Patents by Inventor Ethan David Stiefel

Ethan David Stiefel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230041317
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a first configuration and a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for a portion of an injection cycle of an injection molding machine having a second configuration and operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration to inject a molten material into the mold cavity. While operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration, the obtained pattern is used to control a portion of the injection cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Bryler Collins, Ethan David Stiefel, Gene Michael Altonen, Brandon Michael Birchmeier, Brian Matthew Burns
  • Publication number: 20230031650
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for the injection cycle, operating the injection molding machine to inject a molten material into the mold cavity , and measuring a cavity pressure value of the mold cavity during the mold cycle. Upon measuring a nominal cavity pressure value, a pattern recognition portion of the injection cycle that is at least partially dependent on the obtained pattern commences where a driving force being exerted on the molten material is adjusted such that the measured cavity pressure matches the obtained pattern for the injection cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Inventors: Ethan David Stiefel, Bryler Collins, Gene Michael Altonen, Brian Matthew Burns, Brandon Michael Birchmeier
  • Patent number: 11498253
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a first configuration and a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for a portion of an injection cycle of an injection molding machine having a second configuration and operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration to inject a molten material into the mold cavity. While operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration, the obtained pattern is used to control a portion of the injection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Bryler Collins, Ethan David Stiefel, Gene Michael Altonen, Brandon Michael Birchmeier, Brian Matthew Burns
  • Patent number: 11491694
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for the injection cycle, operating the injection molding machine to inject a molten material into the mold cavity, and measuring a cavity pressure value of the mold cavity during the mold cycle. Upon measuring a nominal cavity pressure value, a pattern recognition portion of the injection cycle that is at least partially dependent on the obtained pattern commences where a driving force being exerted on the molten material is adjusted such that the measured cavity pressure matches the obtained pattern for the injection cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Ethan David Stiefel, Bryler Collins, Gene Michael Altonen, Brian Matthew Burns, Brandon Michael Birchmeier
  • Patent number: 11440230
    Abstract: A method of determining melt flow front travel in a molding apparatus includes setting a sensor threshold, receiving a sensor amount as an output from a sensor monitoring a nozzle of the molding apparatus, and determining that the sensor amount exceeds the sensor threshold. The method further includes receiving a screw location, calculating a travel distance of the screw from the screw location, and calculating melt flow front travel based on the travel distance of the screw. The method further includes receiving, via an interface, an operator generated value for the desired melt flow front travel to be reached, and sending, via an interface, an analog or digital output after the operator generated value has been reached. A method of detecting a leaking condition of a check valve is also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: William Francis Lawless, III, Brandon Michael Birchmeier, Brian Matthew Burns, Gene Michael Altonen, Ethan David Stiefel, Bryler Collins
  • Publication number: 20210206041
    Abstract: A method and system for adjusting melt pressure in an injection molding material that allows calculating a melt pressure of a molten plastic material to be injected and based on the calculated melt pressure and a desired melt pressure adjusting operation of an injection molding machine. This control of an injection molding cycle using the method and system of plastic melt pressure determination allows production of parts of increased quality and consistency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Bryler Collins, Ethan David Stiefel, Herbert Kenneth Hanson, III, William Francis Lawless, III
  • Publication number: 20200078999
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include injecting a molten polymer into the mold cavity according to the injection cycle using a screw that moves from a first position to a second position. Upon completion of the injection cycle, a recovery profile commences where the screw is moved to the first position. Using a sensor, at least one variable is measured during the recovery profile. At least one operational parameter of the injection molding machine is adjusted based on the at least one measured variable during the recovery profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 12, 2020
    Inventors: Bryler Collins, Ethan David Stiefel, Brandon Michael Birchmeier
  • Publication number: 20190389112
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a first configuration and a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for a portion of an injection cycle of an injection molding machine having a second configuration and operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration to inject a molten material into the mold cavity. While operating the injection molding machine having the first configuration, the obtained pattern is used to control a portion of the injection cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Bryler Collins, Ethan David Stiefel, Gene Michael Altonen, Brandon Michael Birchmeier, Brian Matthew Burns
  • Publication number: 20190389111
    Abstract: Systems and approaches for controlling an injection molding machine having a mold forming a mold cavity and being controlled according to an injection cycle include obtaining a pattern for the injection cycle, operating the injection molding machine to inject a molten material into the mold cavity, and measuring a cavity pressure value of the mold cavity during the mold cycle. Upon measuring a nominal cavity pressure value, a pattern recognition portion of the injection cycle that is at least partially dependent on the obtained pattern commences where a driving force being exerted on the molten material is adjusted such that the measured cavity pressure matches the obtained pattern for the injection cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Ethan David Stiefel, Bryler Collins, Gene Michael Altonen, Brian Matthew Burns, Brandon Michael Birchmeier
  • Publication number: 20190308353
    Abstract: A method of determining melt flow front travel in a molding apparatus includes setting a sensor threshold, receiving a sensor amount as an output from a sensor monitoring a nozzle of the molding apparatus, and determining that the sensor amount exceeds the sensor threshold. The method further includes receiving a screw location, calculating a travel distance of the screw from the screw location, and calculating melt flow front travel based on the travel distance of the screw. The method further includes receiving, via an interface, an operator generated value for the desired melt flow front travel to be reached, and sending, via an interface, an analog or digital output after the operator generated value has been reached. A method of detecting a leaking condition of a check valve is also included.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Publication date: October 10, 2019
    Inventors: William Francis Lawless, III, Brandon Michael Birchmeier, Brian Matthew Burns, Gene Michael Altonen, Ethan David Stiefel, Bryler Collins