released from cooling tubes of the take-out plate to retained engagement on cooling pins of a transfer shell spaced away from the mold. The transfer shell rotates and the preforms are released from the transfer shell to retained engagement in supplemental tubes of a supplemental cooling device. After a period of time the preforms are released from the supplemental cooling device and transferred back to retained engagement on the transfer shell. The transfer shell rotates to an unload position to eject the preforms from the transfer shell for evacuation from the machine.

Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a molding system (100) comprising control structure that includes a mold (120) that is configured to mold a molded article (180), a controller (170) with which to control the operation of the molding structure, and a vision system (174) with which to appreciate a parameter of the molded article (180) for control of molding system (100).