Injection molding system having a flow control apparatus and method that controls the movement and/or rate of movement of a valve pin over the course of an injection cycle to cause the pin to move to one or select positions and/or to control the rate of movement of the pin over the course of the injection cycle. In one embodiment the method includes steps of: a) first controllably operating the actuator to drive the valve pin upstream beginning from the first closed position (50) to be moved to and held in a first selected position (51) for a first selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle, the first selected position (51) being the full open position; b) second controllably operating the actuator to drive the valve pin, during the injection cycle, downstream beginning from the first selected position (51) to be moved to and held in a second closed position (52) for a second selected period of time; c) third controllably operating the actuator to drive the valve pin, during the injection cycle, upstream beginning from the second closed position (52) to be moved to and held in a second selected position (53) for a third selected period of time, the second selected position being an intermediate position or the full open position; and d) fourth controllably operating the actuator to drive the valve pin, during the injection cycle, downstream beginning from the second selected position (53) to be moved to a third closed position (54).

Injection molding apparatuses and methods wherein a valve pin is controllably driven upstream and downstream along an axis between a first closed position where the tip end of the valve pin obstructs the gate to prevent the injection fluid from flowing into the cavity, a full open position and one or more intermediate positions, wherein the valve pin is drivable to be disposed or held in a selected intermediate position for a selected period of time during the course of an injection cycle where the tip end of the valve pin restricts flow of injection fluid through the gate to the mold cavity.

A hot runner nozzle includes a nozzle body configured to define a flow path of molten resin, and a cover member arranged at a circumference of a tip portion of the nozzle body. The cover member includes a first engagement portion being arranged on a part of an outer periphery and configured to engage with a mold and/or a second engagement portion being arranged on a part of an inner periphery and configured to engage with the nozzle body.

An injection blow molding method for making a container comprising the steps of injecting a molten crystallizable polymer in a preform mold via a hot runner system and biaxially stretching the preform by blowing, thereby forming a container, characterized in that said method further comprises means to selectively modify the flow path of the molten crystallizable polymer within the hot runner system.

A method is disclosed for micro-molding articles. The method comprises melting and pre-pressurizing thermoplastic material to a first level, within a plasticizing barrel. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to a second level, within a hot runner. The melt pressure of the thermoplastic material is manipulated to an ultra-cavity packing pressure within a valve gate nozzle.

Methods and apparatuses for improving multilayer preform injection molding. The apparatus may be an apparatus for injection molding. The apparatus may include an injection unit, a first mold, a second mold, and a main runner. The apparatus may also include a sub-runner branched and connected from the main runner and feeds molten resin to a cavity. The apparatus may further include a main closing and opening unit configured to close and open the main runner. In addition, the apparatus may include a sub-closing and sub-opening unit configured to close and open the sub-runner.

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 and the valve pin being configured or adapted such that the valve pin is movable axially upstream and downstream between an upstream position where the downstream flow of the injection fluid is restricted by a bulbous protrusion (B) of the pin being axially aligned (AL) with the throat (T) of the channel, an intermediate position where downstream flow of injection fluid is unrestricted (WG) and a fully downstream position where downstream flow of injection fluid is stopped at both the gate and at the throat.

An injection molding apparatus (5) comprising an injection molding machine (15), one or more upstream channels (19bfc, 40dfc) and one or more nozzle channels (42a), wherein a spring, coil, wire, rod or cylinder (800) configured in the form or shape of a spiral or helix is disposed within and extending axially through one or more of the upstream channels and the nozzle channel, the spring, coil, wire, rod or cylinder being adapted to guide flow of injection fluid flowing downstream through the channels in a disrupted or discontinuous manner.

An injection molding apparatus (5) comprising: an actuator (10) comprising a rotor (60) driven by a drive device (174) that consumes electrical energy (187) that generates heat, a thermal conductor (500) comprised of a thermally conductive material, a clamp plate (80) being mounted in thermal communication with the thermal conductor, a conductive surface (500s) of the thermal conductor being urged into contact with the clamp plate (80) under a spring force (SF) exerted between the actuator (10) and the thermal conductor (500), the heat (197) generated by the electrical energy (187) being conducted from the actuator housing (12) to the clamp plate (80).

Injection molding apparatus (1) comprising:

an actuator (14, 940, 941, 942) comprising a rotor (940r, 941r, 942r) controllably rotatable by electric power, the actuator (14, 940, 941, 942) being interconnected to a controller (16) that generates drive signals (DC),

an electrical drive device (940d, 941d, 942d) comprising an interface that receives the drive signals (DC) and controllably distributes electrical energy or power in controllably varied amounts according to the drive signals (DC) to a driver (940dr, 941dr, 942dr) that drives the rotor (940r, 941r, 942r),

a valve pin (1040, 1041, 1042) having an axis (X) and a control surface (43, 45, 102m) drivable upstream and downstream through a downstream feed channel (17, 19, 160, 940c, 941c, 942c) the downstream feed channel having a complementary surface (47, 103s) adapted to interface with the control surface (43, 45, 102m) upstream and away from the gate.