Abstract: A misalignment sensing system for a molding structure and a method for using same. The molding structure includes a first component and a second component, at least one of the components being selectively repositionable between a closed configuration of the mold structure and an open configuration of the mold structure. The misalignment sensing system includes an alignment member including a male portion coupled to and extending from the first component of the molding structure, and a female portion defined in the second component of the molding structure, the female portion being configured to receive the male portion when the molding structure is in a closed configuration; and at least one sensor connected to one of the male and female portions and being configured to detect a deformation of any one of the male portion and the female portion, the deformation being induced by a misalignment of the molding structure.

Abstract: There is provided a system, a method and preform suitable for executing liquid forming of the preform into a final-shaped container. The present technology includes various improvements to methods, apparatuses, and systems for forming final-shaped containers from preforms using a liquid destined to be contained in the final-shaped container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is, a stripper assembly operable to eject a molded article from a mold that includes slides that are movable laterally relative to each, a first split mold insert inter-connected to a first slide and a second split mold insert inter-connected to a second slide. The system being operable such that when the first and second slides are in the closed position, the first and second split mold inserts form at least a portion of the molding cavity; the system being operable such that such during operation of the injection molding system, the first split mold insert is movable relative to the respective first slide and the second split mold insert being movable relative to the second slide.

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 closure device for a container that defines a neck and an annular flange. The closure device comprises a cap body, a tamper evidence (TE) band positioned below the annular flange, a tongue that extends from the cap body towards the tamper evidence band and first and second leashes positioned on either side of the tongue. The first and second leashes connect the cap body to the tamper evidence (TE) band, and allow the cap body to be removed from the neck of the container while remaining attached to the tamper evidence (TE) band. When the cap body is actuated to a fully open position the first and second leashes act as a torsion spring for causing the tongue to exert a force against the neck of the container for retaining the cap body in the fully open position.

Abstract: A closure may have a top wall and a side wall depending from the top wall. A plug seal device may depend from said top wall within the side wall. The plug seal device may have an upper section, a lower section, and a sealing section proximate the boundary between the upper section and the lower section. The sealing section is operable such that when the plug seal device is inserted in an opening to an inner cavity in a container, the sealing section engages with an inner container surface to provide a seal between an inner cavity of the container and the external environment.

Abstract: A closure device for a container having a neck including an annular flange, the closure device comprising: a cap body; a tamper evident (TE) band positioned below the annular flange when assembled in the container; a first hinge and a second hinge defined on the cap body; a leash connected to the TE band, the first hinge and the second hinge; the leash allowing for the cap body to be separated from the TE band during opening, but to remain connected thereto via the leash; a tongue protruding from the cap body between the first and second hinges; when the cap body is actuated from a closed configuration relative to the neck to a fully open position: the leash is configured to retain the cap body to the TE band; an interaction of the tongue and the neck is configured to retain the cap body in the fully open position.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

Abstract: A system for programming a protection device for a molding machine includes a controller for actuating a plurality of molding machine actuators in an actuation sequence, each distinct actuation constituting a respective machine component actuation of an associated machine component. An HMI is operable to: present a GUI specific to a chosen machine component actuation; and for each of a plurality of other machine component actuations, define within the GUI, based on operator input, a rule specifying a state of the chosen machine component actuation relative to a state of the other machine component actuation for preventing interference between the two machine component actuations. The controller is configured, based on the rules defined within the GUI, to trigger an action, upon violation of any one of the rules, for reducing a risk of interference between the chosen machine component actuation and a respective one of the other machine component actuations.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a nozzle with a nozzle body having inner and outer flow channels, and at least one intermediate flow channel in between. A valve stem is slideable in the inner flow channel and moveable between open and closed positions. In a first closed position, the valve stem blocks an outlet of the inner flow channel but not outlets of the outer or at least one intermediate flow channels. In the open position, melt exiting the at least one intermediate flow channel simultaneously intersect melt exiting the outer and inner flow channels. The flow channels may be arranged concentrically. The outlets of the flow channel may be separated by a knife edge. The outlets of the flow channels may be adjacent to one another. The inner and outer flow channels may be substantially perpendicular to one another, but not to the at least one intermediate flow channel.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method (400) of ejecting a molded article (310, 312) from an injection mold (100). The method (400) comprises: during a second portion of the mold opening cycle of the injection mold (100), the second portion occurring later in time relative to a first portion of the mold opening cycle of the injection mold (100): controlling velocity of at least one of: (i) the moveable mold half (102, 502) relative to the stationary mold half (104, 504), (ii) the ejector (230) relative to the moveable mold half (102, 502); and (iii) an ejector actuator linked to the core insert (112, 114, 512, 514); and (iv) a stripper actuator that is linked to the stripper sleeve (116, 516); the controlling executed such that the molded article (310, 312, 506) is ejected from the molding component with a substantially zero departure-velocity along the first axis of operation.

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 machine includes an edge gate nozzle with a nozzle body having a primary melt channel and a nozzle head having first and second secondary melt channels that feed melt to first and second nozzle tips. First and second heaters are disposed in the nozzle head to provide heat to the secondary melt channels. In some embodiments, the heaters are positioned adjacent to the secondary melt channels, with first heater is closer to the first secondary melt channel than to the second secondary melt channel. In some embodiments, the heaters are positioned adjacent to the nozzle tips, with the first heater closer to the first nozzle tip than to the second nozzle tip. In some embodiments, each heater is adjacent to both the respective nozzle tip and secondary melt channel. In some embodiments, each heater is individually controllable.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gate insert includes an injection gate body having front and rear opposite sides and an aperture extending through the injection gate body between an injection gate outlet on the front side and an opening on the rear side. The injection gate body is connectable to and disconnectable from a gate pad in a cavity plate from a front side of the gate pad and from a front side of the cavity plate. In another embodiment, a cavity flange includes a molding body defining at least a portion of a molding cavity shaped to mold a shell of a closure for a container. The molding body is connectable to and disconnectable from a gate insert in a cavity plate from a front side of the gate insert and from a front side of the cavity plate. Other apparatuses are disclosed.