Injection molding nozzle

• US 7,470,123 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2006
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Otto Manner Innovation GmbH (Otto Männer Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Otto Manner Innovation GmbH (Otto Männer Holding AG)
• Inventors: Spuller, Swen
• Primary Examiner(s): HEITBRINK, TIMOTHY W
• Application Number:
  US11/437,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20060233911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 425/562.563, 425/564, 425/565, 425/566
• US Class Current: 425/564
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2779 Nozzles with a plurality of outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2813 Common drive means for several needle valves
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2831 Needle valves driven by a cam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2841 Needle valves driven by a plurality of coaxial pistons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2872 with at least three positions, e.g. two different open positions to control the melt flow
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/2735 for non-coaxial gates, e.g. for edge gates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/281 Drive means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/44 for undercut articles

Abstract

In an injection molding nozzle with a nozzle head including at least one discharge opening and a closure element for closing the discharge opening movably supported in the nozzle head for closing the discharge in order to control the supply of melt material to a communication opening in an injection mold, the closure element is operable by a drive mechanism provided with a short stroke actuating means for displacing the closure element in a direction opposite to the closing direction of the closure element by a predetermined short distance so as to automatically retract the closure element by the predetermined short distance when it is no longer biased by the actuating means in the closing direction.

Claims

1. An injection molding nozzle with a nozzle head (11) including at least one discharge opening (1) leading to a mold for injecting mold material into the mold and forming therein a molded body, a positively controlled closure element (2) movably supported in the nozzle head (11) for closing a communication opening in an injection mold (4), and means for moving the closure element into the communication opening (3) to a closing position fully filling out the communication opening (3) so as to displace any mold material from the communication opening (3) and for moving the closure element (2) out of the communication opening (3) into a fully retracted position and a short stroke return element (5) for displacing the closure element (2) in a direction opposite to the closing movement direction (6) thereof out of the closing position by a predetermined short stroke distance after solidification of a molding material injected into the mold to permit scratch-free removal of the molded body from the mold.

2. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the short stroke distance is 0.05 to 1 mm.

3. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the short stroke distance is about 0.3 mm.

4. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle head (11) is connected to a drive (7) for operating the closure element (2), said drive (7) including said return element (5), said return element (5) having an operating position and a rest position to which the return element (5) returns when the drive (7) is deactivated.

5. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the return element (5) is a plate spring.

6. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the nozzle head (11) includes at least two discharge openings (1) oriented in opposite directions and having each a closure element (2) operable by a common control means (8).

7. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the closure elements (2) are positively controlled via a slide guide structure (9).

8. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the closure elements (2) are closure needles which extend through the discharge openings (1) and are provided at their ends (2b) opposite the discharge openings (1) with a T-shaped engagement structure, and the drive means (7) includes a control rod (8) having a wedge-shaped end disposed in the nozzle head (11) and being provided with a T-shaped groove (9) in which the T-shaped engagement structures of the closure elements (2) are received for actuating the closure elements (2) by axial movement of the control rod (8).

9. An injection molding nozzle according to claim 8, wherein the closure elements (2) are provided at their ends with cylindrical sections (2a) extending into the discharge openings (1) for closing the discharge openings (1).