An apparatus and method for actuating a valve stem between an open position and a closed position and for taking one or more valve gated nozzle out of service is disclosed. The hot runner includes a valve gated nozzle having a valve stem, the valve stem coupled to a piston that is held against an actuation plate via pressurized air. When a valve stem becomes stuck in a gate of the hot runner, the actuation plate can continue to move while the piston remains stationary. The valve stem may also be protected from an over force situation such as if the valve stem encounters an obstruction as the actuation plate is moving toward the closed position.

A second mold is divided into a recess-side mold portion, which includes a recess, and a remaining mold portion in a sliding direction of a movable pin, while a size of a gap between the recess-side mold portion and the remaining mold portion is adjustable. The second mold is configured to execute a first-mold-closing operation for contacting the recess-side mold portion to the first mold and thereafter a second-mold-closing operation for contacting the remaining mold portion to the recess-side mold portion. A distal end portion of the movable pin is configured to be placed into a non-contacting state, in which the distal end portion of the movable pin is not in contact with the workpiece, at a time of executing the first-mold-closing operation. The distal end portion of the movable pin is configured to contact the portion of the workpiece at a time of executing the second-mold-closing operation.

A second mold is divided into a recess-side mold portion, which includes a recess, and a remaining mold portion in a sliding direction of a movable pin, while a size of a gap between the recess-side mold portion and the remaining mold portion is adjustable. The second mold is configured to execute a first-mold-closing operation for contacting the recess-side mold portion to the first mold and thereafter a second-mold-closing operation for contacting the remaining mold portion to the recess-side mold portion. A distal end portion of the movable pin is configured to be placed into a non-contacting state, in which the distal end portion of the movable pin is not in contact with the workpiece, at a time of executing the first-mold-closing operation. The distal end portion of the movable pin is configured to contact the portion of the workpiece at a time of executing the second-mold-closing operation.

A method for injection molding of plastic materials into a cavity of a mold by means of a molding apparatus including at least one injector having a pin valve displaceable between a fully closed position and a maximum opening position, and vice versa, in a controlled fashion in respect of its position and speed. In the opening displacement from the fully closed position to the maximum opening position, the pin valve is initially moved at a first speed and subsequently at a second speed, where the first speed is the highest opening displacement speed of the pin valve.

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 system comprising: a first selected valve, one or more downstream valves, delivering a fluid to a mold cavity, at least one fluid property sensor that detects a flow front of fluid material flowing downstream through the mold cavity at a trigger location within the cavity disposed between the first gate and at least one selected downstream gate, a controller instructing an actuator associated with the downstream gates to open the gates at a predetermined open gate target time on a first injection cycle, 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 the predetermined open gate target time and the actual open gate time.

An injection molding apparatus comprising an injection machine, a manifold, a mold, a clamp plate, an actuator interconnected to a valve pin and an external actuator controller, the actuator controller comprising a controller housing adapted to control upstream flow of drive fluid from an upstream actuator drive chamber such that the rate of travel of the drive piston is selectively adjustable to a first rate of travel or velocity over a first course of travel from a gate closed position to a predetermined position of upstream travel and such that the rate of travel of the drive piston beyond the predetermined intermediate upstream position occurs at a second rate of travel or velocity that is higher than the first rate of travel or velocity.

A valve mechanism for at least one liquid plastic component or liquid plastic, includes a closure device that includes a needle to be pressed against a seat in order to close a valve opening in the valve mechanism. The needle and/or seat is designed or mounted in such a way as to be resilient.

An injection molding apparatus with hot runners includes a rear plate that supports at least one manifold, wherein a first face of the rear plate that contains the main manifold is in direct contact with a first face of the manifold plate substantially on the entire flat surface of the first face of the manifold plate which is not affected by the recesses which, in the manifold plate, accommodate the secondary manifolds.

The manifold plate has nozzles, and the actuators of the injection nozzles are completely external to the rear plate, are completely inside recesses of the manifold plate, and are arranged so that a respective piston cylinder is compressed between the first face of the rear plate and the secondary manifold.

An injection molding apparatus with hot runners includes a rear plate that supports at least one manifold, wherein a first face of the rear plate that contains the main manifold is in direct contact with a first face of the manifold plate substantially on the entire flat surface of the first face of the manifold plate which is not affected by the recesses which, in the manifold plate, accommodate the secondary manifolds.

The manifold plate has nozzles, and the actuators of the injection nozzles are completely external to the rear plate, are completely inside recesses of the manifold plate, and are arranged so that a respective piston cylinder is compressed between the first face of the rear plate and the secondary manifold.