公开(公告)号：US09475211B2

公开(公告)日：2016-10-25

申请号：US13774571

申请日：2013-02-22

Applicant: IMFLUX INC

Inventor： Gene Michael Altonen ,  Ralph Edwin Neufarth ,  John Boyet Stevens ,  Robert Lawrence Prosise ,  James Edward Poland ,  John Moncrief Layman ,  Danny David Lumpkin

IPC: B29C45/73 ,  B29C33/02 ,  B29C45/78 ,  B29C45/23 ,  B29C45/50 ,  B29C45/40

CPC classification number: B29C33/02 ,  B29C45/23 ,  B29C45/4005 ,  B29C45/5008 ,  B29C45/73 ,  B29C45/7312 ,  B29C45/78

Abstract: An injection mold assembly for a high output consumer product injection molding machine, the injection mold assembly having a simplified cooling system. The simplified cooling system has a cooling complexity factor of less than three, preferably less than two, more preferably less than one.

公开(公告)号：US09321206B2

公开(公告)日：2016-04-26

申请号：US14659509

申请日：2015-03-16

Applicant: iMFLUX Inc.

Inventor： Gene Michael Altonen ,  Kimberly Nichole McConnell ,  Vincent Sean Breidenbach ,  Milko Georgiev Gergov

IPC: B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/76 ,  B29L31/00

CPC classification number: B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/7646 ,  B29C2945/76006 ,  B29C2945/76066 ,  B29C2945/76257 ,  B29C2945/76381 ,  B29C2945/76538 ,  B29C2945/76936 ,  B29L2031/00

Abstract: A method and a machine that account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. If viscosity of the molten plastic material changes during an injection run, a controller alters an injection pressure to ensure that molten plastic material fills a mold cavity within a correct amount of time to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.

公开(公告)号：US12097648B2

公开(公告)日：2024-09-24

申请号：US18214817

申请日：2023-06-27

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： William Francis Lawless, III ,  H. Kenneth Hanson, III ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Chow-Chi Huang

IPC: B29C45/17

CPC classification number: B29C45/1732 ,  B29C45/1704 ,  B29C45/174 ,  B29C2045/1728 ,  B29C2945/76006 ,  B29C2945/76083 ,  B29C2945/7611 ,  B29C2945/76137 ,  B29C2945/76498 ,  B29C2945/76779 ,  B29C2945/76812 ,  B29C2945/76859 ,  B29C2945/76933

Abstract: A controller for an injection molding system is in communication with a melt flow control unit, a gas assist control unit, and a gas counter pressure control unit. The controller can effect real-time adjustments to gas assist pressure and/or gas counter pressure as a function of melt pressure or flow front position.

公开(公告)号：US11718003B2

公开(公告)日：2023-08-08

申请号：US16386523

申请日：2019-04-17

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： William Francis Lawless, III ,  H. Kenneth Hanson, III ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Chow-Chi Huang

IPC: B29C45/17

CPC classification number: B29C45/1732 ,  B29C45/1704 ,  B29C45/174 ,  B29C2045/1728 ,  B29C2945/76006 ,  B29C2945/7611 ,  B29C2945/76083 ,  B29C2945/76137 ,  B29C2945/76498 ,  B29C2945/76779 ,  B29C2945/76812 ,  B29C2945/76859 ,  B29C2945/76933

Abstract: A controller for an injection molding system is in communication with a melt flow control unit, a gas assist control unit, and a gas counter pressure control unit. The controller can effect real-time adjustments to gas assist pressure and/or gas counter pressure as a function of melt pressure or flow front position.

公开(公告)号：US11618197B2

公开(公告)日：2023-04-04

申请号：US17194807

申请日：2021-03-08

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： William Francis Lawless, III ,  Rick Alan Pollard ,  Chow-Chi Huang ,  Gene Michael Altonen

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  G05B19/042 ,  B29K101/12

Abstract: A method of monitoring and controlling a molding clamping apparatus in an injection molding or other molding process is disclosed. The method includes creating a target strain profile, receiving a deviation limit, receiving a change in strain relating to a mold while it is closing from a first strain gauge, identifying a deviation from a target strain profile based on the output from the first strain gauge, determining that the deviation exceeds the deviation limit, and adjusting the rate or force of clamp movement. The target strain profile may have a first portion relating to a clamp closing process, a second portion relating to a filling process, and a third portion relating to a clamp opening process. The first portion relating to the clamp closing process may include an intermediate portion relating to a coining process having an intermediate clamp force setpoint.

公开(公告)号：US11241813B2

公开(公告)日：2022-02-08

申请号：US16123186

申请日：2018-09-06

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Gene Michael Altonen ,  Brian Matthew Burns

IPC: B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/78 ,  B29C45/76

Abstract: In order to reduce oscillations in process variables of an injection molding process, a variable-gain proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller is utilized to control one or more of the process variables. The injection molding system may also include a tuning controller to automatically tune at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains within a mold cycle. The tuning controller may obtain sensor data that monitors the operation of the injection molding machine to determine an adjustment to at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains. The tuning controller may adjust the gains of the variable-gain PID controller in accordance with the determined adjustment to the at least one of the proportional, integral, or derivative gains.

公开(公告)号：US20210308923A1

公开(公告)日：2021-10-07

申请号：US17349161

申请日：2021-06-16

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Nicholas Mulkern Unkovic ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Daniel David Lumpkin ,  William Francis Lawless, III ,  H. Kenneth Hanson, III ,  Chow-Chi Huang

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  B29C45/40 ,  B29C45/78

Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal ejection time of a part from a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. The part is ready to be ejected from the mold upon the measured variable reaching a threshold value indicative of, for example, a part temperature dropping below an activation temperature.

公开(公告)号：US20200368951A1

公开(公告)日：2020-11-26

申请号：US16854598

申请日：2020-04-21

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Milko Gergov ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Herbert Kenneth Hanson, III ,  William Francis Lawless, III

IPC: B29C45/18 ,  B29C45/76

Abstract: An additive injection system for use in injection molding machines to inject additive materials, such as fluids or powders, downstream of a nozzle of the injection molding machine. The additive injection unit has an additive tank to store or contain additive material and additive injectors that inject an additive material into an injection molding machine. A pump pumps the additive material from the tank through a common manifold connected to the additive injectors to be injected into the injection molding machine. A controller controls operation of the additive injection device and one or more sensors coupled to the additive injection device can provide feedback to the controller.

公开(公告)号：US20200078998A1

公开(公告)日：2020-03-12

申请号：US16562592

申请日：2019-09-06

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： William Francis Lawless, III ,  Gene Michael Altonen

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  B29C45/77

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 extruding a molten polymer according to an extrusion profile and measuring at least one variable during the extrusion profile with a first sensor. At least one extrusion operational parameter is adjusted based on the measured variable. The extrusion profile is terminated upon the molten polymer exceeding a first threshold, and the molten polymer is injected into the mold cavity according to an injection profile via a screw that moves from a first position to a second position. Upon completion of the injection profile, a recovery profile commences in which the screw is moved to the first position.

公开(公告)号：US10525626B2

公开(公告)日：2020-01-07

申请号：US15616133

申请日：2017-06-07

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： William Francis Lawless, III ,  Rick Alan Pollard ,  Brian Matthew Burns ,  Gene Michael Altonen

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  G11C7/00

Abstract: Methods of monitoring and controlling a molding process using a sensed change in strain provided by a strain gauge are provided. A target strain profile is created for a molding process of a molding apparatus. An upper and lower deviation limit from the target strain profile for the molding process is provided. If a sensed change in strain exceeds a deviation limit, an alarm is activated.