An injection molding apparatus including:

a valve pin driven by an actuator, the valve pin extending axially through at least a portion of the channel length of the fluid flow channel, the fluid flow channel including a throat, downstream flow of the injection fluid being restricted by a bulb portion of the pin, the valve pin having an intermediate position where downstream flow of injection fluid is unrestricted and a fully downstream position where downstream flow of injection fluid is stopped at both the gate and at the throat, wherein the actuator is driven by a valve assembly comprised of a spool mechanically driven by first and second actuators or solenoids that each separately engage the spool at opposing axial ends to effect movement of the spool back and forth between the drive fluid flow positions.

The present invention concerns an adaptor plate for connecting a cover plate to a plurality of piston housings of an injection molding machine, wherein the adaptor plate has a first fluid passage and a second fluid passage for feeding a first and a second control fluid into the piston housings, wherein the first fluid passage has at least one first fluid passage inlet for receiving the first control fluid and a plurality of first fluid passage outlets for discharge of the first control fluid to the piston housings and the second fluid passage has at least one second fluid passage inlet for receiving the second control fluid and a plurality of second fluid passage outlets for discharge of the second control fluid to the piston housings.

An injection molding apparatus and method of fabricating a molded part are provided. The apparatus may include a barrel, a nozzle enclosing an end of the barrel and defining an opening in fluid communication with an inside of the barrel, and an extrusion screw positioned at least partially inside the barrel and rotatable relative to the barrel. The extrusion screw may include a screw tip. Relative axial movement between the barrel and the extrusion screw may open or close the opening of the nozzle to permit or prevent, respectively, material flow through the opening of the nozzle. The method may include clamping a mold, opening a nozzle, rotating the extrusion screw to pump a molten material into the mold until the mold is filled, closing the nozzle, and unclamping the mold to release a molded part.

An injection molding apparatus and method of fabricating a molded part are provided. The apparatus may include a barrel, a nozzle enclosing an end of the barrel and defining an opening in fluid communication with an inside of the barrel, and an extrusion screw positioned at least partially inside the barrel and rotatable relative to the barrel. The extrusion screw may include a screw tip. Relative axial movement between the barrel and the extrusion screw may open or close the opening of the nozzle to permit or prevent, respectively, material flow through the opening of the nozzle. The method may include clamping a mold, opening a nozzle, rotating the extrusion screw to pump a molten material into the mold until the mold is filled, closing the nozzle, and unclamping the mold to release a molded part.

An injection molding system comprising: a first selected valve, one or more downstream valves, delivering a fluid to a mold cavity, at least one fluid property sensor, each valve associated with a position sensor that detects opening of a gate at an actual open gate time to the controller, the controller automatically adjusting time of instruction to open the gates on a subsequent injection cycle by an adjustment time equal to any delay in time between a predetermined open gate target time and an actual open gate time, wherein the system forms a first one or more parts or objects, the user inspecting or measuring the first one or more parts or objects and manually adjusts the predetermined open gate target time.

An injection molding apparatus comprising an injection molding machine, a manifold, a closure valve pin, a first actuator having a linear or axial driver, a second actuator comprising a rotor interconnected to either the closure valve pin or to a second valve pin such that either the closure valve pin or the second valve pin is rotatably driven in unison with the rotor around the rotation axis, the closure pin or second pin being disposed and rotatable within the flow of injection fluid flowing through a flow channel leading to a mold cavity.

To provide a plasticizing device capable of easily executing maintenance of a barrel. A plasticizing device includes: a drive motor; a flat screw having a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed, and rotating around a rotation axis of the drive motor; a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface and having a communication hole formed therein; and a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel. The barrel has a separate structure including, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, a first barrel having the facing surface, and a second barrel separated from the facing surface.

To provide a plasticizing device capable of easily executing maintenance of a barrel. A plasticizing device includes: a drive motor; a flat screw having a groove forming surface in which a groove is formed, and rotating around a rotation axis of the drive motor; a barrel having a facing surface facing the groove forming surface and having a communication hole formed therein; and a heating unit configured to heat a material supplied between the flat screw and the barrel. The barrel has a separate structure including, when viewed from a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis, a first barrel having the facing surface, and a second barrel separated from the facing surface.

An injection apparatus (100) for injecting molten plastic into a mold for molding one or more hollow articles, in particular, bottle preforms; the injection apparatus (100) comprisingtwo injectors (1, 2), each defining a respective longitudinal axis (X, X), adapted to receive the molten plastic and inject it alternately into the mold; and a conduit (3, 31, 32, 33), having an inlet opening (30) for the molten plastic, adapted to be connected to a plasticization apparatus (102) and to conduct the molten plastic from the plasticization apparatus (102) towards the two injectors (1, 2); wherein the length of said conduit (3) is less than the length (Ltot) of each of the two injectors (1, 2) along the respective longitudinal axis (X, X).

An injection apparatus (100) for injecting molten plastic into a mold for molding one or more hollow articles, in particular, bottle preforms; the injection apparatus (100) comprisingtwo injectors (1, 2), each defining a respective longitudinal axis (X, X), adapted to receive the molten plastic and inject it alternately into the mold; and a conduit (3, 31, 32, 33), having an inlet opening (30) for the molten plastic, adapted to be connected to a plasticization apparatus (102) and to conduct the molten plastic from the plasticization apparatus (102) towards the two injectors (1, 2); wherein the length of said conduit (3) is less than the length (Ltot) of each of the two injectors (1, 2) along the respective longitudinal axis (X, X).