Injection Molding Operating Unit Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing injection molding machine operating units require cumbersome reprogramming to adjust the speed of drive unit movements, limiting operator ease of use and efficiency in controlling multiple functions.
Innovation Solution
An operating unit with a movable operating element that allows speed control through intermediate positions, enabling one-button operation for triggering drive unit movements, where the distance from the basic position determines the speed, and allowing clear assignment of movement types to speed control and function changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If touch-sensitive screens with multiple control elements are used to provide multiple functions, then the versatility of the operating unit is improved, but the device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to the need for reprogramming and separate speed adjustment steps
Solution Approach 1:
The operating element is designed to perform multiple functions: it can trigger movements of different drive units, adjust movement speeds, and change functions. By integrating these capabilities into a single element with multiple triggering areas, the system achieves multi-functionality without increasing the number of separate controls, thereby maintaining ease of operation while providing versatile control options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines speed control and function selection into a single operating element. The different triggering areas on the operating element serve dual purposes: they both select which drive unit to control and simultaneously set the speed for that drive unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate speed adjustment steps and reprogramming, resolving the contradiction between versatility and ease of operation.
2Measurement precision
If separate reprogramming steps are required to adjust speed profiles before movement, then the precision of speed control is improved, but the productivity and ease of operation deteriorate due to the additional time and complexity required
Solution Approach 1:
The operating element is pre-configured with multiple triggering areas that correspond to different speed levels. When the operator activates a specific triggering area, the corresponding speed profile is immediately applied without requiring prior reprogramming or separate speed adjustment steps. This preliminary configuration of speed options within the operating element itself enables precise speed control while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating element automatically selects and applies the appropriate speed profile based on which triggering area is activated. The system serves itself by internally mapping triggering areas to speed profiles, eliminating the need for the operator to manually configure speed settings before each movement. This self-service mechanism maintains precision while significantly improving operating efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If a single operating element controls multiple drive units, then the ease of operation is improved through one-button operation, but the device complexity increases in managing multiple functions and drive unit assignments
Solution Approach 1:
The operating element is segmented into multiple distinct triggering areas, each assigned to a specific drive unit or function. This segmentation allows the single operating element to clearly differentiate between multiple drive units through spatial separation of triggering areas. The control system manages this complexity by mapping each triggering area to a specific drive unit, maintaining ease of operation while systematically organizing the control of multiple drive units.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The control unit (1) comprises an operating element (3) for triggering a motion of a drive unit (4) of the injection molding machine (2). The operating element is moved from a basic position into a trigger area on triggering a movement by the drive unit. The movements of multiple drive units are triggered by the operating element. A change of movement of the drive unit is controlled by pushing, pulling and pivoting the operating element. The speed of the induced movement of the drive unit is higher, if the distance of the intermediate position from the basic position is greater.