Abstract: The inventors have researched a problem associated with known molding systems that inadvertently manufacture bad-quality molded articles or parts. After much study, the inventors believe they have arrived at an understanding of the problem and its solution, which are stated below, and the inventors believe this understanding is not known to the public. During operation, the gate orifice and nozzle tip position are fixed. The inventors believe that there appears to be no known mechanism that allows optimization of the tip to gate relationship. Known methods of adjusting position of a nozzle tip, such as shimming between a cavity plate and a manifold plate, or replacing nozzle stack components, may be time consuming and difficult. The known hot runner assembly often must be removed from the molding machine to make the desired adjustments.

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: A mold-tool system for use with a molding-system platen structure, the mold-tool system a frame assembly being connectable with the molding-system platen structure (107); and a set of shooting-pot assemblies being supported by the frame assembly, wherein control of each shooting-pot assembly of the set of shooting-pot assemblies is independent.

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: 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: A mold-tool system (10), comprising: a first component (12) defining a first passageway (13) configured to convey, in use, a flowable molding material; a second component (14) defining a second passageway (15) configured to: (i) be in fluid communication with the first passageway (13), and (ii) convey, in use, the flowable molding material. A wear-resistant assembly (16) contacts, at least in part, the first component (12) and the second component (14).

Abstract: A hot-runner system (100), comprising: a manifold assembly (102), including: a manifold body (104) defining a melt channel (109, 110) being smooth-flowing, direction-changing and uninterrupted.

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 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: An extruder unit (22) for an injection molding system (20) includes a piston (48), slidably located within a piston chamber (42), and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The piston (48) is further adapted to rotatably mount a screw (30). A motor assembly (36) is mounted to the piston housing (40) and operable to rotate the screw (30). The piston (48) is translated by a hybrid injection actuator (38), the hybrid injection actuator (38) including: a drive unit (50) operable to move the piston (48) between the retracted position and the extended position; and a gas pressure unit (93), operable to provide a boosting force to the piston (48), thereby urging the piston (48) towards the extended position.

Abstract: Described herein is a mold. The mold includes a first mold half and a second mold half. A molding cavity is definable between the first mold half and the second mold half within which a molded article is moldable. The mold also includes a core configured to form a seal on the molded article. The first mold half and the second mold half are configured to remain in a mold closed configuration with molding and stripping of the molded article.

Abstract: A molded article transfer device (150, 250) is described herein that is associated, in use, with an injection mold (100, 200). The molded article transfer device (150, 250) includes a transfer structure (151, 251) that defines, amongst other things, a first aperture (154A) that is structured to receive a first molded article (102A) from a first mold stack (106A, 206A) of the injection mold (100). The transfer structure (151, 251) also defines a first branch channel (156A) and a first trunk channel (158A) through which the first molded article (102A) is passable. The first branch channel (156A) connects the first aperture (154A) with the first trunk channel (158A) for passing, in use, the first molded article (102A) thereto, whereafter it passes through the first trunk channel (158A) towards an exit (164A) thereof.

Abstract: A mold-tool system (100), comprising: a nozzle tip assembly (200) having a tip-body assembly (206), the tip-body assembly (206) being configured for reduced axial tilting, at least in part.

Abstract: Injection molding system (20, 220, 320, 420) having hydraulic circuit (50, 250, 350, 450) for motivating hydraulic actuator (36, 38) comprising: pump motor (52); and digital displacement pump (54, 354A, 354B, 454A, 454B) having: piston assemblies (102A, 102B, 102C, 102D) actuatable by pump motor (52), piston assembly including: pair of inlet and outlets operable to be individually opened and closed at selective rate independently of actuation of each piston assembly; at least one hydraulic actuator (36, 38) operably coupled on each of rod side (64, 66) and cylinder side (58, 74) to first subset of the plurality of piston assemblies (102B, 102D) and second subset of the plurality of piston assemblies (102A, 102C), respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus (100), comprising: a pressure-control assembly (104) having: a first interface unit (105) being configured to interface, in use, with a fluid-bottle assembly (102); and a second interface unit (107) being configured to interface, in use, with a hydraulic-accumulator assembly (200), the hydraulic-accumulator assembly (200) being associated with a molding system (202), the hydraulic-accumulator assembly (200) being configured to accumulate, under an hydraulic pressure, an hydraulic fluid, the hydraulic fluid being associated with an hydraulic circuit (204); the pressure-control assembly (104) being configured to: communicate, in use, a fluid pressure between the fluid-bottle assembly (102) and with the hydraulic-accumulator assembly (200); and controllably adjust, in use, the fluid pressure between the fluid-bottle assembly (102) and the hydraulic-accumulator assembly (200), the fluid pressure that is adjusted by the pressure-control assembly (104) varies, in use, the hydraulic pressure associated

Abstract: A platen-supported system (105) for use with a molding-system platen structure (107), the platen-supported system (105) comprising: a frame assembly (103) connectable with the molding-system platen structure (107); and at least one plasticating device (201) supported by the frame assembly (103). A molding system (100) having a mold frame assembly (203) configured for supporting a molding assembly (200), and the at least one plasticating device (201) located within the mold assembly (200).