Method and apparatus for monitoring resin crystallization and shrinkage during polymer molding
US5519211A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 1994 |
| Grant date | May 21, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29K2995/0041
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring the crystallinity and shrinkage of a olymeric resin during molding in which light is introduced into the mold cavity, from an optical fiber through a light permeable window, transmitted through the resin in the mold, reflected from the opposite side of the mold, collected again by the optical fiber sensor, and the attenuation of the light is analyzed to detect mold filling, the onset of polymer crystallization, and separation of the polymeric material from the mold wall due to shrinkage, which separation also produces the geometry of an interferometer which can be used to detect shrinkage and to measure the rate of shrinkage by counting the minima of interference fringes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.