Abstract: A method is provided of cleaning of a portion of a mold component, the portion of the mold component including a passage configured, in use, to allow passage of fluid and to prevent passage of melt, the method comprising: entering the mold component into a cleaning configuration, whereby a portion of the passage becomes part of a molding surface; performing a molding cycle to fill in at least the portion of the passage with molding material for incorporation and removal of a residue there from. Also provided is a mold having a first mold half and a second mold half, the halves being movable relative to each other. A mold shut height adjustment apparatus can provide for a change in the mold shut height.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, is a component of a molding system, and a related method for the manufacture thereof, that has a body with a support matrix defined in at least a portion thereof.

Abstract: An injection molding system having a shooting pot assembly is disclosed. In one embodiment, the shooting pot assembly is in fluid communication with a mold and has an actuation direction that is substantially perpendicular to an injection axis of material injected into a mold cavity. In another embodiment, a shooting pot actuation system is a mounted on a side of a hot runner. In certain embodiments, the shooting pot actuation system includes a linear actuator operatively coupled with the shooting pot assembly to actuate the shooting pot assembly.

Abstract: A screw-moving assembly (100) for a screw assembly (903), the screw-moving assembly (100) comprising: a screw-moving actuator (102); and a bias-adjustment mechanism (104); wherein the screw-moving actuator (102) and the bias-adjustment mechanism (104) are configured to connect to the screw assembly (903); the screw-moving actuator (102) is configured to transmit, in use, a screw-translation force (112) to a longitudinal central axis (905) of the screw assembly (903); and the bias-adjustment mechanism (104) is configured to transmit, in use, a biasing force (114) to the longitudinal central axis (905) of the screw assembly (903).

Abstract: A melt-delivery assembly (200), comprising: a frame assembly (202) being positioned outside of a platen envelope (153) being defined by a platen assembly (150), the frame assembly (202) being configured to receive a melt from a melt-preparation assembly (110), and the frame assembly (202), including: a multiple-outlet assembly (204) being configured to fluidly deliver the melt to multiple conduits (207) toward the platen envelope (153).

Abstract: A controller (501) is described herein that includes instructions (512) that are embodied in a controller-usable memory (510) of the controller (501), the instructions (512) for directing the controller (501) to execute a process (1000) of injection molding a first molded article (102A) using an injection mold (100, 200, 300, 800, 900). The process includes, amongst other things, a step of arranging (1008) a first stack portion (110) to eject the first molded article (102A) therefrom with holding a position of a stripper sleeve (116) of the first stack portion (110), along the mold-stroke axis (X), while retracting a mold core (111) of the first stack portion (110) along the mold-stroke axis (X), wherein the retraction of the mold core (111) causes a retraction thereof from the first molded article (102) in cooperation with the stripper sleeve (116) contacting the first molded article (102).

Abstract: A method is provided of cleaning of a portion of a mold component, the portion of the mold component including a passage configured, in use, to allow passage of fluid and to prevent passage of melt, the method comprising: entering the mold component into a cleaning configuration, whereby a portion of the passage becomes part of a molding surface; performing a molding cycle to fill in at least the portion of the passage with molding material for incorporation and removal of a residue there from. Also provided is a mold having a first mold half and a second mold half, the halves being movable relative to each other. A mold shut height adjustment apparatus can provide for a change in the mold shut height.

Abstract: An in-mold shutter (140) for embedding in an injection mold (100, 200, 300) is described herein. The in-mold shutter (140, 240, 340, 440, 540) includes a shutter actuator (148, 548) that is configured to selectively engage a first mold shoe (130) of the injection mold (100, 200, 300) with a platen of a mold clamping assembly (996) to hold the first mold shoe (130) in an extended position (E), along a mold-stroke axis (X), during a step of molding a first molded article (102A) in the injection mold (100, 200, 300). Also described herein is a molded article transfer device (150, 250) for use with the injection mold (100, 200, 300). The molded article transfer device (150, 250) includes a shuttle (154) that is slidably arranged, in use, within the injection mold (100, 200, 300).

Abstract: There is provided a molding stack (102). The molding stack (102) comprises a stripper sleeve (122) that is movable to contact a molded article (114) after the molding thereof; the stripper sleeve (122) having a first surface (204) and a second surface (206) for simultaneously contacting a side and an underside surface, respectively, of the molded article (114) during the stripping of the molded article (114).

Abstract: A hydraulic system is provided, having a pump, operably connected to a motor. It also comprises a controller-driven hydraulic actuator, operably connected to the pump and a hydraulic valve, operable to direct hydraulic fluid to and from either a rod side or a cylinder side of the hydraulic actuator. Rod and cylinder side pressures are pre-defined based on the instantaneous acceleration or deceleration required. Decelerating the hydraulic actuator could involve maintaining the current pressure in the meter-out side of the hydraulic actuator and decreasing the current pressure in the meter-in side by varying the speed of the pump. Deceleration of the hydraulic actuator could also include decreasing pressure on the meter-in side of the hydraulic actuator at a higher rate than on the meter-out side. Acceleration is achieved using a similar approach.

Abstract: A preform (200, 300, 400, 500, 800a, 800b, 900, 1000) suitable for blow-molding into a final-shaped article is provided. The preform (200, 300, 400, 5000, 800a, 800b) comprises a neck portion (202, 302, 402, 502); a gate portion (206, 306, 406, 506); and a body portion (204, 304, 404, 504) extending between the gate portion (206, 306, 406, 506) and the neck portion (202, 302, 402, 502); the body portion (204, 304, 404, 504) defining: a first portion (210, 310, 410, 510, 810), a second portion (212, 312, 412, 512, 812) and a third portion (214, 314, 414, 514, 814), the second portion being disposed in-between the first portion and the third portion located in sequence along one of: (i) substantially the whole circumference of the body portion and (ii) substantially the whole length of the body portion; one of the first portion, second portion and the third portion having a stretch ratio different that at least one of the other ones of the first portion, the second portion and the third portion.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is, amongst other things, a mold stack that includes a core insert, a core ring, and a split insert that are configured to cooperate, in use, to define a molding cavity. The core insert defines a ring seat on a medial portion thereof upon which the core ring may be seated, in use, in cooperation with a mounting interface thereon. The split insert defines a pocket that extends coaxially through a second projecting portion thereof within which to receive a projecting portion of the core ring. The core ring and the split insert being further configured to define a core ring-to-split insert parting line that is within the pocket of the split insert. The core ring further defines a first split insert seat for receiving the second projecting portion of the split insert.

Abstract: A mold-tool system (100), comprising: a nozzle position-adjustment assembly (104) being configured to selectively adjust position of a nozzle assembly (102) between: (i) a nozzle-loaded position, and (ii) a nozzle-unloaded position.

Abstract: A plasticizing system (100) for plasticizing a solidified-resin particle (202), the plasticizing system (100), comprising: (A) opposite-facing surfaces (104) being spaced apart from each other, and defining, at least in part, a convergence channel (105) being configured to receive the solidified-resin particle (202), and (B) a plunger assembly (124) being movable, at least in part, relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104), the plunger assembly (124) being configured to move, at least in part, the solidified-resin particle (202) relative to the opposite-facing surfaces (104) along, at least in part, the convergence channel (105).

Abstract: A nozzle-locating insulator (300), comprising: a body assembly (302), having: a spring-facing surface (304) including: spring-contact sections (306); and spring-noncontact sections (308) interposed between the spring-contact sections (306).

Abstract: There is provided a molding stack assembly (202) for producing a molded article (214), the molded article (214) including a neck finish (218) which includes a support ledge (222), the molded article (214) suitable for subsequent blow-molding into a final shaped container.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is, amongst other things, a molding apparatus that includes a core ring (140, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740) that is configured to seat, in use, around a core insert (120, 320, 420, 620) in a mold stack (116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716). The core ring (140, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740) is configured to be received, at least in part, within a pocket (152) that is defined within a split insert (150) of the mold stack (116, 216, 316, 416, 516, 616, 716). The core ring (140, 340, 440, 540, 640, 740) is also configured to define at least a portion of a molding cavity (119) having a core ring-to-split insert parting line (180) that is within the pocket (152) of the split insert (150).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are, amongst other things, a molding apparatus with which to mold, in use, a preform of a type for blow molding into a container. The molding apparatus includes a lock ring (104, 204) for use in a first stack portion (108) of a mold stack (120). The lock ring (104, 204) includes a tubular body (150, 250) that is configured to define, amongst other things, a support interface (194) in cooperation, in use, with a split insert (6, 106) of the first stack portion through which a compressive load is transferrable during molding of the preform, wherein the support interface (194) includes a support shelf (154) that is defined, at least in part, on a first major promontory (152, 252) of the tubular body (150, 250).

Abstract: A mold-tool system (100) of a runner system (150), the mold-tool system (100) comprising: a manifold extension (102) being configured to couple with a manifold assembly (152) of the runner system (150); and a biasing assembly (106) extending from the manifold extension (102), the biasing assembly (106) being configured to arrange, in use, sealing contact between the manifold extension (102) and a nozzle assembly (156).