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: 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 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 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 includes a manifold having a heated inlet body and an unheated distribution branch. A melt channel of the inlet body receives a melt stream of moldable material and delivers the melt stream to a melt channel of the distribution branch. The distribution branch has a first end, which is coupled to the inlet body, and a second end, which is coupled to a nozzle. The nozzle includes a nozzle channel for receiving the melt stream from the distribution melt channel. The distribution branch is formed of a tube surrounded by a conductive sleeve. A mold cavity communicates with the nozzle channel and receives the melt stream from the nozzle channel through a mold gate.

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: An injection molding apparatus includes a nozzle body, a valve pin, a nozzle tip, a seal piece, and a mold gate insert. The nozzle body has a melt channel. The valve pin is at least partially positioned in the melt channel. The valve pin has a first guidance and alignment structure thereon. The nozzle tip is connected to the nozzle body. The seal piece is connected to the nozzle body. The mold gate insert defines a gate and is in contact with the seal piece. The nozzle tip has a higher thermal conductivity than the nozzle body. The seal piece has a lower thermal conductivity than the nozzle body. The mold gate insert has a higher thermal conductivity than the seal piece. The mold gate insert includes a second guidance and alignment structure thereon that contacts the first guidance and alignment structure before the valve pin contacts the gate.

Abstract: A nozzle is provided for an injection molding apparatus. The injection molding apparatus includes a mold block. The mold block defines at least one mold cavity that has a gate. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a valve pin, an actuator, a first heating element and a second heating element. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt channel that is in fluid communication with and downstream from a melt source and that is in fluid communication with and upstream from the gate. The valve pin includes an upstream portion that defines a valve pin melt channel, wherein the valve pin melt channel has an inlet and at least one outlet. The inlet and the at least one outlet are in fluid communication with the nozzle body melt channel. The valve pin further includes a tip piece connected to the upstream portion. The valve pin is movable in the nozzle body melt channel for controlling the melt flow through the gate.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus includes a manifold with a manifold melt channel, a nozzle with a nozzle channel and a valve pin with an outer surface in proximal to an inner surface of the nozzle channel. A valve pin melt channel is defined by and substantially coaxial to the valve pin. The valve pin melt channel communicates with the manifold melt channel when the valve pin is retracted and is restricted from the manifold melt channel when the valve pin is extended. A mold gate is open when the valve pin is retracted and is closed by a valve pin tip of the valve pin when the valve pin is extended. An outlet extends from a longitudinal portion of the valve pin melt channel to the surface of the valve pin adjacent to the valve pin tip and is in continuous communication with a well adjacent the mold gate.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus includes a nozzle body, a valve pin, a nozzle tip, a seal piece, and a mold gate insert. The nozzle body has a melt channel. The valve pin is at least partially positioned in the melt channel. The valve pin has a first guidance and alignment structure thereon. The nozzle tip is connected to the nozzle body. The seal piece is connected to the nozzle body. The mold gate insert defines a gate and is in contact with the seal piece. The nozzle tip has a higher thermal conductivity than the nozzle body. The seal piece has a lower thermal conductivity than the nozzle body. The mold gate insert has a higher thermal conductivity than the seal piece. The mold gate insert includes a second guidance and alignment structure thereon that contacts the first guidance and alignment structure before the valve pin contacts the gate.

Abstract: An actuator for a valve pin of an injection molding apparatus includes an adjustment piece coupled to a valve pin via a connector and axially movable relative to a piston to adjust an axial position of the valve pin relative to a mold gate. A removable locking device restricts axial movement of the adjustment piece with respect to the piston. An indicator is provided for determining the position of the valve pin relative to a mold gate based on the position of the adjustment piece with respect to the piston. An anti-rotation device is provided to inhibit rotational movement of the valve pin. During maintenance, the actuator piston and adjustment piece may be extracted with or without the valve pin. The actuator may be reassembled with correct axial position via the piston/adjustment piece relationship and correct rotational position of the valve pin via the anti-rotation device.

Abstract: A nozzle is provided for an injection molding apparatus. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater, a tip, a tip surrounding piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage, which has an inlet that is adapted to be downstream from and in communication with a melt source. The heater is connected to said body for heating melt in said nozzle body melt passage. The tip defines a tip melt passage that is downstream from and in communication with said nozzle body melt passage. The tip melt passage has an outlet that is upstream from a gate in a mold component. The tip includes a tip sealing surface. The tip surrounding piece includes a first tip surrounding piece sealing surface. The first tip surrounding piece sealing surface and said tip sealing surface are separated by a gap. The gap is sized to inhibit the flow of melt between said first tip surrounding piece sealing surface and said tip sealing surface.

Abstract: An injection nozzle for an injection molding apparatus is provided. The injection nozzle includes a head portion, a body portion and a heater. The head and body portions are connected to each other and together define a nozzle melt channel. The head portion has a head portion outer surface. The head portion is adapted to be in contact with a molding apparatus component that is at a lower temperature than the head portion. The body portion has a body portion outer surface. A groove is defined in the head portion outer surface and the body portion outer surface. The heater wire is positioned in the groove. The heater is adapted to heat melt in the nozzle melt channel.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus is provided. The injection molding apparatus includes a manifold having at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source, a heat source for heating the melt, a nozzle in fluid communication with the manifold, and a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from the nozzle. The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a melt passage therethrough, a nozzle tip having a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the melt passage of the nozzle body, and a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body. The tip surrounding piece retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body. The tip surrounding piece is preferably formed of a material that has a thermal conductivity that is equivalent to that of the nozzle tip.

Abstract: A nozzle is provided for an injection molding apparatus. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater, a tip, a tip surrounding piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage, which has an inlet that is adapted to be downstream from and in communication with a melt source. The heater is connected to said body for heating melt in said nozzle body melt passage. The tip defines a tip melt passage that is downstream from and in communication with said nozzle body melt passage. The tip melt passage has an outlet that is upstream from a gate in a mold component. The tip includes a tip sealing surface. The tip surrounding piece includes a first tip surrounding piece sealing surface. The first tip surrounding piece sealing surface and said tip sealing surface are separated by a gap. The gap is sized to inhibit the flow of melt between said first tip surrounding piece sealing surface and said tip sealing surface.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus for small pitch molding includes a plurality of mold cavities having a small pitch therebetween. The injection molding apparatus includes a manifold for delivering melt to a sub-manifold. The sub-manifold including at least one upstream manifold plate and a downstream nozzle plate. The upstream manifold plate and/or the nozzle plate includes a heater. At least one unheated nozzle is mounted in the downstream nozzle plate for receiving melt from the sub-manifold and delivering the melt to a mold cavity.

Abstract: A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus is provided. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater and a first gap seal surface. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage, that is adapted to be downstream from and in fluid communication with a melt source, and upstream from and in fluid communication with a gate into a mold cavity in a mold component. The heater is thermally connected to the nozzle body for heating melt in the nozzle body melt passage. The first gap seal surface is positioned on a structure that is connected at least indirectly to the nozzle body. The first gap seal surface is adapted to be separated by a gap with respect to a second gap seal surface on the mold component. The gap is sized to inhibit the flow of melt between the first gap seal surface and the second gap seal surface.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus includes a first, rear-mounted nozzle that is coupled to a manifold for receiving a melt stream therefrom. A second, front-mounted nozzle is coupled to the first nozzle by a nozzle link that is provided between the first and second nozzles. A plurality of gate seals are coupled to a forward end of the second nozzle. The gate seals receive melt from a plurality of melt passages and deliver the melt to a plurality of mold cavities through respective gates. The second nozzle is slidably removable from the first nozzle via the nozzle link to facilitate repair or replacement of the gate seals.

Abstract: A valve pin guide is provided for guiding a valve pin from a nozzle into a gate of a mold cavity in an injection molding apparatus. The valve pin guide defines a guide aperture therethrough. The guide aperture is adapted to receive and guide the valve pin into alignment with the gate. The valve pin guide is positioned downstream from said nozzle and upstream from said gate.