Method and apparatus for controlling and regulating the distribution of an injection molding compound

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and to a device for controlling/regulating the distribution of the injection molding compound in multi-cavity injection molds, especially for molds with a large number of cavities, for example 48 to 128 cavities. The invention distributes the injection molding compound in groups of, for example, four to twelve nozzles. Each group is provided with one classical nozzle, as the master nozzle, that is controlled via the local heating capacity and temperature sensors. All other nozzles or cavities of the same group are configured as slave nozzles that have no temperature sensors. The virtual actual temperatures are computed via saved model computations and are displayed on the user panel. The user is thus provided with the desired/actual temperature values for every nozzle and can thus influence every single nozzle, depending on the result, in the form of temperature values. The invention allows reduction of the regulation to a minimum while the quality of the injection molding compound distribution is maintained, thereby reducing production costs and allowing a more economic operation of the control and regulation systems.