Method and apparatus for post-mold cooling a molded article

Abstract

Disclosed, amongst other things, is a method, molding machine, and computer-readable product for post-mold cooling a molded article ( 2 ), comprising balancing cooling rates during the post-mold cooling so that the molded article ( 2 ) reaches a target exit temperature at a point of time that substantially coincides with a point of time when the molded article ( 2 ) is removed from post-mold cooling.

1 . A method of post-mold cooling of a molded article, the molded article having just been molded within mold halves, the method comprising:
 receiving, in a post-mold device, the molded article;   subjecting the molded article to post-mold cooling, the post-mold cooling including:
 balancing cooling rates during the post-mold cooling of the molded article so that the molded article reaches a target exit temperature, which substantially precludes post-ejection defects, at a point of time that substantially coincides with removal of the molded article from post-mold cooling. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said balancing comprises controlling cooling rates at a first post-mold cooling portion and a second post-mold cooling portion. 
   
   
       3 . The method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said controlling comprises:
 implementing the first post-mold cooling portion at a first temperature; and   implementing the second post-mold cooling portion at a second temperature, said second post-mold cooling temperature being greater then said first post-mold cooling temperature.   
   
   
       4 . The method in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising transitioning between said first post-mold cooling portion to said second post-mold cooling portion at a switch point. 
   
   
       5 . The method in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said switch point comprises a temperature value; and wherein the method further comprises determining a temperature associated with operation of the post-mold device. 
   
   
       6 . The method in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said determining comprises receiving a signal from a sensor, the signal indicative of the temperature associated with operation of the post-mold device. 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . The method in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein said post-mold device implements a multi-position post-mold cooling function; and wherein said sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors being associated with a given holder in a given position of the multi-position post-mold cooling function. 
   
   
       9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said balancing comprises controlling an initial cooling rate to decrease a temperature differential between a just-molded article and cooling media. 
   
   
       13 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said balancing comprises:
 balancing cooling rates between portions of the molded article.   
   
   
       14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 the balancing of the cooling rates between portions is controlled such that each of the portions of the molded article arrive at respective ejection temperatures, that substantially precludes post-ejection defects, at substantially the same time.   
   
   
       15 . The method in accordance with  claims 13 , further comprising:
 controlling the cooling rate imposed on one or more of the portions of the molded article by one or more post-mold devices to effect the balancing of the cooling rates between the portions.   
   
   
       16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15 , further comprising:
 arranging a first portion of the molded article ( 2 ′) in a holder of a post-mold device;   controlling the temperature of the holder to avoid imparting cooling related defects to the molded article.   
   
   
       17 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , further comprising:
 controlling the temperature of the holder to minimize a temperature differential in the molded article at a transition between the first portion of the molded article ( 2 ′) arranged in the holder and a second portion of the molded article ( 2 ″) that is outside of the holder.   
   
   
       18 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein:
 the controlling of the temperature of the holder includes controlling the temperature of a coolant media that is circulated for controlling the temperature of the holder.   
   
   
       19 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein:
 the controlling of the temperature of the holder includes the controlling of the flow rate of a coolant that is circulated to control the temperature of the holder.   
   
   
       20 . The method in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein:
 the controlling of the temperature of the holder includes selecting a temperature of the holder whereby the first and second portions of the molded article are controllably cooled at first and second cooling rates such that the molded article portions arrive at ejection safe temperatures at substantially the same time.   
   
   
       21 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein:
 the temperature of the holder is controlled to have a thermal gradient along at least a portion of its length.   
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . A computer-readable product for use with a controller comprising:
 a computer readable medium embodying one or more instructions executable by the controller, the one or more instructions including:   controller executable instructions for instructing a post-mold device for (i) receiving a molded article, the molded article having been just molded within the mold halves; and (ii) subjecting the molded article to post-mold cooling by balancing cooling rates during the post-mold cooling of the molded article so that the molded article reaches a target exit temperature, which substantially precludes post-ejection defects, at a point of time that substantially coincides with removal of the molded article from post-mold cooling.   
   
   
       28 . The computer-readable product in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said balancing comprises controlling cooling rates at a first post-mold cooling portion and a second post-mold cooling portion. 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . The computer-readable product in accordance with  claim 27 , wherein said balancing comprises balancing cooling rates between portions of a molded article.