Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting 5 plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.

Abstract: There is provided a structure for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. The structure comprises a positioner configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part on the mold mounting face. The structure further comprises controller executable instructions executable in a controller with which to resolve an alignment parameter of the mold using a feedback signal from a sensor. Further provided is a method of operating an injection molding machine which method comprises the steps of positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face using a positioner and appreciating an alignment parameter of the mold with reference to a feedback signal from a sensor.

Abstract: In one aspect, an injection unit for an injection molding machine having a hot runner with a sprue comprises a heated melt pipe configured to convey a continuous stream of melt, a shooting pot assembly, and a telescopic melt coupling. The shooting pot assembly is configured to convert the continuous stream of melt from the heated melt pipe into batches for cyclical injection and is translatable between a sprue-engagement position and a sprue-disengagement position. The telescopic melt coupling is configured to convey melt from the heated melt pipe to the shooting pot assembly and has a variable length. The variable length telescopic melt coupling permits translation of the shooting pot assembly, relative to the heated melt pipe, between the sprue-engagement position and the sprue-disengagement position while maintaining a fluid melt interconnection between the heated melt pipe and the shooting pot assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for producing spherical metallic powders through continuous ball milling are described. The apparatus comprises a comminution component including an inlet to receive a metallic material at a first region within the comminution component and an outlet to dispense the metallic powder from a second region within the comminution component. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of grinding components to grind the metallic material, the plurality of grinding components being arranged within the comminution component. The apparatus comprises a drive component, connected with the comminution component, to induce movement of the metallic material and the plurality of grinding components within the comminution component such that the metallic material is fragmented through contact with the plurality of grinding components at the first region and an external surface of the fragmented metallic material is altered at the second region to produce the metallic powder.

Abstract: There is provided a structure for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. The structure comprises a positioner configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part on the mold mounting face. The structure further comprises controller executable instructions executable in a controller with which to resolve an alignment parameter of the mold using a feedback signal from a sensor. Further provided is a method of operating an injection molding machine which method comprises the steps of positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face using a positioner and appreciating an alignment parameter of the mold with reference to a feedback signal from a sensor.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting 5 plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.

Abstract: A melt dispenser for plastic molding comprises a barrel unit removably mountable to a drive unit. A feed screw is received within a barrel of the barrel unit and is rotated by the drive unit to dispense molten molding material through an outlet of the barrel. A coupling mechanism can be engaged to hold the barrel unit against the drive unit and on to connect the screw to the drive. The coupling mechanism is operable by an actuator.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include methods, systems, and apparatuses for die screening using inline defect information. Such embodiments may include receiving a plurality of defects, receiving wafersort electrical data for a plurality of dies, classifying each of the defects as a defect-of-interest or nuisance, determining a defect-of-interest confidence for each of the defects-of-interest, determining a die return index for each of the dies containing at least one of the defects-of-interest, determining a die return index cutline, and generating an inking map. Each of the defects may be associated with a die in the plurality of dies. Each of the dies may be tagged as passing a wafersort electrical test or failing the wafersort electrical test. Classifying each of the defects as a defect-of-interest or nuisance may be accomplished using a defect classification model, which may include machine learning. The inking map may be electronically communicated to an inking system.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include methods, systems, and apparatuses for die screening using inline defect information. Such embodiments may include receiving a plurality of defects, receiving wafersort electrical data for a plurality of dies, classifying each of the defects as a defect-of-interest or nuisance, determining a defect-of-interest confidence for each of the defects-of-interest, determining a die return index for each of the dies containing at least one of the defects-of-interest, determining a die return index cutline, and generating an inking map. Each of the defects may be associated with a die in the plurality of dies. Each of the dies may be tagged as passing a wafersort electrical test or failing the wafersort electrical test. Classifying each of the defects as a defect-of-interest or nuisance may be accomplished using a defect classification model, which may include machine learning. The inking map may be electronically communicated to an inking system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a method of transferring a molded article from a moveable mold half of a mold into a receptacle of a post-mold tool. The method includes positioning the moveable mold half relative to the post-mold tool to position the molded article thereon closer to the receptacle and retracting the moveable mold half while simultaneously extending a stripping device to eject the molded article from the moveable mold half and to transfer it into the receptacle.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are structure and steps for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. In particular, the structure and steps may include a positioner that is configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part across the mold mounting face.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are structure and steps for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. In particular, the structure and steps may include a positioner that is configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part across the mold mounting face.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a method of transferring a molded article from a moveable mold half of a mold into a receptacle of a post-mold tool. The method includes positioning the moveable mold half relative to the post-mold tool to position the molded article thereon closer to the receptacle and retracting the moveable mold half while simultaneously extending a stripping device to eject the molded article from the moveable mold half and to transfer it into the receptacle.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a polymer treatment device (100) for providing a treatment to a polymer bed (4) having granules (2) of a polymer that are in a solid- state, a computer-readable medium associated with a controller thereof, and an associated molding system (1000). The polymer treatment device 100 includes a polymer supporter (110) with which to support, in use, the polymer bed (4), a radiant heater (120) with which to heat, in use, the polymer bed (4), a first fluid dispenser (140-1) with which to dispense, in use, a first treatment fluid (102-1), and a first fluid vent (150-1) with which to vent, in use, the first treatment fluid (102-1), along with a diffusate from the polymer bed (4) potentially entrained therewith. Furthermore, the first fluid dispenser (140-1) and the first fluid vent (150-1) are arranged to promote a flow of the first treatment fluid (102-1) through the polymer bed (4) in between the granules (2) thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are: (i) a platen of a molding-system having anti-tilt structure, (ii) a molding system having a platen including an anti-tilt structure, (iii) a component of a platen of a molding system having a frame, the component including an anti-tilt structure, (iv) a clamp of a molding system, the clamp having platens each including an anti-tilt structure, (v) a molded article manufactured by usage of a platen of a molding system having an anti-tilt structure, (vi) a molded article manufactured by usage of a molding system having a platen including an anti-tilt structure, (vii) a molded article manufactured by usage of a component of a platen of a molding system having a frame, the component including an anti-tilt structure, and (viii) a molded article manufactured by usage of a clamp of a molding system, the clamp having platens each including an anti-tilt structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are: (i) a platen of a molding system, (ii) a molding system having a platen, (iii) a clamp of a molding system having platens, and (iv) a molded article.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lock of a molding system having a rod and a platen. The lock includes a lock member associated with the rod that is movable between a clamped position and a released position by a clamp assembly. A complementary lock member is associated with the platen. The lock member and the complementary lock member are cooperatively operable to move between a lockable condition and an unlockablecondition within a relatively lower flex zone of the platen. The relatively lower flex zone of the platen is a portion of the platen adjacent to the rod relative to a relatively higher flex zone of the platen also adjacent to the rod.

Abstract: Disclosed is a platen-linkage assembly, including: (i) a pair of supports being movably guidable along a respective one of a pair of linear-guide rails, (ii) mold-carrier sections being configured to support a mold stack; and (iii) a pair of primary links being rotatably coupled with and being positioned between a chosen one of: (i) the mold-carrier sections, and (ii) the pair of supports.

Abstract: A clamp actuator of a molding system is provided. The clamp actuator includes a first actuator configured to be interactable with a rod; and a second actuator configured to be interactable with the first actuator. The first actuator is configured to apply a clamping force to the rod; and the second actuator is configured to apply a force opposing the clamping force to the first actuator. Responsive to actuating the first actuator, the rod is drivable between (i) a home position in which a clamping force is not applicable to the rod, and (ii) a force application position in which the clamping force is applicable to the rod. Responsive to a mold flash occurring which exceeds the clamping force, the rod is moveable into a mold flash position beyond the home position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a platen-linkage assembly, including: (i) a pair of supports being movably guidable along a respective one of a pair of linear-guide rails, (ii) mold-carrier sections being configured to support a mold stack; and (iii) a pair of primary links being rotatably coupled with and being positioned between a chosen one of: (i) the mold-carrier sections, and (ii) the pair of supports.