Apparatus and methods for storage and transmission of recipe data (process parameters) for the molding of articles in an injection molding apparatus. A controller includes a flow control microcontroller (MCU) that receives recipe data from a recipe storage microcontroller (MCU) mounted to a mold of an injection molding machine, the recipe storage MCU storing the recipe data defining process parameters for the molding of articles in the mold. The flow control MCU executes instructions for controlling valve pin motions according to the recipe data. In one embodiment, a human operator interface is provided for transmitting data to and/or from at least one of the recipe storage and flow control MCU's, allowing the operator to monitor, modify and/or control the process parameters during a molding cycle and/or to create a modified or new recipe for subsequent storage on the recipe storage MCU.

An injection molding machine uses a controller to effectively control its operation. The controller may determine and/or receive information regarding the machine's maximum load capacity, and may also determine a current operational load value of the machine. The controller also may determine a number of set points used to operate the machine. The controller may cause the machine to operate at these set points, thereby resulting in the machine operating at or below the maximum load value by adjusting any number of machine parameters associated with the injection molding machine.

An injection molding machine uses a controller to effectively control its operation. The controller may determine and/or receive information regarding the machine's maximum load capacity, and may also determine a current operational load value of the machine. The controller may cause the machine to operate at any number of combinations of settings of operational parameters which result in the machine operating at or below the maximum load value by adjusting any number of machine parameters associated with the injection molding machine based on feedback sensors measuring real-time operating conditions of the machine.

A mold clamping apparatus according to the present invention includes: a fixed platen to which one mold of a pair of molds is to be mounted; a movable platen which is disposed opposite the fixed platen and to which the other mold is to be mounted; a pressure-receiving platen connected to the fixed platen via tie bars; a mold opening/closing mechanism including a toggle link mechanism for opening/closing and clamping the molds by moving the movable platen back and forth; a drive mechanism including a servo motor for driving the mold opening/closing mechanism; and a control device for controlling the servo motor, wherein the control device includes an acceleration/deceleration adjustment section capable of adjusting an acceleration time, a deceleration time and a target speed of the servo motor during a mold clamping operation.

A method and apparatus for performing an injection molding cycle comprising drivably interconnecting a valve pin to an electric motor actuator and controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more reduced rates of upstream or downstream travel based on either detection of the position of the pin or actuator or on a preselected length of time at which to drive the valve pin.

Apparatus and method for performing an injection molding cycle in an injection molding apparatus where the apparatus comprises: a manifold, an actuator associated with a respective gate, each gate having a downstream sensor generating a response signal upon sensing a selected condition of the injection fluid material, each gate having an upstream sensor generating a response signal upon sensing the selected condition of the injection fluid material, the upstream and downstream sensors sending response signals to a controller on performance of each successive injection cycle by the apparatus,
the controller comparing a standard amount of elapsed time with a calculated amount of elapsed time and adjusting the velocity or position of each of the actuators such that the amount of time elapsed approaches or matches the standard amount of elapsed time.

An actuator assembly comprising a piston interconnected to a valve pin, the piston being driven by drive fluid controlled by a restriction valve, a pressure sensor adapted to sense pressure of the drive fluid disposed within an upstream drive chamber or within an upstream drive fluid channel connecting the drive chamber and the restriction valve, the pressure sensor sending and a controller receiving a signal indicative of the sensed pressure, the controller operating to execute a display of a visually recognizable format corresponding to the sensed pressure or an algorithm to control movement of the piston.

An injection molding apparatus comprising: a pneumatically driven actuator, the piston forming first and second drive chambers, a source of pressurized gas that generates gas flow to the drive chambers, a gas metering mechanism, a controller including programmable instructions that: automatically controllably positions the gas metering mechanism such that the piston or valve pin is disposed or held in one or more selected intermediate positions for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

Apparatus and method for performing an injection molding cycle using the apparatus where the apparatus comprises: a manifold, a pneumatic actuator driven by a pneumatic valve assembly, the actuator driving a valve pin between a gate closed position and a maximum injection fluid flow position, the pneumatic valve assembly having a spool supported within a cylinder driven by a drive device that is supported solely by and translates together with the spool, a controller that instructs the pneumatic valve assembly to cause the actuator to drive the valve pin either upstream or downstream to selected positions or at selected velocities during the course of a single injection cycle based on a feedback signal indicative of position of the pin or actuator or pressure of an injection fluid material.

An injection molding apparatus comprising: a pneumatically driven actuator having a piston mounted within a fluid sealed chamber for slidable axial movement along or against an interior surface of the fluid sealed chamber via a non-elastomeric engagement or with a non-elastomeric material disposed between the piston and the interior surface of the fluid sealed chamber, the piston forming first and second drive chambers within the fluid sealed chamber, each drive chamber having respective fluid flow ports, a source of pressurized gas that generates gas flow at a selected maximum pressure or flow rate, a gas metering mechanism, a controller interconnected to the gas metering mechanism, the controller controllably moving the gas metering mechanism to selectable positions that correspond to reduced pressures or reduced flow rates during the course of pin travel from the fully downstream gate closed position to the fully upstream gate open position.