Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustment device for a valve pin on an injection molding machine, and particularly on a multi-cavity machine, having a plurality of valve pins mounted on a common yoke plate which is actuated by a common actuator. The adjustment device includes a pin holder for holding the valve pin, and a locking member. The pin holder has two threaded portions. The first threaded portion is adjustable within a threaded receiving hole in the yoke plate. The second threaded portion is received by the locking member. The locking member has a bottom shoulder which butts against the yoke plate, and retains the pin holder in place.

Abstract: A nozzle (e.g., a flat nozzle, an asymmetric nozzle, a micro nozzle, a flat micro nozzle, etc.) is configured to make injection molded components. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater associated with the nozzle body, a melt channel running through the nozzle body configured to allow melt material flow, and a thermally conductive device located inside the nozzle body. The thermally conductive device can be configured to produce an even heat profile along an entire length of the melt channel. The nozzle body can be symmetrical or asymmetrical and can be made of a different, less thermally conductive material, than the thermally conductive device. The thermally conductive device can be used to balance a heating profile of the nozzle to produce consistency in melt material viscosity and speed throughout a micro nozzle channel.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprises a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of molten material under pressure and delivering the melt stream to a nozzle channel of a nozzle. A mold cavity receives the melt stream from the nozzle and the nozzle channel communicates with the mold cavity through a mold gate. A thermocouple is coupled to the mold core of the mold cavity in order to measure the temperature of the molten material in the mold cavity.

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 stack or tandem injection molding apparatus includes a first melt transfer nozzle coupled to a stationary platen and a second melt transfer nozzle coupled to a movable platen. A melt transfer device includes a first valve pin extending through a first melt transfer channel of the first melt transfer nozzle and a second valve pin extending through a second melt transfer channel of the second melt transfer nozzle. At least one groove is provided in the outer surface of the first valve pin. The first valve pin is movable relative to the first and second melt transfer nozzles to selectively locate the groove across a portion of the first melt transfer channel and a portion of the second melt transfer channel to allow melt to flow therebetween in the mold closed position and to prevent drooling in the mold open position.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention includes a computer implemented injection molding configuring subsystem which enables a customer to interactively specify and design a system using a mix of parameters that the customer specifies and are manufacturing process determined. The configuring subsystem is connected to a computer network such as the Internet. The method and apparatus of the present invention further includes a computerized business and processing subsystem in communication with the configuring subsystem. The computerized business subsystem automatically provides a cost and schedule for a system configured by the configuring subsystem and additionally processes an order for the system. The processing subsystem automatically processes the customer's inputs and generates drawings for the configured system.