Advance in Automation For Plastic Injection Molding PDF

Report 133
Advances in
Automation for
Plastics Injection
Moulding
J.M. Mallon, IV
Volume 12, Number 1, 2001

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Item 1
Source of
Macromolecules
original article
33, No.6, 21st March 2000, p.2171-83
Title EFFECT OF THERMAL HISTORY ON THE RHEOLOGICAL
BEHAVIOR OF THERMOPLASTIC POLYURETHANES
Authors and
Pil Joong Yoon; Chang Dae Han affiliation
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 Abstract
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. Companies or
GOODRICH B.F. organisations
Location USA mentioned
Accession no.771897
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Volume 1 Volume 4
Report 3 Advanced Composites, D.K. Thomas, RAE, Farnborough. Report 37 Polymers in Aerospace Applications, W.W. Wright,
Report 4 Liquid Crystal Polymers, M.K. Cox, ICI, Wilton. University of Surrey.
Report 5 CAD/CAM in the Polymer Industry, N.W. Sandland Report 39 Polymers in Chemically Resistant Applications,
and M.J. Sebborn, Cambridge Applied Technology. 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, Report 42 Polycarbonates, R. Pakull, U. Grigo, D. Freitag, Bayer
R. Spratling, British Telecom. AG.
Report 12 Process Control in the Plastics Industry, Report 43 Polymeric Materials from Renewable Resources,
R.F. Evans, Engelmann & Buckham Ancillaries. J.M. Methven, UMIST.
Report 44 Flammability and Flame Retardants in Plastics,
Volume 2 J. Green, FMC Corp.
Report 13 Injection Moulding of Engineering Thermoplastics, Report 45 Composites - Tooling and Component Processing,
A.F. Whelan, London School of Polymer Technology. N.G. Brain, Tooltex.
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Report 16 Polyetheretherketone, D.J. Kemmish, ICI, Wilton. Volume 5
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Report 49 Blends and Alloys of Engineering Thermoplastics,
Report 18 Agricultural and Horticultural Applications of H.T. van de Grampel, General Electric Plastics BV.
Polymers, J.C. Garnaud, International Committee for
Plastics in Agriculture. Report 50 Automotive Applications of Polymers II,
A.N.A. Elliott, Consultant.
Report 19 Recycling and Disposal of Plastics Packaging,
R.C. Fox, Plas/Tech Ltd. Report 51 Biomedical Applications of Polymers, C.G. Gebelein,
Youngstown State University / Florida Atlantic University.
Report 20 Pultrusion, L. Hollaway, University of Surrey.
Report 52 Polymer Supported Chemical Reactions, P. Hodge,
Report 21 Materials Handling in the Polymer Industry,
University of Manchester.
H. Hardy, Chronos Richardson Ltd.
Report 53 Weathering of Polymers, S.M. Halliwell, Building
Report 22 Electronics Applications of Polymers, M.T.Goosey,
Research Establishment.
Plessey Research (Caswell) Ltd.
Report 23 Offshore Applications of Polymers, J.W.Brockbank, Report 54 Health and Safety in the Rubber Industry, A.R. Nutt,
Avon Industrial Polymers Ltd. Arnold Nutt & Co. and J. Wade.
Report 24 Recent Developments in Materials for Food Report 55 Computer Modelling of Polymer Processing,
Packaging, R.A. Roberts, Pira Packaging Division. E. Andreassen, . Larsen and E.L. Hinrichsen, Senter for
Industriforskning, Norway.
Volume 3 Report 56 Plastics in High Temperature Applications,
J. Maxwell, Consultant.
Report 25 Foams and Blowing Agents, J.M. Methven, Cellcom Report 57 Joining of Plastics, K.W. Allen, City University.
Technology Associates.
Report 58 Physical Testing of Rubber, R.P. Brown, Rapra
Report 26 Polymers and Structural Composites in Civil
Technology Ltd.
Engineering, L. Hollaway, University of Surrey.
Report 59 Polyimides - Materials, Processing and Applications,
Report 27 Injection Moulding of Rubber, M.A. Wheelans,
A.J. Kirby, Du Pont (U.K.) Ltd.
Consultant.
Report 28 Adhesives for Structural and Engineering Report 60 Physical Testing of Thermoplastics, S.W. Hawley,
Applications, C. OReilly, Loctite (Ireland) Ltd. Rapra Technology Ltd.
Report 29 Polymers in Marine Applications, C.F.Britton,
Corrosion Monitoring Consultancy. Volume 6
Report 30 Non-destructive Testing of Polymers, W.N. Reynolds, Report 61 Food Contact Polymeric Materials, J.A. Sidwell,
National NDT Centre, Harwell. Rapra Technology Ltd.
Report 31 Silicone Rubbers, B.R. Trego and H.W.Winnan, Report 62 Coextrusion, D. Djordjevic, Klckner ER-WE-PA GmbH.
Dow Corning Ltd.
Report 63 Conductive Polymers II, R.H. Friend, University of
Report 32 Fluoroelastomers - Properties and Applications, Cambridge, Cavendish Laboratory.
D. Cook and M. Lynn, 3M United Kingdom Plc and
3M Belgium SA. Report 64 Designing with Plastics, P.R. Lewis, The Open University.
Report 33 Polyamides, R.S. Williams and T. Daniels, Report 65 Decorating and Coating of Plastics, P.J. Robinson,
T & N Technology Ltd. and BIP Chemicals Ltd. International Automotive Design.
Report 34 Extrusion of Rubber, J.G.A. Lovegrove, Nova Report 66 Reinforced Thermoplastics - Composition, Processing
Petrochemicals Inc. and Applications, P.G. Kelleher, New Jersey Polymer
Extension Center at Stevens Institute of Technology.
Report 35 Polymers in Household Electrical Goods, D.Alvey,
Hotpoint Ltd. Report 67 Plastics in Thermal and Acoustic Building Insulation,
Report 36 Developments in Additives to Meet Health and V.L. Kefford, MRM Engineering Consultancy.
Environmental Concerns, M.J. Forrest, Rapra Report 68 Cure Assessment by Physical and Chemical
Technology Ltd. Techniques, B.G. Willoughby, Rapra Technology Ltd.
Report 69 Toxicity of Plastics and Rubber in Fire, P.J. Fardell, Report 94 Compressive Behaviour of Composites,
Building Research Establishment, Fire Research Station. C. Soutis, Imperial College of Science, Technology
and Medicine.
Report 70 Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene Polymers,
M.E. Adams, D.J. Buckley, R.E. Colborn, W.P. England Report 95 Thermal Analysis of Polymers, M. P. Sepe, Dickten &
and D.N. Schissel, General Electric Corporate Research Masch Manufacturing Co.
and Development Center. Report 96 Polymeric Seals and Sealing Technology, J.A. Hickman,
Report 71 Rotational Moulding, R.J. Crawford, The Queens St Clair (Polymers) Ltd.
University of Belfast.
Report 72 Advances in Injection Moulding, C.A. Maier,
Econology Ltd.
Volume 9
Report 97 Rubber Compounding Ingredients - Need, Theory
and Innovation, Part II: Processing, Bonding, Fire
Volume 7 Retardants, C. Hepburn, University of Ulster.
Report 98 Advances in Biodegradable Polymers, G.F. Moore &
Report 73 Reactive Processing of Polymers, M.W.R. Brown,
S.M. Saunders, Rapra Technology Ltd.
P.D. Coates and A.F. Johnson, IRC in Polymer Science
and Technology, University of Bradford. Report 99 Recycling of Rubber, H.J. Manuel and W. Dierkes,
Vredestein Rubber Recycling B.V.
Report 74 Speciality Rubbers, J.A. Brydson.
Report 100 Photoinitiated Polymerisation - Theory and
Report 75 Plastics and the Environment, I. Boustead, Boustead Applications, J.P. Fouassier, Ecole Nationale Suprieure
Consulting Ltd. de Chimie, Mulhouse.
Report 76 Polymeric Precursors for Ceramic Materials, Report 101 Solvent-Free Adhesives, T.E. Rolando, H.B. Fuller
R.C.P. Cubbon. Company.
Report 77 Advances in Tyre Mechanics, R.A. Ridha, M. Theves, Report 102 Plastics in Pressure Pipes, T. Stafford, Rapra
Goodyear Technical Center. Technology Ltd.
Report 78 PVC - Compounds, Processing and Applications, Report 103 Gas Assisted Moulding, T.C. Pearson, Gas Injection Ltd.
J.Leadbitter, J.A. Day, J.L. Ryan, Hydro Polymers Ltd. Report 104 Plastics Profile Extrusion, R.J. Kent, Tangram
Report 79 Rubber Compounding Ingredients - Need, Theory Technology Ltd.
and Innovation, Part I: Vulcanising Systems, Report 105 Rubber Extrusion Theory and Development,
Antidegradants and Particulate Fillers for General B.G. Crowther.
Purpose Rubbers, C. Hepburn, University of Ulster.
Report 106 Properties and Applications of Elastomeric
Report 80 Anti-Corrosion Polymers: PEEK, PEKK and Other Polysulfides, T.C.P. Lee, Oxford Brookes University.
Polyaryls, G. Pritchard, Kingston University.
Report 107 High Performance Polymer Fibres, P.R. Lewis,
Report 81 Thermoplastic Elastomers - Properties and Applications, The Open University.
J.A. Brydson. Report 108 Chemical Characterisation of Polyurethanes,
Report 82 Advances in Blow Moulding Process Optimization, M.J. Forrest, Rapra Technology Ltd.
Andres Garcia-Rejon,Industrial Materials Institute,
National Research Council Canada.
Report 83 Molecular Weight Characterisation of Synthetic
Volume 10
Polymers, S.R. Holding and E. Meehan, Rapra Report 109 Rubber Injection Moulding - A Practical Guide,
Technology Ltd. and Polymer Laboratories Ltd. J.A. Lindsay.
Report 84 Rheology and its Role in Plastics Processing, Report 110 Long-Term and Accelerated Ageing Tests on Rubbers,
P. Prentice, The Nottingham Trent University. R.P. Brown, M.J. Forrest and G. Soulagnet,
Rapra Technology Ltd.
Report 111 Polymer Product Failure, P.R. Lewis,
Volume 8 The Open University.
Report 85 Ring Opening Polymerisation, N. Spassky, Universit Report 112 Polystyrene - Synthesis, Production and Applications,
Pierre et Marie Curie. J.R. Wnsch, BASF AG.
Report 86 High Performance Engineering Plastics, Report 113 Rubber-Modified Thermoplastics, H. Keskkula,
D.J. Kemmish, Victrex Ltd. University of Texas at Austin.
Report 87 Rubber to Metal Bonding, B.G. Crowther, Rapra Report 114 Developments in Polyacetylene - Nanopolyacetylene,
Technology Ltd. V.M. Kobryanskii, Russian Academy of Sciences.
Report 88 Plasticisers - Selection, Applications and Implications, Report 115 Metallocene-Catalysed Polymerisation, W. Kaminsky,
A.S. Wilson. University of Hamburg.
Report 116 Compounding in Co-rotating Twin-Screw Extruders,
Report 89 Polymer Membranes - Materials, Structures and
Y. Wang, Tunghai University.
Separation Performance, T. deV. Naylor, The Smart
Chemical Company. Report 117 Rapid Prototyping, Tooling and Manufacturing,
R.J.M. Hague and P.E. Reeves, Edward Mackenzie
Report 90 Rubber Mixing, P.R. Wood. Consulting.
Report 91 Recent Developments in Epoxy Resins, I. Hamerton, Report 118 Liquid Crystal Polymers - Synthesis, Properties and
University of Surrey. Applications, D. Coates, CRL Ltd.
Report 92 Continuous Vulcanisation of Elastomer Profiles, Report 119 Rubbers in Contact with Food, M.J. Forrest and
A. Hill, Meteor Gummiwerke. J.A. Sidwell, Rapra Technology Ltd.
Report 93 Advances in Thermoforming, J.L. Throne, Sherwood Report 120 Electronics Applications of Polymers II, M.T. Goosey,
Technologies Inc. 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. Krhnke 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. 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
2. 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
3. Advances in Drives and Controls ........................................................................................................... 7
3.1 Drives .............................................................................................................................................. 7
3.1.1 Pneumatic Drives ............................................................................................................... 7
3.1.2 Electric Drives .................................................................................................................... 8
3.1.3 Combination Drives ........................................................................................................... 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
4. 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
1
4.6.7 Automated Stockyards and Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems .......................... 19
4.6.8 Logistics and Coordination .............................................................................................. 19
4.7 Design Criteria for Higher Levels of Automation ........................................................................ 20
5. 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
6. 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.
2
1 Introduction sensors that detect part removal from the mould.

Controlled part handling reduces damage to parts.
Reduced floor space and reduced work in process
1.1 The Purpose of the Review can be substantial.
There are few complete technical sources of

information available for plastic injection moulders
to use relating to automation. However, there have 1.4 Other Forces Driving Automation
been articles written on various components of the
technology. This review has been compiled by Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are asking
researching and analysing technical references, then moulders to add more value to parts. They will have to
placing them into a logical order. The overview is not add value at costs competitive to low-wage countries.
an attempt to describe robot design theory and In addition, many moulders are being asked to lower
engineering, which can be found in engineering costs over the life of a moulding contract. Direct and
publications. It is intended to describe the basics of indirect labour required to add value or transport parts
the technology and to explain how to put the could be eliminated through the use of automation.
technology to use. Capital that was previously used to add more moulding
capacity is now being redirected to post-moulding
operations and increasing utilisation of existing
1.2 How Automation is Defined capacity.
For the scope of the review, automation is defined as It will be difficult to make profits if a company is only
those operations associated with handling the plastic moulding and shipping parts. Modern press controllers
parts after moulding. It includes operations have made producing quality parts easier. Increased
commencing when the mould opens and concluding at profits will depend on value-added operations and the
the shipping dock. Operations such as the use of quick efficiency of these operations as compared to
mould change devices are discussed only in a context competitors. Automation is the only way to compete.
where they must be specified properly to integrate into
the overall automation strategy. Quality must be automatically checked and recorded
to achieve the quality levels now expected. Manual
systems are error prone in comparison to a programmed
1.3 Why Automate? automation system, which is more accurate and can
check its work.
Automation serves one main purpose: to generate cost
savings. Most moulding facilities have made moulding It may also be difficult to find personnel due to a labour
upstream processes, such as resin material handling, shortage in many countries and jobs are sometimes less
automatic. The injection moulding process itself is than desirable.
highly automated. However, once the mould opens,
many plants use direct and indirect labour to add value, Moulders will need to use technology and automation
to package, and to move parts. As so many moulders to achieve quality and low-cost goals. The automation
have optimised the upstream processes, the post- will need to be flexible to adapt to shorter product life
moulding operations remain the biggest area for cost cycles, shorter runs and quicker product introductions.
saving potential.
As moulders increasingly use automation, competition
Additional savings can be generated depending on for new work will depend on the ability to compete
the applications run in each cell. Converting a semi- and bid for jobs cost effectively. Being efficient and
automatic cycle to a fully automatic cycle can keeping up with competitive levels of automation will
increase production. More consistent cycles reduce mean survival in the future.
process variability and increase the quality and yield
of good parts. The quality levels now demanded by Automation will become critical to an OEMs
end users cannot be produced with semi-automatic perception of a moulders efficiency level. Advanced
operation of moulding machines, and 100% manual levels of automation require greater sophistication from
inspection to find defects is becoming too expensive. the moulder, which will help distinguish them and
Mould damage is reduced by the robot monitoring secure new business.
3
1.5 Phases of Automation moulding machine. Parts are processed, inspected, and
packaged for transport in the work cell. From one-half
Robot implementation typically occurs in four phases to two operators are eliminated based on how much
in moulding plants: work the cell can do.
Phase I: Pick-and-Place. Robots are added to moulding Phase IV: Flexible Manufacturing System (FMS) (Figure
machines to perform what is essentially a pick-and-place 1). FMS can be defined in plastics moulding as a central
function. Parts are removed from the press and placed computer directing the automatic manufacturing of
onto a downstream device such as a conveyor or table. products, automatically transporting the products,
The moulding cycle goes from semi-automatic to full automatically storing the products and automatically
automatic operation. Often no labour is saved, or one performing changeovers. Short runs are easily
operator is shared between two presses saving one-half accommodated. The moulding shop floor runs in a truly
of an operator per machine. The production increases by automatic (lights out) operation. Cells are retooled quickly
a minimum of 15% due to the elimination of the operator by reprogramming flexible elements. Minimum job-
who would normally interrupt the cycle to remove parts. specific automation is used because the automation must
be easily adaptable. Both direct and indirect labour is
Phase II: Value-Added Production. Robots begin adding saved. Quality is automatically monitored and corrected.
slightly more value to parts with secondary operations Reference (296) details the use of FMS in Japan.
such as decorating, palletising, degating or flexing
hinges. Usually one-half to one operator is eliminated. With the exception of small parts that can be shipped in
bulk, this last phase remains elusive for moulders because
Phase III: Cell Manufacturing. The robots are of the degree of technology and investment required. In
performing multiple operations beside the press to add 10 years, Phase IV will be common in large companies.
as much value as the cycle will allow. A work cell Smaller moulders will need to automate up to Phase III,
consists of two or more integrated devices that perform but may have difficulty automating further because of
multiple, closely related operations next to the injection the large investment and engineering support required.
Figure 1
An example of a flexible manufacturing system
4
2 Robots and the cost of the technology has lowered. Servo

motors with encoders are very efficient, highly
repeatable and capable of positioning anywhere along
At the centre of most moulding automation cells is a
the physical axis limits.
robot. Robots are multifunctional, reprogrammable,
material-handling devices. The robot removes parts and
transfers them through a series of secondary operations. With servo drives came considerably more advanced
controllers. The controllers initially used computer
numerically controlled (CNC) languages, but then
Parts that can fall free from the machine undamaged
converted to robot languages that are easier to use.
and can be bulk-packaged without using any value-
Some advanced controllers allow graphic programming
added operations, do not require robots.
or programming by leading the robot through a
sequence and having the robot play it back in auto (a.1).
2.1 History of Robots in Plastics Injection The moulding machine control technology evolved to
Moulding support unmanned operation of a moulding cell. Process
controllers could mould precisely and repeatedly, detect
Several articles referenced below chronicle the advances defective parts, and signal the robot to separate them.
of robot technology for plastics injection moulding. This is a major step to unattended running. Moulding
machine manufacturers also developed technology to
The traverse-type robots and sprue pickers that were change moulds, to purge or change barrels and to restart
designed specifically for plastics processing were first production. The equipment costs were becoming
used in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Japan, driven by economically feasible to deploy automation (290).
labour shortages, mould design, and requirements to Computer power, software and connectivity also
pick-and-place parts without many value-added developed during the mid-1980s to allow large-scale
operations, began using the technology extensively in integration of unmanned cells and FMS. Auxiliary
the 1970s. Early robots were pneumatic-type devices devices such as material handling and water temperature
controlled by simple hard-wired electrical circuits. control devices evolved to be precise and consistent
Sequence steps were initiated by timers or limit switches enough to allow automation in the mid-1980s (288, 293).
at the end strokes of each axis. The robots were only
reprogrammable by activating selector switches or By the mid- to late 1980s, all of the necessary
rewiring the controllers (272). The robots were used technologies were developed, were economically
primarily to convert a semi-automatic cycle to a fully feasible, and were within view of many manufacturers.
automatic cycle or to reduce damage caused by gravity Plants with proprietary products had achieved high
part ejection (298, 300). Early robot installations were levels of unmanned operation. Truly flexible,
sometimes less than successful, as the moulding unmanned operation for custom moulders and short-
machines, auxiliaries, materials or moulds they ran on run, just-in-time (JIT) moulders is now available.
were not consistent or reliable (299). Programmable
logic controllers (PLCs) or microprocessors replaced
hard-wired controllers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 2.2 Robots and Flexibility
Robots became commonplace in the United States and
Europe replacing operators removing parts from the A robot is used to transfer parts once moulded through
moulding machine (300, 301). other operations. It is the main link to cellular
manufacturing.
Electric drives became more widely used in the late
1970s and early 1980s. The long traverse axis was the The robots flexibility is based on the number and type
first to be converted to electric drive due to the difficulty of axis motions, the size of the work envelope, the axis-
in obtaining and using very long pneumatic cylinders. drive method, the payload, the speed, the
The traverse axis also quickly benefited from electric programmability, the ability to control and interlock
drives to multiposition parts outside the press. The first to secondary machines or processes, and the ease of
electric drives relied on limit switches and breaks for operation (235). The higher the level of specification
control and positioning. in each category, the greater the robots flexibility, and
the greater its potential to generate cost savings through
There is a rapid transformation going on presently in value-added work. However, the greater the flexibility,
the plastics industry to electric drives. The preferred the greater the cost. Therefore, the robots configuration
method for axis drives uses servo motors for flexibility, should be optimised for its intended use (a.2).
5
2.3 Robot Configurations 2.3.2 Top-Entry, Traverse-Type Robots
Robots in plastics processing usually consist of four Top-entry, traverse-type robots are the most common
main types. There are some configurations less used robots used to remove parts from injection moulding
that are not outlined here. 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
2.3.1 Sprue Pickers
additional rotary axes may be added to the robot wrist
for added flexibility. A vertical axis (main arm) is used
Three-axis, top-entry robots with two linear axes and to remove parts from the mould area as well as to extend
one rotary axis are generally referred to as sprue beyond the outside of the press to place parts. The
pickers (Figure 2). An arm enters the mould, removes traverse axis is used to bring the main arm outside the
the runner, swings out over the safety door through press. A kick axis or strip axis that runs parallel to the
90 degrees and re-extends the main arm to release clamp axis of the moulding machine is used to remove
the runner. Parts fall free under the mould. Sometimes the parts from the mould and runs in line with the
sprue pickers are equipped with end-of-arm tooling injection unit. The traverse axis is 90 degrees to the
and vacuum units to remove light parts with vacuum injection unit on the moulding machine. Occasionally,
cups. Drive type is most commonly pneumatic with the traverse axis is mounted in parallel to the injection
one linear axis, which is sometimes electric. One unit to allow part placement over the clamp end of the
linear axis pulls the runner off the mould. The main machine. This is useful for facilities with limited space
arm is also used to enter and exit the mould area. The between machines. Drive types are pneumatic, electric
rotary axis is used to pivot the main arm through 45 or a combination of the two.
to 90 degrees so that it can re-extend and release parts
and runners past the side of the injection moulding Top-entry, traverse robots have a large rectangular work
machine. Sprue pickers are generally used to remove envelope and can perform a wide variety of value-added
runners on machines of 500 tons and under. work. This includes assembly, boxing, and inspection.
Figure 2
A sprue picker
6
2.3.3 Side-Entry, Linear-Drive Robots 2.3.5 Combination Cells
Side-entry robots have one to three linear axes and a Sometimes, the best way to approach cell design is to
rotary wrist axis. A side-entry robot mounts to the combine a linear-drive, extraction robot with an
top of the machine, the side of the machine or to a articulated robot. The press cycle will have minimal
press-side table and enters the mould area from the impact, and the cell can be flexible. The articulated
rear side. Two main types have been employed. The robots can eliminate the requirement for fixed
first type is a very high-speed extractor designed to automation that is application specific. References
remove parts and feed them to secondary equipment. (38, 41, 83) outline the use of such cell design.
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 3 Advances in Drives and Controls
machine (IMM) vertically. Drive types are pneumatic,
electric or a combination of the two. Drives and controls have advanced rapidly since robots
were first introduced. These advances have been
However, side-entry robots do have drawbacks. They making robots more flexible, resulting in more
restrict access to the rear side of the machine and are utilisation in moulding facilities.
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. 3.1 Drives
Drives are chosen by considering the following factors:

2.3.4 Articulated Robots torque, speed range, size, positioning capability,
repeatability, cleanliness, initial cost, operating costs
Articulated robots are three- to six-axes, rotary-driven, (including energy and maintenance) and reliability.
jointed robots. Their advantage is the ability to Repeatability is defined as the robots ability to return
manipulate parts through a wide variety of positions. precisely to a taught point. Repeatability is critical for
Difficult secondary operations can be performed. For automation to perform its tasks reliably over a long
complex manipulations, the cell cost may be period of time.
minimised with articulated robots because the robots
wrist can orient parts, as against building orientation Drive methods for industrial robots consist of
functions into the downstream equipment (75). Many pneumatic, hydraulic, and electric. The application of
users feel articulated robots are most advantageous hydraulics for robots used in plastics is almost
on large parts requiring complex manipulations and nonexistent. Hydraulics are energy intensive. They can
have little benefit on smaller parts (87). Articulated have complications common to fluid systems: filtration,
robots are most often mounted beside the injection leakage and cooling. The forces required for robots in
moulding machine, but sometimes on top of the plastics are well under that of hydraulic systems.
platen. Drive type is almost always electric and
usually servo motor.
There are disadvantages of articulated robots: they 3.1.1 Pneumatic Drives

are in the way when not being used, require a large
work envelope, are slower to remove parts than linear- Pneumatic drives are low cost, but can only position
drive robots, require greater mould-open distances, accurately and repeatedly at the end of strokes or
and do not allow access or use of secondary machines mechanical stops. They are mostly used on applications
when the robot is not in use (235). They also need requiring pick-and-place operations without value-added
extensive programming and expertise to operate them operations. The setup of the robot must be done
because their programming is designed for general mechanically, making short runs difficult to accommodate.
industrial use and not specifically injection moulding. Pneumatic drives are familiar to shop floor personnel and
The added support required for articulated robots can easy to maintain. Therefore, pneumatic drives are mostly
take away savings generated, and therefore, they must used in dedicated, long-running, pick-and-place operations
be applied carefully. or entry-level applications.
7
3.1.2 Electric Drives 3.1.3 Combination Drives
Electric drives have the advantage of being able to stop Some robots use a combination of pneumatic and electric
anywhere along the axis of travel. Their costs are higher drives (Figure 4) to optimise cost. The pneumatic drives
than pneumatic. will be on the axis that does not need multipositioning or
does not require changing from one job to another. Electric
Electric drives come in two main types: drives will be on the other axes. The most common
combination drive is a servo motor on the traverse axis to
The first type and the most flexible and repeatable is allow for multiple part positioning outside the press.
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. 3.2 Controls
The characteristics of the controller should fit the

The second type is an induction motor with a feedback
application. The design must be balanced incorporating
device. The feedback device can be fixed on the axis
cost, operator interface, programmability, memory and
(such as a switch) or be on the drive itself (such as an
expandability. A pick-and-place or dedicated application
encoder). The motor usually does not correct itself once
will not require the same level of sophistication as a
it stops and often uses a break or locking mechanism
flexible value-added cell with servo drives.
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 3.2.1 Operator Interface
operate, and is slower for the size motor that can be
used. The setup of the robot must be done manually The operator interface must allow all functions with
for fixed-sensor robots and through a teach pendant minimal training and time. The functions that will be
for motors with an integral feedback device. required are setup, troubleshooting, cycling and monitoring.
Figure 3
The servo feedback loop
8
Figure 4
Combination drive robot
The use of graphics for operator interfaces is Controllers have evolved to a stage where an engineer
becoming more widespread. A graphic interface is no longer required to set up and operate the robot
(Figure 5) showing the robot and other main functions (131). Staff assigned to keep the moulding machines
greatly reduces operator training, downtime and setup in operation can handle the robot setup and operation.
time. Many controllers require knowledge of robot Technical staff that performs mould changes or
languages to operate safely without crashing. machine repair can create new programs.
Figure 5
An example graphic operator interface
9
3.2.2 Sequence Programmability concurrent engineering or rapid product releases. A

typical off-line system allows up to 70% to 90% of the
Sequence programmability is now very advanced. program to be developed off line and debugged on line
Teach pendants allow the robot to be programmed on (235). Some programming packages allow messages
line. Off-line programming systems (Figure 6a and to be written and displayed (Figure 7). The programmer
6b) minimise cell downtime and accommodate can direct the operator to interact with the cell.
(a)
(b)
Figure 6
Example of off-line programming systems
10
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 4 Integration of Automation Systems

Example error message for Phase III and IV
Many companies have deployed Phase I and II systems.

Small companies that do not have substantial financial
3.2.3 Expandability and technical resources tend to automate up to Phase I
or II. However, Phase III and IV systems will be
Controls for programmable robots are becoming more required to compete with developing countries and low-
expandable. When hardware, software and operating wage competition when value is added. Many moulders
systems comply with industry standards and are user have difficulty reaching this level of automation due
expandable, it is called open architecture. Open to a lack of understanding, poor vision and planning,
architecture is the desired configuration. Expandable and lack of management commitment. Phase I and II
controllers are used to control secondary devices or systems can be retrofitted onto existing equipment with
machines in work cells, allowing more value to be added little planning. Phase III and IV systems require a
to parts. Distributed control machines have processors rationalisation of the entire manufacturing operation,
and input/output units at different places on the robot or equipment and operational procedures. Machine
within the cell (131). The advantages of distributed purchases and internal systems that are made for the
control are the speed of processing programs and control short term become barriers themselves to future
as well as reduced wiring on or between devices. optimisation. They can be incompatible with future
requirements or tie up capital, and potential savings
Distributed control also eliminates the requirement for are not realised.
duplicate control and software within a cell (235). The
operator interface can be shared. When using one Reduced product lifecycles and the quantity of product
controller to control the cell, the setup flows options have drastically reduced the amount of long-
automatically to each machine (292). running moulding applications. The long-running jobs
that do exist are often produced with low inventory, just-
in-time (JIT) requirements. Accordingly, post-moulding
3.2.4 Communications and Controller automation that is not dedicated to running one part for
Integration several years has to accommodate a wide variety of part
geometry and orientations. A high degree of flexibility
Communications from the robot to the IMM or to a is required. Technology has evolved in the past few years
central computer are useful in Phase II and III and are to allow automated moulding in these conditions. In
required for Phase IV installations. Communications some cases, it is still expensive or support-intensive to
between the robot and moulding machine are used for run. Some facilities that used fixed automation for one
quick program changing, clamp interlocks, starting and project have found automation equipment and its
stopping and error logging. Communications between depreciation costs to be very burdensome and prohibitive
the robot and a central computer are used for program in adapting to other jobs. These facilities often fail or
changing, remote monitoring, central administration require large retooling costs that could have been avoided
and status logging. with more flexible automation.
11
In the past, the absence of equipment from suppliers Indicators that may show organisational flexibility
that could operate and communicate seamlessly in a would be the degree of implementation of JIT, statistical
highly automated facility was also a barrier. Moulders process control (SPC), material resource planning
were often faced with doing extensive research, making (MRP), computer-aided design/manufacturing (CAD/
modifications and committing substantial resources to CAM), agile or lean manufacturing processes, and
integrating a facility. The resources required for this were continuous improvement programmes.
very specialised and expensive. An alternative is to
purchase complete systems from highly developed As most companies are using purchased off-the-shelf
suppliers, but the cost may be high. Some concepts technology, the competitive advantage depends on how
demonstrated by manufacturers are not economically thoroughly and efficiently the technology is deployed
feasible and never make it from the trade shows into by the organisation. Many moulders added secondary
plants. However, the evolution of computers has resulted operations after moulding for several years and may
in components that are now easier to integrate and more not have assigned resources to optimise and organise
cost effective. The moulding industrys use of computer them into the best configuration. Non-value-added
integration and communications has not kept pace with operations and poor layouts can smother the potential
technology. However, industry standards are now profitability of these operations.
emerging to make the integration easier. Many suppliers
have communications hardware, but do not have A new perspective is required to implement automation
sufficient software tools to communicate to plant floor and justify it. Many financial justifications are designed
computer networks. Hopefully, certification processes for a short-term, one-time expenditure to solve a
will emerge so that users will know that pieces will plug- manufacturing problem. A different process is needed
and-play and communicate with minimal effort. for long-term, continuous, strategic manufacturing
decisions and justifications focused on efficient
All phases of automation are now economically feasible. manufacturing. The automation will have to be phased
The best approach to higher levels of automation may in over a period of months or years. The justification
be to specify equipment for the level of future integration and purchasing process must allow measurement of
required in the next ten years. A project plan is then laid productivity savings and expenses against a multiyear
out to implement automation in phases. Sometimes when plan. Once plans are approved and implementation
a moulding machine is replaced, the entire cell is starts, it is also essential to regularly audit the progress
upgraded and integrated. Some manufacturers will of expenditures, utilisations and savings, and to
implement projects across a common press tonnage compare them against what had been planned. This
range. Moulds within that tonnage are then standardised level of automation is a journey, not a one-time
for quick-changeover systems. The experience from purchase and installation.
previous cells is used to design and integrate future cells
in a constant evolution process. Capital equipment and It is common to find operations that may significantly
project risk is minimised. Personnel in the facility have add cost to the project, but contribute little to savings.
time to adapt to new methods as well. Operations such as these are better eliminated,
performed manually, or redesigned to be more cost
effective. Compare the costs of options required for
4.1 Expected Benefits of Phase III and IV quick changeovers and justify them against the benefits
expected.
The amount of investment required for each employee
eliminated has been shown to increase for higher Equipment required for unmanned flexible
levels of automation (256). Due to increased costs, manufacturing systems can sometimes be twice the
more scrutiny is needed to identify applications, to price of standard machinery and must be justified with
project manage them and to audit them to ensure careful analysis and implementation plans.
savings are delivered. However, studies have also
shown that greater levels of investment have delivered
linearly proportionately greater levels of savings. The 4.2 Actual Operating Results
point of diminishing returns has not been reached
within the industry. Overall reduction in manufacturing costs of 20% is
common and sometimes up to 40% has been achieved
A European study showed a strong tendency for from receipt of the resin to the finished product
productivity gains by flexible simplified organisations, shipment (129). Press utilisation can go up as much as
not exclusively capital investment in automation (199). 50% overall.
12
Best-in-class machine/cell efficiency will average can take up to one-quarter or one-half the area of
around 93% once debugged. Actual efficiency depends conventional warehouses depending on their height.
on the complexity of the cell and the amount of
changeover required. Deliveries can be improved due to quick changeovers
and shorter queue times in cell manufacturing.
Many users gain the largest financial payback based on Scheduling complexities are greatly reduced and on-time
the elimination of direct labour. Some applications, such performance improves.
as quick cycles or large parts, are held up by the operators
and more production can be obtained when automated. Short runs, low inventory, increased product variations
It is difficult to utilise 100% of labour beside the and shortened product lives propel the requirement.
moulding machine. Utilisation of only 50 to 70% is Quick changeovers are also required for rapid product
common. Centralising the value-added operations or launches. Rapid changeovers drive up the labour required
automating them lowers lost labour (294). to perform them if not automated, and hinder cell
utilisation. The changeover time must be measured from
The goal of several automation systems is to move the previous part to the first good new part. Systems
beyond direct labour savings to minimise or eliminate must be designed and coordinated to be as automated as
indirect labour. Labour required to change over systems, possible with as many operations as possible changing
to monitor quality, to move materials to the machines, over in parallel.
and to transport materials through the factory can be
eliminated. Companies have found the only way to Automation that is implemented for quick changeovers
remove variability and to achieve zero-defect production can increase press utilisation by at least 5% and as much
is to eliminate manual operations and automate the as 15 to 20%. Changeovers are quicker and require fewer
remaining ones. Operators are then in charge of personnel because they are done automatically. Quick
monitoring the production, machinery and quality, and changeover systems allow companies to lower work-
of making final shipments (41). When direct and indirect in-progress inventories. Some successful manufacturers
labour is eliminated, there can be substantial savings in have reported that the equipment investment equalled
other support and administration departments due to the the cost of the inventory reduction. In this case, it was
reduction in the management of personnel required. viewed that investment in equipment was preferable to
investment in inventory. Certainly, the lower inventory
Consistent cycles, consistent secondary operations, on- has a significant ongoing benefit after the equipment is
line measurement, segregation and control all contribute purchased. Automation of office functions, such as order
to the increase in quality. Automated measurement is entry, quality control, and production control are
more accurate than human measurement systems. The necessary to keep up with the speed of quick changeover
automation systems used have integral quality checks systems in the plant.
of each operation to immediately detect errors, segregate
them and prevent scrapping of subsequent higher-value Worker satisfaction also escalates. A European study
production. The systems used prior to cell automation found that 50% of employees polled expressed that their
required a lot of work in process and errors that were job became more interesting versus 13% who expressed
detected caused a lot of scrap. the job was more boring; 48% expressed the job was
easier versus 15% who expressed the job was harder.
Some companies automate initially to be able to offset
Only 1% lost jobs. This low number is probably due to
shorter mandated workweeks or to extend plant
the fact that labour is in short supply and is difficult to
utilisation over weekends. The entire operation
retain in many plastics manufacturing environments.
utilisation and efficiency goes up as fixed costs are spread
across 20% more shipments when going from a five-
day operation to a six-day operation. Weekend operation
may be done with little or no staff. The unmanned hours 4.3 Requirements for Phase III and IV
use less energy for human comfort and lighting. Integration
Floor-space reductions due to less work in process, One of the most critical steps for higher levels of
storage space and secondary operations can be up to automation does not involve automation at all. The
20%. Floor space reduction is critical for costly real estate organisation, customers, parts, moulds and processes all
areas or cramped facilities where the cost of the have to be rationalised and improved to accept greater
automation is much less than new facility space. Capital levels of automation. The improvements may start any
expenditure for more moulding machines and support time and progress throughout the integration process (161,
equipment is avoided. Automated vertical warehouses 257). Moulders should discuss what production can be
13
profitable and under what constraints, determine what the tonnage of machine they will run in. The mould-to-
processes match the companys competencies, determine press mechanical interface for quick-change systems
what levels of efficiency will be required to reach the should be fixed. Platen attachment methods need to be
profitability goals and determine the levels of quality and standardised along with ejector, electrical, water,
quality-tracability data required. Remaining processes will pneumatic, and hydraulic connections. Mould runner
need to be automated as much as possible and integrated systems must be extremely reliable as well. Hot runners
into the data-processing network. An automation mission and sub-gated runners are easier to automate because they
statement can then be written. do not require post-extraction processes to obtain gate-
vestige quality. Automatic systems require greater mould
Next, the remaining processes from receipt of an order quality construction standards because there are no longer
until invoicing should be put into a flow chart. All non operators present to inspect and correct mould problems.
value-added operations in the production flow path should Preventative maintenance intervals must be set to maintain
be eliminated, minimised or automated. Automating non the moulds consistent production of good parts.
value-added operations is expensive and can make a
facility noncompetitive and increase depreciation costs. Auxiliaries such as mould temperature controllers and
resin material dryers should be tested, calibrated and
The company then needs to conduct a gap analysis to certified to be within specification before integration.
determine how to get to the desired goals. The gap analysis Standardising auxiliaries will assist greatly in speeding
should include moulds and current production machinery integration and maintaining quality. All devices should
capabilities. Automation will not compensate for moulds, be specified with communications for changeovers,
process status and diagnostics.
moulding machines or secondary equipment incapable
of producing high levels of quality parts. A plan needs to
For special machinery, standardise the components from
be implemented to improve tooling and machinery to
which the system will be assembled. The added
achieve desired results. The improved tooling maintenance
complexity of special machinery has a large support cost
costs and preventative maintenance (PM) programme
if improperly coordinated. Programming, tooling,
costs that are required to sustain high levels of quality
troubleshooting, spare parts and maintenance
from processes should be factored into the justification.
requirements are operating expenses that need to be
Each job or expected job should be analysed using actual controlled through standardisation and training. Try to
data, fitting it to the optimum machine and process choose components that are flexible and reusable. Some
equipment, to produce parts with the lowest cost and projects fail because the cost of ownership, retooling and
highest quality. From here, the plant layout, material flows, support are excessive.
flexibility and changeover requirements can be defined.
Finally, an investment schedule can be put together. 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
4.4 Standards for Higher Levels of Integration for inside the facility and for shipment to customers. Other
users have succeeded by using standardised, reusable
The next step to higher levels of integration is by containers for internal and external use. Containers need
developing standards. The moulding machines need size to be designed to be rigid and accurate. There are more
standardisation along with defined specifications and and more industry-wide container standards being
options. Many plants will standardise on a small number employed and used in plants.
of different sizes of machines to reduce the number of
variables and the variety of different support equipment A computer network can be built to support the new
in the facility. Limiting machine size from three to five systems from door to door. The computer communications
sizes with at least three machines per size has worked architecture, protocols and data collection/analysis
well for some facilities. Choosing one manufacturer, one requirements need to be defined, and installed in levels to
controller or one communications interface is important support future levels of integration.
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. 4.5 Implementation of Phase III and IV
Machines should be able to start and stop automatically Automation
and communicate with other auxiliary machines.
At this point, implementation of systems with solid
The moulds will also need some standards set. Mould project management procedures can begin. The degree
dimensions may need to be analysed and classified for of project management to get to Phase III and IV is very
14
high compared to the lower phases. Many businesses in writing. This step is extremely important to
develop informal methods of project management to guarantee proper implementation and utilisation.
obtain moulds, run jobs and manually add value. These
informal project-management methods are ineffective Set up formal reviews and communication strategies,
in managing long-range automation strategies and as all departments will need to be involved and kept
associated resources, communications and risks. This advised of the status. Communications must include
applies in cross-functional projects like automation that vendors and customers. Take corrective actions
require understanding and assistance from all where required. Lack of team communications is
departments. Many projects have failed because of one of the chief causes of project failures.
improper project-management techniques. Failures are
blamed on individuals, when results actually rely on Ensure the plan has sufficient training commitments.
direction from management. Formal project Ideally, training is performed just before
management procedures and reviews should be implementation of each milestone. Users report that
established to ensure success. Many resources exist for training and retraining is critical to implementation
training and consulting in project management. Key and successful operation. Automation systems are
more complex and require new disciplines within
elements of project management are listed below.
the moulding facility. Multidisciplined employees
Assign a team leader in manufacturing who are important to keep a cell running with minimal
understands plant processes. staff. Aim to identify competencies required for staff
at each new level of integration. Develop training
State long-range objectives of the automation and verification systems supporting each level.
programme. Define at least five years and possibly
Set installation and acceptance criteria carefully.
ten years since the equipment life and
Often, a large degree of coordination is required
implementation will be approximately that long.
between departments to get all of the pieces running
and optimised. Confirm safety features and perform
Ensure all pertinent information is in writing, in one
final training before turning a system over to
place and organised into a specification. Many
production. Installation planning must include
projects that fail or have less than desired results
sufficient preplanning to allow for production
are due to a lack of initial guidelines and planning.
downtime and for scaling up the system through
optimisation and debugging. Plan for using extra
Define the project thoroughly with as many
resources for the first few weeks of implementation
disciplines as possible. At a minimum, each
to get the cell running reliably and efficiently. There
stakeholder department should be involved. Early
should be a formal optimisation team in place
supplier involvement is critical if the entire process
including key vendors. Redundant manual systems
is to be suitable and cost effective to automate. Parts, or inventory build up may also need to be considered.
moulds, factory layout, processes, materials
handling and QC requirements need to be worked Implement a PM procedure and monitor its
out together. It is difficult and expensive to retrofit effectiveness. It is difficult with systems integration
highly automated solutions to systems improperly to develop complete PM plans up front because of
designed or coordinated. the customer nature of the systems and no past
history to rely on.
Define performance measurements and milestones
so project status can be monitored and corrected as Return and audit milestone installations after three
required. 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 A wise strategy is to implement in increasing
milestone. complexity, after each phase is installed and
certified. Start off easily and debug processes and
Study the design of each major component carefully automation strategies. Qualify each process step for
with cross-functional teams. Try to define failure desired quality and consistency then integrate it. A
modes and design them out or minimise their impact. large unqualified integration project will have too
For errors that may cause hold ups, define the desired much downtime and associated frustration.
recovery methods to resume or maintain automatic Integrating in steps uncovers barriers, which once
operation. Define the safety requirements of any new handled, improves the operation and allows further
machinery or process. Document all specifications integration and continuous improvement (289).
15
4.6 Equipment Differences for Phase IV The main components requiring flexibility are:
Integration
A plant material quick-change system to deliver
Phase IV is a much higher level of automation than material from the warehouse to the press.
previous phases and requires a high degree of
integration and control. This phase goes beyond islands A press material, quick-change system.
of automation into a fully functional, highly
coordinated, quick changeover, lights out factory. A mould quick-change system.
The key to implementing flexible manufacturing A press parts handling robot with a quick
systems is to buy flexible components. Flexible changeover system.
components are those that can be reconfigured easily
for different parts, often by reprogramming then
A value-added automation system with quick-
recalling setups. A minimum of mechanical changes is
change ability for different parts requiring
required to reuse or retool the equipment. Changeovers
different tooling and software.
between runs must be done automatically and rapidly.
Contract manufacturers, in particular, must use flexible
components or their main competitive advantage of A parts-transport system to deliver components
quick reaction and adaptability is lost. Automation must to the cell and remove production. The system
not make an organisation slower or less adaptive. will link the cells to an automated stockyard or
Flexible components cost more, but have a longer life, warehouse. This portion of automation
which lowers risks and allows the equipment to be integration links up the islands of automation
depreciated over longer time periods. The useful life that are stand-alone manufacturing cells
of flexible systems is often two to four times that of (Figure 8).
inflexible dedicated components.
Figure 8
Examples of Phase IV system
16
An automated stockyard or automated storage A mould preheat and staging station.

and retrieval system for work in process and
finished goods. Mould loading systems to pull moulds out of the
press and load new moulds into the press.
A computer network to link all processes together
and a central computer and software to control, A mould clamping and location system. This
monitor, change, and track data for the factory. system must also have connectors for utilities.
Quick connectors for hydraulics are required if
The degree of Phase IV development can be judged by core-pull sequences require them. Hot-runner
the amount and sophistication of the components systems need to be quickly connected and
implemented. 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
4.6.1 Plant Material Quick-Change Systems
within the mould (287). Die positioning accuracy
after a mould change is important so a robot can
A plant material quick-change system must be designed automatically change its end-of-arm tooling and
to deliver each different material to each different press. interface to the mould.
Systems may have to be designed to be self-cleaning to
ensure that no contamination occurs during changeover. On occasion, a mould cool-down station is required
The systems must be able to be sequenced from a central before storage.
computer and accommodate material, colorant and dry
air if required. These systems are often quite different
Safety and interlocks of these systems must be well
from the ones presently installed in many facilities (258).
thought out and controlled, as moulds are very heavy
The system sequence is purge the material lines and
and expensive, and present considerable hazards if
hoppers, confirm cleaning is complete and deliver new
mishandled.
materials. The new moulding sequence can then begin.
4.6.4 Equipment Required to Unload the Mould

4.6.2 Press Material Quick-Change Systems
For small parts or those that do not require secondary
Ideally, jobs can be scheduled in machines using the operations, conveyors or vacuum evacuation systems
same material. For many facilities, this is not possible. can be used. For other parts, robots are required. A press
A moulding-machine material quick-change system is parts-handling robot with quick changeover capability
required and generally composed of systems to purge links post-mould to pre-mould processes. The robot
and refeed the injection unit. Systems were developed required at this point of integration must be highly
in the 1980s to automatically change barrels, but they flexible, have computer communications, be capable
proved to be not commercially viable. of automatic programme changes, be capable of
automatic tooling changes and have provisions to start,
Semi-automatic systems are still used because of the stop and pause automatically. Verification that the
complexities involved in performing changeovers and correct end-of-arm tooling and robot sequence
keeping systems clean. 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:
Flexible value-added systems that perform multiple
A mould storage system. 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, Some manufacturers limit a cells value-added steps
automatic carts or semi-automatic carts. beside the moulding machine and then use automated
Programmable cranes require less floor space. material-handling devices to move production out of
17
the cell. Value-added operations that are difficult to For small parts, some plants have used air conveyor
automate or cannot be done within the moulding cycle systems where the parts are transported in an air stream
are performed manually away from moulding. Lines to a packaging room or machine. Parts are ejected into
fed automatically by conveyors or automated guided a hopper that directs them into a tube and air stream.
vehicles (AGV) accomplish this. If the parts are placed An air-vacuum transport system, hooked up to the
into standard containers and their position is hoppers under the machines, conveys the parts to boxes
maintained, then value-added operations can be located in another area of the facility. The vacuum
automated in the future. transport system must be sized to transport the largest
expected part size. A maximum part size of 30 mm is
The difficulty in flexible value-added automation is common. Parts must be those that can transport through
trying to transport parts economically through tubes without getting marked or damaged. Parts must
operations, keeping their orientation and being also be able to be moved without tangling or causing
adaptable across a wide variety of different geometries. blockages in the tubes. The system requires modest
The most economical way to move parts through value- floor space and labour.
added operations is to use the part removal robot with
multipurpose or changeable end-of-arm tooling. A Several automated plant concepts have evolved around
secondary flexible robot can also be used to take parts container filling cells (Figure 9). The containers can
from the press robot and move them through operations. be trays, bins or boxes with single or multiple layers
Beyond robots, several other devices are available but (72). Large parts sometimes have rack systems that are
these are less flexible or adaptable to transport parts transported through the cells. The trays, bins, racks or
through operations. Parts can be transported to boxes can be used internally, externally or both. The
subsequent operations by means of conveyors, placed benefit of a container filling beside the press is that it
onto pallets, placed into trays or bins or placed onto allows unmanned operation and expandability for
rotary or linear indexers. future off-line value-added automation. A benefit of
placing parts into containers is that orientation can be
maintained. When automation of value-added
4.6.6 Parts Transport Systems operations occurs in the future, the system will readily
adapt. Machines exist to handle standard containers in
Conveyors can move the parts to a central location. and around the moulding cell. Multilevel shelves or
They can be inexpensive for some factory layouts. conveyors can be used to store production. Conveyors
Conveyors can be belts, plastic-link chains or that destack and restack containers are common as well.
overhead chain-driven systems. As a result of parts The containers must be dimensionally accurate and
losing orientation in most applications, operators will have features suitable for automation, such as being
be required on the end of the system to reorient, rigid, stackable or collapsible, not easily damaged and
inspect, add value and package parts. Similar parts easy to clean. It is common to use inserts in the
may be mishandled and placed into incorrect containers for parts requiring precise locations or that
containers. The system does not lend itself well to may be subject to damage in transport.
future automation if parts are out of orientation or
overlapping. Parts liable to damage during transport Once parts are in the containers, they can be removed
do not lend themselves to this type of automation. at intervals by operators, conveyors, or loaded and
An exception to this would be the placing of parts unloaded by AGVs. The AGVs are self-propelled carts.
onto fixtured pallets, transported on conveyors. The drive is usually accomplished with electric motors.
Sensors to detect parts passing underneath other Electric-driven vehicles will require a recharging
robots need to be installed to prevent parts from station for periodical charging during operation. The
being placed on top of others and to avoid possible vehicles are sized based on the maximum payload and
robot crashes. If robots can package beside each size of load to be accommodated. The top of the vehicle
machine, then the conveyors can be used to transport is usually designed to automatically load or unload the
containers in and out of the cells. Conveyors require type of container to be used in the particular facility.
a lot of floor space and inhibit access to the moulding The vendor base for AGVs has been very volatile
cells unless they can be put overhead, in which case because of the large amount of research and
they are difficult to service and clean, and parts may development required and the varying market
not be easy to see. Conveyors to a central location conditions. Many factories have not advanced their
are best used for similar parts, large parts or easily automation to the point where an automatic vehicle can
distinguishable parts that will not require or cannot take over; they also have not automated upstream or
justify the costs of added-value operations. do not have an automated warehousing linkage.
18
Figure 9
Automated container filling
AGV systems are expensive, but very flexible. They can automatic storage and retrieval systems can be
often be justified in one to two years in the right employed. The simplest form consists of roller
application where the factory is reasonably organised. conveyors, to which containers are off-loaded. A
Indirect labour is saved along with reduced part damage separate conveyor line is usually associated with one
that may occur with manual systems (87). Unlike fixed part or moulding machine. Simple roller-conveyor
conveyors, they can be reprogrammed and reconfigured systems are frequently employed to store enough parts
for a wide variety of transport tasks. The systems make for unattended shifts or weekend operation. Systems
the transition to automated storage and retrieval systems then increase in complexity enabling loading and
seamlessly as all of the infrastructure and standards are unloading as well as computer tracking of containers.
put into place. Phase III or IV systems need careful The most sophisticated systems are multilevel systems
coordination of containers and supplies to and from the that use linear robots to pick and store containers and
cells and are inhibited by manual transport methods (72). later repick and deliver them to an outlet position when
Guidance systems are usually chemical paths painted required. These storage systems are mostly used where
onto the floor, taped paths, or grid systems in which the land is at a premium or the cost to add floor space is
vehicles navigate freely between points. Systems which more than the storage system.
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 4.6.8 Logistics and Coordination
reasonable amount of cells are running efficiently. Before
this point, manual or semi-manual methods are used. A very high degree of logistics and coordination is
required for Phase IV implementation. Only
computers can keep up with the demands. If not
4.6.7 Automated Stockyards and Automated properly thought out, the personnel required to
Storage and Retrieval Systems coordinate the factory and run it efficiently in a small-
lot, quick-change environment will offset savings in
Whether work in process or finished goods are other areas. It is critical to use local area network
transported manually, by conveyors or by AGVs, architecture and ensure all major components in cells
19
are equipped to integrate to it. However, in case of a components into the system should be done with
system failure, production cells should be designed ease while the machine is running.
so as to be able to run without the computer network.
It is common to have a local computer in each cell Buffers should be placed in front of operations
that interfaces each machine within the cell to the requiring manual adjustment, cleaning or supply
computer network. Minimally, the system must replenishment. According to a recent article, as
coordinate set up data for all of the cell equipment much as 70% of cell downtime is operator induced
when a new mould is run and verify that control points (125). The buffer should be long enough to allow
are met to begin production. for operator arrival and completion of the task.
Some machines that are difficult to start up may
The central computer hooked up to the network will be required to keep in cycle and discharge
schedule production resources, handle changeovers, production for a short time while the cell is
track and display status, gather quality information, attended. The length of time the machine discharges
perform quality analysis, display errors and schedule production should be limited so that excessive scrap
preventative maintenance. The central computer material costs are avoided. Cell design may require
develops schedules and sends them to each individual manual reintroduction of parts produced while a
cell computer for execution (258). Status and error machine was down or from surplus capacity. It may
display must be designed to get quick notification and be required to take parts off line and reintroduce
reaction to problems. Often these systems are linked them downstream if a component fails. The rate of
to audible or visual alarm systems within the plant or the downstream operations may need to be faster
to remote locations for off-hours. than the process to allow reintroduction of
production while still on line.
4.7 Design Criteria for Higher Levels of It is good practice to perform quality control for
Automation each step immediately after or during the operation
and to isolate bad parts once detected. It may be
When implementing cells and FMS, system design is difficult to track bad parts in a machine, and so the
critical. The following is a list of common design value added to them is wasted. The system should
considerations: be programmed to stop if a preset frequency of
errors occurs at a station rather than stopping at
The cell should have the ability to shut down each error. Cells may need quality control of
automatically if the run is complete or if there is incoming material and process adaptation if there
trouble and no one responds. The cell must shut is a likelihood that defects could occur, would be
down in an orderly way leaving all elements in a hard to detect, or would cause interruption of the
safe and known position. The status of the machines cell. Critical operations within a cell should allow
should be kept so the cell can be analysed and for quality control sampling without cell
restarted quickly. Irregular production may need interruption. The sampling can be programmed at
to be isolated. Heating elements may need to be intervals or triggered by an operator.
reset at a lower setting.
Critical components can be serialised and the data
Machines within a cell should be capable of stored for traceability. This is common for
uncoupled operation inside or outside of the cell components where product liability may be a
in case of trouble. Thought must be given to how concern.
operations can be performed manually if the
automation fails. Cell design may need to leave Consideration has to be given to production
room for operators and for any movements balancing, from multiple machines or for machines
necessary to allow manual intervention or have where cavities will be shut off. The part removal
decoupling abilities. Integrated machines may robot or other devices can perform this function if
require an automatic and manual control interface. equipped and programmed properly.
Guarding that can be easily configured for manual
operation should be considered (37). One of the most important design considerations
is to specify flexible components to be adaptable
Operator input or take away from a cell should not for families of related applications. Components
affect its operation or safety. Feeding of should be as modular as possible, to allow them to
20
be reused and reconfigured as requirements change. parts, proficient process control, diverter chutes to
This type of equipment will make the difference direct rejects away from the good part transport system,
between justifying equipment for one job and automatic resin handling systems, accurate blending
justifying the equipment across its lifetime. Buy systems, antistatic devices to prevent parts from
for the future. It is sensible to specify equipment sticking to moulds, and a monitoring computer to detect
for where you want to be at the end of its life, not and alert if there are problems. Working with customers
where you are now. to ensure parts and moulds are designed to be
compatible and to operate reliably in the cells is
Controls must be open architecture so that they are essential (180).
expandable and workable with a network to adapt
to changing conditions. Dedicated controllers may One manufacturer has achieved 48 hours of production
inhibit adapting to further levels of automation as with only 15 minutes of labour required to feed empty
well. The memory, processing speed and inputs/ boxes and take away full boxes (291).
outputs must be expandable.
5.2 Cells that Extend Production Hours

Without Labour
5 Example Applications
Various cells have been developed for unattended
There are several examples of successful cells and operation over 16- to 48-hour periods. The objective
FMS. Some cell designs are now more or less standard is to expand hours of unmanned operation or to
based on vendors repetitive-application experience. eliminate labour on second and third shifts. A European
facility designed a plant for unmanned operation
through weekends (109). The cell produces motor
5.1 Small Machines protection switches requiring precision assembly.
Unattended operation is achieved by using trays for
Small machines, producing parts that are bulk storage of the parts. Trays are configured to hold parts
in known positions for post handling. Loaded into a
packaged, are the easiest to automate, although many
moulders have yet to take full advantage of available conveyorised stockyard are 320 trays for 66 hours of
production. Trays are moved in and out of the stockyard
technology.
and positioned under the robot automatically. A robot
removes the parts from a two-cavity mould and places
The reasons why small machines are easy to automate
the first part into the next available tray pocket. The
are that usually little value is added to small parts,
robot then orients the next part through 180 degrees so
incoming materials are used in small quantities, parts
it is in the same orientation as the first and places it
are often shipped in bulk, a large amount of parts can
into the next available pocket. Other parts are run on
be stored in a small amount of space, and moulds are
the cell and are placed into boxes.
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 5.3 Automated Packaging with Manual
components will have to automate soon to higher levels Value-Added Operations
to compete with modern facilities and global
competition. Many cell and FMS systems have been designed around
parts removal with one or two secondary operations
Parts are ejected out of the machine and fall into a beside the machine and packaging of parts for transport
hopper. Sprue pickers can be used to separate the runner (157). A Japanese manufacturer has set up an automated
from the parts. A central vacuum system cycled from factory as a demonstration centre for the technology.
press to press to evacuate parts and deliver them to a Subsequent plants have been built and put into operation
central box station is common. Parts can be discharged based on the principles developed. The facility is staffed
into a container or a machine that indexes containers by five personnel for the daytime shift. There are no
when full. Boxes can be automatically transported in personnel present overnight or on weekends. Additional
and out of the filling station. Critical elements for personnel are brought in as needed on the first shift to
success are excellent mould design to make quality add value to parts that may require it. If a problem occurs
21
when there are no personnel on duty, the central computer 5.5.1 In-Mould Decorating
calls a manager at home who can respond. Servo robots,
on top of the moulding machines, fill trays with parts. In-mould decorating has the advantages of the
Trays are automatically destacked, filled and restacked elimination of special downstream decorating
on a press-side, parts storage machine. When a stack is machines, the elimination of scrap associated with on-
completely full, an AGV retrieves the stack and delivers line decorating, flexibility of using different labels and
a stack of empty trays. The AGV transports the trays to products, higher quality decorations on the parts and
an elevator that brings the vehicle to the second floor. better environmental properties with integral
The AGV then delivers the stack to a roller conveyor decorations (192). Systems are composed of magazines
stockyard. When the production in the trays is being for labels, a label pick-and-place robot or device, and
shipped or processed by operators for secondary a vacuum or static electricity system to hold the label
operation such as assembly, quality control measurement in the mould. Typical products using in-mould
or testing, an operator retrieves the stacks from the decorating are food containers, appliances, cell phones
stockyard. The stockyard is sized to hold two to three or any other plastic parts requiring decorations.
days of production for operation over a weekend.
5.5.2 Insert Moulding
5.4 Product or Contract Specific Cells Insert moulding has several advantages when automated.
If inserting is done by an operator, the cycle varies
Some cells will have been designed for a specific considerably, quality cannot be maintained, scrap is high
product or a moulding contract of three to five years. and mould damage occurs from misplaced inserts. Jobs
For moulding contracts, it is important to choose running manually require close supervision, operator
equipment that becomes adaptable after the contract rotation to prevent fatigue and strict control to remain
term. This avoids large depreciation costs during the profitable. In view of these problems, many moulders
project and large retooling costs after the project. have realised that automation is the only way to make
parts profitable. Systems that are flexible are expensive
A well thought out production cell in Germany illustrated and need to be justified over long periods of time. The
the maximum utilisation of a system. The goals of the expense to tool each new job with insert moulding can
system were to provide maximum up time, to be prohibitive if done improperly.
accommodate short runs, eliminate work in progress,
and to give maximum value-added operations by trying Some manufacturers with long runs will use simple
to get the robot to work the entire moulding cycle (200). dedicated transfer devices for insert loading. However,
A servo-drive, traverse-type robot removes parts, checks most manufactures use servo robots due to their
dimensions, cuts off a sprue and loads the part onto a flexibility and accuracy. Servo robots can pick up inserts
rotary table. On the rotary table, the part is milled, hot from manually fed shuttles, vibration part feeders or
stamped and presented again to the robot. The finished other magazines (Figure 10). Inserts are sometimes
part is stacked into a magazine for storage. Before loaded into a mould fixture outside of the press, and the
starting the next cycle, the robot picks up a bearing, fixture is picked up by the robot and placed into the
checks its dimensions and inserts it into the mould. The mould. Sometimes inserts are handled on strips of tape
cell was designed so parts can be removed and fed back to simplify loading of delicate pieces or multiple inserts.
in if a station goes down to keep production going. If When strips are used, operators or a press can remove
manual attendance is required in the cell, the robot keeps the parts from the strips after moulding. For high-volume
running and loads parts into a buffer for up to 12 minutes. systems, inserts can be fed from a reel on the mould.
When the operator exits the work zone, the robot will The finished parts can be rolled up on another reel or
automatically begin to feed the cell again. Each station discharged in strips (297).
can be manually turned off outside the cell, and the other
machine stations will keep running. 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, Two-component moulding is very popular. A common
insert moulding, and two-component moulding. configuration is to mould the first component in one
22
Figure 10
Insert moulding operation
machine and unload it with a robot. The first robot then degated, hot stamped, serial data applied on the
hands off to a second robot, which loads (as well as part, and a serialised bar code label is applied to the
unloads) the second machine. Another configuration outside. Bar codes are checked for readability. Part
uses a robot to move parts from the first mould on a weights are taken and defects identified. All production
two-injection unit machine to the second mould and data is stored for each assembly. Bad parts throughout
to remove the finished part. Rotary platens used to the process are identified and separated by a robot at
move moulds between the injection units on two- the end of the process.
colour machines index to allow moulding of the
second component. Then a robot unloads the finished Vision systems with fibre optics (Figure 11), directly
parts. Typical applications are soft-touch materials or mounted to the robot's end-of-arm tooling (EOAT),
lenses (73). 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
5.6 Quality Control Automation
that information to a robot that changes its program
based on the specific part requirements (292).
Quality control operations are becoming one area of
rapid advancement. The requirement for manual
inspection holds many moulders back from automating.
5.7 Thermoset Cells
Article (143) details the automation of quality control
measurement, recording, and traceability. The article Thermoset moulding has, in many cases, lacked
explains the necessity of automated quality control for automation implementation. Part-extraction robots are
the automotive industry, particularly with critical safety used, but very little other work has been automated.
components such as airbags. Airbag components are The requirement to deflash parts and moulds, along
automatically removed and fed to coded pallets. The with difficulty in automating these operations, meant
pallet identification is used to track the good and bad manual systems were needed. A manufacturer has
parts for separation at the end of the system. Parts are reported that robots in their operation are used to
23
Figure 11
Vision system
prevent part damage, to demould parts requiring mould after it cools down. Material is selected from a
difficult motions, to prevent tool damage, to degate storage silo, sent to a dryer and then to the proper
parts, and to load parts onto jigs for further processing machine. Parts are removed with robots and palletised
or cooling (295). 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
5.8 Examples of FMS manual, value-adding area (258).
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 6 Future Developments
from moulding to storage, and part transport from
storage to post-process areas all run automatically. Parts Developments are evolving rapidly in the field of
are retrieved automatically and fed to an automatic automation. The increase in driving forces has changed
painting system. The facility has used an automatic the mind-set of many moulders. Implementation of
crane system to change moulds. Moulds are delivered automation and its importance are becoming a major
to two-position, mould-change tables located beside priority. The skills to project manage, install and operate
the moulding machines. Moulds are preheated during automation will continually evolve as moulders strive
the end of the run of the present mould. When the run to compete. Moulders will be asked to project manage
is over, the mould in the machine is transported onto the entire cycle from part design to delivery logistics.
the table. The table then indexes forward on rails and Projects will need to be completed more rapidly.
positions the next mould. The mould is loaded into the Moulders should partner with suppliers to develop
press. An automatic crane retrieves the completed relationships for rapid launches.
24
The rapid advance of computer power will mean and confirmation of each part will be important. Only
smarter and more flexible machinery. The computer automation can achieve this without driving up the cost
power will be used for rapid changeovers, flexibility of production through manual inspection.
and integration into plant-wide computer networks.
Personal computers will become the most common Decreasing lot sizes and increasing product variability
controllers for shop-floor machinery. will drive the requirement for flexible, quick-change
adaptive systems for implementation.
Control software will become more adaptive, detecting
and correcting problems to keep machinery running. All of the above will influence moulders to implement
This will be important to increase the implementation additional levels of automation. The trend will escalate
of automated systems. These controls will be standard over the next five years, and cell manufacturing (Phase
on moulding machines, robots, auxiliaries and other III) will be common in five years, whereas less then
value-added machinery. 10% of the moulders are at this level now. FMS will
be commonplace in ten years for moulders competing
Servo technology is rapidly advancing. Servos will be on a world basis.
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 Additional References
and will continue to advance to levels of 80 to 90% in
the next five years.
a.1 Evolution of Automation in Plastics Injection
Moulding by Yushin America, Inc.,
The degree of quality, monitoring and documentation www.yushin.com.
will increase to support traceability and higher levels
of quality production and improvement. Measurement a.2 Injection Moulding, 1996, 4, 8, 84.
25
26
References and Abstracts
References from the Rapra Abstracts Database
Item 1 cooling station assembly having a number of blowing

Patent Number: EP 1074490 A1 20010207 tubes for applying a cooling fluid to external surfaces
CONVEYOR WITH REMOVABLE STRIPS of moulded parts, a take-off plate having a number of
PARTICULARLY FOR MOLDED ARTICLES holders for receiving cooled moulded parts and a
Cribiu O connecting plate connecting the take-off plate and the
Costruzioni Meccaniche Crizaf SpA cooling station assembly. The connecting plate is
connected to the take-off plate by a pivotable
A conveyor for conveying articles from a first work station
connection and is connected to the cooling station
to a second work station comprises a conveyor belt of the
assembly by a rigid connection. The connecting plate
slat or apron type having a number of plates linked to one
is movable along an axis substantially parallel to one
another to form a loop and a number of strips mounted
of the faces upon which the moulded parts to be cooled
transversally and removably on at least some of the slats
and removed are positioned. The device also includes
to retain the articles conveyed by the conveyor belt. The
a linkage assembly for causing the take-off plate to
strips are easily replaceable in the event of breakage or a
move between a receiving position and a holding/
change in production. A hopper directs the articles toward
ejecting position and vice versa. Movement of the take-
the conveyor belt with fold-down walls to assume the
off plate causes the connecting means to move along
most compact configuration vertically during movement
the first axis, which in turn causes the cooling station
of the conveyor.
assembly to move from a non-cooling position to a
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN
EUROPE-GENERAL
cooling position and vice versa.
USA
Accession no.806607
Accession no.801380
Item 2
Plast 21 Item 4
No.95, Sept.2000, p.57-8 Kunststoffe Plast Europe
Spanish 90, No.9, Sept.2000, p.27-8
CORRECT CHOICE OF COLLABORATORS AS English; German
A GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS AUTOMATED MANUFACTURE OF MOBILE
PHONES
An examination is made of the activities of Plastics del Boehringer C
Terri of Spain and its associated company Maben in
plastics injection moulding using ancillary equipment and This article discusses in detail robot handling technology
automotion systems supplied by Equiper. Details are given during the process of injection moulding mobile phones.
of types of products manufactured and plastics materials Section headings include: market growth requires
and quality control procedures used. automation, and standard solutions are more flexible.
(Translated from Kunststoffe 90, No.9, 2000, p.90-1)
PLASTICS DEL TERRI SL; MABEN SL;
MORETTO; EQUIPER SL; CRIZAF SPA; NEUREDER AG
EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN
MARTIPLAST; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS UNION; GERMANY; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE Accession no.799985
Accession no.803949
Item 5
Item 3 Kunststoffe Plast Europe
Patent Number: US 6113834 A1 20000905 90, No.9, Sept.2000, p.25-6
COOLING DEVICE ATTACHED TO INDEX English; German
MACHINE AUTOMATION AROUND INJECTION
Kozai M T; Ing R; Jacovich W J; Domodossola R; MOULDING MACHINES
Saggese S Martin W
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. Higher and higher requirements on injection moulded
Disclosed are a device for cooling moulded parts and products are forcing manufacturers to invest in the areas
for transporting the moulded parts from a receiving of automation and peripherals. This article discusses
position to a holding/ejecting position. The device is injection moulding automation under the headings:
particular useful with an index moulding machine project engineering of complex manufacturing units,
having a rotary turret block with at least two movable centralisation, finding team solutions, special but
mould halves thereon. The cooling device includes a flexible solutions, unmanned supply technology, and
Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 27

central control of materials supply. (Translated from EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
Kunststoffe 90, No.9, 2000, p.84/9) WESTERN EUROPE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; Accession no.790864

WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.799984 Item 9
Injection Molding
Item 6 8, No.9, Suppl. Sept.2000, p.46/51
Patent Number: US 6109904 A1 20000829 AUTOMATION GETS EVEN FASTER, SIMPLER
MOULD CLOSURE UNIT WITH A DEVICE FOR Injection moulding automation developments are reviewed
REMOVING INJECTION MOULDINGS with reference to NPE 2000. The speed and simplicity of
Hehl K the robots was the main trend reported. Technological
A mould closing unit is provided with a device for handling developments are reported which will enable moulders to
and/or removal of mouldings. It comprises a supporting run lights out operations or to put numerous value-added
element for supporting the device in the area of the mould, operations alongside the press, unattended, and with
an actuating element, by which the handling element optimum quality control. The review focuses on industrial
penetrating into the mould cavity is operable, as well as a robots, linear robots, and automation control.
drive unit for driving the actuating element. The drive unit Accession no.790271
drives the actuating element electromechanically and at
least the drive unit, supporting element and actuating Item 10
element constitute a structural unit, which is detachable Plastics and Rubber Weekly
from the mould closing unit. The drive unit is a hollow No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.17
shaft motor at least partially receiving the actuating element. CONTINUING ARTICULATE SUCCESS
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Custom moulder W.H. Smith & Sons has a long track
record in the use of articulated robots and now uses nine
Accession no.799865
Swiss-built Staubli robots at its plant at Minworth. The
units are used within complex manufacturing cells
Item 7 carrying out tasks such as insert loading, trimming and
Plast 21 palletising. Smith says the next stage in implementation
Nos.93/4, June/July 2000, p.52 of automation within the company is to create flexible
Spanish moulding cells which can be switched easily between
CARBON FIBRE TECHNOLOGY different production jobs as demand requires.
Details are given of Wittmanns Series 6 industrial robots, SMITH W.H.,& CO.
some of which have vertical arms made of carbon fibre- EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
reinforced composites, and their use in plastics injection
moulding operations. Accession no.788093
WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS
AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
Item 11
Plastics and Rubber Weekly
Accession no.790865
No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.16
WITTMANN TAILORS ITS OFFER WITH
Item 8 OTHER MAKERS MACHINES
Plast 21
Wittmann announced last year that it was to supply industrial
Nos.93/4, June/July 2000, p.48-9
robots from Toshiba and Kawasaki alongside its Wittmann
Spanish
beam models. The company sees the move as a natural
SERPLASA: CONTRASTING QUALITY IN
response to the increasing demands from the UK plastics
PACKAGING
industry for more sophisticated automation solutions. One
An examination is made of the activities of Servicios of the key developments at the company in recent months
Plasticos SA (Serplasa) of Spain in the manufacture of has been its work with the integration of computer-based
plastics packaging by extrusion, coextrusion and injection vision systems with the robot controller. Wittmanns
and blow moulding, and in the extrusion of plastics films engineers have also succeeded in linking a Leica laser
for use in the agricultural sector. Quality control procedures measuring system to a Kawasaki six-axis industrial robot to
used by the Company and an automation system installed provide an ultra precise positioning system.
in its extrusion department are described. Employment WITTMANN UK
figures and details of recent investments are presented. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
SERPLASA; SERVICIOS PLASTICOS SA; WESTERN EUROPE
ALIMATIC SL Accession no.788092
28 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Item 12 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;

Plastics and Rubber Weekly WESTERN EUROPE
No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.15 Accession no.788089
POLLAK POSTS HUGE AUTOMATION SAVINGS
Stoneridge Pollak, an automotive moulder and switch Item 15
manufacturer, has achieved unit cost savings and cycle Modern Plastics International
time improvements of 30%. The improvements are the 30, No.6, June 2000, p.43/7
result of the introduction of a Battenfeld vertical press AUTOMATION PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES
and five-axis Toshiba robots supplied and integrated by IN MOLD DESIGN
Wittmann UK. The new cells current production is Toensmeier P A
moulding a two-piece insert part, a window lift switch Discussed in this article is the strong influence that process
with metal electrical connectors set in glass-filled nylon, automation trends have had on injection mould design.
supplied for use in VW and Skoda cars. The article then focuses in details on the activities of
STONERIDGE POLLAK mould-maker Fairway Molds Inc. of the USA. The
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; president of the company says that the level of
WESTERN EUROPE
sophistication of the moulding capabilities of many of
Accession no.788091 his customers is such, that the first time some parts come
into contact with humans is when the consumer unwraps
Item 13 the product!
Plastics and Rubber Weekly FAIRWAY MOLDS INC.; YASDA; STACKTECK
No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.14 SYSTEMS INC.; TRADESCO MOLD LTD.; UNIQUE
PHONES DIAL UP 7M POUNDS STERLING MOULD MAKERS LTD.
FOR RTS ASIA; CANADA; EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY;
Robot Technology Systems has won a 6.6m pounds NORTH AMERICA; PORTUGAL; SOUTH AMERICA; SPAIN;
sterling order from Rosti to supply automated assembly USA; WESTERN EUROPE
and moulding systems to produce mobile phone Accession no.787809
components for Ericsson. The integrated turnkey package
includes the automation of 19 injection moulding machine Item 16
cells using articulated six-axis robots. The automation Kunststoffe Plast Europe
installation at Rostis facility in Scotland includes nine 90, No.7, July 2000, p.26-8
mobile phone assembly lines with a capacity to English; German
manufacture up to 12 million phone assemblies a year, AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING AND
six stand-alone assembly machines and a number of RTS WELDING OF BUMPERS
Vincent automatic palletising units. Leiritz O; Gorse H
ROBOT TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS; ROSTI AS DAT Automatisierungstechnik GmbH; Dynamit Nobel
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; Kunststoff GmbH
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.788090 In fully automated bumper production, a jointed-arm-
robot takes care of all handling tasks. Its wide operating
area and high positional accuracy have made it possible
Item 14 to integrate into the automation system a welding
Plastics and Rubber Weekly operation that was originally separate.
No.1856, 29th Sept.2000, p.13
AUTOMATIC PROFITS WESTERN EUROPE
The most recent robot investment figures for UK industry, Accession no.786911
published by the British Automation and Robotics
Association for 1999, showed the number of new robots Item 17
being installed in plastics and rubber manufacturing Kunststoffe Plast Europe
applications down by almost 18.5% on 1998 to 326 units. 90, No.7, July 2000, p.24-6
However, this does not seem to be the view of the major English; German
suppliers of automation to the UK plastics industry. ACCELERATION IS NOT EVERYTHING
Wittmann claims injection moulding companies have Hofmair H
invested heavily in automation. ATM Automation reports Engel Vertriebs GmbH
a big increase in demand for its flexible downstream
automation solutions. Technological developments are The key to the shortest possible handling time lies in
bringing down the cost of complex automation, with insert improving the entire system consisting of injection
loading a particularly good example. moulding machine, mould and handling system. To

genuinely accelerate production, the production cell and injection moulding operations. Statistics are presented for
the mould must be designed for automation. Judicious numbers of robots operating in Spain in 1998.
synchronisation of individual movements can reduce the AER-ATP; CAMPETELLA ROBOTIC CENTER;
demoulding time by almost 50%. CENTROTECNICA SA; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS;
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; EQUIPER SL; IROBI; MTP SL; PIOVAN + STAR
WESTERN EUROPE AUTOMATION; LUISO SL; TECNOMATIC SPA;
Accession no.786910 CAUFAR SL; REIS ROBOTICS; WITTMANN
ROBOT SYSTEMS; STAUBLI; STAUBLI ESPANOLA
Item 18 SA; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; SEPRO ROBOTICA
AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
European Plastics News
FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE;
27, No.8, Sept.2000, p.58 WORLD
FULL AUTOMATION FROM BATTENFELD Accession no.783032
Swoboda, a well-known automotive supplier, was seeking
process safety, precision, flexibility and efficiency for Item 21
valve control gear casing production at its factory in Molding Systems
southern Germany. Battenfeld Kunststoffmaschinen 58, No.3, June 2000, p.26-32
planned, designed and installed a fully automatic, easily AGREE TO AUTOMATE
adaptable automated production cell that overlaps Mallon J M
processing steps to shorten cycle time and increase output. Yushin America Inc.
Engine compartment casings must be completely
impenetrable. Encapsulating components during In an era of rapidly accelerating competitive forces, most
moulding, as opposed to separate moulding and insertion, moulders agree automation is key to maximizing
assures component process safety. The automated production savings. However, most users run into trouble
production system is described. from the outset, often because short-term management
procurement decisions do not allow for flexibility and
BATTENFELD KUNSTSTOFFMASCHINEN GMBH
cost savings over the long haul. For automation success,
AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN UNION; WESTERN EUROPE
management must take the lead in organising, planning
Accession no.785245 and executing a long-range strategy. This article provides
twelve tips for project success.
Item 19 USA
Macplas International Accession no.782589
No.9, Aug.2000, p.61-2
PRODUCTION CELL
Item 22
The automated production of Sharpak containers for use Plast 21
in the disposal of hospital sharps is described. Rexam Nos.88/9, Jan./Feb.2000, p.40-1
Containers & Closures redesign of the Sharpak Spanish
production line was intended to reduce the handling, SOLUTIONS FOR THE AUTOMATION OF
increase throughput and improve quality standards and INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES
consistency. The dedicated manufacturing cell comprises
Details are given of the range of industrial robots
8 Sandretto injection moulding machines of 270 and 550
developed by Dal Maschio for the automation of plastics
tons clamping force, together with over 300,000 pounds
injection moulding operations.
sterling of automation equipment. A conveyor is
positioned alongside every moulding machine which are DAL MASCHIO; PLASVIR
serviced by seven all-electric, three-axis de-mould robots. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
REXAM CONTAINERS & CLOSURES Accession no.780289
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Patent Number: US 6030566 A1 20000229
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOADING
Item 20
PLASTIC MATERIAL PRODUCTS FROM A
Plast 21
PLASTIC MATERIAL INJECTION MOULDING
Nos.88/9, Jan./Feb.2000, p.50-2
MACHINE
Spanish
Herbst R
ROBOTS INVADE THE PLASTICS SECTOR
The method comprises the steps of unmoulding the
A survey is made of industrial robots and manipulators
products from a mould of the injection moulding machine
manufactured by a number of companies for use in plastics
and then cooling the products on two product surfaces by

contact with two corresponding cooling surfaces of a EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; TAIWAN; UK;
cooling apparatus. The apparatus is provided with WESTERN EUROPE
corresponding unmoulding devices and cooling plates. Accession no.771104
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Item 26
Accession no.777512 Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1829, 24th March 2000, p.10
Item 24 PROVING THE VALUE OF AUTOMATION
Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri Since 1994, UK-based LEC Refrigeration has been
64, Nos.11/12, Nov./Dec.1999, p.718/34 upgrading its injection moulding manufacturing systems
Italian - including investing in a state-of-the-art automated
AUTOMATION BECOMES INTEGRATED refrigerator manufacturing facility. This article takes a
Baucia G look at this, and other recent investments.
An examination is made of applications of industrial LEC REFRIGERATION; SIME DARBY; NISSEI;
robots in the automation of plastics processing and NEGRI BOSSI; DAL MASCHIO; ITALMACHINERY
finishing operations, including injection, insert and blow EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN
moulding, thermoforming, painting, metallising and flash UNION; JAPAN; MALAYSIA; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
removal. Robots and robotised production cells developed Accession no.771057
by a number of companies are described.
BATTENFELD AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK Item 27
GMBH; CAMPETELLA ROBOTIC CENTER; Kunststoffe Plast Europe
COLOMBO RENATO ROBOTICA; KUKA 89, No.12, Dec.1999, p.22-3
ROBOTER GMBH; ENGEL English; German
AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; PIOVAN PUNCHING, BENDING, INSERTING AND
+ STAR AUTOMATION; CO.MA.SPE.; DAL SHEATHING
MASCHIO; EUROSERVICE; COMAU SPA; Deusch H
STAUBLI; TECNOMATIC SPA; TIESSE ROBOT; Ecotech Automations- & Verfahrenstechnik GmbH
VMP+ASITECH AUTOMAZIONE
Plug-in connectors for electronics are required in vast
GERMANY; ITALY; SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE quantities. Economic production is only rendered feasible
Accession no.776785 through extensively automating the production stages.
Automation of peripheral equipment provides for high
productivity and continuous quality assurance in the
Item 25 injection moulding of plugs with over 100 pins. (German
British Plastics and Rubber version of this paper, which includes illustrations, is on
April 2000, p.17 p.68-70.)
PUSHING DOWN THE PRICE OF ROBOTIC EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
REMOVAL WESTERN EUROPE
New models of handling robots are helping decrease the Accession no.764388
price of robotic removal. Descriptions are given of the
range of robots from BPI Machines and Hi-Tech Item 28
Automation. The BPI series includes sprue pickers and Plastics Technology
beam robots, pneumatic and full CNC models, and high 45, No.11, Nov.1999, p.56/65
speed side entry machines. The machines are SMALL IS BIG
manufactured by Alfa Auto Machinery of Taiwan, which Knights M
claims to be the biggest supplier of beam robots in the
Far East outside Japan, and is now expanding sales to the This article supplies a comprehensive review of the latest
USA and Europe. In the UK, the major selling point for trends in auxiliary equipment, together with the
the machines is the price, with a swing-arm Phoenix sprue advantages and features of the latest equipment currently
picker costing 1,900 pounds sterling complete with plinths on offer from major US manufacturers such as Conair,
and vacuum head. The new machine from Hi-Tech AEC, and Colortronic. Ancillary equipment is getting
Automation is a pneumatic pick and place robot built by smaller to keep pace with the growing market for small
Index Automatic Technology. Called the HT600, it has a precision parts. This article highlights the latest dryers,
conventional three-axis design which sells for 4,500 loaders, blenders, grinders and chillers which have all
pound, sterling plus VAT. dropped in size for accuracy and fast product changeovers.
BPI MACHINES; HI-TECH AUTOMATION; ALFA CONAIR; AEC; COLORTRONIC INC.; MAGUIRE
AUTO MACHINERY INDUSTRIES INC.; DRI-AIR INDUSTRIES INC.

USA TECNOMAGNETE SPA

Accession no.763844 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.753295
Item 29
Injection Molding
8, No.2, Feb.2000, p.99 Item 32
JEWEL BOX AUTOMATION FOR SPEED Plastiques Flash
No.312, June/July 1999, p.88-90
Tri-Tec Industries relies on automation for fast, efficient French
production of CD jewel boxes. The company recently DRIVES: BRUSHLESS, ASYNCHRONOUS AND
installed six cells of integrated product handling, EVEN LINEAR
assembling and stacking automation from Gima Advanced
Technology. Tri-Tec moulds its jewel boxes on 300-ton Industrial robots produced by Sytrama of Italy for use in
presses, mostly custom-built Engels, running 4+4 stack plastics injection moulding are examined, and
moulds. Virtually everything in the Tri-Tec plant, developments in robots with linear electric drive motors
including automation and moulding machines, is are described. Turnover and employment figures are
customised. presented for the Company.
GIMA ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY INC.; TRI-TEC SYTRAMA SRL; DEMETER PLASTIQUES;
INDUSTRIES LTD. STERLING CORP.; NETSTAL AG; BMB SPA; BM-
NORTH AMERICA BIRAGHI SPA; OIMA SPA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
Accession no.761533
ITALY; SWITZERLAND; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.752747
Item 30
Plastics Technology
45, No.12, Dec.1999, p.48-52 Item 33
MOLDERS GUIDE TO DO-IT-YOURSELF Plastiques Flash
ROBOT TOOLING No.312, June/July 1999, p.84-6
Edited by: Naitove M H French
CONQUERING INJECTION MOULDING
The design of do-it-yourself end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT
for injection moulding robot applications is discussed.
Information needed for the successful design is A survey is made of developments by Wittmann in
considered, and includes robot data, moulding machine ancillary equipment for use in plastics injection moulding,
data, mould data, part data, moulding cycle time, and plant including industrial robots, dryers and temperature control
data. Other factors affecting part removal and thus systems. Turnover and employment figures are presented
influencing equipment selection and EOAT engineering for the Group.
are examined, and include grip selection. WITTMANN KUNSTSTOFFGERAETE GMBH;
USA WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; CRAMER-
TROCHNERBAU; WITTMANN-KUEFFNER;
Accession no.760288
KUEFFNER TECHNOLOGIE; COLORTRONIC
ROBOT SYSTEMS; MHT; KRAUSS-MAFFEI AG;
Item 31 ALBORA
Italian Technology AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
No.3, Oct.1999, p.190 FRANCE; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE; WORLD
QUICK MOULD CHANGE Accession no.752746
Quad-Press magnetic modules are the standard for
numerous machine manufacturers and are already Item 34
employed by a large numbers of advanced end-users who Plast 21
have finally solved the problem of locking moulds, of No.81, May 1999, p.50-1
any shape and size, on injection presses of any type and Spanish
dimension. The quadsystem patent developed by LATEST PLASTICS PROCESSING
Tecnomagnete has made it possible to design a permanent TECHNOLOGIES
electromagnetic circuit with square polarity capable of A review is presented of plastics processing machinery
generating a great force of attraction, constant in time, and ancillary equipment supplied by Cerlosan of Spain,
with small space requirements. The system ensures fully including injection moulding machines (Demag
operating safety because it requires no electric power Ergotech), industrial robots (Wittmann), hot runner
during the working phase and therefore is unaffected by systems (Fast Heat), temperature control equipment
any power failures. Details are given. (Multiheat) and cooling systems (Equifab).

CERLOSAN SL; DEMAG ERGOTECH; Item 38

MULTIHEAT SL; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; European Plastics News
FAST HEAT INC.; EQUIFAB SL 26, No.8, Sept.1999, p.33
AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ARTICULATE ARGUMENTS
GERMANY; SPAIN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE Vink D
Accession no.752716
MHZ Hachtel is exploiting the flexibility of a multi-axis
articulated robot in the production of high-volume curtain
Item 35 rail fittings at its Niederstetten factory. Curtain rails are
Patent Number: EP 950496 A2 19991020 produced by extruding PVC over a wooden core, while
ROBOTIC REMOVAL FROM MOULD OF corner fittings are made on some of the 20 injection
INJECTION MOULDED PRODUCTS moulding machines. MHZ has introduced an RV16
Brown P P; Sorensen J O articulated robot from Reis alongside a Demag D325 NC
Universal Ventures 450 injection moulding machine. The robot removes parts
The mould cavity and core part are separated in a generally from the four-cavity mould and positions them for
horizontal direction, the product being retained in the mechanical assembly of the top and bottom parts. The
cavity upon separation of the cavity from the core part. A same robot transfers the assembled parts to a channel
robotic arm, which includes a product receiver, removes system for packing.
the retained product from the cavity by means of the MHZ HACHTEL
product receiver upon separation of the cavity from the EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
core part. The product receiver is adapted for attracting
an interior portion of the product onto the receiver. Accession no.745252
CAYMAN ISLANDS
Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres
Item 36 51, No.2, March 1999, p.24-7
Plast 21 French
No.80, April 1999, p.61-2 ROBOTS AND PLASTICS PROCESSING IN
Spanish PERFECT HARMONY
INJECTION MOULDING: MOULDING THE Guilhem J
FUTURE Industrial robots and manipulators produced by a number
Technical developments in processes, machinery, control of companies for use in plastics injection moulding are
equipment and automation systems for plastics injection reviewed.
moulding are reviewed. ATM AUTOMATION LTD.; PILOT INDUSTRIES;
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; VARMIPIC;
WESTERN EUROPE KRYPTON ELECTRONIC; MASSA M.,SPA; SEPRO
Accession no.745803 ROBOTIQUE; CHAVERIAT SA; REIS ROBOTICS;
BATTENFELD GMBH; ABB ROBOTICS; ABB
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION; STAUBLI; TROAX;
Item 37
SYTRAMA SRL; TCP; MATRELEC
European Plastics News EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
26, No.8, Sept.1999, p.34 GERMANY; ITALY; SCANDINAVIA; SPAIN; SWEDEN; UK;
AUTOMATION FOR THE ASTRA WESTERN EUROPE
Vink D Accession no.740636
Automotive mouldings account for 98% of the parts
produced by Victor Reinz Thermoplast in Idstein, Item 40
Germany. The most highly automated part of the plant is Patent Number: US 5804224 A 19980908
a manufacturing cell dedicated to the Opel Astra C-pillar DRIVING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRICALLY-
trim. It is based on two Engel 800 tonne ES 4550 Duo OPERATED INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE
injection moulding machines. Engel also supplied the Inaba Y; Ishikawa Y; Ito S; Nishimura K
entire handling system which features four ERC series Fanuc Ltd.
robots, two models for part removal and two units for
An electric motor having a rotor shaft on which a ball
assembly operations. The 20% talc-filled PP parts are
screw is integrally formed is mounted on one of a cross-
moulded in two-cavity tools.
head and a rear platen of a clamping mechanism, while a
VICTOR REINZ THERMOPLAST ball nut threadedly engaged with the rotor shaft is fixed
WESTERN EUROPE to the other of the cross-head and the rear platen to
constitute driving apparatus for linearly moving the cross-
Accession no.745253

head. As the ball screw is integrally formed on rotor shaft, An examination is made of the use of Sepro industrial
any connector for connecting these two members is robots by Panasonic for the automation of injection
unnecessary. As the ball screw is directly rotated by the moulding operations in its plant in Girona, Spain, for the
motor positioned coaxially with the ball screw, any manufacture of plastics vacuum cleaner components.
bearing for bearing a radial force acts on the ball screw PANASONIC; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; SEPRO
and rotor shaft. The apparatus may also be applied to an ROBOTICA
ejection mechanism, an injection mechanism and a nozzle EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
touch mechanism of the electrically-operated injection SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
moulding machine. Accession no.736313
JAPAN
Plast 21
Item 41 Nos.77/8, Jan./Feb.1999, p.34-6
Kunststoffe Plast Europe Spanish
89, No.5, 1999, p.11. MODEST GROWTH IN THE WORLD ROBOTS
AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING MARKET
Hoffmann F; Lind M Trends in the world market for industrial robots are
Reis Robotics; Flexible Automation examined, and a survey is made of robots and manipulators
An example is described of the use of automation in the manufactured by a number of companies for use in plastics
automotive industry where different materials including injection moulding.
plastics are used. Scherer & Trier is a supplier of body INTERNATIONAL ROBOTICS FEDERATION;
side mouldings and interior panels, and its use of ROEGELE H.,SA; ENGEL
articulating-arm robots is described, together with details AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; ENGEL;
of the production of ready-to-install automotive body side LUISO SL; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION;
mouldings in a robotic cell. This latter comprises an WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; WITTMANN
injection moulding machine, one linear and two ROBOT SYSTEM SL; CENTROTECNICA; DR.BOY
articulating-arm robots, as well as an assembly station GMBH; REIS ROBOTICS; REIS ROBOTICS
for the fasteners. (Translated from Kunststoffe 89 (1999) ESPANA SL; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; SEPRO
5, pp.54-6 ROBOTICA
SCHERER & TRIER FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE;
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; WORLD
WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.736312
Accession no.739922
Item 45
Item 42 Plastverarbeiter
Injection Molding 48, No.5 May 1997, p.52-3
7, No.5, Suppl., May 1999, p.26-7 German
ROBOTS FOR PRESS-SIDE HANDLING EXACT RATES OF SUPPLY
Witzler S
In injection moulding plants the use of weighing scales
This article presents the purchasing basics to be for pallets is a new approach to measuring products to be
considered when investing in robots for injection dispatched. As a specialist for complex thermoplastic
moulding press-side handling. It looks at: part quality, injection moulded parts such as electrical components,
productivity, labour utilisation, worker safety, profitability car and washing machine shock absorbers and very
improvements, the part and the mould, the machine, complex parts for toys, the firm of Marcus Birner
programming, cycle time, robot payloads, rules of thumb, Kunststofftechnik from Thueringen is numbered amongst
and selecting a robot drive based on application. the innovative businesses in plastics processing emerging
USA in the unified Germany. The business is expanding and
Accession no.737679 also increasing with it are demands on the management
of quality. For the goods dispatching procedures this firm
Item 43 has installed a weighing system by Mettler Toledo, whose
Plast 21 core operation includes weighing scales for pallets.
Nos.77/8, Jan./Feb.1999, p.38-9 MARCUS BIRNER KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK;
Spanish METTLER TOLEDO
INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY IN INJECTION EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
WESTERN EUROPE
MOULDING
Accession no.734572

Item 46 CASE FOR AUTOMATION IN INJECTION

British Plastics and Rubber MOULDING
March 1999, p.28-9
The advantages of automating the injection moulding
WHEN CONVEYORS ARE IN THE WAY, PUT
process for the production of insert moulded parts are
THEM UP IN THE AIR
discussed. An example of a production cell designed and
This article focuses on a three-injection moulding machine built by Battenfeld Automation is presented. A production
automation cell installed by Legrand Electric of the UK, system for an automotive plug housing was required to
which conveys mouldings 2.5 meters into the air, to produce 10,000 parts per day. Production of the ABS
prevent restrictions on access to the fire doors in the housings involved two overmoulding systems in
companys Milton Keynes factory. The cell was installed sequence.
by ATM Automation over a three month period and began BATTENFELD AG
operating in January 1999. Full details are given. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
ATM AUTOMATION; LEGRAND ELECTRIC; WESTERN EUROPE
BILLION Accession no.731094
WESTERN EUROPE Item 50
Accession no.733404 Injection Molding
7, No.4, April 1999, p.161
Item 47 NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASE - LOW-COST
European Rubber Journal DEDICATED LOADERS CONVEY VIRGIN
181, No.6, June 1999, p.35-7 MATERIALS EFFECTIVELY
INJECTION MOULDING: OPERATORS ROLE This short article highlights the new SL Series of self-
WILL CHANGE vacuum loaders with dedicated loading control, from
Shaw D Conair of the USA. Brief details of the new loaders
LWB Steinl has adopted an advanced networking features are provided.
philosophy for its range of injection moulding machines. CONAIR
The companys system, Gipnet 2000, allows almost any USA
machine controlled by a programmable logic controller Accession no.729349
to be connected to the network and accept two-way
communications. The company claims the injection Item 51
moulding business is changing, so that a single operator Modern Plastics Encyclopedia
will be responsible for three or four smaller machines, all 75, No.12, 1998, p.E33
controlled through a networked computer. ROBOTS, PROVEN VALUE-ADDERS, BOOST
LWB STEINL GMBH PARTS-HANDLING PRODUCTIVITY
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; Mallon J M
WESTERN EUROPE Yushin America Inc.
Accession no.732543 Robots can increase the competitiveness of injection
moulding processors by automating labour-intensive parts
Item 48 handling. Sprue pickers represent the entry level of
Plast 21 automation. Traverse or top-entry robots remove parts
Special Issue, Oct.1998, p.139-41 from moulds and can perform simple secondary functions
Spanish such as degating or cap-closing. In phase three of
REDUCED COSTS THROUGH WITTMANN automation, robots remove parts and perform multiple
PRECISION secondary processes, such as inspection, decorating,
machining, assembly and packaging.
An examination is made of the activities of Wittmann
USA
Robot Systems in the manufacture of industrial robots,
manipulators and associated safety devices for use in Accession no.728693
plastics injection moulding.
WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS Item 52
AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE Plastiques Flash
No.309, Sept.1998, p.86-8
Accession no.732461
French
ENERPAC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS REPLACES
Item 49 HOURS WITH MINUTES
British Plastics and Rubber
April 1999, p.35-6 A survey is made of mould changing and other systems
produced by Enerpac Automation Systems for the

automation of plastics injection moulding. Turnover Item 56

figures are presented for Enerpac and its parent company, Molding Systems
Applied Power. 57, No.4, April 1999, p.48-9
ENERPAC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS; APPLIED ROBOT IMPROVES WORKER SAFETY,
POWER INC.; NORMAND R.; MONTANA; ENGEL PRODUCTIVITY
Consolidated Metco recently began injection moulding a
FRANCE; NETHERLANDS; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
truck headliner using polycarbonate. The company found
Accession no.726282 it could not eject the large, thin-walled cosmetic part
without sacrificing surface quality and dimensional
Item 53 integrity. An operator had to crawl between the platens
Plastiques Flash of the 1950-ton press and manually remove the part. Con-
No.309, Sept.1998, p.82-5 Met decided to automate the ejection process and installed
French a servo-drive traverse robot. Besides improving operator
AUTOMATION AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR safety, the robot also helped trim about 25 sec from the
INNOVATION previous 180-sec moulding cycle.
The range of industrial robots and manipulators CONSOLIDATED METCO INC.
USA
manufactured by Engel Automatisierungstechnik for use
in plastics injection moulding is examined. Details are Accession no.726033
given of a new plant opened at Dietach, Austria, which
will double the Companys production capacity, and Item 57
turnover and employment figures are presented. Injection Molding
ENGEL AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK GMBH; 7, No.3, March 1999, p.100/4
ENGEL USING CAD TO OPTIMIZE MOLDING FLOOR
AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE LAYOUT
Accession no.726281 Neilley R
The use of computer aided design systems for the planning
Item 54 of a factory layout is discussed with reference to the
Plast 21 experiences of Brightwell Dispensers. The companys in-
No.74, Sept.1998, p.49-52 house injection moulding facility had outgrown is present
Spanish plant, and a new facility was chosen for Ferryfield
COST SAVING IN DRYING AND FEEDING Moldings near to Brightwells main plant. Due to
PROCESSES pressures of time, the company turned to Sandretto and
Roch H its newly developed computer-based factory planning
Motan GmbH system. Details are given of the new layout and the
considerations made to ensure its successful operation.
Techniques for reducing production costs and improving
product quality in plastics injection moulding through SANDRETTO (UK) LTD.; BRIGHTWELL
automation and production organisation in the drying, DISPENSERS; FERRYFIELD MOLDINGS
feeding, colouring and recycling processes are discussed. WESTERN EUROPE
WESTERN EUROPE Accession no.723175
Accession no.726272
Item 58
Plast 21
Item 55
Nos.72/3, June/July 1998, p.70-1
Plast 21
Spanish
No.74, Sept.1998, p.36-7
SAFETY AND PROTECTION IN
Spanish
MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES
ENGEL PRESENTS SOLUTIONS FOR
Wittmann W
INJECTION MOULDING
Wittmann Kunststoffgeraete GmbH
Developments by Engel in machinery, industrial robots
Safety measures applicable to manipulators and industrial
and computerised quality control systems for injection
robots in the plastics injection moulding industry are
moulding are reviewed.
discussed. West European and US legislation relating to
ENGEL; ROEGELE H.,SA; CAPP-PLAST SRL accident prevention is reviewed.
ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE AUSTRIA; USA; WESTERN EUROPE; WESTERN EUROPE-
GENERAL
Accession no.726270
Accession no.721730

Item 59 Item 62
Patent Number: EP 903213 A2 19990324 Macplas International
REPOSITIONING OF ARTICLES BETWEEN Nov. 1998, p.46-8
DIFFERENT POSITIONS WITHIN AN HANDLING EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOMATED
INTERMITTENTLY ACCESSIBLE SPACE MOULDING
Sorensen J O; Brown P P
The application of robots and handling devices to injection
Universal Ventures
moulding machines is discussed with particular reference
Methods are described for repositioning articles, such as to differences in attitude towards automated handling
components of an injection moulded multicomponent equipment between European and Japanese and US
product, within a space, such as the space between mould moulders. The European moulders are reported to consider
parts that is accessible for repositioning only during a series the robot not as an ancillary device for the press, but as
of periods, such as open-mould periods, that are separated dedicated equipment designed especially for a particular
by intervals of less accessibility for repositioning, such as part, and not for the whole production during the press
closed mould intervals. The articles may be moved with a life. This trend, however, is claimed to be reversing, and
robot arm. For injection moulding with a stack mould, an details are given of Italian moulders using automated
article is repositioned from a first mould cavity in a first handling equipment.
space in a first portion of the stack mould to a second mould EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
cavity position in a second space in a second portion of the WESTERN EUROPE
stack mould by moving the article from a first position to Accession no.720546
outside of the first and second spaces during a period when
the first space is accessible and the second space is
Item 63
inaccessible and moving the article from outside of the
Plastverarbeiter
spaces to a second position when the second space is
48, No.1, Jan.1997, p.51
accessible and the first space is inaccessible.
German
CAYMAN ISLANDS
WITHDRAW PARTS OF A MOULD MORE
Accession no.721596 QUICKLY
Husky Injection Moulding Systems have developed an
Item 60 additional function called Absolute Part Tracking as a new
Kunststoffberater option for robots in the Moduline Series operating from
39, No.9, Sept.1994, p.17-20 above, which is examined and reviewed here in detail
German with diagrams. This means that the robot follows the
FLEXIBLE SERVO DRIVE TECHNOLOGY movement of the closing unit and can begin retracting
Tschopp J the moulded article even before the mould has completely
Hauser Elektronik GmbH opened. That means the time cycle can be reduced by up
The high-speed handling robot from the Josef Neureder to ten percent.
firm SERVAX-M features dynamic and exact positioning. HUSKY INJECTION MOULDING SYSTEMS
It can be used for feed and removal functions in injection EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
moulding, where short cycle times, reliability and high LUXEMBOURG; WESTERN EUROPE; WORLD
degree of reproducibility. Accession no.718622
JOSEF NEUREDER GMBH
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; Item 64
WESTERN EUROPE
Kunststoff Journal
Accession no.721524 29, No.1, Feb.1995, p.18-19
German
Item 61 QUICK TO GRASP
Molding Systems
A market survey is presented of handling equipment
57, No.2, Feb.1999, p.16-21
(mainly from Germany) for insertion of materials and
ROBOTS SWING INTO ACTION
removal of mouldings from injection moulding machines.
Tolinski M
The tendency towards modular additions of automatic
One way to maintain manufacturing in the US is to increase handling devices to injection moulding machines is noted.
the productivity of the existing labour force. Robotics is one Articles from this journal can be requested for translation
potential solution to make productivity gains in the injection by subscribers to the Rapra produced International
moulding industry. A review of robots available for each Polymer Science and Technology.
different level of moulding automation is presented. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.721099 Accession no.717070

Item 65 Snyder M R
Plast 21
Key innovations in robotics for injection moulding include
No.70, April 1998, p.47/55
virtual-reality programming and a high-speed robot with a
Spanish
linear motor. AEC Automation Engineering has introduced
MANIPULATORS AND ROBOTS
the AE Series of servo drive robots for machines ranging
Applications of industrial robots and manipulators in from 50 to 6000 tonnes. Sepros three-axis CNC robot is
plastics injection moulding are examined, and for use with machines as small as 25 tonnes. SAS
developments by a number of robot and injection Automation has debuted in the gate-cutting robotics field.
moulding machine manufacturers are reviewed. WORLD
GETECHA; DIAPAM INDUSTRIAL SA; SEPRO Accession no.714494
ROBOTICA; WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS;
SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; HUSKY INJECTION
Item 69
MOULDING SYSTEMS LTD.; MANNESMANN
Plastics in Canada
DEMAG KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK; PIOVAN + STAR
Oct/Nov.1998, p.15-6
AUTOMATION; IROBI; MTP SL
AUTOMATION: UNDERSTANDING ROBOTS
AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN
UNION; FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; SPAIN; WESTERN The use of robots in the moulding industry is examined
EUROPE
and trends are discussed with respect to product selection
Accession no.715803 and the design of end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT). According
to Wittmann Robot & Automation Systems, three-axis
Item 66 electric robots are almost a baseline in any new plastics
Plast 21 automation plant, while CNC robots allow a setup of
No.70, April 1998, p.33-4 positions from the floor, as well as quick reference for
Spanish mould changeovers. The importance of training is
PRODUCT AND PROCESS QUALITY emphasised.
The plastics injection moulding activities of Plasticos El WITTMANN ROBOT & AUTOMATION SYSTEMS
Gorbea of Spain are examined, and the Companys use INC.
USA
of industrial robots is discussed. Employment figures and
other company details are presented. Accession no.711734
PLASTICOS EL GORBEA; SEPRO ROBOTICA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; Item 70
WESTERN EUROPE Patent Number: US 5753280 A 19980519
Accession no.715800 COMPACT AND TORQUE FREE SIDE ENTRY
TROLLEY ROBOT
Item 67 Coxhead B F
Injection Molding Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
7, No.2, Feb.1999, p.133 A side entry robot for removing moulded articles from
CNC ROBOTIC DEGATERS ARE FLOOR OR mould halves of a moulding machine of the present
BEAM MOUNTABLE invention and an associated process and moulding machine
SAS Automation has developed two new CNC are disclosed. The robot includes a device for engaging the
programmable degater systems. Robocut, which is floor article; a trolley for supporting and carrying the device for
mounted, receives the moulded part in its own fixture from engaging into and out of the mould halves; a mechanism
the manipulator on the robot and automatically moves for guiding the trolley from outside the mould halves to a
the sprue with parts to preprogrammed multiple gate position between the mould halves, wherein the mechanism
locations for degating. The Aeroboy is directly mounted for guiding is stationarily fixed between the mould halves
on the robot beam manipulator. and wherein the mechanism for guiding extends from
outside the mould halves to between the mould halves;
SAS AUTOMATION and a device for moving the trolley along the mechanism
USA
for guiding to a position between the mould halves and to
Accession no.715673 a position outside of the mould halves.
CANADA
Item 68 Accession no.710699
Modern Plastics International
29, No.2, Feb.1999, p.59-61
VIRTUAL-REALITY PROGRAMMING, LINEAR Item 71
MOTORS SPUR ROBOTICS Revue Generale des Caoutchoucs et Plastiques
No.764, Dec.1997, p.56-61

French EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;

ROBOTS: MAKING MORE WITHOUT WESTERN EUROPE
SPENDING MORE Accession no.709854
Delannoy G
Developments in industrial robots and manipulators for Item 74
use in plastics and rubber injection moulding are Kunststoffe Plast Europe
reviewed. The activities of a number of companies 84, No.10, Oct.1994, p.57-8
involved in the manufacture of robots are examined, with CYCLIC HANDLING
particular reference to Sepro Robotique for which The use is described of automated handling processes used
turnover and employment figures are presented. in the production of digital compact cassettes, with the
SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; CONAIR SEPRO; ALBORA; importance of the interface between the injection mould
WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; CHAVERIAT SA; and the palletising station being emphasised. The
SYTRAMA SRL; MARTIPLAST; GUIGNARD individual stages of withdrawal, transfer, assembly, parts
AUTOMATISATION; APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS; conveyance and palletising are carried out by only one
BATTENFELD FRANCE SARL; INDEX (PLASTIC handling gantry with a horizontal robot.
SYSTEMS) LTD.; FAIRWAY; HARMO ROBOTS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
LTD.; PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; STAR SEIKI WESTERN EUROPE
CO.LTD. Accession no.709837
FRANCE; ITALY; JAPAN; TAIWAN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Kunststoffe Plast Europe
84, No.10, Oct.1994, p.54/7
Item 72 FOLDING-ARM ROBOT ASSEMBLES
Kunststoffe Plast Europe COMPONENTS ON THE INJECTION
85, No.8, Aug.1995, p.47-8 MOULDING MACHINE
AUTOMATED PARTS HANDLING Kroth E
Zingel H Maschinenfabrik Reis GmbH & Co.
Robotec Consulting AG
The automation of injection moulding machines with 6-
The functions and capabilities are described of the Moro axis folding-arm robots is discussed with reference to the
universal, modular robot system which has been developed direct finishing of injection mouldings. The flexibility of
on the basis of the customary and constantly occurring tasks the RV6 industrial robot makes it possible to carry out
in the environment of the injection moulding machine. This tasks such as deflashing, marking, assembly, and testing
particular innovative robot deployment strategy, either within the cycle time, and to carry out a simple changeover
along the length of the machine or at right angles to it, has during a product change.
opened up an additional possibility which permits more EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
latitude during planning, it is claimed. The variable working WESTERN EUROPE
area of the modular robot means it can be readily re-oriented Accession no.709836
for different tasks.
SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
Item 76
Accession no.710002
Plast 21
Nos.67/8, Jan./Feb.1998, p.31-4
Item 73 Spanish
Kunststoffe Plast Europe FUTURE TRENDS IN THE INJECTION
85, No.9, Sept.1995, p.45-6 MOULDING MACHINE
LINKED BY ROBOTS Novella A
Wenzel M Taller de Inyeccion de la Industria del Plastico
Reiss Robotics
Trends in plastics injection moulding machines are
The linking by a robot of two injection moulding machines examined, with particular reference to electric presses,
is demonstrated to enable reproducible and reliable two- clamping units, control systems and ancillary equipment.
stage injection moulding to be achieved for the production EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
of automotive components such as fascia panels for WESTERN EUROPE
automotive heating and air conditioning units. The Accession no.706061
production system which is described consists of a film
magazine, two 1000 kN injection moulding machines and
Item 77
a delivery system. These are connected by a linear robot
with an axis 1 of 6000 mm stroke.

85, No.3, March 1995, p.20-1 OFFICINE MECCANICHE; HEKUMA; GOSEWEHR

REMOVAL, FINISHING AND ASSEMBLY GMBH; REIS ROBOTICS; STAUBLI UNIMATION
Wenzel M LTD.; REMAK; UNIROBOT; WITTMANN ROBOT
Reis Robotics SYSTEMS
AUSTRIA; BELGIUM; DENMARK; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY;
The use of swan-neck robots at Braun Corp.s EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; ITALY; SCANDINAVIA;
Marktheidenfeld factory is discussed. They are not only SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
used for parts removal from the injection moulding Accession no.702511
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 Item 80
productivity, and reduction in production costs. The Industria della Gomma
automated manufacture of an espresso machine and a food 41, No.8, Oct.1997, p.37-8
processor is described. Italian
AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION UNIT FOR
BRAUN CORP. RUBBER-METAL ARTICLES
WESTERN EUROPE Coscia M
Rutil Srl
Accession no.703669
The production of an automotive gasket using machinery
developed by Rutil is described. The assembly consists
Item 78
of a glass fibre-reinforced polyamide base over which is
moulded a silicone rubber gasket, and also incorporates
49, No.8, Nov.1997, p.82-5
a number of metal reinforcement washers. The production
French
unit comprises a pair of C-frame injection presses, one
AUTOMATION: CONTINUED INTEGRATION
for moulding the base and the other for overmoulding
Gailliez E
the gasket, with rotating tables for handling the parts, a
Developments in industrial robots and manipulators for station for loading the metal washers into the mould, and
use in plastics injection moulding are reviewed, and an industrial robot for checking the quality of the gaskets
systems produced by a number of companies are before unloading.
described. The activities of Sepro Robotique of France in EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
the manufacture of robots are examined, and turnover and WESTERN EUROPE
employment figures are presented for the Company. Accession no.702481
SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; CHAVERIAT-AUROCH;
WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; APEX ROBOT Item 81
SYSTEMS; SYTRAMA; ALBORA; HARMO Patent Number: US 5750161 A 19980512
ROBOTS LTD.; HEKUMA; CONAIR INC.; PIOVAN QUICK CHANGE MOULD TOOLING
+ STAR AUTOMATION; ARBURG Schock R J; Brun C J
MASCHINENFABRIK; ENGEL; BATTENFELD Electric Form Inc.
GMBH; STAUBLI; FANUC; ABB AUTOMATION
AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; A mould core assembly for removable installation in a
FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; JAPAN; SCANDINAVIA; moulding machine includes a first lock element attached
SWEDEN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
to a core and a second lock element movably attached to
Accession no.702515 a core retainer. The second lock element is movable
between a locked position fitted in locking connection
Item 79 with the first lock element and an unlocked position
Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri separated from the first lock element. A slip ring surrounds
Nos.11/12, Nov./Dec.1997, p.742-50 the first lock element of the core, engaging and holding
Italian the second lock element in its locked position. A spring
IN SEARCH OF LOST PRODUCTIVITY is connected between the core retainer and the slip ring,
Baucia G with the spring biased to oppose movement of the slip
ring away from its locked position so that the core is
A survey is made of developments by a number of normally held in its locked position in the core retainer
companies in industrial robots and other automation USA
systems for use in plastics injection moulding.
Accession no.702267
BATTENFELD GMBH; SIEMENS AG; CROMA
SRL; MANNESMANN DEMAG
KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK; SOCO SYSTEM; DAL Item 82
MASCHIO; CAMPETELLA ROBOTIC CENTER; Molding Systems
IROBI SISTEMI; MORETTO; COLOMBO 56, No.7, Sept.1998, p.30-4

JUSTIFY YOUR AUTOMATION PROJECT Sepro in the automation of the production processes is
Schmitz J examined.
AEC/Application Automation VALEO ILUMINACION/SENALIZACION SA;
The benefits of robot automation are examined by VALEO SA; SEPRO ROBOTICA
showing how to compare the costs of running an injection EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
moulding process without a robot with the costs for the SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
same process automated with a robot. In general, robots Accession no.695275
result in higher productivity, higher quality products and
a safer workplace. Sprue pickers, pneumatic robots and
Item 86
motor-driven robots are discussed.
Plast 21
USA
No.62, June/July 1997, p.38-9
Accession no.700082 Spanish
AUTOMATION IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY
Item 83 The use by Braun of industrial robots manufactured by
Kunststoffe Plast Europe Reis in its plastics injection moulding operations for the
88, No.9, Sept.1998, p.25-6,1425/30 manufacture of domestic appliances is described.
German; English Examples are also presented of applications of robots in
LINEAR AND ARTICULATED ROBOTS. A the service industries.
COMPARISON OF VARIOUS KINEMATICS AND
CONCEPTS BRAUN AG; BRAUN ESPANOLA; LUFTHANSA
Wenzel M AG; REIS ROBOTICS
Reis Robotics
SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
The use of different kinematics either alone or, particularly Accession no.695274
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 Item 87
making robots easier to operate and to be opening up a European Plastics News
technology that provides more extensive functionality. 25, No.8, Sept.1998, p.40-2
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; SMART ROBOTS
WESTERN EUROPE Vink D
Accession no.699035 Dynamit Nobel has taken a novel approach to automating
the production of plastics body panels for the MCC Smart
Item 84 car. The factory at the MCC site in Hambach, France, has
Plast 21 multi-axial robots mounted directly on the top of the fixed
No.62, June/July 1997, p.86-7 platens of the injection moulding machine. As well as
Spanish part removal, articulated multi-axial robots can also be
WITTMANNS W420 ROBOT/MANIPULATOR used to supply inserts to the mould and apply mould
release agent. They can remove flash with a ceramic blade
Applications of the Wittmann W420 industrial robot/
and submit parts to flame treatment.
manipulator in plastics injection moulding are examined,
and other robots in the Companys range are briefly DYNAMIT NOBEL
described. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
WESTERN EUROPE
AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE Accession no.692130
Accession no.695283
Item 88
Item 85 Journal of Injection Molding Technology
Plast 21 2, No.2, June 1998, p.95-101
No.62, June/July 1997, p.40-1 USE OF SERVO ROBOTS FOR INJECTION
Spanish MOLDING APPLICATIONS
PLASTICS EXTERNAL LENSES FOR VEHICLE Mallon J M
LIGHTS Yushin America Inc.
Injection moulding and coating processes used by Valeo The use of robots, in which all primary axes of motion
Iluminacion/Senalizacion of Spain in the manufacture of are driven by digital, AC servo motors, in injection
polycarbonate external lenses for vehicle lights are moulding applications is described and their functional
described. The use of industrial robots manufactured by advantages over robots that employ other drive

mechanisms are discussed. The economic benefits of Item 91

servo robots are considered, using a hypothetical Plastics and Rubber Weekly
application as a model. 6 refs. No.1744, 10th July 1998, p.7
USA RPC PILOTS HIGH SPEED SYSTEM
Accession no.691457 PCE Automation has developed an ultra fast side-entry
robot system, the Model 200 Racer, which can unload
Item 89 most injection moulded components faster than free-fall
Plastics Technology demoulding. RPC Containers wanted an automated
44, No.7, July 1998, p.39 unloading system which maintained orientation, but which
PIGGY BACK ROBOT HANDLES TWO- would not extend the cycle. A PCE Racer robot system
COLOUR PARTS unloading paint-style containers has been running on a
Ogando J Billion injection moulding machine at RPCs plant at
Simply pulling parts off the press barely begins to tap the Oakham for around six months.
capabilities of current injection moulding robots. Often the PCE AUTOMATION; RPC CONTAINERS LTD.
really big savings come from automating labour-intensive EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
secondary operations. This is what happened at Calsonic WESTERN EUROPE
North America, which recently adopted a multi-task robotic Accession no.688383
system for its two-component moulding operation.
Calsonics robotic system, which comes from Conair,
revolves around a Sepro servo robot with a sprue picker Item 92
mounted on its main beam. This hybrid robot Plastics and Rubber Weekly
simultaneously handles the sprue removal chores and takes No.1744, 10th July 1998, p.7
away the finished parts. The system also includes a variety ECONOMICS DRIVE ROBOT GROWTH
of custom automation equipment for parts collection and The strong pound is one of the factors behind the UKs
secondary operations. Calsonic, which makes automotive growing interest in manufacturing automation as plastics
air conditioners, recently began two-component moulding processors struggle to maintain competitiveness against
to produce control buttons for the units. The two-shot rivals in continental Europe and further afield. Processors
process typically produces white polycarbonate lettering at all levels are demanding more of their automation,
overmoulded with black ABS. Calsonic moulds the parts whether that means upgrading from pneumatic to servo
in a two-barrel 120-ton Nissei press with a rotating platen. drive robots or incorporating downstream functions
Four- and six-cavity family tools produce sets of different beyond the regular pick-and-place duties.
buttons. In Japan, where the company moulds similar two-
colour buttons, Calsonic needs two operators to handle parts
WESTERN EUROPE
removal, degating, and other secondary operations. In the
USA, the company does not have any one operator assigned Accession no.688382
to the line; details are given.
CALSONIC NORTH AMERICA Item 93
USA Plast 21
Accession no.690473 No.60, April 1997, p.64-5
Spanish
Item 90 ST SERIES MODULAR, HIGH EFFICIENCY
Plastics and Rubber Weekly ROBOTS
No.1744, 10th July 1998, p.9 Technical features and applications in plastics injection
ATM AUTOMATES PC CHASSIS LINE moulding are examined for the ST Series of industrial
ATM Automation has installed an automated production robots manufactured by Apex Robot Systems and supplied
cell at Rosti which has enabled the number of operators in Spain by Equiper.
required for the assembly and inspection of a 3COM APEX ROBOT SYSTEMS; EQUIPER SL
computer chassis to be reduced from five to two, while at EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
the same time improving quality of output. The chassis WESTERN EUROPE
parts are produced on a Sandretto moulding machine in a Accession no.686281
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. Item 94
ATM AUTOMATION LTD. Plastics News International
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; May 1998, p.10
WESTERN EUROPE WHY USE SERVO-ROBOTS?
Accession no.688384 McKinlay D

Southstar Machinery Item 98

Molding Systems
It is explained that servo-robots are no longer the domain
56, No.4, April 1998, p.32-3
of long-run production, but are now developed and
FAST-FORWARD: AUTOMATED REMOVAL &
flexible enough to offer substantial benefits to all injection
ASSEMBLY OF CASSETTE CASES
moulders - flexibility being a must for the Australian and
New Zealand environment of short-run production. Nypro Alabama has moulded and assembled over 24
AUSTRALIA; NEW ZEALAND million clear cassette cases in the last two years, with
Accession no.684110 just one attendant on duty. Two dedicated injection
machines placed side-by-side mould the components, one
Item 95 moulds the case bases, while the other moulds the covers.
Plastiques Flash Robots demould the PS parts and hand them off to an
No.296, March 1997, p.61-3 automated work cell, where the bases and covers are
French assembled at a rate of six cases every nine seconds. All
ENERPAC: SOLUTIONS FOR SPEEDING UP this automation is integrated as one system from Yushin
PRODUCTION CHANGES America.
NYPRO ALABAMA INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC.
A survey is made of quick mould changing and other USA
automation systems supplied by Enerpac for use in the
Accession no.680059
plastics injection moulding industry.
ENERPAC AUTOMATION SYSTEMS; MONTANA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; Item 99
NETHERLANDS; USA; WESTERN EUROPE Modern Plastics International
Accession no.682341 28, No.4, April 1998, p.81-3
WITH AUTOMATION OPTIONS COMES
Item 96 MONEY IN THE BANK FOR MOULDERS
Plastics Engineering Snyder M R
54, No.5, May 1998, p.37-40 Current market trends in robotics include completely
HOW TO PLAN A ROBOT-BASED automated part handling systems, robots with payload
AUTOMATION CELL capabilities up to 200 or even 300lb for use with 1000-
Rodrigues J 6000 ton machines, and high speed robots for tiny parts
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. run on small machines up to about 150 tons. Hekuma
Proper planning of automated moulding depends heavily recently demonstrated a production/assembly/packaging
on the development of an early partnership between the cell for petri dishes. Robots from Battenfeld range from
supplier of automation equipment and the mould maker. sprue pickers to six-axis units that can carry payloads up
After reviewing the typical reasons for using automation, to 300lb.
this article presents a systematic approach to planning an EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
automated moulding cell. USA; WESTERN EUROPE
CANADA
Accession no.678257
Accession no.680632
Item 97 Item 100

Plastics Engineering Modern Plastics International
54, No.5, May 1998, p.24-9 28, No.4, April 1998, p.31
ROBOTICS MODULAR ROBOTIC END-OF-ARM TOOLING
Wigotsky V WINS NEW ACCEPTANCE
Snyder M R
The robotics industry in North America is now a 1.1bn US
dollars business with nearly 12,500 robots shipped in 1997. Modular approaches to robotic end-of-arm tooling are fast
It is estimated that the plastics industrys share, most notably becoming widely accepted in North America. The
for injection moulding, was probably under 100m US technology involves a gripping, suction or vacuum
dollars, with total shipments approximating 2000 units. The assembly at the end of the robot arm that transports parts
industry is said to have evolved in three phases, the entry- away from the mould. US and Canadian moulders have
phase level with pick-and-place robots, servo robots, and begun to accept tooling that is sufficiently modular or
the third phase represented by the automation cell. The adjustable to be used on multiple moulds and fine-tuned
capabilities offered by robots, together with examples of enough to maximise performance on the original mould
robotic systems available from US suppliers, are discussed. for which tooling was built.
USA NORTH AMERICA

Item 101 Item 104

Injection Molding Plast 21
6, No.4, April 1998, p.104 No.54, Sept.1996, p.62-3
CANT FIND A SUITABLE AUTOMATION Spanish
SOLUTION? WITTMANN DEVELOPS A ROBOTISED
INSTALLATION FOR YORKA
The Lightning Loader from P.T. Equipment Inc. has been
developed by employees at PRD Inc. in response to the Details are given of a robotic system developed by
need to streamline the sprue picking and recycling Wittmann and used by Yorka in the injection moulding
process. The company uses robots for sprue picking, of two-colour PMMA vehicle lights.
which drop the runners into the beside-the-press grinder, WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; YORKA SA
which feeds the Lightning Loader. This in turn, delivers EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
regrind and virgin at a preset ratio, and then blends them SPAIN; WESTERN EUROPE
in the machine hopper. Details are given of the equipment. Accession no.670818
PRD INC.
USA Item 105
Accession no.675528 Molding Systems
55, No.12, Nov./Dec.1997, p.40
ELECTRIC MACHINES MAKE LIGHTS-OUT
Item 102
MOULDING A REALITY
Injection Molding
6, No.3, March 1998, p.96/8 The eight injection presses at ABA-PGTs Vernon, CT
AUTOMATION IS A SOUND IDEA TO BOSE plant produce precision plastic gears around the clock
Kirkland C seven days a week. Only one shift of four employees
operates the machines, during the other two shifts they
Bose Corp.s captive moulding plant was designed with
run unattended. The company uses all-electric, CNC
integrated in-line automation in mind, and incorporates a
controlled Roboshot machines from Cincinnati Milacron.
high level of automation with the Wittmann servorobot Repeatability is critical for an automated process and the
control system. All the captive moulding is performed in machines use artificial intelligence to control the real-
self-contained workcells using standardised equipment. time melt pressure.
Details are given of how the use of servorobots and beside-
the-press automation of tasks like degating, pad printing, ABA-PGT INC.
USA
heat staking and boxing have improved the companys
efficiency and quality control. Accession no.669129
BOSE CORP.; WITTMANN ROBOT &
AUTOMATION SYSTEMS Item 106
USA Molding Systems
55, No.12, Nov./Dec.1997, p.28-31
Accession no.675337
AUTOMATION ADDS VALUE FOR MOULDERS
Mallon J M
Item 103 Yushin America Inc.
Injection Molding
The basic goals of automation in injection moulding
6, No.3, March 1998, p.85/8
operations are to boost productivity and generate cost
LIGHTS-OUT ALL-ELECTRIC MOLDING IN
savings. Many injection moulders have yet to take
TAIWAN
advantage of automation and may now find themselves
Kirkland C
in a catch-up position. The technology will continue to
CMC Magnetics Corp.s King Lin 2nd factory in Ping advance and moulders will seek progressively higher
Chen City, Taiwan is an example of a successful lights levels of automation to continually improve productivity
out, all-electric moulding facility that has benefitted from and bolster their competitive positions.
the involvement of suppliers of advanced moulding USA
technology and control and automation equipment from Accession no.669126
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 Item 107
packaging. Injection Molding
6, No.1, Jan.1998, p.93-4
CMC MAGNETICS CORP.
DIGITISED EYES SPOT PROBLEMS BEFORE
TAIWAN
THEY HAPPEN
Accession no.675335 Kirkland C

This comprehensive article describes the advanced digital examined. A number of processes are described, including
optical inspection systems used by Plastic Molding sequential, structural foam, gas-assisted, fusible core,
Technology Inc. on its rotary and shuttle table insert multi-material and multi-colour injection moulding,
moulding presses. The inspection systems ensure that the microinjection, insert, outsert and sandwich moulding,
tiny inserts used are properly loaded. These systems have clean room injection moulding, moulding of liquid crystal
substantially reduced the occurrence of costly mould polymers and in-mould painting and decorating processes.
damage and downtime. Cycle times have improved as EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE;
has part quality. WESTERN EUROPE
PLASTIC MOLDING TECHNOLOGY INC. Accession no.658247
USA
Injection Molding
Item 108 5, No.9, Suppl.Sept.1997, p.28/30
Plast 21 SPEED DEMONS, NEW CONTROLLERS
No.51, April 1996, p.60-1 DOMINATE
Spanish Although speed is the criterion by which most moulders
TRANSPLAST AUTOMATES MATERIALS measure robots, several original equipment
HANDLING manufacturers are trying to make robot set-up and
Details are given of materials handling equipment operation easier and faster. For several robot makers,
supplied by Transplast of Spain to Frape-Behr, a Spanish this came in the form of intuitive, graphics-based,
injection moulder producing automotive components touch-screen controllers at the recent NPE 97
from blends of virgin and recycled plastics. exhibition. For others, the improvements came in
handheld controllers with simplified commands and
TRANSPLAST; FRAPE-BEHR
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN; controls. But, if it is speed that is required, there are a
WESTERN EUROPE lot of machines from which to choose. For pure speed,
Accession no.663491 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
Item 109 of 15 seconds. This side-entry swing-type model
Injection Moulding International removes parts to the rear of the press. The carbon fibre
2, No.4, Sept./Oct.1997, p.51-3 takeout arm provides light weight and stiffness. Details
RUNNING UNATTENDED THROUGH THE of other products available from Fanuc Robotics, CBW,
WEEKEND Mark 2 Automation, Conair, Geiger Handling,
This article describes the optimisation of the injection Automated Assemblies, Husky, Sterltech, SAS
moulding production process of motor protecting switches Automation, AEC, Wittmann and Automated
at Kloeckner-Moeller GmbH of Germany. The company Assemblies are given.
has automated all activities that do not create added value, USA
and also has designed the plant so that the automated Accession no.657781
peripherals offer sufficient performance to permit
weekend shifts to run without any staff. Details are given.
Item 112
BATTENFELD AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK Injection Molding
GMBH; KLOECKNER-MOELLER GMBH 5, No.10, Oct. 1997, p.105-6
GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
HIGH-SPEED AUTOMATION TAKES
TEAMWORK
Accession no.661030
Kirkland C
Nypro Alabama Inc.s high speed automated production
Item 110
of cassette jewel boxes is described. The company has
Materiaux & Techniques
developed a fully automated manufacturing cell for high
85, Nos.1/2, Jan./Feb.1997, p.3-10
speed moulding and assembly of snapfit cassette cases
French
with the aid of automation supplier Yushkin America Inc.
PLASTICS INJECTION MOULDING
Yushkin worked with Nypro Alabama to ensure that the
TECHNIQUES IN THE COURSE OF
cassette cases were designed for automated
DEVELOPMENT
manufacturability. Details are given of the cell.
Reyne M
NYPRO ALABAMA INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC.
Developments in plastics injection moulding processes, USA
machinery and automation and control systems are Accession no.655670

Item 113 MOULDING PLANT FOR CONVEYING

Plastiques Flash MOULDS FOR CHOCOLATE OR SIMILAR
No.292, Sept./Oct.1996, p.86-7 PRODUCTS
French Renzo C
TOTAL AUTOMATION IN THE DRYING AND Carle & Montanari SpA
COLOURING OF ABS
A drive shaft, which includes conveying screws mounted
Details are given of automated drying and colouring on a shaft, conveys the moulds along a processing path
systems supplied by Simar to Compagnie Industrielle des through stations in the plant. The underside of each mould
Moulages de lEst (Cimest) of France for use in its ABS has downwardly projecting studs or projections that
injection moulding operations. engage between threads of the conveying screws. The
CIMEST SA; COMPAGNIE INDUSTRIELLE DES studs are arranged such that the moulds can be conveyed
MOULAGES DE LEST; SIMAR; SECMI along at least two different, transverse processing paths.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; Preferably, the studs are positioned such that the
GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE engagement between the studs and the screws is along a
Accession no.649956 midline of the moulds.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; ITALY;
WESTERN EUROPE
Item 114
Plastiques Flash Accession no.647320
No.292, Sept./Oct.1996, p.41-2
French Item 117
EXPANSION OF PLASTIQUES 2005 RESTS ON Patent Number: US 5591462 A 19970107
SPECIALISED PRODUCTION CELLS BOTTLE INSPECTION ALONG MOULDER
TRANSPORT PATH
The plastics injection moulding activities of Plastiques
Darling D T; Francis T G; Williams B L; Dewar H L;
2005 of France are examined. Turnover and employment
Delater D B; Gold D B; Pentel J; Wright P L; Sands P
figures are presented, and details are given of types of
J; Cochran P
thermoplastics processed, the range of products
Pressco Technology Inc.
manufactured, and developments in the Companys plant
including the introduction of production cells and Camera based inspection equipment is used in conjunction
investments in automation and finishing equipment. with a multiple-station forming device such as a blow
PLASTIQUES 2005 moulder for PETP or PEN bottle manufacturing. The
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; inspection system relies on handling devices that present
WESTERN EUROPE successive bottles for imaging. A seal surface inspection
Accession no.649951 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
Item 115
manufacturing equipment such that the inspection system
is directed to view the passing bottles as they are carried
27, No.8, Aug.1997, p.115/8
on the transfer devices needed to load and unload the
SERVO ROBOTS CLAIM SAVINGS FOR
moulder.
INJECTION MOULDERS
USA
Mallon J M
Yushin America Inc. Accession no.647318
In order to remain competitive, injection moulders have

to minimise direct labour costs while retaining quality Item 118
and productivity. One way to do this is by installing Patent Number: US 5556649 A 19960917
automated work cells that use servo robots. In the US, it DEVICE FOR REMOVING RUNNERS FROM
is possible to demonstrate annualised cost savings of more MOULDED PRODUCTS
than 40,874 US dollars compared to the use of other types Sumioka K; Haji M; Suzuki T; Sonobe M; Naitoh N
of robots. This article examines the benefits of servo Yamaha Motor Co.Ltd.
robots, air-driven robots and hybrid air-servo robots and A device for removing runners from intermediate moulded
presents cost comparisons. products includes a holding assembly for maintaining the
USA products in a desired position, a hammer member, an
Accession no.647936 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
Item 116
arrangement for selectively activating and deactivating
Patent Number: US 5591464 A 19970107
the vibrating assembly. The control arrangement provides

for positioning the vibrating assembly in at least one and transferring those products to the discharge device.
predetermined position upon deactivation thereof so as The robot device comprises at least two receiving plates,
to enable the vibrating assembly to be readily restarted. each capable of receiving a number of moulded products
The holding assembly can incorporate a robot arm for equal to at least once the number of cavities of the die,
transporting and positioning the intermediate moulded and a drive device for successively bringing the receiving
product for runner removal. In order to protect the robot plates into a receiving position next to the die, and for
arm from the effects of vibrational forces, the intermediate bringing a receiving plate from the receiving position into
moulded product is adapted to be resiliently attached to a take-over position and back again, in which take-over
the robot arm. position the moulded products can be taken over from
JAPAN the die.
Accession no.645145 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.638125
Item 119
Plast 21
No.50, March 1996, p.83-4 Item 122
Spanish Antec 97. Volume I. Conference proceedings.
WHEN THE ROBOT BECOMES A NECESSITY Toronto, 27th April-2nd May 1997, p.502-6. 012
Pavon V HOW TO PLAN A ROBOT-BASED
Sepro Robotica AUTOMATION CELL
Rodrigues J
Applications of industrial robots and manipulators in Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
plastics injection moulding are discussed. (SPE)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; SPAIN;
WESTERN EUROPE The planning of a robot-based automation cell for
Accession no.639091 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
Item 120 features for automation.
British Plastics and Rubber CANADA
May 1997, p.4-7
Accession no.636707
AUTOMATION AND ROBOTICS
Many trade moulders are now expected to provide
Item 123
completed assemblies and end user companies are
Plastics News International
increasingly expecting their suppliers to be using
Jan/Feb.1997, p.6
automation systems. Many moulders now see bought-in
DEVELOPMENT SPEEDS PART REMOVAL
project management of automation systems as an
appropriate way to go. Two companies which are This article highlights Absolute Part Tracking (APT),
increasingly involved in this type of work are ATM an optional feature introduced by Husky Injection
Automation and Wittmann UK. Automation systems from Molding Systems, to provide improved cycle-time savings
the two companies tend to be based on a standard product when using its Moduline top entry robot series. APT
removal robot, but downstream of this robot is likely to enables the robot to follow the machines clamp motion
be a custom-built device incorporating other robots. so that part take out motion can begin in advance of full
ATM AUTOMATION LTD.; WITTMANN UK LTD. mould open.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS
WESTERN EUROPE AUSTRALIA
Item 121 Item 124

Patent Number: US 5569476 A 19961029 Plastics World
INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE HAVING A 55, No.5, May 1997, p.31-4
ROTATABLE TURRET AUTOMATION HELPS AMP BOOST QUALITY,
van Manen D; Albers H J T CUT SCRAP
Inter Tooling Services BV
The introduction of automation at AMP Inc.s Greensboro,
An apparatus for the injection moulding of synthetic N.C. facility is described, with details of the automated
products, comprises a die provided with a plurality of process and its advantages in terms of improved
cavities, a discharge device and a robot device for productivity, cost savings in manpower, reduction of scrap
receiving the products moulded in the cavities of the die rate, and improvements in quality. The system was installed

and developed by Yushin America Inc. to place inserts in supply of air is emitted. When the conduit outlet is
moulds, remove moulded parts and pack them in trays. blocked with leaked molten plastics, a sensor in the
AMP INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC. conduit instantly detects a change in air flow or back
USA pressure and triggers an alarm, and optionally cuts off
Accession no.634982 the machine automatically to avoid damage to machine
components and with the object of reducing machine
down time. Changes in incoming primary air supply
Item 125 pressure may be detected to provide a fail-safe system.
Kunststoffe Plast Europe Alternatively, air pressure in the conduit may be below
87, No.4, April 1997, p.17-8 zero, i.e. a vacuum, so that air is sucked into the conduit
INTEGRATED PRODUCTION at its outlet. Several potential leak sites may be
Ammann T monitored simultaneously from a single sensor
With the aid of a robot, injection moulded parts can be arrangement.
removed from a mould and deposited at an exact location EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; IRELAND;
and in the proper orientation. If the robot does not place WESTERN EUROPE
the parts randomly in a container, and it is no longer Accession no.629711
necessary to reorient the parts with a great deal of effort
prior to post-moulding operations, considerable time and Item 128
money can be saved during subsequent automated Injection Moulding International
assembly. During a test phase, a subassembly used in a 2, No.1, Jan./Feb.1997, p.74-6
fire alarm system for Cerberus was produced in small FACING PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS IN A
quantities, packed, sent for completion to the companys FACTORY OF THE FUTURE
in-house assembly department or cottage workers, Kirkland C
repacked and finally shipped to the customer for final
assembly. Details are given. Yushin Precision Equipment set out to show that
technology exists today to build a fully automated
CERBERUS AG; EGO KUNSTSTOFFWERK AG
SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE injection moulding factory of the future. The company
invested about 130 million yen to build Lemon Precision,
Accession no.634107
which has been up and running around the clock for the
past three years. Daiei Kogyo became a customer of the
Item 126 Yushin automated plant concept. Its Tohoku Factory was
Modern Plastics International designed and built to serve a single local customer,
27, No.4, April 1997, p.26-7 National/Panasonic, but has since become a custom
PRECISION GEAR-MAKER TURNS LIGHTS moulder and now pursues business with other audio
OUT IDEA INTO REALITY systems OEMs.
Grande J A YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; DAIEI
Precision gear maker, ABA-PGT now runs a lights-out KOGYO CO.LTD.
injection moulding operation where eight machines run for JAPAN
24 hours a day, seven days a week, virtually unattended. Accession no.624859
The company invested 2m US dollars in a satellite plant,
purchasing three 975kN and five 490kN CNC-controlled, Item 129
servo-electric Roboshot machines from Cincinnati Injection Moulding International
Milacron. The servo-electric machines are said to provide 2, No.1, Jan./Feb.1997, p.66-7
better shot-to-shot repeatability than hydraulic units. AUTOMATED CELL MOULDS, FINISHES,
ABA-PGT INC. PACKS PLUMBING FITTINGS
USA Neilley R
Accession no.630320
Geberit, one of the largest suppliers of plumbing-based
sanitary systems, had designed fully automated injection
Item 127 moulding based production cells for various plumbing
Patent Number: US 5542835 A 19960806 components in its product line. Its most recently installed
LEAK DETECTOR FOR AN INJECTION production cell, supplied by Mannesmann Demag, is
MOULDING MACHINE producing elbow-type angled fittings of HDPE. The cell
Kennedy G P; Donnelly J P M consists of a 650 ton Ergotech injection machine with
Teetotum Ltd. 2x2-cavity mould, DR 330 CNC robotic handling system,
The above leak detector comprises a small diameter through to a packaging unit.
conduit located adjacent to a potential leak site on or GEBERIT AG; MANNESMANN DEMAG
associated with the machine, through which a regulated KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK


SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE Patent Number: US 5513970 A 19960507
Accession no.624856 ROBOT FOR EJECTION OF AN OBJECT FROM
BETWEEN TWO BODIES
Item 130 Kimura A; Nakamachi K; Saito A; Inoue T; Tominaga
Injection Moulding International M
2, No.1, Jan./Feb.1997, p.61-2 Sony Corp.
SIX-AXIS ARTICULATED ARM ROBOT This includes a holding section for holding an object
IMPROVES OVERMOULDING PROCESS mounted on a movable body and a moving section for
Kammerer and Reis Robotics have designed a production ejecting the object from the movable body by movement
cell to manufacture a two-component front panel with of the holding section. The moving section includes a first
dials as inserts. The panels, for automotive air guide section meshing with the holding section for linearly
conditioning units, incorporate the necessary dials that moving the holding section in a first direction by rotation
are already labelled with text or symbols. The injection with respect to the action of the movable body and a
moulding machine, the film storage station with the Scara second guide section for rotating the holding section in a
robot and finally the container for the finished parts form second direction along with the rotation of the guide
a semicircle around the robot, which operates all of them. section directed in the first direction. The first guide
section may be composed of a ball screw, the holding
REIS ROBOTICS
section has a nut and the ball screw meshes with the nut.
WESTERN EUROPE The second guide means may be composed of a cam and
Accession no.624854 a cam follower meshing with the cam. Additionally, the
movable body may be composed of a movable die of a
moulding machine.
Item 131 JAPAN
Accession no.616489
27, No.2, Feb.1997, p.69-71
ROBOT BUILDERS ENHANCE CONTROLS,
LOOK TO MEET DOWNSTREAM NEEDS Item 134
Snyder M R Plastics World
54, No.12, Dec.1996, p.15
Custom injection moulders, wanting easy job-to-job
HIGH-PERFORMANCE SERVO ROBOT IS FOR
transitions and greater flexibility to perform more than
SMALL PRESSES
just part removal, are driving a trend towards electric
Smock D
robots. Wittmanns Canbus system allows the controller
to run the robot and downstream equipment Automated Assemblies has introduced its new Optimum
simultaneously. Sterling has introduced the STS controller line of robots. The AZ-10 Series is described as the first
for Pulsar and Meteor Series traverse robots with 3-axis high-performance servo robot designed exclusively for
motor drive. Engel has introduced a fully servodriven, use with smaller injection moulding machines. The robot
high-speed robot capable of speeds of 4m/s. is aimed at presses from 30 to 85 tons. The companys
NORTH AMERICA product line ranges from simple sprue pickers to the most
Accession no.619796 advanced high-speed robots. The newest series servo robot
is controlled through the companys Optimum three-axis
servo motion controller incorporating Lead-Through-
Item 132 Teach.
Plast 21
AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES CORP.
No.46, Oct.1995, p.24 USA
Spanish
Accession no.615980
PROCESS RATIONALISATION AND
INCREASED EFFICIENCY THROUGH ROBOTS
Item 135
The use of an industrial robot designed by Wittmann in a
specialised injection moulding application is described.
86, No.9, Sept.1996, p.15-6
The process uses two machines and involves the injection
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION
moulding of a thermoplastic component which is
Wenzel M
subsequently overmoulded with a thermoset.
Leiter Controlling
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; The use is described of six-axial swan-neck robots for
WESTERN EUROPE complex insertion and demoulding tasks in injection
Accession no.616945 moulding applications. Manufacture of a two-component

part for car air conditioning units is discussed which Vertically clamping injection machines are becoming
illustrates the benefits of automation. As well as automated. Robotic devices now automatically place
improving the process reliability, automation is also inserts before moulding, remove parts after moulding and
shown to allow the integration of various secondary do a host of related operations. This trend is linked to the
processes. continued growth of insert moulding in automotive
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; applications, which require high-precision components
WESTERN EUROPE and high production volumes. Micro Switch recently
Accession no.610538 acquired a Battenfeld machine that is moulding an
automotive ignition-spark-sequence sensor, incorporating
three L-shaped inserts. Van Dorn Demag has exhibited a
Item 136
prototype Newbury 266kN vertical machine equipped
Plastics Technology
with top-of-the-line Pathfinder 4500 control.
42, No.10, Oct.1996, p.54-7
USA
THE NEXT ROBOTICS FRONTIER
Mallon J M Accession no.598576
Yushin America Inc.
Item 139
The use of robotics for post moulding operations is British Plastics and Rubber
discussed to improve productivity and reduce labour costs July/Aug.1996, p.22
in injection moulding processes. Their use in the TWO STAGE TAKEOUT FOR BIG TWINNED
automation of secondary operations is examined in such MACHINES
areas as quality control, packaging, decorating, and
assembly. For these applications, cost-effectiveness Remak has developed a special demoulding system for
demands that cycle times for the part removal robot be large mouldings produced on Klockner Windsor 2,000
determined by the press cycle, and if secondary operations tonne machines disposed side by side and operated as
cannot be performed within that interval, it is said to be coupled units. Typical products are refuse bins and large
preferable to pass the part off to another automated box pallets. A free standing robot gantry has been built
workstation. over the two machines and two independent robots run
USA on it. Both robots are synchronised by the control and
simultaneously enter the mould spaces from above to
Accession no.609448
remove the mouldings from either the mould cavities or
the cores. The components are then transferred to a side
Item 137 entry robot which extracts them from the machine as the
European Plastics News vertical robots withdraw upwards.
23, No.8, Sept.1996, p.28-9 REMAK
MAKING THE SWITCH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
Anscombe N WESTERN EUROPE
When Klockner Moellers UK moulding plant had to Accession no.594980

reduce its working week from 40 to 36 hours, it
successfully exploited automation to make up the Item 140
shortfall. The plant moulds electrical switchgear. The first British Plastics and Rubber
step towards automation was standardisation on injection July/Aug.1996, p.20
moulding machines. The company mainly uses Arburg ROBOTS ELIMINATE HOT MANUAL
machines. Automation also includes a centralised DEMOULDING TASK
materials handling system, part removal and sprue Magneti Marelli introduced robots on its thermoset
separation, automatic tool changing and assembly. The injection moulding machines to increase output and
company also has an ongoing cycle time reduction improve working conditions for operators. The company
programme. produces complete headlamp and rear light assemblies
KLOCKNER MOELLER LTD. for all major European car manufacturers. Headlamp
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK; reflectors are moulded in DMC to with stand high
WESTERN EUROPE
operating temperatures over long periods. Allowances had
Accession no.602661 to be made for handling mouldings at about 160C and
flash had to be positively removed. The robot removes
Item 138 both mouldings and the sprue and places the mouldings
Modern Plastics International on a conveyor.
26, No.8, Aug.1996, p.32-3 MAGNETI MARELLI
AUTOMATION IS GAINING IN VERTICAL EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE MARKET WESTERN EUROPE
Snyder M R Accession no.594978

Item 141 Ehrenweber R

Patent Number: EP 718084 A2 19960626 Engel Automatisierungstechnik GmbH
TAKE-OUT AND COOLING APPARATUS
Current requirements in terms of rationalisation,
Hartman D A; Bright T L; Shroder T A
availability and quality assurance are shown to make it
Electra Form Inc.
necessary to combine machines, moulds, robots and
A moulded parison handling apparatus for removing peripheral equipment in a compact production cell, while
hollow plastic parisons used in the manufacture of considering all process engineering and economical
oriented plastic bottles from an injection moulding aspects. The production of air bag covers from polyolefin
machine includes a base having an arm coupled to the copolymers is described as an example of the automated
injection moulding machine. A carriage mounted on the control of injection moulding. (Translated from
arm moves in a first dimension into and out of the space Kunststoffe, 86, No.4, April 1996, p.482-3)
between the moulding elements of the moulding machine. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
A frame cooling unit coupled to the carriage engages the WESTERN EUROPE
body portion of a set of parisons as they are released from Accession no.590059
the moulding machine. A first motor moves the cooling
apparatus to any of three preselected positions along the
Item 144
first dimension located outside the moulding machine. A
transfer assembly includes three sets of grabbers mounted
26, No.5, May 1996, p.65-7
on a gantry for movement with respect to the base. One
SERVO TECHNOLOGY DOMINATES
set of grabbers grabs the finish portion of the parisons
BOOMING ROBOTICS MARKET
from the cooling apparatus. A second and third motor then
Snyder M R
translates the transfer assembly to one of two remote
locations where a stationary cooler receives the parisons The market for part-handling automation is increasingly
for additional cooling. The transfer assembly then dominated by top-of-the-line servomotor-controlled
withdraws a fully cooled set of parisons from one of the systems that provide the highest-speed operation and
stationary coolers, deposits the fully cooled parisons on maximum flexibility for optimising cycle times and easing
an exit conveyor and returns to grab another set of newly changeover between jobs. Robots are now routinely
released parisons from the frame cooling unit. installed on machines of 8800kN and above, especially
USA in automotive applications, and can handle parts weighing
Accession no.592591 45kg and more. Ranger Automation Systems has begun
installing modems on its latest-generation robots to enable
Item 142 diagnosis of problems in remote locations from its
British Plastics and Rubber headquarters via a telephone link.
May 1996, p.29 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
UPM INSTALLS FULL SYSTEM FOR SRAM
Accession no.589712
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 Item 145
only company which could supply a complete automation Plastics and Rubber Weekly
package. SRAM manufactures Gripshift quick gear No.1630, 5th April 1996, p.10
change assemblies for mountain bikes and moulds various ATM ROBOTS HAVE THAT HUMAN TOUCH
engineering plastics. UPM was made responsible for ATM Automation has been manufacturing robots since
materials handling, process temperature control, 1982 and now has a turnover of 10m pounds sterling in
reclamation of materials and product handling on the basis demoulding robots in the UK. The company offers a full
of round the clock working, seven days a week, in a 50 range of products from pneumatic models through to
week year. electric/side entry and in a range of sizes to suit injection
UPM MACHINERY SALES LTD.; SRAM CORP. moulding machines from 100 tonnes clamp pressure
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; IRELAND; through to 1500 tonnes and special units in the 4000 series
UK; WESTERN EUROPE for the very large machines. The company believes that
Accession no.590476 its success is due not just to the technical expertise, but
the support it offers customers from design, through
Item 143 manufacture to sales as well as support, service and
Kunststoffe Plast Europe maintenance.
86, No.4, April 1996, p.12-13 ATM AUTOMATION LTD.
TESTING QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS WITH EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
A ROBOT - AUTOMATED CONTROL OF EACH WESTERN EUROPE
INJECTION MOULDED PART Accession no.585797

Item 146 WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; CONTROLE DE

Patent Number: US 5447426 A 19950905 PROCESSUS INDUSTRIELS; HEIDEL GMBH &
TAKE-OFF PLATE DEVICE CO.
Gessner D; McGinley T M AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION;
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. FRANCE; GERMANY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.583107
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 Item 149
mounted to the plate for receiving moulded articles and Patent Number: US 5439634 A 19950808
one or more ejector bars for engaging portions of the METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SEPARATING
moulded articles to remove or eject them from the tubes. RUNNERS/SPRUES FROM PARTS AS THEY ARE
Each of the tubes is provided with a cooling passageway EJECTED FROM A MOULD
for effecting cooling of the moulded articles as they are North R R
moved between the moulding machine and the receiving At & T Corp.
station. A bottom plug, which is in contact with the cooling The device includes a product receiver underlying the
passageway, is provided in each tube to more efficiently injection moulds for receiving the product after the moulds
cool an end portion of the moulded article in the tube. have been opened and a sprue/runner receiver underlying
Preferably, the bottom plug has an end surface, which the injection moulds for receiving the sprues/runners after
matches the shape of the moulded article end portion. the moulds have been opened. The product receiver and
CANADA sprue/runner receiver are positioned relative to the moulds
Accession no.585271 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/
Item 147
runner receiver while being precluded from falling onto
the product receiver.
47, No.1, Jan./Feb.1995, p.32-3
French USA
AUTOMATION: LEGRAND TAKES A STEP Accession no.582649
FORWARD
Desfilhes P Item 150
An account is given of automation introduced by Legrand Plastics and Rubber Weekly
of France in its plastics injection moulding operations. No.1625, 1st March 1996, p.20
This includes mould changing, temperature control and AUTOMATION IN THE UK
hot runner control systems and industrial robots, all of Smith C
which are driven by the machines computer control Traditionally, UK industry has had a lower rate of
system. investment in automation, largely fuelled by the belief
LEGRAND SA; PARMILLEUX; SISE; ARBURG that low labour rates will keep UK injection moulders
MASCHINENFABRIK competitive with the higher labour cost manufacturing
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; FRANCE; nations. However, automation is not just about labour
GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
costs. An automated production line can maintain a more
Accession no.583109 repeatable, and often higher, level of quality. Sandretto
believes that UK moulders use a level of automation
Item 148 appropriate to the task in most instances. Semi-automation
Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres is already very well established in the industry.
47, No.1, Jan./Feb.1995, p.26-9 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
French
AUTOMATE, BUT ABOVE ALL ORGANISE Accession no.582285
Topuz B
Developments in automation for the plastics injection Item 151
moulding industry are examined, with particular reference Plastics News International
to industrial robots and mould changing systems. Jan/Feb.1996, p.14
AUTOMATED HYDRAULIC CLAMPS SPEED UP
SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; STAUBLI; BRAILLON;
DIE CHANGES
ENERPAC; BATTENFELD GMBH; ARBURG
MASCHINENFABRIK; FARPI FRANCE; It is reported that by reducing non-productive man hours,
SYTRAMA; ENGEL GMBH; PIOVAN + STAR automated hydraulic clamps on injection moulding
AUTOMATION; CHAVERIAT-AUROCH; machines can boost productivity and improve figures on

a companys bottom line. The use of Applied Power Item 155

Australia, Enerpac Divisions automated hydraulic clamps Injection Molding
is discussed, as is the companys swing clamp cylinder. 3, No.11, Nov.1995, p.81-2
APPLIED POWER AUSTRALIA,ENERPAC DIV. KEEPING THINGS MOVING... WITH AUTOMATION
AUSTRALIA Gurr A
Accession no.581392 It is reported that when Engineered Plastic Products
moved into its new plant, it invested in automation to
Item 152 bring a basic plant setup to a new level. The 80,000 sq.ft
Patent Number: EP 688655 A2 19951227 facility is set up with three horseshoe conveyor
IMPROVED PIVOTING WORKPIECE configurations that keep parts moving rapidly from 16
REMOVAL DEVICE moulding machines to manned finishing stations. Two of
Di Simone J the configurations transport parts in a clockwise rotation
Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd. from five and six moulding machines, the third moves
parts counterclockwise from five machines. Details of the
A high speed, automatic device for removal of moulded machinery installed are presented.
plastic articles from a multi-cavity injection mould is
ENGINEERED PLASTIC PRODUCTS INC.
disclosed. A method of minimising moulding machine USA
cycle time is also disclosed.
Accession no.573488
CANADA
Injection Molding
Item 153 3, No.11, Nov.1995, p.62/6
148th ACS Rubber Division Meeting. Fall 1995. AESTHETICS PLUS AUTOMATION EQUALS
Conference Preprints. U.S. SUCCESS
Cleveland, Oh., 17th-20th Oct.1995, Paper 40, pp.9. 012 Maniscalco M
AUTOMATION POSSIBILITIES OF MODERN Some company information is presented on US injection
RUBBER INJECTION PRESSES WITH moulder US Acrylic, a Northbrook, Illinois-based moulder
COMPUTER CONTROL specialising in high-end acrylic housewares. Its success
Katzer M story is said to show that North American moulders
Maplan Deutschland GmbH investing in automation and equipment find that they can
(ACS,Rubber Div.) neutralise the offshore labour cost differential and
The automation of rubber injection moulding machines compete more effectively in a global marketplace.
is discussed, and examples are presented to illustrate the USA
possibilities for partial and complete automation of Accession no.573484
injection moulding processes.
USA; WESTERN EUROPE
Asian Plastics News
Accession no.580226 Jan/Feb.1995, p.14-5
MOULDING PLANTS THAT RUN THEMSELVES
Item 154 Beevers A
Antec 95. Volume III. Conference proceedings. The trend towards unmanned or reduced levels of staffing,
Boston, Ma., 7th-11th May 1995, p.4263-6. 012 and highly automated moulding plants in Japan is
AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING PART examined, with particular reference to the operations of
HANDLING: CASE STUDY two companies: Yushin Precision Equipment, a
Corvino M J manufacturer of robots, and Meisei, which produces
Lowell,Massachusetts University integrated ancillary systems for injection moulding
(SPE) machines. The trend is claimed to have been the result of
Robotics are widely used in the plastics industry in order high labour costs and a shortage of skilled workers,
to modernise equipment and improve production especially to cover night shifts. The resulting high levels
efficiency. However, guidelines for the set-up, of automation and long periods of unmanned production
implementation and operation of robots for the process reduces the costs of heating, air conditioning, and lighting
engineer are difficult to find. An outline is presented of required. Further advantages and examples of the
the procedures needed and difficulties encountered for efficiency of the methods, are described.
an automated injection moulded part removal and hot YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT; MEISEI
stamping application. 3 refs. KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD.
USA JAPAN
Item 158
Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited Plastics World 53
53, No.10, Oct.1995, p.13 HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.

REDUCE CYCLE TIMES WITH SERVO SWING CANADA
CHUTES Accession no.561076
Husky Injection Molding Systems has introduced servo-
driven swing chutes to provide faster cycles and oriented Item 161
parts handling for a variety of thin-wall injection Approaches to Automation. Seminar papers.
moulding applications. Servo swing chutes consist of Shawbury, 30th March 1995, paper 3, pp.13. 1121
arms that swing 90 degrees in front of each core during RATIONALISATION IN THE INJECTION
mould opening to remove the parts. Suction cups on the MOULDING SHOP
arms hold the parts, which are either physically stripped Bauer R; Davis S
or air ejected from the cores. The arms are swung out of Engel UK Ltd.
the moulding area before the mould reaches the fully (Rapra Technology Ltd.; Plastics & Rubber Weekly)
open position, so mould closing can begin immediately.
This paper presents a fairly detailed step-by-step process
Once the mould is closing, the vacuum is released
for rationalisation of injection moulding procedures in
allowing the parts to slide down the chutes in an oriented
plastic component production. Information is given on
manner. Husky says trials show decreases in cycle times
establishing a production concept and steps towards
of more than 10% since mould stroke is reduced to a
realisation, basic measures for rationalisation,
minimum.
streamlining of the existing production and interlinking
HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD. single production cells to a flexible production system to
CANADA
attain increased productivity.
Accession no.567522 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
Plastics Technology
41, No.8, Aug.1995, p.80 Item 162
SMALL INJECTION PRESSES LEAD THE WAY Rubbercon 95. Conference Preprints.
TO LIGHTS-OUT AUTOMATION Gothenburg, 9th-12th May 1995, Paper B6, pp.9. 012
Advantages of using small injection moulding machines AUTOMATION POSSIBILITIES OF MODERN
in unsupervised, automated lights-out conditions, are RUBBER INJECTION PRESSES WITH
explained. Point Plastics is given as an example of a COMPUTER CONTROL
moulder which has reaped benefits in the use of such Katzer M
machines, equipping its nearly 300 presses with simple Maplan Deutschland GmbH
timers and automatic parts handling equipment which can (Nordic Council of Rubber Technology)
easily be replaced, in an operation which runs The automation of computer controlled rubber injection
unsupervised on the late shifts. In addition, small moulding machines is discussed and illustrated by
machines allow for cost effective tooling, and low examples of the manufacture of bearings, bushes, seals
maintenance costs. and bellows.
POINT PLASTICS EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;
USA SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN EUROPE
Item 160 Item 163

Plastics Technology British Plastics and Rubber
41, No.8, Aug.1995, p.15 July/Aug.1995, p.22-9
NEW GENERAL-PURPOSE ROBOTS ARE ROBOT ASSEMBLY INCREASES OUTPUT BY
EASIER TO PROGRAM 25%
Ogando J Developments in robot handling systems, control
The design and capabilities of Husky Injection Molding equipment, cooling, counting, conveying, palletising,
Machines general purpose robots, is described. The shrink wrapping and stacking equipment are outlined.
robots, called Moduline Top Entry feature a-c servo drives ATM has supplied robots for post-moulding assembly
on all three axes along with a special servo controller operations at Thermos, a manufacturer of cool boxes,
from GE Fanuc called Fanuc Power Mate H. Details are resulting in a 25% increase in the rate of production. Eight
given of the five payload capacities, and the application Apex swinging arm robots have been bought from BPI
software. The Moduline robots are modular, and details Machines by MK Electric for handling urea mouldings.
are included of the standard and optional features CLS Countmaster has introduced the Mini Countmaster
available. for use with small injection moulding machines. EDL has

developed an automated system for shrink wrapping long The two main areas of current development in moulding
products such as window profiles, pipes, guttering and automation are the application of robots to complex
electrical trunking. downstream operations within the cycle time of the
WORLD machine and the design of ultra-rapid take-out devices.
Thermos decided to automate its assembly of cool boxes,
Accession no.558037
resulting in a 25% increase in production rate. ATM
robots assemble the inner liner, the EPS moulded
Item 164 insulation core and the outer case. State-of-the-art servo
Plastics News International drive and motor technology is being incorporated in two
June 1995, p.27 new CNC seven-axis robot systems being made by
FEEDING SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATED Pressflow for McKechnie Automotive. These will
MOULDING incorporate Pressflows new detachable controllers.
Engel has given particular attention to developing high-
Operational details and design characteristics are
speed take-out equipment incorporating AC servo motor
described for the 3WF feeding system for automated
drives and can offer units capable of removing parts in
moulding developed by Meisei Kinzoku Kogyo. The
less than one second within an overall cycle time of four
automated systems comprise a materials feeding centre
seconds.
and a pneumatic system for transporting and storing
products. Runners are separated and granulated to give ATM AUTOMATION LTD.; PRESSFLOW LTD.;
recycled resin which is mixed with virgin resin and ENGEL GMBH
WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL; WESTERN EUROPE
automatically fed to the injection moulding machines
hopper. Further operating features are described. Accession no.554211
MEISEI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD.
JAPAN Item 167
Accession no.554411 World Class Injection Moulding. Retec proceedings.
Charlotte, NC, 25th-27th Sept.1994, p.187-99. 831
T-190 SLINGSHOT - THE BIRTH OF A UNIQUE
Item 165 NEW ROBOT TECHNOLOGY
European Plastics News Carson D
22, No.7, July/Aug.1995, p.24-5 CBW Automation
JAPANS APPROACH TO UNMANNED PLANTS (SPE,Carolinas Section; SPE,Injection Molding Div.)
Beevers A
The development of the T-190 parts removal robot -
Soaring labour costs are forcing Japanese plastics claimed to be the fastest designed in the world - is
processors to seek increasingly high levels of described. Compared to a conventional robot, this concept
automation. Robot manufacturer, Yushin Precision claims to normally save at least 1.5 seconds of overall
Equipment, has built a demonstration plant to mould a cycle time due to its speed and simplicity. Details are
range of products including margarine tubs and given.
toothbrush cases. This fully automated plant is only
COLORADO,STATE UNIVERSITY
manned during daytime hours on weekdays by just five USA
people. During weekends and at night, the factory is
Accession no.553623
completely unmanned and operates fully automatically.
Meiseis unmanned moulding plant is very different from
those developed by Yushin. The factory relies on Item 168
established ancillary equipment, but integrates the Plastics and Rubber Weekly
operation of these items to allow fully automated No.1588, 2nd June 1995, p.12
operation. The plant runs 24 hours a day, seven days a CAP AUTOMATION PAYS FOR GEKA
week producing small, high-precision parts such as
A cap moulding system has been developed for a
connectors.
cosmetics company to produce a range of PP caps. Details
YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; are given of the installation by Geka Manufacturing of
MEISEI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD. an automated 16 cavity Engel manufacturing cell to
JAPAN produce the products. The cell is built round a 65 tonne
Accession no.554212 ES330/65HL tiebarless moulding machine fitted with an
EC88 controller and an ERC23/IC high speed robot which
Item 166 provides 2m/s speed on all three axes.
European Plastics News GEKA MANUFACTURING
22, No.7, July/Aug.1995, p.22-3 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;
WESTERN EUROPE
ROBOTS TAKE OVER
Smith A Accession no.552223

Item 169 SPE,CHICAGO SECTION; SPE,THERMOSET DIV.

Plastics News(USA) USA
7, No.7, 17th April 1995, p.19 Accession no.550286
LIGHTS OUT A REALITY AT AUTOMATED
PLASTICS
Item 172
Shinn R
Patent Number: EP 648590 A1 19950419
Operations at Automated Plastics are described. The PICKING APPARATUS, PREFERABLY FOR AN
company runs with just three employees and operates INJECTION MOULDING MACHINE
seven injection moulding presses with automation levels Thorsson S-G; Carlsson O; Lidstrom J-I
at the factory allowing the machines to operate day and Gislaved Industriservice AB
night without supervision.
A picking apparatus for an injection moulding machine
AUTOMATED PLASTICS INC. with two movable tool tables includes a cylindrical guide
USA
portion fixedly connected to the one tool table with a
Accession no.551245 helical groove, as a cam device, and a sleeve displaceable
along and rotary about the guide portion, the sleeve having
Item 170 a cam follower member engaging in the cam groove. The
Patent Number: US 5368466 A 19941129 sleeve is rotary but axially fixedly connected to the second
APPARATUS AND TRANSPORTING UNIT FOR table. A picking arm is disposed on a carrier portion which,
CONVEYING INJECTION-MOULDED via guides, is displaceable parallel with the axial direction
ARTICLES AWAY FROM AN INJECTION of the sleeve. A cylinder unit is provided for displacement
MOULDING MACHINE of the carrier portion relative to the sleeve, whereby the
Hehl K picking arm, partly under the action of the groove and
the cam follower member, is pivotal in between the tool
A transporting apparatus for moving away injection- tables on opening thereof, and is pivotal out therefrom
moulded articles from an injection moulding machine on closure, and partly displaceable under the action of
includes pallets; a charging station for loading the pallets; the cylinder unit in the longitudinal direction of the guide
transporting pallets each individually supporting at least portion.
one pallet and coupled thereto for forming a transporting SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; WESTERN EUROPE
unit; a pallet tower for storing a number of pallets; an
Accession no.548786
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 Item 173
and the charging station and for transferring loaded pallets Patent Number: US 5350289 A 19940927
from the charging station to the elevator; and a positioning QUICK CHANGE SYSTEM FOR MOULD BASES
arrangement. Martin R G
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; Master Unit Die Products Inc.
WESTERN EUROPE
A quick change system for standard mould bases in a
Accession no.550423 moulding machine is described, in which each half of a
mould base has a support plate attached to the back
Item 171 surface. An adapter frame is mounted on the face of each
Thermosets for the 21st Century. Retec Proceedings. platen of the press. Each adapter frame has a U-shaped
Rosemont, Il., 16th-18th March 1994, paper 9. 012 guide channel for receiving a support plate and supported
DEFLASHING AND THE CELL COMPOSITE mould base half. A T-shaped guide roller is positioned on
Bahmueller M W each side of the U-shaped guide channel to facilitate entry
Hull/Finmac of a support plate into the guide channels. Apertures are
provided in each adapter frame plate for fasteners for
It is reported that deflashing has been an inherent
attaching the adapter frame plates to the platens. A
operation since the start of the thermoset industry, required
knockout rod assembly is provided for ejecting the
in order to deliver finished moulded parts to the market
finished mould part from the mould base.
place. In order to reduce breakage and increase
USA
productivity, new types of deflashing equipment have
been designed. The CELL concept, which was preceded Accession no.548493
by the reduction of multiple handling of parts, while the
required operations of gate and flash removal as well as Item 174
parts inspection were still performed, is described. The Plastics Technology
basic CELL is comprised of one or more moulding presses 41, No.2, Feb.1995, p.54/63
producing various parts, a deflashing machine and some PORTABLE ANALISERS FIND WHAT AILS
form of parts inspection. Details are given. YOUR PROCESS

Ogando J HANDLING DEVICE FOR REMOVING

FORMED PLASTIC PARTS FROM THE SPACE
This comprehensive article supplies a detailed review of
BETWEEN DIE PLATENS CARRYING THE
portable machine analysers. These data-acquisition and
MOULD HALVES OF AN INJECTION
monitoring devices hook up to moulding machines and
MOULDING MACHINE
auxiliary equipment, gathering information that helps to
Urbanek O; Aumayer W
identify the root causes of processing problems. The article
Engel Maschinenbau GmbH
compares the various features and advantages of various
portable machine analysers currently on the market. A description is given of a handling device for removing
BRANDEN T.G.,CORP.; HUNKAR LABORATORIES plastic parts from between the platens of an injection
INC.; NICOLLET PROCESS ENGINEERING; RJG moulding machine. The device includes a gripper arm
TECHNOLOGIES INC. which is supported on a machine frame in a space between
USA the die platens.
Accession no.546250 AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.541710
Item 175
Plastics Technology (Hong Kong) Item 178
No.10, 1993, p.44-8 Patent Number: EP 633119 A1 19950111
Chinese; English IMPROVED TAKE-OFF PLATE DEVICE
AUTOMATION IN INJECTION MOULDING Gessner D; McGinley T M
PLANT Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
Hsong C
The device, for removing moulded articles from a
Machinery Co.Ltd.
moulding machine and delivering them to a transfer or
Automation in injection moulding operations is discussed receiving station, includes a plate, one or more tubes
with reference to precision moulding. The growth of the mounted to the plate for receiving moulded articles, and
industry is examined, and the advantages offered by Hong one or more ejector bars for engaging portions of the
Kong in terms of labour costs and relatively low moulded articles to remove or eject them from the tubes.
production costs are discussed. The use of automated Each of the tubes is provided with a cooling passageway
production methods is suggested as a means of improving for effecting cooling of the moulded articles as they are
the quality of moulded engineering plastic parts. Particular moved between the moulding machine and the receiving
details are given with respect to control systems, the station. A bottom plug, which is in contact with the cooling
injection unit, the clamping unit, auxillary equipment, passageway, is provided in each tube to more efficiently
driers, mould temperature control, parts handling and cool an end portion of the moulded article in the tube.
granulators. Preferably, the bottom plug has an end surface, which
HONG KONG matches the shape of the moulded article end portion.
Accession no.546137 CANADA
Accession no.541284
Item 176
Plastics Technology (Hong Kong) Item 179
No.10, 1993, p.13-4 Antec 94. Conference Proceedings.
Chinese; English San Francisco, Ca., 1st-5th May 1994, Vol.I, p.964-8.
UNMANNED INJECTION MOULDING PLANT 012
SYSTEMS INTEGRATION FOR DOWNSTREAM
The design and layout is described of a test plant set up
OPERATIONS
by Yushin Precision Equipment Co.Ltd. in order to test
Aidlin S H
the viability of an unmanned injection moulding plant.
Aidlin Automation Corp.
The system will be commercialised if the trial proves
(SPE)
successful. The additional benefits to the company as well
as the provision of 24 hour production and reduced labour Systems for the automation of downstream operations in
costs, include the reduction in the use of electricity for the injection and blow moulding of plastics products are
heating, lighting and ventilation. described.
YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD. USA
HONG KONG Accession no.541237
Accession no.546136
Item 180
Item 177 Plastics and Rubber Asia
Patent Number: US 5334009 A 19940802 9, No.55, Dec.1994, p.27

IS AUTOMATION THE ANSWER? Item 183

Ornellas T Patent Number: EP 605306 A1 19940706
INDUSTRIAL ROBOT FOR REMOVING A
The Meisei system of automation is claimed to offer the
MOULDING FROM A CAVITY OF A MOULDING
small to medium sized moulder automation either
MACHINE
completely or in stages to reduce labour costs. The system
Kimura A; Saito A
encompasses mould design and operation. Details are
Sony Corp.
described of a typical system used to automate an injection
moulding operation. The robot comprises an arm mechanism having a holding
MEISI KINZOKU KOGYOSHO CO.LTD. head for holding the moulding, an arm operation means
JAPAN capable of operating the arm mechanism so that the
Accession no.539775 holding head of the arm mechanism moves at a
comparatively high composite speed equal to the sum of
Item 181 the respective speeds of at least two moving members in
Patent Number: EP 624448 A1 19941117 both a first direction and a second direction different from
ROBOT the first direction.
Kimura A; Nakamachi K; Saito A; Inoue T; Tominaga M JAPAN
Sony Corp. Accession no.529591
A robot for ejecting an object mounted to a movable body
from the movable body comprises a holding means for Item 184
holding the object mounted on the movable body and a Antec 93. Conference Proceedings.
moving means for ejecting the object from the movable body New Orleans, La., 9th-13th May 1993, Vol.III, p.3183-
by movement of the holding means. The moving means 9. 012
includes a first guide means meshing with the holding means FASTER CYCLING COMPACT DISC
for linearly moving the holding means in a first direction by INJECTION MOULD DESIGNED WITH
rotation with respect to the action of the movable body and INTEGRATED PART REMOVAL AUTOMATION
a second guide means for rotating the holding means in a Galic G; Maus S
second direction along with the rotation of the guide means Galic Maus Ventures
directed in the first direction. The first guide means may be (SPE)
composed of a ball screw, the holding means has a nut and A technique for the removal of compact discs from injection
the ball screw meshes with the nut. The second guide means moulds is described. The discs are transferred out of the
may be composed of a cam and a cam follower meshing mould with short-stroke low mass motions of a pair of
with the cam. Additionally, the movable body may be mechanical guides which can grip and then release the edge
composed of a movable die of a moulding machine. of the disc, when acting in coordination with moveable
JAPAN mould members having undercuts for moulded-on retention
Accession no.537335 of the inner portion of the disc and/or sprue. The disc is
stripped off the moulding surfaces and can be oriented in a
Item 182 second vertical plane to freely drop out of an aperture in
Plastverarbeiter the mould to exit through a discharge chute. 3 refs.
45, No.9, Sept.1994, p.32/4 USA
German Accession no.528877
NEW ROBOT SERIES: HIGH SPEED, LOW
COST
Item 185
Engel has developed the new robot series ERC which is Patent Number: US 5297950 A 19940329
matched to both small high-speed injection moulding STRIPPING STATION FOR STRIPPING
machines (up to Type ES 500). The modular concept of HOLLOW PLASTIC ARTICLES FROM A
the mechanical elements in conjunction with an improved HOLDING MEANS
control system and innovative digital servo drives now Kresak P F
permits individually optimised configurations to be Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
created with which a wide range of applications can be
covered. Thanks to the use of new production The station includes a nest for receiving neck portions of
technologies, it has also been possible to reduce the the articles and a cutout bar for admitting, trapping and
manufacturing costs whilst at the same time considerably ejecting the articles in the nest, the cutout bar being slidably
increasing the performance characteristics of the robots. mounted to the nest and displaceable between the admitting
position, trapping position and ejecting position.
ENGEL MASCHINENBAU GMBH
AUSTRIA; WESTERN EUROPE CANADA

Item 186 control loops is described, together with overall

Plastics and Rubber Weekly (communicating) control systems such as the PROFIBUS
No.1537, 27th May 1994, p.21 system.
NEW FIELD BUS SYSTEM HALVES EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
INSTALLATION TIME Accession no.512970
This article describes the Motan materials distribution
system incorporated in the Otto molding plant at Item 189
Neuruppin, Germany. The entire Motan installation is Plastverarbeiter
controlled by a Siemens Simatic PLC and all units are 45, No.4, April 1994, p.78/82
linked with the central control unit via a field bus system German
instead of individual circuits. A division of Otto began LINKING OF INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTION
production of refuse bins in plastics in the mid 1960s and PROCESSES DURING INJECTION MOULDING
refuse collection and disposal still forms the largest part Block J
of its activities. The companys plastics moulding activity
has been widened to include boxes and containers for the An important aspect of the automation of production
automotive and food industries, and technical parts for processes, from raw material up to finished injection
the automotive and domestic appliance markets. mouldings ready for shipment, is the logistic planning
and efficient combination of handling and transport
OTTO GMBH
technologies. This subject is discussed, with particular
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
reference to the major role played by transport pallets.
Accession no.513423
Accession no.512956
Item 187
Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri
No.3, March 1994, p.102-8 Item 190
Italian Kunststoffe Plast Europe
CHANGES IN THE MOULD INDUSTRY Vol.84, March 1994, p.13-6
Baucia G SINGLE SOURCE SOLUTION: FLEXIBLE
AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING CELL
A survey is made of mould making materials and
techniques, hot runner moulds and mould cleaning and The use is discussed of an automated production cell for
mould changing systems featured by a number of injection moulding three colour rear lights for cars as
companies at the 9th Fakuma exhibition in employed by Yorka, a Spanish company who mainly used
Friedrichshafen, Germany. Developments in ancillary conventional three-colour injection moulding machines
equipment for injection moulding, granulators and with vertical clamping units. Apart from the high level of
industrial robots are also reviewed. capital investment associated with this latter kind of
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE;
design, other disadvantages include a lack of flexibility
WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL on change of product. The company chose an integrated
Accession no.513247 automation and software system from Mannesmann
Demag which offers the possibility of operating each of
the two injection moulding machines in the production
Item 188 cell individually, thereby permitting flexible, cost effective
Nordic Rubber Conference 1993. Conference manufacture of quality products.
proceedings.
YORKA SA; MANNESMANN DEMAG
Helsingor, 13th-14th May 1993, p.72-90. 012
KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK AG
INTEGRATION OF MODERN RUBBER EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; SPAIN; WESTERN
INJECTION MACHINES INTO OVERRULING EUROPE
CONTROL STRUCTURES SUCH AS PROCESS Accession no.512210
CONTROL BY PROFIBUS
Schumacher P
Kloeckner Ferromatik Desma GmbH Item 191
(Danish Society of Rubber Technology; Nordic Council Plastics Engineering
of Rubber Technology) 50, No.2, Feb.1994, p.14-8
AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT
Developments in the automation of rubber injection Wigotsky V
moulding machines are discussed with reference to
automation of individual machines, integration into The article supplies a comprehensive assessment of the
production islands, manufacturer-specific system advances in auxiliary equipment in line with the
solutions, and system solutions which are independent of development in primary moulding and extrusion
the manufacturer. The integration of machines into process machinery. The article highlights the improvements being

made in design, maintenance, simplicity, modularity and CANADA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; GERMANY;
ITALY; JAPAN; SWITZERLAND; UK; USA; WESTERN EUROPE
control equipment and describes specific equipment
currently on the market. Accession no.502599
PROCESS CONTROL CORP.; K-TRON NORTH
AMERICA; THERMAL CARE; UNA-DYN INC. Item 195
USA Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres
Accession no.511219 45, No.10, Dec.1993, p.40-3
French
AUTOMATION OF MOULD CHANGING
Item 192 Desfilhes P
British Plastics and Rubber
March 1994, p.15 Some developments in automatic and semi-automatic
IN-MOULD LABELLING - STILL AN mould changing systems are reviewed.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY STAUBLI; HYDRAUMECA; ENERPAC; WOKU;
BATTENFELD FRANCE SARL
Advantages of and equipment for in-mould labelling of EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; GERMANY; WESTERN
packaging containers is discussed. Advantages include a EUROPE
reduction in downstream printing and labelling operations Accession no.502598
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 Item 196
additional high performance handling equipment. Revue Generale des Caoutchoucs et Plastiques
70, No.728, Dec.1993, p.52-3
EUROPE-GENERAL
French
Accession no.509184 AUTOMATION: A FACTOR IN PRODUCTIVITY
Leuzinger H H
Item 193 Netstal Maschinen AG
Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres Automation systems developed by Netstal for its injection
45, No.10, Dec.1993, p.51-2 moulding machines are described.
French
NEYR PLASTIQUES
ORGANISING PRODUCTION EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; SWITZERLAND;
Desfilhes P WESTERN EUROPE
Automation systems used by Nobel Plastiques of France Accession no.502588

in the manufacture of extruded automotive hose and
injection moulded automotive components are described. Item 197
NOBEL PLASTIQUES; SILVATRIM Plastics News(USA)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE 5, No.38, 15th Nov.1993, p.31
Accession no.502600 HUSKY BUILDING ROBOTICS FACILITY IN
ONTARIO
Lauzon M
Item 194
Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres Husky Injection Molding Systems is reported to be
45, No.10, Dec.1993, p.45-9 building a robotics facility at its Bolton, Ontario
French headquarters. The company has also revealed the identity
ROBOTS: THE IRON ARM OF THE WORKSHOP of several of its supplier partners for the manufacturing
Desfilhes P centre and presented its first environmental award with a
75,000 US dollars prize. Details are given.
A survey is made of developments by a number of
HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD.;
companies in industrial robots for use in plastics injection
BERG CHILLING SYSTEMS INC.; MANNESMANN
moulding operations.
DEMAG FORDERTECHNIK AG; SYSCON-
WITTMANN ROBOT SYSTEMS; ALBORA; PLANTSTAR; ONTARIO HYDRO RESEARCH
BATTENFELD GMBH; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE; DIVISION; IN-STORE PRODUCTS INC.
CONAIR INC.; HARMO ROBOTS LTD.; HUSKY CANADA; USA
INJECTION MOULDING SYSTEMS LTD.; Accession no.499522
CHAVERIAT SA; PIOVAN SPA; PIOVAN + STAR
AUTOMATION; STAR SEIKI CO.LTD.; HEKUMA;
CONAIR CHURCHILL LTD.; MARTIPLAST; Item 198
SYTRAMA; APEX CORP.; PLASTINSERT; GEIGER Plastics News(USA)
TECHNIK GMBH 5, No.40, 29th Nov. 1993, p.5

STRONG SALES FAVOUR US ROBOT Item 201

PRODUCTION Antec 92. Plastics: Shaping the Future. Volume 2.
Brega W; Charles A S Conference Proceedings.
Detroit, Mi., 3rd-7th May 1992, p.2226-9. 012
This article reports on the increasing demand for robots
COMPETITIVE INJECTION MOULDING
by US plastics processors, and the consequential rise in
PLANT LAYOUTS
robot production. Two foreign robot makers are reported
to be setting up US manufacturing operations, and several Hughes G
US-owned or -based companies are investing to increase Husky Injection Molding Systems
their production facilities. Many companies are mentioned (SPE)
and the statistics around their expansion are given. Plant-wide automation strategies, moulding cell
WITTMAN ROBOT & AUTOMATION SYSTEMS development, product handling, plant layout, service
INC.; YUSHIN AMERICA INC.; MARK II layout and distribution and building design are discussed
AUTOMATION INC.; WITTMAN ROBOT SYSTEME as they relate to the managers goals. Using a step-by-
GMBH; YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT step approach, the procedure and elements of developing
CO.LTD.; HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS a competitive plant layout are described.
LTD.; SOCIETY OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY CANADA
INC.; AEC INC.; AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES Accession no.487539
CORP.; RANGER AUTOMATION SYSTEMS INC.
AUSTRIA; CANADA; EUROPE-GENERAL; EUROPEAN
COMMUNITY; GERMANY; JAPAN; USA; WESTERN EUROPE Item 202
Accession no.499391 Macplas
17, No.143, Nov.1992, p.72-3
Item 199 Italian
Kunststoffe Plast Europe SECOND COMING FOR ROBOTICS
No.3-4, Oct.1993, p.243/50 Cooke F
English; French Optimum Evaluation Ltd.
RECESSION REVEALS THE LIMITS OF
An examination is made of applications of industrial
AUTOMATION
robots in plastics injection moulding. Some reasons for
Guyot H
the slow adoption of robotics by the plastics processing
The use of automated processes is discussed with industry are discussed.
particular reference to injection moulding. The scope and
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
limits are examined of automation and its rewards in terms
of productivity increase in relation to automation Accession no.481451
investment rates.
EUROPE-GENERAL Item 203
17, No.143, Nov.1992, p.67/71
Item 200 Italian
Kunststoffe Plast Europe ROBOTS AND MANIPULATORS IN THE
No.3-4, Oct.1993, p.236/42 SERVICE OF MOULDERS
English; French Rovetto G L
ROBOT SERVES INJECTION MOULDING The use of industrial robots in plastics injection moulding
MACHINE AND CARRIES OUT FINISHING operations is reviewed, and details are given of applications
OPERATION of robots by Italian moulder Seeber.
Kroth E
PIOVAN + STAR AUTOMATION; PIOVAN SPA;
The use of robots in injection moulding processes is SYTRAMA; STAR SEIKI CO.LTD.; BATTENFELD
discussed. A linear robot is used by Hilti AG which links ITALIA; SEEBER; METALMECCANICA PLAST
the injection moulding machine to the finishing and SPA
quality control machines. This ensures that the functions EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; JAPAN; WESTERN
provided by the robot are used extensively and are not EUROPE
idle for parts of the processing operation. The production
cell at Hilti is described, which claims an overall Accession no.481450
utilisation rating of over 90% and a reject quota of 0.24%.
HILTI AG Item 204
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; Plastics News International
LIECHTENSTEIN; WESTERN EUROPE May 1993, p.24-5
Accession no.498890 ONCE BITTEN, TWICE KEEN

Last year Addis Australia installed Enerpac Quick Mould are employed on a part-time day shift to inspect and
Clamping equipment on its new 1300 tonne Toshiba assemble parts away from the production floor.
injection moulding machines used to mould high quality YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.
plastic components for Hoover Australia. Die changes that JAPAN
used to take six to 10 hours now take less than an hour, it Accession no.475389
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 Item 207
650 tonne Toshiba injection moulder, which is used for Plastiques Flash
moulding Hoover products and large plastic houseware. 27,No.255,Sept./Oct.1992,p.42-5
French
ENERPAC; ADDIS (AUSTRALIA) PTY.LTD.
STATE OF THE ART IN MATERIALS
AUSTRALIA
MANAGEMENT
Accession no.480078
Details are given of automation and handling systems
(supplied mainly by Motan) used by Packard Electric
Item 205
Burgenland of Austria in the injection moulding of
automotive cable components.
20, No.6, June 1993, p.xvi
ANCILLARY SUPPLIERS DEVELOP A MOTAN PLAST AUTOMATION GMBH; PACKARD
SYSTEMS APPROACH ELECTRIC BURGENLAND GMBH; LUGER
GMBH; BATTENFELD AUSTRIA GMBH; SIEMENS
Piovan, a manufacturer of conveying, chilling, dosing, AG; ITV
granulating, drying and temperature control equipment, AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN
is experiencing continued growth. Size reduction EUROPE
specialist, Tria, saw its turnover increase by 3% in 1992, Accession no.475053
with around 40% of turnover generated from exports.
Increasing penetration of PETP, both into blow moulding
Item 208
and vacuum forming sectors, has provided new business
for Frigomeccanica Industriale which offers a range of
44,No.8,Oct.1992,p.85-8
dehumidification equipment and crystallisers. Piovan +
French
Star, a manufacturer of downstream handling equipment,
AUTOMATION: RAPIDITY AND PRECISION
now has a turnover of around L10 billion, with 60%
Topuz B
remaining in Italy. Sytrama specialises in 3D linear robots
and a range of associated automatic peripherals. A survey is made of developments by a number of
Production of BOPP film in Italy has driven demand for companies in control and automation systems for plastics
surface treatment systems such as Essecis corona processing, particularly injection moulding and extrusion.
systems. WORLD
ESSE-CI SPA; FRIGOMECCANICA INDUSTRIALE Accession no.473376
SPA; PIOVAN SPA; PIOVAN + STAR
AUTOMATION; SYTRAMA; TRIA SPA
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE Item 209
17,No.141,Sept.1992,p.65-7
Italian
Item 206 HAS THE FUTURE OF CONTROLS ALREADY
Modern Plastics International STARTED?
23, No.4, April 1993, p.18/22 Marschall U
LIGHTS GO OUT IN AUTOMATIC MOULDING Philips BV
PLANT
Mapleston P Developments in automation, computer control and
statistical process control systems for injection moulding
Yushin Precision Equipment is operating a lights-out machines are reviewed.
injection moulding plant in Japan. The plant is a fully
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; NETHERLANDS; WESTERN
commercial facility for making small food containers and
EUROPE
toothbrush cases. The injection moulding machines are
not linked to a central computer network, and the Accession no.473359
automatic guided vehicle and stocking units that handle
finished parts are controlled by a single personal computer. Item 210
The plant runs almost completely unmanned throughout Plastics and Rubber Weekly
the weekend and at night. During the week, personnel No.1477,20th March 1993,p.20-1

EASIER PROGRAMMING FOR KEEN MARKET Item 213

Plastics Technology
Pressflow has devised new and easier programming for
38,No.11,Oct.1992,p.56-8
its injection moulding robots. Design and construction of
STRAIGHT TALK ON BUYING PARTS-
special downstream equipment is growing and now
REMOVAL ROBOTS
represents 25% of company sales. The simplest model in
De Gaspari J
the Pressflow range is a modular sprue picker. Pacer is
the name attaching to Pressflows top entry robots other The factors to be considered when purchasing an injection
than of the CNC type and may be wholly pneumatic or moulding parts-removal robot are discussed in some depth.
electric or pneumatic/electric. The company produces all Factors examined include servo and pneumatic drives, end-
the software for its equipment. Parts produced on of-arm tooling, frame sturdiness, design flexibility, the level
Pressflows equipment include toothbrush handles, of sophistication of the controls, ease of maintenance,
vehicle door handles, wheel trims and housings. availability of spare parts and supplier support.
PRESSFLOW LTD. STYREX INDUSTRIES; SUPERIOR PLASTICS
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE EXTRUSION CO.INC.; PRO CORP.; MITCHELL
Accession no.472959 PLASTICS INC.; PRECISE PLASTIC PRODUCTS
INC.; CAL-MOLD INC.
USA
Item 211
Plastverarbeiter Accession no.466376
44,No.1,Jan.1993,p.38-41
German Item 214
COMFORT SOFTWARE FOR INJECTION Kunststoffe German Plastics
MOULDING MACHINE ROBOTS 82,No.10,Oct.1992,p.47-8
Ehrenweber R LARGE ROBOTS USED WITH TWIN
INJECTION MOULDING MACHINES
Robots today have to satisfy high demands in the
Henze H J; Munschek H
injection moulding process. The flexible adaptation to
Battenfeld GmbH; Gebrueder Otto KG
the process must not be at the expense of ease of
operation. At the same time, the highest degree of Large robots installed at large injection moulding machines
reliability must be assured. The best conditions for this exclusively for the removal of moulded parts are in the
are offered by a combination of menu-driven standard standby position for most of the production time. Ways are
procedures which can be selected from a programme described which utilise these already available production
library together with routines which can be freely resources for additional tasks. 1 ref.Translation of
programmed using the teach-in method. In conjunction Kunststoffe German Plastics, 82, No.10, 1992, p.964/6
with a large number of service routines, this permits EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
optimum utilisation of the robot. Accession no.466150
Accession no.471368
Item 215
Plastverarbeiter
Item 212 43,No.4,April 1992,p.52-4
Plastics and Rubber Asia German
7,No.43,Dec.1992,p.49 PRODUCING COMPLEX AUTOELECTRIC
YUSHIN HOT RUNNER SYSTEMS FOR HIGH PARTS
SPEED
It is reported that for TRW Messmer, a processor in
Yushin Precision Equipment Co.Ltd., a specialist maker Radolfzell and Austria-based Battenfeld, it was just the right
of robots for injection moulding machines, has recently contact - two fully automated injection moulding machines
concluded an agency agreement with SEP Co.Ltd., makers with a complete peripheral package for the manufacture of
of Thermo-con gate, the new hot runner system being automotive light switch assemblies were put into operation
favoured by Japanese automobile manufacturers. The in mid-1991 with no problems. Details are given.
Thermo-con gate is constructed as an ordinary pin gate BATTENFELD AG; TRW MESSMER
with a bush but no inner or outer heater. The hollow pipe- AUSTRIA; GERMANY; WESTERN EUROPE
like body of the gate is so designed that it transmits its Accession no.462219
own heat, so can be rapidly heated or cooled. The principle
on which Thermo-con gate is based is described.
Item 216
YUSHIN PRECISION EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.; SEP
JAPAN
Polimeri
13,Supplement 1,1992,p.85-8
Accession no.467345
Serbo-Croatian

INJECTION MOULD FOR SNACK TRAY Item 220

MOULDING OF ABS Plastics and Rubber Weekly
Rogelj V No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.12
ISKRA OTC AUTOMOTIVE AUTOMATION FROM ABB
The moulding machine includes an adaptable ejection It is reported that, through a complex process of
system, which is located on the stationary mould side to manufacture and sub-assembly, robots can often be found
prevent marking of the moulded parts by the runner adding value to injection moulding by turning it into an
system and ejectors. operation which produces trimmed, deflashed, semi-
SLOVENIA finished and finished parts. Brief details of robots made
Accession no.461011 available by ABB are presented.
ABB ROBOTICS LTD.
Item 217
European Plastics News Accession no.457549
Oct.1992,p.52
SWING CHUTES SPEED UP PANTHER PLAST Item 221
PRODUCTION Plastics and Rubber Weekly
No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.10-1
In fast cycling moulding applications, it is essential to
NEWCOMERS GUIDE TO ROBOTS IN
get the parts out of the mould as quickly as possible. It is
MOULDING
claimed that, unlike robot systems, Husky Injection
Smith A
Molding Systems simple demoulding chutes unload
within the moulding cycle. Details are given. The general categories of industrial robot on offer to the
HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS LTD. moulder are outlined. Aspects covered include sprue
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; LUXEMBOURG; WESTERN pickers, pick and place take-out devices, side-entry take-
EUROPE out devices, articulated turntable mounted robots, control
Accession no.459978 systems and cartesian devices.

Oct.1992,p.45/50 Item 222
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH ROBOTICS Plastics and Rubber Weekly
Cooke F No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.13
It is reported that, to consider robotics in the plastics WINDMILL PLASTICS ROBOTICS
industry only as a means of removal of a narrow and INVESTMENT CONTINUES
simplistic view; its contribution to improving quality is Raleigh P
much more important. A review of new developments Windmill Plastics, said to be the robotics industrys best
from various European manufacturers is presented. UK trade moulding customer in 1991, is to double its
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE; current production capacity, and to plan delivery of 15
WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL more robots to a new factory by June 1993. Brief company
Accession no.459977 information is presented.
WINDMILL PLASTICS LTD.
Item 219 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Plastics and Rubber Weekly Accession no.456840
No.1447,8th Aug.1992,p.13
PRESSFLOW MOVES FORWARD WITH NEW Item 223
CNC MACHINES Kunststoffe German Plastics
Pressflow, the UKs largest manufacturer of robots for 82,No.3,March 1992,p.3-5
the plastics industry, is reported to have about seven FROM QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS TO
models of machines which can be purchased off the shelf. MACHINE SETTINGS
The company also provides special units to suit Karlinger P;Buerkle E
individual customer needs. Details of this range are KRAUSS-MAFFEI KUNSTSTOFFTECHNIK GMBH
presented. Considerations about automation begin at the part and
PRESSFLOW LTD. tool design stage. Quality planning criteria are discussed,
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE including mould data which determine machine settings,
Accession no.457550 correlation of quality data and process parameters, timing

of quality planning, process-characteristic fields, process Item 227

tolerances, and analytical descriptions of characteristic International Reinforced Plastics Industry
fields. 8 refs. (Translation of Kunststoffe,82, No.3,1992, 9,No.6,Sept/Oct.1991,p.7
p.175-9). DIE CHANGING SYSTEMS TO REDUCE COST
GERMANY
Venture Pressings Ltd. of Telford has recently installed a
Accession no.454357 rapid die changing system in their metal automotive plant,
which utilises either rail-mounted trolleys or battery-
Item 224 operated carts. The die-changing operation is controlled
Plastiques Flash through a computer VDU, which automatically resets the
27,Nos.247/8,Dec.1991/Jan.1992,p.34-6 press for the particular die being used. Herwo Die
French Changing AB, who installed the Domino push-pull die
AUTOMATION OF AN INTEGRATED changing system at the plant, believes that such a system
MOULDER would benefit the SMC/BMC compounds moulding
industry.
An examination is made of the activities of Jaeger France,
HERWO DIE CHANGING AB; VENTURE
part of the Italian Magneti Marelli group, in the injection
PRESSINGS LTD.
moulding of dashboard components in ABS, PMMA,
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; SCANDINAVIA; SWEDEN; UK;
nylon 66, polycarbonate and polyacetal. Details are given WESTERN EUROPE
of automation systems used by the company, with Accession no.447061
particular reference to Albora industrial robots. Some
company information is presented.
Item 228
ALBORA; JAEGER FRANCE; MAGNETI MARELLI
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; ITALY; WESTERN Plastics and Rubber Weekly
EUROPE No.1429,4th April 1992,p.14
Accession no.454270 STORK L MACHINES FOR MCKECHNIE
Two Pressflow CNC seven-axis robots are reported to
Item 225 have been installed at the Pickering, Yorkshire-based
Plastics and Rubber Weekly factory of McKechnie Vehicle Components Division to
No.1431,18th April 1992,p.9-10 two Stork ST 550 tonne L configuration injection
TREND TO CNC ROBOT CELLULAR moulding machines. This is part of a 750,000 pounds
MOULDING IN FRANCE sterling investment programme carried out by the Division
Smith A to enhance its competitiveness, particularly against
Continental companies; details are given.
A growing trend in France to operate moulding cells with
MCKECHNIE PLC; PRESSFLOW LTD.; STORK
CNC robots running on gantries above a large space
PLASTICS PROCESSING MACHINERY LTD.
envelope, as distinct from being attached to the machines EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
themselves, is said to be apparent at leading French robot
Accession no.445441
manufacturer Sepro and two moulders in the Nantes
region. Details are given.
COMPAGNIE DES PLASTIQUES INDUSTRIELS Item 229
DE LOUEST; DRAFTEX INDUSTRIE; LAIRD Plastics and Rubber Today
GROUP PLC; SEPRO ROBOTIQUE UK; SEPRO SA Jan/Feb.1992,p.12
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; UK; WESTERN EUROPE ANCILLARIES TODAY
Accession no.447386 Smith J L
CONAIR CHURCHILL LTD.
Item 226 The use of ancillary equipment is reported to play an ever-

Macplas increasing role in improving the efficiency and
16,No.134,Dec.1991,p.95-6 profitability of a plastics injection moulding operation.
Italian From a small mould temperature control unit through to
ROLE OF AUTOMATION a full bulk materials storage and central vacuum
conveying system, ancillary equipment assists in reducing
Details are given of the Sistema PET automation system raw material costs and wastage, labour costs, improving
developed by Sytrama for use in the injection moulding quality and precision control and materials usage
of PETP bottle preforms. monitoring. An outline of ancillary equipment is
SYTRAMA presented.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE

Item 230 Item 233

Plastiques Flash Plastverarbeiter
No.244,Aug/Sept.1991,p.98-9 42,No.8,Aug.1991,p.50-2
French German
NEW BOUNCE FOR SER ROBOPLAST ROBOTIC SYSTEMS: POSITIONING
An examination is made of the activities of Societe FUNCTIONS NO LONGER A BALANCING ACT
Europeenne de Robotique (SER Roboplast) of France in Schafer J
the manufacture of industrial robots for the plastics injection The plastics processing industry makes extremely high
moulding industry. The company was formed at the end of demands on automatic handling equipment. The constant
1990 following the integration of Roboplast SA into the problems of achieving even better efficiency and even
Laroche Group, which also includes Laroche SA (precision greater positioning accuracy are accompanied by the
engineering and tooling), Diconex (electrical connectors), equally essential problem of keeping down costs.
and Videmo (injection moulded and thermoformed plastics Additionally, injection moulding machines have a cycle
cases for video cassettes) . Turnover figures and numbers time of 15 to 20 seconds. The use of highly dynamic drives
of employees are given for the four group companies. in such applications would be inordinately costly. A range
DICONEX; GROUPE LAROCHE; LAROCHE SA; of frequency converters has been developed for use with
NUM; ROBOPLAST SA; SANYO KASEI CO.; SER robotic systems providing a real time signal processing
ROBOPLAST; SOCIETE EUROPEENNE DE mode, programmable function linkage, externally
ROBOTIQUE; VIDEMO selectable data sets and self adjusting stabilisers for
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; JAPAN; WESTERN indexing and drives.
EUROPE
GERMANY
Accession no.440662
Accession no.435558
Item 231
Materie Plastiche ed Elastomeri Item 234
No.2,Feb.1991,p.80-2 Plastverarbeiter
Italian 42,No.8,Aug.1991,p.46-7
DICTATORSHIP BY ROBOTS German
HIGHLY AUTOMATED INJECTION MOULDING
Following a general review of the use of industrial robots
OF COOL BOXES
in the plastics processing industry, details are given of
industrial robots and compact injection moulding Coleman, manufacturer of leisure articles and camping
machines featured at the JP 90 International Plastics accessories, bases its production of over 4000 different
Exhibition held in Tokyo in November 1990. products on three plastics processes: PU, blow moulding
HARON; MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.; and injection moulding. Automated production of cool
NIGATA; NISSEI CO.; SAILOR PEN CO.LTD.; STAR boxes is discussed.
SEIKI CO.LTD.; SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES COLEMEN GMBH
LTD.; TOSHIBA MACHINE CO.LTD.; UBE GERMANY
INDUSTRIES LTD.; YUSHIN PRECISION Accession no.435549
EQUIPMENT CO.LTD.
JAPAN
Item 235
Accession no.437610
Kunststoffe German Plastics
81,No.9,Sept.1991,p.20-2
Item 232 ROBOT LINKED INJECTION MOULDING AND
Kunststoffe German Plastics ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS
81,No.10,Oct.1991,p.31-5
Kroth E
BLOW MOULDING PRODUCTION LINE
MASCHINENFABRIK REIS GMBH & CO.
Ast W
REGENSBURG,FACHHOCHSCHULE A production cell used for manufacturing a plastics
The important considerations in introducing automated brake fluid reservoir for the automobile industry is
production lines are discussed for a variety of operating described. Tasks carried out by the cell include feeding
concepts up to full integration. Examples of automation inserts to the injection moulding machine, removal of
in the production of injection moulding packaging part, cooling of part, sprue removal, pressing an insert
closures and accessories for fuel tanks are given. into place, placing the moulding in a welding machine,
Production lines for screen washer tanks, refuse bins, checking quality, conveying good parts, and disposal
packaging containers and drums are outlined. 24 refs. of rejects.
GERMANY GERMANY

Item 236 NO MAN OPERATION AND THE REDUCTION

Kunststoffe German Plastics OF MAN POWER
81,No.9,Sept.1991,p.18-20 Whittaker F
STANDARD GRIPPERS FOR AUTOMATED TEKMATEX MARUBENI LTD.
ASSEMBLY (Rapra Technology Ltd.)
Knapp A;Schmitz U
The No Man system for automatically controlling the
DARMSTADT,TECHNISCHEN HOCHSCHULE
companys F series of injection moulding machines is
Assistance is given in the selection of the central element described. The package consists of startup/shutdown
of a robot handling unit, the gripper, for the automated controls which allow for manual, automatic or restart
assembly of injection moulded components. The gripper procedures. A new dynamic barrier screw is employed to
is responsible for transmitting the force between the provide high kneading and plasticising action and the
handling unit and the workpiece for position and ability to monitor features of the screw operation. Start
orientation. Design and construction of mechanical and up conditions are stored on the IJECTVISOR central
vacuum grippers is discussed. 8 refs. processor.
GERMANY EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE
Item 237 Item 240

Plastics and Rubber Weekly Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference
No.1406,12th Oct.1991,p.13 Proceedings.
TOWERING STATISTICS FOR VIDEO Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 2. 831
CASSETTE PRODUCTION HIGHEST PRODUCTIVITY WITH BEST
Smith A QUALITY
Canovi P N
The Sears Tower in Chicago, 1454ft. high, is claimed to
SANDRETTO SPA
be the Worlds tallest occupied building; in the suburb of
(Rapra Technology Ltd.)
Northbrook, the automated injection moulding plant of
Tandy Rank produces a stack of VHS video cassettes as Improved productivity is illustrated by a case history for
high as this skyscraper every three hours. Details are the in-house moulding of fluorescent lamp holders
given. employing the latest state of the art equipment, including
USA automated materials handling, dehumidifying dryers,
Accession no.433638 injection moulding machines with advanced process control
and statistical process control, automatic mould changers,
robotic handling equipment and in-line quality control. The
Item 238 reason for the appearance of high reject rates is given.
Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
Proceedings.
Accession no.431771
Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 12. 831
OPTIMISATION OF THE MOULDING
PROCESS: FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Item 241
BETWEEN THE MEANS OF PRODUCTION AND Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference
THE PRODUCT Proceedings.
Valsecchi F Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 1. 831
MIR SPA MODULAR MACHINE CONSTRUCTION AND
(Rapra Technology Ltd.) AUTOMATION
Hind J;Manser P
An overview is presented of the extent of automation
BATTENFELD UK LTD.
equipment for mould or barrel changing and systems for
centralised production management and quality control
which is necessary in injection moulding. A practical An outline of the major trends of automation in injection
balance relative to the companys needs is stressed. moulding is given including just-in-time, quality control,
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; ITALY; WESTERN EUROPE traceability, flexible production, production cells and man-
Accession no.431782 less production.
Accession no.431770
Item 239
Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference
Proceedings. Item 242
Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 3. 831 Plastics and Rubber Weekly

No.1405,5th Oct.1991,p.20 Item 246

AUTOMATIC PRODUCTION WITH Plastics Processing-Recent Developments.Conference
TEAMLEADER GANTRY ROBOT Proceedings.
Hong Kong,24th June 1991,Paper 3. 8
A Teamleader electrical gantry CNC robot manufactured
AUTOMATION OF INJECTION MOULDING
by Controlled Automation Technology of Telford is
PLANT
reported to have been integrated with a Cincinnati
Pau K P
Milacron Vista VT 200 injection moulding machine at
CHEN HSONG HOLDINGS LTD.
Holloid Plastics for the automatic production of eight
(Hong Kong Plastics Technology Centre Co.)
different components. Details are given.
CINCINNATI MILACRON INC.; CONTROLLED The categories of moulding shop automation which are
AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY; HOLLOID discussed are: loading and unloading moulds; plastic
PLASTICS materials supply; setting of processing parameters;
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; USA; WESTERN EUROPE process automation; post processing automation (quality
Accession no.431674 control and packing).
HONG KONG

Plastics Injection Moulding in the 1990s.Conference
Proceedings. Item 247
Birmingham,15th-16th Nov.1990,Paper 19. 831 Canadian Plastics
PRACTICAL AUTOMATION OF STATISTICAL 49,No.3,April 1991,p.17/20
PROCESS CONTROL FOR INJECTION AFFORDABLE AUTOMATION FOR THE
MOULDING CUSTOM MOULDER
Windsor-Shaw T C Mason E
MANNESMANN DEMAG HAMILTON LTD.
Methods available to custom injection moulders to
increase their automation capabilities at an affordable cost
The subject matter is discussed under the headings of: are discussed and some control systems currently
objectives for automating SPC; implementation of available in Canada are briefly described.
automated SPC; and artificial intelligence techniques. 13 CANADA
refs. Accession no.427957
Accession no.431648
Item 248
Canadian Plastics
Item 244 49,No.3,April 1991,p.22-3
International Polymer Science and Technology MANUFACTURING CELLS SET FAST PACE
17,No.12,1990,p.T/35-54
The approach taken by a Canadian injection moulding
STATE OF THE ART IN AUTOMATION OF
company, Toronto Plastics, to automate its moulding plant
THERMOPLASTICS INJECTION MOULDING
is briefly described. The company has installed
MACHINES
manufacturing cells centred around a Kawaguchi injection
Zeman L;Neuhausl E;Pavlicek J;Linhart J
moulding machine for producing automotive components
(Full translation of Plasty a Kaucuk,27,No.2,1990,p.45) and is currently looking at a third, more complex cell with
CZECHOSLOVAKIA; EASTERN EUROPE microprocessor controls and quick mould change
Accession no.430609 functions.
TORONTO PLASTICS LTD.
CANADA
Item 245
Accession no.427956
Plastics Southern Africa
20,No.11,May 1991,p.22/50
STEP BY STEP TO COMPLETE AUTOMATION Item 249
Merki B Antec 90.Plastics in the Environment:Yesterday,Today
NETSTAL-MACHINERY LTD. & Tomorrow.Conference Proceedings.
Dallas,Tx.,7th-11th May 1990,p.2014-6. 012
Automated moulding plants utilising Netstal injection
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION FOR SMALL LOT
moulding machines are discussed and selection factors
PRODUCTION
are stressed.
Meckley J A
SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
ERIE,PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
Accession no.430607 (SPE)

Brief details are given of the use of automation to run a STEP BY STEP TO COMPLETE AUTOMATION
flexible injection moulding cell for small lot production. OF MOULDING
Emphasis is given to the use of standard mechanical and Merki B
electrical interfaces with adequate documentation. NETSTAL MACHINERY LTD.
USA
It is reported that process stability, accuracy,
Accession no.427470 reproducibility and reliability assume even more
importance in an automated moulding operation than
Item 250 in a conventional plant, because by definition no
Kunststoffe German Plastics personnel are present to take corrective action. About
81,No.4,April 1991,p.24-6 700 functions of the injection moulding machine are
IS THE USE OF FLEXIBLE PRODUCTION therefore continuously monitored in an Automated
UNITS AN ECONOMIC PROPOSITION? Moulding Plant operation; if anything is wrong, the
Henze H J process is stopped.
BATTENFELD AG SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
An analysis of the economic feasibility of an industrial Accession no.421590

robot and a mould changing system is presented. It takes
into account costs of investment, energy, manufacturing Item 254
and supply, additional space, repair and maintenance, Plaspro 89.Conference Proceedings.
mould, logistics and labour. 2 refs. London,7th-8th June 1989,Paper 11. 8
GERMANY INTEGRATION OF PROCESSING MACHINES
Accession no.424592 AND ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT CONTROL
SYSTEMS
Thomas P
Item 251 CONAIR CHURCHILL LTD.
Plastics and Rubber Weekly (IBC Technical Service Ltd.;British Plastics & Rubber)
No.1391,29th June 1991,p.12
VIDEO CHECKING PETP PREFORMS Computer integrated manufacturing is outlined which, in
this paper, incorporates processing machines,
Eurodata of Milton Keynes is reported to have developed dehumidifying dryers, hopper loaders, robotics,
an automatic 100% PETP preform inspection system temperature controllers, blenders, and granulators.
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. Accession no.420459
EURODATA LTD.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE Item 255
Accession no.424236 Plastics Technology
37,No.4,April 1991,p.70
Item 252 TURRENT ROBOT TURNS LEFT OR RIGHT
Plastics Technology Fallon M
37,No.5,May 1991,p.31/5 Huskey Injection Molding Systems is reported to have
AUTOMATED MOULDING AND TESTING introduced a new series of top-entry injection moulding
FACILITIES AID RESIN QUALITY CONTROL robots with a turret-style base, offering processors the
Gabriele M C flexibility of removing parts to either side of the press.
The use of automation and robots for testing by the Brief details are presented.
materials manufacturers is described. Hoechst is using HUSKY INJECTION MOLDING SYSTEMS INC.
an automated moulding cell to produce test bars under USA
precisely reproduced conditions. The cell is to be linked Accession no.420428
to an automated sample testing system. Bayer is
employing a similar set up.
Item 256
HOECHST CELANESE CORP. Plaspro 89.Conference Proceedings.
USA
London,7th-8th June 1989,Paper 2. 8
Accession no.423551 PROCESS IMPROVEMENT WITHOUT
AUTOMATION?
Item 253 Hamblin D
Plastics and Rubber Weekly CRANFIELD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
No.1378,23rd March 1991,p.10/22 (IBC Technical Service Ltd.; British Plastics & Rubber)

The extent to which resources are allocated to automation GMBH; METALMECCANICA PLAST SPA; STORK
in the plastics moulding shop is examined. PLASTICS MACHINERY BV
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE AUSTRIA; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; GERMANY; ITALY;
NETHERLANDS; WESTERN EUROPE
Accession no.420403
Accession no.417098
Item 257
Item 260
Plaspro 89.Conference Proceedings.
Improving Competitiveness through Plastics
London,7th-8th June 1989,Paper 1. 8
Innovation.Conference Proceedings.
AUTOMATION THEORY AND PRACTICE -
Boston,26th-28th Oct.1988,Paper D,pp.2. 831
HOW FAST DO THEY COME TOGETHER AND
THE PATH OF FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING:
HOW FAR APART ARE THEY AT THE MOMENT
PITFALLS AND POSSIBILITIES
Bowdon K
Mastro P
IKV AACHEN
XEROX CORP.
(IBC Technical Service Ltd.;British Plastics & Rubber)
(SPE)
The application of computer integrated manufacture to
A brief review is presented of the problems encountered
injection moulding plant is described. Examples of CIM
in the establishment of an operational plastic injection
to plants in Europe are presented. Costs are outlined,
moulding flexible manufacturing system for the
together with the necessary restructuring operations, such
production of business machine parts. Additional
as the introduction of quick mould changing, mould
possibilities for further improvements in and benefits
redesign and computer control of machines and parts
from this flexible manufacturing system which came to
removal. 22 refs.
light during the setting-up of the system are also
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN
EUROPE
considered.
USA
Accession no.420402
Accession no.411891
Item 258
International Journal of Materials & Product Item 261
Technology Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres
5,No.4,1990,p.376-86 42,No.4,May 1990,p.84-5
FACTORY AUTOMATION OF THE PLASTIC French
MOULDING SHOP AEG - A FLEXIBLE FACTORY
Toyoshima K;Ohki R;Yamanchi K;Kawase H;Nasuda A description is given of the AEG factory at Rothenburg.
M Its main features are centralisation of production,
SUZUKI MOTOR CO.LTD. automatic changing of materials, colours, moulds, and
Recently, the percentage of plastic parts used in motor injection units. The arrangement has been tried out at the
cars has been increasing and parts require painting to the manufacturers, Kloeckner Ferromatik.
same high standrds as car bodies. This has led Suzuki AEG AG; HEWLETT-PACKARD CO.;
Motors to reorganise its moulding and painting facilities KLOECKNER-FERROMATIK AG
into an integrated system automatically controlled by EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN
EUROPE
computers. Automation of the plastics moulding shop is
described. Accession no.410726
JAPAN
42,No.4,May 1990,p.78-81
Item 259
French
Asian Plastics News
WORKPLACE ORGANISATION: FLEXIBILITY
Dec.1990,p.19-20
AND QUALITY
INJECTION MOULDING - CONTROL
Guyot H
IMPROVES PRODUCTIVITY
The organisation of an injection moulding shop is
A report is presented on sophisticated automation and
described with details of robots commercially available
control options for injection moulding machines available
for feeding the machines, placing inserts, removal of
from European manufacturers such as Metalmeccanica,
mouldings and palletisation.
Battenfeld, Engel, Stork and Arburg.
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE
ARBURG MASCHINENFABRIK; BATTENFELD
AUSTRIA GMBH; BATTENFELD GMBH; ENGEL Accession no.410723

Item 263 Chicago,20-24th June 1988,paper 10,pp.13. 012

Antec 89.Conference Proceedings. EFFECTIVE INTERFACING OF PLASTIC
New York,1st-4th May 1989,p.224-7. 012 MOULDING MACHINERY AND ROBOTIC
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION IN INJECTION EQUIPMENT
MOULDING SHOPS - STATE OF THE ART AND Hamilton G
STRATEGY FOR INTRODUCTION APPLICATION AUTOMATION INC.
Von Eysmondt B (SPI)
INSTITUT FUER KUNSTSTOFFVERARBEITUNG
A detailed discussion is presented of the need for
(SPE)
standardisation of the interface between injection
Using mould changing systems as an example, the extent moulding machines and automated part handling
to which flexible automation has been introduced into equipment, e.g. robotic unloaders. It is shown that, by
industrial practice to date is considered. The trends in defining all variables and assigning all pin locations and
flexible automation that are emerging in the Federal logic, there is a greatly reduced chance of error andits
Republic of Germany are outlined. A method is described resultant problems.
for transforming a conventional injection moulding plant USA
into a flexible automated plant. 6 refs. Accession no.405714
GERMANY
Ausplas 87-Plastics Towards 2000.Conference papers.
Item 264 Melbourne,13-15th Oct.1987,Paper 16. 012
British Plastics and Rubber PLANT AUTOMATION INCLUDING JUST IN
Nov.1990,p.41/3 TIME
BE FLEXIBLE WHEN CONSIDERING MOULD Echardt H
CHANGE AUTOMATION (Plastics Institute of Australia)
Lowe A
The possible reasons for automation of the injection
STAUBLI UNIMATION
moulding plant is discussed and the steps required for its
The increasing demand from manufacturing industry for implementation are identified. Examples of automated
its components to be delivered as and when they are plant for particular products are included. The author
required on the assembly line is said to have put extra concludes that there is no future for injection moulding
pressure on suppliers to be more flexible in their own factories without automation.
manufacturing processes. Details are given. EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; UK; WESTERN EUROPE EUROPE
Item 265 Item 268

Plastverarbeiter Plasty a Kaucuk
40,No.7,July 1989,p.16-8 27,No.2,Feb.1990,p.45-64
German Czech
AUTOMATION. TANDEM ROBOTS FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART IN AUTOMATION OF
HORIZONTAL INJECTION MOULDING THERMOPLASTICS INJECTION MOULDING
MACHINES MACHINES
Huler A Zeman L;Neuhausl E;Pavlicek J;Linhart J
BATTENFELD AUTOMATISIERUNGSTECHNIK STATNI VYZKUMNY USTAV MATERIALU
GMBH Current trends in the automation of thermoplastics
A description is given of tandem robots which are systems injection moulding are described, focusing attention on
consisting of two robots having a common main axis. machinery and hydraulic and control systems. The state-
Their use with injection moulding machines with clamp of-the-art in machinery is illustrated by machinery on
forces below 1000kN and short cycle times is discussed display at the K86 exhibition in Dusseldorf. The present
and advantages of these systems outlined. state-of-the-art in Comecon countries and Czechoslovakia
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; WEST GERMANY; WESTERN is also outlined and future developments in machinery
EUROPE are considered. Articles from this journal can be requested
Accession no.408896 for translation by subscribers to the Rapra produced
International Polymer Science and Technology.
CZECHOSLOVAKIA; EASTERN EUROPE
Item 266
Accession no.404580
NPE88.Vol.1.Conference Papers.

Item 269 ROBOTS AT WORK

Innovations in Plastics.Proceedings of an SPE RETEC. Moreau J L
Rochester,New York,15-17 Nov.87,paper N,p.1-16. 012 SEPRO SA
COMPUTER MOULDING TECHNOLOGY IN
The trend towards the use of robots for the automatic
INJECTION MOULDING
unloading of horizontal plastics injection presses in Europe
Fricke A
and Japan is briefly discussed and the outlook for robots
HUNKAR LABORATORIES INC.
with advances in processing technology is considered.
(SPE,Rochester Section;SPE,Injection Molding Div.)
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; FRANCE; WESTERN EUROPE
The benefits that can be gained by providing existing Accession no.398851
moulding machinery with state-of-the-art computer
technology are described and the way in which this Item 273
computer technology will improve and transform the Swiss Plastics
injection moulding process is discussed. Consideration is 11,No.4,1989,p.37/44
given to closed-loop process control, process monitoring, German
automatic part sorting, statistical process control, early AUTOMATION IN PLASTICS PRODUCTION
warning systems and production monitoring systems. Meier M
USA ROBITRON AG
Accession no.402822
Automation in the manufacture, e.g. injection moulding,
of plastics products is discussed with emphasis on clean
Item 270 room conditions. Particular attention is paid to
Modern Plastics International developments in clean room manufacture of optic glasses,
20,No.7,July 1990,p.15-6 compact discs and packaging applications.
FLYING ROBOTS KEY TO MOULDING SWITZERLAND; WESTERN EUROPE
PROFITS Accession no.396816
Evco Plastics, a custom moulder, has invested in a totally
automated injection moulding plant employing a just-in- Item 274
time operation centred on the installation of a laser guided British Plastics and Rubber
overhead crane for quick mould changing. Further details April 1990,p.21/4
are provided in the article. ROBOTS SHOW HANDLING IS ABOUT MORE
EVCO PLASTICS THAN JUST MOVEMENT
USA
Advances in robots for product handling announced by
Accession no.401885 several manufacturers are reported. The Battenfeld
Pressflow demoulding robot is used in the production of
Item 271 Sony TV housings in integral skin PS. Hustys pick and
Plastics Technology place robot is for assembly operations. Robots for
35,No.12,Nov.1989,p.15-9 Metalmeccanica injection moulding machines can be used
TANDEM ROBOTS TEAM UP FOR COMPLEX for insert placing, demoulding and palletising by the
AUTOMATION JOBS machine. Robots from ATM Automation, Gosewehr,
Wittmann, Tria, Remak and Engel are mentioned.
Battenfeld are proposing tandem robot systems for part WESTERN EUROPE-GENERAL; WESTERN EUROPE
removal and follow-up operations with injection moulding
Accession no.395994
machines. Tandem robot systems are two robots sharing
a common main axis. Small machine applications are
appropriate because tandem systems are most effective Item 275
when cycle times are short. In these cases a single robot Macplas International
cannot keep pace with part removal and other peripheral No.7,May 1989,p.35-8
functions, including weighing, measuring, finishing and MOULDING IN THE FUTURE
packing. The article continues with examples of various This comprehensive article reports some innovations
tandem robot systems. introduced by Italian manufacturers in order to improve
BATTENFELD CORP.OF AMERICA the automation level in injection moulding factories.
USA ITALY; EUROPEAN COMMUNITY
Item 272 Item 276

World Plastics & Rubber Technology Plastics Technology
1990,p.163-4 36,No.2,Feb.1990,p.17

NEW PARTS REMOVAL ROBOTS FEATURE Item 280

SPEED, RELIABILITY AND Plastics World
PROGRAMMABILITY 47,No.11,Nov.1989,p.38-41
ROBOTS SAVE MORE THAN LABOUR
Sterltech has developed parts removal robots for injection
McCarthy L
moulding machines which feature dual vertical motion
and new microprocessor controls. The robots are designed The introduction of robots into American injection
for speed, accuracy and programmable versatility. moulding companies is increasing. The reason is not only
STERLING INC.,STERLTECH DIV. to save on labour costs, but to improve quality by
USA standardising cycle times. This is achieved by the time
Accession no.393620 saved in part removal from open moulds by operators,
which is ofter erratic. Robot sensors also indicate if sprue
Item 277 is present in the mould before closing. The article
Plastics Technology continues to describe robot types, tooling interfaces,
36,No.2,Feb.1990,p.15 training, maintenance, programming and other aspects of
STRAW-HANDLING TECHNOLOGY MOVES introduction.
INTO THE NINETIES USA
Accession no.390122
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 Item 281
phase of operation. In addition, the company has Poliplasti e Plastici Rinforzati
redesigned its automated straw wrapper to allow 37,No.378,May 1989,p.32-6
processors a choice of wrapping with film or paper. Italian
CONAIR GATTO PLAN, BECOME FLEXIBLE, AUTOMATE
USA Bauer R
Accession no.393473 Injection moulding shop organisation is discussed with
respect to machinery, moulds (including mould changing),
Item 278 self-contained production units (islands) and their
SPI/SPE Plastics-West.Conference proceedings. integration into an overall unit facilitating automation.
Las Vegas,20-22nd Oct.1987,p.3-5. 012 ENGEL MASCHINENBAU GMBH
ROBOTICS IN THE PLASTIC INDUSTRY SWITZERLAND
Healy J Accession no.385429
APPLICATION AUTOMATION INC.
(SPI;SPE)
Item 282
The use of robots in the injection moulding industry is Poliplasti e Plastici Rinforzati
discussed with particular reference to power supply systems 37,No.277,April 1989,p.28-31
for robots, manipulator arms and controllers. Basic criteria Italian
for selection of the correct robot are considered and future AUTOMATION, YES, BUT TAKE ACCOUNT OF
prospects for use of robots are examined. EXISTING FACTORY CONDITIONS
USA Bonfadini P
Accession no.392721
Automation of injection moulding, e.g. by adopting
automatic or semi-automatic mould changing, is discussed
Item 279 in terms of pre-automation factory organisation which
Modern Plastics International might be insufficiently flexible to ensure a satisfactory
20,No.2,Feb.1990,p.30-2 outcome. Technical details are described with reference
PROCESSING-LINE INTEGRATION CUTS to MIR systems.
COSTS, IMPROVES PRODUCT QUALITY
Kreisher K R MIR SPA
ITALY
This comprehensive article investigates the benefits of Accession no.385427
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 Item 283
ensure part consistency. Diagnostics enable operators to Plastics South.Proceedings of the Regional Technical
identify the causes of variation in moulding. Conference held Atlanta,Ga.,8-10th Oct.1986.
Brookfield Center,Ct.,1986,p.341-67. 012
USA
AUTOMATION IN INJECTION MOULDING
Accession no.392228 FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS - THE

COMPETITIVE EDGE optimising machine control units, automatic mould

Meyer W changing systems, exchangeable plasticising limits, as
BATTENFELD OF AMERICA INC. well as robot and handling equipment. Types of systems
(SPE;SPI) available on the market are described, their mode of
operation explained and their effectiveness assessed. 15
Details are given of flexible manufacturing systems for
refs.
the production of injection moulded parts. Topics
WEST GERMANY
mentioned include control equipment, computer control,
and standardising moulds and machines. Accession no.381665
USA
Plastics Technology
35,No.4,April 1989,p.31/5
Item 284
AUTOMATED INJECTION CELL SHUFFLES
Plastics South.Proceedings of the Regional Technical
NINE MOULDS
Conference held Atlanta,Ga.,8-10th Oct.1986.
Brookfield Center,Ct.,1986,p.212-7. 012 An injection moulding production cell from Battenfeld
AUTOMATION AND THE FUTURE FOR THE GmbH is described in detail. It consists of two 3-axis
PLASTIC INJECTION MOULDER robots on a single boom for removal of finished parts
Paradis J from the mould, degating, stacking, mobile mould change
AUTOMATED ASSEMBLIES CORP. system, mould storage, automated materials handling and
(SPE;SPI) an injection moulding cell with a hot-runner manifold for
two materials. It is reported that the system can change
Details are given of automation for injection moulding
any of nine multi-cavity moulds in less than 6 mins.
with particular reference given to parts removal robots. 3
refs. BATTENFELD GMBH
WEST GERMANY
USA
Accession no.377766
Accession no.385132
Item 288
Item 285
Can You Handle It?;Conference Proceedings.
Kunststoffe
Solihull,8th Dec.1987,Paper 8,pp.70. 125
78,No.10,Oct.1988,p.920-3
PLANT AUTOMATION INCLUDING JUST IN
German
TIME
FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION OF THE INJECTION
Eckardt H
MOULDING SHOP
BATTENFELD MASCHINENFABRIK GMBH
Menges G;von Eysmondt B
(Rapra Technology Ltd.;Elsevier Seminars)
INSTITUT FUER KUNSTSTOFFVERARBEITUNG
The reasons for automation in injection moulding are
Based on a survey conducted amongst plastics processors,
described and the steps taken towards automation are
machinery manufacturers, associations and institutes, an
listed with a large number of practical examples. The need
analysis is made of whether different concepts of flexible
for production in smaller quantities which must be
automation production technology are used in practice.
delivered exactly on given deadlines (Just-in-time) is
Results, which show that there seems to be some
shown to be a major factor in machine automation, part
reluctance in introducing such concepts, are discussed. 6
handling robots and production control systems.
refs.
WEST GERMANY
WEST GERMANY
Accession no.370013
Accession no.381666
Item 289
Item 286
Kunststoffe
No.1250,27th Aug.1988,p.13
78,No.10,Oct.1988,p.913-9
DOS AND DONTS IN USING ROBOTS
German
Slaton J R
FLEXIBLE INJECTION MOULDING
KENT PLASTICS CORP.
PRODUCTION
Thienel P;Berlin R Todays custom moulder is said to be facing more
NRW GMBH competitive pressure than ever before. The need to reduce
costs will force most seriously to evaluate the use of
Methods of increasing the flexibility of injection moulding
robotics in the moulding process. The sheet number of
plants are discussed. Systems considered include self-
units available combined with the wide diversity of

applications is reported to make the decision a difficult manufacturing to an increasingly diverse range of
one. An attempt is made to point out key areas to look at injection moulders. A review of recent developments,
during the stages of a robotics project: planning, available from various European and Japanese producers
purchasing, installing and operating. is presented; some emphasis is placed on compact disc
USA developments, electrical robots, pneumatics, integration
Accession no.368891 of downstream assembly operations, machine vision and
benefits for custom moulders.
EUROPE-GENERAL; JAPAN
Item 290
Plastics and Polymer Processing Automation.Papers Accession no.351068
based on 2nd International Conference,Polymer
Processing:Automation 86. Item 293
Park Ridge,NJ,Noyes Data Corp.,1987,p.103-12. 1121 Plastiques Modernes et Elastomeres
CONTINUOUS INJECTION MOULDING: 38,No.3,April 1986,p.108-9
TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY AND INVESTMENT French
Coppetti T INOVPLASTIC: THE ART OF AUTOMATION
(PRI)
An account is given of the activities of InovPlastic of
A study was carried out to prove that a completely France in the production of precision injection moulded
automatic injection moulding line was capable of meeting electronic, automotive and aircraft components in
the most exacting quality requirements with regard to engineering plastics. The companys automation,
moulded parts. This was accomplished by selecting two production management and quality control programme
very different mouldings, which were produced is also examined.
completely automatically (i.e. computer controlled), INOVPLASTIC
alternately on the same Netstal closed-loop injection FRANCE
moulding machine. The products were a tap insert made Accession no.317720
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 Item 294
necessary to produce a good quality part after an automatic Plastics Technology
change. 32,No.4,April 1986,p.97-100
HERES A LOOK INSIDE A SHOWCASE CIM
NETSTAL AG
WEST GERMANY
MOULDING PLANT
Kirkland C
Accession no.366557
Black & Deckers houseware and outdoor products
moulding and assembly plant at Easton is described. The
Item 291
introduction of just-in-time manufacturing, computer
aided design and manufacturing, preventive maintenance,
15,No.8,Aug.1988,p.22
a manufacturing resources planning system, electronic
AUTOMATION FOR SMALL MACHINES
message boards, robots and microcomputer controls have
The concept of automatic production cells centred around already brought about significant reductions in costs. The
50 tonnes injection moulding machines is considered. use of all these techniques is explained.
Buchsteiner set up an automatic production plant for BLACK & DECKER MFG.CO.
Ohropax, a manufacturer of wax ear plugs, for their USA
manufacture and packaging. The equipment involved is Accession no.309360
briefly described.
BUCHSTEINER GMBH; OHROPAX
WEST GERMANY
Item 295
Accession no.361498
12,No.11,Nov.1985,p.26/30
ROBOTS MEET STANDARDS FOR TOTAL
Item 292 AUTOMATION
Thermoset specialist moulder Healey Mouldings now has
18,No.1,Jan.1988,p.35-8
a robot fitted to every one of its eighteen thermoset
ROBOTICS APPEAL SPREADS TO A WIDER
injection moulding machines. A company profile is briefly
SPECTRUM OF PROCESSORS
presented.
Mapleston P
HEALEY MOULDINGS LTD.; PRESSFLOW LTD.
The latest developments in robotic handling equipment UK
are reported to be bringing the goal of fully automatic Accession no.302249

Item 296 Item 299

Automate or Liquidate;Proceedings of the PRI and British Plastics and Rubber
Knight Wendling Conference on Advanced March 1984,p.37
Manufacturing Technology. ROBOT REWARDS - PROFITS OR PROBLEMS?
Brighton,16-18 May 1984,Paper 20,p.20/1-20/6. 1121 Evans R
JAPANESE SCENE ENGELMANN & BUCKHAM LTD.
Morita A;Stokes P G
It is argued that the use of a robot on an injection moulding
LITTLE A.D.,INC.
machine will only be worthwhile if the machine is ready
(PRI;Knight Wendling)
for it. The robot is only an arm which removes parts from
The Japanese plastics industry is making considerable use the press, so the quality of the product, and the other
of flexible, automated manufacturing technology. The benefits, such as increased productivity, decreased labour
differing objectives of large multinational concerns and costs and down time and scrap, and safer workings
small companies are discussed with reference to the conditions, are all dependent on the performance of the
incentives to automate, which also differ for large and moulding machine. The relevant criteria for automated
small firms. General developments are described along injection moulding are discussed.
with justification for automation for both small and large UK
concerns, with special reference to injection moulding. Accession no.251266
JAPAN
Plastics World
Item 297 41,No.10,Sept.1983,p.50/80
Innovations in Injection Molding. Papers presented at INJECTION MOULDING-SEVEN SUCCESS
SPE Technical Conference and Seminar on Injection STORIES
Molding.
Details are presented on moves made by 7 USA companies
Brookfield Center,Ct.,24 Oct.1983,Paper 2B,p.2B1-
to modernise and reequip their injection moulding plants.
2B4. 831
The contributions of CAD/CAM, robots, tool changers,
HANDS OFF - INSERT MOULDING
computerised management control and automated
Ortberg D D
materials handling are considered.
CAPSONIC GROUP INC.
(SPE,Injection Molding Div.;SPE,Newark Section) AMITECH INC.; COMDIAL TELEPHONE
SYSTEMS; COURTESY MOLD & TOOL CORP.;
Some of the applications of auto-loading systems for insert COWAN PLASTICS; KIEHL ENGINEERING CO.;
moulding operations utilised by Capsonic Group Inc. are PIXLEY RICHARDS INC.; UFE INC.
discussed. The following seven methods of insert USA
moulding are considered:- into the tool, removable Accession no.240073
cavities or cores, strip moulding, breakaway strip, tape
strip, reel-to-reel and hitch feed.
USA
Item 301
Accession no.274233
No.996,16th July 1983,p.8
ROBOTS ARE PART OF THE SCENERY
Item 298 Bickel S
Plastics News (Australia)
Some company information is given for Healey
June 1984,p.11-2
Mouldings Ltd., one of the first major UK moulders to
DEMOULDING SYSTEMS ON INJECTION
install industrial robots as an integral part of their set-up.
MOULDING MACHINES
Listed are some of the various models Healey have
Karl H L
installed and their attitude to the future buying of robots.
COMTEC PTY.LTD.
HEALEY MOULDINGS LTD.
A brief review is given of the use of industrial robots for UK
demoulding systems on injection moulding machines. Accession no.235559
These systems can be coupled to periphery equipment
such as conveyors, buffer zones, cooling equipment,
stockpiling, deflashing, sprue removal and assembling
machines.
USA
Accession no.261117

Subject Index
Subject Index
A 39 41 44 46 49 51 75 90 97 98 39 65 71
99 100 112 136 137 144 147 BUILDING APPLICATION, 8 163
ABRASION RESISTANCE, 85 163 166 176 179 194 198 202 BULK COLOUR, 113
ABRASIVE MATERIAL, 2 235 236 271 274 BULK MOULDING
ACCELERATION, 87 97 139 144 ASSOCIATION, 20 44 COMPOUND, 227
166 AUDIO CASSETTE, 32 BUMPER, 16
ACCIDENT PREVENTION, 48 58 AUDIO EQUIPMENT, 2 128 BUSH, 162
ACCUMULATOR, 186 AUTOMATED, 62 198 232 235 BUSHING, 153
ACCURACY, 91 115 120 142 163 236 254 256 270 277 279 BUSINESS MACHINE, 15 90 166
ACETALDEHYDE, 33 AUTOMATIC, 80 119 152 290 260
ACQUISITION, 26 33 AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION, 2 BUSINESS PRACTICE, 45
ACRYLIC RESIN, 156 12 14 15 16 18 20 24 36 37 39 BUYING, 21
ACRYLONITRILE BUTADIENE 41 45 47 49 52 54 55 56 73 76
STYRENE, 2 49 66 89 113 114 79 80 85 87 89 100 104 108 113
128 142 207 216 224 229 290 114 119 124 126 130 132 135
C
ACTUATOR, 6 138 143 144 148 153 155 156 C-FRAME, 80
ADAPTIVE CONTROL, 110 166 186 190 193 206 207 210 CABLE, 207
ADDED VALUE, 106 115 212 215 224 225 227 228 230 CABLE CONNECTOR, 207
ADDITIVE, 2 36 54 110 187 231 235 248 258 275 279 293 CALIBRATION, 208
ADHESION, 80 AZOBISFORMAMIDE, 110 CAM, 181
AEROSPACE APPLICATION, 230 AZODICARBONAMIDE, 110 CAMERA, 144
AESTHETIC, 66 85 CAP, 168
AGEING, 8
AGENT, 32
B CAPACITY, 13 53 78 137 174 186
222
AGREEMENT, 100 BAG, 8 120 CAPACITY UTILISATION, 115
AGRICULTURAL BAG MAKING, 8 169
APPLICATION, 8 BALL SCREW, 133 CAPITAL INVESTMENT, 19 180
AIR CONDITIONING, 73 130 135 BAR CODE, 110 CARBON FIBRE-REINFORCED
AIR COOLING, 54 BARRIER SCREW, 239 PLASTIC, 7 20 33 44 69
AIR DRYING, 54 113 BASE CUP, 179 CAROUSEL SYSTEM, 110
AIR HANDLING, 163 BATH, 114 CARTESIAN, 20 24 32 33 39 44
AIR HOSE, 193 BATTERY, 203 48 65 66 71 78 79 85
AIR PRESSURE, 93 184 BAYONET FITTING, 52 CASE, 230
AIR-POWERED, 115 BEARING, 153 162 CASE HISTORY, 240
AIRBAG, 143 BELLOWS, 153 162 CASING, 18 86 166
AIRCRAFT, 293 BERYLLIUM, 187 CASSETTE, 32 139 196 230
AIRPORT, 86 BIAXIAL ORIENTATION, 179 CASSETTE CASE, 98 203
ALARM, 8 22 93 153 162 207 208 BICYCLE, 142 CASTING, 187
209 BIMETALLIC, 187 CATERING APPLICATION, 86
ALUMINIUM, 7 48 84 187 BLEND, 54 108 186 193 254 CAVITY, 15 94 109
ANALYSIS, 36 107 BLENDER, 28 191 254 CENTERING, 52
ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT, 2 8 BLOW MOULD, 179 187 208 209 CERTIFICATION, 2 8 43 55 66
28 31 32 33 34 39 44 48 53 54 226 232 234 279 113 114 193
65 71 76 79 95 96 107 113 119 BLOW MOULDING, 8 24 32 33 CHASSIS, 90
142 153 162 165 171 174 177 36 43 71 117 163 186 205 232 CHEMICAL INDUSTRY, 63
179 187 191 202 205 207 208 234 279 CHEMICAL RESISTANCE, 8 85
217 218 229 251 253 279 298 BLOWING AGENT, 110 CHILLER, 28 191
299 301 BLOWN FILM, 208 CHILLING, 229
ANTHROPOMORPH, 24 BODY PANEL, 41 87 CHUTE, 158
APPARATUS, 40 70 81 116 117 BOTTLE, 8 24 36 117 141 163 179 CLAMP, 151 186
118 121 127 170 173 203 226 CLAMP FORCE, 2 8 18 20 22 24
ARTICULATED, 9 41 83 87 130 BOX, 8 114 186 275 29 32 36 37 39 42 43 44 47 48
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BRAKE, 124 52 53 54 55 56 61 65 66 67 68
105 106 243 BRONZE, 187 71 76 78 79 80 82 84 86 87 95
ASSEMBLY, 2 13 20 24 32 37 38 BRUSHLESS DRIVE, 20 22 24 32 97 99 105 110 115 119 126 128
Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited 77

Subject Index
129 131 134 137 139 140 144 COMPUTER AIDED PROCESS 148 153 157 162 168 175 187
145 148 153 162 163 165 166 CONTROL, 36 110 148 153 193 194 195 196 202 203 207
186 190 194 195 198 208 265 COMPUTER AIDED 208 209 213 219 228 230 231
CLAMPING UNIT, 33 36 76 80 PRODUCTION CONTROL, 52 244 247 249 259 268 278 286
175 76 95 113 114 148 193 261 262 293 296 300
CLEAN, 207 COMPUTER AIDED QUALITY CONVEYING, 1 2 8 18 39 43 44
CLEAN ROOM, 24 85 110 165 CONTROL, 55 49 54 66 74 76 85 86 91 97 98
273 280 COMPUTER AIDED TOOLING, 108 113 116 120 126 128 140
CLEANING, 44 54 76 113 162 262 142 146 147 163 165 175 178
CLIP, 120 COMPUTER CONTROL, 2 7 8 20 179 207
CLOCHE, 8 22 24 32 33 36 39 43 44 45 48 CONVEYOR, 2 8 13 19 44 46 76
CLOSED LOOP CONTROL, 79 53 58 65 66 71 76 78 79 84 93 90 108 155 171 179 191 271
110 119 129 104 110 113 119 131 132 142 298
CLOSED-LOOP, 269 290 147 148 153 154 157 162 168 CONVEYOR BELT, 262
CLOSURE, 2 19 106 232 187 194 195 196 203 207 208 COOL BOX, 163 166 234
COATING, 85 97 209 211 227 228 229 230 231 COOLING, 3 7 23 32 33 34 36 44
COEXTRUSION, 8 247 248 257 269 275 276 283 52 54 78 90 95 110 141 146 163
COFFEE MACHINE, 86 285 286 290 293 294 178 184 203 212 226 244
COINJECTION MOULDING, 110 COMPUTER INTEGRATED COOLING SYSTEM, 34 52 187
113 MANUFACTURE, 128 209 COOLING TIME, 33 36 196
COLD RUNNER, 80 153 162 254 257 258 279 294 COPPER, 187
COLOUR, 15 54 104 113 186 261 COMPUTER NETWORK CORE, 110
COLOUR CHANGING, 113 231 CONTROL, 47 163 166 186 CORONA TREATMENT, 205
COLOUR COMPOUNDING, 54 COMPUTER NUMERICAL COSMETICS, 168 230
COLOUR STABILITY, 113 CONTROL, 2 20 24 32 39 43 COST, 4 11 12 14 15 21 22 26 32
COLOURANT, 36
44 48 65 67 68 69 71 74 78 79 36 38 39 43 44 46 48 49 51 52
COLOURATION, 207
84 90 92 97 104 105 119 126 54 55 65 69 71 76 77 80 82 87
COLOURED, 8
132 148 160 194 203 219 225 88 98 104 106 107 109 119 128
COLOURING, 54 110 113 142
COMPUTER PROGRAM, 55 129 148 153 165 174 182 187
COLUMN, 262
COMPUTER SIMULATION, 97 195 198 202 203 210 213 218
COMMERCIALISATION, 176
202 262 247 253 280 294 299 301
COMPACT DISC, 29 36 78 99 103
COMPUTER SOFTWARE, 83 160 COST ANALYSIS, 54 82 115 250
111 139 184 194 196 231 273
COMPUTER VISION, 11 COUNTING, 163
292
CONCURRENT ENGINEERING, COVER, 19 143
COMPETITIVENESS, 203 280
97 98 120 CRANE, 270
COMPOSITE, 2 7 16 20 33 44 69
70 80 108 109 137 140 207 227 CONDITIONING, 49 CROP PROTECTION, 8
255 271 CONNECTOR, 12 27 124 165 CURE TIME, 80
COMPOUND, 8 54 CONSISTENCY, 124 175 CURING, 85 162
COMPOUNDING, 8 54 187 CONSTRUCTION, 236 CURTAIN RAIL, 38
COMPRESSED AIR, 65 93 CONSUMPTION, 44 186 CURVILINEAR, 65
COMPRESSION MOULD, 208 CONTAINER, 8 19 20 39 91 179 CUSTOM MOULD, 247 280 292
COMPRESSION MOULDING, 24 196 203 226 CUSTOM MOULDING, 10 56 101
66 76 CONTAMINATION, 54 108 280 126 128 247 280 292
COMPRESSION PROPERTIES, 8 CONTROL EQUIPMENT, 21 37 CUSTOMER SERVICE, 145
COMPUTER, 15 90 300 51 68 82 91 92 96 97 98 99 103 CUSTOMISED, 29 120
COMPUTER AIDED ANALYSIS, 111 118 120 134 138 139 143 CUTTING, 39 61 79 86
36 107 144 147 148 153 157 159 162 CUTTING EQUIPMENT, 163 210
COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN, 52 163 166 168 175 182 186 187 CYCLE TIME, 4 7 12 15 18 20 22
57 75 110 187 294 300 188 193 194 195 196 202 203 24 26 39 42 43 44 47 48 53 54
COMPUTER AIDED 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 56 60 65 66 71 76 78 79 80 82
ENGINEERING, 36 209 213 215 219 228 229 230 231 84 87 93 94 96 97 98 99 106
COMPUTER AIDED 244 247 248 249 253 259 268 107 108 110 115 119 120 123
HANDLING, 261 269 278 283 286 287 288 293 124 129 131 132 134 137 138
COMPUTER AIDED 296 300 139 148 152 153 158 162 163
MANUFACTURE, 107 110 208 CONTROL SYSTEM, 2 7 8 20 22 166 167 184 194 196 203 214
211 261 262 290 294 300 24 32 33 34 36 39 43 44 48 52 222 237 265 271 280
COMPUTER AIDED PLANNING, 53 58 65 66 71 74 76 78 79 84 CYCLIC, 74
262 93 102 104 113 132 143 147 CYCLONE, 8

Subject Index
D DISPERSION, 36 ELECTROEROSION, 2
DISTRIBUTION, 47 201 ELECTROHYDRAULIC, 36 76
DASHBOARD, 224 DOMESTIC EQUIPMENT, 43 48 ELECTROMAGNETIC, 52
DATA COLLECTION, 174 66 77 86 113 156 163 186 204 ELECTROMAGNETIC
DATABANK, 271 206 INTERFERENCE, 39
DAYLIGHT PRESS, 153 162 DOOR HANDLE, 39 ELECTROMECHANICAL, 6 36
DECOMPRESSION, 184 DOOR PANEL, 56 120 ELECTRONIC APPLICATION, 27
DECORATION, 66 79 97 110 136 DOSING, 186 187 207 165 230 231 279 293
179 196 203 DOUBLE FLIGHT SCREW, 36 ELECTRONIC CONTROL, 20 53
DECORATIVE, 36 DOUBLE-ARM, 65 65 76 79 119 194
DEFECT, 153 DOUGH MOULDING ELECTROPNEUMATIC, 22 24 53
DEFENCE APPLICATION, 230 COMPOUND, 140 227 65
DEFLASHING, 61 171 DOWNSTREAM EQUIPMENT, ELEVATOR, 179
DEGATING, 56 67 68 106 115 136 179 210 ENCAPSULATION, 18
DEGRADATION, 8 DOWNTIME, 54 195 203 231 299 ENERGY CONSERVATION, 31
DEHUMIDIFICATION, 2 108 DRILLING, 200 110
DEHUMIDIFIER, 2 108 187 DRINKING STRAW, 277 ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 36 54
DELIVERY SYSTEM, 45 DRIVE, 32 61 65 115 213 65 76 93 105 126 132
DEMAND, 68 94 DRIVE MOTOR, 32 39 40 71 ENERGY EFFICIENCY, 103
DEMOULD, 3 6 23 35 114 119 DRUG PACKAGING, 8 ENGINEERING, 36
146 147 149 152 153 162 179 DRUM, 163 232 ENGINEERING APPLICATION, 2
181 183 184 187 194 195 202 DRYER, 2 5 28 33 54 108 165 187 54 66 110 114 142 175 184 202
203 217 220 224 226 230 231 207 254 207 224 231 293
271 272 298 299 DRYING, 2 33 54 85 108 110 113 ENGINEERING PLASTIC, 2 54
DEMOULDING, 7 19 20 32 36 39 137 142 175 187 205 207 66 110 114 142 175 184 202
43 44 48 52 53 55 58 65 66 71 DRYING TIME, 54 207 224 231 293
76 78 79 84 85 86 91 93 95 98 DUAL INJECTION MOULDING, ENVIRONMENT, 186 280
104 136 139 140 145 163 200 110 113 EPOXY RESIN, 187
214 271 298 DURABILITY, 213 EQUIPMENT, 2 4 5 8 13 19 26 28
DENSITY, 8 54 DUST, 8 33 44 46 50 54 62 64 73 76 90
DESIGN, 15 17 19 30 48 52 57 66 DUST CONTROL, 2 8 108 109 117 161 170 173 175
75 76 85 96 110 156 175 176 DUSTBIN, 186 192 213 238 240 291
184 191 201 213 236 DWELL TIME, 132 ETHYLENE-PROPYLENE-
DESIGN FOR MANUFACTURE DYE, 5 DIENE TERPOLYMER, 193
AND ASSEMBLY, 112 120 DYNAMIC, 60 ETHYLENE-VINYL ACETATE
DESIGN FOR RECYCLING, 76 COPOLYMER, 8
DETERGENT, 8 57 EXPORT, 198 205
DEVELOPMENT, 63 96 102 123
E EXTRACTION, 65
130 182 188 191 233 244 268 EFFICIENCY, 93 97 204 EXTRUDER, 8 191 193 208 209
DEW POINT, 33 142 EJECTION, 3 76 95 119 123 133 EXTRUSION, 8 24 28 38 43 163
DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATION, 147 149 153 162 179 184 185 193 205 208 209 231 277
106 144 279 194 195 216 262 EXTRUSION BLOW MOULD,
DIAMETER, 163 193 EJECTOR, 52 87 95 147 153 162 208
DIE, 121 133 153 181 193 204 184 EXTRUSION BLOW
DIE CHANGING, 227 ELASTIC MODULUS, 85 MOULDING, 43
DIGITAL, 8 76 182 209 ELECTRIC, 20 22 24 32 44 52 53 EXTRUSION BLOWING, 208
DIGITAL ANALYSIS, 107 61 65 76 79 92 105 119 EXTRUSION COATING, 130
DIGITAL COMPACT CASSETTE, ELECTRIC MOTOR, 32 39 71 76
74
DIGITAL VERSATILE DISC, 103
82 103 F
ELECTRIC MOULDING
DIMENSIONAL STABILITY, 124 TECHNOLOGY, 32 36 FABRIC, 110
175 ELECTRIC SWITCH, 215 FACTORY, 258
DISABLED APPLICATION, 114 ELECTRICAL APPLICATION, 27 FACTORY LAYOUT, 57 201
DISC, 29 36 78 99 103 111 231 45 113 137 147 203 207 215 FACTORY SERVICES, 256
273 292 230 FASCIA, 73
DISCHARGE, 179 ELECTRICAL DISCHARGE FAULT, 223
DISCOLOURATION, 54 MACHINING, 126 FAULT DETECTOR, 93
DISPENSER, 57 191 ELECTRICAL ENERGY, 76 110 FAULT DIAGNOSIS, 20 93 153

Subject Index
186 GEAR CHANGER, 142 HIGH-PERFORMANCE, 134

FEASIBILITY STUDY, 250 GEL COAT, 97 HIGH-SPEED, 7 20 32 39 43 44 48
FEED, 207 208 GLASS, 85 53 60 65 71 78 91 93 99 112
FEEDER, 2 8 54 71 76 108 165 GLASS BEAD, 207 134 148 152 182
179 180 187 191 GLASS FIBRE-REINFORCED HIGHLY-FILLED, 2
FEEDING, 2 5 8 24 50 54 60 71 76 PLASTIC, 2 80 97 108 109 124 HOLDING STAGE, 3
108 110 113 114 164 187 199 137 207 271 290 HOLE, 184
FIBRE-REINFORCED PLASTIC, GLASS FILLED, 12 HOLLOW ARTICLE, 24 43 110
7 20 33 44 GLOSS, 104 179 185
FILLED, 37 187 GRAB, 141 HOLLOW GAS INJECTION
FILLER, 2 54 GRANULATION, 79 MOULDING, 110
FILM, 8 130 203 205 208 277 GRANULATOR, 28 79 142 164 HONEYCOMB, 290
FILTER, 50 142 175 187 205 254 HOPPER, 1 8 54 229
FILTRATION, 8 GRANULE, 8 54 113 114 187 207 HOPPER LOADER, 254
FINISHING, 20 24 39 51 75 78 97 GRAVIMETRIC FEEDER, 8 76 HORIZONTAL, 20 33 43 44 84
99 114 186 200 271 GRAVITY, 184 148
FIRE ALARM, 125 GREENHOUSE, 8 HORIZONTAL MACHINE, 36 66
FITTINGS, 38 GRINDER, 2 28 187 95 265
FLAME PROOFING, 109 GRINDING, 2 54 101 187 207 HORTICULTURAL
FLAME RETARDANCE, 109 GRIP, 30 APPLICATION, 8
FLAME TREATMENT, 87 179 GRIPPER, 100 140 145 163 184 HOSE, 50 193
FLASH, 193 236 HOT RUNNER, 34 38 103 110 147
FLASH REMOVAL, 2 20 22 24 33 GROWTH RATE, 44 68 97 126 153 162 186 187 202 207 212
39 48 53 65 66 76 77 78 79 87 163 166 205 287
140 171 179 194 202 203 207 HOT STAMPING, 114
214 231 HOUSEWARE, 66 156
FLEXIBILITY, 60 213
H HOUSING, 210
FLEXURAL PROPERTIES, 7 HANDLE, 39 210 HYBRID, 115
FLOPPY DISK, 103 HANDLING, 4 5 6 8 11 13 14 17 HYDRAULIC, 36 52 76 80 95 151
FLOW, 15 18 19 22 25 41 48 49 51 60 62 153 162 193 195 231 244 264
FLOW METER, 33 64 72 73 74 87 99 104 108 113 268
FOAM, 34 110 163 166 187 116 117 129 130 132 135 139 HYDRAULIC CLAMP, 36 95
FOAMING, 208 141 144 147 153 158 162 163 HYDROLYSIS, 54
FOAMING AGENT, 110 164 165 166 171 175 177 179 HYDROMECHANICAL, 36
FOLDABLE, 1 181 187 189 192 201 202 203
FOLDING, 75
FOOD PACKAGING, 8 32 86 186
207 233 236 240 257 265 266 I
271 273 274 277 280 286 288
192 196 289 294 295 297 298 IGNITION, 138
FOOD-CONTACT HARDWARE, 174 IMPACT PROPERTIES, 85
APPLICATION, 65 114 116 HEADLINER, 56 IMPORT, 198
FORECAST, 44 HEALTHCARE APPLICATION, IN-HOUSE, 102 240
FORMING, 193 230 296 15 IN-LINE, 240
FRAME, 213 HEAT DEGRADATION, 123 IN-MOULD DECORATING, 110
FRUIT PACKAGING, 8 HEAT DISSIPATION, 39 166 192 196
FUEL HOSE, 193 HEAT EXCHANGER, 54 IN-MOULD LABELLING, 24 166
FUEL TANK, 232 HEAT RESISTANCE, 8 192 203
FURNITURE, 114 HEAT STAKING, 90 INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION, 8
FUSIBLE CORE, 36 110 HEAT TRANSFER, 212 INDUSTRIAL HAZARD, 58
HEATING, 7 48 52 54 73 80 95 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY,
G 130 147 162 206 212 4
HEATING TIME, 153 162 INJECTION BLOW MOULD, 226
GANTRY, 120 141 242 HEIGHT, 7 65 INJECTION BLOW MOULDING,
GAS INJECTION MOULDING, HIGH DENSITY 32 33 36
36 39 76 110 187 POLYETHYLENE, 129 186 INJECTION COMPRESSION
GAS-ASSISTED, 36 39 76 110 HIGH SPEED MOULDING, 24 32 MOULDING, 76
GASKET, 80 65 76 78 79 97 INJECTION PRESS, 153 162
GATE, 184 212 HIGH VOLUME PRODUCTION, INJECTION PRESSURE, 36 126
GEAR, 126 128 208 209

Subject Index
INJECTION RATE, 105 LABOUR, 115 157 175 MARKET TREND, 4 15 198
INJECTION SPEED, 36 110 196 LAMINATED FILM, 8 MARKETING, 47
208 209 LAMP HOLDER, 240 MARKING, 77 78 194 230
INJECTION TRANSFER LARGE-COMPONENT, 7 20 24 MASS PRODUCTION, 128
MOULD, 153 162 43 78 110 187 202 203 MASTERBATCH, 8 54 113 142
INJECTION UNIT, 76 78 80 175 LARGE-MACHINE, 22 32 33 44 186 207
INJECTION VOLUME, 36 48 53 55 76 79 110 MATERIAL, 5 50
INNER LINER, 166 LASER, 11 187 218 270 MATERIAL REPLACEMENT,
INNOVATION, 63 LASER CUTTING, 79 163 261
INSERT, 2 20 24 39 44 48 49 71 78 LASER SCANNING ANALYSIS, MATERIALS CONSERVATION,
79 80 84 110 114 119 120 194 107 110
203 230 231 262 LAW, 58 MATERIALS HANDLING, 8 42
INSERT MOULD, 80 130 132 148 LEAK DETECTION, 127 105 106 108 128 137 142 170
153 162 194 203 271 274 293 LEAN PRODUCTION, 153 171 180 186 205 206 207 287
297 LEGISLATION, 58 296 300
INSERT MOULDING, 2 10 12 14 LEISURE APPLICATION, 234 MATERIALS REPLACEMENT,
18 20 24 32 34 39 44 48 49 66 LENGTH, 163 261
71 78 79 80 84 92 104 107 110 LENS, 85 MEASUREMENT, 2 11 39 45 153
119 120 124 132 136 274 LID, 186 162 163 271
INSPECTION, 9 52 95 117 136 LIFTING GEAR, 162 163 MECHANICAL PART, 2 7 66 80
INSPECTION SYSTEM, 90 107 LIGHT, 20 85 104 114 114 153 162 184
120 LIGHT RESISTANCE, 85 MECHANICAL PROPERTIES, 7
INSTALLATION, 26 280 LIGHTING APPLICATION, 66 85 8 60 85 213
INSTITUTION, 60 104 MECHANICAL RECYCLING, 2
INSTRUMENT DIAL, 130 LIGHTWEIGHT, 7 110 54
INSTRUMENT PANEL, 224 LINING, 56 163 MECHANICAL STRENGTH, 109
INTEGRAL SKIN, 274 LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY, 20 MEDICAL APPLICATION, 15 19
INTEGRATED 22 76 53 55 114 120 159 179 196 230
MANUFACTURING LIQUID CRYSTAL POLYMER, 279
SYSTEM, 97 110 MELT PRESSURE, 105
INTEGRATION, 24 78 LOAD BEARING, 38 61 87 97 99 MELT VISCOSITY, 36
INTELLIGENT PROCESSING, 36 131 139 METAL, 7 80 108 227 297
INTERFACE, 266 280 LOADER, 28 METAL ALLOY, 187
INTRUSION MOULDING, 110 LOADING, 7 50 METAL DETECTOR, 108
INVENTORY, 96 LOST-CORE PROCESS, 144 METAL INJECTION
INVESTMENT, 5 8 14 15 21 26 38 LOW DENSITY MOULDING, 39
42 78 102 113 114 126 128 137 POLYETHYLENE, 8 METAL INSERT, 2 20 24 48 49 80
150 155 165 175 197 198 199 LUBRICATION, 93 110 114 120 153 162 194 203
222 228 251 290 METAL REPLACEMENT, 33 41
IONISATION, 52 126 186
M METALLISING, 24
J MACHINE GUARD, 58 METERING, 142 165 180 186
MACHINE SHUTDOWN, 239 MICRO INJECTION, 110
JEWEL BOX, 29 99 103 106 112 MACHINE START-UP, 239 MICROCOMPUTER, 294
JOINING, 38 MACHINE TOOL, 53 MICROPROCESSOR, 7 20 44 48
JOINT, 2 MACHINING, 2 15 24 39 44 48 79 65 71 76 78 79 84 93 191 203
JOINT VENTURE, 194 203 126 129 136 187 194 208 209 228 229 231 248 298
JUST-IN-TIME, 52 55 79 102 128 MAGNETIC, 52 300
199 200 241 267 270 288 MAINTENANCE, 22 39 43 52 54 MINERAL FILLER, 2
55 65 76 84 95 110 144 159 191 MIXER, 187
K 213 280 294 MIXING, 8 54 101 164 180 186
MANAGEMENT, 45 201 293 300 187 205
KINEMATIC, 39 83 MANIFOLD, 144 MOBILE PHONE, 4 13 14
KNEADING, 239 MANIPULATOR, 2 20 22 24 32 33 MODEL, 88
39 43 44 48 53 58 65 71 76 78 MODEM, 144
79 84 119 MODERNISATION, 300
L MARKET, 20 44 198 205 MODULAR, 13 20 24 34 48 65 71
LABELLING, 20 24 32 43 179 203 MARKET GROWTH, 4 15 44 76 84 93 100 153 160 162 194

Subject Index
210 231 MOULDINGS, 170 PACKING, 38 51 92 97 98 99 120

MOISTURE, 54 MULCH, 8 137 163 246
MOISTURE CONTENT, 142 MULTIARM, 53 PAINTING, 20 24 39 110 258
MOISTURE CONTROL, 2 MULTIAXIAL, 61 82 87 97 166 PALLET, 20 45 86 139 163 170
MOISTURE REMOVAL, 54 MULTIAXIAL ORIENTATION, 176 189
MOLECULAR SIEVE, 54 135 PALLETISING, 7 9 10 24 32 39 48
MONITORING, 90 107 126 153 MULTICAVITY MOULD, 33 47 58 65 74 78 79 84 86 92 131
174 218 239 241 251 269 271 65 71 79 110 129 152 153 162 132 165 179 194 203
300 179 187 194 207 287 PANEL, 130
MOTOR, 32 39 40 43 71 109 213 MULTICOLOUR MOULD, 36 39 PAPER, 277
MOULD CARRIAGE, 141 76 110 PARALLELISM, 39 80
MOULD CARRIER, 55 153 162 MULTICOMPONENT, 34 59 PARISON, 24 141 186
MOULD CAVITY, 6 35 184 297 MULTILAYER FILM, 8 PART REMOVAL, 7 20 22 24 32
MOULD CHANGING, 7 9 20 24 MULTIMATERIAL MOULDING, 37 38 39 41 43 44 48 51 53 55
25 32 43 52 55 65 69 76 78 79 34 36 53 110 139 56 58 61 68 75 77 82 87 90 91
84 95 110 128 147 148 153 162 92 96 97 98 99 106 120 128
173 187 193 194 195 196 199 137 138 139 140 180
202 204 207 208 224 231 238
N PART WEIGHT, 56 144
240 246 248 250 253 255 257 NEEDLE, 120 PARTING LINE, 184
261 262 263 264 270 275 281 NICKEL, 184 PARTS CONSOLIDATION, 19
282 286 287 288 290 296 300 NITROGEN, 110 PERFORATION, 44
MOULD CLAMPING, 76 95 153 NOISE REDUCTION, 2 20 24 76 PERFORMANCE, 5
162 195 204 110 PETRI DISH, 99
MOULD CLEANING, 79 95 148 NON-CONTACT, 58 PHARMACEUTICAL
153 162 187 NOZZLE, 34 153 162 187 208 APPLICATION, 8
MOULD CLOSING, 6 36 59 76 80 NUCLEAR APPLICATION, 114 PHENOLIC RESIN, 66
158 208 209 PHOTOCELL, 48
MOULD COOLING, 36 52 95 110 PICK-AND-PLACE, 24 53 56 61
148 153 184 187 196 O 71 92 97 98 99 106 115 120
MOULD CORE, 35 76 81 153 OFF LINE, 44 148 PICKING, 172
MOULD CYCLE, 7 20 22 24 39 OFFICE EQUIPMENT, 113 PILLAR, 37
43 44 53 54 66 71 76 78 79 80 OIL HOSE, 193 PIPE, 186
108 110 132 148 152 153 162 OIL-COOLED, 33 PIPE FITTING, 129 166
184 196 290 OIL-FREE, 76 93 PISTON, 36 80 86
MOULD DESIGN, 48 76 96 110 OPEN MOULD, 97 280 PIVOT, 3 120
175 180 184 187 202 257 OPEN TIME, 124 PLANNING, 189
MOULD FILLING, 36 110 184 OPTIC FIBRE, 202 230 PLANT, 8 15 26 32 45 46 53 66 78
209 244 OPTICAL APPLICATION, 85 273 109 114 198 201 206 245 246
MOULD FIXING, 52 OPTICAL DISC, 29 36 78 99 103 260 270 279 300
MOULD HEATING, 7 52 95 147 111 184 292 PLANT CONSTRUCTION, 126
148 153 162 187 193 195 OPTICAL PROPERTIES, 54 104 128 165 197
MOULD INSERT, 48 71 76 84 87 113 202 PLANT EXPANSION, 114 120
138 OPTICAL SENSOR, 107 222
MOULD MAKING, 2 53 126 OPTIMISATION, 182 223 PLANT START-UP, 142 186
MOULD OPENING, 7 24 43 44 59 ORIENTATION, 91 135 PLASMA TREATMENT, 220
80 115 153 158 184 208 ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT, 15 PLASTICISATION, 36 76 110 196
MOULD RELEASE AGENT, 78 OUTPUT, 18 42 47 98 128 129 210 208 244
87 237 PLASTICISE, 239 244 286
MOULD REMOVAL, 213 OUTSERT MOULDING, 110 PLASTICISING, 153 162 239 286
MOULD TEMPERATURE, 7 33 OVERMOULDING, 80 130 132 PLATEN, 47 52 55 153 162
34 80 84 142 147 157 175 180 PLUG, 49
MOULDED-IN, 168 PLUMBING APPLICATION, 129
MOULDING COMPOUND, 54 P PLUNGER, 184
252 PACKAGING, 2 8 9 14 20 24 32 PNEUMATIC, 2 20 22 24 32 39 43
MOULDING FAULT, 153 216 34 36 39 86 91 106 114 117 136 44 48 53 58 61 65 66 69 71 78
MOULDING PRESSURE, 36 208 139 179 186 194 196 203 206 79 82 84 86 92 93 108 119 131
209 216 226 230 232 262 271 273 194 202 203 292 298
MOULDING TIME, 71 275 291 PNEUMATIC CONVEYANCE,

Subject Index
163 207 PREPREG, 194 203 226 251 160 280

POLYACETAL, 2 66 114 126 142 PRESS, 42 198 255 262 264 PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC
184 224 PRESS-FIT, 106 CONTROLLER, 20 22 47 79
POLYAMIDE, 2 12 54 66 80 114 PRESSURE, 93 184 142 203
126 137 142 184 193 207 224 PRESSURE CONTROL, 36 105 PROGRAMMING, 20 32 33 166
229 208 209 PROJECT MANAGEMENT, 120
POLYAMIDE-11, 193 PRICE, 4 25 44 47 51 53 61 67 68 PROPERTIES, 7 8 36 54 85 104
POLYAMIDE-12, 193 99 119 126 134 144 150 198 113
POLYAMIDE-6, 207 206 PROTECTION, 58
POLYAMIDE-6,6, 207 224 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD, 10 PROTECTIVE COATING, 85
POLYBUTYLENE PRINTER, 126 PROTOTYPE, 15 85 98 138 187
TEREPHTHALATE, 124 210 PRINTING, 2 8 24 44 66 79 86 90 PUMP, 2 8 114 204
POLYCARBONATE, 56 66 85 89 114 120 179 186 194 230 PURCHASE, 21 26
114 128 137 142 213 224 229 PROBE, 208 PURCHASING, 21 213 280
271 279 290 PROBLEM PREVENTION, 107 PURGING, 148
POLYETHYLENE, 8 114 129 179 174 289 301 PURIFICATION, 52
186 203 PROBLEM SOLVING, 174 PUSH-PULL, 227
POLYETHYLENE PROCESS, 5 8 15 24 34 39 54 71
TEREPHTHALATE, 2 24 32 79 83 85 86 88 94 108 109 123
33 36 117 179 194 203 205 226 PROCESS CONTROL, 36 65 110
Q
229 251 113 148 153 188 209 211 240 QUALITY ASSURANCE, 2 8 43
POLYMERIC GLASS, 273 257 55 66 113 114 128 200 271
POLYMETHYL PRODUCT DESIGN, 66 76 85 110 QUALITY CONTROL, 2 7 8 20 24
METHACRYLATE, 104 114 145 27 32 36 39 43 44 48 49 53 55
190 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, 96 65 66 76 78 80 84 86 90 93 96
POLYPHENYLENE ETHER, 2 130 97 104 105 107 113 114 117
POLYPHENYLENE OXIDE, 2 PRODUCT HANDLING, 131 142 119 122 125 126 128 132 136
POLYPHENYLENE SULFIDE, 66 170 137 143 147 150 163 169 193
POLYPROPYLENE, 2 37 53 54 66 PRODUCTION, 4 26 44 46 94 109 196 202 207 208 209 215 218
114 168 179 192 193 205 207 128 182 198 214 234 237 291 223 230 235 237 238 240 241
POLYSTYRENE, 66 98 103 113 PRODUCTION CAPACITY, 13 53 242 243 246 251 262 269 271
114 128 163 166 78 137 222 279 290 293 294
POLYURETHANE, 234 PRODUCTION CELL, 10 18 19 QUICK MATERIALS
POLYVINYL CHLORIDE, 38 163 24 29 32 37 38 39 48 49 53 65 CHANGING, 54
179 78 79 80 90 95 96 97 98 102 QUICK MOULD CHANGING, 9
POLYVINYLBENZENE, 103 112 114 115 129 130 134 161 20 43 52 76 79 95 110 137 138
PORTABLE, 2 174 166 168 190 235 241 140 147 148 151 173 187 195
POSITIONING, 11 20 22 39 48 60 PRODUCTION CONTROL, 52 53 207 208 253 257 264 270
65 84 104 76 95 113 114 148 193 208 QUICK PRODUCT CHANGING,
POST-COOLING, 32 33 PRODUCTION COST, 21 38 48 52 95
POST-MOULD, 96 106 136 166 54 55 69 76 77 80 82 119 129
POWER SUPPLY, 278 148 150 175 180 190
PRE-COLOURED, 113 PRODUCTION LINE, 63 232
R
PRE-DRYING, 54 187 PRODUCTION PLANNING, 223 RAPID PROTOTYPING, 15 98
PRE-HEAT, 208 261 238 281 289 RATIONALISATION, 161
PRECISION, 7 8 20 24 32 39 43 PRODUCTION RATE, 12 29 32 RAW MATERIAL, 5 108
44 48 53 65 78 84 93 104 119 38 49 54 63 98 103 106 163 REAL TIME, 48 65 95 105 110
132 194 242 166 RECLAIM, 2 8 34 54 76 108 113
PRECISION ENGINEERING, 230 PRODUCTIVITY, 20 21 36 39 42 207
PRECISION MOULD, 184 208 43 44 52 54 56 61 65 66 77 79 RECORDING MEDIA, 237
231 293 80 82 85 95 96 106 110 124 132 RECYCLABILITY, 85
PRECISION MOULDING, 110 136 137 148 151 161 190 193 RECYCLED CONTENT, 113 137
175 194 196 199 240 259 280 296 RECYCLING, 2 8 54 66 76 79 85
PREDRYING, 54 299 300 101 108 142 164 187 193 205
PREFORM, 24 32 33 36 153 162 PROFILE, 7 123 163 207
194 203 226 251 PROFIT, 103 198 REFLECTOR, 20 140
PREHEATING, 48 52 95 147 193 PROFITABILITY, 42 169 REFRIGERATOR, 26
195 PROGRAMMABLE, 9 53 61 134 REFUSE CONTAINER, 39 186

Subject Index
232 RUNNER SEPARATION, 118 142 SIZE, 15 28

REGRIND, 108 142 186 RUNNERLESS MOULDING, 34 SIZE REDUCTION, 205
REGULATION, 76 287 SKIN, 110
REINFORCED PLASTIC, 2 7 16 SLIDING TABLE, 137 153 162
20 33 44 69 70 80 108 109 137 SMALL COMPONENT, 20 22 24
140 207 227 255 271
S 39 54 79 110 187 207 208 231
REINFORCEMENT, 80 SAFETY, 7 19 24 39 42 44 46 48 SNAP-FIT, 30 98
REJECT, 153 162 56 58 71 76 82 167 280 289 SOFTWARE, 2 20 22 24 36 37 39
REJECT RATE, 47 82 128 140 SAMPLING, 223 47 51 55 58 83 93 115 131 137
RELEASE AGENT, 78 87 SANDWICH MOULDING, 110 148 163 174 190 202 208 209
RELIABILITY, 60 211 213 113 210 211 271
REMOTE CONTROL, 22 24 79 SANITARYWARE, 114 SOLIDIFICATION, 184
REMOVABLE, 1 81 297 SCRAP, 2 8 54 66 71 76 79 80 108 SPECIFICATION, 15 21 109
REMOVAL TOOL, 60 187 193 196 202 207 299 SPEED, 4 7 15 20 24 39 42 43 44
REPAIR, 26 65 95 SCRAP REDUCTION, 26 71 80 96 48 51 53 58 61 65 66 71 93 97
REPAIRING, 144 124 126 196 120 131 139 144 148 163 166
REPEATABILITY, 39 65 97 105 SCRATCH RESISTANCE, 85 179 194
126 175 SCREEN, 8 SPIGOT, 38
REPLACEABLE, 1 SCREW, 36 SPRAY DRYING, 2 33 54 85 108
REPLACEMENT, 213 300 SCREW DESIGN, 36 110 113
REPOSITIONING, 59 SCREW DIAMETER, 36 SPRAYING, 78
REPRODUCIBILITY, 60 SCREW EXTRUDER, 208 SPRUE, 5 46 89 149 153 162 184
RESEARCH, 71 78 191 SCREW GEOMETRY, 231 210 221 271 280
RESIDENCE TIME, 132 SCREW LENGTH, 36 SPRUE BUSH, 184
RESIDUAL MOISTURE, 54 SCREW PLASTICISATION, 36 76 SPRUE SEPARATION, 9 25 49 67
RESTRUCTURING, 257 SCREW SPEED, 208 87 124 131 137 139 163 180
RETRACTION, 262 SEAL, 2 80 120 153 162 SPRUE SEPARATOR, 11 51 61 68
RETROFIT, 123 131 137 210 SEALING, 184 82 97 99 101 134 144 145 165
RHEOLOGY, 36 SEAT, 10 114 166 175
ROBOT, 2 4 5 7 9 10 11 12 13 14 SELF-DRYING, 2 33 54 85 108 STACK MOULD, 29 59 65 97 99
15 16 17 18 19 20 22 24 25 26 110 113 120
29 30 32 33 34 35 37 38 39 41 SELF-LUBRICATING, 93 STACKABLE, 8
42 43 44 46 48 49 51 53 55 56 SELF-REGULATION, 76 STACKING, 24 131 137
58 59 60 61 62 63 65 66 67 68 SEMI-AUTOMATIC, 52 119 148 STANDARD, 15 21 109 194 207
69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 195 STANDARDISATION, 137 266
79 80 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 SENSOR, 7 24 32 36 39 44 48 76 279
90 91 92 93 94 96 97 98 99 100 78 79 86 107 108 138 140 153 STATISTICAL PROCESS
101 102 103 104 106 109 110 162 179 203 208 209 280 CONTROL, 36 65 90 113 193
111 112 113 114 115 119 120 SEPARATION, 149 208 209 237 240 243 269
121 122 123 124 125 128 129 SEQUENTIAL INJECTION STATISTICS, 4 20 44 68 82 94 115
130 131 132 133 134 135 136 MOULDING, 110 126 198 199 205 231 280 296
138 139 140 142 143 144 145 SERVICE LIFE, 60 71 STEEL, 7 84 187
150 157 160 163 165 166 168 SERVICING, 21 STEREOLITHOGRAPHY, 187
175 176 181 182 186 198 200 SERVO DRIVE, 60 STIFFNESS, 7
205 206 210 212 214 233 235 SERVO MOTOR, 9 20 24 32 39 43 STORAGE, 5 8 52 54 95 108 113
236 250 252 259 265 266 272 44 53 61 65 66 68 78 79 82 85 114 176 180 205
274 278 279 280 286 292 296 88 91 92 97 98 99 102 103 105 STRENGTH, 213
300 106 110 115 119 120 126 131 STRIPPING STATION, 185
ROBOT ARM, 7 20 32 33 39 44 48 132 134 139 144 148 158 160 STROKE, 61
53 58 65 66 69 71 78 79 86 93 166 194 203 STRUCTURAL FOAM
118 148 194 202 213 230 SETTING UP, 223 279 MOULDING, 110
ROTARY MACHINE, 179 SHIPMENT, 198 SUBSIDIARY, 33 193 207 225
ROTATING DRUM, 54 SHOCK ABSORBER, 45 SUCTION, 93 100
ROTATING TABLE, 12 18 24 39 SHOT CAPACITY, 80 SUCTION CUP, 158
52 71 79 80 138 148 187 231 SHRINK WRAPPING, 8 163 SURFACE TREATMENT, 2 8 20
ROTATION, 121 133 144 181 SILK SCREEN, 2 66 179 22 24 33 39 44 48 53 66 76 78
RUBBER-MODIFIED, 193 SILO, 8 54 186 79 85 86 110 114 171 179 194
RUNNER, 149 153 162 164 216 SINTERING, 187 196 202 203 205 207 230

Subject Index
SURGICAL APPLICATION, 230 TOUCH SCREEN, 8 VEHICLE SEAT, 10

279 TRANSFER PRINTING, 179 VEHICLE TRIM, 100 228
SWAN-NECK ROBOT, 77 135 TRANSLUCENCY, 104 VELOCITY, 87 91 183
SWITCH, 12 TRANSPARENCY, 202 VERTICAL, 7 20 32 33 43 44 53
SWITCHGEAR, 137 TRANSPARENT, 8 65 84 93 148 262
SYRINGE, 179 TRANSPORTATION, 3 109 132 VERTICAL MACHINE, 24 36 95
170 179 189 138 153 162
TRAY, 4 86 109 216 VIBRATION WELDING, 66
T TREND, 157 244 263 268 272 VIBRATORY FEEDER, 71
TAKE-OFF, 3 141 176 213 216 TRIMMING, 10 61 VIDEO CASSETTE, 230 237
262 265 TROUBLESHOOTING, 289 301 VIRGIN POLYMER, 50 54 101
TAKE-OFF SYSTEM, 100 134 TRUCK, 56 108 186 207
158 165 166 178 276 TUBE, 163 VIRTUAL REALITY, 68
TAKE-OUT, 115 TURNKEY SYSTEM, 13 21 120 VISCOSITY, 36
TAKEOVER, 26 33 193 TURNOVER, 11 32 33 52 53 71 78 VOLUMETRIC, 113
TALC, 54 113 114 145 193 205 207 210 VULCANISATION, 80 153 162
TAMPO PRINTING, 66 79 86 114 222 224 230 VULCANISATION TIME, 80
TANDEM, 265 271 TURRET, 121
TWIN-PLATEN, 55
TAP, 114 290
TWO-ARM, 24
W
TARGET, 26 94 109
TELECOMMUNICATION TWO-CAVITY, 37 53 153 162 WAGES, 157
APPLICATION, 4 14 TWO-COLOUR, 104 WALL, 186
TELEPHONE, 113 TWO-COLOUR INJECTION WALL THICKNESS, 7 56 109 196
TELESCOPIC, 7 20 24 32 33 44 MOULDING, 24 34 76 104 WASHER, 80
65 78 79 93 162 TWO-COMPONENT, 130 WASHING MACHINE, 45 48
TEMPERATURE, 7 33 54 123 140 TWO-MATERIAL INJECTION WASTE, 2 8 76 79 108
TEMPERATURE CONTROL, 7 33 MOULDING, 24 34 66 76 80 WASTE BIN, 139
34 54 84 142 147 175 180 187 113 WASTE COLLECTION, 186
205 208 229 231 254 TWO-PLATE, 55 WASTE DISPOSAL, 186
TEST, 8 53 109 TWO-STAGE, 73 74 WATER COOLING, 33 52
TESTING, 176 198 252 WATER HOSE, 193
TEXTILE, 110 U WATER JET CUTTING, 79
THEORY, 30 60 64 160 164 223 WATER PURIFICATION, 52
249 281 283 ULTRASONIC, 8 WAX, 39
THERMAL DEGRADATION, 123 ULTRASONIC WELDING, 2 32 WEAR RESISTANCE, 85
THERMAL INSULATION, 163 37 66 114 203 WEIGHING, 76 110 187 194 271
166 ULTRAVIOLET RESISTANCE, WEIGHING MACHINE, 45
THERMAL STABILITY, 8 85 WEIGHT, 163 194
THERMOFORM, 230 UNDER-THE-BONNET WEIGHT REDUCTION, 20 33 44
THERMOFORMING, 4 24 32 187 APPLICATION, 18 85
205 UNDERCUT, 184 WELD, 203 230
THICK-WALL, 76 UNLOADING, 266 WELD LINE, 110
THICKNESS, 7 85 193 UREA RESIN, 24 163 WELDING, 2 16 18 32 37 66 78
THIN-WALL, 71 78 105 110 158 114
196 WHEEL TRIM, 166 210
THREE-ARM, 24 32 53 65 71
V WHEELCHAIR, 114
THREE-COLOUR INJECTION VACUUM, 46 50 91 100 184 WHEELED BIN, 186
MOULDING, 76 190 VACUUM CASTING, 187 WIRING HARNESS, 206
THREE-DIMENSIONAL, 32 65 VACUUM CONVEYING, 108 163 WORKING CONDITION, 299
THROUGHPUT, 142 205 VACUUM EXTRACTION, 65 WORKING HOURS, 137
TIEBARLESS, 99 142 168 VACUUM PUMP, 8 142 WRAPPING, 277
TIME, 63 VALVE, 18 66
TOGGLE, 36 76
TOGGLE PRESS, 36
VEGETABLE PACKAGING, 8 Y
VEHICLE DOOR, 210
TOLERANCE, 110 223 VEHICLE FASCIA, 73 YELLOWING, 54
TOOLING, 15 26 30 42 52 81 100 VEHICLE HEADLIGHT, 85 140 YOUNGS MODULUS, 85
195 213 230 280 295 301 VEHICLE LIGHT, 20 85 104 114
TORQUE, 99 190

Subject Index

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Report 133

Volume 12, Number 1, 2001

DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICE

Document Delivery Department

5. Example Applications ............................................................................................................................ 21

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

Additional References ................................................................................................................................... 25

References from the Rapra Abstracts Database ........................................................................................ 27

Subject Index ................................................................................................................................................. 77

1 Introduction sensors that detect part removal from the mould.

There are few complete technical sources of

2 Robots and the cost of the technology has lowered. Servo

2.3 Robot Configurations 2.3.2 Top-Entry, Traverse-Type Robots

2.3.3 Side-Entry, Linear-Drive Robots 2.3.5 Combination Cells

Drives are chosen by considering the following factors:

There are disadvantages of articulated robots: they 3.1.1 Pneumatic Drives

3.1.2 Electric Drives 3.1.3 Combination Drives

The characteristics of the controller should fit the

3.2.2 Sequence Programmability concurrent engineering or rapid product releases. A

Communications to the moulding machine can go

Figure 7 4 Integration of Automation Systems

Many companies have deployed Phase I and II systems.

An automated stockyard or automated storage A mould preheat and staging station.

4.6.4 Equipment Required to Unload the Mould

4.6.3 Mould Quick-Change Systems

5.2 Cells that Extend Production Hours

5.5.2 Insert Moulding

5.5 Group Technology

A Japanese automotive moulding facility was designed

References from the Rapra Abstracts Database

Item 1 cooling station assembly having a number of blowing

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 27

EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY; Accession no.790864

28 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Item 12 EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; UK;

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 29

30 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 31

USA TECNOMAGNETE SPA

32 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

CERLOSAN SL; DEMAG ERGOTECH; Item 38

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 33

34 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Item 46 CASE FOR AUTOMATION IN INJECTION

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 35

automation of plastics injection moulding. Turnover Item 56

36 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Accession no.721099 Accession no.717070

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 37

38 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

French EUROPEAN COMMUNITY; EUROPEAN UNION; GERMANY;

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 39

85, No.3, March 1995, p.20-1 OFFICINE MECCANICHE; HEKUMA; GOSEWEHR

40 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Copyright 2001Rapra Technology Limited 41

mechanisms are discussed. The economic benefits of Item 91

42 Copyright 2001 Rapra Technology Limited

Southstar Machinery Item 98

Item 97 Item 100