Edge Gated Injection Molding Apparatus
First Claim
1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
- an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel, wherein said melt channel branches to a plurality of melt channel outlets;
a hot runner injection nozzle having an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with one of the melt channel outlets, the hot runner injection nozzle also including at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the angled melt channels and the axial melt channel are not parallel to each other;
at least two nozzle tips each including a nozzle tip melt channel, wherein the nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with one of the angled melt channels;
a primary valve pin disposed at least partially within the axial melt channel coaxially with the central axis and movable within the axial melt channel;
at least two secondary valve pins movable inside the nozzle tip melt channels, wherein the secondary valve pins are disposed at an angle with respect to the primary valve pin such that the secondary valve pins are not parallel to the primary valve pin;
a linkage element connecting the secondary valve pins to the primary valve pin; and
at least two lateral mold gates disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the mold gates are not parallel to the central axis, each mold gate communicating with a mold cavity, wherein the axial movement of the primary valve pin is transmitted through the linkage element to the secondary valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An injection molding apparatus includes an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel. The manifold melt channel branches to a plurality of melt channel outlets. A hot runner injection nozzle includes an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with one of the manifold melt channel outlets. The nozzle further includes at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle to the central axis. At least two nozzle tips are provided, and each includes a nozzle tip melt channel in communication with one of the angled melt channels. A valve pin is disposed at least partially within the axial melt channel coaxially with the central axis and movable within the axial melt channel. Lateral valve pins movable within the nozzle tip melt channels are disposed at an angle to the valve pin. Linkage elements continuously connect the lateral valve pins to the valve pin. Axial movement of the valve pin is transmitted through the linkage elements to the lateral valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
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an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel, wherein said melt channel branches to a plurality of melt channel outlets; a hot runner injection nozzle having an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with one of the melt channel outlets, the hot runner injection nozzle also including at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the angled melt channels and the axial melt channel are not parallel to each other; at least two nozzle tips each including a nozzle tip melt channel, wherein the nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with one of the angled melt channels; a primary valve pin disposed at least partially within the axial melt channel coaxially with the central axis and movable within the axial melt channel; at least two secondary valve pins movable inside the nozzle tip melt channels, wherein the secondary valve pins are disposed at an angle with respect to the primary valve pin such that the secondary valve pins are not parallel to the primary valve pin; a linkage element connecting the secondary valve pins to the primary valve pin; and at least two lateral mold gates disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the mold gates are not parallel to the central axis, each mold gate communicating with a mold cavity, wherein the axial movement of the primary valve pin is transmitted through the linkage element to the secondary valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
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an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel; a hot runner injection nozzle including a first nozzle portion, a separate second nozzle portion, and a nozzle link coupling the first nozzle portion to the second nozzle portion, wherein said first nozzle portion includes an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with said manifold melt channel, wherein the nozzle link includes a nozzle link melt channel communicating with said axial melt channel, and wherein said second nozzle portion includes at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the angled melt channels and the axial melt channel are not parallel to each other; at least two nozzle tips each including a nozzle tip melt channel, wherein the nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with one of the angled melt channels; a primary valve pin generally parallel to the central axis; at least two secondary valve pins movable inside the nozzle tip melt channels, wherein the secondary valve pins are disposed at an angle with respect to the primary valve pin such that the secondary valve pins are not parallel to the primary valve pin; a linkage element connecting the secondary valve pins to the primary valve pin; and at least two lateral mold gates disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the mold gates are not parallel to the central axis, each mold gate communicating with a mold cavity, wherein axial movement of the primary valve pin is transmitted through the linkage element to the secondary valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
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an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel, wherein said melt channel branches to a plurality of melt channel outlets; a hot runner injection nozzle having an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with one of the melt channel outlets, the hot runner injection nozzle also including at least two angled melt channels disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the angled melt channels and the axial melt channel are not parallel to each other; at least two nozzle tips each including a nozzle tip melt channel, wherein the nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with one of the angled melt channels; a primary valve pin disposed parallel to the central axis; at least two secondary valve pins movable inside the nozzle tip melt channels, wherein the secondary valve pins are disposed at an angle with respect to the primary valve pin such that the secondary valve pins are not parallel to the primary valve pin; at least two sliders, each slider being coupled to a respective one of the secondary valve pins such that said slider move generally parallel to said secondary valve pins; a linkage element coupling the sliders to the primary valve pin; and at least two lateral mold gates disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the mold gates are not parallel to the central axis, each mold gate communicating with a mold cavity, wherein the axial movement of the primary valve pin is transmitted through the linkage element and the sliders to the secondary valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification