Abstract: An injection molding apparatus comprising a heated manifold, an actuator comprised of an actuator housing containing a drive member interconnected to a valve pin having a drive axis, one or more heat convectors each heat convector comprised of a heat conductive leg disposed within a gap disposed between the manifold and a downstream end of the actuator housing and a heat conductive arm extending distally upstream and away from the gap such that heat is conducted from the leg to the arm upstream and away from the downstream end of the actuator housing.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting a position of an actuator piston driving a valve pin in an injection molding system. The apparatus includes an actuator housing having a body portion, surrounding an axial bore, of a substantially non-magnetic and/or magnetically permeable material, a piston, movable within the axial bore for driving a valve pin, the piston including a magnetic member generating a magnetic field such that axial movement of the piston in the bore modifies the magnetic field according to the position of the piston relative to a detection position, and a magnetic field detector attached to an exterior surface of the body portion at the detection position for detecting the magnetic field associated with the position of the piston and generating an output signal determined by the piston position.