Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an air dehumidifying sub-system and a method for use in a molding system. For example, the air source device for use with a post-mold treatment device for treating a molded article, the air source device comprising: an air inlet and a refrigerating unit operatively coupled to the air inlet, the refrigerating unit and the air inlet arranged such that air is forced between the air inlet and the refrigerating unit for cooling the air; an air outlet coupled to the refrigerating unit for connecting the refrigerating unit to an air management device of the post-mold treatment device, the air management device configured to direct, in use, cooled air onto a portion of the molded article being treated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding-system process. The molding-system process includes a receiving operation, including receiving a polymer unit, a cyclic olefin copolymer unit and a reinforcement unit. The polymer unit and the reinforcement unit are separate from each other prior to the polymer unit and the reinforcement unit being received. Once received, the polymer unit, the cyclic olefin copolymer unit and the reinforcement unit are converted into a molding material. The molding material is to be transferred into a mold. In response the mold forms a product having reduced susceptibility to warpage.

Abstract: Injection molding machine apparatus and method with moving platen injection and ejection actuation is provided for an injection molding machine clamp assembly configured to clamp a relatively movable platen to a relatively stationary platen. Injector structure is coupled to the relatively movable platen and is configured to actuate a molten material injection structure when the relatively movable platen and the relatively stationary platen are closed. Ejector structure is coupled to the relatively movable platen and is configured to actuate a molded article ejection structure when the relatively movable platen and the relatively stationary platen are open.

Abstract: A flexible shoe assembly for use in a molding system. The clamp unit of a molding system includes a moving platen and a stationary platen supported by a frame. Tie bars interconnect the moving platen with the stationary platen. The tie bars are secured to the stationary platen and pass through respective openings in the moving platen. Each tie bar is supported and guided within their respective openings by a flexible shoe assembly and wear pad. The flexible shoe assembly has a force redirector for directing force away from a peripheral edge of the wear pad towards a central force area. The flexible shoe assembly also includes a load distributor to distribute the load across the wear pad surface. The flexible shoe assembly includes an upper support that is flexible about a lower support to keep the wear pad in operational contact with the tie bar.

Abstract: A collar for reducing or eliminating leakage between components that moves with respect to each other in the field of injection molding. The collar has an outer portion for receiving an inner portion. The outer portion has a tapered, partial spherical, concave, or convex surface on its inside diameter, and the inner portion has a tapered or partial spherical, convex, or concave surface on its outside diameter. In the preferred embodiment, the inner portion of the collar is operatively assembled into a cavity of the outer portion of the collar, such that the tapered surface of the inner portion is slidably mounted to the tapered surface of the outer portion. The collar is operatively mounted around the outside diameter or circumference of, preferably, a cylindrical device and between two components that move with respect to each other.

Abstract: In an injection compression mold (12), a counter force cylinder (42) operates to angle (?), over time, a first plate (36) relative to a second upright plate (44). In abutting engagement and under clamp tonnage, the first and second plates (36, 44) define a mold cavity (18). To permit an angle of inclination (?) to be adjusted and finally to place the plates in parallel, a bearing (100) and a complementary bushing (140) are respectively positioned on surfaces (50) of the first plate (36) and the second plate (44). A strain gauge (102), preferably located in a hollow bore (101) of the bearing (100), measures force acting on the bearing (100) and/or bushing (140). Force (FCFC) generated by the counter force cylinder (42) is then varied in response to the measured force in the bearing/bushing, with the force (FCFC) generated by the counter force cylinder (42) regulated to reflect, but slightly exceed, force (80) experienced within the mold cavity (18) during injection.

Abstract: Disclosed, amongst other things, is: an injection molding runner system, an injection molding method for operation of a runner system, and an injection molding machine amongst other things. The runner system includes a geometrically unbalanced melt distribution network and a means for pre-pressurizing of the molding material within the melt distribution network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process having an operation. The operation includes near-liquidus rheomolding of a molten light-metal alloy being injectable, under pressure, into a mold.

Abstract: Disclosed, amongst other things, is: an injection molding runner system, an injection molding method for operation of a runner system, and an injection molding machine amongst other things. The runner system includes a melt distribution network and a means for pre-pressurizing of the molding material within the melt distribution network.

Abstract: A composite material component for an injection molding assembly includes a first portion formed of a precipitation hardened, high thermal conductivity material and a second portion formed of a precipitation hardened, high strength material, which are integrally joined together. The thermal conductivity of the high thermal conductivity material is greater than the thermal conductivity of the high strength material, and at least one strength aspect of the high strength material has a value greater than the corresponding value of the same strength aspect of the high thermal conductivity material. The high thermal conductivity material and the high strength material can be precipitation hardened together under the same precipitation hardening conditions to achieve increases in the value of at least one strength aspect of the high thermal conductivity material and the value of at least one strength aspect of the high strength material, relative to their respective unhardened conditions.

Abstract: An injection molding system includes a hot runner comprising a memory device configured to contain at least one process control parameter. The memory device may transmit a signal representative of the process control parameter to a machine controller associated with the injection molding system. The machine controller may generate control signal to operate the injection molding machine based on, at least in part, the signal from the memory device.

Abstract: Disclosed are a mold gate insert as well as a mold assembly and an injection molding machine incorporating such a mold gate insert. The mold gate insert comprises a base structure formed of a wear resistant material having a first thermal conductivity. The base structure defines a mold cavity, at least in part, a nozzle assembly alignment portion for aligning a nozzle assembly with respect to the base structure, and a gate for communication between the mold cavity and the nozzle assembly. The mold gate insert further comprises a heat dam being completely enclosed by the base structure. The heat dam is made of a material having a second thermal conductivity being less than the first thermal conductivity and arranged within the base structure in proximity to the nozzle assembly alignment portion such that the heat flow between the nozzle assembly and the base structure is impeded. Furthermore, a method of producing the mold gate insert is disclosed.

Abstract: An air ring is provided for a stripper plate assembly. The air ring is removably situated within bores defined in the stripper plate. An air manifold is also defined within the stripper plate, which is connected to a pressurized air source for communication of a pressurized air flow to each of the bores air ducts within each air ring direct the pressurized air flow from the air manifold towards a preferred location on the molded article that passed through the air ring.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an adjustment device for adjusting a distance between a take-off plate and a treatment device of a molding system and a method for use thereof. More specifically, there is provided a distance adjustment device configured to adjust a distance between a take-off plate coupled to a fixed platen of a molding system and a treatment device coupled to a movable platen of the molding system. The adjustment device comprises a movable platen engagement interface configured for attachment to the movable platen of the molding system; a plenum engagement interface configured for attachment to the treatment device; a distance adjustment mechanism configured to selectively fix a position of the treatment device relative to the movable platen in a desired position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding-system platen, comprising a mold-support face being configured to support a mold, the mold-support face including a frustum-shaped structure having a pedestal, the pedestal being centrally positioned relative to the mold-support face, and the pedestal being offset rearward of the mold-support face, and the pedestal defining a force-receiving face being offset rearward from the mold-support face, and the force-receiving face being smaller than the mold-support face; a border surrounding the mold-support face, and a width of the border extending from an outer edge of the mold-support face toward the outer edge of the force-receiving face; an upstanding wall extending posterior of the mold-support face; and a peripheral wall extending around a periphery of the mold-support face; and a canopy linking to, and stiffening, the mold-support face and the border, the canopy being suspended over and covering, at least in part, a posterior of the mold-support face, and the canopy being positioned b

Abstract: A method of loading a moldset having a core plate and a cavity plate into an injection molding machine. The method comprises the steps of latching a cavity plate to a core plate using a removable latch, guiding the core plate into an open mold along a face in the mold while maintaining separation between the face and the core plate and maintaining the cavity plate spaced from hot runner nozzles in a hot runner in the mold, closing the mold to engage the cavity plate with the hot runner nozzles, securing the cavity plate to the hot runner, removing the latch between the cavity plate and the core plate, and opening the mold. The face may be a face of a movable platen or a back surface of a hot runner.

Abstract: Rather than developing full closure tonnage for a substantial portion of the duration of an injection cycle, closed loop control of the clamp pressure (such as through control of hydraulic pistons) permits clamp pressure to balance exactly, but preferably slightly exceed, the instantaneous injection pressure. A first approach mimics the injection pressure profile with time, whereby applied tonnage is varied with time according to sensed pressure measurements. A second approach looks to pre-stored or historically accumulated injection pressure information and, instead of varying the tonnage, applies a constant tonnage reflecting the maximum recorded or most likely injection pressure to be experienced in the mold (as recorded stored in a look-up table associated with the particular mold configuration). A machine controller (80, 82) causes the application of applied tonnage through the platen (16, 17) and tie-bars (19, 20) of an injection molding machine (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding-system platen actuator, including: (a) a platen-stroke actuator including: an electrical actuator, and a guide bushing being connected with the electrical actuator; and (b) a mold-break actuator being in-line with the platen-stroke actuator, the mold-break actuator including: a hydraulic actuator having: a piston being strokable along an in-line housing, and air pressure being generatable between the piston and the guide bushing, and the air pressure being useable to push the piston backwardly.

Abstract: The present invention is a nozzle for an injection molding runner system where parts of the nozzle, and in particular the nozzle tip are made from a nanocrystalline material. Nanocrystalline materials used include nanocrystalline copper and nanocrystalline nickel, which have high thermal conductivity and increased material strength. A conventional form of the metal is worked till its grains are reduced in size to less than 100 nm to achieve the desired properties.

Abstract: An injection nozzle is provided having a nozzle body, defining an inlet channel, an outlet channel and a connecting channel therebetween for communicating a working fluid into and out of the nozzle body. A shut-off pin is slidably mounted within the nozzle body and having a spigot mounted thereto. The shut-off pin is movable between a closed position, where the working fluid is substantially blocked from moving from the inlet channel to the outlet channel, and an open position where the spigot is withdrawn, unblocking the working fluid from moving from the inlet channel to the outlet channel. An actuator is operably connected to the shut-off pin to move the shut-off pin from the open position to the closed position. Moving the shut-off pin from the open position to the closed position generates a region of low pressure in the working fluid in the portion of working fluid trailing the spigot.