公开(公告)号：US11267178B2

公开(公告)日：2022-03-08

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：US20220024098A1

公开(公告)日：2022-01-27

申请号：US17499443

申请日：2021-10-12

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Richard Lewis Montague, II ,  Rick Alan Pollard ,  Chow-Chi Huang ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Kimberly Nichole McConnell ,  Aaron Timothy Neate

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/23

Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity.

公开(公告)号：US20210170655A1

公开(公告)日：2021-06-10

申请号：US17179633

申请日：2021-02-19

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Richard Lewis Montague, II ,  Rick Alan Polland ,  Chow-Chi Huang ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Kimberly Nichole McConnell ,  Aaron Timothy Neate

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  B29C45/77 ,  B29C44/42 ,  B29C45/78 ,  B29C45/00 ,  B29C44/60 ,  B29K105/04 ,  B29K105/24 ,  B29K223/00 ,  B29K23/00 ,  B29K21/00

Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.

公开(公告)号：US10953583B2

公开(公告)日：2021-03-23

申请号：US16004849

申请日：2018-06-11

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Richard Lewis Montague, II ,  Rick Alan Pollard ,  Chow-Chi Huang ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  Kimberly Nichole McConnell ,  Aaron Timothy Neate

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  B29C44/60 ,  B29C45/00 ,  B29C44/42 ,  B29C45/78 ,  B29C45/77 ,  B29K223/00 ,  B29K21/00 ,  B29K23/00 ,  B29K105/04 ,  B29K105/24

Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.

公开(公告)号：US10899058B2

公开(公告)日：2021-01-26

申请号：US16513121

申请日：2019-07-16

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Chow-Chi Huang ,  Rick Alan Pollard ,  Gene Michael Altonen

IPC: G01L5/00 ,  B29C45/76 ,  B29C45/77 ,  G01B5/30 ,  G01N3/30 ,  B29K101/12

Abstract: Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure are directed to external sensor kits that may be included in new injection molds or retrofitted into existing injection molds in order to approximate conditions within a mold, such as pressure or the location of a melt flow front. Such kits are designed to amplify meaningful measurements obtained by the external sensor kit so that noise measurements do not prevent the approximation of conditions within a mold. In some embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, an external sensor kit includes a strain gauge sensor, a coupon, a support bracket, and a hammer. The strain gauge sensor is placed on a surface of the coupon and measures the strain in the coupon.

公开(公告)号：US10814540B2

公开(公告)日：2020-10-27

申请号：US16708628

申请日：2019-12-10

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

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

IPC: B29C45/78 ,  B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/17 ,  B29C45/27

Abstract: A hot runner injection molding apparatus, and method of use, is disclosed in which strain gauges are provided in the temperature zones of the hot runner injection molding apparatus and a hot runner controller creates a target strain profile, detects deviations from the target strain profile in any temperature zone based on the strain readings provided by the strain gauges in each temperature zone, and instructs correction of deviations from the target strain profile in any deviating temperature zone by adjusting the heat produced by a heater or heaters in the deviating temperature zone. The target strain profile may be based on a median or average of strain readings provided over time by the strain gauges in each temperature zone. A hollow installation tube for placing the strain gauges in the hot runner injection molding apparatus is also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20200108538A1

公开(公告)日：2020-04-09

申请号：US16708628

申请日：2019-12-10

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

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

IPC: B29C45/78 ,  B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/27 ,  B29C45/17

Abstract: A hot runner injection molding apparatus, and method of use, is disclosed in which strain gauges are provided in the temperature zones of the hot runner injection molding apparatus and a hot runner controller creates a target strain profile, detects deviations from the target strain profile in any temperature zone based on the strain readings provided by the strain gauges in each temperature zone, and instructs correction of deviations from the target strain profile in any deviating temperature zone by adjusting the heat produced by a heater or heaters in the deviating temperature zone. The target strain profile may be based on a median or average of strain readings provided over time by the strain gauges in each temperature zone. A hollow installation tube for placing the strain gauges in the hot runner injection molding apparatus is also disclosed.

公开(公告)号：US20190337207A1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-07

申请号：US16513121

申请日：2019-07-16

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Chow-Chi Huang ,  Rick Alan Pollard ,  Gene Michael Altonen

IPC: B29C45/76 ,  G01B5/30 ,  G01N3/30 ,  B29C45/77 ,  G01L5/00

Abstract: Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure are directed to external sensor kits that may be included in new injection molds or retrofitted into existing injection molds in order to approximate conditions within a mold, such as pressure or the location of a melt flow front. Such kits are designed to amplify meaningful measurements obtained by the external sensor kit so that noise measurements do not prevent the approximation of conditions within a mold. In some embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure, an external sensor kit includes a strain gauge sensor, a coupon, a support bracket, and a hammer. The strain gauge sensor is placed on a surface of the coupon and measures the strain in the coupon.

公开(公告)号：US10449707B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-22

申请号：US15216754

申请日：2016-07-22

Applicant: iMFLUX Inc.

Inventor： Rick Alan Pollard ,  Joshua Douglas Raker ,  Gene Michael Altonen ,  H. Kenneth Hanson, III

IPC: B29C45/77 ,  B29C45/76 ,  B29K101/12 ,  B29L31/00

Abstract: A injection molding method involves measuring, using at least one strain gauge sensor, a change in strain in a mold side of a mold cavity, approximating a pressure within the mold cavity based on the change in strain, comparing the approximated pressure to a pre-set trigger point, and if the approximated pressure equals or exceeds the pre-set trigger point, activating a virtual cavity sensor having an optimal pre-defined pressure-time curve, wherein upon activation, the virtual cavity sensor tracks approximated pressures calculated from the change in strain measurements measured by the at least one strain gauge sensor over time and compares the results of the approximated pressure tracking to the optimal pre-defined pressure-time curve.

公开(公告)号：US10444092B2

公开(公告)日：2019-10-15

申请号：US16134405

申请日：2018-09-18

Applicant: IMFLUX INC.

Inventor： Rick Alan Pollard ,  Bryan Keith Allen ,  Chow-Chi Huang ,  Gene Michael Altonen

IPC: G01L1/22 ,  B29C45/77 ,  G01L19/14 ,  B29C45/27 ,  B29C45/30 ,  G01L1/04 ,  B29C45/16

Abstract: A strain gauge nozzle adapter that may be placed between a barrel end cap and a nozzle body of an injection molding system, the strain gauge nozzle adapter having a strain gauge pin that measures strain within the strain gauge nozzle adapter for use in approximating conditions within an injection molding system, such as pressure or the location of a melt flow front. The strain gauge nozzle adapter may include a plurality of strain gauge pins. An alternative material insert in the strain gauge nozzle adapter may surround a strain gauge pin to amplify meaningful measurements obtained by the strain gauge pin so that noise measurements do not compromise the accuracy of approximation of conditions within a mold.