Abstract: A plastic material injection molding machine comprises a mold having at least two mold portions and a handling system adapted to be inserted between the mold portions when the mold is in its open position, for transferring an article between the handling system and a predetermined mold portion. The handling system, moreover, comprises a transfer plate supported loosely therein. The handling system, further, is adapted to approach the predetermined mold portion such that prior to the transfer of the article a first reference means on the predetermined mold portion can be brought into a registering position with a second reference means on the transfer plate. A clutch is provided for bridging the loose support.

Abstract: A handling system for a plastic material injection molding machine comprises an arm for unloading plastic material articles from hollow cavities of a mold of the plastic material injection molding machine. The hollow cavities are arranged in a first plane and the arm essentially moves within the first plane. A conveyor system moves within a second plane for transporting away the plastic material articles. A transfer station is arranged between the mold and the conveyor system for transferring the unloaded plastic material articles from the first plane to the second plane. The transfer station comprises a transfer plate for the plastic material articles and is adapted to be moved along a predetermined trajectory from a first operational position within the first plane into a second operational position within the second plane. The trajectory extends essentially outside the first plane.

Abstract: A plastic material injection molding machine comprises a mold with at least one movable mold portion and a movable handling system. The handling system is adapted to be moved along a predetermined trajectory and to enter between mold portions when the mold is in an open operational position. The movable mold portion has a front surface facing the handling system and defines a collision contour with respect to the handling system when the latter is moved along the trajectory during movement of the mold portion. The handling system is adapted to pass by the collision contour after the movable mold portion has moved away from the trajectory. The handling system is moved along a first path section of the trajectory before passing by the collision contour and is accelerated up to a predetermined maximum velocity. Thus, the handling system is at the maximum velocity when passing by the collision contour.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are disclosed for controlling a motional sequence of a first movable component of a plastic material injection molding machine having a first trajectory spatially overlapping at least partially a second trajectory of a second movable component of the plastic material injection molding machine. Motion of the first movable component is initiated depending on an enabling signal indicative for a motional state of the second movable component.