Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body, an annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, a source channel upstream of the annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, and a flow transition channel in the nozzle body. The flow transition channel interconnects the source channel with a part-annular segment of the annular outlet channel. The flow transition channel widens in a downstream direction and has a non-uniform cross-sectional channel thickness in either or both of the longitudinal (downstream) and transverse directions. The geometry of the flow transition channel may promote at least one of a uniform velocity profile and a uniform temperature profile in a generated annular or part-annular melt flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

Abstract: A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body, an annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, a source channel upstream of the annular outlet channel in the nozzle body, and a flow transition channel in the nozzle body. The flow transition channel interconnects the source channel with a part-annular segment of the annular outlet channel. The flow transition channel widens in a downstream direction and has a non-uniform cross-sectional channel thickness in either or both of the longitudinal (downstream) and transverse directions. The geometry of the flow transition channel may promote at least one of a uniform velocity profile and a uniform temperature profile in a generated annular or part-annular melt flow.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

Abstract: A dynamic mixer and associated injection molding system for mixing a melt flow. The injection molding system includes: a hot runner assembly having a plurality of splits; an injection unit that delivers a melt flow to the plurality of splits in the hot runner assembly via a melt channel; and a dynamic mixer incorporated into the melt channel upstream from the plurality of splits, wherein the dynamic mixer includes a rotor assembly configured to be rotationally driven by the melt flow, and wherein the rotor assembly is further configured to mix the melt flow passing through the melt channel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a stationary platen of a mold clamp for use with a molding system. The stationary platen includes a platen base configured to accept a first mold assembly of a mold, the platen base also defines a receptacle for embedding, in use, a bridge runner system. The bridge runner system is configured to fluidly connect, at least in part, a source of molding material with a molding cavity defined, at least in part, by a mold insert accepted in the first mold assembly.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a mold module from a set of substantially structurally independent mold modules of at least one of a first mold assembly or a second mold assembly. The first mold assembly and the second mold assembly for accepting, in use, a plurality of first mold inserts and second mold inserts, respectively, to define, in use, a plurality of substantially identical molding cavities therebetween. A subset of at least one of the first mold inserts or the second mold inserts being accepted in the mold module.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a melt distribution apparatus for a molding system having a geometrically balanced network of runners for distributing a melt of molding material from a melt inlet to a rectangular array of melt outlets having a first number of melt outlets in a first reference direction and a second number of melt outlets in a second reference direction, at least one of the first and the second number being an odd number in excess of three.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a split mold insert. The split mold insert comprises a body comprising: a front face portion defining, in part, a first portion of a molding cavity; a planar upper face portion for cooperation with a complementary lower portion of a first mold insert, the first mold insert defining a second portion of the molding cavity; the planar upper face portion defining a split line between the first and second portions of the molding cavity; a locking interface defined on an outermost portion of the body, the locking interface configured to cooperate with a blocking member associated with a cavity mold insert.