Edge gated injection molding apparatus

• US 7,658,605 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
• Original Assignee: Mold-Masters Limited
• Inventors: Fairy, Fabrice
• Primary Examiner(s): HEITBRINK, TIMOTHY W
• Application Number:
  US11/961,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20080160125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 425/562, 425/563, 425/564, 425/565, 425/566, 425/572
• US Class Current: 425/564
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2045/2754 Plurality of independent heating or cooling means, e.g. independently controlling the heating of several zones of the nozzle, B29C2045/2753 takes precedence
• 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 45/2735 for non-coaxial gates, e.g. for edge gates
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/281 Drive means therefor

Abstract

An injection molding apparatus includes an injection manifold having a melt channel. A hot runner injection nozzle includes an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with the manifold melt channel. 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. An axial valve pin is disposed coaxially with the central axis and is disposed outside of the axial melt channel. Lateral valve pins movable within the nozzle tip melt channels are disposed at an angle to the valve pin. A linkage system connects the lateral valve pins to the axial valve pin. Movement of the axial valve pin is transmitted through the linkage system to the lateral valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates.

Claims

1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:

an injection manifold having an inlet and a melt channel;

a hot runner injection nozzle having an axial melt channel extending along a central axis and communicating with said melt channel, the hot runner injection nozzle also including an angled melt channel disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the angled melt channel and the axial melt channel are not parallel to each other;

a nozzle tip including a nozzle tip melt channel, wherein said nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with said angled melt channel;

a primary valve pin disposed coaxially with the central axis and disposed entirely outside of the axial melt channel;

a secondary valve pin movable inside the nozzle tip melt channel, wherein the secondary valve pin is disposed at an angle to the primary valve pin such that the secondary valve pin is not parallel to the primary valve pin;

a linkage system continuously connecting the secondary valve pin to the primary valve pin; and

a lateral mold gate disposed at an angle with respect to the central axis such that the mold gate is not parallel to the central axis, the mold gate communicating with a mold cavity, wherein movement of the primary valve pin is transmitted through the linkage system to the secondary valve pin to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channel and the lateral mold gate.

2. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hot runner injection nozzle includes a first nozzle portion including the axial melt channel and a second nozzle portion including the angled melt channel.

3. The injection molding apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first nozzle portion and the second nozzle portion are separate pieces.

4. The injection molding apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a nozzle link connecting the first nozzle portion to the second nozzle portion.

5. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heater surrounding the axial melt channel.

6. The injection molding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the heater also surrounds the angled melt channels.

7. The injection molding apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a second independent heater surrounding the angled melt channels.

8. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement of the primary valve pin transmitted through the linkage system is a rotary movement.

9. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle includes at least two angled melt channels, at least two nozzle tips with each of the nozzle tips including a nozzle tip melt channel, at least two secondary valve pins disposed in a respective nozzle tip melt channel, and at least two lateral mold gates.

10. The injection molding apparatus of claim 9, wherein the linkage system includes a disc coupled to the primary valve pin, wherein the disc includes a cam associated with each secondary valve pin such that the rotary movement of the primary valve pin causes an axial movement of the secondary valve pins.

11. The injection molding apparatus of claim 9, wherein the linkage system includes at least two linkage elements, wherein each linkage element includes a slider coupled one of the secondary valve pins and coupled to the primary valve pin.

12. The injection molding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sliders of the linkage elements are each coupled to a Y-shaped element and the Y-shaped element is coupled to the primary valve pin.

13. The injection molding apparatus of claim 12, wherein the Y-shaped element includes at least two arms and a head portion, wherein each arm is disposed in an angled slot in one of the sliders and the head portion is coupled to the primary valve pin.

14. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the primary valve pin is disposed on an opposite side of the nozzle as the manifold.

15. A hot runner nozzle for an injection molding apparatus comprising;

an axial melt channel extending along a central axis;

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 each nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with a respective one of the angled melt channels;

a primary valve pin disposed coaxially with the central axis and disposed entirely outside of the axial melt channel;

at least two secondary valve pins movable inside the nozzle tip melt channels and disposed coaxially with the nozzle tip melt channels; and

a linkage system continuously connecting the secondary valve pins to the primary valve pin.

16. The hot runner nozzle of claim 15, wherein the hot runner nozzle includes a first nozzle portion including the axial melt channel and a second nozzle portion including the angled melt channels.

17. The hot runner nozzle of claim 16, wherein the first nozzle portion and the second nozzle portion are separate pieces.

18. The hot runner nozzle of claim 17, further comprising a nozzle link connecting the first nozzle portion to the second nozzle portion.

19. The hot runner nozzle of claim 15, further comprising a heater surrounding the axial melt channel.

20. The hot runner nozzle of claim 19, wherein the heater also surrounds the angled melt channels.

21. The hot runner nozzle of claim 19, further comprising a second independent heater surrounding the angled melt channels.

22. The hot runner nozzle of claim 15, wherein the movement of the primary valve pin transmitted through the linkage system is a rotary movement.

23. The hot runner nozzle of claim 15, wherein the linkage system includes a disc coupled to the primary valve pin, wherein the disc includes a cam associated with each secondary valve pin such that the rotary movement of the primary valve pin causes an axial movement of the secondary valve pins.

24. The hot runner nozzle of claim 15, wherein the linkage system includes at least two linkage elements, wherein each linkage element includes a slider coupled one of the secondary valve pins and coupled to the primary valve pin.

25. The hot runner nozzle of claim 24, wherein the sliders of the linkage elements are each coupled to a Y-shaped element and the Y-shaped element is coupled to the primary valve pin.

26. The hot runner nozzle of claim 25, wherein the Y-shaped element includes at least two arms and a head portion, wherein each arm is disposed in an angled slot in one of the sliders and the head portion is coupled to the primary valve pin.

27. 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 an axis and communicating with one of the melt channel outlets, the hot runner injection nozzle also including at least two angled melt channels communicating with the axial melt channel and disposed at an angle with respect to the 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 each nozzle tip melt channel is in communication with a respective one of the angled melt channels;

a primary valve pin disposed outside of 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 system 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 axis such that the mold gates are not parallel to the axis, each mold gate communicating with a mold cavity, wherein movement of the primary valve pin is transmitted through the linkage system to the secondary valve pins to open and close communication between the nozzle tip melt channels and the lateral mold gates.

28. The injection molding apparatus of claim 27, wherein the primary valve pin is disposed coaxially with the axial melt channel.

29. The injection molding apparatus of claim 27, wherein the linkage system continuously connects the second valve pins to the primary valve pin.