Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a machine base extending lengthwise along a machine axis. The base has a platen support portion extending along a first axial portion of the base, and an injection unit support portion extending along a second axial portion of the base. The machine further includes a platen supported by the platen support portion for carrying a mold half apparatus. The machine further includes a first injection unit supported by the injection unit support portion for discharging a first melt through the platen into a first mold inlet of the mold half apparatus, and a second injection unit supported by the injection unit support portion for discharging a second melt around the platen into a second mold inlet of the mold half apparatus.

Abstract: A cooling plate for an injection molding machine includes a plate body, a plurality of sockets in the plate body for receiving respective spigot portions of a plurality of cooling tubes, and a cooling fluid conduit system in the plate body for cooling the cooling tubes. The cooling plate further includes an air conduit system in the plate body for providing air flow communication with the cooling tubes. Each socket forms a blockable flow passage between the cooling fluid conduit system and the air conduit system.

Abstract: A retaining pin for handling injection molded preforms includes a body including an internal body flow channel, and a plunger coupled to the body and movable relative to the body between advanced and retracted positions. The plunger includes an internal plunger flow channel. The plunger further includes a plunger abutment surface directed away from the body. The plunger is biased toward the advanced position and movable to the retracted position by engagement of the plunger abutment surface with an inner surface of a closed end of a preform when the preform and retaining pin are moved toward each other. The body flow channel and the plunger flow channel are in fluid communication when the plunger is in the retracted position. Fluid communication between the plunger flow channel and the body flow channel is inhibited when the plunger is in the advanced position.

Abstract: A static mixer for an injection molding machine comprises a plate having an inlet face, an axially opposed outlet face, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. A plurality of bores extend through the plate from the inlet face to the outlet face. Each bore extends along a bore axis that is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis. The inlet face comprises an inlet face peripheral portion and an inlet face central portion. The outlet face comprises an outlet face peripheral portion, and an outlet face central portion. A core extends longitudinally between the inlet face central portion and the outlet face central portion.

Abstract: A cooling plate assembly for an injection molding machine includes a cooling plate and a cooling fluid conduit system in the cooling plate. The cooling fluid conduit system includes a cooling fluid line extending between a cooling fluid inlet and a cooling fluid outlet. A socket is open to a front face of the cooling plate and intersects the first cooling fluid line. A cooling tube is mounted to the cooling plate, and includes a molded-article-receiving nest for receiving and cooling an injection molded article, a spigot received in the socket and blocking the first cooling fluid line, and a cooling tube conduit adjacent the molded-article-receiving nest. The cooling tube conduit extends between a cooling tube fluid inlet connected to the first cooling fluid line upstream of the socket, and a cooling tube fluid outlet connected to the first cooling fluid line downstream of the socket.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a first mold section, and a moving platen for holding a second mold section. The moving platen is slidably supported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base and moveable along a machine axis between a mold closed position, in which the moving platen is drawn towards the stationary platen, and a maximum daylight position, in which the moveable platen is spaced axially apart from the stationary platen by a platen opening. The machine further includes a carriage support structure slidably supporting a stack mold carriage for holding a mold center section. The stack mold carriage is translatable parallel to the machine axis between a carriage advanced position and a carriage retracted position spaced axially apart from the carriage advanced position by a carriage stroke length.

Abstract: A lock assembly for releasably coupling a platen to a tie bar of an injection molding machine includes first and second lock nut segments translatable in a transverse between locked and unlocked positions for respectively engaging and disengaging the tie bar, and a carrier assembly for coupling the lock nut segments to the platen. The carrier assembly provides a slide surface for slidably supporting the lock nut segments during the translation of the lock nut segments between the locked and unlocked positions, and the carrier assembly resiliently supports the slide surface for axial movement of the slide surface with the lock nut segments between an unloaded position in which the lock nut segments are spaced away from the platen by a clearance gap, and a loaded position in which the lock nut segments bear against the platen.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base, a stationary platen fixed to the base for holding a first mold section, and a moving platen for holding a second mold section. The moving platen is slidably supported on a platen slide surface fixed to the base and moveable along a machine axis between a mold closed position, in which the moving platen is drawn towards the stationary platen, and a maximum daylight position, in which the moveable platen is spaced axially apart from the stationary platen by a platen opening. The machine further includes a carriage support structure slidably supporting a stack mold carriage for holding a mold center section. The stack mold carriage is translatable parallel to the machine axis between a carriage advanced position and a carriage retracted position spaced axially apart from the carriage advanced position by a carriage stroke length.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for an injection molding machine includes: (a) a cylinder housing having an inner end and an outer end spaced axially apart from the inner end; (b) a piston assembly comprising a tie bar end portion of a tie bar and a piston head affixed to the tie bar end portion, the piston assembly slidable within the housing between a meshing position and a clamped position spaced axially apart from the meshing position; (c) a clamp chamber between the piston head and the inner end of the cylinder housing for holding pressurized fluid and urging the piston assembly to the clamped position when pressurized; and (d) a spring return device adjacent the outer end of the cylinder housing, the spring return device pushing the piston assembly from the clamped position back to the meshing position when pressure in the clamp chamber is relieved.

Abstract: A hot runner apparatus for a mold assembly of an injection molding machine includes a hot runner plate assembly having a first end portion and a second end portion and a machine axis extending therebetween. At least one insert coupling having an axial bore is secured to the first end portion of the hot runner plate assembly, for separable sealed engagement with a gate insert affixed to a cold half of the mold assembly. The insert coupling includes a coupling interface for contacting a mating interface of the gate insert in sealed contact during an injection cycle of the injection molding machine. The coupling interface includes a primary side surface that is inclined relative to the machine axis.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a machine base supporting a first platen and at least a second platen for supporting respective mold sections, and a part handling apparatus for manipulating parts associated with molded part production. The part handling apparatus includes an upright supporting an end-of-arm tooling and an adjustable mount adjustably coupling the upright to the machine base. The adjustable mount includes at least a first linear rail extending parallel to the machine axis and structurally integrated with, and fixed relative to, the machine base at an elevation below an uppermost extent of the platens. The adjustable mount further includes a carriage fixed to the upright, the carriage adjustably coupled to the first rail.

Abstract: An injection unit for an injection molding machine includes a nozzle for dispensing melt to a mold, and a valve housing having a first port in fluid communication with the nozzle. The valve housing has a second port and a third port. A plasticizing barrel is in fluid communication with the second port. A shooting pot is in fluid communication the third port. A valve closure member is mounted in the valve housing. The valve closure member is moveable between a first position in which the first port is in fluid communication with the third port and in fluid isolation of the second port, and a second position in which the second port is in fluid communication with the third port and in fluid isolation of the first port. When in at least one of the first and second positions, fluid communication is provided between the respective ports through a gap provided between an outer surface of the closure member and an inner surface of the valve housing.

Abstract: A lock assembly for releasably coupling a platen to a tie bar of an injection molding machine includes first and second lock nut segments translatable in a transverse between locked and unlocked positions for respectively engaging and disengaging the tie bar, and a carrier assembly for coupling the lock nut segments to the platen. The carrier assembly provides a slide surface for slidably supporting the lock nut segments during the translation of the lock nut segments between the locked and unlocked positions, and the carrier assembly resiliently supports the slide surface for axial movement of the slide surface with the lock nut segments between an unloaded position in which the lock nut segments are spaced away from the platen by a clearance gap, and a loaded position in which the lock nut segments bear against the platen.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base and an injection unit mounted to the base, and a first platen for holding a first mold section and a second platen for holding a second mold section. The first and second platens are supported by the base, and are movable along a machine axis between mold-open and mold-closed positions. At least a first tie bar engagement apparatus is associated with a first tie bar and includes a first bore in the first platen for receiving the respective tie bar therethrough at least when the platens are in the mold-closed position; and a first roller mounted to the first platen proximate the first bore. The first roller is rotatable about a first roller axis that is oriented horizontally and perpendicular to the machine axis.

Abstract: An injection unit includes a cylinder casing comprising an inner cylindrical surface extending along an axis, and a piston housed in the casing and translatable along the axis between an advanced and a retracted position. The piston includes a piston radial surface in facing relation to the inner cylindrical surface, and the piston radial surface has a measurement detection feature. A probe is fixed relative to the cylinder casing, the probe communicating with the measurement detection feature when the piston is in and moving between the advanced and retracted positions to measure the translation of the piston.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use with a part handling assembly of an injection molding machine includes a housing having a first tooling port for fluid communication with a first set of receivers on the part handling apparatus and a second tooling port for fluid communication with a second set of receivers on the part handling apparatus. First and second vacuum channels extend through the housing and are provided with respective first and second vacuum closure members to provide selective fluid communication between a vacuum source and the first and second tooling ports, respectively. First and second pressure channels extend through the housing and are provided with respective first and second pressure closure members to provide selective fluid communication between a pressurized fluid source and the first and second tooling ports, respectively.

Abstract: A lock assembly for releasably coupling a platen to a tie bar of an injection molding machine includes first and second lock nut segments translatable in a transverse between locked and unlocked positions for respectively engaging and disengaging the tie bar, and a carrier assembly for coupling the lock nut segments to the platen. The carrier assembly provides a slide surface for slidably supporting the lock nut segments during the translation of the lock nut segments between the locked and unlocked positions, and the carrier assembly resiliently supports the slide surface for axial movement of the slide surface with the lock nut segments between an unloaded position in which the lock nut segments are spaced away from the platen by a clearance gap, and a loaded position in which the lock nut segments bear against the platen.

Abstract: An injection molding machine comprises: a machine base having a top surface, and a pair of platens supported on the top surface of the machine base, at least one of the platens translatable along a machine axis between open and closed positions. An end-effector is moveable relative to the machine base between an advanced position and a retracted position for interacting with parts associated with production in the injection molding machine. An upright has a lower end adjustably coupled to the machine base and an upper end spaced apart from the top surface of the machine base and coupled to the end-effector.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use with a part handling assembly of an injection molding machine includes a housing having a first tooling port for fluid communication with a first set of receivers on the part handling apparatus and a second tooling port for fluid communication with a second set of receivers on the part handling apparatus. First and second vacuum channels extend through the housing and are provided with respective first and second vacuum closure members to provide selective fluid communication between a vacuum source and the first and second tooling ports, respectively. First and second pressure channels extend through the housing and are provided with respective first and second pressure closure members to provide selective fluid communication between a pressurized fluid source and the first and second tooling ports, respectively.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a base and an injection unit mounted to the base, and a first platen for holding a first mold section and a second platen for holding a second mold section. The first and second platens are supported by the base, and are movable along a machine axis between mold-open and mold-closed positions. At least a first tie bar engagement apparatus is associated with a first tie bar and includes a first bore in the first platen for receiving the respective tie bar therethrough at least when the platens are in the mold-closed position; and a first roller mounted to the first platen proximate the first bore. The first roller is rotatable about a first roller axis that is oriented horizontally and perpendicular to the machine axis.