Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting 5 plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.

Abstract: A plastic molding method comprises moving each part of a plurality of parts along a selected one of a plurality of possible paths through dispensing and molding stations of a molding system. A controller tracks an operating state of each station, selects process stations capable of receiving a part for processing; identifies parts capable of processing at the selected process stations, and assigns individual parts to individual process stations.

Abstract: A plastic molding system comprises: dispensing, pre-shaping and shaping cells and a transport subsystem. The dispensing cell has a station for dispensing a dose of plastic feedstock. The pre-shaping and shaping cells each comprise a plurality of stations for shaping the workpiece into a preform shape and into a final shape, respectively. The transport subsystem advances a workpiece along a selected one of a plurality of process paths to form a molded article. Each of the plurality of process paths is defined by a combination of stations of the dispensing cell, the pre-shaping cell and the shaping cell.

Abstract: A plastic molding system comprises: dispensing, pre-shaping and shaping cells and a transport subsystem. The dispensing cell has a station for dispensing a dose of plastic feedstock. The pre-shaping and shaping cells each comprise a plurality of stations for shaping the workpiece into a preform shape and into a final shape, respectively. The transport subsystem advances a workpiece along a selected one of a plurality of process paths to form a molded article. Each of the plurality of process paths is defined by a combination of stations of the dispensing cell, the pre-shaping cell and the shaping cell.

Abstract: A co-injection hot runner nozzle comprises an inner melt flow channel and an annular outer melt flow channel that surrounds the inner melt flow channel. The inner and outer melt flow channels have a first common source. The nozzle further comprises an annular intermediate melt flow channel disposed between the inner and outer melt flow channels. The annular intermediate melt flow channel is at least partly defined by a plurality of spiral grooves, each spiral groove having a respective inlet and defining a helical flow path. Lands between adjacent spiral grooves increase in clearance in a downstream direction. An annular axial flow path is defined over the lands. A plurality of feeder channels having a second common source is configured to supply melt to the plurality of inlets of the spiral grooves. The relationship of feeder channels to spiral grooves may be one-to-one. The inlets may be longitudinal channels.

Abstract: A co-injection hot runner nozzle comprises an inner melt flow channel and an annular outer melt flow channel that surrounds the inner melt flow channel. The inner and outer melt flow channels have a first common source. The nozzle further comprises an annular intermediate melt flow channel disposed between the inner and outer melt flow channels. The annular intermediate melt flow channel is at least partly defined by a plurality of spiral grooves, each spiral groove having a respective inlet and defining a helical flow path. Lands between adjacent spiral grooves increase in clearance in a downstream direction. An annular axial flow path is defined over the lands. A plurality of feeder channels having a second common source is configured to supply melt to the plurality of inlets of the spiral grooves. The relationship of feeder channels to spiral grooves may be one-to-one. The inlets may be longitudinal channels.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a support base and a mold carrier removably mounted to the support base. The mold carrier includes a mounting plate with attachment features for engaging the support base. A mold with two mold plates is slidably mounted to the mounting 5 plate. A clamp is operable to move the plates between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the plates abut one another. In the open position, the plates are spaced apart for removing molded articles.

Abstract: A plastic molding system comprises: dispensing, pre-shaping and shaping cells and a transport subsystem. The dispensing cell has a station for dispensing a dose of plastic feedstock. The pre-shaping and shaping cells each comprise a plurality of stations for shaping the workpiece into a preform shape and into a final shape, respectively. The transport subsystem advances a workpiece along a selected one of a plurality of process paths to form a molded article. Each of the plurality of process paths is defined by a combination of stations of the dispensing cell, the pre-shaping cell and the shaping cell.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body, an annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, a source channel upstream of the annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, and a flow transition channel in the nozzle body. The flow transition channel interconnects the source channel with a part-annular segment of the annular outlet channel. The flow transition channel widens in a downstream direction and has a non-uniform cross-sectional channel thickness in either or both of the longitudinal (downstream) and transverse directions. The geometry of the flow transition channel may promote at least one of a uniform velocity profile and a uniform temperature profile in a generated annular or part-annular melt flow.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body, an annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, a source channel upstream of the annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, and a flow transition channel in the nozzle body. The flow transition channel interconnects the source channel with a part-annular segment of the annular outlet channel. The flow transition channel widens in a downstream direction and has a non-uniform cross-sectional channel thickness in either or both of the longitudinal (downstream) and transverse directions. The geometry of the flow transition channel may promote at least one of a uniform velocity profile and a uniform temperature profile in a generated annular or part-annular melt flow.

Abstract: A co-injection hot runner nozzle comprises an inner melt flow channel and an annular outer melt flow channel that surrounds the inner melt flow channel. The inner and outer melt flow channels have a first common source. The nozzle further comprises an annular intermediate melt flow channel disposed between the inner and outer melt flow channels. The annular intermediate melt flow channel is at least partly defined by a plurality of spiral grooves, each spiral groove having a respective inlet and defining a helical flow path. Lands between adjacent spiral grooves increase in clearance in a downstream direction. An annular axial flow path is defined over the lands. A plurality of feeder channels having a second common source is configured to supply melt to the plurality of inlets of the spiral grooves. The relationship of feeder channels to spiral grooves may be one-to-one. The inlets may be longitudinal channels.

Abstract: There is provided a member of a mold stack (100, 800), the member comprising: a member body (102, 802) defining a member molding surface for defining, in use, a portion of a molding cavity for molding a molded article, a member cooling circuit (120, 820) having a plurality of member cooling channels (128, 829), the plurality of member cooling channels (128, 829) being coupled in parallel to a source of cooling fluid, the member cooling circuit (120, 820) being fully encapsulated within the member body (102, 802).

Abstract: There is provided a member of a mold stack (100, 800), the member comprising: a member body (102, 802) defining a member molding surface for defining, in use, a portion of a molding cavity for molding a molded article, a member cooling circuit (120, 820) having a plurality of member cooling channels (128, 829), the plurality of member cooling channels (128, 829) being coupled in parallel to a source of cooling fluid, the member cooling circuit (120, 820) being fully encapsulated within the member body (102, 802).