Patent ID: 7158854

Claim:
A vacuum system for an injection-molding machine having at least one injector unit, a mold clamp unit, and an injection molding controller producing control signals controlling the injector and mold clamp unit, the vacuum system comprising: an interface cable connectable to the control signals of the injection-molding controller; a programmable logic controller receiving the control signals from the interface cable and executing a stored program to derive vacuum timing signals from at least some of the control signals; and a vacuum pump and valve assembly receiving vacuum timing signals from the programmable logic controller to provide vacuum on a vacuum line to a mold in response to the vacuum timing signals, the vacuum line adapted to connect to a channel on the mold providing a path of gases out of the mold; whereby standard injection-molding control signals may be used to control the vacuum system; further including at least one electronic timer having an integral programming panel, the electronic timer communicating with the programmable logic controller to provide a timing function for the vacuum timing signal further including a housing holding the programmable logic controller and the timer, wherein the integral programming panel of the timer is exposed through a front face of the housing.