The injection moulding of articles formed by plastic materials having different characteristics, for example of different colours, is carried out in a single injection cycle in which the first and the second plastic materials are injected into a first and into a second zone of a mould cavity by first and second injectors controlled according to specific modes so as to define a shape and/or a position of a weld line.

The injection moulding of articles formed by plastic materials having different characteristics, for example of different colours, is carried out in a single injection cycle in which the first and the second plastic materials are injected into a first and into a second zone of a mould cavity by first and second injectors controlled according to specific modes so as to define a shape and/or a position of a weld line.

The injection moulding of articles formed by plastic materials having different characteristics, for example of different colours, is carried out in a single injection cycle in which the first and the second plastic materials are injected into a first and into a second zone of a mould cavity by first and second injectors controlled according to specific modes so as to define a shape and/or a position of a weld line.

An apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of mold material to a mold cavity, the apparatus comprising: an injection molding machine and a manifold; an actuator interconnected to a valve pin having a tip end; a valve system in fluid communication with the actuator to drive the actuator at one or more rates of travel, the valve system having a start position, one or more intermediate drive rate positions and a high drive rate position, the start position holding the valve pin in a gate closed position; a controller that instructs the valve system to move from the start position to the one or more intermediate drive rate positions and to remain in the one or more intermediate drive rate positions for one or more corresponding predetermined amounts of time.

A hot runner process controller configured to monitor the status and operation of a hot runner system to autonomously generate information to improve the quality of injection molding process of a hot runner system having an inlet nozzle, one or more manifolds and one or more nozzles with actuator or without actuator, and one or more heating elements, the hot runner process controller is self-operating, and independent from the injection molding machine, includes: one or more sensors located on, in or at the hot runner system to detect the status and/or the operation of the hot runner system, and a processing unit and a memory. The processing unit is connected to the one or more sensors, wherein the memory stores data and program codes. The processing unit is configured to load and execute the program code to compare sensor information with the stored data and to determine if the hot runner system is in an operable status, and in case the hot runner system is in an operable status, configured to generate status information to activate the one or more heating elements and/or the one or more actuators enabling a production operation of the injection molding machine. In case the hot runner system is not in an operable status, configured to generate status information to deactivate the one or more heating elements and/or close or deactivate the one or more actuators disabling a production operation of the injection molding machine.

An apparatus and method for eliminating mold lines when molding a part having ferromagnetic pigments is provided. A mold assembly having a mold with a cavity and valve gates is formed. Pucks are fitted at the gates to collect residual cold plastic. The calculation of a specific sequence and timing of the opening of the valve gates is determined based on a calculation of the total number of valve gates needed to fill a part while maintaining acceptable injection molding pressure. Once calculated, the gates are positioned around the mold cavity to balance flow length ratio. A primary gate is chosen for initial injection. The time for the material to flow from the first to the second gate is established. The second gate is opened after the flow front reaches the second gate. This pattern continues until all valve gates are opened.

A method of forming a urinary catheter is disclosed that includes injecting a polymer melt through a primary melt channel and into an elongated recess around an outer surface of a core; and controlling a first pressure of the polymer melt in a first secondary melt channel separately and individually from a second pressure of the polymer melt in a second secondary melt channel and reducing stress of the polymer melt along the elongated recess. Opening the mould and removing the core provides a moulded intermittent urinary catheter having an open distal end and a closed proximal tip.

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.

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

An actuator having a driver receiving electrical energy or power from an electrical drive, the electrical drive comprising an interface, the electrical drive being housed within or by and actuator housing or being mounted on or to the housing, the housing and the electrical drive being mounted on, to or in close proximity to the heated manifold, a cooling device disposed between the heated manifold and the housing adapted to substantially isolate or insulate at least the electrical drive from communication with heat emanating from the heated manifold or to heat sink or absorb heat communicated or communicable to the electrical drive from the heated manifold or both.

An apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of a fluid mold material comprising: a manifold, an actuator interconnected to a valve pin, a position sensor that senses position of the valve pin, a controller that controls movement of the actuator according to instructions that instruct the actuator to drive the valve pin upstream at one or more selected intermediate velocities in response to receipt by the controller of a signal from the position sensor that the valve pin is disposed in the one or more intermediate upstream gate open positions.