Patent Publication Number: US-2006012063-A1

Title: Dispense and control apparatus and method for coating an injection molded article

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a dispense and control apparatus and method for in-mold coating (IMC) a molded article or substrate formed from a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, specifically an apparatus that can be operatively connected to an injection molding machine to provide IMC capabilities to the injection molding machine and controls therefor as well as a method for dispensing an IMC composition onto a molded thermoplastic article and controlling the same. The present invention finds particular application as a mobile coating cart and will be described with particular reference thereto.  
      Molded thermoplastic and thermoset articles, such as those made from polyolefins, polycarbonates, polyesters, polystyrenes and polyurethanes, are utilized in numerous applications including those for automotive, marine, recreation, construction, office products, and outdoor equipment industries. Often, application of a surface coating to a molded thermoplastic or thermoset article is desirable. For example, molded articles may be used as one part in multi-part assemblies; to match the finish of the other parts in such assemblies, the molded articles may require application of a surface coating that has the same finish properties as the other parts. Coatings may also be used to improve surface properties of the molded article such as uniformity of appearance, gloss, scratch resistance, chemical resistance, weatherability, and the like. Also, surface coatings may be used to facilitate adhesion between the molded article and a separate finish coat to be later applied thereto.  
      Numerous techniques to apply surface coatings to molded plastic articles have been developed. Many of these involve applying a surface coating to plastic articles after they are removed from their molds. These techniques are often multi-step processes involving surface preparation followed by spray-coating the prepared surface with paint or other finishes. In contrast, IMC provides a means of applying a surface coating to a molded article prior to its ejection from the mold.  
      Molds used with thermoplastics usually are of a “clam shell” design having mated halves that meet at a parting line. One of the mated halves typically remains stationary whereas the other half typically moves between a closed position and an open, retracted position. To form a molded article, the movable half is moved to its closed position and held closed under a clamping force thereby forming a contained molding cavity. Molten material is injected into the molding cavity. The molded article is formed by thoroughly filling the cavity with the molten material and allowing the material to sufficiently cool and solidify. During the entire molding process, the movable mold half is maintained in its closed position. After molding, the mold halves can be opened and a finished, molded article ejected therefrom.  
      Owing to differences in mold design and molding conditions, processes where the mold is cracked or parted prior to injection of a coating composition generally are not used for the IMC of injection molded thermoplastics. When molding thermoplastics, it is generally necessary to maintain pressure on the movable mold half to keep the cavity closed and prevent material from escaping along the parting line. Further, maintaining pressure on the thermoplastic material during molding, which also requires keeping the cavity closed, often is necessary to assist in providing a more uniform crystalline or molecular structure in the molded article. Without such packing (i.e., pressure maintenance), physical properties of the molded thermoplastic article tend to be impaired.  
      Because injection molding does not permit the mold to be parted or cracked prior to injection of the IMC composition into the mold cavity, the IMC composition must be injected under sufficient pressure to compress the article in all areas that are to be coated. The compressibility of the molded article dictates how and where the IMC composition covers it. The process of IMC an injection molded article with a liquid IMC composition is described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,033 and U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 2002/0039656 A1 and 2003/0082344 A1.  
      Several important considerations must be accounted for when using a liquid IMC composition to coat an injection molded thermoplastic article. These include, without limitation, the amount of IMC composition to be injected into the cavity, the timing of when to inject the IMC composition into the cavity relative to the thermoplastic molding process, the rate at which the IMC composition is injected, the resulting IMC composition injection pressure, and the means for injecting the IMC composition.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides a dispense and control apparatus adapted to be operatively connected to any one of a number of conventional injection molding machines. The apparatus provides a delivery means for injecting IMC composition into the cavity of a pair of mold halves on an injection molding machine, a means for controlling the delivery system, and a method for delivering and controlling the injection of an IMC composition into the molding cavity. The apparatus includes at least two mold members defining a mold cavity, a means for injecting a molten resin into a molding cavity to form a molded article therein, and a means for injecting an IMC composition into the molding cavity and onto the molded article. A means for determining when at least a surface to be coated of the molded article has reached a modulus sufficient to support the IMC composition is also provided.  
      The apparatus can include a metering cylinder in fluid communication with an IMC container and a transfer pump adapted to move a coating composition from the container to the metering cylinder. The metering cylinder is fluidly connected to a second injector on an injection molding machine. A hydraulic means selectively evacuates the IMC composition moved to the metering cylinder therefrom and directs the IMC composition to the second injector.  
      A sensor can be used to determine when it is desirable to inject an IMC composition into the mold cavity. At the desired time, the sensor can generate a signal sent to the dispense and control apparatus. An amount of coating composition can be injected into the mold cavity by the dispense and control apparatus after receipt of the signal. Thus, the dispense and control apparatus can be used to inject IMC composition into a mold of an injection molding machine at a desirable point in the molding process of a thermoplastic molded article.  
      In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of injection molding a molded article and IMC the molded article. The method includes the step of injecting a molten resin into a molding cavity until the molding cavity is substantially filled. The injected molten resin is allowed to cool in the molding cavity to form a molded article. An IMC composition is injected into the molding cavity and onto the molded article to coat the molded article where at least a surface to be coated of the molded article has reached a modulus sufficient to support the coating composition.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a side view of one embodiment of a molding apparatus suitable for use in or with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a partial cross-section through a vertical elevation of a mold cavity.  
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an IMC dispense and control apparatus adapted to be connected to the molding apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the drawings where like reference characters represent like elements and which illustrate certain embodiments of the invention,  FIG. 1  shows a molding apparatus or injection molding machine  10  including first mold half  12  and second mold half  14 . First mold half  12  preferably remains in a stationary or fixed position. Movable mold half  14  is shown in an open position but is movable to a closed position wherein the first and second mold halves  12 , 14  mate with one another to form contained mold cavity  16  of a finite volume therebetween, as shown in  FIG. 2 . More specifically, mold halves  12 , 14  mate along surfaces  18  and  20  ( FIG. 1 ) when mold half  14  is in a closed position, forming parting line  22  ( FIG. 2 ) therebetween and around mold cavity  16 .  
      Movable mold half  14  reciprocates along a generally horizontal axis relative to mold half  12  by action of clamping mechanism  24  with clamp actuator  26  such as through a hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical actuator as known in the art. Preferably, the clamping pressure exerted by clamping mechanism  24  is capable of generating an operating pressure in excess of the pressures generated or exerted by either one of first composition injector  30  and second composition injector  32 . For example, pressure exerted by clamping mechanism  24  can range from 14 MPa (about 2,000 psi) to 105 MPa (about 15,000 psi), preferably from 25 MPa (about 4,000 psi) to 85 MPa (about 12,000 psi), and more preferably from 40 MPa (about 6,000 psi) to 70 MPa (about 10,000 psi) of the mold surface.  
      In  FIG. 2 , mold halves  12 , 14  are shown in a closed position abutting or mating with one another along parting line  22  to form mold cavity  16  having a substantially fixed volume. The design of mold cavity  16  can vary greatly in size and shape according to the desired end product or article to be molded. Mold cavity  16  generally has first surface  34  on second mold half  14  and a corresponding or opposite second surface  36  on first mold half  12 . First mold half  12  defines first orifice  38  connecting to mold cavity  16  that allows first composition injector  30  to inject its composition into mold cavity  16 . Similarly, second mold half  14  defines second orifice, also connecting to mold cavity  16 , that allows second composition injector  32  ( FIG. 1 ) to inject its composition into mold cavity  16 .  
      First composition injector  30  is that which is typical in an injection molding apparatus or thermosetting and is generally capable of injecting a thermoplastic or thermosetting composition, generally a resin or polymer, into mold cavity  16 . Owing to space constraints, first injector  30  is positioned to inject material from fixed mold half  12 , although first composition injector  30  could be reversed and placed in movable mold half  14 . Second composition injector  32  is capable of injecting an IMC composition into mold cavity  16  to coat the molded article formed therein, although second composition injector  32  alternatively could be positioned in mold half  12 .  
      In  FIG. 1 , first composition injector  30  is shown in a “backed off” position but can be moved horizontally so that a nozzle or resin outlet  42  of first injector  30  mates with mold half  12 . In the mated position, injector  30  is capable of injecting its contents into mold cavity  16 . For purposes of illustration only, first composition injector  30  is shown as a reciprocating-screw machine wherein a first composition can be placed in hopper  44  and rotating screw  46  can move the composition through heated extruder barrel  48 , which heats the first composition above its melting point. As the heated material collects near the end of barrel  48 , screw  46  acts as an injection ram and forces the material through nozzle  42  and into mold cavity  16 . Nozzle  42  generally has a valve (not shown) at the open end thereof and screw  46  generally has a non-return valve (not shown) to prevent backflow of material into screw  46 .  
      First composition injector  30  is not meant to be limited to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  but can be any apparatus capable of injecting a flowable (e.g., thermoplastic or thermosetting) composition into mold cavity  16 . For example, the injection molding machine can have a mold half movable in a vertical direction such as in a “stack-mold” with center injection. Other suitable injection molding machines include many of those available from Cincinnati-Milacron, Inc. (Cincinnati, Ohio), Battenfeld Injection Molding Technology (Meinlerzhagen, Germany), Engel Machinery Inc. (York, Pa.), Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. (Bolton, Canada), BOY Machines Inc. (Exton, Pa.) and others.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , a dispense and control apparatus  60  is capable of being connected to molding apparatus  10  to provide IMC capabilities and controls therefor to molding apparatus  10 . I.S. Control apparatus  60  includes an IMC container receiving cylinder  62  for holding an IMC container filled with an IMC composition, such as that U.S. Pat. No. 5,777,053. Control apparatus  60  further includes a metering cylinder or tube  64  adapted to be in fluid communication with IMC container when received in receiving cylinder  62 . An air-driven transfer pump  66  is provided on control apparatus  60  and is capable of pumping IMC composition from receiving container  62  to metering cylinder  64 .  
      Metering cylinder  64  is selectively fluidly connectable to second injector  32  on molding apparatus  10 . Metering cylinder  64  includes a hydraulic means such as a hydraulic piston for evacuating IMC composition from metering cylinder  64  and directing the evacuated IMC composition to second injector  32 . A return line (not shown) is connected to second injector  32  and to receiving container  62  to fluidly communicate therebetween.  
      Control apparatus  60  further includes an electrical box  74  capable of being connected to a conventional power source. Electrical box  74  includes a plurality of controls  76  and a touch pad controller  78  thereon for controlling dispensing IMC composition to mold cavity  16  of molding apparatus  10 . A compressed air connector (not shown) is provided on control apparatus  60  for connecting control apparatus  60  to a conventional compressed air line. Compressed air is used to drive transfer pump  66  and remove IMC composition from control apparatus  60  and its fluid communication lines during a cleaning or evacuation. Additionally, air can be used to move a solvent through the communication lines for cleaning purposes.  
      Apparatus  60  includes a remote sensor (not shown) that is adapted to be positioned, in the preferred embodiment, on one of mold halves  12 , 14 . The sensor can be a conventional rocker switch that sends a signal to apparatus  60  upon actuation. The sensor is positioned on one of mold halves  12 , 14  such that it is actuated upon mold closure. The signal sent from the sensor is used to initiate a timer on apparatus  60 . Alternatively, the sensor could be placed in another location such as the tie bar-machine ways to indicate when mold closure.  
      Alternatively, molding apparatus  10  may be equipped with a sensor or sensor means that has the ability to generate a signal upon closure of mold halves  12 , 14 . A conventional signal transfer cable could be connected between molding apparatus  10  and control apparatus  60  for communicating the signal to control apparatus  60 . Such an arrangement would eliminate the need for connecting an independent sensor to one of mold halves  12 , 14 .  
      To prepare for injecting IMC composition into mold cavity  16 , a container of a desired IMC composition is placed in receiving cylinder  62 . Metering cylinder  64  is fluidly connected to second injector  32 . Return line  68  is fluidly connected to second injector  32  and receiving cylinder  62 . Control apparatus  60  is connected to a suitable power source such as a conventional 460 volt AC or DC electrical outlet to provide power to electrical box  74 . Control apparatus  60  is also connected to a compressed air source to provide a pneumatic means, such as a compressed air source, for evacuating IMC composition from apparatus  60  and its fluid communication lines when a cleaning operation is desirable and/or moving a solvent through apparatus  60  and its fluid communication lines. The sensor is appropriately positioned on one of mold halves  12 , 14  as described above.  
      To make an IMC thermoplastic article, a thermoplastic first composition is placed in hopper  44  ( FIG. 1 ) of molding apparatus  10 . First injector  30  is moved into nesting or mating relation with fixed mold half  12 . Through conventional means, i.e., using heated extruder barrel  48  and rotating screw  46 , first injector  30  heats first composition above its melting point and directs heated first composition toward nozzle  42  of first injector  30 . Mold halves  12 , 14  are closed thereby creating contained mold cavity  16  having a substantially fixed volume. As described above, the sensor of control apparatus  60  is positioned on one of mold halves  12 , 14  such that when mold halves  12 , 14  are closed together the sensor sends a signal to control apparatus  60  indicating that mold halves  12 , 14  are closed and that the molding process has begun.  
      Upon receipt of the signal, hereinafter T o , dispense and control apparatus  60  initiates the timer contained therein. The timer is used to track elapsed time from T o . At predetermined elapsed time intervals, control apparatus  60  actuates and controls various IMC related functions to insure that the IMC composition is delivered to mold cavity  16  at a desired point in the molding process. Thus, control apparatus  60  operates simultaneously with molding apparatus  10 .  
      After T o , the molding process continues and a nozzle valve (not shown) of nozzle  42  is moved to an open position for a predetermined amount of time to allow a corresponding quantity of the first composition to enter mold cavity  16 . Screw  46  provides a force or pressure that urges or injects first composition into mold cavity  16  until the nozzle pin is returned to its closed position. First composition is filled and packed into mold cavity  16  as is well known in the art. Once mold cavity  16  is filled and packed, molded first composition is allowed to cool thereby forming a molded article.  
      After first composition has been injected into mold cavity  16  and the surface of the molded article to be coated has cooled below the melt point or otherwise reached a temperature or modulus sufficient to accept or support an IMC composition but before the surface has cooled too much such that curing of the IMC composition would be inhibited, a predetermined amount of a second composition which is an IMC composition is ready for injection into mold cavity  16  through second orifice  40  ( FIG. 2 ) of second composition or IMC composition injector  32 . This point in the molding process, hereinafter T IMC , can be characterized as an elapsed time from T o . For second injector  32  to inject the IMC composition precisely at T IMC , apparatus  60  has to perform several functions at precise times between T o  and T IMC . Each of these functions occurs at a predetermined elapsed time relative to T o .  
      One such function is filling metering cylinder  64  with a desired amount of IMC composition. This function occurs a predetermined elapsed time from T o  but in advance of T IMC . Thus, at the pre-selected elapsed time, control apparatus  60  opens a valve (not shown) that permits fluid communication between the IMC composition-filled container and metering cylinder  64 . Transfer pump  66  then pumps IMC composition from the container to metering cylinder  64 . When metering cylinder  64  is filled a desired amount, the valve closes to prevent more IMC composition from entering the cylinder. The amount of IMC composition permitted to enter cylinder  64  is selectively adjustable.  
      After metering cylinder  64  is filled and just prior to T IMC , control apparatus  60  opens a pin or valve (not shown) on second injector  32  to allow fluid communication between second injector  32  and mold cavity  16 . The pin is normally biased or urged toward a closed position, i.e., flush to the mold surface, but is selectively movable toward the open position by control apparatus  60 . Specifically, in a preferred embodiment, an electrically powered hydraulic pump (not shown) of control apparatus  60  is used to move the pin. Very shortly thereafter, at T IMC , the hydraulic means of metering cylinder  64  evacuates IMC composition contained therein and delivers it to second injector  32 , where it passes through orifice  40  and into mold cavity  16 .  
      The mold is not opened or unclamped before IMC composition is introduceda; mold halves  12 , 14  maintain a parting line  22  and generally remain a substantially fixed distance relative to one another while first and second compositions are injected into mold cavity  16 . Thus, the substantially fixed volume of mold cavity  16  is constant and maintained throughout the molding and coating steps. When injected, the IMC composition spreads from the mold surface and coats a predetermined portion or area of the molded article. Very shortly after the IMC composition is fully injected into mold cavity  16 , apparatus  60  allows the valve of second injector  32  to return to its closed position, thereby preventing further injection of IMC composition into mold cavity  16 .  
      After the predetermined amount of IMC composition is injected into mold cavity  16  and covers or coats the predetermined area of the article or substrate, the coated substrate can be removed from the mold. However, before the mold halves  12 , 14  are parted, the IMC composition is cured by components present within the coating composition. The cure is optionally heat activated, from sources including the substrate or mold halves  12 , 14  which are at or above the curing temperature of the IMC composition. Cure temperature will vary depending on the IMC composition utilized. As mentioned above, the IMC composition is injected before the molded article has cooled to the point below where proper curing of the coating can be achieved. The IMC composition requires a minimum temperature to activate the catalyst present therein which causes a cross-linking reaction to occur, thereby curing and bonding the coating to the substrate.  
      Between IMC composition injections, control apparatus  60  uses transfer pump  66  to circulate IMC composition through the system. The pin on second injector  32  remains in its closed position thereby preventing any IMC composition from entering mold cavity  16 . One purpose of circulating the IMC composition between cycles is to prevent any particular portion of the coating from becoming undesirably heated due to its proximity to heating mechanisms on molding apparatus  10 . Such heating could detrimentally impact the material properties of the IMC composition or could block the IMC fluid lines by solidifying the IMC composition therein.  
      Controls  76  and keypad  78  of control apparatus  60  enable an operator to adjust and/or set certain operating parameters of control apparatus  60 . For example, the controls can be manipulated to increase or decrease the amount of IMC composition to be filled in metering cylinder  64  by allowing the valve that controls communication between metering cylinder  64  and receiving container  62  to remain open for a longer duration. Additionally, the controls can be manipulated to adjust the elapsed time from T o  that metering cylinder  64  is filled by transfer pump  66  and/or the amount of time elapsed from T o  that cylinder  64  is emptied by the hydraulic means. This time may be adjusted to more closely approximate T IMC .  
      In another embodiment, the sensor is a pressure transducer mounted adjacent mold cavity  16  and adapted to record a pressure in mold cavity  16 . In this embodiment, the timer of control apparatus  60  can be eliminated. Rather than using the elapsed time from the start of the mold process, control apparatus  60  injects IMC composition into mold cavity  16  based on the pressure recorded in mold cavity  16  by the pressure transducer sensor. The IMC composition is desirably injected into mold cavity  16  at the same point in the molding process, T IMC , irrespective of what type of sensor is used. Thus, rather than being time dependent, this embodiment is pressure dependent.  
      The pressure in mold cavity  16  will initially rise while the thermoplastic resin fills mold cavity  16 . The pressure will rise further as mold cavity  16  is packed. Finally, the pressure in mold cavity  16  will begin to decrease as the thermoplastic molded article cools and begins to solidify. At a predetermined pressure during the cooling phase that corresponds with T IMC , the IMC composition is preferably injected into mold cavity  16 . The predetermined pressure is generally based on the specific type of thermoplastic resin used and may also be based on the specific type of IMC composition used.  
      Based on the pressure measurements taken by the pressure transducer sensor, the series of functions performed by control apparatus  60  also can be dependent on the pressure measured in mold cavity  16 . Thus, each of the functions will occur at a predetermined pressure in mold cavity  16  so that the IMC composition can be injected into mold cavity  16  at the desired point in the molding process. Injecting IMC composition into a mold cavity  16  and onto the surface of a molded article based on the pressure measured in mold cavity  16  is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,617,033.  
      The pressure transducer alternatively can be a plurality of pressure transducers positioned at varying locations around mold cavity  16 . In this arrangement, control apparatus  60  performs its functions, including injecting the IMC composition based on a plurality of pressure measurements. For example, control apparatus  60  can perform its functions based on predetermined pressure averages of the plurality of pressure measurements taken by the plurality of pressure sensors. This arrangement may be desirable because a plurality of pressure transducers may be able to better determine the actual pressure observed in mold cavity  16 .  
      Some conventional injection molding machines and molds already are equipped with one or more transducers adapted to measure pressure in mold cavity  16 . These machines often are capable of sending a signal representative of the measured pressure or pressures to associated equipment such as control apparatus  60  through conventional data transfer means. In this case, the need for a remote pressure transducer sensor is eliminated. Control apparatus  60  need only be suitably connected to injection molding machine  10  to receive the signal representative of the pressure measurement(s) taken from mold cavity  16 .  
      In another embodiment, the sensor is a thermocouple mounted adjacent mold cavity  16  and adapted to record a temperature in mold cavity  16 . In this embodiment, the timer of control apparatus  60  can also be eliminated. Further, control apparatus  60  injects IMC composition into the mold cavity  16  based on the temperature recorded in mold cavity  16  by the thermocouple sensor. The IMC composition is desirably injected into mold cavity  16  at the same point in the molding process, T IMC , as the previous sensors. The main difference is injection of the IMC composition is temperature dependent.  
      Control apparatus  60  can be equipped with and/or connected to a data collection means. The data collection means can be an on-board hard drive or other recording medium that is capable of recording the operating parameters set on control apparatus  60  for one or a series of molded articles. Other alternate arrangements are possible, such as, for example, connecting the apparatus to a network and recording operating parameters at a remote location. In any case, the data collection means can record the predetermined elapsed time settings from T o  that the various control apparatus functions are set to use and/or the actual elapsed time intervals when the various functions occur.  
      For example, for each injection of IMC composition, the data collection means can record the time from T o  that transfer pump  66  fills metering cylinder  64 , the time from T o  that the pin of second injector  32  opens, the time from T o  that the hydraulic means evacuates metering cylinder  64  and second injector  32  injects the IMC composition into mold cavity  16  and/or the time from T o  that the pin of second injector  32  closes. Other functions also can be recorded including without limitation the number of IMC composition injections for a specific amount of IMC composition, the hydraulic pressure used to evacuate metering cylinder  64 , etc.  
      If one or more pressure transducers are used in place of the rocker switch (a time dependent sensor), the data collection means can be used to record related measurements therewith. For example, the data collection means can record the specific measured pressures at which time the various functions of control apparatus  60  occur. Likewise, if the sensor is a thermocouple, the temperature measurements taken thereby can be recorded.  
      In any case, the data or information recorded by the data collection means can be used for quality control purposes. For example, a coated part can be examined upon being ejected from mold cavity  16  and compared against the data collected on the specific injection of IMC composition associated with that part. If the part does not meet certain quality control requirements, such as lack of adhesion between the coating and the thermoplastic, lack of scratch resistance, surface imperfections, lack of adequate coating coverage, etc., the present parameters (whether time dependent, pressure dependent, temperature dependent or otherwise), can be adjusted to improve the coating characteristics of future coated parts.  
      Control apparatus  60  can also be equipped with a means for transferring collected data. This can be through any conventional means including providing a disk drive or the like that allows the data to be recorded to a mobile storage medium, providing a data link that is connectable to a local computer, an intranet, the internet, other network, etc. Such means for transferring data can allow remote analysis of the collected data in real-time.  
      Control apparatus  60  also can include a conventional package code reader (not shown) such as a bar code reader. The reader can be used to scan a code on a particular container of IMC composition placed in receiving cylinder  62  and injected onto a plurality of molded parts. Used in conjunction with the data collection means described above, the code for a particular container of IMC composition can be associated with data recorded for all injections of IMC composition from the particular container. Further, the code of the IMC container can be associated with a finished parts bin or collection means that receives finished parts with a coating thereon from molding apparatus  10 . Recording and storing such information allows particular finished parts to be analyzed and easily compared against the data recorded thereabout and the particular IMC composition used.  
      In another embodiment, control apparatus  60  can be provided with a user interface that allows a user to simply select a part icon that represents a series of parts to be molded and coated. Selection of a specific part icon on the user interface presets the control parameters on control apparatus  60  whether they are time-based, cavity pressure-based, or otherwise. The user interface eliminates the need for an operator to set the control parameters individually each time a new part series is to be run through the molding and coating process.  
      In any embodiment discussed herein, control apparatus  60  can be provided with a display means such as a monitor (not shown). Display means can display, in real time, any of the data or information being sensed and/or recorded by control apparatus  60 . Further, control apparatus  60  could be configured to only allow a specific number of injections per container of IMC composition. Alternatively, or additionally, control apparatus  60 , when used with the code reader, could be set to operate only with a specific type of IMC composition.