Abstract:
The present application describes injection molding machines and, more particularly, a removable nozzle tip and nozzle assembly for use with an injection molding machine and an engagement tool and methods for replacing a nozzle tip. In an aspect, an injection molding machine may include a nozzle. The nozzle may include a nozzle housing and a nozzle tip threadably attached to the nozzle housing. At least a portion of an exterior wall of the nozzle housing and at least a portion of an exterior wall of the nozzle tip may align to provide a cylindrical surface. The injection molding machine may further include a tubular heater enclosing at least a portion of the continuous cylindrical surface. The nozzle tip does not include a torque feature in any location that is downstream of the tubular heater and upstream of a mold gate of the nozzle.
Abstract:
Thermocouples and their associated thermocouple junctions can be integrated via freeform fabrication into various parts of injection-molding apparatuses, including the nozzles. Unitary monolithic integration of thermocouples allows thermocouple junctions to be located highly proximate to the locations where temperature monitoring is desired, particularly, near the tips of injection-molding nozzles, which has conventionally been difficult or impossible to achieve. An injection-molding nozzle with one or more integrated thermocouples, a hot-runner manifold with injection-molding nozzles, having integrated thermocouples, monolithically integrated with the manifold as a single part using a freeform fabrication process, and a separately formed injection-molding nozzle having at least one integrated thermocouple and a robust electrical connection are presented according to various aspects of the invention.
Abstract:
A mold-tool system (105) for use with a molding-system platen structure (107), the mold-tool system (105) comprising: a frame assembly (103) being connectable with the molding-system platen structure (107); and a set of shooting-pot assemblies (204) being supported by the frame assembly (103), wherein control of each shooting-pot assembly of the set of shooting-pot assemblies (204) is independent.
Abstract:
A hot-runner system for use with an injection molding system, the hot-runner system including a hot-runner component, a material; and carbon nanotubes being combined with the material. The carbon nanotubes are dispersed, at least in part, in the material and the material includes a metal alloy. The carbon nanotubes are dispersed in the metal alloy, so that the metal alloy and the carbon nanotubes are combined to form a CNT-metal composite material.
Abstract:
According to an aspect, there is disclosed a hot runner system (100), comprising: a first surface (205) being elastically deformable; a second surface (210) forming, in cooperation with the first surface (205), a melt-leakage gap (215) being located between the first surface (205) and the second surface (210); and an active material (220) being: (i) coupled with the first surface (205), (ii) held normally stationary, (iii) configured to be operatively coupled with a signal source (225), and (iv) configured to elastically deform in response to receiving a signal from the signal source (225), upon elastic deformation of the active material (220), the first surface (205) becomes moved toward the second surface (210) such that a size (235) of the melt-leakage gap (215) becomes controlled.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a hot runner (100), including: a first plate (102) having a first-plate alloy; a second plate (104) having a second-plate alloy, the second plate (104) being coupled with the first plate (102), and the second plate (104) and the first plate (102) defining a manifold pocket (213); a manifold (224) being supportively received in the manifold pocket (213), and the manifold (224) having a drop (225); a nozzle assembly (400) being supportively received by the second plate (104), the nozzle assembly (400) connecting with the drop (225) of the manifold (224); and a nozzle-support structure (101), including: a first load-bearing insert (207) contacting the second plate (104), the first load-bearing insert (207) contacting the nozzle assembly (400), the first load-bearing insert (207) having a first insert material being stronger than the second-plate alloy of the second plate (104), the first insert material being strong enough to withstand a first high-point load (150) to be transmitted from the nozzle assembly (400) to the second plate (104) via the first load-bearing insert (207), and the second-plate alloy of the second plate (104) withstands transmission of the first high-point load (150) once the first load-bearing insert (207) distributes the first high-point load (150) to the second plate (104).
Abstract:
An injection molding machine includes an edge gate nozzle with a nozzle body having a primary melt channel and a nozzle head having first and second secondary melt channels that feed melt to first and second nozzle tips. First and second heaters are disposed in the nozzle head to provide heat to the secondary melt channels. In some embodiments, the heaters are positioned adjacent to the secondary melt channels, with first heater is closer to the first secondary melt channel than to the second secondary melt channel. In some embodiments, the heaters are positioned adjacent to the nozzle tips, with the first heater closer to the first nozzle tip than to the second nozzle tip. In some embodiments, each heater is adjacent to both the respective nozzle tip and secondary melt channel. In some embodiments, each heater is individually controllable.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method of coupling and decoupling a valve stem to an actuator are disclosed. In one embodiment, the actuator includes a moveable member that is coupled to the valve stem. One of the valve stem and the moveable member is a male coupling portion and the other of the valve stem and moveable member is the female coupling portion. The male coupling portion is nested within the female coupling portion. A retaining pin retains the male coupling portion with respect to the female coupling portion.
Abstract:
A molding material distributor (108) for use with an injection molding system. The molding material distributor (108) includes a molding material distributor component. The molding material distributor component includes an aluminum nitride heater (110) in thermal communication therewith.
Abstract:
A mold-tool system (100) comprising a body (102) defining a melt-transfer channel (104). The body (102) has a variable heat transfer property.