Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure and delivering the melt stream to a nozzle channel of a nozzle. A mold cavity is in communication with the nozzle channel of the nozzle and receives melt through a mold gate. A valve pin is axially movable through the nozzle channel of the nozzle to selectively open the mold gate. The mold gate is open when the valve pin is in an extended position and a portion of the valve pin is received in the mold cavity. At least one groove is provided in an outer surface of the valve pin and at least a portion of the outer surface of the valve pin is in continuous engagement with the mold gate to align the valve pin relative to the mold gate. When the valve pin is in the extended position, the groove is aligned with the mold gate to allow melt to flow between the nozzle channel and the mold cavity.

Abstract: A seal is provided between a nozzle and a manifold. The seal provides a melt channel between an outlet of the manifold and a nozzle channel. The seal has higher thermal expansion coefficient than both the nozzle and the manifold to provide an improved seal between the manifold and the nozzle when the injection molding apparatus is at an operating temperature.

Abstract: A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus is provided. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater, a tip, a tip surrounding piece and a seal piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage, which is adapted to be in fluid communication with an upstream melt source. The heater is thermally connected to the nozzle body for heating melt in the nozzle body melt passage. The tip is removably connected to the nozzle body. The tip defines a tip melt passage therethrough. The tip melt passage is downstream from and in fluid communication with the nozzle body melt passage, and is adapted to be upstream from and in fluid communication with a mold cavity in a mold component. The tip surrounding piece is removably connected with respect to the nozzle body. The tip surrounding piece is spaced from said tip. The seal piece is positioned between the tip and the tip surrounding piece.

Abstract: A system and method provide an injection molding apparatus utilizing radiation energy as a heat source. The injection molding apparatus may includes at least a partially transparent nozzle or may include a thermally conductive nozzle having a nozzle body and a nozzle channel that receives a fluid material at an inlet. The fluid material has a pressure induced flow causing the fluid material to flow along an axis of the nozzle channel from the inlet to an outlet. A radiant energy heating device heats the nozzle channel to maintain the fluid material in a fluid state.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an injection molding apparatus, comprising a manifold including a plurality of manifold channels and a plurality of nozzles. Each of the nozzles defines a nozzle channel in fluid communication with one of the manifold channels and including a plurality of nozzle bodies coupled in tandem by a removable and secure connection. The nozzle bodies include at least a upstream nozzle body and a downstream nozzle body. The upstream nozzle body has an upstream end adjacent said manifold channel, and the downstream nozzle body has a downstream end adjacent a mold plate. A removable nozzle tip is retained in a downstream end of each downstream nozzle body. The nozzles also include a plurality of heaters, wherein at least one heater is embedded into each nozzle body.

Abstract: A system and method for making molded parts that include one or more planar heaters coupled, secured, or releaseably secured to one or more sides of each of the one or more nozzles. The releasably secure coupling allows heater device to be visually inspected, tested, removed, and/or replaced. The planar heater device can have a support device patterned with an electrical resistive path. The electrical resistive path can include any pitch or number of electrical resistance lines, such that a longitudinal uniform heat profile is generated along a melt flow channel of the one or more nozzles when the nozzles are in use.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus has at least a nozzle having a nozzle body and a nozzle tip. A securing device is used to secure the nozzle tip to the nozzle body via non-metallic threads or threads having a non-metallic coating that mate with complementary threads on the nozzle body. In this example, through use of the non-metallic threads or threads having a non-metallic coating, the securing device has a longer life than conventional securing devices that were made from steel or titanium by eliminating or substantially reducing thread galling.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nozzle for an injection molding machine. The nozzle includes a body defining a melt channel. A heater is connected to the nozzle body. A heat distributor is also connected to the nozzle body. The heat distributor is formed of a conductive material for distributing heat from the heater along the nozzle body.

Abstract: A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus is provided. The injection molding apparatus includes a manifold and a mold component. The manifold has at least one runner therein that is downstream from a melt source. The mold component defines at least one mold cavity and defining a gate into each mold cavity. The gate defines an axis. The mold component has a mold component alignment surface thereon. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a tip, a tip surrounding piece and an alignment piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage, which is adapted to be in fluid communication and downstream from the at least one runner. The tip is removably connected to the nozzle body. The tip defines a tip melt passage therethrough. The tip melt passage is downstream from and in fluid communication with the nozzle body melt passage, and is upstream from and in fluid communication with the gate. The tip surrounding piece is removably connected with respect to the nozzle body.

Abstract: An injection molding nozzle with a tip portion in the gate area of the mold that has a wear-resistant diamond-type coating. The surface of the tip melt channel that delivers melt to the gate area may also comprise a diamond-type coating. Nozzle seal surfaces in the gate area may also comprise a diamond-type coating. The enhanced harness, smoothness and thermal conductivity of these coated surfaces results in higher quality molded parts, and easier to clean molding equipment that has a longer service life.

Abstract: A two-piece transfer seal for coupling a nozzle tip to a nozzle of an injection molding apparatus includes a retaining member removably connected to a downstream end of the nozzle and a removably connected nozzle sealing member. The retaining member is comprised of a first material and at least the sealing face of the sealing member is comprised of a second material. In certain applications, the nozzle sealing member is a mold gate insert. In certain applications, the two-piece transfer seal does not retain the nozzle tip, which is metallurgically bonded to the nozzle.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus includes a manifold and a nozzle, which is received in an opening in a mold plate, including a nozzle channel for receiving the melt stream from the manifold channel, the nozzle channel being aligned with a first axis. A nozzle tip is received in a downstream end of the nozzle. The nozzle tip includes a melt channel for receiving the melt stream from the nozzle channel of the nozzle. A valve pin guiding portion is provided at a downstream end of the nozzle tip including an outwardly extending flange having a peripheral edge that abuts an inner wall of the opening to align the melt channel with a second axis through a mold gate. A valve pin is movable through the melt channel to selectively open the mold gate. Wherein the nozzle tip is flexible in order to compensate for the first axis and the second axis being out of alignment.

Abstract: A sprue bushing includes a melt channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material from a source. The melt channel includes a first portion, a second portion and a decompression cavity located between the first portion and the second portion. A manifold having a manifold channel receives the melt stream from the melt channel of the sprue bushing and delivers the melt stream through the nozzle channels of several hot runner nozzles towards at least one mold cavity. A decompression device, which includes a rod having an enlarged head, is movable by an actuator to reciprocate within the decompression cavity between a retracted position and an extended position. Movement of the enlarged head from the extended position to the retracted position causes the suck back of the molten material in the hot runner nozzle and causes a portion of the molten material to be drawn toward the decompression cavity.

Abstract: A heater assembly for an injection molding apparatus comprises a heater sleeve having a threaded inner surface for engaging a threaded outer surface of a nozzle body of a nozzle or a threaded surface of a mold manifold. A clamping element such as a lock nut or a spring is provided adjacent the heater sleeve. The lock nut and/or the spring abuts the heater sleeve to force the threaded inner surface of the heater sleeve into contact with the threaded outer surface of the nozzle body. This removable clamped heater assembly operates regardless of the temperature of heater.

Abstract: An improved melt distribution system and method is provided for a multi-level stack mold having three or more moving platens. The injection machine communicates with a bifurcated sprue bar for providing pressurized melt through the first moving platen to a central distribution manifold in the second moving platen. From the central distribution manifold, the flow of pressurized melt is distributed to the first and third platens for transfer to a plurality of mold cavities.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure. A nozzle having a nozzle channel receives the melt stream from the manifold channel and delivers the melt stream through a mold gate to a mold cavity. The nozzle includes a nozzle head, a nozzle body and a nozzle tip. A heat dissipation device is coupled to the nozzle body at a location between the nozzle head and the nozzle tip to regulate the temperature of the nozzle and maintain it within a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A system and method including an injection molding system (e.g., nozzle) having a nozzle body with a heater holding portion that receives a heating device that is releasably secured in the heater holding portion. The nozzle has at least one flat or planar outer surface and can be made from a high wear and high pressure resistant material (e.g., Aermet). A slot of the heater holding portion and the heating device can be of complimentary geometries, such as rectangular shaped, wedge shaped, or any other shape. The heating device can include a holding device having receiving areas. Each receiving area can receive a respective heater that can be removed from the nozzle body. The nozzle body is provided with a clamping mechanism to insure an intimate contact between the heater holding portion and the heater device.

Abstract: A stack injection molding apparatus includes a melt homogenizing element provided between a first transfer nozzle, which is coupled to a melt source, and a second transfer nozzle, which is coupled to a manifold. The melt homogenizing element is used for redistributing a melt stream in order to provide a homogenized melt stream having a generally uniform temperature and viscosity profile or sectional distribution.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrically heated nozzle for injection molding which is insulated to prevent conduction of electricity and loss of thermal transmission to the casing, with an electric heater and sensor that are wrapped around substantially the same portion of a melt channel of the nozzle.

Abstract: A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus is provided. The injection molding apparatus has a mold component that defines a mold cavity and a gate into the mold cavity. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater, a tip, a tip surrounding piece and a mold component contacting piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage therethrough, that is adapted to receive melt from a melt source. The heater is thermally connected to the nozzle body for heating melt in the nozzle body. The tip defines a tip melt passage therethrough, that is downstream from the nozzle body melt passage, and that is adapted to be upstream from the gate. The tip surrounding piece is removably connected with respect to said nozzle body. The mold component contacting piece is connected with respect to the nozzle body.