Abstract: The present invention is a hot runner which is easier and less expensive to manufacture and which has increased capacity. The hot runner is particularly well suited for use with multi-cavity molds. The improved hot runner includes a substantially flat main body having a main melt inlet formed in a center of the main body and a plurality of drops formed in the main body. A plurality of linear distribution channels is formed in the main body with each linear distribution channel intersecting a plurality of drops. The hot runner further includes a plurality of melt channels formed in the main body and communicating with the main melt inlet and the linear distribution channels.

Abstract: There is disclosed a spring pack for use with an injection mold to ensure an effective sealing force is applied to the injection mold. The spring pack includes a plurality of coned disk springs mounted in a housing, each cone disk spring having a concave side, a convex side, a central opening, and a maximal deflection distance. The coned disk springs are coaxially mounted about a central pin. The coned disks are mounted in series such that the spring pack has an effective deflection distance equal to the sum total of the maximal deflection distances of the conical springs. The housing and the coned disk springs are configured such that the sealing force applied to the spring pack is transmitted through the spring pack entirely by the springs.

Abstract: An improved thermal expansion compensation manifold support is disclosed. The support includes a spring having a barrel and a skirt extending from the barrel, the skirt forming a recess. The spring has a first shoulder extending into the recess, and an end opposite the barrel. The support also includes a block having opposite ends, a finger portion formed at one end and a second shoulder formed at the opposite end. The finger has an end opposite the second shoulder, with the finger being dimensioned and configured to be inserted into the skirt's recess. The skirt and the block are dimensioned and configured such that when the finger is inserted into the recess, the skirt end abuts against the second shoulder and the finger end is separated from the first shoulder by a gap.

Abstract: An improved thermal expansion compensation manifold support is disclosed. The support includes a spring having a barrel and a skirt extending from the barrel, the skirt forming a recess. The spring has a first shoulder extending into the recess, and an end opposite the barrel. The support also includes a block having opposite ends, a finger portion formed at one end and a second shoulder formed at the opposite end. The finger has an end opposite the second shoulder, with the finger being dimensioned and configured to be inserted into the skirt's recess. The skirt and the block are dimensioned and configured such that when the finger is inserted into the recess, the skirt end abuts against the second shoulder and the finger end is separated from the first shoulder by a gap.

Abstract: A flow nozzle (10) that conveys plastic melt from an injection unit of a molding machine to a mold cavity (72) has an improved, removable seal design. The nozzle body (12) is designed to threadedly receive a nozzle tip (24) that includes an outlet (30) that communicates with the mold cavity. A thin-wall, cylindrical seal ring (40) includes a compression portion that is received between the nozzle body and nozzle tip and is compressed to create a seal between these two elements when the tip is assembled to the nozzle body. The seal ring further includes a sealing portion (50) that encircles the nozzle tip and has an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle body.

Abstract: A pressurized-fluid-operated actuator has multiple piston surfaces for providing increased output force. The actuator includes a stationary cylinder that contains a movable cylinder having multiple inner chambers separated by stationary inner pistons. The inner chambers are in fluid communication with extension and retraction ports provided in the stationary cylinder wall. Introduction of pressurized fluid into one port causes the fluid pressure to act on “n” piston surface(s) to retract the movable cylinder. Introduction of pressurized fluid into the other port causes the fluid pressure to act on “n+1” piston surfaces to provide an increased output force without increasing the diameters of the cylinders and without increasing the pressure of the fluid.

Abstract: A pressurized-fluid-operated actuator has multiple piston surfaces for providing increased output force. The actuator includes a stationary cylinder that contains a movable cylinder having multiple inner chambers separated by stationary inner pistons. The inner chambers are in fluid communication with extension and retraction ports provided in the stationary cylinder wall. Introduction of pressurized fluid into one port causes the fluid pressure to act on “n” piston surface(s) to retract the movable cylinder. Introduction of pressurized fluid into the other port causes the fluid pressure to act on “n+1” piston surfaces to provide an increased output force without increasing the diameters of the cylinders and without increasing the pressure of the fluid.

Abstract: A thermal expansion compensation support and method are used in a hot runner injection mold for maintaining liquid-tight relationships between parts that define a flow passageway. The support includes an annular housing having an annular recess that receives a spring, such as a Belleville washer, and a cover that overlies the annular recess in the housing. The housing and the cover are spring biased from each other to maintain a pressure force on the surfaces that are in contact with the outer faces of each of the cover and of the annular housing. The support imparts a holding force on the several parts of the machine that define the molding material flow passageway to prevent leakage. The method involves holding the parts together at a first holding force level for an initial portion of a warm-up temperature range and holding the parts together at a second holding force level for the remainder of the temperature range.

Abstract: A flow nozzle (10) that conveys plastic melt from an injection unit of a molding machine to a mold cavity (72) has an improved, removable seal design. The nozzle body (12) is designed to threadedly receive a nozzle tip (24) that includes an outlet (30) that communicates with the mold cavity. A thin-wall, cylindrical seal ring (40) includes a compression portion that is received between the nozzle body and nozzle tip and is compressed to create a seal between these two elements when the tip is assembled to the nozzle body. The seal ring further includes a sealing portion (50) that encircles the nozzle tip and has an outer diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the nozzle body.

Abstract: A thermal expansion compensation support and method are used in a hot runner injection mold for maintaining liquid-tight relationships between parts that define a flow passageway. The support includes an annular housing having an annular recess that receives a spring, such as a Belleville washer, and a cover that overlies the annular recess in the housing. The housing and the cover are spring biased from each other to maintain a pressure force on the surfaces that are in contact with the outer faces of each of the cover and of the annular housing. The support imparts a holding force on the several parts of the machine that define the molding material flow passageway to prevent leakage. The method involves holding the parts together at a first holding force level for an initial portion of a warm-up temperature range and holding the parts together at a second holding force level for the remainder of the temperature range.

Abstract: A thermal expansion compensation support and method are used in a hot runner injection mold for maintaining liquid-tight relationships between parts that define a flow passageway. The support includes an annular housing having an annular recess that receives a spring, such as a Belleville washer, and a cover that overlies the annular recess in the housing. The housing and the cover are spring biased from each other to maintain a pressure force on the surfaces that are in contact with the outer faces of each of the cover and of the annular housing. The support imparts a holding force on the several parts of the machine that define the molding material flow passageway to prevent leakage. The method involves holding the parts together at a first holding force level for an initial portion of a warm-up temperature range and holding the parts together at a second holding force level for the remainder of the temperature range.