Patent ID: 6540496
Filing Date: 2003-04-01
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
An injection molding machine comprising:a mold having a mold cavity, said mold cavity having two shooting pots for charging an injectable material into the mold cavity, each said shooting pot having an injection plunger for expressing said material from said shooting pot into said mold cavitys; a clamp unit for clamping the mold, said clamp unit including a stationary platen and movable platen disposed on opposite sides of said mold; an injection unit for supplying said material to said shooting pots, said injection unit fluidly communicating with said mold cavity through said shooting pots; a shooting pot actuator, disposed exterior to said clamping unit, said shooting pot actuator comprising a pusher for each shooting pot, each of the pushers extending through one of the platens, each pusher having (i) a retracted position limiting rearward movement of said injection plunger as said each shooting pot is charged, and (ii) movable To a second position to advance said injection plunger and express a metered amount of material from said each shooting pot; a linear position sensor operably attached to a control system, for sensing each said actuator; and a drive means responsive to said control system and operable to separately move the pushers between said retracted and second positions.