Machine for molding articles by injection molding or die casting

Claim 2

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, slidable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flow rate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal respresentative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; and evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said velocity sensing means comprises: a transducer for sensing the stroke of said injection ram means, and a timer.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said injection ram means comprise piston means slidable within said injection sleeve means to inject a molten metal as said molding material.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, further including: comparator means receiving said third output signal, comparing it with a nominal value representative of the maximum injection power, and generating a fourth output signal representative of percentage of actual injection power.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said evaluating means include means for displaying the third output signal.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said evaluating means includes at least one indicating means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least said calculating means are contained in process calculating means.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said process calculating means comprises also said comparator means.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said process calculating means comprises a micro-processor.

Claim 11

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, movable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flow rate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal; comparator for means receiving said third output signal, comparing it with a nominal value representative of the maximum injection power, and generating a fourth output signal representative of percentage of actual injection power; and memory means interposed between said comparator means and said evaluating means for storing the fourth output signal.

Claim 12

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, movable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flow rate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal; comparator for means receiving said third output signal, comparing it with a nominal value representative of the maximum injection power, and generating a fourth output signal representative of percentage of actual injection power; and memory means interposed between said comparator means and said evaluating means for storing the fourth output signal.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 10, further including: means for transmitting the nominal value to said comparator means; said comparator means including computing means for computing this nominal value as a projection of the mold resistance line to a line defining the maximum injection power.

Claim 14

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, movable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volummetric flowrate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal; said evaluating means including at least one indicating means; and comparator means for receiving said third output signal, comparing it with a nominal value representative of the maximum injection power, and generating a fourth output signal representative of percentage of actual injection power, said indicating means receiving said fourth output signal.

Claim 15

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, movable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volummetric flowrate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal; said evaluating means including at least one indicating means; and comparator means for receiving said third output signal, comparing it with a nominal value representative of the maximum injection power, and generating a fourth output signal representative of percentage of actual injection power, said indicating means receiving said fourth output signal.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said indicating means includes an alarm responsive to predetermined deviation of the actual injection power represented by said third signal from said nominal value.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said indicating means includes image screen means for receiving and displaying said fourth output signal.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 14, further including: character generating means for converting said fourth output signal into respective characters to be projected onto said image screen means.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 14, further including: means supplying a fifth output signal to be indicated; and selector switch means coupled to this signal supplying means and said image screen means for selectively providing an indication of said fourth and fifth output signals on said image screen means.

Claim 20

The apparatus according to claim 14, further including: means for projecting a diagram of the maximum injection power onto said image screen means.

Claim 21

The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said means for projecting a diagram includes storage means containing said diagram to provide a respective diagram signal.

Claim 22

The apparatus according to claim 17, further including: transforming means for converting said fourth output signal into a marking within said diagram.

Claim 23

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, slidable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flowrate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means including a source of fluid means, drive cylinder means receiving and guiding the piston of said injection ram means, said drive cylinder means having a first end facing said injection ram means and a second end being opposite to said first end, and conduit means interconnecting the source of fluid means and the drive cylinder means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; and evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal and including pressure modifying means arranged within said conduit means for modifying the pressure acting upon said piston in said drive cylinder means.

Claim 24

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, slidable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flowrate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means including a source of fluid means, drive cylinder means receiving and guiding the piston of said injection ram means, said drive cylinder means having a first end facing said injection ram means and a second end being opposite to said first end, and conduit means interconnecting the source of fluid means and the drive cylinder means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means and for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; and evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal and including pressure modifying means arranged within said conduit means for modifying the pressure acting upon said piston in said drive cylinder means.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said pressure modifying means comprise electromagnetic valve means connected to said first end of said drive cylinder means.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said pressure modifying means comprise electromagnetic valve means connected to said second end of said drive cylinder means.

Claim 27

The apparatus of claim 20, wherein source of fluid means is a source of fluid under pressure, said modifying means including means for varying the pressure of said fluid.

Claim 28

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means including two mold parts defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line, said mold parts being movable into contact with each other; pressure exerting means for moving and holding said mold parts in contact with each other under a desired pressure; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, slidable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flowrate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; and evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal and including means for sensing the pressure of said pressure exerting means and generating a corresponding pressure signal, comparing means for receiving said third output signal and said pressure signal and generating a control signal, and pressure modifying means responsive to said control signal for modifying either the pressure of said pressure exerting means or the pressure of said ram drive means.

Claim 29

Apparatus for molding articles from a molding material, comprising: mold means including two mold parts defining a cavity and having a predetermined characteristic to be expressed in a diagram as a mold resistance line, said mold parts being movable into contact with each other; pressure exerting means for moving and holding said mold parts in contact with each other under a desired pressure; injection sleeve means of hollow cross-section and a predetermined maximum volume connected in fluid communication with the mold cavity, said sleeve means having a supply opening for the supply of molding material to the hollow interior of said injection sleeve means for discharge under pressure into said cavity; injection ram means, including a piston, slidable axially within said hollow injection sleeve means; drive means for moving said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means, said drive means determining the shot pressure of said molding material, the volumetric flowrate of which depends upon the velocity of said injection ram means within said injection sleeve means; means for sensing the shot pressure of said drive means, and generating a first output signal representative of the differential pressure across the piston of said injection ram means; means for sensing the velocity of said injection ram means for generating a second output signal representative thereof; calculating means for receiving said first and second output signals, calculating the actual injection power of the machine as a function of the differential pressure and the volumetric flowrate of molding material into the mold cavity, and generating a third output signal representative of the actual injection power; and evaluating means for evaluating said third output signal and including means for sensing the pressure of said pressure exerting means and generating a corresponding pressure signal, comparing means for receiving said third output signal and said pressure signal and generating a control signal, and pressure modifying means responsive to said control signal for modifying either the pressure of said pressure exerting means or the pressure of said ram drive means.