Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding (Rapra Review Reports)

Report 133

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding J.M. Mallon, IV

Volume 12, Number 1, 2001

RAPRA REVIEW REPORTS A Rapra Review Report comprises three sections, as follows: 1. A commissioned expert review, discussing a key topic of current interest, and referring to the References and Abstracts section. Reference numbers in brackets refer to item numbers from the References and Abstracts section. Where it has been necessary for completeness to cite sources outside the scope of the Rapra Abstracts database, these are listed at the end of the review, and cited in the text as a.1, a.2, etc. 2. A comprehensive References and Abstracts section, resulting from a search of the Rapra Abstracts database. The format of the abstracts is outlined in the sample record below. 3. An index to the References and Abstracts section, derived from the indexing terms which are added to the abstracts records on the database to aid retrieval.

Source of original article Title

Item 1 Macromolecules

33, No.6, 21st March 2000, p.2171-83 EFFECT OF THERMAL HISTORY ON THE RHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANES Pil Joong Yoon; Chang Dae Han Akron,University The effect of thermal history on the rheological behaviour of ester- and ether-based commercial thermoplastic PUs (Estane 5701, 5707 and 5714 from B.F.Goodrich) was investigated. It was found that the injection moulding temp. used for specimen preparation had a marked effect on the variations of dynamic storage and loss moduli of specimens with time observed during isothermal annealing. Analysis of FTIR spectra indicated that variations in hydrogen bonding with time during isothermal annealing very much resembled variations of dynamic storage modulus with time during isothermal annealing. Isochronal dynamic temp. sweep experiments indicated that the thermoplastic PUs exhibited a hysteresis effect in the heating and cooling processes. It was concluded that the microphase separation transition or order-disorder transition in thermoplastic PUs could not be determined from the isochronal dynamic temp. sweep experiment. The plots of log dynamic storage modulus versus log loss modulus varied with temp. over the entire range of temps. (110-190C) investigated. 57 refs.

Location

GOODRICH B.F. USA

Authors and affiliation

Abstract

Companies or organisations mentioned

Accession no.771897

DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICE Almost all of the documents which are listed in the References and Abstracts section are available in full text form, as photocopies or pdf files from Rapra Technology Ltd’s Document Delivery Service. Documents can be delivered by a variety of methods, including email, post or fax. Customers may pay for individual copies at the time of ordering by credit card or alternatively open up a deposit account. Please contact the Document Delivery Department for availability, current prices and delivery methods. Document Delivery Department Rapra Technology Limited, Shawbury, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY4 4NR, United Kingdom Telephone: +44 (0)1939 250383 Fax: +44 (0)1939 251118 Email: [email protected]

Previous Titles Still Available Volume 1

Volume 4

Report 3

Advanced Composites, D.K. Thomas, RAE, Farnborough.

Report 37

Report 4

Liquid Crystal Polymers, M.K. Cox, ICI, Wilton.

Polymers in Aerospace Applications, W.W. Wright, University of Surrey.

Report 5

CAD/CAM in the Polymer Industry, N.W. Sandland and M.J. Sebborn, Cambridge Applied Technology.

Report 39

Polymers in Chemically Resistant Applications, D. Cattell, Cattell Consultancy Services.

Report 8

Engineering Thermoplastics, I.T. Barrie, Consultant.

Report 41

Failure of Plastics, S. Turner, Queen Mary College.

Report 11

Communications Applications of Polymers, R. Spratling, British Telecom.

Report 42

Polycarbonates, R. Pakull, U. Grigo, D. Freitag, Bayer AG.

Report 12

Process Control in the Plastics Industry, R.F. Evans, Engelmann & Buckham Ancillaries.

Report 43

Polymeric Materials from Renewable Resources, J.M. Methven, UMIST.

Report 44

Flammability and Flame Retardants in Plastics, J. Green, FMC Corp.

Volume 2 Report 13

Injection Moulding of Engineering Thermoplastics, A.F. Whelan, London School of Polymer Technology.

Report 45

Composites - Tooling and Component Processing, N.G. Brain, Tooltex.

Report 14

Polymers and Their Uses in the Sports and Leisure Industries, A.L. Cox and R.P. Brown, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 46

Quality Today in Polymer Processing, S.H. Coulson, J.A. Cousans, Exxon Chemical International Marketing.

Report 47

Report 15

Polyurethane, Materials, Processing and Applications, G. Woods, Consultant.

Chemical Analysis of Polymers, G. Lawson, Leicester Polytechnic.

Report 16

Polyetheretherketone, D.J. Kemmish, ICI, Wilton.

Report 17

Extrusion, G.M. Gale, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 49

Report 18

Agricultural and Horticultural Applications of Polymers, J.C. Garnaud, International Committee for Plastics in Agriculture.

Blends and Alloys of Engineering Thermoplastics, H.T. van de Grampel, General Electric Plastics BV.

Report 50

Report 19

Recycling and Disposal of Plastics Packaging, R.C. Fox, Plas/Tech Ltd.

Automotive Applications of Polymers II, A.N.A. Elliott, Consultant.

Report 51

Report 20

Pultrusion, L. Hollaway, University of Surrey.

Biomedical Applications of Polymers, C.G. Gebelein, Youngstown State University / Florida Atlantic University.

Report 21

Materials Handling in the Polymer Industry, H. Hardy, Chronos Richardson Ltd.

Report 52

Polymer Supported Chemical Reactions, P. Hodge, University of Manchester.

Report 22

Electronics Applications of Polymers, M.T.Goosey, Plessey Research (Caswell) Ltd.

Report 53

Weathering of Polymers, S.M. Halliwell, Building Research Establishment.

Report 23

Offshore Applications of Polymers, J.W.Brockbank, Avon Industrial Polymers Ltd.

Report 54

Health and Safety in the Rubber Industry, A.R. Nutt, Arnold Nutt & Co. and J. Wade.

Report 24

Recent Developments in Materials for Food Packaging, R.A. Roberts, Pira Packaging Division.

Report 55

Computer Modelling of Polymer Processing, E. Andreassen, Å. Larsen and E.L. Hinrichsen, Senter for Industriforskning, Norway.

Volume 3

Report 56

Plastics in High Temperature Applications, J. Maxwell, Consultant.

Report 25

Report 57

Joining of Plastics, K.W. Allen, City University.

Report 58

Physical Testing of Rubber, R.P. Brown, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 59

Polyimides - Materials, Processing and Applications, A.J. Kirby, Du Pont (U.K.) Ltd. Physical Testing of Thermoplastics, S.W. Hawley, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Foams and Blowing Agents, J.M. Methven, Cellcom Technology Associates.

Volume 5

Report 26

Polymers and Structural Composites in Civil Engineering, L. Hollaway, University of Surrey.

Report 27

Injection Moulding of Rubber, M.A. Wheelans, Consultant.

Report 28

Adhesives for Structural and Engineering Applications, C. O’Reilly, Loctite (Ireland) Ltd.

Report 60

Report 29

Polymers in Marine Applications, C.F.Britton, Corrosion Monitoring Consultancy.

Volume 6

Report 30

Non-destructive Testing of Polymers, W.N. Reynolds, National NDT Centre, Harwell.

Report 61

Food Contact Polymeric Materials, J.A. Sidwell, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 31

Silicone Rubbers, B.R. Trego and H.W.Winnan, Dow Corning Ltd.

Report 62

Coextrusion, D. Djordjevic, Klöckner ER-WE-PA GmbH.

Report 63

Conductive Polymers II, R.H. Friend, University of Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory.

Report 64

Designing with Plastics, P.R. Lewis, The Open University. Decorating and Coating of Plastics, P.J. Robinson, International Automotive Design.

Report 32

Fluoroelastomers - Properties and Applications, D. Cook and M. Lynn, 3M United Kingdom Plc and 3M Belgium SA.

Report 33

Polyamides, R.S. Williams and T. Daniels, T & N Technology Ltd. and BIP Chemicals Ltd.

Report 65

Report 34

Extrusion of Rubber, J.G.A. Lovegrove, Nova Petrochemicals Inc.

Report 66

Report 35

Polymers in Household Electrical Goods, D.Alvey, Hotpoint Ltd.

Reinforced Thermoplastics - Composition, Processing and Applications, P.G. Kelleher, New Jersey Polymer Extension Center at Stevens Institute of Technology.

Report 67

Report 36

Developments in Additives to Meet Health and Environmental Concerns, M.J. Forrest, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Plastics in Thermal and Acoustic Building Insulation, V.L. Kefford, MRM Engineering Consultancy.

Report 68

Cure Assessment by Physical and Chemical Techniques, B.G. Willoughby, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 69

Toxicity of Plastics and Rubber in Fire, P.J. Fardell, Building Research Establishment, Fire Research Station.

Report 70

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Polymers, M.E. Adams, D.J. Buckley, R.E. Colborn, W.P. England and D.N. Schissel, General Electric Corporate Research and Development Center.

Report 71

Rotational Moulding, R.J. Crawford, The Queen’s University of Belfast.

Report 72

Advances in Injection Moulding, C.A. Maier, Econology Ltd.

Report 94

Compressive Behaviour of Composites, C. Soutis, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine.

Report 95

Thermal Analysis of Polymers, M. P. Sepe, Dickten & Masch Manufacturing Co.

Report 96

Polymeric Seals and Sealing Technology, J.A. Hickman, St Clair (Polymers) Ltd.

Volume 9 Report 97

Rubber Compounding Ingredients - Need, Theory and Innovation, Part II: Processing, Bonding, Fire Retardants, C. Hepburn, University of Ulster.

Report 98

Advances in Biodegradable Polymers, G.F. Moore & S.M. Saunders, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 99

Recycling of Rubber, H.J. Manuel and W. Dierkes, Vredestein Rubber Recycling B.V.

Volume 7 Report 73

Reactive Processing of Polymers, M.W.R. Brown, P.D. Coates and A.F. Johnson, IRC in Polymer Science and Technology, University of Bradford.

Report 74

Speciality Rubbers, J.A. Brydson.

Report 75

Plastics and the Environment, I. Boustead, Boustead Consulting Ltd.

Report 100 Photoinitiated Polymerisation - Theory and Applications, J.P. Fouassier, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Mulhouse.

Report 76

Polymeric Precursors for Ceramic Materials, R.C.P. Cubbon.

Report 101 Solvent-Free Adhesives, T.E. Rolando, H.B. Fuller Company.

Report 77

Advances in Tyre Mechanics, R.A. Ridha, M. Theves, Goodyear Technical Center.

Report 102 Plastics in Pressure Pipes, T. Stafford, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 78

PVC - Compounds, Processing and Applications, J.Leadbitter, J.A. Day, J.L. Ryan, Hydro Polymers Ltd.

Report 103

Report 79

Rubber Compounding Ingredients - Need, Theory and Innovation, Part I: Vulcanising Systems, Antidegradants and Particulate Fillers for General Purpose Rubbers, C. Hepburn, University of Ulster.

Report 80

Anti-Corrosion Polymers: PEEK, PEKK and Other Polyaryls, G. Pritchard, Kingston University.

Report 81

Thermoplastic Elastomers - Properties and Applications, J.A. Brydson.

Report 82

Advances in Blow Moulding Process Optimization, Andres Garcia-Rejon,Industrial Materials Institute, National Research Council Canada.

Report 83

Molecular Weight Characterisation of Synthetic Polymers, S.R. Holding and E. Meehan, Rapra Technology Ltd. and Polymer Laboratories Ltd.

Report 84

Rheology and its Role in Plastics Processing, P. Prentice, The Nottingham Trent University.

Gas Assisted Moulding, T.C. Pearson, Gas Injection Ltd.

Report 104 Plastics Profile Extrusion, R.J. Kent, Tangram Technology Ltd. Report 105 Rubber Extrusion Theory and Development, B.G. Crowther. Report 106 Properties and Applications of Elastomeric Polysulfides, T.C.P. Lee, Oxford Brookes University. Report 107 High Performance Polymer Fibres, P.R. Lewis, The Open University. Report 108 Chemical Characterisation of Polyurethanes, M.J. Forrest, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Volume 10 Report 109 Rubber Injection Moulding - A Practical Guide, J.A. Lindsay. Report 110 Long-Term and Accelerated Ageing Tests on Rubbers, R.P. Brown, M.J. Forrest and G. Soulagnet, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Volume 8

Report 111

Polymer Product Failure, P.R. Lewis, The Open University.

Report 85

Ring Opening Polymerisation, N. Spassky, Université Pierre et Marie Curie.

Report 112 Polystyrene - Synthesis, Production and Applications, J.R. Wünsch, BASF AG.

Report 86

High Performance Engineering Plastics, D.J. Kemmish, Victrex Ltd.

Report 113 Rubber-Modified Thermoplastics, H. Keskkula, University of Texas at Austin.

Report 87

Rubber to Metal Bonding, B.G. Crowther, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 114 Developments in Polyacetylene - Nanopolyacetylene, V.M. Kobryanskii, Russian Academy of Sciences.

Report 88

Plasticisers - Selection, Applications and Implications, A.S. Wilson.

Report 115 Metallocene-Catalysed Polymerisation, W. Kaminsky, University of Hamburg.

Report 89

Polymer Membranes - Materials, Structures and Separation Performance, T. deV. Naylor, The Smart Chemical Company.

Report 116 Compounding in Co-rotating Twin-Screw Extruders, Y. Wang, Tunghai University.

Report 90

Rubber Mixing, P.R. Wood.

Report 117 Rapid Prototyping, Tooling and Manufacturing, R.J.M. Hague and P.E. Reeves, Edward Mackenzie Consulting.

Report 91

Recent Developments in Epoxy Resins, I. Hamerton, University of Surrey.

Report 118 Liquid Crystal Polymers - Synthesis, Properties and Applications, D. Coates, CRL Ltd.

Report 92

Continuous Vulcanisation of Elastomer Profiles, A. Hill, Meteor Gummiwerke.

Report 119 Rubbers in Contact with Food, M.J. Forrest and J.A. Sidwell, Rapra Technology Ltd.

Report 93

Advances in Thermoforming, J.L. Throne, Sherwood Technologies Inc.

Report 120 Electronics Applications of Polymers II, M.T. Goosey, Shipley Ronal.

Volume 11 Report 121 Polyamides as Engineering Thermoplastic Materials, I.B. Page, BIP Ltd. Report 122 Flexible Packaging - Adhesives, Coatings and Processes, T.E. Rolando, H.B. Fuller Company. Report 123 Polymer Blends, L.A. Utracki, National Research Council Canada. Report 124 Sorting of Waste Plastics for Recycling, R.D. Pascoe, University of Exeter. Report 125 Structural Studies of Polymers by Solution NMR, H.N. Cheng, Hercules Incorporated. Report 126 Composites for Automotive Applications, C.D. Rudd, University of Nottingham. Report 127 Polymers in Medical Applications, B.J. Lambert and F.-W. Tang, Guidant Corp., and W.J. Rogers, Consultant. Report 128 Solid State NMR of Polymers, P.A. Mirau, Lucent Technologies. Report 129 Failure of Polymer Products Due to Photo-oxidation, D.C. Wright. Report 130 Failure of Polymer Products Due to Chemical Attack, D.C. Wright. Report 131 Failure of Polymer Products Due to Thermo-oxidation, D.C. Wright. Report 132 Stabilisers for Polyolefins, C. Kröhnke and F. Werner, Clariant Huningue SA.

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding J.M. Mallon, IV (Yushin America, Inc.)

ISBN: 1-85957-283-9

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Contents 1.

2.

3.

4.

Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3 1.1

The Purpose of the Review ............................................................................................................. 3

1.2

How Automation is Defined ........................................................................................................... 3

1.3

Why Automate? .............................................................................................................................. 3

1.4

Other Forces Driving Automation .................................................................................................. 3

1.5

Phases of Automation ..................................................................................................................... 4

Robots ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 2.1

History of Robots in Plastics Injection Moulding .......................................................................... 5

2.2

Robots and Flexibility ..................................................................................................................... 5

2.3

Robot Configurations ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.3.1 Sprue Pickers ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.3.2 Top-Entry, Traverse-Type Robots ...................................................................................... 6 2.3.3 Side-Entry, Linear-Drive Robots ........................................................................................ 7 2.3.4 Articulated Robots .............................................................................................................. 7 2.3.5 Combination Cells .............................................................................................................. 7

Advances in Drives and Controls ........................................................................................................... 7 3.1

Drives .............................................................................................................................................. 3.1.1 Pneumatic Drives ............................................................................................................... 3.1.2 Electric Drives .................................................................................................................... 3.1.3 Combination Drives ...........................................................................................................

7 7 8 8

3.2

Controls ........................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2.1 Operator Interface ............................................................................................................... 8 3.2.2 Sequence Programmability .............................................................................................. 10 3.2.3 Expandability .....................................................................................................................11 3.2.4 Communications and Controller Integration .....................................................................11

Integration of Automation Systems for Phase III and IV ...................................................................11 4.1

Expected Benefits of Phase III and IV ......................................................................................... 12

4.2

Actual Operating Results .............................................................................................................. 12

4.3

Requirements for Phase III and IV Integration ............................................................................ 13

4.4

Standards for Higher Levels of Integration .................................................................................. 14

4.5

Implementation of Phase III and IV Automation ......................................................................... 14

4.6

Equipment Differences for Phase IV Integration ......................................................................... 16 4.6.1 Plant Material Quick-Change Systems ............................................................................ 17 4.6.2 Press Material Quick-Change Systems ............................................................................ 17 4.6.3 Mould Quick-Change Systems ......................................................................................... 17 4.6.4 Equipment Required to Unload the Mould ...................................................................... 17 4.6.5 Flexible Value-Added Systems ........................................................................................ 17 4.6.6 Parts Transport Systems ................................................................................................... 18

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

4.6.7 4.6.8 4.7 5.

6.

Automated Stockyards and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems .......................... 19 Logistics and Coordination .............................................................................................. 19

Design Criteria for Higher Levels of Automation ........................................................................ 20

Example Applications ............................................................................................................................ 21 5.1

Small Machines ............................................................................................................................. 21

5.2

Cells that Extend Production Hours Without Labour ................................................................... 21

5.3

Automated Packaging with Manual Value-Added Operations ..................................................... 21

5.4

Product or Contract Specific Cells ............................................................................................... 22

5.5

Group Technology ........................................................................................................................ 22 5.5.1 In-Mould Decorating ........................................................................................................ 22 5.5.2 Insert Moulding ................................................................................................................ 22 5.5.3 Two-Component Moulding .............................................................................................. 22

5.6

Quality Control Automation ......................................................................................................... 23

5.7

Thermoset Cells ............................................................................................................................ 23

5.8

Examples of FMS ......................................................................................................................... 24

Future Developments ............................................................................................................................. 24

Additional References ................................................................................................................................... 25 References from the Rapra Abstracts Database ........................................................................................ 27 Subject Index ................................................................................................................................................. 77

The views and opinions expressed by authors in Rapra Review Reports do not necessarily reflect those of Rapra Technology Limited or the editor. The series is published on the basis that no responsibility or liability of any nature shall attach to Rapra Technology Limited arising out of or in connection with any utilisation in any form of any material contained therein.

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

1 Introduction 1.1 The Purpose of the Review There are few complete technical sources of information available for plastic injection moulders to use relating to automation. However, there have been articles written on various components of the technology. This review has been compiled by researching and analysing technical references, then placing them into a logical order. The overview is not an attempt to describe robot design theory and engineering, which can be found in engineering publications. It is intended to describe the basics of the technology and to explain how to put the technology to use.

1.2 How Automation is Defined For the scope of the review, automation is defined as those operations associated with handling the plastic parts after moulding. It includes operations commencing when the mould opens and concluding at the shipping dock. Operations such as the use of quick mould change devices are discussed only in a context where they must be specified properly to integrate into the overall automation strategy.

1.3 Why Automate? Automation serves one main purpose: to generate cost savings. Most moulding facilities have made moulding upstream processes, such as resin material handling, automatic. The injection moulding process itself is highly automated. However, once the mould opens, many plants use direct and indirect labour to add value, to package, and to move parts. As so many moulders have optimised the upstream processes, the postmoulding operations remain the biggest area for cost saving potential. Additional savings can be generated depending on the applications run in each cell. Converting a semiautomatic cycle to a fully automatic cycle can increase production. More consistent cycles reduce process variability and increase the quality and yield of good parts. The quality levels now demanded by end users cannot be produced with semi-automatic operation of moulding machines, and 100% manual inspection to find defects is becoming too expensive. Mould damage is reduced by the robot monitoring

sensors that detect part removal from the mould. Controlled part handling reduces damage to parts. Reduced floor space and reduced work in process can be substantial.

1.4 Other Forces Driving Automation Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are asking moulders to add more value to parts. They will have to add value at costs competitive to low-wage countries. In addition, many moulders are being asked to lower costs over the life of a moulding contract. Direct and indirect labour required to add value or transport parts could be eliminated through the use of automation. Capital that was previously used to add more moulding capacity is now being redirected to post-moulding operations and increasing utilisation of existing capacity. It will be difficult to make profits if a company is only moulding and shipping parts. Modern press controllers have made producing quality parts easier. Increased profits will depend on value-added operations and the efficiency of these operations as compared to competitors. Automation is the only way to compete. Quality must be automatically checked and recorded to achieve the quality levels now expected. Manual systems are error prone in comparison to a programmed automation system, which is more accurate and can check its work. It may also be difficult to find personnel due to a labour shortage in many countries and jobs are sometimes less than desirable. Moulders will need to use technology and automation to achieve quality and low-cost goals. The automation will need to be flexible to adapt to shorter product life cycles, shorter runs and quicker product introductions. As moulders increasingly use automation, competition for new work will depend on the ability to compete and bid for jobs cost effectively. Being efficient and keeping up with competitive levels of automation will mean survival in the future. Automation will become critical to an OEMs perception of a moulder’s efficiency level. Advanced levels of automation require greater sophistication from the moulder, which will help distinguish them and secure new business.

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

1.5 Phases of Automation Robot implementation typically occurs in four phases in moulding plants: Phase I: Pick-and-Place. Robots are added to moulding machines to perform what is essentially a pick-and-place function. Parts are removed from the press and placed onto a downstream device such as a conveyor or table. The moulding cycle goes from semi-automatic to full automatic operation. Often no labour is saved, or one operator is shared between two presses saving one-half of an operator per machine. The production increases by a minimum of 15% due to the elimination of the operator who would normally interrupt the cycle to remove parts. Phase II: Value-Added Production. Robots begin adding slightly more value to parts with secondary operations such as decorating, palletising, degating or flexing hinges. Usually one-half to one operator is eliminated. Phase III: Cell Manufacturing. The robots are performing multiple operations beside the press to add as much value as the cycle will allow. A work cell consists of two or more integrated devices that perform multiple, closely related operations next to the injection

moulding machine. Parts are processed, inspected, and packaged for transport in the work cell. From one-half to two operators are eliminated based on how much work the cell can do. Phase IV: Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) (Figure 1). FMS can be defined in plastics moulding as a central computer directing the automatic manufacturing of products, automatically transporting the products, automatically storing the products and automatically performing changeovers. Short runs are easily accommodated. The moulding shop floor runs in a truly automatic (lights out) operation. Cells are retooled quickly by reprogramming flexible elements. Minimum jobspecific automation is used because the automation must be easily adaptable. Both direct and indirect labour is saved. Quality is automatically monitored and corrected. Reference (296) details the use of FMS in Japan. With the exception of small parts that can be shipped in bulk, this last phase remains elusive for moulders because of the degree of technology and investment required. In 10 years, Phase IV will be common in large companies. Smaller moulders will need to automate up to Phase III, but may have difficulty automating further because of the large investment and engineering support required.

Figure 1 An example of a flexible manufacturing system

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

2 Robots At the centre of most moulding automation cells is a robot. Robots are multifunctional, reprogrammable, material-handling devices. The robot removes parts and transfers them through a series of secondary operations. Parts that can fall free from the machine undamaged and can be bulk-packaged without using any valueadded operations, do not require robots.

2.1 History of Robots in Plastics Injection Moulding Several articles referenced below chronicle the advances of robot technology for plastics injection moulding. The traverse-type robots and sprue pickers that were designed specifically for plastics processing were first used in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Japan, driven by labour shortages, mould design, and requirements to pick-and-place parts without many value-added operations, began using the technology extensively in the 1970s. Early robots were pneumatic-type devices controlled by simple hard-wired electrical circuits. Sequence steps were initiated by timers or limit switches at the end strokes of each axis. The robots were only reprogrammable by activating selector switches or rewiring the controllers (272). The robots were used primarily to convert a semi-automatic cycle to a fully automatic cycle or to reduce damage caused by gravity part ejection (298, 300). Early robot installations were sometimes less than successful, as the moulding machines, auxiliaries, materials or moulds they ran on were not consistent or reliable (299). Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) or microprocessors replaced hard-wired controllers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Robots became commonplace in the United States and Europe replacing operators removing parts from the moulding machine (300, 301). Electric drives became more widely used in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The long traverse axis was the first to be converted to electric drive due to the difficulty in obtaining and using very long pneumatic cylinders. The traverse axis also quickly benefited from electric drives to multiposition parts outside the press. The first electric drives relied on limit switches and breaks for control and positioning. There is a rapid transformation going on presently in the plastics industry to electric drives. The preferred method for axis drives uses servo motors for flexibility,

and the cost of the technology has lowered. Servo motors with encoders are very efficient, highly repeatable and capable of positioning anywhere along the physical axis limits. With servo drives came considerably more advanced controllers. The controllers initially used computer numerically controlled (CNC) languages, but then converted to robot languages that are easier to use. Some advanced controllers allow graphic programming or programming by leading the robot through a sequence and having the robot play it back in auto (a.1). The moulding machine control technology evolved to support unmanned operation of a moulding cell. Process controllers could mould precisely and repeatedly, detect defective parts, and signal the robot to separate them. This is a major step to unattended running. Moulding machine manufacturers also developed technology to change moulds, to purge or change barrels and to restart production. The equipment costs were becoming economically feasible to deploy automation (290). Computer power, software and connectivity also developed during the mid-1980s to allow large-scale integration of unmanned cells and FMS. Auxiliary devices such as material handling and water temperature control devices evolved to be precise and consistent enough to allow automation in the mid-1980s (288, 293). By the mid- to late 1980s, all of the necessary technologies were developed, were economically feasible, and were within view of many manufacturers. Plants with proprietary products had achieved high levels of unmanned operation. Truly flexible, unmanned operation for custom moulders and shortrun, just-in-time (JIT) moulders is now available.

2.2 Robots and Flexibility A robot is used to transfer parts once moulded through other operations. It is the main link to cellular manufacturing. The robot’s flexibility is based on the number and type of axis motions, the size of the work envelope, the axisdrive method, the payload, the speed, the programmability, the ability to control and interlock to secondary machines or processes, and the ease of operation (235). The higher the level of specification in each category, the greater the robot’s flexibility, and the greater its potential to generate cost savings through value-added work. However, the greater the flexibility, the greater the cost. Therefore, the robot’s configuration should be optimised for its intended use (a.2).

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

2.3 Robot Configurations

2.3.2 Top-Entry, Traverse-Type Robots

Robots in plastics processing usually consist of four main types. There are some configurations less used that are not outlined here.

Top-entry, traverse-type robots are the most common robots used to remove parts from injection moulding machines. Traverse-type robots have three linear axes and one rotary axis. Second arms are sometimes added to remove runners from three-plate moulds, to stack moulds or for secondary part manipulation. Up to two additional rotary axes may be added to the robot wrist for added flexibility. A vertical axis (main arm) is used to remove parts from the mould area as well as to extend beyond the outside of the press to place parts. The traverse axis is used to bring the main arm outside the press. A kick axis or strip axis that runs parallel to the clamp axis of the moulding machine is used to remove the parts from the mould and runs in line with the injection unit. The traverse axis is 90 degrees to the injection unit on the moulding machine. Occasionally, the traverse axis is mounted in parallel to the injection unit to allow part placement over the clamp end of the machine. This is useful for facilities with limited space between machines. Drive types are pneumatic, electric or a combination of the two.

2.3.1 Sprue Pickers Three-axis, top-entry robots with two linear axes and one rotary axis are generally referred to as sprue pickers (Figure 2). An arm enters the mould, removes the runner, swings out over the safety door through 90 degrees and re-extends the main arm to release the runner. Parts fall free under the mould. Sometimes sprue pickers are equipped with end-of-arm tooling and vacuum units to remove light parts with vacuum cups. Drive type is most commonly pneumatic with one linear axis, which is sometimes electric. One linear axis pulls the runner off the mould. The main arm is also used to enter and exit the mould area. The rotary axis is used to pivot the main arm through 45 to 90 degrees so that it can re-extend and release parts and runners past the side of the injection moulding machine. Sprue pickers are generally used to remove runners on machines of 500 tons and under.

Top-entry, traverse robots have a large rectangular work envelope and can perform a wide variety of value-added work. This includes assembly, boxing, and inspection.

Figure 2 A sprue picker

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

2.3.3 Side-Entry, Linear-Drive Robots

2.3.5 Combination Cells

Side-entry robots have one to three linear axes and a rotary wrist axis. A side-entry robot mounts to the top of the machine, the side of the machine or to a press-side table and enters the mould area from the rear side. Two main types have been employed. The first type is a very high-speed extractor designed to remove parts and feed them to secondary equipment. The work envelopes are usually restricted to the distances and motions required for part removal. The second type is designed for low ceiling clearance applications or those where restrictions will not allow the parts to come out of the injection moulding machine (IMM) vertically. Drive types are pneumatic, electric or a combination of the two.

Sometimes, the best way to approach cell design is to combine a linear-drive, extraction robot with an articulated robot. The press cycle will have minimal impact, and the cell can be flexible. The articulated robots can eliminate the requirement for fixed automation that is application specific. References (38, 41, 83) outline the use of such cell design.

However, side-entry robots do have drawbacks. They restrict access to the rear side of the machine and are in the way when not being used. They lack a long vertical arm, which limits their performance of secondary functions as they cannot reach into other machines or containers.

2.3.4 Articulated Robots Articulated robots are three- to six-axes, rotary-driven, jointed robots. Their advantage is the ability to manipulate parts through a wide variety of positions. Difficult secondary operations can be performed. For complex manipulations, the cell cost may be minimised with articulated robots because the robot’s wrist can orient parts, as against building orientation functions into the downstream equipment (75). Many users feel articulated robots are most advantageous on large parts requiring complex manipulations and have little benefit on smaller parts (87). Articulated robots are most often mounted beside the injection moulding machine, but sometimes on top of the platen. Drive type is almost always electric and usually servo motor. There are disadvantages of articulated robots: they are in the way when not being used, require a large work envelope, are slower to remove parts than lineardrive robots, require greater mould-open distances, and do not allow access or use of secondary machines when the robot is not in use (235). They also need extensive programming and expertise to operate them because their programming is designed for general industrial use and not specifically injection moulding. The added support required for articulated robots can take away savings generated, and therefore, they must be applied carefully.

3 Advances in Drives and Controls Drives and controls have advanced rapidly since robots were first introduced. These advances have been making robots more flexible, resulting in more utilisation in moulding facilities.

3.1 Drives Drives are chosen by considering the following factors: torque, speed range, size, positioning capability, repeatability, cleanliness, initial cost, operating costs (including energy and maintenance) and reliability. Repeatability is defined as the robot’s ability to return precisely to a taught point. Repeatability is critical for automation to perform its tasks reliably over a long period of time. Drive methods for industrial robots consist of pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric. The application of hydraulics for robots used in plastics is almost nonexistent. Hydraulics are energy intensive. They can have complications common to fluid systems: filtration, leakage and cooling. The forces required for robots in plastics are well under that of hydraulic systems.

3.1.1 Pneumatic Drives Pneumatic drives are low cost, but can only position accurately and repeatedly at the end of strokes or mechanical stops. They are mostly used on applications requiring pick-and-place operations without value-added operations. The setup of the robot must be done mechanically, making short runs difficult to accommodate. Pneumatic drives are familiar to shop floor personnel and easy to maintain. Therefore, pneumatic drives are mostly used in dedicated, long-running, pick-and-place operations or entry-level applications.

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

3.1.2 Electric Drives

3.1.3 Combination Drives

Electric drives have the advantage of being able to stop anywhere along the axis of travel. Their costs are higher than pneumatic.

Some robots use a combination of pneumatic and electric drives (Figure 4) to optimise cost. The pneumatic drives will be on the axis that does not need multipositioning or does not require changing from one job to another. Electric drives will be on the other axes. The most common combination drive is a servo motor on the traverse axis to allow for multiple part positioning outside the press.

Electric drives come in two main types: The first type and the most flexible and repeatable is the servo motor (Figure 3). A servo motor constantly monitors its position and corrects it. The setup is all electronic and adjusted through a teach pendant. The second type is an induction motor with a feedback device. The feedback device can be fixed on the axis (such as a switch) or be on the drive itself (such as an encoder). The motor usually does not correct itself once it stops and often uses a break or locking mechanism to hold the axis position. The induction motor is not highly repeatable, often varying by 1 mm, is more mechanically intensive, requires more energy to operate, and is slower for the size motor that can be used. The setup of the robot must be done manually for fixed-sensor robots and through a teach pendant for motors with an integral feedback device.

3.2 Controls The characteristics of the controller should fit the application. The design must be balanced incorporating cost, operator interface, programmability, memory and expandability. A pick-and-place or dedicated application will not require the same level of sophistication as a flexible value-added cell with servo drives.

3.2.1 Operator Interface The operator interface must allow all functions with minimal training and time. The functions that will be required are setup, troubleshooting, cycling and monitoring.

Figure 3 The servo feedback loop

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Figure 4 Combination drive robot

The use of graphics for operator interfaces is becoming more widespread. A graphic interface (Figure 5) showing the robot and other main functions greatly reduces operator training, downtime and setup time. Many controllers require knowledge of robot languages to operate safely without crashing.

Controllers have evolved to a stage where an engineer is no longer required to set up and operate the robot (131). Staff assigned to keep the moulding machines in operation can handle the robot setup and operation. Technical staff that performs mould changes or machine repair can create new programs.

Figure 5 An example graphic operator interface

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

concurrent engineering or rapid product releases. A typical off-line system allows up to 70% to 90% of the program to be developed off line and debugged on line (235). Some programming packages allow messages to be written and displayed (Figure 7). The programmer can direct the operator to interact with the cell.

3.2.2 Sequence Programmability Sequence programmability is now very advanced. Teach pendants allow the robot to be programmed on line. Off-line programming systems (Figure 6a and 6b) minimise cell downtime and accommodate

(a)

(b)

Figure 6 Example of off-line programming systems

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Communications to the moulding machine can go beyond the information exchange above. In some cases, the robot controllers are integrated closely by direct hook up to the moulding machine computer bus. This allows for fast, real time exchange of data such as the clamp position. In other cases, additional transducers are added to the press, but hooked up to the robot controller (123, 131). The robot tracking of the clamp position allows it to move with the clamp as it opens or closes. This feature is useful on large machines with deep-draw parts. Cycle time is saved for robot extraction.

Figure 7 Example error message

3.2.3 Expandability Controls for programmable robots are becoming more expandable. When hardware, software and operating systems comply with industry standards and are user expandable, it is called open architecture. Open architecture is the desired configuration. Expandable controllers are used to control secondary devices or machines in work cells, allowing more value to be added to parts. Distributed control machines have processors and input/output units at different places on the robot or within the cell (131). The advantages of distributed control are the speed of processing programs and control as well as reduced wiring on or between devices. Distributed control also eliminates the requirement for duplicate control and software within a cell (235). The operator interface can be shared. When using one controller to control the cell, the setup flows automatically to each machine (292).

3.2.4 Communications and Controller Integration Communications from the robot to the IMM or to a central computer are useful in Phase II and III and are required for Phase IV installations. Communications between the robot and moulding machine are used for quick program changing, clamp interlocks, starting and stopping and error logging. Communications between the robot and a central computer are used for program changing, remote monitoring, central administration and status logging.

4 Integration of Automation Systems for Phase III and IV Many companies have deployed Phase I and II systems. Small companies that do not have substantial financial and technical resources tend to automate up to Phase I or II. However, Phase III and IV systems will be required to compete with developing countries and lowwage competition when value is added. Many moulders have difficulty reaching this level of automation due to a lack of understanding, poor vision and planning, and lack of management commitment. Phase I and II systems can be retrofitted onto existing equipment with little planning. Phase III and IV systems require a rationalisation of the entire manufacturing operation, equipment and operational procedures. Machine purchases and internal systems that are made for the short term become barriers themselves to future optimisation. They can be incompatible with future requirements or tie up capital, and potential savings are not realised. Reduced product lifecycles and the quantity of product options have drastically reduced the amount of longrunning moulding applications. The long-running jobs that do exist are often produced with low inventory, justin-time (JIT) requirements. Accordingly, post-moulding automation that is not dedicated to running one part for several years has to accommodate a wide variety of part geometry and orientations. A high degree of flexibility is required. Technology has evolved in the past few years to allow automated moulding in these conditions. In some cases, it is still expensive or support-intensive to run. Some facilities that used fixed automation for one project have found automation equipment and its depreciation costs to be very burdensome and prohibitive in adapting to other jobs. These facilities often fail or require large retooling costs that could have been avoided with more flexible automation.

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

In the past, the absence of equipment from suppliers that could operate and communicate seamlessly in a highly automated facility was also a barrier. Moulders were often faced with doing extensive research, making modifications and committing substantial resources to integrating a facility. The resources required for this were very specialised and expensive. An alternative is to purchase complete systems from highly developed suppliers, but the cost may be high. Some concepts demonstrated by manufacturers are not economically feasible and never make it from the trade shows into plants. However, the evolution of computers has resulted in components that are now easier to integrate and more cost effective. The moulding industry’s use of computer integration and communications has not kept pace with technology. However, industry standards are now emerging to make the integration easier. Many suppliers have communications hardware, but do not have sufficient software tools to communicate to plant floor computer networks. Hopefully, certification processes will emerge so that users will know that pieces will ‘plugand-play’ and communicate with minimal effort. All phases of automation are now economically feasible. The best approach to higher levels of automation may be to specify equipment for the level of future integration required in the next ten years. A project plan is then laid out to implement automation in phases. Sometimes when a moulding machine is replaced, the entire cell is upgraded and integrated. Some manufacturers will implement projects across a common press tonnage range. Moulds within that tonnage are then standardised for quick-changeover systems. The experience from previous cells is used to design and integrate future cells in a constant evolution process. Capital equipment and project risk is minimised. Personnel in the facility have time to adapt to new methods as well.

4.1 Expected Benefits of Phase III and IV The amount of investment required for each employee eliminated has been shown to increase for higher levels of automation (256). Due to increased costs, more scrutiny is needed to identify applications, to project manage them and to audit them to ensure savings are delivered. However, studies have also shown that greater levels of investment have delivered linearly proportionately greater levels of savings. The point of diminishing returns has not been reached within the industry. A European study showed a strong tendency for productivity gains by flexible simplified organisations, not exclusively capital investment in automation (199).

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Indicators that may show organisational flexibility would be the degree of implementation of JIT, statistical process control (SPC), material resource planning (MRP), computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/ CAM), agile or lean manufacturing processes, and continuous improvement programmes. As most companies are using purchased off-the-shelf technology, the competitive advantage depends on how thoroughly and efficiently the technology is deployed by the organisation. Many moulders added secondary operations after moulding for several years and may not have assigned resources to optimise and organise them into the best configuration. Non-value-added operations and poor layouts can smother the potential profitability of these operations. A new perspective is required to implement automation and justify it. Many financial justifications are designed for a short-term, one-time expenditure to solve a manufacturing problem. A different process is needed for long-term, continuous, strategic manufacturing decisions and justifications focused on efficient manufacturing. The automation will have to be phased in over a period of months or years. The justification and purchasing process must allow measurement of productivity savings and expenses against a multiyear plan. Once plans are approved and implementation starts, it is also essential to regularly audit the progress of expenditures, utilisations and savings, and to compare them against what had been planned. This level of automation is a journey, not a one-time purchase and installation. It is common to find operations that may significantly add cost to the project, but contribute little to savings. Operations such as these are better eliminated, performed manually, or redesigned to be more cost effective. Compare the costs of options required for quick changeovers and justify them against the benefits expected. Equipment required for unmanned flexible manufacturing systems can sometimes be twice the price of standard machinery and must be justified with careful analysis and implementation plans.

4.2 Actual Operating Results Overall reduction in manufacturing costs of 20% is common and sometimes up to 40% has been achieved from receipt of the resin to the finished product shipment (129). Press utilisation can go up as much as 50% overall.

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Best-in-class machine/cell efficiency will average around 93% once debugged. Actual efficiency depends on the complexity of the cell and the amount of changeover required. Many users gain the largest financial payback based on the elimination of direct labour. Some applications, such as quick cycles or large parts, are held up by the operators and more production can be obtained when automated. It is difficult to utilise 100% of labour beside the moulding machine. Utilisation of only 50 to 70% is common. Centralising the value-added operations or automating them lowers lost labour (294). The goal of several automation systems is to move beyond direct labour savings to minimise or eliminate indirect labour. Labour required to change over systems, to monitor quality, to move materials to the machines, and to transport materials through the factory can be eliminated. Companies have found the only way to remove variability and to achieve zero-defect production is to eliminate manual operations and automate the remaining ones. Operators are then in charge of monitoring the production, machinery and quality, and of making final shipments (41). When direct and indirect labour is eliminated, there can be substantial savings in other support and administration departments due to the reduction in the management of personnel required. Consistent cycles, consistent secondary operations, online measurement, segregation and control all contribute to the increase in quality. Automated measurement is more accurate than human measurement systems. The automation systems used have integral quality checks of each operation to immediately detect errors, segregate them and prevent scrapping of subsequent higher-value production. The systems used prior to cell automation required a lot of work in process and errors that were detected caused a lot of scrap. Some companies automate initially to be able to offset shorter mandated workweeks or to extend plant utilisation over weekends. The entire operation utilisation and efficiency goes up as fixed costs are spread across 20% more shipments when going from a fiveday operation to a six-day operation. Weekend operation may be done with little or no staff. The unmanned hours use less energy for human comfort and lighting. Floor-space reductions due to less work in process, storage space and secondary operations can be up to 20%. Floor space reduction is critical for costly real estate areas or cramped facilities where the cost of the automation is much less than new facility space. Capital expenditure for more moulding machines and support equipment is avoided. Automated vertical warehouses

can take up to one-quarter or one-half the area of conventional warehouses depending on their height. Deliveries can be improved due to quick changeovers and shorter queue times in cell manufacturing. Scheduling complexities are greatly reduced and on-time performance improves. Short runs, low inventory, increased product variations and shortened product lives propel the requirement. Quick changeovers are also required for rapid product launches. Rapid changeovers drive up the labour required to perform them if not automated, and hinder cell utilisation. The changeover time must be measured from the previous part to the first good new part. Systems must be designed and coordinated to be as automated as possible with as many operations as possible changing over in parallel. Automation that is implemented for quick changeovers can increase press utilisation by at least 5% and as much as 15 to 20%. Changeovers are quicker and require fewer personnel because they are done automatically. Quick changeover systems allow companies to lower workin-progress inventories. Some successful manufacturers have reported that the equipment investment equalled the cost of the inventory reduction. In this case, it was viewed that investment in equipment was preferable to investment in inventory. Certainly, the lower inventory has a significant ongoing benefit after the equipment is purchased. Automation of office functions, such as order entry, quality control, and production control are necessary to keep up with the speed of quick changeover systems in the plant. Worker satisfaction also escalates. A European study found that 50% of employees polled expressed that their job became more interesting versus 13% who expressed the job was more boring; 48% expressed the job was easier versus 15% who expressed the job was harder. Only 1% lost jobs. This low number is probably due to the fact that labour is in short supply and is difficult to retain in many plastics manufacturing environments.

4.3 Requirements for Phase III and IV Integration One of the most critical steps for higher levels of automation does not involve automation at all. The organisation, customers, parts, moulds and processes all have to be rationalised and improved to accept greater levels of automation. The improvements may start any time and progress throughout the integration process (161, 257). Moulders should discuss what production can be

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

profitable and under what constraints, determine what processes match the company’s competencies, determine what levels of efficiency will be required to reach the profitability goals and determine the levels of quality and quality-tracability data required. Remaining processes will need to be automated as much as possible and integrated into the data-processing network. An automation mission statement can then be written. Next, the remaining processes from receipt of an order until invoicing should be put into a flow chart. All non value-added operations in the production flow path should be eliminated, minimised or automated. Automating non value-added operations is expensive and can make a facility noncompetitive and increase depreciation costs. The company then needs to conduct a gap analysis to determine how to get to the desired goals. The gap analysis should include moulds and current production machinery capabilities. Automation will not compensate for moulds, moulding machines or secondary equipment incapable of producing high levels of quality parts. A plan needs to be implemented to improve tooling and machinery to achieve desired results. The improved tooling maintenance costs and preventative maintenance (PM) programme costs that are required to sustain high levels of quality from processes should be factored into the justification. Each job or expected job should be analysed using actual data, fitting it to the optimum machine and process equipment, to produce parts with the lowest cost and highest quality. From here, the plant layout, material flows, flexibility and changeover requirements can be defined. Finally, an investment schedule can be put together.

4.4 Standards for Higher Levels of Integration The next step to higher levels of integration is by developing standards. The moulding machines need size standardisation along with defined specifications and options. Many plants will standardise on a small number of different sizes of machines to reduce the number of variables and the variety of different support equipment in the facility. Limiting machine size from three to five sizes with at least three machines per size has worked well for some facilities. Choosing one manufacturer, one controller or one communications interface is important in order to use setups from one machine to the next. Ideally, the moulding machine will have a high degree of process control and automatic adaptability to changing conditions. Machines should be able to start and stop automatically and communicate with other auxiliary machines. The moulds will also need some standards set. Mould dimensions may need to be analysed and classified for

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the tonnage of machine they will run in. The mould-topress mechanical interface for quick-change systems should be fixed. Platen attachment methods need to be standardised along with ejector, electrical, water, pneumatic, and hydraulic connections. Mould runner systems must be extremely reliable as well. Hot runners and sub-gated runners are easier to automate because they do not require post-extraction processes to obtain gatevestige quality. Automatic systems require greater mould quality construction standards because there are no longer operators present to inspect and correct mould problems. Preventative maintenance intervals must be set to maintain the moulds’ consistent production of good parts. Auxiliaries such as mould temperature controllers and resin material dryers should be tested, calibrated and certified to be within specification before integration. Standardising auxiliaries will assist greatly in speeding integration and maintaining quality. All devices should be specified with communications for changeovers, process status and diagnostics. For special machinery, standardise the components from which the system will be assembled. The added complexity of special machinery has a large support cost if improperly coordinated. Programming, tooling, troubleshooting, spare parts and maintenance requirements are operating expenses that need to be controlled through standardisation and training. Try to choose components that are flexible and reusable. Some projects fail because the cost of ownership, retooling and support are excessive. Since parts always need to be moved within a facility and to customers, part transport methods and containers must be standardised. Some users develop separate containers for inside the facility and for shipment to customers. Other users have succeeded by using standardised, reusable containers for internal and external use. Containers need to be designed to be rigid and accurate. There are more and more industry-wide container standards being employed and used in plants. A computer network can be built to support the new systems from door to door. The computer communications architecture, protocols and data collection/analysis requirements need to be defined, and installed in levels to support future levels of integration.

4.5 Implementation of Phase III and IV Automation At this point, implementation of systems with solid project management procedures can begin. The degree of project management to get to Phase III and IV is very

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

high compared to the lower phases. Many businesses develop informal methods of project management to obtain moulds, run jobs and manually add value. These informal project-management methods are ineffective in managing long-range automation strategies and associated resources, communications and risks. This applies in cross-functional projects like automation that require understanding and assistance from all departments. Many projects have failed because of improper project-management techniques. Failures are blamed on individuals, when results actually rely on direction from management. Formal project management procedures and reviews should be established to ensure success. Many resources exist for training and consulting in project management. Key elements of project management are listed below.

•

Set up formal reviews and communication strategies, as all departments will need to be involved and kept advised of the status. Communications must include vendors and customers. Take corrective actions where required. Lack of team communications is one of the chief causes of project failures.

•

Ensure the plan has sufficient training commitments. Ideally, training is performed just before implementation of each milestone. Users report that training and retraining is critical to implementation and successful operation. Automation systems are more complex and require new disciplines within the moulding facility. Multidisciplined employees are important to keep a cell running with minimal staff. Aim to identify competencies required for staff at each new level of integration. Develop training and verification systems supporting each level.

•

Set installation and acceptance criteria carefully. Often, a large degree of coordination is required between departments to get all of the pieces running and optimised. Confirm safety features and perform final training before turning a system over to production. Installation planning must include sufficient preplanning to allow for production downtime and for scaling up the system through optimisation and debugging. Plan for using extra resources for the first few weeks of implementation to get the cell running reliably and efficiently. There should be a formal optimisation team in place including key vendors. Redundant manual systems or inventory build up may also need to be considered.

•

Define performance measurements and milestones so project status can be monitored and corrected as required.

Implement a PM procedure and monitor its effectiveness. It is difficult with systems integration to develop complete PM plans up front because of the customer nature of the systems and no past history to rely on.

•

Return and audit milestone installations after three to six months running to ensure results are sustained and no issues remain.

Develop a timeline and commit resources. Review the plan regularly and more extensively at each milestone.

•

A wise strategy is to implement in increasing complexity, after each phase is installed and certified. Start off easily and debug processes and automation strategies. Qualify each process step for desired quality and consistency then integrate it. A large unqualified integration project will have too much downtime and associated frustration. Integrating in steps uncovers barriers, which once handled, improves the operation and allows further integration and continuous improvement (289).

•

Assign a team leader in manufacturing who understands plant processes.

•

State long-range objectives of the automation programme. Define at least five years and possibly ten years since the equipment life and implementation will be approximately that long.

•

Ensure all pertinent information is in writing, in one place and organised into a specification. Many projects that fail or have less than desired results are due to a lack of initial guidelines and planning.

•

Define the project thoroughly with as many disciplines as possible. At a minimum, each stakeholder department should be involved. Early supplier involvement is critical if the entire process is to be suitable and cost effective to automate. Parts, moulds, factory layout, processes, materials handling and QC requirements need to be worked out together. It is difficult and expensive to retrofit highly automated solutions to systems improperly designed or coordinated.

•

•

•

in writing. This step is extremely important to guarantee proper implementation and utilisation.

Study the design of each major component carefully with cross-functional teams. Try to define failure modes and design them out or minimise their impact. For errors that may cause hold ups, define the desired recovery methods to resume or maintain automatic operation. Define the safety requirements of any new machinery or process. Document all specifications

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

4.6 Equipment Differences for Phase IV Integration

The main components requiring flexibility are:

Phase IV is a much higher level of automation than previous phases and requires a high degree of integration and control. This phase goes beyond islands of automation into a fully functional, highly coordinated, quick changeover, lights out factory. The key to implementing flexible manufacturing systems is to buy flexible components. Flexible components are those that can be reconfigured easily for different parts, often by reprogramming then recalling setups. A minimum of mechanical changes is required to reuse or retool the equipment. Changeovers between runs must be done automatically and rapidly. Contract manufacturers, in particular, must use flexible components or their main competitive advantage of quick reaction and adaptability is lost. Automation must not make an organisation slower or less adaptive. Flexible components cost more, but have a longer life, which lowers risks and allows the equipment to be depreciated over longer time periods. The useful life of flexible systems is often two to four times that of inflexible dedicated components.

•

A plant material quick-change system to deliver material from the warehouse to the press.

•

A press material, quick-change system.

•

A mould quick-change system.

•

A press parts handling robot with a quick changeover system.

•

A value-added automation system with quickchange ability for different parts requiring different tooling and software.

•

A parts-transport system to deliver components to the cell and remove production. The system will link the cells to an automated stockyard or warehouse. This portion of automation integration links up the ‘islands’ of automation that are stand-alone manufacturing cells (Figure 8).

Figure 8 Examples of Phase IV system

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

•

•

An automated stockyard or automated storage and retrieval system for work in process and finished goods. A computer network to link all processes together and a central computer and software to control, monitor, change, and track data for the factory.

•

A mould preheat and staging station.

•

Mould loading systems to pull moulds out of the press and load new moulds into the press.

•

A mould clamping and location system. This system must also have connectors for utilities. Quick connectors for hydraulics are required if core-pull sequences require them. Hot-runner systems need to be quickly connected and integrated to the press controller. Provisions may be required to confirm the proper mould is in the press and connected fully. Some companies have even used robots to change core and cavity sets within the mould (287). Die positioning accuracy after a mould change is important so a robot can automatically change its end-of-arm tooling and interface to the mould.

•

On occasion, a mould cool-down station is required before storage.

The degree of Phase IV development can be judged by the amount and sophistication of the components implemented.

4.6.1 Plant Material Quick-Change Systems A plant material quick-change system must be designed to deliver each different material to each different press. Systems may have to be designed to be self-cleaning to ensure that no contamination occurs during changeover. The systems must be able to be sequenced from a central computer and accommodate material, colorant and dry air if required. These systems are often quite different from the ones presently installed in many facilities (258). The system sequence is purge the material lines and hoppers, confirm cleaning is complete and deliver new materials. The new moulding sequence can then begin.

4.6.2 Press Material Quick-Change Systems Ideally, jobs can be scheduled in machines using the same material. For many facilities, this is not possible. A moulding-machine material quick-change system is required and generally composed of systems to purge and refeed the injection unit. Systems were developed in the 1980s to automatically change barrels, but they proved to be not commercially viable. Semi-automatic systems are still used because of the complexities involved in performing changeovers and keeping systems clean.

Safety and interlocks of these systems must be well thought out and controlled, as moulds are very heavy and expensive, and present considerable hazards if mishandled.

4.6.4 Equipment Required to Unload the Mould For small parts or those that do not require secondary operations, conveyors or vacuum evacuation systems can be used. For other parts, robots are required. A press parts-handling robot with quick changeover capability links post-mould to pre-mould processes. The robot required at this point of integration must be highly flexible, have computer communications, be capable of automatic programme changes, be capable of automatic tooling changes and have provisions to start, stop and pause automatically. Verification that the correct end-of-arm tooling and robot sequence corresponding to the current press set up are in use is sometimes desirable to avoid errors.

4.6.3 Mould Quick-Change Systems 4.6.5 Flexible Value-Added Systems A mould quick-change system may be composed of: •

A mould storage system.

Flexible value-added systems that perform multiple secondary operations or parts after extraction are the most elusive components to design.

•

A mould transport system. Moulds can be transported with overhead programmable cranes, automatic carts or semi-automatic carts. Programmable cranes require less floor space.

Some manufacturers limit a cell’s value-added steps beside the moulding machine and then use automated material-handling devices to move production out of

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

the cell. Value-added operations that are difficult to automate or cannot be done within the moulding cycle are performed manually away from moulding. Lines fed automatically by conveyors or automated guided vehicles (AGV) accomplish this. If the parts are placed into standard containers and their position is maintained, then value-added operations can be automated in the future. The difficulty in flexible value-added automation is trying to transport parts economically through operations, keeping their orientation and being adaptable across a wide variety of different geometries. The most economical way to move parts through valueadded operations is to use the part removal robot with multipurpose or changeable end-of-arm tooling. A secondary flexible robot can also be used to take parts from the press robot and move them through operations. Beyond robots, several other devices are available but these are less flexible or adaptable to transport parts through operations. Parts can be transported to subsequent operations by means of conveyors, placed onto pallets, placed into trays or bins or placed onto rotary or linear indexers.

4.6.6 Parts Transport Systems Conveyors can move the parts to a central location. They can be inexpensive for some factory layouts. Conveyors can be belts, plastic-link chains or overhead chain-driven systems. As a result of parts losing orientation in most applications, operators will be required on the end of the system to reorient, inspect, add value and package parts. Similar parts may be mishandled and placed into incorrect containers. The system does not lend itself well to future automation if parts are out of orientation or overlapping. Parts liable to damage during transport do not lend themselves to this type of automation. An exception to this would be the placing of parts onto fixtured pallets, transported on conveyors. Sensors to detect parts passing underneath other robots need to be installed to prevent parts from being placed on top of others and to avoid possible robot crashes. If robots can package beside each machine, then the conveyors can be used to transport containers in and out of the cells. Conveyors require a lot of floor space and inhibit access to the moulding cells unless they can be put overhead, in which case they are difficult to service and clean, and parts may not be easy to see. Conveyors to a central location are best used for similar parts, large parts or easily distinguishable parts that will not require or cannot justify the costs of added-value operations.

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For small parts, some plants have used air conveyor systems where the parts are transported in an air stream to a packaging room or machine. Parts are ejected into a hopper that directs them into a tube and air stream. An air-vacuum transport system, hooked up to the hoppers under the machines, conveys the parts to boxes located in another area of the facility. The vacuum transport system must be sized to transport the largest expected part size. A maximum part size of 30 mm is common. Parts must be those that can transport through tubes without getting marked or damaged. Parts must also be able to be moved without tangling or causing blockages in the tubes. The system requires modest floor space and labour. Several automated plant concepts have evolved around container filling cells (Figure 9). The containers can be trays, bins or boxes with single or multiple layers (72). Large parts sometimes have rack systems that are transported through the cells. The trays, bins, racks or boxes can be used internally, externally or both. The benefit of a container filling beside the press is that it allows unmanned operation and expandability for future off-line value-added automation. A benefit of placing parts into containers is that orientation can be maintained. When automation of value-added operations occurs in the future, the system will readily adapt. Machines exist to handle standard containers in and around the moulding cell. Multilevel shelves or conveyors can be used to store production. Conveyors that destack and restack containers are common as well. The containers must be dimensionally accurate and have features suitable for automation, such as being rigid, stackable or collapsible, not easily damaged and easy to clean. It is common to use inserts in the containers for parts requiring precise locations or that may be subject to damage in transport. Once parts are in the containers, they can be removed at intervals by operators, conveyors, or loaded and unloaded by AGVs. The AGVs are self-propelled carts. The drive is usually accomplished with electric motors. Electric-driven vehicles will require a recharging station for periodical charging during operation. The vehicles are sized based on the maximum payload and size of load to be accommodated. The top of the vehicle is usually designed to automatically load or unload the type of container to be used in the particular facility. The vendor base for AGVs has been very volatile because of the large amount of research and development required and the varying market conditions. Many factories have not advanced their automation to the point where an automatic vehicle can take over; they also have not automated upstream or do not have an automated warehousing linkage.

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Figure 9 Automated container filling

AGV systems are expensive, but very flexible. They can often be justified in one to two years in the right application where the factory is reasonably organised. Indirect labour is saved along with reduced part damage that may occur with manual systems (87). Unlike fixed conveyors, they can be reprogrammed and reconfigured for a wide variety of transport tasks. The systems make the transition to automated storage and retrieval systems seamlessly as all of the infrastructure and standards are put into place. Phase III or IV systems need careful coordination of containers and supplies to and from the cells and are inhibited by manual transport methods (72). Guidance systems are usually chemical paths painted onto the floor, taped paths, or grid systems in which the vehicles navigate freely between points. Systems which use lasers for positioning are also in development. AGVs give full access to the cells when not docked or when moving by them. AGVs are usually not installed until a reasonable amount of cells are running efficiently. Before this point, manual or semi-manual methods are used.

4.6.7 Automated Stockyards and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems Whether work in process or finished goods are transported manually, by conveyors or by AGVs,

automatic storage and retrieval systems can be employed. The simplest form consists of roller conveyors, to which containers are off-loaded. A separate conveyor line is usually associated with one part or moulding machine. Simple roller-conveyor systems are frequently employed to store enough parts for unattended shifts or weekend operation. Systems then increase in complexity enabling loading and unloading as well as computer tracking of containers. The most sophisticated systems are multilevel systems that use linear robots to pick and store containers and later repick and deliver them to an outlet position when required. These storage systems are mostly used where land is at a premium or the cost to add floor space is more than the storage system.

4.6.8 Logistics and Coordination A very high degree of logistics and coordination is required for Phase IV implementation. Only computers can keep up with the demands. If not properly thought out, the personnel required to coordinate the factory and run it efficiently in a smalllot, quick-change environment will offset savings in other areas. It is critical to use local area network architecture and ensure all major components in cells

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

are equipped to integrate to it. However, in case of a system failure, production cells should be designed so as to be able to run without the computer network. It is common to have a local computer in each cell that interfaces each machine within the cell to the computer network. Minimally, the system must coordinate set up data for all of the cell equipment when a new mould is run and verify that control points are met to begin production.

components into the system should be done with ease while the machine is running. •

Buffers should be placed in front of operations requiring manual adjustment, cleaning or supply replenishment. According to a recent article, as much as 70% of cell downtime is operator induced (125). The buffer should be long enough to allow for operator arrival and completion of the task. Some machines that are difficult to start up may be required to keep in cycle and discharge production for a short time while the cell is attended. The length of time the machine discharges production should be limited so that excessive scrap material costs are avoided. Cell design may require manual reintroduction of parts produced while a machine was down or from surplus capacity. It may be required to take parts off line and reintroduce them downstream if a component fails. The rate of the downstream operations may need to be faster than the process to allow reintroduction of production while still on line.

•

It is good practice to perform quality control for each step immediately after or during the operation and to isolate bad parts once detected. It may be difficult to track bad parts in a machine, and so the value added to them is wasted. The system should be programmed to stop if a preset frequency of errors occurs at a station rather than stopping at each error. Cells may need quality control of incoming material and process adaptation if there is a likelihood that defects could occur, would be hard to detect, or would cause interruption of the cell. Critical operations within a cell should allow for quality control sampling without cell interruption. The sampling can be programmed at intervals or triggered by an operator.

•

Critical components can be serialised and the data stored for traceability. This is common for components where product liability may be a concern.

•

Consideration has to be given to production balancing, from multiple machines or for machines where cavities will be shut off. The part removal robot or other devices can perform this function if equipped and programmed properly.

•

One of the most important design considerations is to specify flexible components to be adaptable for families of related applications. Components should be as modular as possible, to allow them to

The central computer hooked up to the network will schedule production resources, handle changeovers, track and display status, gather quality information, perform quality analysis, display errors and schedule preventative maintenance. The central computer develops schedules and sends them to each individual cell computer for execution (258). Status and error display must be designed to get quick notification and reaction to problems. Often these systems are linked to audible or visual alarm systems within the plant or to remote locations for off-hours.

4.7 Design Criteria for Higher Levels of Automation When implementing cells and FMS, system design is critical. The following is a list of common design considerations: •

The cell should have the ability to shut down automatically if the run is complete or if there is trouble and no one responds. The cell must shut down in an orderly way leaving all elements in a safe and known position. The status of the machines should be kept so the cell can be analysed and restarted quickly. Irregular production may need to be isolated. Heating elements may need to be reset at a lower setting.

•

Machines within a cell should be capable of uncoupled operation inside or outside of the cell in case of trouble. Thought must be given to how operations can be performed manually if the automation fails. Cell design may need to leave room for operators and for any movements necessary to allow manual intervention or have decoupling abilities. Integrated machines may require an automatic and manual control interface. Guarding that can be easily configured for manual operation should be considered (37).

•

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Operator input or take away from a cell should not affect its operation or safety. Feeding of

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

be reused and reconfigured as requirements change. This type of equipment will make the difference between justifying equipment for one job and justifying the equipment across its lifetime. Buy for the future. It is sensible to specify equipment for where you want to be at the end of its life, not where you are now. •

Controls must be open architecture so that they are expandable and workable with a network to adapt to changing conditions. Dedicated controllers may inhibit adapting to further levels of automation as well. The memory, processing speed and inputs/ outputs must be expandable.

5 Example Applications There are several examples of successful cells and FMS. Some cell designs are now more or less standard based on vendors’ repetitive-application experience.

5.1 Small Machines Small machines, producing parts that are bulk packaged, are the easiest to automate, although many moulders have yet to take full advantage of available technology. The reasons why small machines are easy to automate are that usually little value is added to small parts, incoming materials are used in small quantities, parts are often shipped in bulk, a large amount of parts can be stored in a small amount of space, and moulds are easier to change. All of this simplifies the systems required. There are many examples of plants that can now produce small parts in a highly integrated and automated fashion. Many producers making small components will have to automate soon to higher levels to compete with modern facilities and global competition. Parts are ejected out of the machine and fall into a hopper. Sprue pickers can be used to separate the runner from the parts. A central vacuum system cycled from press to press to evacuate parts and deliver them to a central box station is common. Parts can be discharged into a container or a machine that indexes containers when full. Boxes can be automatically transported in and out of the filling station. Critical elements for success are excellent mould design to make quality

parts, proficient process control, diverter chutes to direct rejects away from the good part transport system, automatic resin handling systems, accurate blending systems, antistatic devices to prevent parts from sticking to moulds, and a monitoring computer to detect and alert if there are problems. Working with customers to ensure parts and moulds are designed to be compatible and to operate reliably in the cells is essential (180). One manufacturer has achieved 48 hours of production with only 15 minutes of labour required to feed empty boxes and take away full boxes (291).

5.2 Cells that Extend Production Hours Without Labour Various cells have been developed for unattended operation over 16- to 48-hour periods. The objective is to expand hours of unmanned operation or to eliminate labour on second and third shifts. A European facility designed a plant for unmanned operation through weekends (109). The cell produces motor protection switches requiring precision assembly. Unattended operation is achieved by using trays for storage of the parts. Trays are configured to hold parts in known positions for post handling. Loaded into a conveyorised stockyard are 320 trays for 66 hours of production. Trays are moved in and out of the stockyard and positioned under the robot automatically. A robot removes the parts from a two-cavity mould and places the first part into the next available tray pocket. The robot then orients the next part through 180 degrees so it is in the same orientation as the first and places it into the next available pocket. Other parts are run on the cell and are placed into boxes.

5.3 Automated Packaging with Manual Value-Added Operations Many cell and FMS systems have been designed around parts removal with one or two secondary operations beside the machine and packaging of parts for transport (157). A Japanese manufacturer has set up an automated factory as a demonstration centre for the technology. Subsequent plants have been built and put into operation based on the principles developed. The facility is staffed by five personnel for the daytime shift. There are no personnel present overnight or on weekends. Additional personnel are brought in as needed on the first shift to add value to parts that may require it. If a problem occurs

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

when there are no personnel on duty, the central computer calls a manager at home who can respond. Servo robots, on top of the moulding machines, fill trays with parts. Trays are automatically destacked, filled and restacked on a press-side, parts storage machine. When a stack is completely full, an AGV retrieves the stack and delivers a stack of empty trays. The AGV transports the trays to an elevator that brings the vehicle to the second floor. The AGV then delivers the stack to a roller conveyor stockyard. When the production in the trays is being shipped or processed by operators for secondary operation such as assembly, quality control measurement or testing, an operator retrieves the stacks from the stockyard. The stockyard is sized to hold two to three days of production for operation over a weekend.

5.5.1 In-Mould Decorating In-mould decorating has the advantages of the elimination of special downstream decorating machines, the elimination of scrap associated with online decorating, flexibility of using different labels and products, higher quality decorations on the parts and better environmental properties with integral decorations (192). Systems are composed of magazines for labels, a label pick-and-place robot or device, and a vacuum or static electricity system to hold the label in the mould. Typical products using in-mould decorating are food containers, appliances, cell phones or any other plastic parts requiring decorations.

5.5.2 Insert Moulding 5.4 Product or Contract Specific Cells Some cells will have been designed for a specific product or a moulding contract of three to five years. For moulding contracts, it is important to choose equipment that becomes adaptable after the contract term. This avoids large depreciation costs during the project and large retooling costs after the project. A well thought out production cell in Germany illustrated the maximum utilisation of a system. The goals of the system were to provide maximum up time, to accommodate short runs, eliminate work in progress, and to give maximum value-added operations by trying to get the robot to work the entire moulding cycle (200). A servo-drive, traverse-type robot removes parts, checks dimensions, cuts off a sprue and loads the part onto a rotary table. On the rotary table, the part is milled, hot stamped and presented again to the robot. The finished part is stacked into a magazine for storage. Before starting the next cycle, the robot picks up a bearing, checks its dimensions and inserts it into the mould. The cell was designed so parts can be removed and fed back in if a station goes down to keep production going. If manual attendance is required in the cell, the robot keeps running and loads parts into a buffer for up to 12 minutes. When the operator exits the work zone, the robot will automatically begin to feed the cell again. Each station can be manually turned off outside the cell, and the other machine stations will keep running.

Insert moulding has several advantages when automated. If inserting is done by an operator, the cycle varies considerably, quality cannot be maintained, scrap is high and mould damage occurs from misplaced inserts. Jobs running manually require close supervision, operator rotation to prevent fatigue and strict control to remain profitable. In view of these problems, many moulders have realised that automation is the only way to make parts profitable. Systems that are flexible are expensive and need to be justified over long periods of time. The expense to tool each new job with insert moulding can be prohibitive if done improperly. Some manufacturers with long runs will use simple dedicated transfer devices for insert loading. However, most manufactures use servo robots due to their flexibility and accuracy. Servo robots can pick up inserts from manually fed shuttles, vibration part feeders or other magazines (Figure 10). Inserts are sometimes loaded into a mould fixture outside of the press, and the fixture is picked up by the robot and placed into the mould. Sometimes inserts are handled on strips of tape to simplify loading of delicate pieces or multiple inserts. When strips are used, operators or a press can remove the parts from the strips after moulding. For high-volume systems, inserts can be fed from a reel on the mould. The finished parts can be rolled up on another reel or discharged in strips (297). Common applications of insert moulding are threaded inserts for part assembly and moulded gaskets.

5.5 Group Technology 5.5.3 Two-Component Moulding Many cells have been designed around a group of parts requiring similar operations, e.g., for in-mould decorating, insert moulding, and two-component moulding.

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Two-component moulding is very popular. A common configuration is to mould the first component in one

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Figure 10 Insert moulding operation

machine and unload it with a robot. The first robot hands off to a second robot, which loads (as well as unloads) the second machine. Another configuration uses a robot to move parts from the first mould on a two-injection unit machine to the second mould and to remove the finished part. Rotary platens used to move moulds between the injection units on twocolour machines index to allow moulding of the second component. Then a robot unloads the finished parts. Typical applications are soft-touch materials or lenses (73).

5.6 Quality Control Automation Quality control operations are becoming one area of rapid advancement. The requirement for manual inspection holds many moulders back from automating.

then degated, hot stamped, serial data applied on the part, and a serialised bar code label is applied to the outside. Bar codes are checked for readability. Part weights are taken and defects identified. All production data is stored for each assembly. Bad parts throughout the process are identified and separated by a robot at the end of the process. Vision systems with fibre optics (Figure 11), directly mounted to the robot's end-of-arm tooling (EOAT), have been used successfully. The robot checks the parts or inserts on the EOAT while transferring the parts between operations (218). Vision systems are also being used to identify different parts on a line and to transfer that information to a robot that changes its program based on the specific part requirements (292).

5.7 Thermoset Cells Article (143) details the automation of quality control measurement, recording, and traceability. The article explains the necessity of automated quality control for the automotive industry, particularly with critical safety components such as airbags. Airbag components are automatically removed and fed to coded pallets. The pallet identification is used to track the good and bad parts for separation at the end of the system. Parts are

Thermoset moulding has, in many cases, lacked automation implementation. Part-extraction robots are used, but very little other work has been automated. The requirement to deflash parts and moulds, along with difficulty in automating these operations, meant manual systems were needed. A manufacturer has reported that robots in their operation are used to

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

Figure 11 Vision system

prevent part damage, to demould parts requiring difficult motions, to prevent tool damage, to degate parts, and to load parts onto jigs for further processing or cooling (295).

5.8 Examples of FMS A Japanese automotive moulding facility was designed to automate the moulding of grilles, bumpers and instrument panels. The mould changes, material changes, part extraction, part palletising, part transport from moulding to storage, and part transport from storage to post-process areas all run automatically. Parts are retrieved automatically and fed to an automatic painting system. The facility has used an automatic crane system to change moulds. Moulds are delivered to two-position, mould-change tables located beside the moulding machines. Moulds are preheated during the end of the run of the present mould. When the run is over, the mould in the machine is transported onto the table. The table then indexes forward on rails and positions the next mould. The mould is loaded into the press. An automatic crane retrieves the completed

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mould after it cools down. Material is selected from a storage silo, sent to a dryer and then to the proper machine. Parts are removed with robots and palletised onto press-side, conveyor systems. A central computer hooked to cell computers tracks production, sets up equipment and handles scheduling and logistics. Completed parts are automatically transported to a manual, value-adding area (258).

6 Future Developments Developments are evolving rapidly in the field of automation. The increase in driving forces has changed the mind-set of many moulders. Implementation of automation and its importance are becoming a major priority. The skills to project manage, install and operate automation will continually evolve as moulders strive to compete. Moulders will be asked to project manage the entire cycle from part design to delivery logistics. Projects will need to be completed more rapidly. Moulders should partner with suppliers to develop relationships for rapid launches.

Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

The rapid advance of computer power will mean smarter and more flexible machinery. The computer power will be used for rapid changeovers, flexibility and integration into plant-wide computer networks. Personal computers will become the most common controllers for shop-floor machinery. Control software will become more adaptive, detecting and correcting problems to keep machinery running. This will be important to increase the implementation of automated systems. These controls will be standard on moulding machines, robots, auxiliaries and other value-added machinery. Servo technology is rapidly advancing. Servos will be the dominant drive on robots and other machinery requiring precise control, rapid changeover and flexibility to adapt to changing conditions. Servos now account for 60% or more of robot drives for plastics and will continue to advance to levels of 80 to 90% in the next five years. The degree of quality, monitoring and documentation will increase to support traceability and higher levels of quality production and improvement. Measurement

and confirmation of each part will be important. Only automation can achieve this without driving up the cost of production through manual inspection. Decreasing lot sizes and increasing product variability will drive the requirement for flexible, quick-change adaptive systems for implementation. All of the above will influence moulders to implement additional levels of automation. The trend will escalate over the next five years, and cell manufacturing (Phase III) will be common in five years, whereas less then 10% of the moulders are at this level now. FMS will be commonplace in ten years for moulders competing on a world basis.

Additional References a.1

Evolution of Automation in Plastics Injection Moulding by Yushin America, Inc., www.yushin.com.

a.2

Injection Moulding, 1996, 4, 8, 84.

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Advances in Automation for Plastics Injection Moulding

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References and Abstracts

References from the Rapra Abstracts Database Item 1 Patent Number: EP 1074490 A1 20010207 CONVEYOR WITH REMOVABLE STRIPS PARTICULARLY FOR MOLDED ARTICLES Cribiu O Costruzioni Meccaniche Crizaf SpA A conveyor for conveying articles from a first work station to a second work station comprises a conveyor belt of the slat or apron type having a number of plates linked to one another to form a loop and a number of strips mounted transversally and removably on at least some of the slats to retain the articles conveyed by the conveyor belt. The strips are easily replaceable in the event of breakage or a change in production. A hopper directs the articles toward the conveyor belt with fold-down walls to assume the most compact configuration vertically during movement of the conveyor. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL

Accession no.806607 Item 2 Plast’ 21 No.95, Sept.2000, p.57-8 Spanish CORRECT CHOICE OF COLLABORATORS AS A GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS An examination is made of the activities of Plastics del Terri of Spain and its associated company Maben in plastics injection moulding using ancillary equipment and automotion systems supplied by Equiper. Details are given of types of products manufactured and plastics materials and quality control procedures used. PLASTICS DEL TERRI SL; MABEN SL; MORETTO; EQUIPER SL; CRIZAF SPA; MARTIPLAST; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

cooling station assembly having a number of blowing tubes for applying a cooling fluid to external surfaces of moulded parts, a take-off plate having a number of holders for receiving cooled moulded parts and a connecting plate connecting the take-off plate and the cooling station assembly. The connecting plate is connected to the take-off plate by a pivotable connection and is connected to the cooling station assembly by a rigid connection. The connecting plate is movable along an axis substantially parallel to one of the faces upon which the moulded parts to be cooled and removed are positioned. The device also includes a linkage assembly for causing the take-off plate to move between a receiving position and a holding/ ejecting position and vice versa. Movement of the takeoff plate causes the connecting means to move along the first axis, which in turn causes the cooling station assembly to move from a non-cooling position to a cooling position and vice versa. USA

Accession no.801380 Item 4 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 90, No.9, Sept.2000, p.27-8 English; German AUTOMATED MANUFACTURE OF MOBILE PHONES Boehringer C This article discusses in detail robot handling technology during the process of injection moulding mobile phones. Section headings include: market growth requires automation, and standard solutions are more flexible. (Translated from Kunststoffe 90, No.9, 2000, p.90-1) NEUREDER AG EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.799985

Accession no.803949 Item 3 Patent Number: US 6113834 A1 20000905 COOLING DEVICE ATTACHED TO INDEX MACHINE Kozai M T; Ing R; Jacovich W J; Domodossola R; Saggese S Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Disclosed are a device for cooling moulded parts and for transporting the moulded parts from a receiving position to a holding/ejecting position. The device is particular useful with an index moulding machine having a rotary turret block with at least two movable mould halves thereon. The cooling device includes a

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 5 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 90, No.9, Sept.2000, p.25-6 English; German AUTOMATION AROUND INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Martin W Higher and higher requirements on injection moulded products are forcing manufacturers to invest in the areas of automation and peripherals. This article discusses injection moulding automation under the headings: project engineering of complex manufacturing units, centralisation, finding team solutions, special but flexible solutions, unmanned supply technology, and

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References and Abstracts

central control of materials supply. (Translated from Kunststoffe 90, No.9, 2000, p.84/9) EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.799984 Item 6 Patent Number: US 6109904 A1 20000829 MOULD CLOSURE UNIT WITH A DEVICE FOR REMOVING INJECTION MOULDINGS Hehl K A mould closing unit is provided with a device for handling and/or removal of mouldings. It comprises a supporting element for supporting the device in the area of the mould, an actuating element, by which the handling element penetrating into the mould cavity is operable, as well as a drive unit for driving the actuating element. The drive unit drives the actuating element electromechanically and at least the drive unit, supporting element and actuating element constitute a structural unit, which is detachable from the mould closing unit. The drive unit is a hollow shaft motor at least partially receiving the actuating element. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.799865 Item 7 Plast’ 21 Nos.93/4, June/July 2000, p.52 Spanish CARBON FIBRE TECHNOLOGY Details are given of Wittmann’s Series 6 industrial robots, some of which have vertical arms made of carbon fibrereinforced composites, and their use in plastics injection moulding operations. WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.790865 Item 8 Plast’ 21 Nos.93/4, June/July 2000, p.48-9 Spanish SERPLASA: CONTRASTING QUALITY IN PACKAGING An examination is made of the activities of Servicios Plasticos SA (Serplasa) of Spain in the manufacture of plastics packaging by extrusion, coextrusion and injection and blow moulding, and in the extrusion of plastics films for use in the agricultural sector. Quality control procedures used by the Company and an automation system installed in its extrusion department are described. Employment figures and details of recent investments are presented. SERPLASA; SERVICIOS PLASTICOS SA; ALIMATIC SL

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.790864 Item 9 Injection Molding 8, No.9, Suppl. Sept.2000, p.46/51 AUTOMATION GETS EVEN FASTER, SIMPLER Injection moulding automation developments are reviewed with reference to NPE 2000. The speed and simplicity of the robots was the main trend reported. Technological developments are reported which will enable moulders to run lights out operations or to put numerous value-added operations alongside the press, unattended, and with optimum quality control. The review focuses on industrial robots, linear robots, and automation control. Accession no.790271 Item 10 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.17 CONTINUING ARTICULATE SUCCESS Custom moulder W.H. Smith & Sons has a long track record in the use of articulated robots and now uses nine Swiss-built Staubli robots at its plant at Minworth. The units are used within complex manufacturing cells carrying out tasks such as insert loading, trimming and palletising. Smith says the next stage in implementation of automation within the company is to create flexible moulding cells which can be switched easily between different production jobs as demand requires. SMITH W.H.,& CO. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.788093 Item 11 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.16 WITTMANN TAILORS ITS OFFER WITH OTHER MAKERS’ MACHINES Wittmann announced last year that it was to supply industrial robots from Toshiba and Kawasaki alongside its Wittmann beam models. The company sees the move as a natural response to the increasing demands from the UK plastics industry for more sophisticated automation solutions. One of the key developments at the company in recent months has been its work with the integration of computer-based vision systems with the robot controller. Wittmann’s engineers have also succeeded in linking a Leica laser measuring system to a Kawasaki six-axis industrial robot to provide an ultra precise positioning system. WITTMANN UK EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.788092

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Item 12 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.15 POLLAK POSTS HUGE AUTOMATION SAVINGS Stoneridge Pollak, an automotive moulder and switch manufacturer, has achieved unit cost savings and cycle time improvements of 30%. The improvements are the result of the introduction of a Battenfeld vertical press and five-axis Toshiba robots supplied and integrated by Wittmann UK. The new cell’s current production is moulding a two-piece insert part, a window lift switch with metal electrical connectors set in glass-filled nylon, supplied for use in VW and Skoda cars. STONERIDGE POLLAK EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.788091 Item 13 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.14 PHONES DIAL UP 7M POUNDS STERLING FOR RTS Robot Technology Systems has won a 6.6m pounds sterling order from Rosti to supply automated assembly and moulding systems to produce mobile phone components for Ericsson. The integrated turnkey package includes the automation of 19 injection moulding machine cells using articulated six-axis robots. The automation installation at Rosti’s facility in Scotland includes nine mobile phone assembly lines with a capacity to manufacture up to 12 million phone assemblies a year, six stand-alone assembly machines and a number of RTS Vincent automatic palletising units. ROBOT TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS; ROSTI AS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.788090 Item 14 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.13 AUTOMATIC PROFITS The most recent robot investment figures for UK industry, published by the British Automation and Robotics Association for 1999, showed the number of new robots being installed in plastics and rubber manufacturing applications down by almost 18.5% on 1998 to 326 units. However, this does not seem to be the view of the major suppliers of automation to the UK plastics industry. Wittmann claims injection moulding companies have invested heavily in automation. ATM Automation reports a big increase in demand for its flexible downstream automation solutions. Technological developments are bringing down the cost of complex automation, with insert loading a particularly good example.

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.788089 Item 15 Modern Plastics International 30, No.6, June 2000, p.43/7 AUTOMATION PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES IN MOLD DESIGN Toensmeier P A Discussed in this article is the strong influence that process automation trends have had on injection mould design. The article then focuses in details on the activities of mould-maker Fairway Molds Inc. of the USA. The president of the company says that the level of sophistication of the moulding capabilities of many of his customers is such, that the first time some parts come into contact with humans is when the consumer unwraps the product! FAIRWAY MOLDS INC.; YASDA; STACKTECK SYSTEMS INC.; TRADESCO MOLD LTD.; UNIQUE MOULD MAKERS LTD. ASIA; CANADA; EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; NORTH AMERICA; PORTUGAL; SOUTH AMERICA; SPAIN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.787809 Item 16 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 90, No.7, July 2000, p.26-8 English; German AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING AND WELDING OF BUMPERS Leiritz O; Gorse H DAT Automatisierungstechnik GmbH; Dynamit Nobel Kunststoff GmbH In fully automated bumper production, a jointed-armrobot takes care of all handling tasks. Its wide operating area and high positional accuracy have made it possible to integrate into the automation system a welding operation that was originally separate. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.786911 Item 17 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 90, No.7, July 2000, p.24-6 English; German ACCELERATION IS NOT EVERYTHING Hofmair H Engel Vertriebs GmbH The key to the shortest possible handling time lies in improving the entire system consisting of injection moulding machine, mould and handling system. To

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References and Abstracts

genuinely accelerate production, the production cell and the mould must be designed for automation. Judicious synchronisation of individual movements can reduce the demoulding time by almost 50%. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.786910 Item 18 European Plastics News 27, No.8, Sept.2000, p.58 FULL AUTOMATION FROM BATTENFELD Swoboda, a well-known automotive supplier, was seeking process safety, precision, flexibility and efficiency for valve control gear casing production at its factory in southern Germany. Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen planned, designed and installed a fully automatic, easily adaptable automated production cell that overlaps processing steps to shorten cycle time and increase output. Engine compartment casings must be completely impenetrable. Encapsulating components during moulding, as opposed to separate moulding and insertion, assures component process safety. The automated production system is described. BATTENFELD KUNSTSTOFFMASCHINEN GMBH AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.785245 Item 19 Macplas International No.9, Aug.2000, p.61-2 PRODUCTION CELL The automated production of Sharpak containers for use in the disposal of hospital sharps is described. Rexam Containers & Closures’ redesign of the Sharpak production line was intended to reduce the handling, increase throughput and improve quality standards and consistency. The dedicated manufacturing cell comprises 8 Sandretto injection moulding machines of 270 and 550 tons clamping force, together with over 300,000 pounds sterling of automation equipment. A conveyor is positioned alongside every moulding machine which are serviced by seven all-electric, three-axis de-mould robots. REXAM CONTAINERS & CLOSURES EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.784625 Item 20 Plast’ 21 Nos.88/9, Jan./Feb.2000, p.50-2 Spanish ROBOTS INVADE THE PLASTICS SECTOR A survey is made of industrial robots and manipulators manufactured by a number of companies for use in plastics

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injection moulding operations. Statistics are presented for numbers of robots operating in Spain in 1998. AER-ATP; CAMPETELLA ROBOTIC CENTER; CENTROTECNICA SA; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS; EQUIPER SL; IROBI; MTP SL; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; LUISO SL; TECNOMATIC SPA; CAUFAR SL; REIS ROBOTICS; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; STAUBLI; STAUBLI ESPANOLA SA; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; SEPRO ROBOTICA AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE; WORLD

Accession no.783032 Item 21 Molding Systems 58, No.3, June 2000, p.26-32 AGREE TO AUTOMATE Mallon J M Yushin America Inc. In an era of rapidly accelerating competitive forces, most moulders agree automation is key to maximizing production savings. However, most users run into trouble from the outset, often because short-term management procurement decisions do not allow for flexibility and cost savings over the long haul. For automation success, management must take the lead in organising, planning and executing a long-range strategy. This article provides twelve tips for project success. USA

Accession no.782589 Item 22 Plast’ 21 Nos.88/9, Jan./Feb.2000, p.40-1 Spanish SOLUTIONS FOR THE AUTOMATION OF INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Details are given of the range of industrial robots developed by Dal Maschio for the automation of plastics injection moulding operations. DAL MASCHIO; PLASVIR EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.780289 Item 23 Patent Number: US 6030566 A1 20000229 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING PLASTIC MATERIAL PRODUCTS FROM A PLASTIC MATERIAL INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Herbst R The method comprises the steps of unmoulding the products from a mould of the injection moulding machine and then cooling the products on two product surfaces by

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

contact with two corresponding cooling surfaces of a cooling apparatus. The apparatus is provided with corresponding unmoulding devices and cooling plates. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.777512 Item 24 Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri 64, Nos.11/12, Nov./Dec.1999, p.718/34 Italian AUTOMATION BECOMES INTEGRATED Baucia G An examination is made of applications of industrial robots in the automation of plastics processing and finishing operations, including injection, insert and blow moulding, thermoforming, painting, metallising and flash removal. Robots and robotised production cells developed by a number of companies are described. BATTENFELD AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; CAMPETELLA ROBOTIC CENTER; COLOMBO RENATO ROBOTICA; KUKA ROBOTER GMBH; ENGEL AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; CO.MA.SPE.; DAL MASCHIO; EUROSERVICE; COMAU SPA; STAUBLI; TECNOMATIC SPA; TIESSE ROBOT; VMP+ASITECH AUTOMAZIONE AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; ITALY; SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.776785 Item 25 British Plastics and Rubber April 2000, p.17 PUSHING DOWN THE PRICE OF ROBOTIC REMOVAL New models of handling robots are helping decrease the price of robotic removal. Descriptions are given of the range of robots from BPI Machines and Hi-Tech Automation. The BPI series includes sprue pickers and beam robots, pneumatic and full CNC models, and high speed side entry machines. The machines are manufactured by Alfa Auto Machinery of Taiwan, which claims to be the biggest supplier of beam robots in the Far East outside Japan, and is now expanding sales to the USA and Europe. In the UK, the major selling point for the machines is the price, with a swing-arm Phoenix sprue picker costing 1,900 pounds sterling complete with plinths and vacuum head. The new machine from Hi-Tech Automation is a pneumatic pick and place robot built by Index Automatic Technology. Called the HT600, it has a conventional three-axis design which sells for 4,500 pound, sterling plus VAT. BPI MACHINES; HI-TECH AUTOMATION; ALFA AUTO MACHINERY

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; TAIWAN; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.771104 Item 26 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1829, 24th March 2000, p.10 PROVING THE VALUE OF AUTOMATION Since 1994, UK-based LEC Refrigeration has been upgrading its injection moulding manufacturing systems - including investing in a state-of-the-art automated refrigerator manufacturing facility. This article takes a look at this, and other recent investments. LEC REFRIGERATION; SIME DARBY; NISSEI; NEGRI BOSSI; DAL MASCHIO; ITALMACHINERY EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; JAPAN; MALAYSIA; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.771057 Item 27 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 89, No.12, Dec.1999, p.22-3 English; German PUNCHING, BENDING, INSERTING AND SHEATHING Deusch H Ecotech Automations- & Verfahrenstechnik GmbH Plug-in connectors for electronics are required in vast quantities. Economic production is only rendered feasible through extensively automating the production stages. Automation of peripheral equipment provides for high productivity and continuous quality assurance in the injection moulding of plugs with over 100 pins. (German version of this paper, which includes illustrations, is on p.68-70.) EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.764388 Item 28 Plastics Technology 45, No.11, Nov.1999, p.56/65 SMALL IS BIG Knights M This article supplies a comprehensive review of the latest trends in auxiliary equipment, together with the advantages and features of the latest equipment currently on offer from major US manufacturers such as Conair, AEC, and Colortronic. Ancillary equipment is getting smaller to keep pace with the growing market for small precision parts. This article highlights the latest dryers, loaders, blenders, grinders and chillers which have all dropped in size for accuracy and fast product changeovers. CONAIR; AEC; COLORTRONIC INC.; MAGUIRE INDUSTRIES INC.; DRI-AIR INDUSTRIES INC.

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USA

TECNOMAGNETE SPA

Accession no.763844

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 29 Injection Molding 8, No.2, Feb.2000, p.99 JEWEL BOX AUTOMATION FOR SPEED Tri-Tec Industries relies on automation for fast, efficient production of CD jewel boxes. The company recently installed six cells of integrated product handling, assembling and stacking automation from Gima Advanced Technology. Tri-Tec moulds its jewel boxes on 300-ton presses, mostly custom-built Engels, running 4+4 stack moulds. Virtually everything in the Tri-Tec plant, including automation and moulding machines, is customised. GIMA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INC.; TRI-TEC INDUSTRIES LTD.

Accession no.753295 Item 32 Plastiques Flash No.312, June/July 1999, p.88-90 French DRIVES: BRUSHLESS, ASYNCHRONOUS AND EVEN LINEAR

NORTH AMERICA

Industrial robots produced by Sytrama of Italy for use in plastics injection moulding are examined, and developments in robots with linear electric drive motors are described. Turnover and employment figures are presented for the Company. SYTRAMA SRL; DEMETER PLASTIQUES; STERLING CORP.; NETSTAL AG; BMB SPA; BMBIRAGHI SPA; OIMA SPA

Accession no.761533

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; ITALY; SWITZERLAND; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 30 Plastics Technology 45, No.12, Dec.1999, p.48-52 MOLDERS’ GUIDE TO DO-IT-YOURSELF ROBOT TOOLING Edited by: Naitove M H The design of do-it-yourself end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) for injection moulding robot applications is discussed. Information needed for the successful design is considered, and includes robot data, moulding machine data, mould data, part data, moulding cycle time, and plant data. Other factors affecting part removal and thus influencing equipment selection and EOAT engineering are examined, and include grip selection. USA

Accession no.760288 Item 31 Italian Technology No.3, Oct.1999, p.190 QUICK MOULD CHANGE Quad-Press magnetic modules are the standard for numerous machine manufacturers and are already employed by a large numbers of advanced end-users who have finally solved the problem of locking moulds, of any shape and size, on injection presses of any type and dimension. The ‘quadsystem’ patent developed by Tecnomagnete has made it possible to design a permanent electromagnetic circuit with square polarity capable of generating a great force of attraction, constant in time, with small space requirements. The system ensures fully operating safety because it requires no electric power during the working phase and therefore is unaffected by any power failures. Details are given.

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Accession no.752747 Item 33 Plastiques Flash No.312, June/July 1999, p.84-6 French CONQUERING INJECTION MOULDING ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT A survey is made of developments by Wittmann in ancillary equipment for use in plastics injection moulding, including industrial robots, dryers and temperature control systems. Turnover and employment figures are presented for the Group. WITTMANN KUNSTSTOFFGERAETE GMBH; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; CRAMERTROCHNERBAU; WITTMANN-KUEFFNER; KUEFFNER TECHNOLOGIE; COLORTRONIC ROBOT SYSTEMS; MHT; KRAUSS-MAFFEI AG; ALBORA AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE; WORLD

Accession no.752746 Item 34 Plast’ 21 No.81, May 1999, p.50-1 Spanish LATEST PLASTICS PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES A review is presented of plastics processing machinery and ancillary equipment supplied by Cerlosan of Spain, including injection moulding machines (Demag Ergotech), industrial robots (Wittmann), hot runner systems (Fast Heat), temperature control equipment (Multiheat) and cooling systems (Equifab).

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References and Abstracts

CERLOSAN SL; DEMAG ERGOTECH; MULTIHEAT SL; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; FAST HEAT INC.; EQUIFAB SL AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; SPAIN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.752716 Item 35 Patent Number: EP 950496 A2 19991020 ROBOTIC REMOVAL FROM MOULD OF INJECTION MOULDED PRODUCTS Brown P P; Sorensen J O Universal Ventures The mould cavity and core part are separated in a generally horizontal direction, the product being retained in the cavity upon separation of the cavity from the core part. A robotic arm, which includes a product receiver, removes the retained product from the cavity by means of the product receiver upon separation of the cavity from the core part. The product receiver is adapted for attracting an interior portion of the product onto the receiver.

Item 38 European Plastics News 26, No.8, Sept.1999, p.33 ARTICULATE ARGUMENTS Vink D MHZ Hachtel is exploiting the flexibility of a multi-axis articulated robot in the production of high-volume curtain rail fittings at its Niederstetten factory. Curtain rails are produced by extruding PVC over a wooden core, while corner fittings are made on some of the 20 injection moulding machines. MHZ has introduced an RV16 articulated robot from Reis alongside a Demag D325 NC 450 injection moulding machine. The robot removes parts from the four-cavity mould and positions them for mechanical assembly of the top and bottom parts. The same robot transfers the assembled parts to a channel system for packing. MHZ HACHTEL EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.745252

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Accession no.750646 Item 36 Plast’ 21 No.80, April 1999, p.61-2 Spanish INJECTION MOULDING: MOULDING THE FUTURE Technical developments in processes, machinery, control equipment and automation systems for plastics injection moulding are reviewed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.745803 Item 37 European Plastics News 26, No.8, Sept.1999, p.34 AUTOMATION FOR THE ASTRA Vink D Automotive mouldings account for 98% of the parts produced by Victor Reinz Thermoplast in Idstein, Germany. The most highly automated part of the plant is a manufacturing cell dedicated to the Opel Astra C-pillar trim. It is based on two Engel 800 tonne ES 4550 Duo injection moulding machines. Engel also supplied the entire handling system which features four ERC series robots, two models for part removal and two units for assembly operations. The 20% talc-filled PP parts are moulded in two-cavity tools. VICTOR REINZ THERMOPLAST EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.745253

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 39 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 51, No.2, March 1999, p.24-7 French ROBOTS AND PLASTICS PROCESSING IN PERFECT HARMONY Guilhem J Industrial robots and manipulators produced by a number of companies for use in plastics injection moulding are reviewed. ATM AUTOMATION LTD.; PILOT INDUSTRIES; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; VARMIPIC; KRYPTON ELECTRONIC; MASSA M.,SPA; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; CHAVERIAT SA; REIS ROBOTICS; BATTENFELD GMBH; ABB ROBOTICS; ABB FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION; STAUBLI; TROAX; SYTRAMA SRL; TCP; MATRELEC EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SCANDINAVIA; SPAIN; SWEDEN; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.740636 Item 40 Patent Number: US 5804224 A 19980908 DRIVING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLYOPERATED INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Inaba Y; Ishikawa Y; Ito S; Nishimura K Fanuc Ltd. An electric motor having a rotor shaft on which a ball screw is integrally formed is mounted on one of a crosshead and a rear platen of a clamping mechanism, while a ball nut threadedly engaged with the rotor shaft is fixed to the other of the cross-head and the rear platen to constitute driving apparatus for linearly moving the cross-

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References and Abstracts

head. As the ball screw is integrally formed on rotor shaft, any connector for connecting these two members is unnecessary. As the ball screw is directly rotated by the motor positioned coaxially with the ball screw, any bearing for bearing a radial force acts on the ball screw and rotor shaft. The apparatus may also be applied to an ejection mechanism, an injection mechanism and a nozzle touch mechanism of the electrically-operated injection moulding machine.

An examination is made of the use of Sepro industrial robots by Panasonic for the automation of injection moulding operations in its plant in Girona, Spain, for the manufacture of plastics vacuum cleaner components. PANASONIC; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; SEPRO ROBOTICA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.736313

JAPAN

Accession no.740166 Item 41 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 89, No.5, 1999, p.11. AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING Hoffmann F; Lind M Reis Robotics; Flexible Automation An example is described of the use of automation in the automotive industry where different materials including plastics are used. Scherer & Trier is a supplier of body side mouldings and interior panels, and its use of articulating-arm robots is described, together with details of the production of ready-to-install automotive body side mouldings in a robotic cell. This latter comprises an injection moulding machine, one linear and two articulating-arm robots, as well as an assembly station for the fasteners. (Translated from Kunststoffe 89 (1999) 5, pp.54-6 SCHERER & TRIER EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.739922 Item 42 Injection Molding 7, No.5, Suppl., May 1999, p.26-7 ROBOTS FOR PRESS-SIDE HANDLING Witzler S This article presents the purchasing basics to be considered when investing in robots for injection moulding press-side handling. It looks at: part quality, productivity, labour utilisation, worker safety, profitability improvements, the part and the mould, the machine, programming, cycle time, robot payloads, rules of thumb, and selecting a robot drive based on application. USA

Accession no.737679 Item 43 Plast’ 21 Nos.77/8, Jan./Feb.1999, p.38-9 Spanish INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY IN INJECTION MOULDING

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Item 44 Plast’ 21 Nos.77/8, Jan./Feb.1999, p.34-6 Spanish MODEST GROWTH IN THE WORLD ROBOTS MARKET Trends in the world market for industrial robots are examined, and a survey is made of robots and manipulators manufactured by a number of companies for use in plastics injection moulding. INTERNATIONAL ROBOTICS FEDERATION; ROEGELE H.,SA; ENGEL AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; ENGEL; LUISO SL; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEM SL; CENTROTECNICA; DR.BOY GMBH; REIS ROBOTICS; REIS ROBOTICS ESPANA SL; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; SEPRO ROBOTICA AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE; WORLD

Accession no.736312 Item 45 Plastverarbeiter 48, No.5 May 1997, p.52-3 German EXACT RATES OF SUPPLY In injection moulding plants the use of weighing scales for pallets is a new approach to measuring products to be dispatched. As a specialist for complex thermoplastic injection moulded parts such as electrical components, car and washing machine shock absorbers and very complex parts for toys, the firm of Marcus Birner Kunststofftechnik from Thueringen is numbered amongst the innovative businesses in plastics processing emerging in the unified Germany. The business is expanding and also increasing with it are demands on the management of quality. For the goods dispatching procedures this firm has installed a weighing system by Mettler Toledo, whose core operation includes weighing scales for pallets. MARCUS BIRNER KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK; METTLER TOLEDO EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.734572

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Item 46 British Plastics and Rubber March 1999, p.28-9 WHEN CONVEYORS ARE IN THE WAY, PUT THEM UP IN THE AIR This article focuses on a three-injection moulding machine automation cell installed by Legrand Electric of the UK, which conveys mouldings 2.5 meters into the air, to prevent restrictions on access to the fire doors in the company’s Milton Keynes factory. The cell was installed by ATM Automation over a three month period and began operating in January 1999. Full details are given. ATM AUTOMATION; LEGRAND ELECTRIC; BILLION EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.733404 Item 47 European Rubber Journal 181, No.6, June 1999, p.35-7 INJECTION MOULDING: OPERATORS’ ROLE WILL CHANGE Shaw D LWB Steinl has adopted an advanced networking philosophy for its range of injection moulding machines. The company’s system, Gipnet 2000, allows almost any machine controlled by a programmable logic controller to be connected to the network and accept two-way communications. The company claims the injection moulding business is changing, so that a single operator will be responsible for three or four smaller machines, all controlled through a networked computer. LWB STEINL GMBH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.732543 Item 48 Plast’ 21 Special Issue, Oct.1998, p.139-41 Spanish REDUCED COSTS THROUGH WITTMANN PRECISION An examination is made of the activities of Wittmann Robot Systems in the manufacture of industrial robots, manipulators and associated safety devices for use in plastics injection moulding. WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.732461 Item 49 British Plastics and Rubber April 1999, p.35-6

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

CASE FOR AUTOMATION IN INJECTION MOULDING The advantages of automating the injection moulding process for the production of insert moulded parts are discussed. An example of a production cell designed and built by Battenfeld Automation is presented. A production system for an automotive plug housing was required to produce 10,000 parts per day. Production of the ABS housings involved two overmoulding systems in sequence. BATTENFELD AG EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.731094 Item 50 Injection Molding 7, No.4, April 1999, p.161 NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE - LOW-COST DEDICATED LOADERS CONVEY VIRGIN MATERIALS EFFECTIVELY This short article highlights the new SL Series of selfvacuum loaders with dedicated loading control, from Conair of the USA. Brief details of the new loader’s features are provided. CONAIR USA

Accession no.729349 Item 51 Modern Plastics Encyclopedia 75, No.12, 1998, p.E33 ROBOTS, PROVEN VALUE-ADDERS, BOOST PARTS-HANDLING PRODUCTIVITY Mallon J M Yushin America Inc. Robots can increase the competitiveness of injection moulding processors by automating labour-intensive parts handling. Sprue pickers represent the entry level of automation. Traverse or top-entry robots remove parts from moulds and can perform simple secondary functions such as degating or cap-closing. In phase three of automation, robots remove parts and perform multiple secondary processes, such as inspection, decorating, machining, assembly and packaging. USA

Accession no.728693 Item 52 Plastiques Flash No.309, Sept.1998, p.86-8 French ENERPAC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS REPLACES HOURS WITH MINUTES A survey is made of mould changing and other systems produced by Enerpac Automation Systems for the

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References and Abstracts

automation of plastics injection moulding. Turnover figures are presented for Enerpac and its parent company, Applied Power. ENERPAC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS; APPLIED POWER INC.; NORMAND R.; MONTANA; ENGEL

Item 56 Molding Systems 57, No.4, April 1999, p.48-9 ROBOT IMPROVES WORKER SAFETY, PRODUCTIVITY

AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; NETHERLANDS; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Consolidated Metco recently began injection moulding a truck headliner using polycarbonate. The company found it could not eject the large, thin-walled cosmetic part without sacrificing surface quality and dimensional integrity. An operator had to crawl between the platens of the 1950-ton press and manually remove the part. ConMet decided to automate the ejection process and installed a servo-drive traverse robot. Besides improving operator safety, the robot also helped trim about 25 sec from the previous 180-sec moulding cycle. CONSOLIDATED METCO INC.

Accession no.726282 Item 53 Plastiques Flash No.309, Sept.1998, p.82-5 French AUTOMATION AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR INNOVATION The range of industrial robots and manipulators manufactured by Engel Automatisierungstechnik for use in plastics injection moulding is examined. Details are given of a new plant opened at Dietach, Austria, which will double the Company’s production capacity, and turnover and employment figures are presented. ENGEL AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; ENGEL AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.726281 Item 54 Plast’ 21 No.74, Sept.1998, p.49-52 Spanish COST SAVING IN DRYING AND FEEDING PROCESSES Roch H Motan GmbH Techniques for reducing production costs and improving product quality in plastics injection moulding through automation and production organisation in the drying, feeding, colouring and recycling processes are discussed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.726272 Item 55 Plast’ 21 No.74, Sept.1998, p.36-7 Spanish ENGEL PRESENTS SOLUTIONS FOR INJECTION MOULDING Developments by Engel in machinery, industrial robots and computerised quality control systems for injection moulding are reviewed. ENGEL; ROEGELE H.,SA; CAPP-PLAST SRL AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.726270

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USA

Accession no.726033 Item 57 Injection Molding 7, No.3, March 1999, p.100/4 USING CAD TO OPTIMIZE MOLDING FLOOR LAYOUT Neilley R The use of computer aided design systems for the planning of a factory layout is discussed with reference to the experiences of Brightwell Dispensers. The company’s inhouse injection moulding facility had outgrown is present plant, and a new facility was chosen for Ferryfield Moldings near to Brightwell’s main plant. Due to pressures of time, the company turned to Sandretto and its newly developed computer-based factory planning system. Details are given of the new layout and the considerations made to ensure its successful operation. SANDRETTO (UK) LTD.; BRIGHTWELL DISPENSERS; FERRYFIELD MOLDINGS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.723175 Item 58 Plast’ 21 Nos.72/3, June/July 1998, p.70-1 Spanish SAFETY AND PROTECTION IN MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES Wittmann W Wittmann Kunststoffgeraete GmbH Safety measures applicable to manipulators and industrial robots in the plastics injection moulding industry are discussed. West European and US legislation relating to accident prevention is reviewed. AUSTRIA; USA; WESTERN EUROPE; WESTERN EUROPEGENERAL

Accession no.721730

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Item 59 Patent Number: EP 903213 A2 19990324 REPOSITIONING OF ARTICLES BETWEEN DIFFERENT POSITIONS WITHIN AN INTERMITTENTLY ACCESSIBLE SPACE Sorensen J O; Brown P P Universal Ventures Methods are described for repositioning articles, such as components of an injection moulded multicomponent product, within a space, such as the space between mould parts that is accessible for repositioning only during a series of periods, such as open-mould periods, that are separated by intervals of less accessibility for repositioning, such as closed mould intervals. The articles may be moved with a robot arm. For injection moulding with a stack mould, an article is repositioned from a first mould cavity in a first space in a first portion of the stack mould to a second mould cavity position in a second space in a second portion of the stack mould by moving the article from a first position to outside of the first and second spaces during a period when the first space is accessible and the second space is inaccessible and moving the article from outside of the spaces to a second position when the second space is accessible and the first space is inaccessible. CAYMAN ISLANDS

Accession no.721596 Item 60 Kunststoffberater 39, No.9, Sept.1994, p.17-20 German FLEXIBLE SERVO DRIVE TECHNOLOGY Tschopp J Hauser Elektronik GmbH The high-speed handling robot from the Josef Neureder firm SERVAX-M features dynamic and exact positioning. It can be used for feed and removal functions in injection moulding, where short cycle times, reliability and high degree of reproducibility. JOSEF NEUREDER GMBH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.721524 Item 61 Molding Systems 57, No.2, Feb.1999, p.16-21 ROBOTS SWING INTO ACTION Tolinski M One way to maintain manufacturing in the US is to increase the productivity of the existing labour force. Robotics is one potential solution to make productivity gains in the injection moulding industry. A review of robots available for each different level of moulding automation is presented.

Item 62 Macplas International Nov. 1998, p.46-8 HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOMATED MOULDING The application of robots and handling devices to injection moulding machines is discussed with particular reference to differences in attitude towards automated handling equipment between European and Japanese and US moulders. The European moulders are reported to consider the robot not as an ancillary device for the press, but as dedicated equipment designed especially for a particular part, and not for the whole production during the press life. This trend, however, is claimed to be reversing, and details are given of Italian moulders using automated handling equipment. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.720546 Item 63 Plastverarbeiter 48, No.1, Jan.1997, p.51 German WITHDRAW PARTS OF A MOULD MORE QUICKLY Husky Injection Moulding Systems have developed an additional function called Absolute Part Tracking as a new option for robots in the Moduline Series operating from above, which is examined and reviewed here in detail with diagrams. This means that the robot follows the movement of the closing unit and can begin retracting the moulded article even before the mould has completely opened. That means the time cycle can be reduced by up to ten percent. HUSKY INJECTION MOULDING SYSTEMS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; LUXEMBOURG; WESTERN EUROPE; WORLD

Accession no.718622 Item 64 Kunststoff Journal 29, No.1, Feb.1995, p.18-19 German QUICK TO GRASP A market survey is presented of handling equipment (mainly from Germany) for insertion of materials and removal of mouldings from injection moulding machines. The tendency towards modular additions of automatic handling devices to injection moulding machines is noted. Articles from this journal can be requested for translation by subscribers to the Rapra produced International Polymer Science and Technology.

USA

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.721099

Accession no.717070

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References and Abstracts

Item 65 Plast’ 21 No.70, April 1998, p.47/55 Spanish MANIPULATORS AND ROBOTS Applications of industrial robots and manipulators in plastics injection moulding are examined, and developments by a number of robot and injection moulding machine manufacturers are reviewed. GETECHA; DIAPAM INDUSTRIAL SA; SEPRO ROBOTICA; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; HUSKY INJECTION MOULDING SYSTEMS LTD.; MANNESMANN DEMAG KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; IROBI; MTP SL AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.715803 Item 66 Plast’ 21 No.70, April 1998, p.33-4 Spanish PRODUCT AND PROCESS QUALITY The plastics injection moulding activities of Plasticos El Gorbea of Spain are examined, and the Company’s use of industrial robots is discussed. Employment figures and other company details are presented. PLASTICOS EL GORBEA; SEPRO ROBOTICA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.715800 Item 67 Injection Molding 7, No.2, Feb.1999, p.133 CNC ROBOTIC DEGATERS ARE FLOOR OR BEAM MOUNTABLE SAS Automation has developed two new CNC programmable degater systems. Robocut, which is floor mounted, receives the moulded part in its own fixture from the manipulator on the robot and automatically moves the sprue with parts to preprogrammed multiple gate locations for degating. The Aeroboy is directly mounted on the robot beam manipulator. SAS AUTOMATION USA

Accession no.715673

Snyder M R Key innovations in robotics for injection moulding include virtual-reality programming and a high-speed robot with a linear motor. AEC Automation Engineering has introduced the AE Series of servo drive robots for machines ranging from 50 to 6000 tonnes. Sepro’s three-axis CNC robot is for use with machines as small as 25 tonnes. SAS Automation has debuted in the gate-cutting robotics field. WORLD

Accession no.714494 Item 69 Plastics in Canada Oct/Nov.1998, p.15-6 AUTOMATION: UNDERSTANDING ROBOTS The use of robots in the moulding industry is examined and trends are discussed with respect to product selection and the design of end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT). According to Wittmann Robot & Automation Systems, three-axis electric robots are almost a baseline in any new plastics automation plant, while CNC robots allow a setup of positions from the floor, as well as quick reference for mould changeovers. The importance of training is emphasised. WITTMANN ROBOT & AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INC. USA

Accession no.711734 Item 70 Patent Number: US 5753280 A 19980519 COMPACT AND TORQUE FREE SIDE ENTRY TROLLEY ROBOT Coxhead B F Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. A side entry robot for removing moulded articles from mould halves of a moulding machine of the present invention and an associated process and moulding machine are disclosed. The robot includes a device for engaging the article; a trolley for supporting and carrying the device for engaging into and out of the mould halves; a mechanism for guiding the trolley from outside the mould halves to a position between the mould halves, wherein the mechanism for guiding is stationarily fixed between the mould halves and wherein the mechanism for guiding extends from outside the mould halves to between the mould halves; and a device for moving the trolley along the mechanism for guiding to a position between the mould halves and to a position outside of the mould halves. CANADA

Item 68 Modern Plastics International 29, No.2, Feb.1999, p.59-61 VIRTUAL-REALITY PROGRAMMING, LINEAR MOTORS SPUR ROBOTICS

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Accession no.710699 Item 71 Revue Generale des Caoutchoucs et Plastiques No.764, Dec.1997, p.56-61

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References and Abstracts

French ROBOTS: MAKING MORE WITHOUT SPENDING MORE Delannoy G Developments in industrial robots and manipulators for use in plastics and rubber injection moulding are reviewed. The activities of a number of companies involved in the manufacture of robots are examined, with particular reference to Sepro Robotique for which turnover and employment figures are presented. SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; CONAIR SEPRO; ALBORA; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; CHAVERIAT SA; SYTRAMA SRL; MARTIPLAST; GUIGNARD AUTOMATISATION; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS; BATTENFELD FRANCE SARL; INDEX (PLASTIC SYSTEMS) LTD.; FAIRWAY; HARMO ROBOTS LTD.; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; STAR SEIKI CO.LTD. AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; ITALY; JAPAN; TAIWAN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.710648 Item 72 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 85, No.8, Aug.1995, p.47-8 AUTOMATED PARTS HANDLING Zingel H Robotec Consulting AG The functions and capabilities are described of the Moro universal, modular robot system which has been developed on the basis of the customary and constantly occurring tasks in the environment of the injection moulding machine. This particular innovative robot deployment strategy, either along the length of the machine or at right angles to it, has opened up an additional possibility which permits more latitude during planning, it is claimed. The variable working area of the modular robot means it can be readily re-oriented for different tasks. SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.710002 Item 73 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 85, No.9, Sept.1995, p.45-6 LINKED BY ROBOTS Wenzel M Reiss Robotics The linking by a robot of two injection moulding machines is demonstrated to enable reproducible and reliable twostage injection moulding to be achieved for the production of automotive components such as fascia panels for automotive heating and air conditioning units. The production system which is described consists of a film magazine, two 1000 kN injection moulding machines and a delivery system. These are connected by a linear robot with an axis 1 of 6000 mm stroke.

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.709854 Item 74 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 84, No.10, Oct.1994, p.57-8 CYCLIC HANDLING The use is described of automated handling processes used in the production of digital compact cassettes, with the importance of the interface between the injection mould and the palletising station being emphasised. The individual stages of withdrawal, transfer, assembly, parts conveyance and palletising are carried out by only one handling gantry with a horizontal robot. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.709837 Item 75 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 84, No.10, Oct.1994, p.54/7 FOLDING-ARM ROBOT ASSEMBLES COMPONENTS ON THE INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Kroth E Maschinenfabrik Reis GmbH & Co. The automation of injection moulding machines with 6axis folding-arm robots is discussed with reference to the direct finishing of injection mouldings. The flexibility of the RV6 industrial robot makes it possible to carry out tasks such as deflashing, marking, assembly, and testing within the cycle time, and to carry out a simple changeover during a product change. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.709836 Item 76 Plast’ 21 Nos.67/8, Jan./Feb.1998, p.31-4 Spanish FUTURE TRENDS IN THE INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Novella A Taller de Inyeccion de la Industria del Plastico Trends in plastics injection moulding machines are examined, with particular reference to electric presses, clamping units, control systems and ancillary equipment. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.706061 Item 77 Kunststoffe Plast Europe

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References and Abstracts

85, No.3, March 1995, p.20-1 REMOVAL, FINISHING AND ASSEMBLY Wenzel M Reis Robotics The use of swan-neck robots at Braun Corp.’s Marktheidenfeld factory is discussed. They are not only used for parts removal from the injection moulding machine, but also for the automation of ancillary operations such as marking or flash removal. Their use is demonstrated to provide a significant increase in productivity, and reduction in production costs. The automated manufacture of an espresso machine and a food processor is described. BRAUN CORP. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.703669 Item 78 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 49, No.8, Nov.1997, p.82-5 French AUTOMATION: CONTINUED INTEGRATION Gailliez E Developments in industrial robots and manipulators for use in plastics injection moulding are reviewed, and systems produced by a number of companies are described. The activities of Sepro Robotique of France in the manufacture of robots are examined, and turnover and employment figures are presented for the Company. SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; CHAVERIAT-AUROCH; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS; SYTRAMA; ALBORA; HARMO ROBOTS LTD.; HEKUMA; CONAIR INC.; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; ARBURG MASCHINENFABRIK; ENGEL; BATTENFELD GMBH; STAUBLI; FANUC; ABB AUTOMATION AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; JAPAN; SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.702515 Item 79 Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri Nos.11/12, Nov./Dec.1997, p.742-50 Italian IN SEARCH OF LOST PRODUCTIVITY Baucia G A survey is made of developments by a number of companies in industrial robots and other automation systems for use in plastics injection moulding. BATTENFELD GMBH; SIEMENS AG; CROMA SRL; MANNESMANN DEMAG KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK; SOCO SYSTEM; DAL MASCHIO; CAMPETELLA ROBOTIC CENTER; IROBI SISTEMI; MORETTO; COLOMBO

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OFFICINE MECCANICHE; HEKUMA; GOSEWEHR GMBH; REIS ROBOTICS; STAUBLI UNIMATION LTD.; REMAK; UNIROBOT; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS AUSTRIA; BELGIUM; DENMARK; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; ITALY; SCANDINAVIA; SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.702511 Item 80 Industria della Gomma 41, No.8, Oct.1997, p.37-8 Italian AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION UNIT FOR RUBBER-METAL ARTICLES Coscia M Rutil Srl The production of an automotive gasket using machinery developed by Rutil is described. The assembly consists of a glass fibre-reinforced polyamide base over which is moulded a silicone rubber gasket, and also incorporates a number of metal reinforcement washers. The production unit comprises a pair of C-frame injection presses, one for moulding the base and the other for overmoulding the gasket, with rotating tables for handling the parts, a station for loading the metal washers into the mould, and an industrial robot for checking the quality of the gaskets before unloading. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.702481 Item 81 Patent Number: US 5750161 A 19980512 QUICK CHANGE MOULD TOOLING Schock R J; Brun C J Electric Form Inc. A mould core assembly for removable installation in a moulding machine includes a first lock element attached to a core and a second lock element movably attached to a core retainer. The second lock element is movable between a locked position fitted in locking connection with the first lock element and an unlocked position separated from the first lock element. A slip ring surrounds the first lock element of the core, engaging and holding the second lock element in its locked position. A spring is connected between the core retainer and the slip ring, with the spring biased to oppose movement of the slip ring away from its locked position so that the core is normally held in its locked position in the core retainer USA

Accession no.702267 Item 82 Molding Systems 56, No.7, Sept.1998, p.30-4

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References and Abstracts

JUSTIFY YOUR AUTOMATION PROJECT Schmitz J AEC/Application Automation The benefits of robot automation are examined by showing how to compare the costs of running an injection moulding process without a robot with the costs for the same process automated with a robot. In general, robots result in higher productivity, higher quality products and a safer workplace. Sprue pickers, pneumatic robots and motor-driven robots are discussed. USA

Accession no.700082 Item 83 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 88, No.9, Sept.1998, p.25-6,1425/30 German; English LINEAR AND ARTICULATED ROBOTS. A COMPARISON OF VARIOUS KINEMATICS AND CONCEPTS Wenzel M Reis Robotics The use of different kinematics either alone or, particularly in complex systems, in combination to provide a solution to automation problems in injection moulding production is discussed. Modern software concepts are shown to be making robots easier to operate and to be opening up a technology that provides more extensive functionality. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.699035 Item 84 Plast’ 21 No.62, June/July 1997, p.86-7 Spanish WITTMANN’S W420 ROBOT/MANIPULATOR Applications of the Wittmann W420 industrial robot/ manipulator in plastics injection moulding are examined, and other robots in the Company’s range are briefly described. WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE

Sepro in the automation of the production processes is examined. VALEO ILUMINACION/SENALIZACION SA; VALEO SA; SEPRO ROBOTICA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.695275 Item 86 Plast’ 21 No.62, June/July 1997, p.38-9 Spanish AUTOMATION IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY The use by Braun of industrial robots manufactured by Reis in its plastics injection moulding operations for the manufacture of domestic appliances is described. Examples are also presented of applications of robots in the service industries. BRAUN AG; BRAUN ESPANOLA; LUFTHANSA AG; REIS ROBOTICS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.695274 Item 87 European Plastics News 25, No.8, Sept.1998, p.40-2 SMART ROBOTS Vink D Dynamit Nobel has taken a novel approach to automating the production of plastics body panels for the MCC Smart car. The factory at the MCC site in Hambach, France, has multi-axial robots mounted directly on the top of the fixed platens of the injection moulding machine. As well as part removal, articulated multi-axial robots can also be used to supply inserts to the mould and apply mould release agent. They can remove flash with a ceramic blade and submit parts to flame treatment. DYNAMIT NOBEL EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.692130

Accession no.695283 Item 85 Plast’ 21 No.62, June/July 1997, p.40-1 Spanish PLASTICS EXTERNAL LENSES FOR VEHICLE LIGHTS

Item 88 Journal of Injection Molding Technology 2, No.2, June 1998, p.95-101 USE OF SERVO ROBOTS FOR INJECTION MOLDING APPLICATIONS Mallon J M Yushin America Inc.

Injection moulding and coating processes used by Valeo Iluminacion/Senalizacion of Spain in the manufacture of polycarbonate external lenses for vehicle lights are described. The use of industrial robots manufactured by

The use of robots, in which all primary axes of motion are driven by digital, AC servo motors, in injection moulding applications is described and their functional advantages over robots that employ other drive

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References and Abstracts

mechanisms are discussed. The economic benefits of servo robots are considered, using a hypothetical application as a model. 6 refs. USA

Accession no.691457 Item 89 Plastics Technology 44, No.7, July 1998, p.39 ‘PIGGY BACK’ ROBOT HANDLES TWOCOLOUR PARTS Ogando J Simply pulling parts off the press barely begins to tap the capabilities of current injection moulding robots. Often the really big savings come from automating labour-intensive secondary operations. This is what happened at Calsonic North America, which recently adopted a multi-task robotic system for its two-component moulding operation. Calsonic’s robotic system, which comes from Conair, revolves around a Sepro servo robot with a sprue picker mounted on its main beam. This hybrid robot simultaneously handles the sprue removal chores and takes away the finished parts. The system also includes a variety of custom automation equipment for parts collection and secondary operations. Calsonic, which makes automotive air conditioners, recently began two-component moulding to produce control buttons for the units. The two-shot process typically produces white polycarbonate lettering overmoulded with black ABS. Calsonic moulds the parts in a two-barrel 120-ton Nissei press with a rotating platen. Four- and six-cavity family tools produce sets of different buttons. In Japan, where the company moulds similar twocolour buttons, Calsonic needs two operators to handle parts removal, degating, and other secondary operations. In the USA, the company does not have any one operator assigned to the line; details are given. CALSONIC NORTH AMERICA USA

Accession no.690473 Item 90 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1744, 10th July 1998, p.9 ATM AUTOMATES PC CHASSIS LINE ATM Automation has installed an automated production cell at Rosti which has enabled the number of operators required for the assembly and inspection of a 3COM computer chassis to be reduced from five to two, while at the same time improving quality of output. The chassis parts are produced on a Sandretto moulding machine in a single cavity mould. The machine has an ATM ES2000 three axis CNC low headroom take-out robot which takes a part from the fixed mould half every 60 seconds. ATM AUTOMATION LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.688384

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Item 91 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1744, 10th July 1998, p.7 RPC PILOTS HIGH SPEED SYSTEM PCE Automation has developed an ultra fast side-entry robot system, the Model 200 Racer, which can unload most injection moulded components faster than free-fall demoulding. RPC Containers wanted an automated unloading system which maintained orientation, but which would not extend the cycle. A PCE Racer robot system unloading paint-style containers has been running on a Billion injection moulding machine at RPC’s plant at Oakham for around six months. PCE AUTOMATION; RPC CONTAINERS LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.688383 Item 92 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1744, 10th July 1998, p.7 ECONOMICS DRIVE ROBOT GROWTH The strong pound is one of the factors behind the UK’s growing interest in manufacturing automation as plastics processors struggle to maintain competitiveness against rivals in continental Europe and further afield. Processors at all levels are demanding more of their automation, whether that means upgrading from pneumatic to servo drive robots or incorporating downstream functions beyond the regular pick-and-place duties. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.688382 Item 93 Plast’ 21 No.60, April 1997, p.64-5 Spanish ST SERIES MODULAR, HIGH EFFICIENCY ROBOTS Technical features and applications in plastics injection moulding are examined for the ST Series of industrial robots manufactured by Apex Robot Systems and supplied in Spain by Equiper. APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS; EQUIPER SL EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.686281 Item 94 Plastics News International May 1998, p.10 WHY USE SERVO-ROBOTS? McKinlay D

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References and Abstracts

Southstar Machinery It is explained that servo-robots are no longer the domain of long-run production, but are now developed and flexible enough to offer substantial benefits to all injection moulders - flexibility being a must for the Australian and New Zealand environment of short-run production. AUSTRALIA; NEW ZEALAND

Accession no.684110 Item 95 Plastiques Flash No.296, March 1997, p.61-3 French ENERPAC: SOLUTIONS FOR SPEEDING UP PRODUCTION CHANGES A survey is made of quick mould changing and other automation systems supplied by Enerpac for use in the plastics injection moulding industry. ENERPAC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS; MONTANA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; NETHERLANDS; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.682341 Item 96 Plastics Engineering 54, No.5, May 1998, p.37-40 HOW TO PLAN A ROBOT-BASED AUTOMATION CELL Rodrigues J Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Proper planning of automated moulding depends heavily on the development of an early partnership between the supplier of automation equipment and the mould maker. After reviewing the typical reasons for using automation, this article presents a systematic approach to planning an automated moulding cell. CANADA

Accession no.680632 Item 97 Plastics Engineering 54, No.5, May 1998, p.24-9 ROBOTICS Wigotsky V The robotics industry in North America is now a 1.1bn US dollars business with nearly 12,500 robots shipped in 1997. It is estimated that the plastics industry’s share, most notably for injection moulding, was probably under 100m US dollars, with total shipments approximating 2000 units. The industry is said to have evolved in three phases, the entryphase level with pick-and-place robots, servo robots, and the third phase represented by the automation cell. The capabilities offered by robots, together with examples of robotic systems available from US suppliers, are discussed.

Item 98 Molding Systems 56, No.4, April 1998, p.32-3 FAST-FORWARD: AUTOMATED REMOVAL & ASSEMBLY OF CASSETTE CASES Nypro Alabama has moulded and assembled over 24 million clear cassette cases in the last two years, with just one attendant on duty. Two dedicated injection machines placed side-by-side mould the components, one moulds the case bases, while the other moulds the covers. Robots demould the PS parts and hand them off to an automated work cell, where the bases and covers are assembled at a rate of six cases every nine seconds. All this automation is integrated as one system from Yushin America. NYPRO ALABAMA INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC. USA

Accession no.680059 Item 99 Modern Plastics International 28, No.4, April 1998, p.81-3 WITH AUTOMATION OPTIONS COMES MONEY IN THE BANK FOR MOULDERS Snyder M R Current market trends in robotics include completely automated part handling systems, robots with payload capabilities up to 200 or even 300lb for use with 10006000 ton machines, and high speed robots for tiny parts run on small machines up to about 150 tons. Hekuma recently demonstrated a production/assembly/packaging cell for petri dishes. Robots from Battenfeld range from sprue pickers to six-axis units that can carry payloads up to 300lb. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.678257 Item 100 Modern Plastics International 28, No.4, April 1998, p.31 MODULAR ROBOTIC END-OF-ARM TOOLING WINS NEW ACCEPTANCE Snyder M R Modular approaches to robotic end-of-arm tooling are fast becoming widely accepted in North America. The technology involves a gripping, suction or vacuum assembly at the end of the robot arm that transports parts away from the mould. US and Canadian moulders have begun to accept tooling that is sufficiently “modular” or “adjustable” to be used on multiple moulds and fine-tuned enough to maximise performance on the original mould for which tooling was built.

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Accession no.680629

Accession no.678245

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References and Abstracts

Item 101 Injection Molding 6, No.4, April 1998, p.104 CAN’T FIND A SUITABLE AUTOMATION SOLUTION? The Lightning Loader from P.T. Equipment Inc. has been developed by employees at PRD Inc. in response to the need to streamline the sprue picking and recycling process. The company uses robots for sprue picking, which drop the runners into the beside-the-press grinder, which feeds the Lightning Loader. This in turn, delivers regrind and virgin at a preset ratio, and then blends them in the machine hopper. Details are given of the equipment. PRD INC. USA

Accession no.675528 Item 102 Injection Molding 6, No.3, March 1998, p.96/8 AUTOMATION IS A SOUND IDEA TO BOSE Kirkland C Bose Corp.’s captive moulding plant was designed with integrated in-line automation in mind, and incorporates a high level of automation with the Wittmann servorobot control system. All the captive moulding is performed in self-contained workcells using standardised equipment. Details are given of how the use of servorobots and besidethe-press automation of tasks like degating, pad printing, heat staking and boxing have improved the company’s efficiency and quality control. BOSE CORP.; WITTMANN ROBOT & AUTOMATION SYSTEMS USA

Accession no.675337 Item 103 Injection Molding 6, No.3, March 1998, p.85/8 LIGHTS-OUT ALL-ELECTRIC MOLDING IN TAIWAN Kirkland C CMC Magnetics Corp.’s King Lin 2nd factory in Ping Chen City, Taiwan is an example of a successful lights out, all-electric moulding facility that has benefitted from the involvement of suppliers of advanced moulding technology and control and automation equipment from the very beginning. The plant produces jewel boxes, running 24 hours/day, 7 days/week in three shifts with 37 employees involved mostly with inspection, assembly and packaging. CMC MAGNETICS CORP. TAIWAN

Accession no.675335

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Item 104 Plast’ 21 No.54, Sept.1996, p.62-3 Spanish WITTMANN DEVELOPS A ROBOTISED INSTALLATION FOR YORKA Details are given of a robotic system developed by Wittmann and used by Yorka in the injection moulding of two-colour PMMA vehicle lights. WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; YORKA SA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.670818 Item 105 Molding Systems 55, No.12, Nov./Dec.1997, p.40 ELECTRIC MACHINES MAKE LIGHTS-OUT MOULDING A REALITY The eight injection presses at ABA-PGT’s Vernon, CT plant produce precision plastic gears around the clock seven days a week. Only one shift of four employees operates the machines, during the other two shifts they run unattended. The company uses all-electric, CNC controlled Roboshot machines from Cincinnati Milacron. Repeatability is critical for an automated process and the machines use artificial intelligence to control the realtime melt pressure. ABA-PGT INC. USA

Accession no.669129 Item 106 Molding Systems 55, No.12, Nov./Dec.1997, p.28-31 AUTOMATION ADDS VALUE FOR MOULDERS Mallon J M Yushin America Inc. The basic goals of automation in injection moulding operations are to boost productivity and generate cost savings. Many injection moulders have yet to take advantage of automation and may now find themselves in a catch-up position. The technology will continue to advance and moulders will seek progressively higher levels of automation to continually improve productivity and bolster their competitive positions. USA

Accession no.669126 Item 107 Injection Molding 6, No.1, Jan.1998, p.93-4 DIGITISED EYES SPOT PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY HAPPEN Kirkland C

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

This comprehensive article describes the advanced digital optical inspection systems used by Plastic Molding Technology Inc. on its rotary and shuttle table insert moulding presses. The inspection systems ensure that the tiny inserts used are properly loaded. These systems have substantially reduced the occurrence of costly mould damage and downtime. Cycle times have improved as has part quality. PLASTIC MOLDING TECHNOLOGY INC.

examined. A number of processes are described, including sequential, structural foam, gas-assisted, fusible core, multi-material and multi-colour injection moulding, microinjection, insert, outsert and sandwich moulding, clean room injection moulding, moulding of liquid crystal polymers and in-mould painting and decorating processes. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.658247

USA

Accession no.668663 Item 108 Plast’ 21 No.51, April 1996, p.60-1 Spanish TRANSPLAST AUTOMATES MATERIALS HANDLING Details are given of materials handling equipment supplied by Transplast of Spain to Frape-Behr, a Spanish injection moulder producing automotive components from blends of virgin and recycled plastics. TRANSPLAST; FRAPE-BEHR EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.663491 Item 109 Injection Moulding International 2, No.4, Sept./Oct.1997, p.51-3 RUNNING UNATTENDED THROUGH THE WEEKEND This article describes the optimisation of the injection moulding production process of motor protecting switches at Kloeckner-Moeller GmbH of Germany. The company has automated all activities that do not create added value, and also has designed the plant so that the automated peripherals offer sufficient performance to permit weekend shifts to run without any staff. Details are given. BATTENFELD AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; KLOECKNER-MOELLER GMBH AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.661030 Item 110 Materiaux & Techniques 85, Nos.1/2, Jan./Feb.1997, p.3-10 French PLASTICS INJECTION MOULDING TECHNIQUES IN THE COURSE OF DEVELOPMENT Reyne M Developments in plastics injection moulding processes, machinery and automation and control systems are

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Item 111 Injection Molding 5, No.9, Suppl.Sept.1997, p.28/30 SPEED DEMONS, NEW CONTROLLERS DOMINATE Although speed is the criterion by which most moulders measure robots, several original equipment manufacturers are trying to make robot set-up and operation easier and faster. For several robot makers, this came in the form of intuitive, graphics-based, touch-screen controllers at the recent NPE ’97 exhibition. For others, the improvements came in handheld controllers with simplified commands and controls. But, if it is speed that is required, there are a lot of machines from which to choose. For pure speed, regardless of application, machine, or part, one of the quickest is the DRD from Yushin America. Designed for use in CD moulding, it claims a part takeout time of 15 seconds. This side-entry swing-type model removes parts to the rear of the press. The carbon fibre takeout arm provides light weight and stiffness. Details of other products available from Fanuc Robotics, CBW, Mark 2 Automation, Conair, Geiger Handling, Automated Assemblies, Husky, Sterltech, SAS Automation, AEC, Wittmann and Automated Assemblies are given. USA

Accession no.657781 Item 112 Injection Molding 5, No.10, Oct. 1997, p.105-6 HIGH-SPEED AUTOMATION TAKES TEAMWORK Kirkland C Nypro Alabama Inc.’s high speed automated production of cassette jewel boxes is described. The company has developed a fully automated manufacturing cell for high speed moulding and assembly of snapfit cassette cases with the aid of automation supplier Yushkin America Inc. Yushkin worked with Nypro Alabama to ensure that the cassette cases were designed for automated manufacturability. Details are given of the cell. NYPRO ALABAMA INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC. USA

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Item 113 Plastiques Flash No.292, Sept./Oct.1996, p.86-7 French TOTAL AUTOMATION IN THE DRYING AND COLOURING OF ABS Details are given of automated drying and colouring systems supplied by Simar to Compagnie Industrielle des Moulages de l’Est (Cimest) of France for use in its ABS injection moulding operations. CIMEST SA; COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DES MOULAGES DE L’EST; SIMAR; SECMI EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.649956 Item 114 Plastiques Flash No.292, Sept./Oct.1996, p.41-2 French EXPANSION OF PLASTIQUES 2005 RESTS ON SPECIALISED PRODUCTION CELLS The plastics injection moulding activities of Plastiques 2005 of France are examined. Turnover and employment figures are presented, and details are given of types of thermoplastics processed, the range of products manufactured, and developments in the Company’s plant including the introduction of production cells and investments in automation and finishing equipment. PLASTIQUES 2005 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.649951 Item 115 Modern Plastics International 27, No.8, Aug.1997, p.115/8 SERVO ROBOTS CLAIM SAVINGS FOR INJECTION MOULDERS Mallon J M Yushin America Inc. In order to remain competitive, injection moulders have to minimise direct labour costs while retaining quality and productivity. One way to do this is by installing automated work cells that use servo robots. In the US, it is possible to demonstrate annualised cost savings of more than 40,874 US dollars compared to the use of other types of robots. This article examines the benefits of servo robots, air-driven robots and hybrid air-servo robots and presents cost comparisons. USA

Accession no.647936 Item 116 Patent Number: US 5591464 A 19970107

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MOULDING PLANT FOR CONVEYING MOULDS FOR CHOCOLATE OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS Renzo C Carle & Montanari SpA A drive shaft, which includes conveying screws mounted on a shaft, conveys the moulds along a processing path through stations in the plant. The underside of each mould has downwardly projecting studs or projections that engage between threads of the conveying screws. The studs are arranged such that the moulds can be conveyed along at least two different, transverse processing paths. Preferably, the studs are positioned such that the engagement between the studs and the screws is along a midline of the moulds. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.647320 Item 117 Patent Number: US 5591462 A 19970107 BOTTLE INSPECTION ALONG MOULDER TRANSPORT PATH Darling D T; Francis T G; Williams B L; Dewar H L; Delater D B; Gold D B; Pentel J; Wright P L; Sands P J; Cochran P Pressco Technology Inc. Camera based inspection equipment is used in conjunction with a multiple-station forming device such as a blow moulder for PETP or PEN bottle manufacturing. The inspection system relies on handling devices that present successive bottles for imaging. A seal surface inspection module, a base/neck fold inspection module and a finish gauge inspection module are integrated into the route of preforms and containers through the container manufacturing equipment such that the inspection system is directed to view the passing bottles as they are carried on the transfer devices needed to load and unload the moulder. USA

Accession no.647318 Item 118 Patent Number: US 5556649 A 19960917 DEVICE FOR REMOVING RUNNERS FROM MOULDED PRODUCTS Sumioka K; Haji M; Suzuki T; Sonobe M; Naitoh N Yamaha Motor Co.Ltd. A device for removing runners from intermediate moulded products includes a holding assembly for maintaining the products in a desired position, a hammer member, an assembly for vibrating the hammer member to cause repeated striking of the intermediate product so as to separate runner and product portions thereof and a control arrangement for selectively activating and deactivating the vibrating assembly. The control arrangement provides

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

for positioning the vibrating assembly in at least one predetermined position upon deactivation thereof so as to enable the vibrating assembly to be readily restarted. The holding assembly can incorporate a robot arm for transporting and positioning the intermediate moulded product for runner removal. In order to protect the robot arm from the effects of vibrational forces, the intermediate moulded product is adapted to be resiliently attached to the robot arm. JAPAN

Accession no.645145 Item 119 Plast’ 21 No.50, March 1996, p.83-4 Spanish WHEN THE ROBOT BECOMES A NECESSITY Pavon V Sepro Robotica Applications of industrial robots and manipulators in plastics injection moulding are discussed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.639091 Item 120 British Plastics and Rubber May 1997, p.4-7 AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS Many trade moulders are now expected to provide completed assemblies and end user companies are increasingly expecting their suppliers to be using automation systems. Many moulders now see bought-in project management of automation systems as an appropriate way to go. Two companies which are increasingly involved in this type of work are ATM Automation and Wittmann UK. Automation systems from the two companies tend to be based on a standard product removal robot, but downstream of this robot is likely to be a custom-built device incorporating other robots. ATM AUTOMATION LTD.; WITTMANN UK LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

and transferring those products to the discharge device. The robot device comprises at least two receiving plates, each capable of receiving a number of moulded products equal to at least once the number of cavities of the die, and a drive device for successively bringing the receiving plates into a receiving position next to the die, and for bringing a receiving plate from the receiving position into a take-over position and back again, in which take-over position the moulded products can be taken over from the die. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.638125 Item 122 Antec 97. Volume I. Conference proceedings. Toronto, 27th April-2nd May 1997, p.502-6. 012 HOW TO PLAN A ROBOT-BASED AUTOMATION CELL Rodrigues J Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. (SPE) The planning of a robot-based automation cell for injection moulding is described. Aspects covered include whether a robot is the right choice, type of robot, selection of vendor/identification of system integrator and product features for automation. CANADA

Accession no.636707 Item 123 Plastics News International Jan/Feb.1997, p.6 DEVELOPMENT SPEEDS PART REMOVAL This article highlights “Absolute Part Tracking” (APT), an optional feature introduced by Husky Injection Molding Systems, to provide improved cycle-time savings when using its Moduline top entry robot series. APT enables the robot to follow the machine’s clamp motion so that part take out motion can begin in advance of full mould open. HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS AUSTRALIA

Accession no.638716

Accession no.636102

Item 121 Patent Number: US 5569476 A 19961029 INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE HAVING A ROTATABLE TURRET van Manen D; Albers H J T Inter Tooling Services BV

Item 124 Plastics World 55, No.5, May 1997, p.31-4 AUTOMATION HELPS AMP BOOST QUALITY, CUT SCRAP

An apparatus for the injection moulding of synthetic products, comprises a die provided with a plurality of cavities, a discharge device and a robot device for receiving the products moulded in the cavities of the die

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

The introduction of automation at AMP Inc.s’ Greensboro, N.C. facility is described, with details of the automated process and its advantages in terms of improved productivity, cost savings in manpower, reduction of scrap rate, and improvements in quality. The system was installed

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and developed by Yushin America Inc. to place inserts in moulds, remove moulded parts and pack them in trays. AMP INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC. USA

Accession no.634982 Item 125 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 87, No.4, April 1997, p.17-8 INTEGRATED PRODUCTION Ammann T With the aid of a robot, injection moulded parts can be removed from a mould and deposited at an exact location and in the proper orientation. If the robot does not place the parts randomly in a container, and it is no longer necessary to reorient the parts with a great deal of effort prior to post-moulding operations, considerable time and money can be saved during subsequent automated assembly. During a test phase, a subassembly used in a fire alarm system for Cerberus was produced in small quantities, packed, sent for completion to the company’s in-house assembly department or cottage workers, repacked and finally shipped to the customer for final assembly. Details are given. CERBERUS AG; EGO KUNSTSTOFFWERK AG SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.634107 Item 126 Modern Plastics International 27, No.4, April 1997, p.26-7 PRECISION GEAR-MAKER TURNS “LIGHTS OUT” IDEA INTO REALITY Grande J A Precision gear maker, ABA-PGT now runs a “lights-out” injection moulding operation where eight machines run for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, virtually unattended. The company invested 2m US dollars in a satellite plant, purchasing three 975kN and five 490kN CNC-controlled, servo-electric Roboshot machines from Cincinnati Milacron. The servo-electric machines are said to provide better shot-to-shot repeatability than hydraulic units. ABA-PGT INC. USA

Accession no.630320 Item 127 Patent Number: US 5542835 A 19960806 LEAK DETECTOR FOR AN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Kennedy G P; Donnelly J P M Teetotum Ltd. The above leak detector comprises a small diameter conduit located adjacent to a potential leak site on or associated with the machine, through which a regulated

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supply of air is emitted. When the conduit outlet is blocked with leaked molten plastics, a sensor in the conduit instantly detects a change in air flow or back pressure and triggers an alarm, and optionally cuts off the machine automatically to avoid damage to machine components and with the object of reducing machine down time. Changes in incoming primary air supply pressure may be detected to provide a fail-safe system. Alternatively, air pressure in the conduit may be below zero, i.e. a vacuum, so that air is sucked into the conduit at its outlet. Several potential leak sites may be monitored simultaneously from a single sensor arrangement. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; IRELAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.629711 Item 128 Injection Moulding International 2, No.1, Jan./Feb.1997, p.74-6 FACING PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS IN A FACTORY OF THE FUTURE Kirkland C Yushin Precision Equipment set out to show that technology exists today to build a fully automated injection moulding “factory of the future”. The company invested about 130 million yen to build Lemon Precision, which has been up and running around the clock for the past three years. Daiei Kogyo became a customer of the Yushin automated plant concept. Its Tohoku Factory was designed and built to serve a single local customer, National/Panasonic, but has since become a custom moulder and now pursues business with other audio systems OEM’s. YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; DAIEI KOGYO CO.LTD. JAPAN

Accession no.624859 Item 129 Injection Moulding International 2, No.1, Jan./Feb.1997, p.66-7 AUTOMATED CELL MOULDS, FINISHES, PACKS PLUMBING FITTINGS Neilley R Geberit, one of the largest suppliers of plumbing-based sanitary systems, had designed fully automated injection moulding based production cells for various plumbing components in its product line. Its most recently installed production cell, supplied by Mannesmann Demag, is producing elbow-type angled fittings of HDPE. The cell consists of a 650 ton Ergotech injection machine with 2x2-cavity mould, DR 330 CNC robotic handling system, through to a packaging unit. GEBERIT AG; MANNESMANN DEMAG KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK

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References and Abstracts

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.624856 Item 130 Injection Moulding International 2, No.1, Jan./Feb.1997, p.61-2 SIX-AXIS ARTICULATED ARM ROBOT IMPROVES OVERMOULDING PROCESS Kammerer and Reis Robotics have designed a production cell to manufacture a two-component front panel with dials as inserts. The panels, for automotive air conditioning units, incorporate the necessary dials that are already labelled with text or symbols. The injection moulding machine, the film storage station with the Scara robot and finally the container for the finished parts form a semicircle around the robot, which operates all of them. REIS ROBOTICS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.624854 Item 131 Modern Plastics International 27, No.2, Feb.1997, p.69-71 ROBOT BUILDERS ENHANCE CONTROLS, LOOK TO MEET DOWNSTREAM NEEDS Snyder M R Custom injection moulders, wanting easy job-to-job transitions and greater flexibility to perform more than just part removal, are driving a trend towards electric robots. Wittmann’s Canbus system allows the controller to run the robot and downstream equipment simultaneously. Sterling has introduced the STS controller for Pulsar and Meteor Series traverse robots with 3-axis motor drive. Engel has introduced a fully servodriven, high-speed robot capable of speeds of 4m/s. NORTH AMERICA

Accession no.619796 Item 132 Plast’ 21 No.46, Oct.1995, p.24 Spanish PROCESS RATIONALISATION AND INCREASED EFFICIENCY THROUGH ROBOTS The use of an industrial robot designed by Wittmann in a specialised injection moulding application is described. The process uses two machines and involves the injection moulding of a thermoplastic component which is subsequently overmoulded with a thermoset. WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.616945

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 133 Patent Number: US 5513970 A 19960507 ROBOT FOR EJECTION OF AN OBJECT FROM BETWEEN TWO BODIES Kimura A; Nakamachi K; Saito A; Inoue T; Tominaga M Sony Corp. This includes a holding section for holding an object mounted on a movable body and a moving section for ejecting the object from the movable body by movement of the holding section. The moving section includes a first guide section meshing with the holding section for linearly moving the holding section in a first direction by rotation with respect to the action of the movable body and a second guide section for rotating the holding section in a second direction along with the rotation of the guide section directed in the first direction. The first guide section may be composed of a ball screw, the holding section has a nut and the ball screw meshes with the nut. The second guide means may be composed of a cam and a cam follower meshing with the cam. Additionally, the movable body may be composed of a movable die of a moulding machine. JAPAN

Accession no.616489 Item 134 Plastics World 54, No.12, Dec.1996, p.15 HIGH-PERFORMANCE SERVO ROBOT IS FOR SMALL PRESSES Smock D Automated Assemblies has introduced its new Optimum line of robots. The AZ-10 Series is described as the first high-performance servo robot designed exclusively for use with smaller injection moulding machines. The robot is aimed at presses from 30 to 85 tons. The company’s product line ranges from simple sprue pickers to the most advanced high-speed robots. The newest series servo robot is controlled through the company’s Optimum three-axis servo motion controller incorporating “Lead-ThroughTeach”. AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES CORP. USA

Accession no.615980 Item 135 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 86, No.9, Sept.1996, p.15-6 FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION Wenzel M Leiter Controlling The use is described of six-axial swan-neck robots for complex insertion and demoulding tasks in injection moulding applications. Manufacture of a two-component

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References and Abstracts

part for car air conditioning units is discussed which illustrates the benefits of automation. As well as improving the process reliability, automation is also shown to allow the integration of various secondary processes. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.610538 Item 136 Plastics Technology 42, No.10, Oct.1996, p.54-7 THE NEXT ROBOTICS FRONTIER Mallon J M Yushin America Inc. The use of robotics for post moulding operations is discussed to improve productivity and reduce labour costs in injection moulding processes. Their use in the automation of secondary operations is examined in such areas as quality control, packaging, decorating, and assembly. For these applications, cost-effectiveness demands that cycle times for the part removal robot be determined by the press cycle, and if secondary operations cannot be performed within that interval, it is said to be preferable to pass the part off to another automated workstation. USA

Accession no.609448 Item 137 European Plastics News 23, No.8, Sept.1996, p.28-9 MAKING THE SWITCH Anscombe N When Klockner Moeller’s UK moulding plant had to reduce its working week from 40 to 36 hours, it successfully exploited automation to make up the shortfall. The plant moulds electrical switchgear. The first step towards automation was standardisation on injection moulding machines. The company mainly uses Arburg machines. Automation also includes a centralised materials handling system, part removal and sprue separation, automatic tool changing and assembly. The company also has an ongoing cycle time reduction programme. KLOCKNER MOELLER LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.602661 Item 138 Modern Plastics International 26, No.8, Aug.1996, p.32-3 AUTOMATION IS GAINING IN VERTICAL INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE MARKET Snyder M R

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Vertically clamping injection machines are becoming automated. Robotic devices now automatically place inserts before moulding, remove parts after moulding and do a host of related operations. This trend is linked to the continued growth of insert moulding in automotive applications, which require high-precision components and high production volumes. Micro Switch recently acquired a Battenfeld machine that is moulding an automotive ignition-spark-sequence sensor, incorporating three L-shaped inserts. Van Dorn Demag has exhibited a prototype Newbury 266kN vertical machine equipped with top-of-the-line Pathfinder 4500 control. USA

Accession no.598576 Item 139 British Plastics and Rubber July/Aug.1996, p.22 TWO STAGE TAKEOUT FOR BIG TWINNED MACHINES Remak has developed a special demoulding system for large mouldings produced on Klockner Windsor 2,000 tonne machines disposed side by side and operated as coupled units. Typical products are refuse bins and large box pallets. A free standing robot gantry has been built over the two machines and two independent robots run on it. Both robots are synchronised by the control and simultaneously enter the mould spaces from above to remove the mouldings from either the mould cavities or the cores. The components are then transferred to a side entry robot which extracts them from the machine as the vertical robots withdraw upwards. REMAK EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.594980 Item 140 British Plastics and Rubber July/Aug.1996, p.20 ROBOTS ELIMINATE HOT MANUAL DEMOULDING TASK Magneti Marelli introduced robots on its thermoset injection moulding machines to increase output and improve working conditions for operators. The company produces complete headlamp and rear light assemblies for all major European car manufacturers. Headlamp reflectors are moulded in DMC to with stand high operating temperatures over long periods. Allowances had to be made for handling mouldings at about 160C and flash had to be positively removed. The robot removes both mouldings and the sprue and places the mouldings on a conveyor. MAGNETI MARELLI EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.594978

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References and Abstracts

Item 141 Patent Number: EP 718084 A2 19960626 TAKE-OUT AND COOLING APPARATUS Hartman D A; Bright T L; Shroder T A Electra Form Inc. A moulded parison handling apparatus for removing hollow plastic parisons used in the manufacture of oriented plastic bottles from an injection moulding machine includes a base having an arm coupled to the injection moulding machine. A carriage mounted on the arm moves in a first dimension into and out of the space between the moulding elements of the moulding machine. A frame cooling unit coupled to the carriage engages the body portion of a set of parisons as they are released from the moulding machine. A first motor moves the cooling apparatus to any of three preselected positions along the first dimension located outside the moulding machine. A transfer assembly includes three sets of grabbers mounted on a gantry for movement with respect to the base. One set of grabbers grabs the finish portion of the parisons from the cooling apparatus. A second and third motor then translates the transfer assembly to one of two remote locations where a stationary cooler receives the parisons for additional cooling. The transfer assembly then withdraws a fully cooled set of parisons from one of the stationary coolers, deposits the fully cooled parisons on an exit conveyor and returns to grab another set of newly released parisons from the frame cooling unit. USA

Accession no.592591 Item 142 British Plastics and Rubber May 1996, p.29 UPM INSTALLS FULL SYSTEM FOR SRAM UPM Machinery Sales says it was chosen by SRAM Corporation to supply ancillary equipment for its new injection moulding factory in Ireland because it was the only company which could supply a complete automation package. SRAM manufactures Gripshift quick gear change assemblies for mountain bikes and moulds various engineering plastics. UPM was made responsible for materials handling, process temperature control, reclamation of materials and product handling on the basis of round the clock working, seven days a week, in a 50 week year. UPM MACHINERY SALES LTD.; SRAM CORP. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; IRELAND; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.590476 Item 143 Kunststoffe Plast Europe 86, No.4, April 1996, p.12-13 TESTING QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS WITH A ROBOT - AUTOMATED CONTROL OF EACH INJECTION MOULDED PART

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Ehrenweber R Engel Automatisierungstechnik GmbH Current requirements in terms of rationalisation, availability and quality assurance are shown to make it necessary to combine machines, moulds, robots and peripheral equipment in a compact production cell, while considering all process engineering and economical aspects. The production of air bag covers from polyolefin copolymers is described as an example of the automated control of injection moulding. (Translated from Kunststoffe, 86, No.4, April 1996, p.482-3) EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.590059 Item 144 Modern Plastics International 26, No.5, May 1996, p.65-7 SERVO TECHNOLOGY DOMINATES BOOMING ROBOTICS MARKET Snyder M R The market for part-handling automation is increasingly dominated by top-of-the-line servomotor-controlled systems that provide the highest-speed operation and maximum flexibility for optimising cycle times and easing changeover between jobs. Robots are now routinely installed on machines of 8800kN and above, especially in automotive applications, and can handle parts weighing 45kg and more. Ranger Automation Systems has begun installing modems on its latest-generation robots to enable diagnosis of problems in remote locations from its headquarters via a telephone link. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.589712 Item 145 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1630, 5th April 1996, p.10 ATM ROBOTS HAVE THAT HUMAN TOUCH ATM Automation has been manufacturing robots since 1982 and now has a turnover of 10m pounds sterling in demoulding robots in the UK. The company offers a full range of products from pneumatic models through to electric/side entry and in a range of sizes to suit injection moulding machines from 100 tonnes clamp pressure through to 1500 tonnes and special units in the 4000 series for the very large machines. The company believes that its success is due not just to the technical expertise, but the support it offers customers from design, through manufacture to sales as well as support, service and maintenance. ATM AUTOMATION LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.585797

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Item 146 Patent Number: US 5447426 A 19950905 TAKE-OFF PLATE DEVICE Gessner D; McGinley T M Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. The device for removing moulded articles from a moulding machine and delivering them to a transfer or receiving station includes a plate, one or more tubes mounted to the plate for receiving moulded articles and one or more ejector bars for engaging portions of the moulded articles to remove or eject them from the tubes. Each of the tubes is provided with a cooling passageway for effecting cooling of the moulded articles as they are moved between the moulding machine and the receiving station. A bottom plug, which is in contact with the cooling passageway, is provided in each tube to more efficiently cool an end portion of the moulded article in the tube. Preferably, the bottom plug has an end surface, which matches the shape of the moulded article end portion. CANADA

Accession no.585271 Item 147 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 47, No.1, Jan./Feb.1995, p.32-3 French AUTOMATION: LEGRAND TAKES A STEP FORWARD Desfilhes P An account is given of automation introduced by Legrand of France in its plastics injection moulding operations. This includes mould changing, temperature control and hot runner control systems and industrial robots, all of which are driven by the machine’s computer control system. LEGRAND SA; PARMILLEUX; SISE; ARBURG MASCHINENFABRIK EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.583109 Item 148 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 47, No.1, Jan./Feb.1995, p.26-9 French AUTOMATE, BUT ABOVE ALL ORGANISE Topuz B Developments in automation for the plastics injection moulding industry are examined, with particular reference to industrial robots and mould changing systems. SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; STAUBLI; BRAILLON; ENERPAC; BATTENFELD GMBH; ARBURG MASCHINENFABRIK; FARPI FRANCE; SYTRAMA; ENGEL GMBH; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; CHAVERIAT-AUROCH;

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WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; CONTROLE DE PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS; HEIDEL GMBH & CO. AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.583107 Item 149 Patent Number: US 5439634 A 19950808 METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATING RUNNERS/SPRUES FROM PARTS AS THEY ARE EJECTED FROM A MOULD North R R At & T Corp. The device includes a product receiver underlying the injection moulds for receiving the product after the moulds have been opened and a sprue/runner receiver underlying the injection moulds for receiving the sprues/runners after the moulds have been opened. The product receiver and sprue/runner receiver are positioned relative to the moulds and each other such that the product falls onto the product receiver while being precluded from falling into the sprue/ runner receiver and the sprues/runners fall into the sprue/ runner receiver while being precluded from falling onto the product receiver. USA

Accession no.582649 Item 150 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1625, 1st March 1996, p.20 AUTOMATION IN THE UK Smith C Traditionally, UK industry has had a lower rate of investment in automation, largely fuelled by the belief that low labour rates will keep UK injection moulders competitive with the higher labour cost manufacturing nations. However, automation is not just about labour costs. An automated production line can maintain a more repeatable, and often higher, level of quality. Sandretto believes that UK moulders use a level of automation appropriate to the task in most instances. Semi-automation is already very well established in the industry. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.582285 Item 151 Plastics News International Jan/Feb.1996, p.14 AUTOMATED HYDRAULIC CLAMPS SPEED UP DIE CHANGES It is reported that by reducing non-productive man hours, automated hydraulic clamps on injection moulding machines can boost productivity and improve figures on

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References and Abstracts

a company’s bottom line. The use of Applied Power Australia, Enerpac Division’s automated hydraulic clamps is discussed, as is the company’s swing clamp cylinder. APPLIED POWER AUSTRALIA,ENERPAC DIV. AUSTRALIA

Accession no.581392 Item 152 Patent Number: EP 688655 A2 19951227 IMPROVED PIVOTING WORKPIECE REMOVAL DEVICE Di Simone J Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. A high speed, automatic device for removal of moulded plastic articles from a multi-cavity injection mould is disclosed. A method of minimising moulding machine cycle time is also disclosed. CANADA

Accession no.580420 Item 153 148th ACS Rubber Division Meeting. Fall 1995. Conference Preprints. Cleveland, Oh., 17th-20th Oct.1995, Paper 40, pp.9. 012 AUTOMATION POSSIBILITIES OF MODERN RUBBER INJECTION PRESSES WITH COMPUTER CONTROL Katzer M Maplan Deutschland GmbH (ACS,Rubber Div.) The automation of rubber injection moulding machines is discussed, and examples are presented to illustrate the possibilities for partial and complete automation of injection moulding processes. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.580226 Item 154 Antec 95. Volume III. Conference proceedings. Boston, Ma., 7th-11th May 1995, p.4263-6. 012 AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING PART HANDLING: CASE STUDY Corvino M J Lowell,Massachusetts University (SPE) Robotics are widely used in the plastics industry in order to modernise equipment and improve production efficiency. However, guidelines for the set-up, implementation and operation of robots for the process engineer are difficult to find. An outline is presented of the procedures needed and difficulties encountered for an automated injection moulded part removal and hot stamping application. 3 refs.

Item 155 Injection Molding 3, No.11, Nov.1995, p.81-2 KEEPING THINGS MOVING... WITH AUTOMATION Gurr A It is reported that when Engineered Plastic Products moved into its new plant, it invested in automation to bring a basic plant setup to a new level. The 80,000 sq.ft facility is set up with three horseshoe conveyor configurations that keep parts moving rapidly from 16 moulding machines to manned finishing stations. Two of the configurations transport parts in a clockwise rotation from five and six moulding machines, the third moves parts counterclockwise from five machines. Details of the machinery installed are presented. ENGINEERED PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC. USA

Accession no.573488 Item 156 Injection Molding 3, No.11, Nov.1995, p.62/6 AESTHETICS PLUS AUTOMATION EQUALS U.S. SUCCESS Maniscalco M Some company information is presented on US injection moulder US Acrylic, a Northbrook, Illinois-based moulder specialising in high-end acrylic housewares. Its success story is said to show that North American moulders investing in automation and equipment find that they can neutralise the offshore labour cost differential and compete more effectively in a global marketplace. USA

Accession no.573484 Item 157 Asian Plastics News Jan/Feb.1995, p.14-5 MOULDING PLANTS THAT RUN THEMSELVES Beevers A The trend towards unmanned or reduced levels of staffing, and highly automated moulding plants in Japan is examined, with particular reference to the operations of two companies: Yushin Precision Equipment, a manufacturer of robots, and Meisei, which produces integrated ancillary systems for injection moulding machines. The trend is claimed to have been the result of high labour costs and a shortage of skilled workers, especially to cover night shifts. The resulting high levels of automation and long periods of unmanned production reduces the costs of heating, air conditioning, and lighting required. Further advantages and examples of the efficiency of the methods, are described. YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT; MEISEI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD.

USA

JAPAN

Accession no.577967

Accession no.572280

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 158 Plastics World

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References and Abstracts

53, No.10, Oct.1995, p.13 REDUCE CYCLE TIMES WITH SERVO SWING CHUTES Husky Injection Molding Systems has introduced servodriven swing chutes to provide faster cycles and oriented parts handling for a variety of thin-wall injection moulding applications. Servo swing chutes consist of arms that swing 90 degrees in front of each core during mould opening to remove the parts. Suction cups on the arms hold the parts, which are either physically stripped or air ejected from the cores. The arms are swung out of the moulding area before the mould reaches the fully open position, so mould closing can begin immediately. Once the mould is closing, the vacuum is released allowing the parts to slide down the chutes in an oriented manner. Husky says trials show decreases in cycle times of more than 10% since mould stroke is reduced to a minimum. HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD. CANADA

Accession no.567522 Item 159 Plastics Technology 41, No.8, Aug.1995, p.80 SMALL INJECTION PRESSES LEAD THE WAY TO ‘LIGHTS-OUT’ AUTOMATION Advantages of using small injection moulding machines in unsupervised, automated ‘lights-out’ conditions, are explained. Point Plastics is given as an example of a moulder which has reaped benefits in the use of such machines, equipping its nearly 300 presses with simple timers and automatic parts handling equipment which can easily be replaced, in an operation which runs unsupervised on the late shifts. In addition, small machines allow for cost effective tooling, and low maintenance costs. POINT PLASTICS

HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD. CANADA

Accession no.561076 Item 161 Approaches to Automation. Seminar papers. Shawbury, 30th March 1995, paper 3, pp.13. 1121 RATIONALISATION IN THE INJECTION MOULDING SHOP Bauer R; Davis S Engel UK Ltd. (Rapra Technology Ltd.; Plastics & Rubber Weekly) This paper presents a fairly detailed step-by-step process for rationalisation of injection moulding procedures in plastic component production. Information is given on establishing a production concept and steps towards realisation, basic measures for rationalisation, streamlining of the existing production and interlinking single production cells to a flexible production system to attain increased productivity. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.560939 Item 162 Rubbercon ’95. Conference Preprints. Gothenburg, 9th-12th May 1995, Paper B6, pp.9. 012 AUTOMATION POSSIBILITIES OF MODERN RUBBER INJECTION PRESSES WITH COMPUTER CONTROL Katzer M Maplan Deutschland GmbH (Nordic Council of Rubber Technology) The automation of computer controlled rubber injection moulding machines is discussed and illustrated by examples of the manufacture of bearings, bushes, seals and bellows.

USA

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.561083

Accession no.560420

Item 160 Plastics Technology 41, No.8, Aug.1995, p.15 NEW GENERAL-PURPOSE ROBOTS ARE EASIER TO PROGRAM Ogando J

Item 163 British Plastics and Rubber July/Aug.1995, p.22-9 ROBOT ASSEMBLY INCREASES OUTPUT BY 25%

The design and capabilities of Husky Injection Molding Machine’s general purpose robots, is described. The robots, called Moduline Top Entry feature a-c servo drives on all three axes along with a special servo controller from GE Fanuc called Fanuc Power Mate H. Details are given of the five payload capacities, and the application software. The Moduline robots are modular, and details are included of the standard and optional features available.

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Developments in robot handling systems, control equipment, cooling, counting, conveying, palletising, shrink wrapping and stacking equipment are outlined. ATM has supplied robots for post-moulding assembly operations at Thermos, a manufacturer of cool boxes, resulting in a 25% increase in the rate of production. Eight Apex swinging arm robots have been bought from BPI Machines by MK Electric for handling urea mouldings. CLS Countmaster has introduced the Mini Countmaster for use with small injection moulding machines. EDL has

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

developed an automated system for shrink wrapping long products such as window profiles, pipes, guttering and electrical trunking. WORLD

Accession no.558037 Item 164 Plastics News International June 1995, p.27 FEEDING SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED MOULDING Operational details and design characteristics are described for the 3WF feeding system for automated moulding developed by Meisei Kinzoku Kogyo. The automated systems comprise a materials feeding centre and a pneumatic system for transporting and storing products. Runners are separated and granulated to give recycled resin which is mixed with virgin resin and automatically fed to the injection moulding machine’s hopper. Further operating features are described. MEISEI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD. JAPAN

Accession no.554411 Item 165 European Plastics News 22, No.7, July/Aug.1995, p.24-5 JAPAN’S APPROACH TO UNMANNED PLANTS Beevers A Soaring labour costs are forcing Japanese plastics processors to seek increasingly high levels of automation. Robot manufacturer, Yushin Precision Equipment, has built a demonstration plant to mould a range of products including margarine tubs and toothbrush cases. This fully automated plant is only manned during daytime hours on weekdays by just five people. During weekends and at night, the factory is completely unmanned and operates fully automatically. Meisei’s unmanned moulding plant is very different from those developed by Yushin. The factory relies on established ancillary equipment, but integrates the operation of these items to allow fully automated operation. The plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week producing small, high-precision parts such as connectors. YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; MEISEI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD. JAPAN

Accession no.554212 Item 166 European Plastics News 22, No.7, July/Aug.1995, p.22-3 ROBOTS TAKE OVER Smith A

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

The two main areas of current development in moulding automation are the application of robots to complex downstream operations within the cycle time of the machine and the design of ultra-rapid take-out devices. Thermos decided to automate its assembly of cool boxes, resulting in a 25% increase in production rate. ATM robots assemble the inner liner, the EPS moulded insulation core and the outer case. State-of-the-art servo drive and motor technology is being incorporated in two new CNC seven-axis robot systems being made by Pressflow for McKechnie Automotive. These will incorporate Pressflow’s new detachable controllers. Engel has given particular attention to developing highspeed take-out equipment incorporating AC servo motor drives and can offer units capable of removing parts in less than one second within an overall cycle time of four seconds. ATM AUTOMATION LTD.; PRESSFLOW LTD.; ENGEL GMBH WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.554211 Item 167 World Class Injection Moulding. Retec proceedings. Charlotte, NC, 25th-27th Sept.1994, p.187-99. 831 T-190 SLINGSHOT - THE BIRTH OF A UNIQUE NEW ROBOT TECHNOLOGY Carson D CBW Automation (SPE,Carolinas Section; SPE,Injection Molding Div.) The development of the T-190 parts removal robot claimed to be the fastest designed in the world - is described. Compared to a conventional robot, this concept claims to normally save at least 1.5 seconds of overall cycle time due to its speed and simplicity. Details are given. COLORADO,STATE UNIVERSITY USA

Accession no.553623 Item 168 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1588, 2nd June 1995, p.12 CAP AUTOMATION PAYS FOR GEKA A cap moulding system has been developed for a cosmetics company to produce a range of PP caps. Details are given of the installation by Geka Manufacturing of an automated 16 cavity Engel manufacturing cell to produce the products. The cell is built round a 65 tonne ES330/65HL tiebarless moulding machine fitted with an EC88 controller and an ERC23/IC high speed robot which provides 2m/s speed on all three axes. GEKA MANUFACTURING EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.552223

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Item 169 Plastics News(USA) 7, No.7, 17th April 1995, p.19 LIGHTS OUT A REALITY AT AUTOMATED PLASTICS Shinn R Operations at Automated Plastics are described. The company runs with just three employees and operates seven injection moulding presses with automation levels at the factory allowing the machines to operate day and night without supervision. AUTOMATED PLASTICS INC. USA

Accession no.551245 Item 170 Patent Number: US 5368466 A 19941129 APPARATUS AND TRANSPORTING UNIT FOR CONVEYING INJECTION-MOULDED ARTICLES AWAY FROM AN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Hehl K A transporting apparatus for moving away injectionmoulded articles from an injection moulding machine includes pallets; a charging station for loading the pallets; transporting pallets each individually supporting at least one pallet and coupled thereto for forming a transporting unit; a pallet tower for storing a number of pallets; an elevator for receiving empty pallets from the pallet tower and loaded pallets from the charging station; a conveyor for moving the transporting pallets between the elevator and the charging station and for transferring loaded pallets from the charging station to the elevator; and a positioning arrangement. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.550423 Item 171 Thermosets for the 21st Century. Retec Proceedings. Rosemont, Il., 16th-18th March 1994, paper 9. 012 DEFLASHING AND THE CELL COMPOSITE Bahmueller M W Hull/Finmac It is reported that deflashing has been an inherent operation since the start of the thermoset industry, required in order to deliver finished moulded parts to the market place. In order to reduce breakage and increase productivity, new types of deflashing equipment have been designed. The CELL concept, which was preceded by the reduction of multiple handling of parts, while the required operations of gate and flash removal as well as parts inspection were still performed, is described. The basic CELL is comprised of one or more moulding presses producing various parts, a deflashing machine and some form of parts inspection. Details are given.

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SPE,CHICAGO SECTION; SPE,THERMOSET DIV. USA

Accession no.550286 Item 172 Patent Number: EP 648590 A1 19950419 PICKING APPARATUS, PREFERABLY FOR AN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Thorsson S-G; Carlsson O; Lidstrom J-I Gislaved Industriservice AB A picking apparatus for an injection moulding machine with two movable tool tables includes a cylindrical guide portion fixedly connected to the one tool table with a helical groove, as a cam device, and a sleeve displaceable along and rotary about the guide portion, the sleeve having a cam follower member engaging in the cam groove. The sleeve is rotary but axially fixedly connected to the second table. A picking arm is disposed on a carrier portion which, via guides, is displaceable parallel with the axial direction of the sleeve. A cylinder unit is provided for displacement of the carrier portion relative to the sleeve, whereby the picking arm, partly under the action of the groove and the cam follower member, is pivotal in between the tool tables on opening thereof, and is pivotal out therefrom on closure, and partly displaceable under the action of the cylinder unit in the longitudinal direction of the guide portion. SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.548786 Item 173 Patent Number: US 5350289 A 19940927 QUICK CHANGE SYSTEM FOR MOULD BASES Martin R G Master Unit Die Products Inc. A quick change system for standard mould bases in a moulding machine is described, in which each half of a mould base has a support plate attached to the back surface. An adapter frame is mounted on the face of each platen of the press. Each adapter frame has a U-shaped guide channel for receiving a support plate and supported mould base half. A T-shaped guide roller is positioned on each side of the U-shaped guide channel to facilitate entry of a support plate into the guide channels. Apertures are provided in each adapter frame plate for fasteners for attaching the adapter frame plates to the platens. A knockout rod assembly is provided for ejecting the finished mould part from the mould base. USA

Accession no.548493 Item 174 Plastics Technology 41, No.2, Feb.1995, p.54/63 PORTABLE ANALISERS FIND WHAT AILS YOUR PROCESS

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Ogando J This comprehensive article supplies a detailed review of portable machine analysers. These data-acquisition and monitoring devices hook up to moulding machines and auxiliary equipment, gathering information that helps to identify the root causes of processing problems. The article compares the various features and advantages of various portable machine analysers currently on the market. BRANDEN T.G.,CORP.; HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC.; NICOLLET PROCESS ENGINEERING; RJG TECHNOLOGIES INC.

HANDLING DEVICE FOR REMOVING FORMED PLASTIC PARTS FROM THE SPACE BETWEEN DIE PLATENS CARRYING THE MOULD HALVES OF AN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE Urbanek O; Aumayer W Engel Maschinenbau GmbH

USA

A description is given of a handling device for removing plastic parts from between the platens of an injection moulding machine. The device includes a gripper arm which is supported on a machine frame in a space between the die platens.

Accession no.546250

AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 175 Plastics Technology (Hong Kong) No.10, 1993, p.44-8 Chinese; English AUTOMATION IN INJECTION MOULDING PLANT Hsong C Machinery Co.Ltd.

Accession no.541710 Item 178 Patent Number: EP 633119 A1 19950111 IMPROVED TAKE-OFF PLATE DEVICE Gessner D; McGinley T M Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.

HONG KONG

The device, for removing moulded articles from a moulding machine and delivering them to a transfer or receiving station, includes a plate, one or more tubes mounted to the plate for receiving moulded articles, and one or more ejector bars for engaging portions of the moulded articles to remove or eject them from the tubes. Each of the tubes is provided with a cooling passageway for effecting cooling of the moulded articles as they are moved between the moulding machine and the receiving station. A bottom plug, which is in contact with the cooling passageway, is provided in each tube to more efficiently cool an end portion of the moulded article in the tube. Preferably, the bottom plug has an end surface, which matches the shape of the moulded article end portion.

Accession no.546137

CANADA

Automation in injection moulding operations is discussed with reference to precision moulding. The growth of the industry is examined, and the advantages offered by Hong Kong in terms of labour costs and relatively low production costs are discussed. The use of automated production methods is suggested as a means of improving the quality of moulded engineering plastic parts. Particular details are given with respect to control systems, the injection unit, the clamping unit, auxillary equipment, driers, mould temperature control, parts handling and granulators.

Item 176 Plastics Technology (Hong Kong) No.10, 1993, p.13-4 Chinese; English UNMANNED INJECTION MOULDING PLANT The design and layout is described of a test plant set up by Yushin Precision Equipment Co.Ltd. in order to test the viability of an unmanned injection moulding plant. The system will be commercialised if the trial proves successful. The additional benefits to the company as well as the provision of 24 hour production and reduced labour costs, include the reduction in the use of electricity for heating, lighting and ventilation. YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD. HONG KONG

Accession no.546136 Item 177 Patent Number: US 5334009 A 19940802

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Accession no.541284 Item 179 Antec ’94. Conference Proceedings. San Francisco, Ca., 1st-5th May 1994, Vol.I, p.964-8. 012 SYSTEMS INTEGRATION FOR DOWNSTREAM OPERATIONS Aidlin S H Aidlin Automation Corp. (SPE) Systems for the automation of downstream operations in the injection and blow moulding of plastics products are described. USA

Accession no.541237 Item 180 Plastics and Rubber Asia 9, No.55, Dec.1994, p.27

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References and Abstracts

IS AUTOMATION THE ANSWER? Ornellas T The Meisei system of automation is claimed to offer the small to medium sized moulder automation either completely or in stages to reduce labour costs. The system encompasses mould design and operation. Details are described of a typical system used to automate an injection moulding operation. MEISI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD. JAPAN

Accession no.539775 Item 181 Patent Number: EP 624448 A1 19941117 ROBOT Kimura A; Nakamachi K; Saito A; Inoue T; Tominaga M Sony Corp. A robot for ejecting an object mounted to a movable body from the movable body comprises a holding means for holding the object mounted on the movable body and a moving means for ejecting the object from the movable body by movement of the holding means. The moving means includes a first guide means meshing with the holding means for linearly moving the holding means in a first direction by rotation with respect to the action of the movable body and a second guide means for rotating the holding means in a second direction along with the rotation of the guide means directed in the first direction. The first guide means may be composed of a ball screw, the holding means has a nut and the ball screw meshes with the nut. The second guide means may be composed of a cam and a cam follower meshing with the cam. Additionally, the movable body may be composed of a movable die of a moulding machine. JAPAN

Accession no.537335 Item 182 Plastverarbeiter 45, No.9, Sept.1994, p.32/4 German NEW ROBOT SERIES: HIGH SPEED, LOW COST Engel has developed the new robot series ERC which is matched to both small high-speed injection moulding machines (up to Type ES 500). The modular concept of the mechanical elements in conjunction with an improved control system and innovative digital servo drives now permits individually optimised configurations to be created with which a wide range of applications can be covered. Thanks to the use of new production technologies, it has also been possible to reduce the manufacturing costs whilst at the same time considerably increasing the performance characteristics of the robots. ENGEL MASCHINENBAU GMBH AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.532900

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Item 183 Patent Number: EP 605306 A1 19940706 INDUSTRIAL ROBOT FOR REMOVING A MOULDING FROM A CAVITY OF A MOULDING MACHINE Kimura A; Saito A Sony Corp. The robot comprises an arm mechanism having a holding head for holding the moulding, an arm operation means capable of operating the arm mechanism so that the holding head of the arm mechanism moves at a comparatively high composite speed equal to the sum of the respective speeds of at least two moving members in both a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction. JAPAN

Accession no.529591 Item 184 Antec ’93. Conference Proceedings. New Orleans, La., 9th-13th May 1993, Vol.III, p.31839. 012 FASTER CYCLING COMPACT DISC INJECTION MOULD DESIGNED WITH INTEGRATED PART REMOVAL AUTOMATION Galic G; Maus S Galic Maus Ventures (SPE) A technique for the removal of compact discs from injection moulds is described. The discs are transferred out of the mould with short-stroke low mass motions of a pair of mechanical guides which can grip and then release the edge of the disc, when acting in coordination with moveable mould members having undercuts for moulded-on retention of the inner portion of the disc and/or sprue. The disc is stripped off the moulding surfaces and can be oriented in a second vertical plane to freely drop out of an aperture in the mould to exit through a discharge chute. 3 refs. USA

Accession no.528877 Item 185 Patent Number: US 5297950 A 19940329 STRIPPING STATION FOR STRIPPING HOLLOW PLASTIC ARTICLES FROM A HOLDING MEANS Kresak P F Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. The station includes a nest for receiving neck portions of the articles and a cutout bar for admitting, trapping and ejecting the articles in the nest, the cutout bar being slidably mounted to the nest and displaceable between the admitting position, trapping position and ejecting position. CANADA

Accession no.517052

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Item 186 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1537, 27th May 1994, p.21 NEW FIELD BUS SYSTEM HALVES INSTALLATION TIME This article describes the Motan materials distribution system incorporated in the Otto molding plant at Neuruppin, Germany. The entire Motan installation is controlled by a Siemens Simatic PLC and all units are linked with the central control unit via a field bus system instead of individual circuits. A division of Otto began production of refuse bins in plastics in the mid 1960s and refuse collection and disposal still forms the largest part of its activities. The company’s plastics moulding activity has been widened to include boxes and containers for the automotive and food industries, and technical parts for the automotive and domestic appliance markets. OTTO GMBH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.513423 Item 187 Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri No.3, March 1994, p.102-8 Italian CHANGES IN THE MOULD INDUSTRY Baucia G A survey is made of mould making materials and techniques, hot runner moulds and mould cleaning and mould changing systems featured by a number of companies at the 9th Fakuma exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Developments in ancillary equipment for injection moulding, granulators and industrial robots are also reviewed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE; WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL

Accession no.513247 Item 188 Nordic Rubber Conference 1993. Conference proceedings. Helsingor, 13th-14th May 1993, p.72-90. 012 INTEGRATION OF MODERN RUBBER INJECTION MACHINES INTO OVERRULING CONTROL STRUCTURES SUCH AS PROCESS CONTROL BY PROFIBUS Schumacher P Kloeckner Ferromatik Desma GmbH (Danish Society of Rubber Technology; Nordic Council of Rubber Technology) Developments in the automation of rubber injection moulding machines are discussed with reference to automation of individual machines, integration into production islands, manufacturer-specific system solutions, and system solutions which are independent of the manufacturer. The integration of machines into process

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

control loops is described, together with overall (communicating) control systems such as the PROFIBUS system. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.512970 Item 189 Plastverarbeiter 45, No.4, April 1994, p.78/82 German LINKING OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTION PROCESSES DURING INJECTION MOULDING Block J An important aspect of the automation of production processes, from raw material up to finished injection mouldings ready for shipment, is the logistic planning and efficient combination of handling and transport technologies. This subject is discussed, with particular reference to the major role played by transport pallets. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.512956 Item 190 Kunststoffe Plast Europe Vol.84, March 1994, p.13-6 SINGLE SOURCE SOLUTION: FLEXIBLE AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING CELL The use is discussed of an automated production cell for injection moulding three colour rear lights for cars as employed by Yorka, a Spanish company who mainly used conventional three-colour injection moulding machines with vertical clamping units. Apart from the high level of capital investment associated with this latter kind of design, other disadvantages include a lack of flexibility on change of product. The company chose an integrated automation and software system from Mannesmann Demag which offers the possibility of operating each of the two injection moulding machines in the production cell individually, thereby permitting flexible, cost effective manufacture of quality products. YORKA SA; MANNESMANN DEMAG KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK AG EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.512210 Item 191 Plastics Engineering 50, No.2, Feb.1994, p.14-8 AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT Wigotsky V The article supplies a comprehensive assessment of the advances in auxiliary equipment in line with the development in primary moulding and extrusion machinery. The article highlights the improvements being

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References and Abstracts

made in design, maintenance, simplicity, modularity and control equipment and describes specific equipment currently on the market. PROCESS CONTROL CORP.; K-TRON NORTH AMERICA; THERMAL CARE; UNA-DYN INC. USA

Accession no.511219 Item 192 British Plastics and Rubber March 1994, p.15 IN-MOULD LABELLING - STILL AN EMERGING TECHNOLOGY Advantages of and equipment for in-mould labelling of packaging containers is discussed. Advantages include a reduction in downstream printing and labelling operations and the enhanced visual impact of a high quality label as an integral part of the container surface. Disadvantages include extended production cycles, and the need for additional high performance handling equipment. EUROPE-GENERAL

Accession no.509184 Item 193 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 45, No.10, Dec.1993, p.51-2 French ORGANISING PRODUCTION Desfilhes P Automation systems used by Nobel Plastiques of France in the manufacture of extruded automotive hose and injection moulded automotive components are described. NOBEL PLASTIQUES; SILVATRIM EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.502600 Item 194 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 45, No.10, Dec.1993, p.45-9 French ROBOTS: THE IRON ARM OF THE WORKSHOP Desfilhes P A survey is made of developments by a number of companies in industrial robots for use in plastics injection moulding operations. WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; ALBORA; BATTENFELD GMBH; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; CONAIR INC.; HARMO ROBOTS LTD.; HUSKY INJECTION MOULDING SYSTEMS LTD.; CHAVERIAT SA; PIOVAN SPA; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; STAR SEIKI CO.LTD.; HEKUMA; CONAIR CHURCHILL LTD.; MARTIPLAST; SYTRAMA; APEX CORP.; PLASTINSERT; GEIGER TECHNIK GMBH

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CANADA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; JAPAN; SWITZERLAND; UK; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.502599 Item 195 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 45, No.10, Dec.1993, p.40-3 French AUTOMATION OF MOULD CHANGING Desfilhes P Some developments in automatic and semi-automatic mould changing systems are reviewed. STAUBLI; HYDRAUMECA; ENERPAC; WOKU; BATTENFELD FRANCE SARL EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.502598 Item 196 Revue Generale des Caoutchoucs et Plastiques 70, No.728, Dec.1993, p.52-3 French AUTOMATION: A FACTOR IN PRODUCTIVITY Leuzinger H H Netstal Maschinen AG Automation systems developed by Netstal for its injection moulding machines are described. NEYR PLASTIQUES EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.502588 Item 197 Plastics News(USA) 5, No.38, 15th Nov.1993, p.31 HUSKY BUILDING ROBOTICS FACILITY IN ONTARIO Lauzon M Husky Injection Molding Systems is reported to be building a robotics facility at its Bolton, Ontario headquarters. The company has also revealed the identity of several of its supplier partners for the manufacturing centre and presented its first environmental award with a 75,000 US dollars prize. Details are given. HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.; BERG CHILLING SYSTEMS INC.; MANNESMANN DEMAG FORDERTECHNIK AG; SYSCONPLANTSTAR; ONTARIO HYDRO RESEARCH DIVISION; IN-STORE PRODUCTS INC. CANADA; USA

Accession no.499522 Item 198 Plastics News(USA) 5, No.40, 29th Nov. 1993, p.5

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

STRONG SALES FAVOUR US ROBOT PRODUCTION Brega W; Charles A S This article reports on the increasing demand for robots by US plastics processors, and the consequential rise in robot production. Two foreign robot makers are reported to be setting up US manufacturing operations, and several US-owned or -based companies are investing to increase their production facilities. Many companies are mentioned and the statistics around their expansion are given. WITTMAN ROBOT & AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC.; MARK II AUTOMATION INC.; WITTMAN ROBOT SYSTEME GMBH; YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.; SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY INC.; AEC INC.; AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES CORP.; RANGER AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INC. AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; JAPAN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.499391 Item 199 Kunststoffe Plast Europe No.3-4, Oct.1993, p.243/50 English; French RECESSION REVEALS THE LIMITS OF AUTOMATION Guyot H The use of automated processes is discussed with particular reference to injection moulding. The scope and limits are examined of automation and its rewards in terms of productivity increase in relation to automation investment rates. EUROPE-GENERAL

Accession no.498891 Item 200 Kunststoffe Plast Europe No.3-4, Oct.1993, p.236/42 English; French ROBOT SERVES INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE AND CARRIES OUT FINISHING OPERATION Kroth E The use of robots in injection moulding processes is discussed. A linear robot is used by Hilti AG which links the injection moulding machine to the finishing and quality control machines. This ensures that the functions provided by the robot are used extensively and are not idle for parts of the processing operation. The production cell at Hilti is described, which claims an overall utilisation rating of over 90% and a reject quota of 0.24%. HILTI AG EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; LIECHTENSTEIN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.498890

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 201 Antec ’92. Plastics: Shaping the Future. Volume 2. Conference Proceedings. Detroit, Mi., 3rd-7th May 1992, p.2226-9. 012 COMPETITIVE INJECTION MOULDING PLANT LAYOUTS Hughes G Husky Injection Molding Systems (SPE) Plant-wide automation strategies, moulding cell development, product handling, plant layout, service layout and distribution and building design are discussed as they relate to the manager’s goals. Using a step-bystep approach, the procedure and elements of developing a competitive plant layout are described. CANADA

Accession no.487539 Item 202 Macplas 17, No.143, Nov.1992, p.72-3 Italian SECOND COMING FOR ROBOTICS Cooke F Optimum Evaluation Ltd. An examination is made of applications of industrial robots in plastics injection moulding. Some reasons for the slow adoption of robotics by the plastics processing industry are discussed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.481451 Item 203 Macplas 17, No.143, Nov.1992, p.67/71 Italian ROBOTS AND MANIPULATORS IN THE SERVICE OF MOULDERS Rovetto G L The use of industrial robots in plastics injection moulding operations is reviewed, and details are given of applications of robots by Italian moulder Seeber. PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; PIOVAN SPA; SYTRAMA; STAR SEIKI CO.LTD.; BATTENFELD ITALIA; SEEBER; METALMECCANICA PLAST SPA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; JAPAN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.481450 Item 204 Plastics News International May 1993, p.24-5 ONCE BITTEN, TWICE KEEN

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References and Abstracts

Last year Addis Australia installed Enerpac Quick Mould Clamping equipment on its new 1300 tonne Toshiba injection moulding machines used to mould high quality plastic components for Hoover Australia. Die changes that used to take six to 10 hours now take less than an hour, it is claimed. As part of Addis’ re-equipment programme, it is now incorporating further automation features. The latest major item of plant to get the QMC treatment is a 650 tonne Toshiba injection moulder, which is used for moulding Hoover products and large plastic houseware. ENERPAC; ADDIS (AUSTRALIA) PTY.LTD. AUSTRALIA

Accession no.480078 Item 205 European Plastics News 20, No.6, June 1993, p.xvi ANCILLARY SUPPLIERS DEVELOP A SYSTEMS APPROACH Piovan, a manufacturer of conveying, chilling, dosing, granulating, drying and temperature control equipment, is experiencing continued growth. Size reduction specialist, Tria, saw its turnover increase by 3% in 1992, with around 40% of turnover generated from exports. Increasing penetration of PETP, both into blow moulding and vacuum forming sectors, has provided new business for Frigomeccanica Industriale which offers a range of dehumidification equipment and crystallisers. Piovan + Star, a manufacturer of downstream handling equipment, now has a turnover of around L10 billion, with 60% remaining in Italy. Sytrama specialises in 3D linear robots and a range of associated automatic peripherals. Production of BOPP film in Italy has driven demand for surface treatment systems such as Esseci’s corona systems. ESSE-CI SPA; FRIGOMECCANICA INDUSTRIALE SPA; PIOVAN SPA; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; SYTRAMA; TRIA SPA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.479938 Item 206 Modern Plastics International 23, No.4, April 1993, p.18/22 LIGHTS GO OUT IN AUTOMATIC MOULDING PLANT Mapleston P Yushin Precision Equipment is operating a “lights-out” injection moulding plant in Japan. The plant is a fully commercial facility for making small food containers and toothbrush cases. The injection moulding machines are not linked to a central computer network, and the automatic guided vehicle and stocking units that handle finished parts are controlled by a single personal computer. The plant runs almost completely unmanned throughout the weekend and at night. During the week, personnel

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are employed on a part-time day shift to inspect and assemble parts away from the production floor. YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD. JAPAN

Accession no.475389 Item 207 Plastiques Flash 27,No.255,Sept./Oct.1992,p.42-5 French STATE OF THE ART IN MATERIALS MANAGEMENT Details are given of automation and handling systems (supplied mainly by Motan) used by Packard Electric Burgenland of Austria in the injection moulding of automotive cable components. MOTAN PLAST AUTOMATION GMBH; PACKARD ELECTRIC BURGENLAND GMBH; LUGER GMBH; BATTENFELD AUSTRIA GMBH; SIEMENS AG; ITV AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.475053 Item 208 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 44,No.8,Oct.1992,p.85-8 French AUTOMATION: RAPIDITY AND PRECISION Topuz B A survey is made of developments by a number of companies in control and automation systems for plastics processing, particularly injection moulding and extrusion. WORLD

Accession no.473376 Item 209 Macplas 17,No.141,Sept.1992,p.65-7 Italian HAS THE FUTURE OF CONTROLS ALREADY STARTED? Marschall U Philips BV Developments in automation, computer control and statistical process control systems for injection moulding machines are reviewed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.473359 Item 210 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1477,20th March 1993,p.20-1

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

EASIER PROGRAMMING FOR KEEN MARKET Pressflow has devised new and easier programming for its injection moulding robots. Design and construction of special downstream equipment is growing and now represents 25% of company sales. The simplest model in the Pressflow range is a modular sprue picker. Pacer is the name attaching to Pressflow’s top entry robots other than of the CNC type and may be wholly pneumatic or electric or pneumatic/electric. The company produces all the software for its equipment. Parts produced on Pressflow’s equipment include toothbrush handles, vehicle door handles, wheel trims and housings. PRESSFLOW LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.472959 Item 211 Plastverarbeiter 44,No.1,Jan.1993,p.38-41 German COMFORT SOFTWARE FOR INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE ROBOTS Ehrenweber R Robots today have to satisfy high demands in the injection moulding process. The flexible adaptation to the process must not be at the expense of ease of operation. At the same time, the highest degree of reliability must be assured. The best conditions for this are offered by a combination of menu-driven standard procedures which can be selected from a programme library together with routines which can be freely programmed using the teach-in method. In conjunction with a large number of service routines, this permits optimum utilisation of the robot.

Item 213 Plastics Technology 38,No.11,Oct.1992,p.56-8 STRAIGHT TALK ON BUYING PARTSREMOVAL ROBOTS De Gaspari J The factors to be considered when purchasing an injection moulding parts-removal robot are discussed in some depth. Factors examined include servo and pneumatic drives, endof-arm tooling, frame sturdiness, design flexibility, the level of sophistication of the controls, ease of maintenance, availability of spare parts and supplier support. STYREX INDUSTRIES; SUPERIOR PLASTICS EXTRUSION CO.INC.; PRO CORP.; MITCHELL PLASTICS INC.; PRECISE PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC.; CAL-MOLD INC. USA

Accession no.466376 Item 214 Kunststoffe German Plastics 82,No.10,Oct.1992,p.47-8 LARGE ROBOTS USED WITH TWIN INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Henze H J; Munschek H Battenfeld GmbH; Gebrueder Otto KG Large robots installed at large injection moulding machines exclusively for the removal of moulded parts are in the standby position for most of the production time. Ways are described which utilise these already available production resources for additional tasks. 1 ref.Translation of Kunststoffe German Plastics, 82, No.10, 1992, p.964/6 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.466150

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.471368 Item 212 Plastics and Rubber Asia 7,No.43,Dec.1992,p.49 YUSHIN HOT RUNNER SYSTEMS FOR HIGH SPEED Yushin Precision Equipment Co.Ltd., a specialist maker of robots for injection moulding machines, has recently concluded an agency agreement with SEP Co.Ltd., makers of Thermo-con gate, the new hot runner system being favoured by Japanese automobile manufacturers. The Thermo-con gate is constructed as an ordinary pin gate with a bush but no inner or outer heater. The hollow pipelike body of the gate is so designed that it transmits its own heat, so can be rapidly heated or cooled. The principle on which Thermo-con gate is based is described. YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; SEP JAPAN

Accession no.467345

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 215 Plastverarbeiter 43,No.4,April 1992,p.52-4 German PRODUCING COMPLEX AUTOELECTRIC PARTS It is reported that for TRW Messmer, a processor in Radolfzell and Austria-based Battenfeld, it was just the right contact - two fully automated injection moulding machines with a complete peripheral package for the manufacture of automotive light switch assemblies were put into operation in mid-1991 with no problems. Details are given. BATTENFELD AG; TRW MESSMER AUSTRIA; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.462219 Item 216 Polimeri 13,Supplement 1,1992,p.85-8 Serbo-Croatian

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References and Abstracts

INJECTION MOULD FOR SNACK TRAY MOULDING OF ABS Rogelj V ISKRA OTC

Item 220 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.12 AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMATION FROM ABB

The moulding machine includes an adaptable ejection system, which is located on the stationary mould side to prevent marking of the moulded parts by the runner system and ejectors.

It is reported that, through a complex process of manufacture and sub-assembly, robots can often be found adding value to injection moulding by turning it into an operation which produces trimmed, deflashed, semifinished and finished parts. Brief details of robots made available by ABB are presented. ABB ROBOTICS LTD.

SLOVENIA

Accession no.461011 Item 217 European Plastics News Oct.1992,p.52 SWING CHUTES SPEED UP PANTHER PLAST PRODUCTION In fast cycling moulding applications, it is essential to get the parts out of the mould as quickly as possible. It is claimed that, unlike robot systems, Husky Injection Molding Systems’ simple demoulding chutes unload within the moulding cycle. Details are given. HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; LUXEMBOURG; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.459978

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.457549 Item 221 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.10-1 NEWCOMER’S GUIDE TO ROBOTS IN MOULDING Smith A The general categories of industrial robot on offer to the moulder are outlined. Aspects covered include sprue pickers, pick and place take-out devices, side-entry takeout devices, articulated turntable mounted robots, control systems and cartesian devices. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 218 European Plastics News Oct.1992,p.45/50 GETTING TO GRIPS WITH ROBOTICS Cooke F It is reported that, to consider robotics in the plastics industry only as a means of removal of a narrow and simplistic view; its contribution to improving quality is much more important. A review of new developments from various European manufacturers is presented. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE; WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL

Accession no.459977 Item 219 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.13 PRESSFLOW MOVES FORWARD WITH NEW CNC MACHINES Pressflow, the UK’s largest manufacturer of robots for the plastics industry, is reported to have about seven models of machines which can be purchased off the shelf. The company also provides ‘special’ units to suit individual customer needs. Details of this range are presented. PRESSFLOW LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.457550

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Accession no.457547 Item 222 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.13 WINDMILL PLASTICS ROBOTICS INVESTMENT CONTINUES Raleigh P Windmill Plastics, said to be the robotics industry’s best UK trade moulding customer in 1991, is to double its current production capacity, and to plan delivery of 15 more robots to a new factory by June 1993. Brief company information is presented. WINDMILL PLASTICS LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.456840 Item 223 Kunststoffe German Plastics 82,No.3,March 1992,p.3-5 FROM QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS TO MACHINE SETTINGS Karlinger P;Buerkle E KRAUSS-MAFFEI KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH Considerations about automation begin at the part and tool design stage. Quality planning criteria are discussed, including mould data which determine machine settings, correlation of quality data and process parameters, timing

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

of quality planning, process-characteristic fields, process tolerances, and analytical descriptions of characteristic fields. 8 refs. (Translation of Kunststoffe,82, No.3,1992, p.175-9).

Item 227 International Reinforced Plastics Industry 9,No.6,Sept/Oct.1991,p.7 DIE CHANGING SYSTEMS TO REDUCE COST

GERMANY

Venture Pressings Ltd. of Telford has recently installed a rapid die changing system in their metal automotive plant, which utilises either rail-mounted trolleys or batteryoperated carts. The die-changing operation is controlled through a computer VDU, which automatically resets the press for the particular die being used. Herwo Die Changing AB, who installed the Domino push-pull die changing system at the plant, believes that such a system would benefit the SMC/BMC compounds moulding industry. HERWO DIE CHANGING AB; VENTURE PRESSINGS LTD.

Accession no.454357 Item 224 Plastiques Flash 27,Nos.247/8,Dec.1991/Jan.1992,p.34-6 French AUTOMATION OF AN INTEGRATED MOULDER An examination is made of the activities of Jaeger France, part of the Italian Magneti Marelli group, in the injection moulding of dashboard components in ABS, PMMA, nylon 66, polycarbonate and polyacetal. Details are given of automation systems used by the company, with particular reference to Albora industrial robots. Some company information is presented. ALBORA; JAEGER FRANCE; MAGNETI MARELLI EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.454270 Item 225 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1431,18th April 1992,p.9-10 TREND TO CNC ROBOT CELLULAR MOULDING IN FRANCE Smith A A growing trend in France to operate moulding cells with CNC robots running on gantries above a large space envelope, as distinct from being attached to the machines themselves, is said to be apparent at leading French robot manufacturer Sepro and two moulders in the Nantes region. Details are given. COMPAGNIE DES PLASTIQUES INDUSTRIELS DE L’OUEST; DRAFTEX INDUSTRIE; LAIRD GROUP PLC; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE UK; SEPRO SA EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.447386

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.447061 Item 228 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1429,4th April 1992,p.14 STORK L MACHINES FOR MCKECHNIE Two Pressflow CNC seven-axis robots are reported to have been installed at the Pickering, Yorkshire-based factory of McKechnie Vehicle Components Division to two Stork ST 550 tonne L configuration injection moulding machines. This is part of a 750,000 pounds sterling investment programme carried out by the Division to enhance its competitiveness, particularly against Continental companies; details are given. MCKECHNIE PLC; PRESSFLOW LTD.; STORK PLASTICS PROCESSING MACHINERY LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.445441 Item 229 Plastics and Rubber Today Jan/Feb.1992,p.12 ANCILLARIES TODAY Smith J L CONAIR CHURCHILL LTD.

Details are given of the Sistema PET automation system developed by Sytrama for use in the injection moulding of PETP bottle preforms. SYTRAMA

The use of ancillary equipment is reported to play an everincreasing role in improving the efficiency and profitability of a plastics injection moulding operation. From a small mould temperature control unit through to a full bulk materials storage and central vacuum conveying system, ancillary equipment assists in reducing raw material costs and wastage, labour costs, improving quality and precision control and materials usage monitoring. An outline of ancillary equipment is presented.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 226 Macplas 16,No.134,Dec.1991,p.95-6 Italian ROLE OF AUTOMATION

Accession no.447260

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Accession no.443396

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References and Abstracts

Item 230 Plastiques Flash No.244,Aug/Sept.1991,p.98-9 French NEW BOUNCE FOR SER ROBOPLAST An examination is made of the activities of Societe Europeenne de Robotique (SER Roboplast) of France in the manufacture of industrial robots for the plastics injection moulding industry. The company was formed at the end of 1990 following the integration of Roboplast SA into the Laroche Group, which also includes Laroche SA (precision engineering and tooling), Diconex (electrical connectors), and Videmo (injection moulded and thermoformed plastics cases for video cassettes) . Turnover figures and numbers of employees are given for the four group companies. DICONEX; GROUPE LAROCHE; LAROCHE SA; NUM; ROBOPLAST SA; SANYO KASEI CO.; SER ROBOPLAST; SOCIETE EUROPEENNE DE ROBOTIQUE; VIDEMO EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; JAPAN; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.440662 Item 231 Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri No.2,Feb.1991,p.80-2 Italian DICTATORSHIP BY ROBOTS Following a general review of the use of industrial robots in the plastics processing industry, details are given of industrial robots and compact injection moulding machines featured at the JP 90 International Plastics Exhibition held in Tokyo in November 1990. HARON; MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.; NIGATA; NISSEI CO.; SAILOR PEN CO.LTD.; STAR SEIKI CO.LTD.; SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.; TOSHIBA MACHINE CO.LTD.; UBE INDUSTRIES LTD.; YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD. JAPAN

Accession no.437610 Item 232 Kunststoffe German Plastics 81,No.10,Oct.1991,p.31-5 BLOW MOULDING PRODUCTION LINE Ast W REGENSBURG,FACHHOCHSCHULE The important considerations in introducing automated production lines are discussed for a variety of operating concepts up to full integration. Examples of automation in the production of injection moulding packaging closures and accessories for fuel tanks are given. Production lines for screen washer tanks, refuse bins, packaging containers and drums are outlined. 24 refs.

Item 233 Plastverarbeiter 42,No.8,Aug.1991,p.50-2 German ROBOTIC SYSTEMS: POSITIONING FUNCTIONS NO LONGER A BALANCING ACT Schafer J The plastics processing industry makes extremely high demands on automatic handling equipment. The constant problems of achieving even better efficiency and even greater positioning accuracy are accompanied by the equally essential problem of keeping down costs. Additionally, injection moulding machines have a cycle time of 15 to 20 seconds. The use of highly dynamic drives in such applications would be inordinately costly. A range of frequency converters has been developed for use with robotic systems providing a real time signal processing mode, programmable function linkage, externally selectable data sets and self adjusting stabilisers for indexing and drives. GERMANY

Accession no.435558 Item 234 Plastverarbeiter 42,No.8,Aug.1991,p.46-7 German HIGHLY AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING OF COOL BOXES Coleman, manufacturer of leisure articles and camping accessories, bases its production of over 4000 different products on three plastics processes: PU, blow moulding and injection moulding. Automated production of cool boxes is discussed. COLEMEN GMBH GERMANY

Accession no.435549 Item 235 Kunststoffe German Plastics 81,No.9,Sept.1991,p.20-2 ROBOT LINKED INJECTION MOULDING AND ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS Kroth E MASCHINENFABRIK REIS GMBH & CO. A production cell used for manufacturing a plastics brake fluid reservoir for the automobile industry is described. Tasks carried out by the cell include feeding inserts to the injection moulding machine, removal of part, cooling of part, sprue removal, pressing an insert into place, placing the moulding in a welding machine, checking quality, conveying good parts, and disposal of rejects.

GERMANY

GERMANY

Accession no.436499

Accession no.435512

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References and Abstracts

Item 236 Kunststoffe German Plastics 81,No.9,Sept.1991,p.18-20 STANDARD GRIPPERS FOR AUTOMATED ASSEMBLY Knapp A;Schmitz U DARMSTADT,TECHNISCHEN HOCHSCHULE

NO MAN OPERATION AND THE REDUCTION OF MAN POWER Whittaker F TEKMATEX MARUBENI LTD. (Rapra Technology Ltd.)

Assistance is given in the selection of the central element of a robot handling unit, the gripper, for the automated assembly of injection moulded components. The gripper is responsible for transmitting the force between the handling unit and the workpiece for position and orientation. Design and construction of mechanical and vacuum grippers is discussed. 8 refs.

The ‘No Man’ system for automatically controlling the company’s F series of injection moulding machines is described. The package consists of startup/shutdown controls which allow for manual, automatic or restart procedures. A new dynamic barrier screw is employed to provide high kneading and plasticising action and the ability to monitor features of the screw operation. Start up conditions are stored on the IJECTVISOR central processor.

GERMANY

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.435511

Accession no.431772

Item 237 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1406,12th Oct.1991,p.13 TOWERING STATISTICS FOR VIDEO CASSETTE PRODUCTION Smith A

Item 240 Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference Proceedings. Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 2. 831 HIGHEST PRODUCTIVITY WITH BEST QUALITY Canovi P N SANDRETTO SPA (Rapra Technology Ltd.)

The Sears Tower in Chicago, 1454ft. high, is claimed to be the World’s tallest occupied building; in the suburb of Northbrook, the automated injection moulding plant of Tandy Rank produces a stack of VHS video cassettes as high as this skyscraper every three hours. Details are given. USA

Accession no.433638 Item 238 Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference Proceedings. Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 12. 831 OPTIMISATION OF THE MOULDING PROCESS: FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION AND THE PRODUCT Valsecchi F MIR SPA (Rapra Technology Ltd.) An overview is presented of the extent of automation equipment for mould or barrel changing and systems for centralised production management and quality control which is necessary in injection moulding. A practical balance relative to the company’s needs is stressed. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.431782

Improved productivity is illustrated by a case history for the in-house moulding of fluorescent lamp holders employing the latest state of the art equipment, including automated materials handling, dehumidifying dryers, injection moulding machines with advanced process control and statistical process control, automatic mould changers, robotic handling equipment and in-line quality control. The reason for the appearance of high reject rates is given. SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.431771 Item 241 Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference Proceedings. Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 1. 831 MODULAR MACHINE CONSTRUCTION AND AUTOMATION Hind J;Manser P BATTENFELD UK LTD. (Rapra Technology Ltd.) An outline of the major trends of automation in injection moulding is given including just-in-time, quality control, traceability, flexible production, production cells and manless production. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 239 Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference Proceedings. Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 3. 831

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Accession no.431770 Item 242 Plastics and Rubber Weekly

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References and Abstracts

No.1405,5th Oct.1991,p.20 AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION WITH TEAMLEADER GANTRY ROBOT A Teamleader electrical gantry CNC robot manufactured by Controlled Automation Technology of Telford is reported to have been integrated with a Cincinnati Milacron Vista VT 200 injection moulding machine at Holloid Plastics for the automatic production of eight different components. Details are given. CINCINNATI MILACRON INC.; CONTROLLED AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY; HOLLOID PLASTICS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; USA; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.431674

Item 246 Plastics Processing-Recent Developments.Conference Proceedings. Hong Kong,24th June 1991,Paper 3. 8 AUTOMATION OF INJECTION MOULDING PLANT Pau K P CHEN HSONG HOLDINGS LTD. (Hong Kong Plastics Technology Centre Co.) The categories of moulding shop automation which are discussed are: loading and unloading moulds; plastic materials supply; setting of processing parameters; process automation; post processing automation (quality control and packing). HONG KONG

Item 243 Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference Proceedings. Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 19. 831 PRACTICAL AUTOMATION OF STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL FOR INJECTION MOULDING Windsor-Shaw T C MANNESMANN DEMAG HAMILTON LTD. (Rapra Technology Ltd.) The subject matter is discussed under the headings of: objectives for automating SPC; implementation of automated SPC; and artificial intelligence techniques. 13 refs.

Accession no.429740 Item 247 Canadian Plastics 49,No.3,April 1991,p.17/20 AFFORDABLE AUTOMATION FOR THE CUSTOM MOULDER Mason E Methods available to custom injection moulders to increase their automation capabilities at an affordable cost are discussed and some control systems currently available in Canada are briefly described. CANADA

Accession no.427957

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.431648 Item 244 International Polymer Science and Technology 17,No.12,1990,p.T/35-54 STATE OF THE ART IN AUTOMATION OF THERMOPLASTICS INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Zeman L;Neuhausl E;Pavlicek J;Linhart J (Full translation of Plasty a Kaucuk,27,No.2,1990,p.45) CZECHOSLOVAKIA; EASTERN EUROPE

Accession no.430609 Item 245 Plastics Southern Africa 20,No.11,May 1991,p.22/50 STEP BY STEP TO COMPLETE AUTOMATION Merki B NETSTAL-MACHINERY LTD. Automated moulding plants utilising Netstal injection moulding machines are discussed and selection factors are stressed. SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.430607

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Item 248 Canadian Plastics 49,No.3,April 1991,p.22-3 MANUFACTURING CELLS SET FAST PACE The approach taken by a Canadian injection moulding company, Toronto Plastics, to automate its moulding plant is briefly described. The company has installed manufacturing cells centred around a Kawaguchi injection moulding machine for producing automotive components and is currently looking at a third, more complex cell with microprocessor controls and quick mould change functions. TORONTO PLASTICS LTD. CANADA

Accession no.427956 Item 249 Antec 90.Plastics in the Environment:Yesterday,Today & Tomorrow.Conference Proceedings. Dallas,Tx.,7th-11th May 1990,p.2014-6. 012 FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION FOR SMALL LOT PRODUCTION Meckley J A ERIE,PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY (SPE)

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Brief details are given of the use of automation to run a flexible injection moulding cell for small lot production. Emphasis is given to the use of standard mechanical and electrical interfaces with adequate documentation.

STEP BY STEP TO COMPLETE AUTOMATION OF MOULDING Merki B NETSTAL MACHINERY LTD.

USA

It is reported that process stability, accuracy, reproducibility and reliability assume even more importance in an automated moulding operation than in a conventional plant, because by definition no personnel are present to take corrective action. About 700 functions of the injection moulding machine are therefore continuously monitored in an Automated Moulding Plant operation; if anything is wrong, the process is stopped.

Accession no.427470 Item 250 Kunststoffe German Plastics 81,No.4,April 1991,p.24-6 IS THE USE OF FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION UNITS AN ECONOMIC PROPOSITION? Henze H J BATTENFELD AG An analysis of the economic feasibility of an industrial robot and a mould changing system is presented. It takes into account costs of investment, energy, manufacturing and supply, additional space, repair and maintenance, mould, logistics and labour. 2 refs. GERMANY

Accession no.424592 Item 251 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1391,29th June 1991,p.12 VIDEO CHECKING PETP PREFORMS Eurodata of Milton Keynes is reported to have developed an automatic 100% PETP preform inspection system which is currently undergoing production trials at Able Industries of Tenbury Wells. It is applied to a Husky machine with a 32 cavity mould; details are given. EURODATA LTD. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.424236 Item 252 Plastics Technology 37,No.5,May 1991,p.31/5 AUTOMATED MOULDING AND TESTING FACILITIES AID RESIN QUALITY CONTROL Gabriele M C The use of automation and robots for testing by the materials manufacturers is described. Hoechst is using an automated moulding cell to produce test bars under precisely reproduced conditions. The cell is to be linked to an automated sample testing system. Bayer is employing a similar set up. HOECHST CELANESE CORP. USA

Accession no.423551 Item 253 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1378,23rd March 1991,p.10/22

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.421590 Item 254 Plaspro 89.Conference Proceedings. London,7th-8th June 1989,Paper 11. 8 INTEGRATION OF PROCESSING MACHINES AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT CONTROL SYSTEMS Thomas P CONAIR CHURCHILL LTD. (IBC Technical Service Ltd.;British Plastics & Rubber) Computer integrated manufacturing is outlined which, in this paper, incorporates processing machines, dehumidifying dryers, hopper loaders, robotics, temperature controllers, blenders, and granulators. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.420459 Item 255 Plastics Technology 37,No.4,April 1991,p.70 TURRENT ROBOT TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT Fallon M Huskey Injection Molding Systems is reported to have introduced a new series of top-entry injection moulding robots with a turret-style base, offering processors the flexibility of removing parts to either side of the press. Brief details are presented. HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS INC. USA

Accession no.420428 Item 256 Plaspro 89.Conference Proceedings. London,7th-8th June 1989,Paper 2. 8 PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT AUTOMATION? Hamblin D CRANFIELD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (IBC Technical Service Ltd.; British Plastics & Rubber)

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The extent to which resources are allocated to automation in the plastics moulding shop is examined.

GMBH; METALMECCANICA PLAST SPA; STORK PLASTICS MACHINERY BV

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; ITALY; NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.420403 Item 257 Plaspro 89.Conference Proceedings. London,7th-8th June 1989,Paper 1. 8 AUTOMATION THEORY AND PRACTICE HOW FAST DO THEY COME TOGETHER AND HOW FAR APART ARE THEY AT THE MOMENT Bowdon K IKV AACHEN (IBC Technical Service Ltd.;British Plastics & Rubber) The application of computer integrated manufacture to injection moulding plant is described. Examples of CIM to plants in Europe are presented. Costs are outlined, together with the necessary restructuring operations, such as the introduction of quick mould changing, mould redesign and computer control of machines and parts removal. 22 refs. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.420402 Item 258 International Journal of Materials & Product Technology 5,No.4,1990,p.376-86 FACTORY AUTOMATION OF THE PLASTIC MOULDING SHOP Toyoshima K;Ohki R;Yamanchi K;Kawase H;Nasuda M SUZUKI MOTOR CO.LTD. Recently, the percentage of plastic parts used in motor cars has been increasing and parts require painting to the same high standrds as car bodies. This has led Suzuki Motors to reorganise its moulding and painting facilities into an integrated system automatically controlled by computers. Automation of the plastics moulding shop is described.

Accession no.417098 Item 260 Improving Competitiveness through Plastics Innovation.Conference Proceedings. Boston,26th-28th Oct.1988,Paper D,pp.2. 831 THE PATH OF FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING: PITFALLS AND POSSIBILITIES Mastro P XEROX CORP. (SPE) A brief review is presented of the problems encountered in the establishment of an operational plastic injection moulding flexible manufacturing system for the production of business machine parts. Additional possibilities for further improvements in and benefits from this flexible manufacturing system which came to light during the setting-up of the system are also considered. USA

Accession no.411891 Item 261 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 42,No.4,May 1990,p.84-5 French AEG - A FLEXIBLE FACTORY A description is given of the AEG factory at Rothenburg. Its main features are centralisation of production, automatic changing of materials, colours, moulds, and injection units. The arrangement has been tried out at the manufacturers, Kloeckner Ferromatik. AEG AG; HEWLETT-PACKARD CO.; KLOECKNER-FERROMATIK AG EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.410726

JAPAN

Accession no.419701 Item 259 Asian Plastics News Dec.1990,p.19-20 INJECTION MOULDING - CONTROL IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY A report is presented on sophisticated automation and control options for injection moulding machines available from European manufacturers such as Metalmeccanica, Battenfeld, Engel, Stork and Arburg. ARBURG MASCHINENFABRIK; BATTENFELD AUSTRIA GMBH; BATTENFELD GMBH; ENGEL

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Item 262 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 42,No.4,May 1990,p.78-81 French WORKPLACE ORGANISATION: FLEXIBILITY AND QUALITY Guyot H The organisation of an injection moulding shop is described with details of robots commercially available for feeding the machines, placing inserts, removal of mouldings and palletisation. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.410723

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

Item 263 Antec ’89.Conference Proceedings. New York,1st-4th May 1989,p.224-7. 012 FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION IN INJECTION MOULDING SHOPS - STATE OF THE ART AND STRATEGY FOR INTRODUCTION Von Eysmondt B INSTITUT FUER KUNSTSTOFFVERARBEITUNG (SPE) Using mould changing systems as an example, the extent to which flexible automation has been introduced into industrial practice to date is considered. The trends in flexible automation that are emerging in the Federal Republic of Germany are outlined. A method is described for transforming a conventional injection moulding plant into a flexible automated plant. 6 refs.

Chicago,20-24th June 1988,paper 10,pp.13. 012 EFFECTIVE INTERFACING OF PLASTIC MOULDING MACHINERY AND ROBOTIC EQUIPMENT Hamilton G APPLICATION AUTOMATION INC. (SPI) A detailed discussion is presented of the need for standardisation of the interface between injection moulding machines and automated part handling equipment, e.g. robotic unloaders. It is shown that, by defining all variables and assigning all pin locations and logic, there is a greatly reduced chance of error andits resultant problems. USA

Accession no.405714

GERMANY

Accession no.409662 Item 264 British Plastics and Rubber Nov.1990,p.41/3 BE FLEXIBLE WHEN CONSIDERING MOULD CHANGE AUTOMATION Lowe A STAUBLI UNIMATION The increasing demand from manufacturing industry for its components to be delivered as and when they are required on the assembly line is said to have put extra pressure on suppliers to be more flexible in their own manufacturing processes. Details are given.

Item 267 Ausplas ’87-Plastics Towards 2000.Conference papers. Melbourne,13-15th Oct.1987,Paper 16. 012 PLANT AUTOMATION INCLUDING ‘JUST IN TIME’ Echardt H (Plastics Institute of Australia) The possible reasons for automation of the injection moulding plant is discussed and the steps required for its implementation are identified. Examples of automated plant for particular products are included. The author concludes that ‘there is no future for injection moulding factories without automation’.

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.409588

Accession no.404611

Item 265 Plastverarbeiter 40,No.7,July 1989,p.16-8 German AUTOMATION. TANDEM ROBOTS FOR HORIZONTAL INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Huler A BATTENFELD AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH

Item 268 Plasty a Kaucuk 27,No.2,Feb.1990,p.45-64 Czech STATE-OF-THE-ART IN AUTOMATION OF THERMOPLASTICS INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Zeman L;Neuhausl E;Pavlicek J;Linhart J STATNI VYZKUMNY USTAV MATERIALU

A description is given of tandem robots which are systems consisting of two robots having a common main axis. Their use with injection moulding machines with clamp forces below 1000kN and short cycle times is discussed and advantages of these systems outlined. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.408896 Item 266 NPE’88.Vol.1.Conference Papers.

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Current trends in the automation of thermoplastics injection moulding are described, focusing attention on machinery and hydraulic and control systems. The stateof-the-art in machinery is illustrated by machinery on display at the K’86 exhibition in Dusseldorf. The present state-of-the-art in Comecon countries and Czechoslovakia is also outlined and future developments in machinery are considered. Articles from this journal can be requested for translation by subscribers to the Rapra produced International Polymer Science and Technology. CZECHOSLOVAKIA; EASTERN EUROPE

Accession no.404580

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References and Abstracts

Item 269 Innovations in Plastics.Proceedings of an SPE RETEC. Rochester,New York,15-17 Nov.87,paper N,p.1-16. 012 COMPUTER MOULDING TECHNOLOGY IN INJECTION MOULDING Fricke A HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC. (SPE,Rochester Section;SPE,Injection Molding Div.) The benefits that can be gained by providing existing moulding machinery with state-of-the-art computer technology are described and the way in which this computer technology will improve and transform the injection moulding process is discussed. Consideration is given to closed-loop process control, process monitoring, automatic part sorting, statistical process control, early warning systems and production monitoring systems. USA

Accession no.402822 Item 270 Modern Plastics International 20,No.7,July 1990,p.15-6 ‘FLYING’ ROBOTS KEY TO MOULDING PROFITS Evco Plastics, a custom moulder, has invested in a totally automated injection moulding plant employing a just-intime operation centred on the installation of a laser guided overhead crane for quick mould changing. Further details are provided in the article. EVCO PLASTICS USA

Accession no.401885 Item 271 Plastics Technology 35,No.12,Nov.1989,p.15-9 ‘TANDEM’ ROBOTS TEAM UP FOR COMPLEX AUTOMATION JOBS Battenfeld are proposing tandem robot systems for part removal and follow-up operations with injection moulding machines. Tandem robot systems are two robots sharing a common main axis. Small machine applications are appropriate because tandem systems are most effective when cycle times are short. In these cases a single robot cannot keep pace with part removal and other peripheral functions, including weighing, measuring, finishing and packing. The article continues with examples of various tandem robot systems. BATTENFELD CORP.OF AMERICA

ROBOTS AT WORK Moreau J L SEPRO SA The trend towards the use of robots for the automatic unloading of horizontal plastics injection presses in Europe and Japan is briefly discussed and the outlook for robots with advances in processing technology is considered. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.398851 Item 273 Swiss Plastics 11,No.4,1989,p.37/44 German AUTOMATION IN PLASTICS PRODUCTION Meier M ROBITRON AG Automation in the manufacture, e.g. injection moulding, of plastics products is discussed with emphasis on clean room conditions. Particular attention is paid to developments in clean room manufacture of optic glasses, compact discs and packaging applications. SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.396816 Item 274 British Plastics and Rubber April 1990,p.21/4 ROBOTS SHOW HANDLING IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST MOVEMENT Advances in robots for product handling announced by several manufacturers are reported. The Battenfeld Pressflow demoulding robot is used in the production of Sony TV housings in integral skin PS. Husty’s pick and place robot is for assembly operations. Robots for Metalmeccanica injection moulding machines can be used for insert placing, demoulding and palletising by the machine. Robots from ATM Automation, Gosewehr, Wittmann, Tria, Remak and Engel are mentioned. WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL; WESTERN EUROPE

Accession no.395994 Item 275 Macplas International No.7,May 1989,p.35-8 MOULDING IN THE FUTURE This comprehensive article reports some innovations introduced by Italian manufacturers in order to improve the automation level in injection moulding factories.

USA

ITALY; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

Accession no.399509

Accession no.393785

Item 272 World Plastics & Rubber Technology 1990,p.163-4

Item 276 Plastics Technology 36,No.2,Feb.1990,p.17

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References and Abstracts

NEW PARTS REMOVAL ROBOTS FEATURE SPEED, RELIABILITY AND PROGRAMMABILITY Sterltech has developed parts removal robots for injection moulding machines which feature dual vertical motion and new microprocessor controls. The robots are designed for speed, accuracy and programmable versatility. STERLING INC.,STERLTECH DIV. USA

Accession no.393620 Item 277 Plastics Technology 36,No.2,Feb.1990,p.15 STRAW-HANDLING TECHNOLOGY MOVES INTO THE NINETIES Conair Gatto has developed an automatic drinking straw handling system which is used at the end of a straw extension line and automatically moves straws to the next phase of operation. In addition, the company has redesigned its automated straw wrapper to allow processors a choice of wrapping with film or paper. CONAIR GATTO USA

Accession no.393473 Item 278 SPI/SPE Plastics-West.Conference proceedings. Las Vegas,20-22nd Oct.1987,p.3-5. 012 ROBOTICS IN THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY Healy J APPLICATION AUTOMATION INC. (SPI;SPE) The use of robots in the injection moulding industry is discussed with particular reference to power supply systems for robots, manipulator arms and controllers. Basic criteria for selection of the correct robot are considered and future prospects for use of robots are examined. USA

Accession no.392721 Item 279 Modern Plastics International 20,No.2,Feb.1990,p.30-2 PROCESSING-LINE INTEGRATION CUTS COSTS, IMPROVES PRODUCT QUALITY Kreisher K R This comprehensive article investigates the benefits of integrating auxiliary equipment and injection units with computer controls, Automated process set ups reduce time needed to change from are production run to another and ensure part consistency. Diagnostics enable operators to identify the causes of variation in moulding. USA

Accession no.392228

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

Item 280 Plastics World 47,No.11,Nov.1989,p.38-41 ROBOTS SAVE MORE THAN LABOUR McCarthy L The introduction of robots into American injection moulding companies is increasing. The reason is not only to save on labour costs, but to improve quality by standardising cycle times. This is achieved by the time saved in part removal from open moulds by operators, which is ofter erratic. Robot sensors also indicate if sprue is present in the mould before closing. The article continues to describe robot types, tooling interfaces, training, maintenance, programming and other aspects of introduction. USA

Accession no.390122 Item 281 Poliplasti e Plastici Rinforzati 37,No.378,May 1989,p.32-6 Italian PLAN, BECOME FLEXIBLE, AUTOMATE Bauer R Injection moulding shop organisation is discussed with respect to machinery, moulds (including mould changing), self-contained production units (islands) and their integration into an overall unit facilitating automation. ENGEL MASCHINENBAU GMBH SWITZERLAND

Accession no.385429 Item 282 Poliplasti e Plastici Rinforzati 37,No.277,April 1989,p.28-31 Italian AUTOMATION, YES, BUT TAKE ACCOUNT OF EXISTING FACTORY CONDITIONS Bonfadini P Automation of injection moulding, e.g. by adopting automatic or semi-automatic mould changing, is discussed in terms of pre-automation factory organisation which might be insufficiently flexible to ensure a satisfactory outcome. Technical details are described with reference to MIR systems. MIR SPA ITALY

Accession no.385427 Item 283 Plastics South.Proceedings of the Regional Technical Conference held Atlanta,Ga.,8-10th Oct.1986. Brookfield Center,Ct.,1986,p.341-67. 012 AUTOMATION IN INJECTION MOULDING FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - THE

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References and Abstracts

COMPETITIVE EDGE Meyer W BATTENFELD OF AMERICA INC. (SPE;SPI) Details are given of flexible manufacturing systems for the production of injection moulded parts. Topics mentioned include control equipment, computer control, and standardising moulds and machines.

optimising machine control units, automatic mould changing systems, exchangeable plasticising limits, as well as robot and handling equipment. Types of systems available on the market are described, their mode of operation explained and their effectiveness assessed. 15 refs. WEST GERMANY

Accession no.381665

USA

Accession no.385140 Item 284 Plastics South.Proceedings of the Regional Technical Conference held Atlanta,Ga.,8-10th Oct.1986. Brookfield Center,Ct.,1986,p.212-7. 012 AUTOMATION AND THE FUTURE FOR THE PLASTIC INJECTION MOULDER Paradis J AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES CORP. (SPE;SPI) Details are given of automation for injection moulding with particular reference given to parts removal robots. 3 refs. USA

Accession no.385132 Item 285 Kunststoffe 78,No.10,Oct.1988,p.920-3 German FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION OF THE INJECTION MOULDING SHOP Menges G;von Eysmondt B INSTITUT FUER KUNSTSTOFFVERARBEITUNG Based on a survey conducted amongst plastics processors, machinery manufacturers, associations and institutes, an analysis is made of whether different concepts of flexible automation production technology are used in practice. Results, which show that there seems to be some reluctance in introducing such concepts, are discussed. 6 refs. WEST GERMANY

Accession no.381666 Item 286 Kunststoffe 78,No.10,Oct.1988,p.913-9 German FLEXIBLE INJECTION MOULDING PRODUCTION Thienel P;Berlin R NRW GMBH Methods of increasing the flexibility of injection moulding plants are discussed. Systems considered include self-

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Item 287 Plastics Technology 35,No.4,April 1989,p.31/5 AUTOMATED INJECTION CELL SHUFFLES NINE MOULDS An injection moulding production cell from Battenfeld GmbH is described in detail. It consists of two 3-axis robots on a single boom for removal of finished parts from the mould, degating, stacking, mobile mould change system, mould storage, automated materials handling and an injection moulding cell with a hot-runner manifold for two materials. It is reported that the system can change any of nine multi-cavity moulds in less than 6 mins. BATTENFELD GMBH WEST GERMANY

Accession no.377766 Item 288 Can You Handle It?;Conference Proceedings. Solihull,8th Dec.1987,Paper 8,pp.70. 125 PLANT AUTOMATION INCLUDING ‘JUST IN TIME’ Eckardt H BATTENFELD MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH (Rapra Technology Ltd.;Elsevier Seminars) The reasons for automation in injection moulding are described and the steps taken towards automation are listed with a large number of practical examples. The need for production in smaller quantities which must be delivered exactly on given deadlines (Just-in-time) is shown to be a major factor in machine automation, part handling robots and production control systems. WEST GERMANY

Accession no.370013 Item 289 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.1250,27th Aug.1988,p.13 DO’S AND DON’TS IN USING ROBOTS Slaton J R KENT PLASTICS CORP. Today’s custom moulder is said to be facing more competitive pressure than ever before. The need to reduce costs will force most seriously to evaluate the use of robotics in the moulding process. The sheet number of units available combined with the wide diversity of

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

References and Abstracts

applications is reported to make the decision a difficult one. An attempt is made to point out key areas to look at during the stages of a robotics project: planning, purchasing, installing and operating. USA

Accession no.368891 Item 290 Plastics and Polymer Processing Automation.Papers based on 2nd International Conference,Polymer Processing:Automation ’86. Park Ridge,NJ,Noyes Data Corp.,1987,p.103-12. 1121 CONTINUOUS INJECTION MOULDING: TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY AND INVESTMENT Coppetti T (PRI) A study was carried out to prove that a completely automatic injection moulding line was capable of meeting the most exacting quality requirements with regard to moulded parts. This was accomplished by selecting two very different mouldings, which were produced completely automatically (i.e. computer controlled), alternately on the same Netstal closed-loop injection moulding machine. The products were a tap insert made from ABS containing 15% glass fibres and a honeycomb unit made from glass fibre reinforced polycarbonate. Particular attention was paid to the number of cycles necessary to produce a good quality part after an automatic change. NETSTAL AG WEST GERMANY

Accession no.366557 Item 291 European Plastics News 15,No.8,Aug.1988,p.22 AUTOMATION FOR SMALL MACHINES The concept of automatic production cells centred around 50 tonnes injection moulding machines is considered. Buchsteiner set up an automatic production plant for Ohropax, a manufacturer of wax ear plugs, for their manufacture and packaging. The equipment involved is briefly described. BUCHSTEINER GMBH; OHROPAX WEST GERMANY

Accession no.361498 Item 292 Modern Plastics International 18,No.1,Jan.1988,p.35-8 ROBOTICS’ APPEAL SPREADS TO A WIDER SPECTRUM OF PROCESSORS Mapleston P The latest developments in robotic handling equipment are reported to be bringing the goal of fully automatic

© Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited

manufacturing to an increasingly diverse range of injection moulders. A review of recent developments, available from various European and Japanese producers is presented; some emphasis is placed on compact disc developments, electrical robots, pneumatics, integration of downstream assembly operations, machine vision and benefits for custom moulders. EUROPE-GENERAL; JAPAN

Accession no.351068 Item 293 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres 38,No.3,April 1986,p.108-9 French INOV’PLASTIC: THE ART OF AUTOMATION An account is given of the activities of Inov’Plastic of France in the production of precision injection moulded electronic, automotive and aircraft components in engineering plastics. The company’s automation, production management and quality control programme is also examined. INOV’PLASTIC FRANCE

Accession no.317720 Item 294 Plastics Technology 32,No.4,April 1986,p.97-100 HERE’S A LOOK INSIDE A SHOWCASE CIM MOULDING PLANT Kirkland C Black & Decker’s houseware and outdoor products moulding and assembly plant at Easton is described. The introduction of just-in-time manufacturing, computer aided design and manufacturing, preventive maintenance, a manufacturing resources planning system, electronic message boards, robots and microcomputer controls have already brought about significant reductions in costs. The use of all these techniques is explained. BLACK & DECKER MFG.CO. USA

Accession no.309360 Item 295 European Plastics News 12,No.11,Nov.1985,p.26/30 ROBOTS MEET STANDARDS FOR TOTAL AUTOMATION Thermoset specialist moulder Healey Mouldings now has a robot fitted to every one of its eighteen thermoset injection moulding machines. A company profile is briefly presented. HEALEY MOULDINGS LTD.; PRESSFLOW LTD. UK

Accession no.302249

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References and Abstracts

Item 296 Automate or Liquidate;Proceedings of the PRI and Knight Wendling Conference on Advanced Manufacturing Technology. Brighton,16-18 May 1984,Paper 20,p.20/1-20/6. 1121 JAPANESE SCENE Morita A;Stokes P G LITTLE A.D.,INC. (PRI;Knight Wendling) The Japanese plastics industry is making considerable use of flexible, automated manufacturing technology. The differing objectives of large multinational concerns and small companies are discussed with reference to the incentives to automate, which also differ for large and small firms. General developments are described along with justification for automation for both small and large concerns, with special reference to injection moulding.

Item 299 British Plastics and Rubber March 1984,p.37 ROBOT REWARDS - PROFITS OR PROBLEMS? Evans R ENGELMANN & BUCKHAM LTD. It is argued that the use of a robot on an injection moulding machine will only be worthwhile if the machine is ready for it. The robot is only an arm which removes parts from the press, so the quality of the product, and the other benefits, such as increased productivity, decreased labour costs and down time and scrap, and safer workings conditions, are all dependent on the performance of the moulding machine. The relevant criteria for automated injection moulding are discussed. UK

Accession no.251266

JAPAN

Accession no.274889 Item 297 Innovations in Injection Molding. Papers presented at SPE Technical Conference and Seminar on Injection Molding. Brookfield Center,Ct.,24 Oct.1983,Paper 2B,p.2B12B4. 831 HANDS OFF - INSERT MOULDING Ortberg D D CAPSONIC GROUP INC. (SPE,Injection Molding Div.;SPE,Newark Section) Some of the applications of auto-loading systems for insert moulding operations utilised by Capsonic Group Inc. are discussed. The following seven methods of insert moulding are considered:- into the tool, removable cavities or cores, strip moulding, breakaway strip, tape strip, reel-to-reel and hitch feed. USA

Accession no.274233 Item 298 Plastics News (Australia) June 1984,p.11-2 DEMOULDING SYSTEMS ON INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES Karl H L COMTEC PTY.LTD. A brief review is given of the use of industrial robots for demoulding systems on injection moulding machines. These systems can be coupled to periphery equipment such as conveyors, buffer zones, cooling equipment, stockpiling, deflashing, sprue removal and assembling machines.

Item 300 Plastics World 41,No.10,Sept.1983,p.50/80 INJECTION MOULDING-SEVEN SUCCESS STORIES Details are presented on moves made by 7 USA companies to modernise and reequip their injection moulding plants. The contributions of CAD/CAM, robots, tool changers, computerised management control and automated materials handling are considered. AMITECH INC.; COMDIAL TELEPHONE SYSTEMS; COURTESY MOLD & TOOL CORP.; COWAN PLASTICS; KIEHL ENGINEERING CO.; PIXLEY RICHARDS INC.; UFE INC. USA

Accession no.240073 Item 301 Plastics and Rubber Weekly No.996,16th July 1983,p.8 ROBOTS ARE PART OF THE SCENERY Bickel S Some company information is given for Healey Mouldings Ltd., one of the first major UK moulders to install industrial robots as an integral part of their set-up. Listed are some of the various models Healey have installed and their attitude to the future buying of robots. HEALEY MOULDINGS LTD. UK

Accession no.235559

USA

Accession no.261117

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Subject Index

Subject Index A ABRASION RESISTANCE, 85 ABRASIVE MATERIAL, 2 ACCELERATION, 87 97 139 144 166 ACCIDENT PREVENTION, 48 58 ACCUMULATOR, 186 ACCURACY, 91 115 120 142 163 ACETALDEHYDE, 33 ACQUISITION, 26 33 ACRYLIC RESIN, 156 ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE STYRENE, 2 49 66 89 113 114 128 142 207 216 224 229 290 ACTUATOR, 6 ADAPTIVE CONTROL, 110 ADDED VALUE, 106 115 ADDITIVE, 2 36 54 110 187 231 ADHESION, 80 AEROSPACE APPLICATION, 230 AESTHETIC, 66 85 AGEING, 8 AGENT, 32 AGREEMENT, 100 AGRICULTURAL APPLICATION, 8 AIR CONDITIONING, 73 130 135 AIR COOLING, 54 AIR DRYING, 54 113 AIR HANDLING, 163 AIR HOSE, 193 AIR PRESSURE, 93 184 AIR-POWERED, 115 AIRBAG, 143 AIRCRAFT, 293 AIRPORT, 86 ALARM, 8 22 93 153 162 207 208 209 ALUMINIUM, 7 48 84 187 ANALYSIS, 36 107 ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT, 2 8 28 31 32 33 34 39 44 48 53 54 65 71 76 79 95 96 107 113 119 142 153 162 165 171 174 177 179 187 191 202 205 207 208 217 218 229 251 253 279 298 299 301 ANTHROPOMORPH, 24 APPARATUS, 40 70 81 116 117 118 121 127 170 173 ARTICULATED, 9 41 83 87 130 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, 105 106 243 ASSEMBLY, 2 13 20 24 32 37 38

39 41 44 46 49 51 75 90 97 98 99 100 112 136 137 144 147 163 166 176 179 194 198 202 235 236 271 274 ASSOCIATION, 20 44 AUDIO CASSETTE, 32 AUDIO EQUIPMENT, 2 128 AUTOMATED, 62 198 232 235 236 254 256 270 277 279 AUTOMATIC, 80 119 152 290 AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION, 2 12 14 15 16 18 20 24 36 37 39 41 45 47 49 52 54 55 56 73 76 79 80 85 87 89 100 104 108 113 114 119 124 126 130 132 135 138 143 144 148 153 155 156 166 186 190 193 206 207 210 212 215 224 225 227 228 230 235 248 258 275 279 293 AZOBISFORMAMIDE, 110 AZODICARBONAMIDE, 110

B BAG, 8 120 BAG MAKING, 8 BALL SCREW, 133 BAR CODE, 110 BARRIER SCREW, 239 BASE CUP, 179 BATH, 114 BATTERY, 203 BAYONET FITTING, 52 BEARING, 153 162 BELLOWS, 153 162 BERYLLIUM, 187 BIAXIAL ORIENTATION, 179 BICYCLE, 142 BIMETALLIC, 187 BLEND, 54 108 186 193 254 BLENDER, 28 191 254 BLOW MOULD, 179 187 208 209 226 232 234 279 BLOW MOULDING, 8 24 32 33 36 43 71 117 163 186 205 232 234 279 BLOWING AGENT, 110 BLOWN FILM, 208 BODY PANEL, 41 87 BOTTLE, 8 24 36 117 141 163 179 203 226 BOX, 8 114 186 275 BRAKE, 124 BRONZE, 187 BRUSHLESS DRIVE, 20 22 24 32

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

39 65 71 BUILDING APPLICATION, 8 163 BULK COLOUR, 113 BULK MOULDING COMPOUND, 227 BUMPER, 16 BUSH, 162 BUSHING, 153 BUSINESS MACHINE, 15 90 166 260 BUSINESS PRACTICE, 45 BUYING, 21

C C-FRAME, 80 CABLE, 207 CABLE CONNECTOR, 207 CALIBRATION, 208 CAM, 181 CAMERA, 144 CAP, 168 CAPACITY, 13 53 78 137 174 186 222 CAPACITY UTILISATION, 115 169 CAPITAL INVESTMENT, 19 180 CARBON FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC, 7 20 33 44 69 CAROUSEL SYSTEM, 110 CARTESIAN, 20 24 32 33 39 44 48 65 66 71 78 79 85 CASE, 230 CASE HISTORY, 240 CASING, 18 86 166 CASSETTE, 32 139 196 230 CASSETTE CASE, 98 203 CASTING, 187 CATERING APPLICATION, 86 CAVITY, 15 94 109 CENTERING, 52 CERTIFICATION, 2 8 43 55 66 113 114 193 CHASSIS, 90 CHEMICAL INDUSTRY, 63 CHEMICAL RESISTANCE, 8 85 CHILLER, 28 191 CHILLING, 229 CHUTE, 158 CLAMP, 151 186 CLAMP FORCE, 2 8 18 20 22 24 29 32 36 37 39 42 43 44 47 48 52 53 54 55 56 61 65 66 67 68 71 76 78 79 80 82 84 86 87 95 97 99 105 110 115 119 126 128

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Subject Index

129 131 134 137 139 140 144 145 148 153 162 163 165 166 186 190 194 195 198 208 265 CLAMPING UNIT, 33 36 76 80 175 CLEAN, 207 CLEAN ROOM, 24 85 110 165 273 280 CLEANING, 44 54 76 113 162 CLIP, 120 CLOCHE, 8 CLOSED LOOP CONTROL, 79 110 119 129 CLOSED-LOOP, 269 290 CLOSURE, 2 19 106 232 COATING, 85 97 COEXTRUSION, 8 COFFEE MACHINE, 86 COINJECTION MOULDING, 110 113 COLD RUNNER, 80 153 162 COLOUR, 15 54 104 113 186 261 COLOUR CHANGING, 113 231 COLOUR COMPOUNDING, 54 COLOUR STABILITY, 113 COLOURANT, 36 COLOURATION, 207 COLOURED, 8 COLOURING, 54 110 113 142 COLUMN, 262 COMMERCIALISATION, 176 COMPACT DISC, 29 36 78 99 103 111 139 184 194 196 231 273 292 COMPETITIVENESS, 203 280 COMPOSITE, 2 7 16 20 33 44 69 70 80 108 109 137 140 207 227 255 271 COMPOUND, 8 54 COMPOUNDING, 8 54 187 COMPRESSED AIR, 65 93 COMPRESSION MOULD, 208 COMPRESSION MOULDING, 24 66 76 COMPRESSION PROPERTIES, 8 COMPUTER, 15 90 300 COMPUTER AIDED ANALYSIS, 36 107 COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN, 52 57 75 110 187 294 300 COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING, 36 209 COMPUTER AIDED HANDLING, 261 COMPUTER AIDED MANUFACTURE, 107 110 208 211 261 262 290 294 300 COMPUTER AIDED PLANNING, 262

78

COMPUTER AIDED PROCESS CONTROL, 36 110 148 153 COMPUTER AIDED PRODUCTION CONTROL, 52 76 95 113 114 148 193 261 262 COMPUTER AIDED QUALITY CONTROL, 55 COMPUTER AIDED TOOLING, 262 COMPUTER CONTROL, 2 7 8 20 22 24 32 33 36 39 43 44 45 48 53 58 65 66 71 76 78 79 84 93 104 110 113 119 131 132 142 147 148 153 154 157 162 168 187 194 195 196 203 207 208 209 211 227 228 229 230 231 247 248 257 269 275 276 283 285 286 290 293 294 COMPUTER INTEGRATED MANUFACTURE, 128 209 254 257 258 279 294 COMPUTER NETWORK CONTROL, 47 163 166 186 COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL, 2 20 24 32 39 43 44 48 65 67 68 69 71 74 78 79 84 90 92 97 104 105 119 126 132 148 160 194 203 219 225 COMPUTER PROGRAM, 55 COMPUTER SIMULATION, 97 202 262 COMPUTER SOFTWARE, 83 160 COMPUTER VISION, 11 CONCURRENT ENGINEERING, 97 98 120 CONDITIONING, 49 CONNECTOR, 12 27 124 165 CONSISTENCY, 124 175 CONSTRUCTION, 236 CONSUMPTION, 44 186 CONTAINER, 8 19 20 39 91 179 196 203 226 CONTAMINATION, 54 108 280 CONTROL EQUIPMENT, 21 37 51 68 82 91 92 96 97 98 99 103 111 118 120 134 138 139 143 144 147 148 153 157 159 162 163 166 168 175 182 186 187 188 193 194 195 196 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 213 215 219 228 229 230 231 244 247 248 249 253 259 268 269 278 283 286 287 288 293 296 300 CONTROL SYSTEM, 2 7 8 20 22 24 32 33 34 36 39 43 44 48 52 53 58 65 66 71 74 76 78 79 84 93 102 104 113 132 143 147

148 153 157 162 168 175 187 193 194 195 196 202 203 207 208 209 213 219 228 230 231 244 247 249 259 268 278 286 293 296 300 CONVEYING, 1 2 8 18 39 43 44 49 54 66 74 76 85 86 91 97 98 108 113 116 120 126 128 140 142 146 147 163 165 175 178 179 207 CONVEYOR, 2 8 13 19 44 46 76 90 108 155 171 179 191 271 298 CONVEYOR BELT, 262 COOL BOX, 163 166 234 COOLING, 3 7 23 32 33 34 36 44 52 54 78 90 95 110 141 146 163 178 184 203 212 226 244 COOLING SYSTEM, 34 52 187 COOLING TIME, 33 36 196 COPPER, 187 CORE, 110 CORONA TREATMENT, 205 COSMETICS, 168 230 COST, 4 11 12 14 15 21 22 26 32 36 38 39 43 44 46 48 49 51 52 54 55 65 69 71 76 77 80 82 87 88 98 104 106 107 109 119 128 129 148 153 165 174 182 187 195 198 202 203 210 213 218 247 253 280 294 299 301 COST ANALYSIS, 54 82 115 250 COUNTING, 163 COVER, 19 143 CRANE, 270 CROP PROTECTION, 8 CURE TIME, 80 CURING, 85 162 CURTAIN RAIL, 38 CURVILINEAR, 65 CUSTOM MOULD, 247 280 292 CUSTOM MOULDING, 10 56 101 126 128 247 280 292 CUSTOMER SERVICE, 145 CUSTOMISED, 29 120 CUTTING, 39 61 79 86 CUTTING EQUIPMENT, 163 210 CYCLE TIME, 4 7 12 15 18 20 22 24 26 39 42 43 44 47 48 53 54 56 60 65 66 71 76 78 79 80 82 84 87 93 94 96 97 98 99 106 107 108 110 115 119 120 123 124 129 131 132 134 137 138 139 148 152 153 158 162 163 166 167 184 194 196 203 214 222 237 265 271 280 CYCLIC, 74 CYCLONE, 8

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Subject Index

D DASHBOARD, 224 DATA COLLECTION, 174 DATABANK, 271 DAYLIGHT PRESS, 153 162 DECOMPRESSION, 184 DECORATION, 66 79 97 110 136 179 196 203 DECORATIVE, 36 DEFECT, 153 DEFENCE APPLICATION, 230 DEFLASHING, 61 171 DEGATING, 56 67 68 106 115 136 DEGRADATION, 8 DEHUMIDIFICATION, 2 108 DEHUMIDIFIER, 2 108 187 DELIVERY SYSTEM, 45 DEMAND, 68 94 DEMOULD, 3 6 23 35 114 119 146 147 149 152 153 162 179 181 183 184 187 194 195 202 203 217 220 224 226 230 231 271 272 298 299 DEMOULDING, 7 19 20 32 36 39 43 44 48 52 53 55 58 65 66 71 76 78 79 84 85 86 91 93 95 98 104 136 139 140 145 163 200 214 271 298 DENSITY, 8 54 DESIGN, 15 17 19 30 48 52 57 66 75 76 85 96 110 156 175 176 184 191 201 213 236 DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURE AND ASSEMBLY, 112 120 DESIGN FOR RECYCLING, 76 DETERGENT, 8 57 DEVELOPMENT, 63 96 102 123 130 182 188 191 233 244 268 DEW POINT, 33 142 DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATION, 106 144 279 DIAMETER, 163 193 DIE, 121 133 153 181 193 204 DIE CHANGING, 227 DIGITAL, 8 76 182 209 DIGITAL ANALYSIS, 107 DIGITAL COMPACT CASSETTE, 74 DIGITAL VERSATILE DISC, 103 DIMENSIONAL STABILITY, 124 175 DISABLED APPLICATION, 114 DISC, 29 36 78 99 103 111 231 273 292 DISCHARGE, 179 DISCOLOURATION, 54 DISPENSER, 57 191

DISPERSION, 36 DISTRIBUTION, 47 201 DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT, 43 48 66 77 86 113 156 163 186 204 206 DOOR HANDLE, 39 DOOR PANEL, 56 120 DOSING, 186 187 207 DOUBLE FLIGHT SCREW, 36 DOUBLE-ARM, 65 DOUGH MOULDING COMPOUND, 140 227 DOWNSTREAM EQUIPMENT, 179 210 DOWNTIME, 54 195 203 231 299 DRILLING, 200 DRINKING STRAW, 277 DRIVE, 32 61 65 115 213 DRIVE MOTOR, 32 39 40 71 DRUG PACKAGING, 8 DRUM, 163 232 DRYER, 2 5 28 33 54 108 165 187 207 254 DRYING, 2 33 54 85 108 110 113 137 142 175 187 205 207 DRYING TIME, 54 DUAL INJECTION MOULDING, 110 113 DURABILITY, 213 DUST, 8 DUST CONTROL, 2 8 DUSTBIN, 186 DWELL TIME, 132 DYE, 5 DYNAMIC, 60

E EFFICIENCY, 93 97 204 EJECTION, 3 76 95 119 123 133 147 149 153 162 179 184 185 194 195 216 262 EJECTOR, 52 87 95 147 153 162 184 ELASTIC MODULUS, 85 ELECTRIC, 20 22 24 32 44 52 53 61 65 76 79 92 105 119 ELECTRIC MOTOR, 32 39 71 76 82 103 ELECTRIC MOULDING TECHNOLOGY, 32 36 ELECTRIC SWITCH, 215 ELECTRICAL APPLICATION, 27 45 113 137 147 203 207 215 230 ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE MACHINING, 126 ELECTRICAL ENERGY, 76 110

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

ELECTROEROSION, 2 ELECTROHYDRAULIC, 36 76 ELECTROMAGNETIC, 52 ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE, 39 ELECTROMECHANICAL, 6 36 ELECTRONIC APPLICATION, 27 165 230 231 279 293 ELECTRONIC CONTROL, 20 53 65 76 79 119 194 ELECTROPNEUMATIC, 22 24 53 65 ELEVATOR, 179 ENCAPSULATION, 18 ENERGY CONSERVATION, 31 110 ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 36 54 65 76 93 105 126 132 ENERGY EFFICIENCY, 103 ENGINEERING, 36 ENGINEERING APPLICATION, 2 54 66 110 114 142 175 184 202 207 224 231 293 ENGINEERING PLASTIC, 2 54 66 110 114 142 175 184 202 207 224 231 293 ENVIRONMENT, 186 280 EPOXY RESIN, 187 EQUIPMENT, 2 4 5 8 13 19 26 28 33 44 46 50 54 62 64 73 76 90 108 109 117 161 170 173 175 192 213 238 240 291 ETHYLENE-PROPYLENEDIENE TERPOLYMER, 193 ETHYLENE-VINYL ACETATE COPOLYMER, 8 EXPORT, 198 205 EXTRACTION, 65 EXTRUDER, 8 191 193 208 209 EXTRUSION, 8 24 28 38 43 163 193 205 208 209 231 277 EXTRUSION BLOW MOULD, 208 EXTRUSION BLOW MOULDING, 43 EXTRUSION BLOWING, 208 EXTRUSION COATING, 130

F FABRIC, 110 FACTORY, 258 FACTORY LAYOUT, 57 201 FACTORY SERVICES, 256 FASCIA, 73 FAULT, 223 FAULT DETECTOR, 93 FAULT DIAGNOSIS, 20 93 153

79

Subject Index

186 FEASIBILITY STUDY, 250 FEED, 207 208 FEEDER, 2 8 54 71 76 108 165 179 180 187 191 FEEDING, 2 5 8 24 50 54 60 71 76 108 110 113 114 164 187 199 FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC, 7 20 33 44 FILLED, 37 187 FILLER, 2 54 FILM, 8 130 203 205 208 277 FILTER, 50 142 FILTRATION, 8 FINISHING, 20 24 39 51 75 78 97 99 114 186 200 271 FIRE ALARM, 125 FITTINGS, 38 FLAME PROOFING, 109 FLAME RETARDANCE, 109 FLAME TREATMENT, 87 179 FLASH, 193 FLASH REMOVAL, 2 20 22 24 33 39 48 53 65 66 76 77 78 79 87 140 171 179 194 202 203 207 214 231 FLEXIBILITY, 60 213 FLEXURAL PROPERTIES, 7 FLOPPY DISK, 103 FLOW, 15 FLOW METER, 33 FOAM, 34 110 163 166 187 FOAMING, 208 FOAMING AGENT, 110 FOLDABLE, 1 FOLDING, 75 FOOD PACKAGING, 8 32 86 186 192 196 FOOD-CONTACT APPLICATION, 65 114 116 FORECAST, 44 FORMING, 193 230 296 FRAME, 213 FRUIT PACKAGING, 8 FUEL HOSE, 193 FUEL TANK, 232 FURNITURE, 114 FUSIBLE CORE, 36 110

G GANTRY, 120 141 242 GAS INJECTION MOULDING, 36 39 76 110 187 GAS-ASSISTED, 36 39 76 110 GASKET, 80 GATE, 184 212 GEAR, 126

80

GEAR CHANGER, 142 GEL COAT, 97 GLASS, 85 GLASS BEAD, 207 GLASS FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC, 2 80 97 108 109 124 137 207 271 290 GLASS FILLED, 12 GLOSS, 104 GRAB, 141 GRANULATION, 79 GRANULATOR, 28 79 142 164 175 187 205 254 GRANULE, 8 54 113 114 187 207 GRAVIMETRIC FEEDER, 8 76 GRAVITY, 184 GREENHOUSE, 8 GRINDER, 2 28 187 GRINDING, 2 54 101 187 207 GRIP, 30 GRIPPER, 100 140 145 163 184 236 GROWTH RATE, 44 68 97 126 163 166 205

H HANDLE, 39 210 HANDLING, 4 5 6 8 11 13 14 17 18 19 22 25 41 48 49 51 60 62 64 72 73 74 87 99 104 108 113 116 117 129 130 132 135 139 141 144 147 153 158 162 163 164 165 166 171 175 177 179 181 187 189 192 201 202 203 207 233 236 240 257 265 266 271 273 274 277 280 286 288 289 294 295 297 298 HARDWARE, 174 HEADLINER, 56 HEALTHCARE APPLICATION, 15 HEAT DEGRADATION, 123 HEAT DISSIPATION, 39 HEAT EXCHANGER, 54 HEAT RESISTANCE, 8 HEAT STAKING, 90 HEAT TRANSFER, 212 HEATING, 7 48 52 54 73 80 95 130 147 162 206 212 HEATING TIME, 153 162 HEIGHT, 7 65 HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE, 129 186 HIGH SPEED MOULDING, 24 32 65 76 78 79 97 HIGH VOLUME PRODUCTION, 128

HIGH-PERFORMANCE, 134 HIGH-SPEED, 7 20 32 39 43 44 48 53 60 65 71 78 91 93 99 112 134 148 152 182 HIGHLY-FILLED, 2 HOLDING STAGE, 3 HOLE, 184 HOLLOW ARTICLE, 24 43 110 179 185 HOLLOW GAS INJECTION MOULDING, 110 HONEYCOMB, 290 HOPPER, 1 8 54 229 HOPPER LOADER, 254 HORIZONTAL, 20 33 43 44 84 148 HORIZONTAL MACHINE, 36 66 95 265 HORTICULTURAL APPLICATION, 8 HOSE, 50 193 HOT RUNNER, 34 38 103 110 147 153 162 186 187 202 207 212 287 HOT STAMPING, 114 HOUSEWARE, 66 156 HOUSING, 210 HYBRID, 115 HYDRAULIC, 36 52 76 80 95 151 153 162 193 195 231 244 264 268 HYDRAULIC CLAMP, 36 95 HYDROLYSIS, 54 HYDROMECHANICAL, 36

I IGNITION, 138 IMPACT PROPERTIES, 85 IMPORT, 198 IN-HOUSE, 102 240 IN-LINE, 240 IN-MOULD DECORATING, 110 166 192 196 IN-MOULD LABELLING, 24 166 192 203 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION, 8 INDUSTRIAL HAZARD, 58 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 4 INJECTION BLOW MOULD, 226 INJECTION BLOW MOULDING, 32 33 36 INJECTION COMPRESSION MOULDING, 76 INJECTION PRESS, 153 162 INJECTION PRESSURE, 36 126 208 209

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Subject Index

INJECTION RATE, 105 INJECTION SPEED, 36 110 196 208 209 INJECTION TRANSFER MOULD, 153 162 INJECTION UNIT, 76 78 80 175 INJECTION VOLUME, 36 INNER LINER, 166 INNOVATION, 63 INSERT, 2 20 24 39 44 48 49 71 78 79 80 84 110 114 119 120 194 203 230 231 262 INSERT MOULD, 80 130 132 148 153 162 194 203 271 274 293 297 INSERT MOULDING, 2 10 12 14 18 20 24 32 34 39 44 48 49 66 71 78 79 80 84 92 104 107 110 119 120 124 132 136 274 INSPECTION, 9 52 95 117 136 INSPECTION SYSTEM, 90 107 120 INSTALLATION, 26 280 INSTITUTION, 60 INSTRUMENT DIAL, 130 INSTRUMENT PANEL, 224 INTEGRAL SKIN, 274 INTEGRATED MANUFACTURING SYSTEM, 97 INTEGRATION, 24 78 INTELLIGENT PROCESSING, 36 INTERFACE, 266 280 INTRUSION MOULDING, 110 INVENTORY, 96 INVESTMENT, 5 8 14 15 21 26 38 42 78 102 113 114 126 128 137 150 155 165 175 197 198 199 222 228 251 290 IONISATION, 52

J JEWEL BOX, 29 99 103 106 112 JOINING, 38 JOINT, 2 JOINT VENTURE, 194 203 JUST-IN-TIME, 52 55 79 102 128 199 200 241 267 270 288

K KINEMATIC, 39 83 KNEADING, 239

L LABELLING, 20 24 32 43 179 203

LABOUR, 115 157 175 LAMINATED FILM, 8 LAMP HOLDER, 240 LARGE-COMPONENT, 7 20 24 43 78 110 187 202 203 LARGE-MACHINE, 22 32 33 44 48 53 55 76 79 110 LASER, 11 187 218 270 LASER CUTTING, 79 LASER SCANNING ANALYSIS, 107 LAW, 58 LEAK DETECTION, 127 LEAN PRODUCTION, 153 LEGISLATION, 58 LEISURE APPLICATION, 234 LENGTH, 163 LENS, 85 LID, 186 LIFTING GEAR, 162 163 LIGHT, 20 85 104 114 LIGHT RESISTANCE, 85 LIGHTING APPLICATION, 66 85 104 LIGHTWEIGHT, 7 110 LINING, 56 163 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, 20 22 76 LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER, 110 LOAD BEARING, 38 61 87 97 99 131 139 LOADER, 28 LOADING, 7 50 LOST-CORE PROCESS, 144 LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE, 8 LUBRICATION, 93

M MACHINE GUARD, 58 MACHINE SHUTDOWN, 239 MACHINE START-UP, 239 MACHINE TOOL, 53 MACHINING, 2 15 24 39 44 48 79 126 129 136 187 194 MAGNETIC, 52 MAINTENANCE, 22 39 43 52 54 55 65 76 84 95 110 144 159 191 213 280 294 MANAGEMENT, 45 201 293 300 MANIFOLD, 144 MANIPULATOR, 2 20 22 24 32 33 39 43 44 48 53 58 65 71 76 78 79 84 119 MARKET, 20 44 198 205 MARKET GROWTH, 4 15 44

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

MARKET TREND, 4 15 198 MARKETING, 47 MARKING, 77 78 194 230 MASS PRODUCTION, 128 MASTERBATCH, 8 54 113 142 186 207 MATERIAL, 5 50 MATERIAL REPLACEMENT, 163 261 MATERIALS CONSERVATION, 110 MATERIALS HANDLING, 8 42 105 106 108 128 137 142 170 171 180 186 205 206 207 287 296 300 MATERIALS REPLACEMENT, 261 MEASUREMENT, 2 11 39 45 153 162 163 271 MECHANICAL PART, 2 7 66 80 114 153 162 184 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, 7 8 60 85 213 MECHANICAL RECYCLING, 2 54 MECHANICAL STRENGTH, 109 MEDICAL APPLICATION, 15 19 53 55 114 120 159 179 196 230 279 MELT PRESSURE, 105 MELT VISCOSITY, 36 METAL, 7 80 108 227 297 METAL ALLOY, 187 METAL DETECTOR, 108 METAL INJECTION MOULDING, 39 METAL INSERT, 2 20 24 48 49 80 110 114 120 153 162 194 203 METAL REPLACEMENT, 33 41 126 186 METALLISING, 24 METERING, 142 165 180 186 MICRO INJECTION, 110 MICROCOMPUTER, 294 MICROPROCESSOR, 7 20 44 48 65 71 76 78 79 84 93 191 203 208 209 228 229 231 248 298 300 MINERAL FILLER, 2 MIXER, 187 MIXING, 8 54 101 164 180 186 187 205 MOBILE PHONE, 4 13 14 MODEL, 88 MODEM, 144 MODERNISATION, 300 MODULAR, 13 20 24 34 48 65 71 76 84 93 100 153 160 162 194

81

Subject Index

210 231 MOISTURE, 54 MOISTURE CONTENT, 142 MOISTURE CONTROL, 2 MOISTURE REMOVAL, 54 MOLECULAR SIEVE, 54 MONITORING, 90 107 126 153 174 218 239 241 251 269 271 300 MOTOR, 32 39 40 43 71 109 213 MOULD CARRIAGE, 141 MOULD CARRIER, 55 153 162 MOULD CAVITY, 6 35 184 297 MOULD CHANGING, 7 9 20 24 25 32 43 52 55 65 69 76 78 79 84 95 110 128 147 148 153 162 173 187 193 194 195 196 199 202 204 207 208 224 231 238 240 246 248 250 253 255 257 261 262 263 264 270 275 281 282 286 287 288 290 296 300 MOULD CLAMPING, 76 95 153 162 195 204 MOULD CLEANING, 79 95 148 153 162 187 MOULD CLOSING, 6 36 59 76 80 158 208 209 MOULD COOLING, 36 52 95 110 148 153 184 187 196 MOULD CORE, 35 76 81 153 MOULD CYCLE, 7 20 22 24 39 43 44 53 54 66 71 76 78 79 80 108 110 132 148 152 153 162 184 196 290 MOULD DESIGN, 48 76 96 110 175 180 184 187 202 257 MOULD FILLING, 36 110 184 209 244 MOULD FIXING, 52 MOULD HEATING, 7 52 95 147 148 153 162 187 193 195 MOULD INSERT, 48 71 76 84 87 138 MOULD MAKING, 2 53 126 MOULD OPENING, 7 24 43 44 59 80 115 153 158 184 208 MOULD RELEASE AGENT, 78 87 MOULD REMOVAL, 213 MOULD TEMPERATURE, 7 33 34 80 84 142 147 157 175 180 MOULDED-IN, 168 MOULDING COMPOUND, 54 252 MOULDING FAULT, 153 216 MOULDING PRESSURE, 36 208 209 MOULDING TIME, 71

82

MOULDINGS, 170 MULCH, 8 MULTIARM, 53 MULTIAXIAL, 61 82 87 97 166 MULTIAXIAL ORIENTATION, 135 MULTICAVITY MOULD, 33 47 65 71 79 110 129 152 153 162 179 187 194 207 287 MULTICOLOUR MOULD, 36 39 76 110 MULTICOMPONENT, 34 59 MULTILAYER FILM, 8 MULTIMATERIAL MOULDING, 34 36 53 110 139

N NEEDLE, 120 NICKEL, 184 NITROGEN, 110 NOISE REDUCTION, 2 20 24 76 110 NON-CONTACT, 58 NOZZLE, 34 153 162 187 208 NUCLEAR APPLICATION, 114

O OFF LINE, 44 148 OFFICE EQUIPMENT, 113 OIL HOSE, 193 OIL-COOLED, 33 OIL-FREE, 76 93 OPEN MOULD, 97 280 OPEN TIME, 124 OPTIC FIBRE, 202 230 OPTICAL APPLICATION, 85 273 OPTICAL DISC, 29 36 78 99 103 111 184 292 OPTICAL PROPERTIES, 54 104 113 202 OPTICAL SENSOR, 107 OPTIMISATION, 182 223 ORIENTATION, 91 135 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 15 OUTPUT, 18 42 47 98 128 129 210 237 OUTSERT MOULDING, 110 OVERMOULDING, 80 130 132

P PACKAGING, 2 8 9 14 20 24 32 34 36 39 86 91 106 114 117 136 139 179 186 194 196 203 206 216 226 230 232 262 271 273 275 291

PACKING, 38 51 92 97 98 99 120 137 163 246 PAINTING, 20 24 39 110 258 PALLET, 20 45 86 139 163 170 176 189 PALLETISING, 7 9 10 24 32 39 48 58 65 74 78 79 84 86 92 131 132 165 179 194 203 PANEL, 130 PAPER, 277 PARALLELISM, 39 80 PARISON, 24 141 186 PART REMOVAL, 7 20 22 24 32 37 38 39 41 43 44 48 51 53 55 56 58 61 68 75 77 82 87 90 91 92 96 97 98 99 106 120 128 137 138 139 140 180 PART WEIGHT, 56 144 PARTING LINE, 184 PARTS CONSOLIDATION, 19 PERFORATION, 44 PERFORMANCE, 5 PETRI DISH, 99 PHARMACEUTICAL APPLICATION, 8 PHENOLIC RESIN, 66 PHOTOCELL, 48 PICK-AND-PLACE, 24 53 56 61 71 92 97 98 99 106 115 120 PICKING, 172 PILLAR, 37 PIPE, 186 PIPE FITTING, 129 166 PISTON, 36 80 86 PIVOT, 3 120 PLANNING, 189 PLANT, 8 15 26 32 45 46 53 66 78 109 114 198 201 206 245 246 260 270 279 300 PLANT CONSTRUCTION, 126 128 165 197 PLANT EXPANSION, 114 120 222 PLANT START-UP, 142 186 PLASMA TREATMENT, 220 PLASTICISATION, 36 76 110 196 208 244 PLASTICISE, 239 244 286 PLASTICISING, 153 162 239 286 PLATEN, 47 52 55 153 162 PLUG, 49 PLUMBING APPLICATION, 129 PLUNGER, 184 PNEUMATIC, 2 20 22 24 32 39 43 44 48 53 58 61 65 66 69 71 78 79 82 84 86 92 93 108 119 131 194 202 203 292 298 PNEUMATIC CONVEYANCE,

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Subject Index

163 207 POLYACETAL, 2 66 114 126 142 184 224 POLYAMIDE, 2 12 54 66 80 114 126 137 142 184 193 207 224 229 POLYAMIDE-11, 193 POLYAMIDE-12, 193 POLYAMIDE-6, 207 POLYAMIDE-6,6, 207 224 POLYBUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE, 124 210 POLYCARBONATE, 56 66 85 89 114 128 137 142 213 224 229 271 279 290 POLYETHYLENE, 8 114 129 179 186 203 POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE, 2 24 32 33 36 117 179 194 203 205 226 229 251 POLYMERIC GLASS, 273 POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE, 104 114 190 POLYPHENYLENE ETHER, 2 POLYPHENYLENE OXIDE, 2 POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE, 66 POLYPROPYLENE, 2 37 53 54 66 114 168 179 192 193 205 207 POLYSTYRENE, 66 98 103 113 114 128 163 166 POLYURETHANE, 234 POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, 38 163 179 POLYVINYLBENZENE, 103 PORTABLE, 2 174 POSITIONING, 11 20 22 39 48 60 65 84 104 POST-COOLING, 32 33 POST-MOULD, 96 106 136 166 POWER SUPPLY, 278 PRE-COLOURED, 113 PRE-DRYING, 54 187 PRE-HEAT, 208 261 PRECISION, 7 8 20 24 32 39 43 44 48 53 65 78 84 93 104 119 132 194 242 PRECISION ENGINEERING, 230 PRECISION MOULD, 184 208 231 293 PRECISION MOULDING, 110 175 PREDRYING, 54 PREFORM, 24 32 33 36 153 162 194 203 226 251 PREHEATING, 48 52 95 147 193 195

PREPREG, 194 203 226 251 PRESS, 42 198 255 262 264 PRESS-FIT, 106 PRESSURE, 93 184 PRESSURE CONTROL, 36 105 208 209 PRICE, 4 25 44 47 51 53 61 67 68 99 119 126 134 144 150 198 206 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, 10 PRINTER, 126 PRINTING, 2 8 24 44 66 79 86 90 114 120 179 186 194 230 PROBE, 208 PROBLEM PREVENTION, 107 174 289 301 PROBLEM SOLVING, 174 PROCESS, 5 8 15 24 34 39 54 71 79 83 85 86 88 94 108 109 123 PROCESS CONTROL, 36 65 110 113 148 153 188 209 211 240 257 PRODUCT DESIGN, 66 76 85 110 145 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, 96 130 PRODUCT HANDLING, 131 142 170 PRODUCTION, 4 26 44 46 94 109 128 182 198 214 234 237 291 PRODUCTION CAPACITY, 13 53 78 137 222 PRODUCTION CELL, 10 18 19 24 29 32 37 38 39 48 49 53 65 78 79 80 90 95 96 97 98 102 112 114 115 129 130 134 161 166 168 190 235 241 PRODUCTION CONTROL, 52 53 76 95 113 114 148 193 208 PRODUCTION COST, 21 38 48 54 55 69 76 77 80 82 119 129 148 150 175 180 190 PRODUCTION LINE, 63 232 PRODUCTION PLANNING, 223 238 281 289 PRODUCTION RATE, 12 29 32 38 49 54 63 98 103 106 163 166 PRODUCTIVITY, 20 21 36 39 42 43 44 52 54 56 61 65 66 77 79 80 82 85 95 96 106 110 124 132 136 137 148 151 161 190 193 194 196 199 240 259 280 296 299 300 PROFILE, 7 123 163 PROFIT, 103 198 PROFITABILITY, 42 169 PROGRAMMABLE, 9 53 61 134

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

160 280 PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER, 20 22 47 79 142 203 PROGRAMMING, 20 32 33 166 PROJECT MANAGEMENT, 120 PROPERTIES, 7 8 36 54 85 104 113 PROTECTION, 58 PROTECTIVE COATING, 85 PROTOTYPE, 15 85 98 138 187 PUMP, 2 8 114 204 PURCHASE, 21 26 PURCHASING, 21 213 280 PURGING, 148 PURIFICATION, 52 PUSH-PULL, 227

Q QUALITY ASSURANCE, 2 8 43 55 66 113 114 128 200 271 QUALITY CONTROL, 2 7 8 20 24 27 32 36 39 43 44 48 49 53 55 65 66 76 78 80 84 86 90 93 96 97 104 105 107 113 114 117 119 122 125 126 128 132 136 137 143 147 150 163 169 193 196 202 207 208 209 215 218 223 230 235 237 238 240 241 242 243 246 251 262 269 271 279 290 293 294 QUICK MATERIALS CHANGING, 54 QUICK MOULD CHANGING, 9 20 43 52 76 79 95 110 137 138 140 147 148 151 173 187 195 207 208 253 257 264 270 QUICK PRODUCT CHANGING, 52 95

R RAPID PROTOTYPING, 15 98 RATIONALISATION, 161 RAW MATERIAL, 5 108 REAL TIME, 48 65 95 105 110 RECLAIM, 2 8 34 54 76 108 113 207 RECORDING MEDIA, 237 RECYCLABILITY, 85 RECYCLED CONTENT, 113 137 RECYCLING, 2 8 54 66 76 79 85 101 108 142 164 187 193 205 207 REFLECTOR, 20 140 REFRIGERATOR, 26 REFUSE CONTAINER, 39 186

83

Subject Index

232 REGRIND, 108 142 186 REGULATION, 76 REINFORCED PLASTIC, 2 7 16 20 33 44 69 70 80 108 109 137 140 207 227 255 271 REINFORCEMENT, 80 REJECT, 153 162 REJECT RATE, 47 82 128 140 RELEASE AGENT, 78 87 RELIABILITY, 60 211 213 REMOTE CONTROL, 22 24 79 REMOVABLE, 1 81 297 REMOVAL TOOL, 60 REPAIR, 26 65 95 REPAIRING, 144 REPEATABILITY, 39 65 97 105 126 175 REPLACEABLE, 1 REPLACEMENT, 213 300 REPOSITIONING, 59 REPRODUCIBILITY, 60 RESEARCH, 71 78 191 RESIDENCE TIME, 132 RESIDUAL MOISTURE, 54 RESTRUCTURING, 257 RETRACTION, 262 RETROFIT, 123 131 137 210 RHEOLOGY, 36 ROBOT, 2 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 26 29 30 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 46 48 49 51 53 55 56 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 106 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 138 139 140 142 143 144 145 150 157 160 163 165 166 168 175 176 181 182 186 198 200 205 206 210 212 214 233 235 236 250 252 259 265 266 272 274 278 279 280 286 292 296 300 ROBOT ARM, 7 20 32 33 39 44 48 53 58 65 66 69 71 78 79 86 93 118 148 194 202 213 230 ROTARY MACHINE, 179 ROTATING DRUM, 54 ROTATING TABLE, 12 18 24 39 52 71 79 80 138 148 187 231 ROTATION, 121 133 144 181 RUBBER-MODIFIED, 193 RUNNER, 149 153 162 164 216

84

RUNNER SEPARATION, 118 142 RUNNERLESS MOULDING, 34 287

S SAFETY, 7 19 24 39 42 44 46 48 56 58 71 76 82 167 280 289 SAMPLING, 223 SANDWICH MOULDING, 110 113 SANITARYWARE, 114 SCRAP, 2 8 54 66 71 76 79 80 108 187 193 196 202 207 299 SCRAP REDUCTION, 26 71 80 96 124 126 196 SCRATCH RESISTANCE, 85 SCREEN, 8 SCREW, 36 SCREW DESIGN, 36 SCREW DIAMETER, 36 SCREW EXTRUDER, 208 SCREW GEOMETRY, 231 SCREW LENGTH, 36 SCREW PLASTICISATION, 36 76 SCREW SPEED, 208 SEAL, 2 80 120 153 162 SEALING, 184 SEAT, 10 114 SELF-DRYING, 2 33 54 85 108 110 113 SELF-LUBRICATING, 93 SELF-REGULATION, 76 SEMI-AUTOMATIC, 52 119 148 195 SENSOR, 7 24 32 36 39 44 48 76 78 79 86 107 108 138 140 153 162 179 203 208 209 280 SEPARATION, 149 SEQUENTIAL INJECTION MOULDING, 110 SERVICE LIFE, 60 71 SERVICING, 21 SERVO DRIVE, 60 SERVO MOTOR, 9 20 24 32 39 43 44 53 61 65 66 68 78 79 82 85 88 91 92 97 98 99 102 103 105 106 110 115 119 120 126 131 132 134 139 144 148 158 160 166 194 203 SETTING UP, 223 279 SHIPMENT, 198 SHOCK ABSORBER, 45 SHOT CAPACITY, 80 SHRINK WRAPPING, 8 163 SILK SCREEN, 2 66 179 SILO, 8 54 186 SINTERING, 187

SIZE, 15 28 SIZE REDUCTION, 205 SKIN, 110 SLIDING TABLE, 137 153 162 SMALL COMPONENT, 20 22 24 39 54 79 110 187 207 208 231 SNAP-FIT, 30 98 SOFTWARE, 2 20 22 24 36 37 39 47 51 55 58 83 93 115 131 137 148 163 174 190 202 208 209 210 211 271 SOLIDIFICATION, 184 SPECIFICATION, 15 21 109 SPEED, 4 7 15 20 24 39 42 43 44 48 51 53 58 61 65 66 71 93 97 120 131 139 144 148 163 166 179 194 SPIGOT, 38 SPRAY DRYING, 2 33 54 85 108 110 113 SPRAYING, 78 SPRUE, 5 46 89 149 153 162 184 210 221 271 280 SPRUE BUSH, 184 SPRUE SEPARATION, 9 25 49 67 87 124 131 137 139 163 180 SPRUE SEPARATOR, 11 51 61 68 82 97 99 101 134 144 145 165 166 175 STACK MOULD, 29 59 65 97 99 120 STACKABLE, 8 STACKING, 24 131 137 STANDARD, 15 21 109 194 207 STANDARDISATION, 137 266 279 STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL, 36 65 90 113 193 208 209 237 240 243 269 STATISTICS, 4 20 44 68 82 94 115 126 198 199 205 231 280 296 STEEL, 7 84 187 STEREOLITHOGRAPHY, 187 STIFFNESS, 7 STORAGE, 5 8 52 54 95 108 113 114 176 180 205 STRENGTH, 213 STRIPPING STATION, 185 STROKE, 61 STRUCTURAL FOAM MOULDING, 110 SUBSIDIARY, 33 193 207 225 SUCTION, 93 100 SUCTION CUP, 158 SURFACE TREATMENT, 2 8 20 22 24 33 39 44 48 53 66 76 78 79 85 86 110 114 171 179 194 196 202 203 205 207 230

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Subject Index

SURGICAL APPLICATION, 230 279 SWAN-NECK ROBOT, 77 135 SWITCH, 12 SWITCHGEAR, 137 SYRINGE, 179

T TAKE-OFF, 3 141 176 213 216 262 265 TAKE-OFF SYSTEM, 100 134 158 165 166 178 276 TAKE-OUT, 115 TAKEOVER, 26 33 193 TALC, 54 TAMPO PRINTING, 66 79 86 114 TANDEM, 265 271 TAP, 114 290 TARGET, 26 94 109 TELECOMMUNICATION APPLICATION, 4 14 TELEPHONE, 113 TELESCOPIC, 7 20 24 32 33 44 65 78 79 93 162 TEMPERATURE, 7 33 54 123 140 TEMPERATURE CONTROL, 7 33 34 54 84 142 147 175 180 187 205 208 229 231 254 TEST, 8 53 109 TESTING, 176 198 252 TEXTILE, 110 THEORY, 30 60 64 160 164 223 249 281 283 THERMAL DEGRADATION, 123 THERMAL INSULATION, 163 166 THERMAL STABILITY, 8 THERMOFORM, 230 THERMOFORMING, 4 24 32 187 205 THICK-WALL, 76 THICKNESS, 7 85 193 THIN-WALL, 71 78 105 110 158 196 THREE-ARM, 24 32 53 65 71 THREE-COLOUR INJECTION MOULDING, 76 190 THREE-DIMENSIONAL, 32 65 THROUGHPUT, 142 205 TIEBARLESS, 99 142 168 TIME, 63 TOGGLE, 36 76 TOGGLE PRESS, 36 TOLERANCE, 110 223 TOOLING, 15 26 30 42 52 81 100 195 213 230 280 295 301 TORQUE, 99

TOUCH SCREEN, 8 TRANSFER PRINTING, 179 TRANSLUCENCY, 104 TRANSPARENCY, 202 TRANSPARENT, 8 TRANSPORTATION, 3 109 132 170 179 189 TRAY, 4 86 109 216 TREND, 157 244 263 268 272 TRIMMING, 10 61 TROUBLESHOOTING, 289 301 TRUCK, 56 TUBE, 163 TURNKEY SYSTEM, 13 21 120 TURNOVER, 11 32 33 52 53 71 78 113 114 145 193 205 207 210 222 224 230 TURRET, 121 TWIN-PLATEN, 55 TWO-ARM, 24 TWO-CAVITY, 37 53 153 162 TWO-COLOUR, 104 TWO-COLOUR INJECTION MOULDING, 24 34 76 104 TWO-COMPONENT, 130 TWO-MATERIAL INJECTION MOULDING, 24 34 66 76 80 113 TWO-PLATE, 55 TWO-STAGE, 73 74

U ULTRASONIC, 8 ULTRASONIC WELDING, 2 32 37 66 114 203 ULTRAVIOLET RESISTANCE, 85 UNDER-THE-BONNET APPLICATION, 18 UNDERCUT, 184 UNLOADING, 266 UREA RESIN, 24 163

V VACUUM, 46 50 91 100 184 VACUUM CASTING, 187 VACUUM CONVEYING, 108 163 VACUUM EXTRACTION, 65 VACUUM PUMP, 8 142 VALVE, 18 66 VEGETABLE PACKAGING, 8 VEHICLE DOOR, 210 VEHICLE FASCIA, 73 VEHICLE HEADLIGHT, 85 140 VEHICLE LIGHT, 20 85 104 114 190

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VEHICLE SEAT, 10 VEHICLE TRIM, 100 228 VELOCITY, 87 91 183 VERTICAL, 7 20 32 33 43 44 53 65 84 93 148 262 VERTICAL MACHINE, 24 36 95 138 153 162 VIBRATION WELDING, 66 VIBRATORY FEEDER, 71 VIDEO CASSETTE, 230 237 VIRGIN POLYMER, 50 54 101 108 186 207 VIRTUAL REALITY, 68 VISCOSITY, 36 VOLUMETRIC, 113 VULCANISATION, 80 153 162 VULCANISATION TIME, 80

W WAGES, 157 WALL, 186 WALL THICKNESS, 7 56 109 196 WASHER, 80 WASHING MACHINE, 45 48 WASTE, 2 8 76 79 108 WASTE BIN, 139 WASTE COLLECTION, 186 WASTE DISPOSAL, 186 WATER COOLING, 33 52 WATER HOSE, 193 WATER JET CUTTING, 79 WATER PURIFICATION, 52 WAX, 39 WEAR RESISTANCE, 85 WEIGHING, 76 110 187 194 271 WEIGHING MACHINE, 45 WEIGHT, 163 194 WEIGHT REDUCTION, 20 33 44 85 WELD, 203 230 WELD LINE, 110 WELDING, 2 16 18 32 37 66 78 114 WHEEL TRIM, 166 210 WHEELCHAIR, 114 WHEELED BIN, 186 WIRING HARNESS, 206 WORKING CONDITION, 299 WORKING HOURS, 137 WRAPPING, 277

Y YELLOWING, 54 YOUNG’S MODULUS, 85

85

Subject Index

86

© Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited