Patent ID: 6638049
Filing Date: 2003-10-28
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
In an injection molding machine, an apparatus for controlling delivery of a fluid material to mold cavities of selectively variable size, shape, volume or configuration, the apparatus comprising:a modular mold mounting mechanism having mounting apertures for receiving first and second molds having first and second mold cavities of different size, shape, volume or configuration, the mounting apertures being adapted for ready insertion and ready removal of the first and second molds; a manifold into which fluid material is injected, the manifold having first and second fluid delivery channels through which the fluid material is injected, one channel having an exit aperture communicating with a gate to the cavity of one mold, the other channel having an exit aperture communicating with a gate to the cavity of the other mold; each channel being associated with a drive mechanism which is interconnected to and controls operation of a fluid flow controller which varies flow of the fluid material through an associated channel; a sensor for sensing a selected condition of the fluid material being injected through at least the first channel over an injection cycle; a master controller interconnected to each drive mechanism, the master controller comprising a computer interconnected to the sensor which receives a signal representative of the selected condition sensed by the sensor, the computer including an algorithm utilizing a value corresponding to a signal received from the sensor as a variable for controlling operation of at least the drive mechanism associated with the first channel according to a profile of predetermined values corresponding to the selected condition of the fluid material over the injection cycle.