Abstract: A plastic molding method comprises moving each part of a plurality of parts along a selected one of a plurality of possible paths through dispensing and molding stations of a molding system. A controller tracks an operating state of each station, selects process stations capable of receiving a part for processing; identifies parts capable of processing at the selected process stations, and assigns individual parts to individual process stations.

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.