Abstract: Valve assemblies according to the present disclosure include a channel with a channel proximal end and a channel distal end. The valve assemblies also include and an inlet that receives a nozzle at an inlet proximal end that injects a molten plastic into the channel. The inlet includes a first inlet surface at an inlet distal end fluidly coupled to the channel. The valve assemblies further include a valve translatably coupled to the channel and the valve translates between an open position and a closed position. The valve includes a valve proximal end, a valve distal end, and a first valve surface at the valve proximal end. A diameter seal is formed between the first inlet surface of the inlet and the first valve surface of the valve when the valve is translated from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting a molten material including an injector, a rail, a bell crank, and a frame supporting the injector via the rail for guiding the linear translation of the injector along the frame. The apparatus includes a first guide and a second guide slideably coupled to the rail, the second guide attached to the injector and spaced from the first guide along the rail, and a bell crank coupled to the first guide and second guide to provide a load-balancing mechanism.

Abstract: Disclosed is a side-gate nozzle having a nozzle body, a nozzle tip and a transfer member. The nozzle body includes a heater, a longitudinally extending nozzle channel, and a bore extending from an exterior side wall of the nozzle body to the nozzle channel. The nozzle tip includes a tip member, a tip channel extending therethrough and a sealing member surrounding the tip member and in which the tip member is received. The transfer member seats against a step in the bore in the nozzle body and includes a bearing surface against which the nozzle tip is slidably seated and a transfer channel extending therethrough in fluid communication between the nozzle channel and the tip channel. In operation thermal expansion of the transfer member along its length applies a sealing force against the nozzle tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for injecting a molten material including an injector, a rail, a bell crank, and a frame supporting the injector via the rail for guiding the linear translation of the injector along the frame. The apparatus includes a first guide and a second guide slideably coupled to the rail, the second guide attached to the injector and spaced from the first guide along the rail, and a bell crank coupled to the first guide and second guide to provide a load-balancing mechanism.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus having a valve pin plate coupling at least one valve pin to an actuator which, in operation, axially moves the valve pin plate between a closed position and an open position. The valve pin is coupled to the valve pin plate via a valve pin coupler. A biasing member is compressed against a support surface by the valve pin holder when the valve pin plate is in the closed position to create a supplementary coupling force coupling the valve pin to the valve pin holder.

Abstract: A molten plastic delivery system is disclosed having a nozzle defining a nozzle channel with a downstream nozzle channel opening. A valve pin is reciprocable within the nozzle channel between a closed position and an open position. The system includes a bell crank having first and second arms that are connected at and rotatable about a pivot. The first arm is coupled to the valve pin and the second arm is coupled to a push-pull cable such that angularly pushing the second arm about the pivot via the push-pull cable moves the valve pin to the open position and angularly pulling the second arm about the pivot via the push-pull cable moves the valve pin to the closed position.

Abstract: A hot runner system having a nozzle and a manifold seated against the nozzle. An actuator plate is spaced apart from the manifold by a support pad which surrounds a lower mouth of an actuator bore that extends through the actuator plate. A valve pin extends through the support pad and the manifold to a downstream end of the nozzle. A cylinder is received in the actuator bore from a rearward side of the actuator plate and a piston coupled to the valve pin is received in the cylinder from a forward end of the cylinder.

Abstract: An angle gating injection molding apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a gate axis misaligned with a cone axis of a nozzle tip.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an outlet of an injection unit with an inlet of a mold mounted between platens of a molding machine includes a positioning assembly interconnecting the injection unit to the molding machine. The positioning assembly includes a first translation assembly configured to engender a first movement of the injection unit outlet along a translation plane, and a second translation assembly configured to engender a second movement of the injection unit outlet along the translation plane. The positioning assembly further includes a brake assembly extending between the first translation assembly and the second translation assembly. The brake assembly is configured to selectively create a compressive force between the first and second translation assemblies to maintain the position of the injection unit outlet.

Abstract: A hot runner system having a nozzle received in a well in a mold plate. The nozzle has a melt channel, a nozzle body through which the melt channel extends, and a collar connected to and spaced apart from the nozzle body. A manifold is seated against the nozzle. The manifold has a melt channel in fluid communication between a source of moldable material and the nozzle channel. A bearing member against which a seating surface of the collar is supported is received in the well, and a biasing member is seated between a step in the well and the bearing member. The biasing member has plate loading surface and a nozzle loading surface. The nozzle loading surface and the plate loading surface are concentric with the seating surface of the collar and are circumferentially offset from the seating surface of the collar in opposite directions.

Abstract: A side-gate injection molding apparatus and a side-gate nozzle assembly are disclosed. The side-gate nozzle assembly delivers moldable material to a cavity insert that is beside the side-gate nozzle assembly. The side-gate nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body having a nozzle flow channel and a widthwise slot extending across a downstream side of the nozzle body. The nozzle flow channel has an outlet that ends at a wall of the slot. A load component is received in the slot and has a load component flow channel in fluid communication between the nozzle body outlet and an outlet at an end of the load component. A side-gate tip assembly is adjacent to the end of the load component and is in fluid communication between the load component flow channel and the cavity insert. In operation, thermal expansion of the load component presses the side-gate tip assembly towards the cavity insert.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle tip and hot runner nozzle tip components are disclosed, the nozzle tip, and the assembled tip components, form a channel that has a first annular segment that has a cross-sectional area that increases in size away from a tip inlet, and a second annular segment that extends from the first annular channel segment. A hot runner tip assembly is also disclosed. The hot runner tip assembly includes a tip component having an attachment portion, an extension portion that projects from the attachment portion, and a bore that extends therethrough. A sleeve having a rib that extends outward therefrom surrounds the extension portion. The sleeve contacts the tip component at a first contact area and at a second contact area so as to create a void therebetween, and the first and second contact areas are offset from the rib.

Abstract: A melt delivery body is disclosed for an injection molding apparatus. The melt delivery body includes a manifold, housed in a manifold plate, having a melt network with an inlet for receiving melt from a machine nozzle and an outlet substantially axially aligned with the inlet. The melt delivery body further including an in-line valve gated nozzle having a nozzle melt channel, a valve pin in the nozzle melt channel, and a valve pin actuator coupled to the valve pin and positioned substantially axially aligned with the in-line valve gated nozzle and between the manifold and the in-line valve gated nozzle for controlling the movement of the valve pin within the nozzle melt channel. The melt delivery body further including a biasing member for biasing the in-line valve gated nozzle towards the manifold.

Abstract: A liquid injection molding apparatus is provided. The liquid injection molding apparatus comprises a mold assembly; a clamping unit; an injector including a barrel; a feed screw concentrically located in the barrel; and a motor having a drive shaft removably coupled to the feed screw via a bayonet connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning an outlet of an injection unit with an inlet of a mold mounted between platens of a molding machine includes a positioning assembly interconnecting the injection unit to the molding machine. The positioning assembly includes a first translation assembly configured to engender a first movement of the injection unit outlet along a translation plane, and a second translation assembly configured to engender a second movement of the injection unit outlet along the translation plane. The positioning assembly further includes a brake assembly extending between the first translation assembly and the second translation assembly. The brake assembly is configured to selectively create a compressive force between the first and second translation assemblies to maintain the position of the injection unit outlet.

Abstract: A preform molding system is disclosed that includes a cavity half that is mountable to a stationary platen of an injection molding machine and a core half that is mountable to a moving platen of the injection molding machine. The preform molding system includes a mold stack assembly having a cavity portion and a core portion. The cavity portion is coupled to the cavity half and includes a cavity insert, and the core portion is coupled to the core half and includes a core insert, a pair of neck rings, and a stripper ring. The core insert has an undercut that defines an annular protrusion on an internal surface of a preform that is created in the mold stack assembly. The preform molding system is configured to permit in sequence, retraction of the pair of neck rings away from the core insert and ejection of the preform from the core insert via the stripper ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is an edge gating injection molding apparatus for delivering a moldable material to an array of mold cavities, the array can have a first column and a last column of mold cavities, the edge gating injection molding apparatus comprising: a unidirectional delivery body for delivering a first stream of the moldable material to a different one of each mold cavity of the first column and the last column of mold cavities, via a first location of the different one of each mold cavity of the first column and the last column of mold cavities; and a bidirectional delivery body for delivering a second stream of the moldable material to the different one of each mold cavity of the first column and the last column of mold cavities, via a second location of the different one of each mold cavity of the first column and the last column of mold cavities.

Abstract: A device for imparting vibrational energy to polymeric pellets in a feed path of an extruder is disclosed. The device includes a feed path vibrator having an elongate imparting portion for being disposed within the feed path of the extruder, and a transfer portion extending from the imparting portion. The transfer portion is configured for coupling to a source of vibration energy, and the elongate imparting portion includes at least one twisted portion along its length.

Abstract: An edge-gated injection molding apparatus is disclosed having an injection manifold assembly for distributing a melt stream of moldable material to a plurality of mold cavities aligned on opposing sides of the injection manifold assembly. The injection manifold assembly includes a plurality of melt outlets with each melt outlet being in fluid communication with a respective mold cavity, and a plurality of biasing components disposed along a centerline of the injection manifold assembly. A nozzle seal is disposed between each injection manifold assembly melt outlet and its corresponding mold cavity, with an upstream end of the nozzle seal being slidably disposed against its respective melt outlet. Each biasing component is disposed between a pair of melt outlets and corresponding nozzle seals for biasing the melt outlets and nozzle seals outward from the centerline of the injection manifold assembly toward their respective mold cavities and applying a preload thereto.

Abstract: A cavity insert for a mold stack is disclosed, the cavity insert being dimensioned to define a continuous annular cavity insert cooling chamber. The cavity insert also provides a first and second decompression chamber in fluid communication with each end of the cavity insert cooling chamber. Also disclosed is a chamber extension feature in fluid communication with the cavity insert cooling chamber to promote cooling in the downstream region of the cavity insert.