US3677680A — Fluidic sensing for molding system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 229 words

In a control system for a molding apparatus wherein a component is placed in a mold cavity as the mold is closed, the cavity is loaded with a molding compound, and the mold is then opened for withdrawal of the component and a molded part, an alarm system for signaling absence of the component within the cavity when the mold is closed and for signaling retention of the component in the cavity when the mold is open, said alarm system comprising: pressure sensing means connected with said mold cavity for providing a first fluid signal when said component is properly positioned in said cavity, and for providing a second fluid signal when said component is in a second position remote from its proper position within said cavity, a fluidic switching device having an input responsive to said pressure sensing means, having a first switched output, and having a second unswitched output, a mold close switch for normally enabling closing of the mold, a cavity loading switch for normally enabling loading of the cavity, first fluidic gate means responsive to one of said outputs of said fluidic switching device for actuating said mold close switch to disable closing of the mold, and second fluidic gate means responsive to the other of said outputs of said fluidic switching device for actuating said cavity loading switch to disable loading of said cavity.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 229 words

In a control system for a molding apparatus wherein a component is placed in a mold cavity as the mold is closed, the cavity is loaded with a molding compound, and the mold is then opened for withdrawal of the component and a molded part, an alarm system for signaling absence of the component within the cavity when the mold is closed and for signaling retention of the component in the cavity when the mold is open, said alarm system comprising: pressure sensing means connected with said mold cavity for providing a first fluid signal when said component is properly positioned in said cavity, and for providing a second fluid signal when said component is in a second position remote from its proper position within said cavity, a fluidic switching device having an input responsive to said pressure sensing means, having a first switched output, and having a second unswitched output, a mold close switch for normally enabling closing of the mold, a cavity loading switch for normally enabling loading of the cavity, first fluidic gate means responsive to one of said outputs of said fluidic switching device for actuating said mold close switch to disable closing of the mold, and second fluidic gate means responsive to the other of said outputs of said fluidic switching device for actuating said cavity loading switch to disable loading of said cavity.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 153 words

The system set forth in claim 1, wherein said molding apparatus includes a second mold cavity adapted to have a second component placed therein substantially simultaneously with the emplacing of a component in said first-named mold cavity, wherein both said cavities are closed together and loaded together, wherein said pressure sensing means is connected in fluid communication with both of said cavities, and wherein said signals provided by said pressure sensing means represent positions of one or both of said components with respect to first and second cavities, respectively, whereby the mold will not be closed when said pressure sensing means provides an output signal indicating that one or both of the cavities has a component inserted therein, and whereby said cavities will not be loaded with molding compound when said pressure sensing means provides a signal that indicates that one or both of said components is not properly emplaced within said cavities.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 221 words

The system of claim 1, wherein said molding apparatus comprises a group of sets of mold cavities, each said cavity adapted to have a like component placed therein and to be loaded with molding compound when the component is properly emplaced within the cavity and the mold is closed, and wherein each set of said mold cavities has connected therewith an individual one of a group of pressure senSing means, each said pressure sensing means having a sensing input in fluid communication with all of the cavities of an individual set of cavities for producing a first output signal representing one position of the components of the cavities of the associated set, and for producing a second output signal representing a second position of components with the cavities of the associated set, a plurality of fluidic switching devices, (122-128), each having an input from an individual one of said pressure sensing means, each having a first switched output, and each having a second unswitched output, said first fluidic gate means (130) having a plurality of control inputs each respectively responsive to the first switched output of a different one of said fluidic switching devices, whereby said first fluidic gate means will actuate said mold close switch when any one or more of said pressure sensing means produces its first output signal.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 62 words

The system of claim 3, wherein said second fluidic gate means (132) has a plurality of control inputs each respectively responsive to the second unswitched output of a different one of said fluidic switching devices, whereby said second fluidic gate means will actuate said cavity loading switch when any one or more of said pressure sensing means produces its second output signal.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 221 words

In a molding system having a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity has an insert emplaced therein, the mold is closed, the cavity is loaded with a molding compound to form a part incorporating said insert, and the mold is then opened to withdraw the part and insert from the cavity, wherein a mold drive is operated to close the mold and to emplace an insert into each of said cavities, and wherein a molding compound loading drive is operated to load molding compound into each of said cavities, the improvement comprising fluidic control means for preventing closing of the mold or loading of the molding compound whenever inserts are improperly positioned with respect to said cavities, such fluidic control means comprising mold drive disabling means connected in circuit with said mold drive, loading disabling means connected in circuit with said loading drive, fluidic control logic means responsive to positioning of said inserts within each of said cavities for generating at least one of first and second alarm signals, said first alarm signal being operable to actuate said mold drive disabling means when one or more of said inserts is in position within its associated cavity, said second alarm signal being operable to actuate said loading disabling means when one or more of said cavities does not have an insert therein.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 221 words

In a molding system having a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity has an insert emplaced therein, the mold is closed, the cavity is loaded with a molding compound to form a part incorporating said insert, and the mold is then opened to withdraw the part and insert from the cavity, wherein a mold drive is operated to close the mold and to emplace an insert into each of said cavities, and wherein a molding compound loading drive is operated to load molding compound into each of said cavities, the improvement comprising fluidic control means for preventing closing of the mold or loading of the molding compound whenever inserts are improperly positioned with respect to said cavities, such fluidic control means comprising mold drive disabling means connected in circuit with said mold drive, loading disabling means connected in circuit with said loading drive, fluidic control logic means responsive to positioning of said inserts within each of said cavities for generating at least one of first and second alarm signals, said first alarm signal being operable to actuate said mold drive disabling means when one or more of said inserts is in position within its associated cavity, said second alarm signal being operable to actuate said loading disabling means when one or more of said cavities does not have an insert therein.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 184 words

The system set forth in claim 5 wherein said fluidic control logic means comprises a first fluidic switch (70) having a first output connected to actuate said mold disabling means and having a control input, a first fluidic gate (72) having a second output connected with the control input of said first fluidic switch, and having first and second control inputs, first sensing means (64, 68) having inputs connected with cavities of a first group of said cavities for providing an output to said first control input of said first fluidic gate when an insert is positioned with at least one of the cavities of said first group, second sensing means (62, 66) connected with the cavities of a second group of said cavities for providing an output to the second control input of said first fluidic gate when an insert is positioned in at least one of the cavities of said second group, whereby said gate will provide an output to said first fluidic switch when an insert is positioned within at least one cavity of said first and second groups of cavities.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 164 words

The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said fluidic control logic means also includes a second fluidic switch (82) having an output connected to actuate said loading disabling means, and having a control input thereto, and a second fluidic gate (84) having an output connected to the control inputs, said first sensing means (64, 68) including means for providing a second output to the first control input of said second fluidic gate when an insert is not properly positioned in one or more of the cavities of said first group of cavities, said second sensing means (62, 66) including means for providing a second output to said second control input of said second fluidic gate when an insert is not properly positioned in one or more of the cavities of said second group of cavities, whereby when any cavity or cavities of said first and second groups lacks a properly positioned insert therein, said second fluidic switch actuates said loading disabling means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 209 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first group of cavities comprises a plurality of sets of cavities, and wherein each said sensing means comprises a set of orifices, each orifice of a set being in fluid communication with a respective one of the cavities of an individual one of said sets of cavities, all said orifices of a set being in fluid communication with each other and with a set sensing line, a plurality of sensing switches (122-128), each having a first input from an individual one of said set sensing lines, each having a first switched output, and each having a second unswitched output, a first fluidic OR gate (130) having a plurality of control inputs each connected to the switched output of a different one of said fluidic sensing switches and having an output, a second fluidic OR gate (132) having a plurality of control inputs each connected to a respective one of the unswitched outputs of said fluidic sensing switches, the output of said first fluidic OR gate (130) being connected to said first control input of said first fluidic gate (72), and the output of said second fluidic OR gate (132) being connected to said first control input of said second fluidic gate (84).

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 208 words

A molding system comprising: a mold body having a mold cavity, an insert receiving seat in the cavity. a movable mold member mounted to close said mold cavity and maintain an insert within said cavity positioned upon said seat, said movable mold member having a passage therein in fluid communication with a fluid pressure system external to the mold, a passage formed in said mold seat and extending therethrough into fluid communication with said passage of said movable mold member when the latter is positioned to close the mold and said insert is not emplaced upon said seat, said insert blocking communication between the said seat passage and movable mold member passage when properly positioned upon said seat, said seat passage being in fluid communication with a fluid pressure system external to the mold, insert sensing means interposed between one of said passages and its communication with its pressure system, said insert sensing means comprising a fluid pressure sensing line in fluid communication with said one passage, means for supplying fluid pressure to said sensing line, and fluidic switching means having an input responsive to pressure in said fluid pressure sensing line for providing an output indicative of presence or absence of an insert positioned upon said seat.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 208 words

A molding system comprising: a mold body having a mold cavity, an insert receiving seat in the cavity. a movable mold member mounted to close said mold cavity and maintain an insert within said cavity positioned upon said seat, said movable mold member having a passage therein in fluid communication with a fluid pressure system external to the mold, a passage formed in said mold seat and extending therethrough into fluid communication with said passage of said movable mold member when the latter is positioned to close the mold and said insert is not emplaced upon said seat, said insert blocking communication between the said seat passage and movable mold member passage when properly positioned upon said seat, said seat passage being in fluid communication with a fluid pressure system external to the mold, insert sensing means interposed between one of said passages and its communication with its pressure system, said insert sensing means comprising a fluid pressure sensing line in fluid communication with said one passage, means for supplying fluid pressure to said sensing line, and fluidic switching means having an input responsive to pressure in said fluid pressure sensing line for providing an output indicative of presence or absence of an insert positioned upon said seat.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 44 words

The system of claim 9, wherein said one passage is said seat passage, wherein said pressure system in communication with said movable mold member passage is a vacuum system, and wherein said pressure system communicating with said seat passage is a fluid supply system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

The molding system of claim 9 including a movable mold member drive, a mold compound loading drive, and control means responsive to said fluidic switching means for disabling at least one of said drives.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 36 words

The molding system of claim 9 including a movable mold member drive, firSt control means responsive to said fluidic switching means for disabling said movable mold member drive when an insert is positioned upon said seat.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

The system of claim 9 including a mold compound loading drive, control means responsive to said fluidic switching means for disabling said mold compound loading drive when no insert is positioned upon said seat.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 171 words

The system of claim 9 wherein said mold includes a plurality of cavities, each having a cavity seat, a cavity seat passage, a movable mold member, and movable mold member passage connected and arranged as are the like elements set forth in claim 9, a plurality of fluid pressure sensing lines, each in fluid communication with different sets of said seat passages, said fluidic switching means comprising a plurality of fluidic sensing switches, each having a control input from at least one of said pressure sensing lines, a fluidic OR gate responsive to said plurality of fluidic sensing switches for providing a first output when one or more of said mold cavity seats has an insert positioned thereon and for providing a second distinct output when one or more of said mold cavity seats does not have an insert positioned thereon, means responsive to said first output for disabling movement of said movable mold member, and means responsive to said second output for disabling loading of molding compound into said cavities.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 194 words

In a molding system having a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity has an insert emplaced therein, the mold is closed, the cavity is loaded with a molding compound to form a part incorporating said insert, and the mold is then opened to withdraw the part and insert from the cavity, wherein a mold drive is operated to close the mold and to emplace an insert into each of said cavities, and wherein a molding compound loading drive is operated to load molding compound into each of said cavities, the improvement comprising: fluidic control means for signalling whenever inserts are improperly positioned with respect to said cavities, such fluidic control means comprising mold drive alarm means, loading alarm means, fluidic control logic means responsive to positioning of said inserts within each of said cavities for generating first and second alarm signals, said first alarm signal being operable to actuate said mold drive alarm means when one or more of said inserts is in position within its associated cavity, and said second alarm signal being operable to actuate said loading alarm means when one or more of said cavities does not have an insert therein.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 194 words

In a molding system having a plurality of cavities wherein each cavity has an insert emplaced therein, the mold is closed, the cavity is loaded with a molding compound to form a part incorporating said insert, and the mold is then opened to withdraw the part and insert from the cavity, wherein a mold drive is operated to close the mold and to emplace an insert into each of said cavities, and wherein a molding compound loading drive is operated to load molding compound into each of said cavities, the improvement comprising: fluidic control means for signalling whenever inserts are improperly positioned with respect to said cavities, such fluidic control means comprising mold drive alarm means, loading alarm means, fluidic control logic means responsive to positioning of said inserts within each of said cavities for generating first and second alarm signals, said first alarm signal being operable to actuate said mold drive alarm means when one or more of said inserts is in position within its associated cavity, and said second alarm signal being operable to actuate said loading alarm means when one or more of said cavities does not have an insert therein.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 204 words

A molding system comprising: a mold body having a mold cavity, a movable mold member mounted to close said mold cavity and maintain an insert positioned within said cavity, said movable mold member having a passage therein in fluid communication with a negative fluid pressure system external to the mold body, a sensing passage formed in said mold body and extending therethrough into fluid communication with said passage of said movable mold member when the latter is positioned to close the mold cavity and said insert is not properly positioned within said cavity, said insert blocking communication between the said sensing passage and movable mold member passage when properly positioned within said cavity, said sensing passage being in fluid communication with a positive fluid pressure system external to the mold body, insert sensing means interposed between said sensing passage and its communication with its pressure system, said insert sensing means comprising, a fluid pressure sensing line in fluid communication with said sensing passage, means for supplying fluid pressure to said sensing line, and fluidic switching means having an input responsive to pressure in said fluid pressure sensing line for providing an output indicative of presence or absence of an insert positioned within said cavity.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 204 words

A molding system comprising: a mold body having a mold cavity, a movable mold member mounted to close said mold cavity and maintain an insert positioned within said cavity, said movable mold member having a passage therein in fluid communication with a negative fluid pressure system external to the mold body, a sensing passage formed in said mold body and extending therethrough into fluid communication with said passage of said movable mold member when the latter is positioned to close the mold cavity and said insert is not properly positioned within said cavity, said insert blocking communication between the said sensing passage and movable mold member passage when properly positioned within said cavity, said sensing passage being in fluid communication with a positive fluid pressure system external to the mold body, insert sensing means interposed between said sensing passage and its communication with its pressure system, said insert sensing means comprising, a fluid pressure sensing line in fluid communication with said sensing passage, means for supplying fluid pressure to said sensing line, and fluidic switching means having an input responsive to pressure in said fluid pressure sensing line for providing an output indicative of presence or absence of an insert positioned within said cavity.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 125 words

The system of claim 16 wherein said movable mold member comprises a long slender core pin having a free end that is movable into said cavity to a position closely adjacent said sensing passage, wherein said movable mold member passage comprises a longitudinal bore extending through said core pin, wherein said insert is retained upon said free end of said core pin during movement of said mold member to close said cavity by negative pressure drawn upon said bore by said negative pressure system, whereby fluid will flow from said positive fluid pressure system through said sensing passage and core pin bore to said negative pressure system when said insert is not properly positioned upon said free end of said core pin within said cavity.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-07-18	1976-01-17	1976-07-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-07-18	1980-01-17	1980-07-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-07-18	1984-01-17	1984-07-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Fluidic sensing for molding system

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