Abstract: The invention relates to a thermocouple for sensing the temperature at a measurement point, comprising a first conductor that has a first end and a first terminal, and a second conductor that has a second end and a second terminal. The first end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor are in electric contact with one another at the measurement point, while the first terminal of the first conductor and the second terminal of the second conductor can each be connected to a terminal line. The first conductor and the second conductor are applied to a substrate using thick-film technology, the first end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor overlapping in at least some sections at the measurement point. A hot runner nozzle has a heater and a thermocouple according to the invention.

Abstract: Heated mould cavities of injection-moulding dies require long heating and cooling phases, with the result that the production unit numbers are low, the unit costs are high and the degree of efficiency is low as a result of the energy for temperature control. It is therefore a problem of the invention to eliminate or to reduce these disadvantages. According to the invention, this is solved by virtue of the fact that a die insert for delimiting, at least in sections, a mould cavity which is configured in a moulding plate of an injection-moulding die for producing components from a flowable material is provided with a main body which has a shaping front side for the mould cavity and a rear side which lies opposite the shaping front side, wherein the main body carries a layer heating means on the shaping front side thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermocouple for sensing the temperature at a measurement point, comprising a first conductor that has a first end and a first terminal, and a second conductor that has a second end and a second terminal. The first end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor are in electric contact with one another at the measurement point, while the first terminal of the first conductor and the second terminal of the second conductor can each be connected to a terminal line. The first conductor and the second conductor are applied to a substrate using thick-film technology, the first end of the first conductor and the second end of the second conductor overlapping in at least some sections at the measurement point. A hot runner nozzle has a heater and a thermocouple according to the invention.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle having an electrical heating element includes a connector for producing an electrical connection to a connection line, terminal contacts for the heating element terminating in an insulation body for the connector that separates the terminal contacts from one another electrically. The connection line has contact elements that are electrically contactable with the terminal contacts of the heating element. The insulation body is arranged at least in part in a receiving sleeve of the connector, that the connection line may be fixed in or on the receiving sleeve such that the contact elements of the connection line electrically contact the terminal contacts of the heating element, and that a first end of the receiving sleeve that faces towards the heating element wraps around the insulation body and has on this first end two opposing feet that face outward and that are attached to the heating element.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle having an electrical heating element includes a connector for producing an electrical connection to a connection line, terminal contacts for the heating element terminating in an insulation body for the connector that separates the terminal contacts from one another electrically. The connection line has contact elements that are electrically contactable with the terminal contacts of the heating element. The insulation body is arranged at least in part in a receiving sleeve of the connector, that the connection line may be fixed in or on the receiving sleeve such that the contact elements of the connection line electrically contact the terminal contacts of the heating element, and that a first end of the receiving sleeve that faces towards the heating element wraps around the insulation body and has on this first end two opposing feet that face outward and that are attached to the heating element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric heater (22) to heat substantially cylindrical objects (12), in particular hot runner nozzles (10) of hot runner systems, essentially being fitted with at least one cylindrical support and with at least one heating conductor track (28) deposited on the support (12). To reduce premature failure of the heater, the invention stipulates that each heating conductor track (28) runs substantially in the axial direction (A) of said support (12), the heating conductor tracks (28) being connected to each other by conductor tracks (30) of lower electrical resistance and each conductor track (30) running essentially in the tangential direction (T) of the support (12).

Abstract: An instrumented heater sleeve is provided that has a plurality of zones, a dielectric layer disposed over an outer surface of the sleeve, a resistive element layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, and a plurality of pairs of lead wires secured to a portion of the resistive element layer. Each pair of lead wires is connected to and corresponds with each of the zones and a protective layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. An amount of power is supplied to each of the zones and adjusted during a test run, or multiple test runs, to achieve a desired temperature profile along a heating target such as a hot runner nozzle. Methods of designing a hot runner nozzle heater using the instrumented heater sleeve are also provided.

Abstract: A connection system (36) implementing an electric junction between a heater (22), in particular a heater (22) for a hot runner nozzle (10) and at least one hookup conductor (32) linked to a power source, comprises a hookup body (38, 60, 70) which is made of an electrically non-conducting material and which is fitted with at least one passage (46) to receive at least one hookup conductor (32). Said passage (46) is specified to end in a side face (40) of the hookup body (38, 609, 70). Also the hookup conductor (38, 60, 70) is affixable to and/or on the substrate in a manner that in the specified state, the hookup conductors (32) passing through the minimum of one passage (46) shall make contact by their free ends with the heater (22).

Abstract: A connection system (36) implementing an electric junction between a heater (22), in particular a heater (22) for a hot runner nozzle (10) and at least one hookup conductor (32) linked to a power source, comprises a hookup body (38, 60, 70) which is made of an electrically non-conducting material and which is fitted with at least one passage (46) to receive at least one hookup conductor (32). Said passage (46) is specified to end in a side face (40) of the hookup body (38, 609, 70). Also the hookup conductor (38, 60, 70) is affixable to and/or on the substrate in a manner that in the specified state, the hookup conductors (32) passing through the minimum of one passage (46) shall make contact by their free ends with the heater (22).

Abstract: An instrumented heater sleeve is provided that has a plurality of zones, a dielectric layer disposed over an outer surface of the sleeve, a resistive element layer disposed over the first dielectric layer, and a plurality of pairs of lead wires secured to a portion of the resistive element layer. Each pair of lead wires is connected to and corresponds with each of the zones and a protective layer is disposed over the dielectric layer. An amount of power is supplied to each of the zones and adjusted during a test run, or multiple test runs, to achieve a desired temperature profile along a heating target such as a hot runner nozzle. Methods of designing a hot runner nozzle heater using the instrumented heater sleeve are also provided.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle heater is provided that includes a sleeve defining a slot extending along a length of the sleeve. A first dielectric layer is disposed over an outer surface of the sleeve, and a resistive element layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer, wherein the resistive element layer defines a resistive circuit pattern that is preferably formed by a laser trimming process. A pair of terminal leads are secured to a portion of the resistive element layer thus defining a termination area, and the termination area is positioned proximate the slot and away from the proximal end and the distal end of the sleeve. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the resistive element layer but not over the termination area, a third dielectric layer is disposed over the termination area, and a protective layer disposed over the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle heater is provided that includes a sleeve defining a slot extending along a length of the sleeve. A first dielectric layer is disposed over an outer surface of the sleeve, and a resistive element layer is disposed over the first dielectric layer, wherein the resistive element layer defines a resistive circuit pattern that is preferably formed by a laser trimming process. A pair of terminal leads are secured to a portion of the resistive element layer thus defining a termination area, and the termination area is positioned proximate the slot and away from the proximal end and the distal end of the sleeve. A second dielectric layer is disposed over the resistive element layer but not over the termination area, a third dielectric layer is disposed over the termination area, and a protective layer disposed over the second dielectric layer and the third dielectric layer.