A thermoplastic resin is molded to define a container bearing a surface 2D code signal, such as a digital watermark pattern. In some arrangements, the mold dimensions are tailored, and process parameters are selected, so that an indentation in the mold gives rise to a corresponding indentation—rather than a corresponding protrusion—in the shaped plastic. In other arrangements, a metal mold is provided with a patterned resin on its surface to define the 2D code signal. The resin may take the form of a rigid or non-rigid insert that can be removed or re-worked to change the code signal without changing the metal mold. A variety of other improvements and arrangements are also detailed.

Discloses is a method for manufacturing a dual cosmetic container. The method includes: molding an inner preform 40 or 40a formed with a patterned portion having one or more shapes selected from characters, pictures, figures, and helical grooves on the outer surface thereof using an upper mold 10 for the inner preform having a molding space 11 and formed with a pattern molding portion 12a on the inner circumferential surface thereof and an lower mold 14 for the inner preform having a molding space 15 for a discharge portion; inserting the inner preform 40 or 40a into a molding space 21 of an upper mold 20 for an outer preform, fixing a discharge portion 41 of the inner preform 40 or 40a to a lower mold 23 for the outer preform, feeding a liquid raw material into the molding space 21 of the upper mold 20 for the outer preform, and molding the outer preform 50 in close contact with the outer surface of the inner preform 40 or 40a formed with the patterned portion 42; and simultaneously heating the inner preform 40 or 40a and the outer preform 50 molded in close contact with each other, inserting the two heated preforms into a molding space 31 of a blow mold 30, inserting a blow tube 32 into the discharge portion 41 of the inner preform 40 or 40a, and simultaneously expanding the inner preform 40 or 40a and the outer preform 50 by blow molding to manufacture the desired dual cosmetic container in which an inner container 100 or 100a and an outer container 200 are in close contact with each other.

The traceability system for injected parts comprises a traceability calendar (1) that indicates a date and time visibly placed on an injecting machine; a data control module (2) connected to the traceability calendar (1); and one or more date stamps (3) that mark the day and/or the month and/or the year on an injected piece. It allows providing a traceability system for injected parts that is sufficiently reliable and that facilitates or makes the task of changing the date of the date stamp as accurate as possible.

The invention relates to a method for assisting in the programming of an electronic control unit of a forming station comprising molding units, each of which has an interchangeable mold, the method comprising a manual programming step consisting in selecting a value for determined operating parameters through a data entry interface in the electronic control unit, wherein each mold has fastened thereto a storage component having values compatible with each mold for each determined parameter, is attached to said mold, the method comprising a prior step of reading the values stored in the storage component by means of a reader which automatically transmits the values to the electronic control unit to limit the choice of values of each parameter to the compatible values.

The dating system for molds comprises at least one date stamp (12) connected to a knob (4) through a connection cable (1), wherein the date stamp (12) comprises an engraving formed only by numbers and/or letters and a position indicator. Furthermore, said knob (4) is mounted on a control block (2) comprising a reading engraving (3) located around said knob (4), in correspondence with the engraving of said date stamp (12). This makes it possible to manufacture date stamps with the information, without relief, since the simple contrast of the areas of the date stamp polished with high gloss and the nuanced numbers or letters, offer a visual contrast that allows clearly identifying the information that the date stamp must transmit.

A method and apparatus for real-time in-mould marking of a moulded or cast form with an identifier in which a configurable marking module (1) with phase change actuators (23) in the form of a multi-layered printed circuit board assembly (1) with a vertical element (33) having a marker (21) is installed in a mould (2), (35), the marker (21) being remotely configurable by a controller to create a unique identifier which is applied to the form in the mould.

A space-saving pressure sensor for a metal or plastics processing tool is configured to perform date stamping during injection molding with the processing tool. The pressure sensor is configured to be inserted into a single drilled hole of the tool. A first cast-compatible mark and a second cast-compatible mark of the pressure sensor may be adjusted against one another in such a way that a variety of different date marks can be created, which may then be applied to different injection-molded products. The pressure sensor may be used within the framework of manufacturing an injection-molded product.

The dating system for molds comprises a marking element (1) that engraves a determined date; wherein said marking element (1) comprises interchangeable inserts (2) indicating said determined date, said determined date being defined by letters and/or numbers, forming a line. It permits to obtain the advantages of: the reading of the information is much clearer than the traditional date stamps; it requires a minimum space, which allows to adapt it to practically any mold; and it is much more dynamic than traditional daters, as it can provide date information in multiple formats, such as day and month, or week and year number, or combinations thereof.

The invention relates to a method for assisting in the programming of an electronic control unit of a forming station comprising molding units, each of which has an interchangeable mold, the method comprising a manual programming step consisting in selecting a value for determined operating parameters through a data entry interface in the electronic control unit, wherein each mold has fastened thereto a storage component having values compatible with each mold for each determined parameter, is attached to said mold, the method comprising a prior step of reading the values stored in the storage component by means of a reader which automatically transmits the values to the electronic control unit to limit the choice of values of each parameter to the compatible values.

The dating system for molds comprises a marking element (1) that engraves a determined date; wherein said marking element (1) comprises interchangeable inserts (2) indicating said determined date, said determined date being defined by letters and/or numbers, forming a line. It permits to obtain the advantages of: the reading of the information is much clearer than the traditional date stamps; it requires a minimum space, which allows to adapt it to practically any mold; and it is much more dynamic than traditional daters, as it can provide date information in multiple formats, such as day and month, or week and year number, or combinations thereof.