An opening/closing device (14) includes: a stationary platen (20); a movable platen (22) capable of moving toward or away from the stationary platen (20); an opening/closing mechanism (28) having a plurality of toggle links (30, 31, 32) at least one (32) of which is connected to the movable platen (22); a driving device (37) including a cross head (26) connected to at least one (30) of the toggle links and capable of moving the movable platen (22); and a control portion (50). The control portion (50) is configured to control the cross head (26) such that the movable platen (22) moves at fixed speed during fine die-opening operation.

In order to calculate a ball screw abrasion amount of an injection-axis ball screw or a mold-clamping-axis ball screw, a position of a ball nut fitted to the ball screw is photographed by a camera installed in an injection molding machine. Then, if the photographed position of the ball nut is found, as a result of analysis of an image captured by the camera, to be deviated from the position of the ball nut when a ball screw has no abrasion, it is determined that the ball screw is abraded.

A system of injection-moulding machine closing units is provided. In addition to two closing units of a first kind and third kind in a standard program, the closing units having closing forces F1 and F2, a further closing unit of a second kind having a closing force F1 is provided. The closing unit of the second kind forms an intermediate variable and is formed from components of the closing units of the first and third kind provided. The platens and the support plate with the dimensions of the closing unit of the third kind (closing force F2) and the toggle lever mechanism of the closing unit of the first kind (closing force F1) and the drive thereof are combined with one another. The articulated levers of the toggle lever mechanism of the closing unit of the second kind are hinged to the support plate and movable platen at a greater distance from the axis of symmetry than the articulated levers of the toggle lever mechanism of the closing unit of the first kind. The articulated levers themselves are identical. At the same time, the crosshead of the closing unit of the second kind is larger in the direction of the articulated levers of the toggle lever mechanism than the crosshead of the closing unit of the first kind such that the toggle lever mechanisms of the two closing units have the same kinematics.

An injection molding machine includes: a moving platen connected to a rear platen via a toggle link and configured to be moved closer to and away from a stationary platen; a guide rod support provided between the rear platen and the moving platen, and configured to support a guide rod for guiding a cross head of the toggle link; a safety rod fixed to the moving platen and extending toward the guide rod support; and a safety latch provided on the guide rod support and configured to restrict movement of the moving platen by engagement with the safety rod.

A clamping device includes: a stationary platen; a rear platen; a tie bar; a moving platen; a toggle mechanism connected to both the rear platen and the moving platen and used for making the moving platen advance and retreat; a guide rod having one end fixed to the rear platen and the other end extending toward the moving platen; a guide rod support supported by the tie bar at a supported part and supporting the guide rod at a supporting part; and a crosshead configured to advance and retreat under guidance by the guide rod. The advance and retreat of the crosshead expands and contracts the toggle mechanism to make the moving platen advance and retreat. The guide rod support is provided in such a manner that the supported part is arranged rearward of the supporting part and closer to the rear platen than the supporting part along a center axis.

A clamping device includes: a stationary platen; a rear platen; a tie bar; a moving platen; a toggle mechanism connected to both the rear platen and the moving platen and used for making the moving platen advance and retreat; a guide rod having one end fixed to the rear platen and the other end extending toward the moving platen; a guide rod support supported by the tie bar at a supported part and supporting the guide rod at a supporting part; and a crosshead configured to advance and retreat under guidance by the guide rod. The advance and retreat of the crosshead expands and contracts the toggle mechanism to make the moving platen advance and retreat. The guide rod support is provided in such a manner that the supported part is arranged rearward of the supporting part and closer to the rear platen than the supporting part along a center axis.

An injection molding machine capable of opening/closing a movable mold relative to a stationary mold by moving a crosshead backward and forward to move a movable platen backward and forward relative to a stationary platen through a toggle link. The injection molding machine includes a reciprocating mechanism that receives a counterforce exerted on the crosshead in the back-and-forth direction when the movable mold and the stationary mold are closed, and a load acquisition unit that acquires a load exerted on the reciprocating mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the back-and-forth direction of the crosshead.

In a method for controlling or regulating a closing mechanism of a moulding machine, a first trajectory for the controlled or regulated movement of the movable platen is calculated using a first algorithm based on operator inputs relating to the desired movement of the movable platen, and the movable platen is moved in a controlled or regulated manner at least once according to the first trajectory. At least one dynamic or kinematic variable of the closing mechanism is measured during at least one of the movements of the movable platen according to the first trajectory, and an estimate of at least one parameter value is generated based on the measurement. A second trajectory for the controlled or regulated movement of the movable platen is calculated based on the estimate, and the movable platen is moved in a controlled or regulated manner according to the second trajectory.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mechanism for opening, closing, and clamping a mold or die of an injection molding machine comprising: at least two sets of first toggle linkages opposed to each other; at least two sets of second toggle linkages hingedly connected to said first toggle linkages; at least 2 linear activating means for driving the mechanism towards a closed or open position hingedly connected to said second toggle linkages; a movable platen hingedly connected to first toggle linkages for holding an injection molding die, mold, or die casting die; and at least 2 sets of guide rods for the movable platen to slidingly move along its travel path.

An injection molding includes: a clamping mechanism (conversion mechanism and toggle mechanism) for moving a fixed platen that retains a fixed die toward a fixed platen that retains a fixed die to bring the fixed die and the movable die into contract, and generating a clamping force therebetween; a drive source (mold opening/closing motor) for driving the clamping mechanism; a clamping force detection unit for detecting the clamping force; an elongation value detection unit for detecting an elongation value indicating the amount of elongation of a tie bar that extends as the clamping force is generated; and an abnormality determination unit for determining an abnormality in the injection molding machine on the basis of the ratio of the elongation value and the clamping force.