Abstract: According to embodiments, there is provided a method (300) of controlling a first melt accumulator (121). The first melt accumulator (121) is part of an injection unit (100), the injection unit (100) including an extruder (102) for preparing molding material and a second melt accumulator (123). The first melt accumulator (121) and the second melt accumulator (123) are configured to sequentially receive molding material from the extruder (102). The extruder (102) is being operable to produce molding material in at least near continuous manner, both the first melt accumulator (121) and the second melt accumulator (123) being associated with a respective shot size set-point. The method comprises detecting (310) an indication of an out-of-boundary condition associated with operation the first melt accumulator (121); responsive to said detecting (310), controlling (320) the first melt accumulator (121) to continue accepting molding material beyond its respective shot size set-point.

Abstract: According to embodiments, there is provided a method (300) of controlling a first melt accumulator (121). The first melt accumulator (121) is part of an injection unit (100), the injection unit (100) including an extruder (102) for preparing molding material and a second melt accumulator (123). The first melt accumulator (121) and the second melt accumulator (123) are configured to sequentially receive molding material from the extruder (102). The extruder (102) is being operable to produce molding material in at least near continuous manner, both the first melt accumulator (121) and the second melt accumulator (123) being associated with a respective shot size set-point. The method comprises detecting (310) an indication of an out-of-boundary condition associated with operation the first melt accumulator (121); responsive to said detecting (310), controlling (320) the first melt accumulator (121) to continue accepting molding material beyond its respective shot size set-point.

Abstract: A method (300) is provided for controlling an injection unit (100) having a first sub-assembly and a second sub-assembly, first and second sub-assemblies being functionally identical units. The method (300) includes the steps of appreciating an operational parameter for each of the first and second sub-assemblies, appreciating a target set point (146) associated with operating each of the first and second sub-assemblies, and when the operational parameter for at least one of the first and second sub-assemblies differs from the target set point (146), adjusting the operation of the at least one sub-assembly towards the target set point (146) by a control action. The adaptive control regulator (148) is operable to modify the control law of one of the first and second sub-assemblies so that the first and second sub-assemblies have substantially equal performance.

Abstract: A method (300, 400) of controlling a melt preparation device (102, 110) is provided. The melt preparation device (102, 110) is located upstream from a melt accumulator (122), the melt accumulator (122) and the melt preparation device (102, 110) being part of an injection unit (100) for preparing and injecting molding material and being associated with a target cycle time. The method (300, 400) comprises appreciating (310, 410) an operational parameter associated with the melt accumulator (122); appreciating (320, 420) a target performance indicator associated with operation of the injection unit (100); based on a comparison of the operational parameter to the target performance indicator, generating (330, 430) a control signal for controlling operation of the melt preparation device (102, 110), such that the melt preparation device (102, 110) prepares molding material in an amount sufficient to transfer to the melt accumulator (122) within an allocated portion of the target molding cycle time.