Solutions for Injection Molding In-Mold Labeling
problem
The use of IML (In-Mold Labeling)
in the injection molding process
provides significant advantages for
the manufacturer or marketer of the
product as well as the end user. It
eliminates secondary steps in the
manufacturing process and the end
result is permanent. It does,
however, present some design
challenges. How do you hold the
label in place in the mold cavity
during injection? The most obvious
is to incorporate vacuum ports into
the mold tool. This results in high
tooling costs and the vacuum ports
can result in pimples in the
graphics on the surface of the
finished part. If the robot misses
the label, or the label should shift or
rupture when the mold is shot,
molten plastic may be drawn into
the vacuum ports resulting in costly
downtime for cleanup of the mold.
solutions
The
Simco
Chargemaster
Electrostatic Charging System
provides a reliable and cost
effective means of holding the label
in its proper location in the mold
cavity. When a static charge is
placed on the label it will
electrostatically attract and adhere
to the grounded metal surface of
the molding die while the mold is
shot. The need for complicated,
costly mold tool design for vacuum
hold-down is eliminated.
There are two methods for
charging the label. Both require a
SIMCO Chargemaster Power
Supply and one or more arc
resistant charging applicators. The
conventional method, as shown in
Figure 1, requires the charging
Charging Bar and CH30
Power Supply
Charging Applicators
applicator(s) be mounted directly
behind the label on the robots endof-arm tool. As the robot places
the label in the mold cavity, the
charging power supply is activated
by the robots PLC, electrostatically
charging the label. The vacuum on
the end-of-arm fixture holding the
label is switched off and the label
electrostatically adheres to the
mold cavity as the robot retracts
from the press.
An example of a simplified method
is shown in Figure 2 and does not
require mounting the high voltage
charging components on the end
of-arm tool. An anti-static foam
mat material is cemented to a
grounded metal plate (the size and
shape of the label) on the robots
end-of-arm tool fixture. Suction
cups are imbedded in the foam and
are flush with the working surface.
The robot picks the label from the
magazine using suction, with the
label held flat against the foam.
The label is oriented and passed by
the static charging applicator bar
which is mounted external to the
press. The label is then placed
onto the surface of the mold cavity,
the vacuum is switched off and the
label transfers from the foam to the
metal die. The robot is retracted
and the mold is shot.
results
Electrostatic charging of the label provides a cost effective, reliable means for
holding the label in the mold during injection molding. The label becomes
homogeneous with the surface of the molded part and will remain for the life of the
product.
Contact Simco for further information on electrostatic equipment
requirements and tips on end-of-arm tool design.
2257 North Penn Road Hatfield, PA 19440 tele:( 215) 822-6401 fax: (215) 822-3795
Web: [Link] e-mail: sales@[Link]
Solutions for Injection Molding In-Mold Labeling
Label
Non-Conductive Support Fixture
on End-of-Arm Tool
Vacuum
Molding
Die
Charging
Applicator
High Voltage Charging
Power Supply (DC)
Vacuum
Electric Field
"Power Supply "ON"
Figure 1. Conventional method, charging applicator on end-of-arm tool.
Neutralizing
Power Supply
(AC)
Tool with
Charged Label
Robot
Tool
Vacuum
Anti-Static Foam
Label
Air Nozzle for
Easy Label
Separation
Label
Magazine
Charging
Applicator
High Voltage Charging
Power Supply (DC)
Figure 2. Simplified Electrostatic I.M.L. for Flat Containers
Mold
