Abstract: A method and apparatus providing for a small vehicle motor. The motor includes a motor shell, a drive shaft housing disposed in the motor, and an extended drive shaft disposed in the drive shaft housing. The extended drive shaft replaces conventional couplings and separate axles and thereby reduces the number of bearings needed. Noise and the possibility of misalignment are also reduced by the extended drive shaft of the motor, which is coupled directly to a vehicle axle drive gear.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for control of a toggle operated press to effectively set relative position between a fixed platen and a die height platen. The toggle crosshead is placed at a position required to achieve a desired press clamp force. The die height platen is advanced toward the fixed platen until minute motion of the toggle crosshead away from the fixed platen is detected whereat advance of the die height platen is ceased. In the relative position of the die height platen and fixed platen results in contact of the mold sections prior to the crosshead being placed at the required position, the crosshead is retracted a predetermined distance and then advanced to the required position. Desired die height setting is achieved without repeated iterations of a die height setting procedure.

Abstract: An electric-motor-powered drive for providing increased output torque within a predetermined space envelope. A pair of electric motors are disposed in end-to-end relationship with their respective output drive shafts in opposed, coaxial relationship. A coupling member extends between the respective motor output shafts to mechanically couple them together for joint rotation in the same direction of rotation and at the same rotational speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for verification of the linear position of a machine element driven by a motor is provided. The actual position of the element is detected and compared to an expected position. When the two positions differ from each other by more than a predetermined tolerance value for a predetermined amount of time, an error signal is generated which deactivates the motor and generates an alarm for the machine operator. Preferably, the linear position of the axis is detected by a transducer and the expected position is determined by detecting the rotary position of the motor through the use of a resolver, which is then converted to a linear equivalent through the use of the gearing ratio. The method and apparatus can detect faulty machine conditions and thereby prevent machine malfunction and/or machine damage. Preferably, the method and apparatus are used to verify the position of machine elements in an injection molding machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an aberrant velocity of a motor used to drive an element in a plastics processing machine, such as an injection molding machine, for example. The velocity of the motor is detected by a first sensor and a machine parameter associated with the machine operation is provided. A velocity limit is determined based upon the machine parameter and an error signal is generated when the motor velocity exceeds the velocity limit by more than a predetermined tolerance value. Preferably, the machine parameter comprises the position of the element driven by the motor, which is sensed by a sensor, such as a linear displacement transducer. The velocity limit can be based upon this measured element position as well as data entered for the particular machine, such as a minimum element position, a maximum element position, and a maximum motor velocity, such that a desired motor operating envelope is defined.

Abstract: A close clamp cycle for an injection molding machine in which a toggle locking motion is executed using a plurality of velocities to permit faster clamp operation while maintaining control of the clamp to bring it quietly to its final position without damage to the machine.

Abstract: An anti-backflow valve for mounting on the forward end of a plasticating screw rotatably and translatably carried in a tubular barrel of an injection molding machine. The valve includes a rod-like body member that extends forwardly of the plasticating screw for rotation relative to the screw and for axial translation relative to the screw for a limited distance. A retaining sleeve is threadedly secured to the forward end of the screw to define a forward stop to limit axial outward movement of the body member relative to the screw. The outer surface of the retaining sleeve includes a valve seat that is engagable with a sealing surface on a screw tip that is carried at the forward end of the body member. The screw tip includes flow passageways extending substantially axially therethrough to provide communication between the space ahead of the screw and an area behind the screw tip and between the screw body and the screw-receiving tubular barrel.