Patent ID: 11872737
Assignee: PROMESS, INC.
Field: Other special machines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 16:
17. An apparatus for controlling an injection unit that is arranged to transfer a material to a mold cavity, wherein the injection unit includes a barrel, a ram, a material intake portion that is disposed on a first end of the barrel, and a nozzle that is disposed on a second end of the barrel, wherein the ram is rotatably and slidably disposed in a cavity defined by the barrel, and wherein the nozzle is in fluidic communication with the mold cavity, the apparatus comprising:
an actuation unit including a first actuator, a second actuator, a torque transducer, and a load cell; and, a controller;
wherein the first actuator is configured to rotate the ram within the barrel;
wherein the second actuator is configured to exert a linear force on the ram to extend and retract the ram relative to the barrel;
wherein the load cell is arranged to monitor the linear force exerted on the ram by the second actuator;
wherein the torque transducer is arranged to monitor a torque that is being exerted by the first actuator to rotate the ram;
wherein the controller is operatively connected to the first actuator and the second actuator;
wherein the controller is in communication with the torque transducer and the load cell
wherein the controller includes an instruction set that is executable to control the injection unit during an injection cycle that includes an advance shot stage, a pack stage, a hold stage, and a material fill stage;
wherein the instruction set is executable to:
deactivate the first actuator such that the ram is not rotated within the barrel during the advance shot stage, the pack stage, and the hold stage;
control the injection unit to inject material into the mold cavity during execution of the pack stage; and
control the first actuator to rotate the ram within the barrel to maintain a constant torque based upon feedback from the torque transducer and simultaneously control the second actuator to exert a compression force on the ram towards the nozzle and to retract the ram during the material fill stage.