Patent ID: 6649095
Filing Date: 2003-11-18
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
A method for continuously characterizing the conversion of a material to a melt in a molding machine having a barrel for feeding a nozzle, where the nozzle feeds melt material to at least one mold cavity via a sprue and runner, so as to enable control of at least one element of the molding machine using a thermal sensor, including the steps of:monitoring the temperature of a melt material at at least one location between the barrel and the mold; characterizing the mold cavity volume as a function of the temperature of the at least one location therein using at least one thermal sensor within the mold cavity; characterizing, in a screw and barrel assembly of the molding machine, the thermal enthalpy of the screw and barrel assembly via thermal sensors in direct contact with material drawn from a hopper into the barrel via the screw, where the thermal sensors characterize a thermal exchange between the material, the screw, and the resulting melt within the barrel; monitoring the temperature of a nozzle orifice adjacent an open end of the barrel; tracking the change in nozzle orifice area from an initial setup area to a final exit as a function of the nozzle orifice temperature; and characterizing the mold cavity volume as a function of the temperature of at least one location therein.