A system and method for determining the position of a flow of melt within an injection molding system comprises a switch and a pin that actuates the switch. The pin has a first end positioned closer to the anticipated flow path of the melt and a second end that is positioned to be in contact with the switch, such that when melt enters the anticipated flow path, the pin is pushed to activate the switch.

An inspection method for an injection molding device includes: a first step of acquiring a first detection value from a sensor using a test mold having the sensor, the sensor measuring a temperature or pressure of a molten material injected from a first injection molding device into a cavity section demarcated by a fixed mold and a moving mold; a second step of injecting a molten material from a second injection molding device into the cavity section and acquiring a second detection value from the sensor; and a third step of performing an inspection using the first detection value and the second detection value.

Non-time dependent measured variables 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 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.

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 manufacturing an optical component having micro-structures is described. The method detects a crystallization temperature within a crystallization temperature interval for fully filling the molding material into a mold cavity to rapidly produce the optical element having a micro-structure with a large area.

The invention describes a method of determining and visualizing process parameter values of an injection moulding process, which method comprises the steps of determining geometric data of the injection mould (1F) and/or of a form part (1, 1′, 1″) to be manufactured in the injection mould (1F), carrying out an injection moulding process using the injection mould (1F) and recording measurement values as a function of the injection time and/or an actuator position (s), determining, as process parameter values on the basis of the measurement values and geometry data of the injection mould (1F), a flow front position inside the injection mould (1F) or the form part (1′, 1″) as a function of the injection time and/or an actuator position. The invention further describes a corresponding process parameter value determining apparatus (20) and an injection mould arrangement (10) with such a process parameter value determining arrangement (20).

A remote controller can be provided on any apparatus that employs feedback control from a native controller to add functionality to the apparatus where the native controller is not capable of providing such functionality independently.

A method for determining positions of a real moulding material front during a process to be carried out with a moulding machine, wherein a simulation progression (SV) of a variable characteristic of the process is calculated, positions of a simulated moulding material front are determined from the simulation, the real process is carried out, and at least one measurement progression (MV) of the at least one characteristic variable is measured directly or indirectly, a transformation is chosen, which has at least one parameter (ΔV, kp, V.sub.unknown), the transformation is applied to the at least one simulation progression (SV), with the result that a transformed simulation progression (tSV) is formed, and a parameter value is determined for the parameter (ΔV, kp, V.sub.unknown) such that a deviation between the measurement progression (MV) and the transformed simulation progression (tSV) is minimized according to a predetermined error measure or according to an operator input.

A system for coinjection molding a multi-layer container includes an injection molding apparatus, a camera, and a controller. The injection molding apparatus is configured to coinject a plurality of polymeric materials into a mold cavity to form a multi-layer container including an inner layer, an outer layer, and a barrier layer located between the inner layer and the outer layer. The camera is configured to capture an image indicating a location of the barrier layer within the multi-layer container. The controller is configured to monitor the location of the barrier layer using the image captured by the camera, compare the location of the barrier layer to a threshold location, and provide a control signal to the injection molding apparatus based on the location of the barrier layer relative to the threshold location.