Abstract: An in-mold lid closing apparatus includes a lid engagement member, a first actuation assembly connected to a first portion of the lid engagement member, a second actuation assembly connected to a second opposing portion of the lid engagement member, and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly. The controller is configured to transmit a first drive signal to the first actuation assembly and a second drive signal to the second actuation assembly to drive one of a linear position and a rotational position of the lid engagement member and to adjust at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal based upon a first feedback signal received from the first actuation assembly and a second feedback signal received from the second actuation assembly.

Abstract: A mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a set of helical spline elements disposed at the first end of the shaft, the set of helical spline elements extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a bearing rotatably coupled to the second end of the shaft, the bearing configured to allow rotation of the shaft between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to a mold cavity.

Abstract: A hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly is operably coupled to a first ejector plate and to a second ejector plate. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a first hydraulic cylinder having a first housing defining a first volume and a first piston, the first housing connected to the first ejector plate and the first piston connected to a fixed element. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a second hydraulic cylinder disposed in fluid communication with the first hydraulic cylinder, the second hydraulic cylinder having a second housing defining a second volume and a second piston, the second housing connected to the first ejector plate and a second piston connected to the second ejector plate.

Abstract: An in-mold lid closing apparatus comprises a frame, a first actuation assembly configured to linearly position a lid engagement member between a first and second linear position relative to an in-mold lid, and a second actuation assembly configured to rotatably position the lid engagement member between a first and second rotational position relative to the in-mold lid. The first actuation assembly comprises a first support moveably coupled to the frame and a first actuator coupled to a frame support of the frame and a first actuator drive element coupled to the first support. The second actuation assembly comprises a second support moveably coupled to the frame and disposed between the frame support and the first support and a second actuator coupled to the second support and a second actuator drive element coupled to the first support.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a seal plug which includes a plug body having a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion; the first sealing portion having a first sealing portion diameter and defining a radial channel having a first shoulder and a second shoulder, the radial channel having a radial channel diameter that is smaller than the first sealing portion diameter; a set of threads disposed about an outer periphery of the second sealing portion, the set of threads defining a major diameter and a minor diameter; and an o-ring disposed within the radial channel defined by the first sealing portion and between the first shoulder and the second shoulder, the o-ring having an outer diameter that is smaller than the minor diameter of the set of threads of the second sealing portion.

Abstract: A mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a set of helical spline elements disposed at the first end of the shaft, the set of helical spline elements extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a bearing rotatably coupled to the second end of the shaft, the bearing configured to allow rotation of the shaft between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to a mold cavity.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a seal plug which includes a plug body having a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, an o-ring disposed about an outer periphery of the first sealing portion, and a set of threads disposed about an outer periphery of the second sealing portion. The second sealing portion defines a tool engagement portion.

Abstract: A mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a set of helical spline elements disposed at the first end of the shaft, the set of helical spline elements extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a bearing rotatably coupled to the second end of the shaft, the bearing configured to allow rotation of the shaft between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to a mold cavity.

Abstract: An in-mold lid closing apparatus includes a lid engagement member, a first actuation assembly connected to a first portion of the lid engagement member, a second actuation assembly connected to a second opposing portion of the lid engagement member, and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly. The controller is configured to transmit a first drive signal to the first actuation assembly and a second drive signal to the second actuation assembly to drive one of a linear position and a rotational position of the lid engagement member and to adjust at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal based upon a first feedback signal received from the first actuation assembly and a second feedback signal received from the second actuation assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the innovation relate to a seal plug which includes a plug body having a first sealing portion and a second sealing portion, an o-ring disposed about an outer periphery of the first sealing portion, and a set of threads disposed about an outer periphery of the second sealing portion. The second sealing portion defines a tool engagement portion.

Abstract: A hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly is operably coupled to a first ejector plate and to a second ejector plate. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a first hydraulic cylinder having a first housing defining a first volume and a first piston, the first housing connected to the first ejector plate and the first piston connected to a fixed element. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a second hydraulic cylinder disposed in fluid communication with the first hydraulic cylinder, the second hydraulic cylinder having a second housing defining a second volume and a second piston, the second housing connected to the first ejector plate and a second piston connected to the second ejector plate.

Abstract: An in-mold lid closing apparatus includes a lid engagement member, a first actuation assembly connected to a first portion of the lid engagement member, a second actuation assembly connected to a second opposing portion of the lid engagement member, and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly. The controller is configured to transmit a first drive signal to the first actuation assembly and a second drive signal to the second actuation assembly to drive one of a linear position and a rotational position of the lid engagement member and to adjust at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal based upon a first feedback signal received from the first actuation assembly and a second feedback signal received from the second actuation assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly is operably coupled to a first ejector plate and to a second ejector plate. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a first hydraulic cylinder having a first housing defining a first volume and a first piston, the first housing connected to the first ejector plate and the first piston connected to a fixed element. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a second hydraulic cylinder disposed in fluid communication with the first hydraulic cylinder, the second hydraulic cylinder having a second housing defining a second volume and a second piston, the second housing connected to the first ejector plate and a second piston connected to the second ejector plate.

Abstract: A threaded mold decoupling system comprises a set of unscrewing assemblies, each unscrewing assembly disposed in proximity to a corresponding threaded core of a set of threaded cores and having an unscrewing element defining an unscrewing element circumference and a driving element disposed in operative communication with an unscrewing assembly of the at least one set of unscrewing assemblies. The driving element defines a driving element circumference, a ratio of the driving element circumference to the unscrewing element circumference defining a number of rotations of each unscrewing element relative to a number of rotations of the driving element. The driving element is configured to rotate each unscrewing element in a first direction between a first position and a second position to decouple each threaded core from a corresponding molded article and in a second direction between the second position and the first position to reset each unscrewing assembly.

Abstract: An in-mold lid closing apparatus comprises a frame, a first actuation assembly configured to linearly position a lid engagement member between a first and second linear position relative to an in-mold lid, and a second actuation assembly configured to rotatably position the lid engagement member between a first and second rotational position relative to the in-mold lid. The first actuation assembly comprises a first support moveably coupled to the frame and a first actuator coupled to a frame support of the frame and a first actuator drive element coupled to the first support. The second actuation assembly comprises a second support moveably coupled to the frame and disposed between the frame support and the first support and a second actuator coupled to the second support and a second actuator drive element coupled to the first support.

Abstract: A threaded mold decoupling system includes at least one unscrewing assembly configured to remove a molded article a threaded core of an injection mold, an elevator assembly, and a driving element disposed in operative communication with the at least one unscrewing assembly and with the elevator assembly. The driving element is configured to actuate the at least one unscrewing assembly to rotate a molded article about a longitudinal axis of the threaded core and actuate the elevator assembly to linearly translate the molded article along the longitudinal axis of the threaded core.

Abstract: An in-mold lid closing apparatus includes a lid engagement member, a first actuation assembly connected to a first portion of the lid engagement member, a second actuation assembly connected to a second opposing portion of the lid engagement member, and a controller disposed in electrical communication with the first actuation assembly and the second actuation assembly. The controller is configured to transmit a first drive signal to the first actuation assembly and a second drive signal to the second actuation assembly to drive one of a linear position and a rotational position of the lid engagement member and to adjust at least one of the first drive signal and the second drive signal based upon a first feedback signal received from the first actuation assembly and a second feedback signal received from the second actuation assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly is operably coupled to a first ejector plate and to a second ejector plate. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a first hydraulic cylinder having a first housing defining a first volume and a first piston, the first housing connected to the first ejector plate and the first piston connected to a fixed element. The hydraulic advancement/postponement assembly includes a second hydraulic cylinder disposed in fluid communication with the first hydraulic cylinder, the second hydraulic cylinder having a second housing defining a second volume and a second piston, the second housing connected to the first ejector plate and a second piston connected to the second ejector plate.

Abstract: A threaded mold decoupling system includes at least one unscrewing assembly configured to remove a molded article a threaded core of an injection mold, an elevator assembly, and a driving element disposed in operative communication with the at least one unscrewing assembly and with the elevator assembly. The driving element is configured to actuate the at least one unscrewing assembly to rotate a molded article about a longitudinal axis of the threaded core and actuate the elevator assembly to linearly translate the molded article along the longitudinal axis of the threaded core.

Abstract: A mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a shaft having a first end and a second end. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a set of helical spline elements disposed at the first end of the shaft, the set of helical spline elements extending along a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The mechanical interlock pin assembly includes a bearing rotatably coupled to the second end of the shaft, the bearing configured to allow rotation of the shaft between a first rotational position and a second rotational position relative to a mold cavity.