A method and apparatus for performing an injection molding cycle comprising drivably interconnecting a valve pin to an electric motor actuator and controllably operating the electric motor to drive the valve pin at one or more reduced rates of upstream or downstream travel based on either detection of the position of the pin or actuator or on a preselected length of time at which to drive the valve pin.

A resiliently compressible spring or cushion in an injection molding system that has: (a) an upstream surface that engages against a complementary surface of a component of the system that transmits force between the cushion or spring and one or the other of a mount and a drive device interconnected to a valve pin , (b) a downstream surface that engages against a complementary surface of a component of the system that transmits force between the cushion or spring and a valve pin. wherein the cushion or spring resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted in response to engagement of a distal tip end of the valve pin with a gate surface.

An injection mold includes an actuator assembly, which further includes an actuator plate for moving at least one valve pin during production in an axial direction and a valve pin coupling device. The valve pin coupling device allows a manually controllable coupling and decoupling of the actuator plate and the valve pin.

A shut-off nozzle includes: an injection nozzle in which a flow path is formed; a needle valve provided in the flow path coaxially with the injection nozzle, the needle valve being movable forward and backward in an axial direction; and a guide ring provided in the flow path. The needle valve includes a columnar shaft portion, and the guide ring is configured to guide the forward and backward movement of the needle valve at the shaft portion. An injection device includes: a heating cylinder; a screw provided in the heating cylinder; and the shut-off nozzle provided in the heating cylinder. An injection molding machine includes: a mold clamping device configured to clamp a mold; and the injection device configured to inject a resin.

An apparatus for injecting a molten plastic material into a mold is described. The apparatus includes a heated manifold (manifold) with channels to distribute molten material inside it, and a heated injector, to inject molten material to the mold cavity, equipped with a translatable shutter to regulate the flow of the injected molten material.

An actuator is attached to the manifold to receive molten material from it to send to the injector and move the shutter. The actuator includes a piston connected to the plug, and a first conduit to bring a pressurized fluid from the outside to the piston. A plate includes a second internal conduit to bring pressurized fluid to the injector, where a gap separates the plate and the actuator.

A connecting member is mounted to cross the gap and carry pressurized fluid from the plate to the actuator.

Apparatus and method for detecting a position of an actuator piston driving a valve pin in an injection molding system. The apparatus includes an actuator housing having a body portion, surrounding an axial bore, of a substantially non-magnetic and/or magnetically permeable material, a piston, movable within the axial bore for driving a valve pin, the piston including a magnetic member generating a magnetic field such that axial movement of the piston in the bore modifies the magnetic field according to the position of the piston relative to a detection position, and a magnetic field detector attached to an exterior surface of the body portion at the detection position for detecting the magnetic field associated with the position of the piston and generating an output signal determined by the piston position.

The invention relates to a hot runner device comprising at least one needle valve nozzle and a shut-off needle which is movable in the needle valve nozzle by means of a movement means, and comprising an overload protection device for the shut-off needle, characterized in that the overload protection device is implemented as follows: the shut-off needle is connected in at least a first movement direction directly or indirectly to the movement means by at least one frictional connection that can be released when a threshold force is exceeded.

An injection molding apparatus including an actuator interconnected to a rod or valve pin having a smooth continuous cylindrical outer surface and one or more discontinuous or relieved or relieved portions formed as discontinuities in the cylindrical outer surface and adapted to be disposed within a fluid flow channel, the one or more discontinuous or relieved portions being configured and arranged along the axial length of the pin or rod such that the flow of injection fluid over or past the one or more discontinuous or relieved portions is modified to flow at substantially different rates or velocities or in substantially different flow patterns relative to rate or velocity or pattern of flow of injection fluid over or past the smooth continuous cylindrical outer surface.

An injection molding apparatus (100) comprising a rotor (240, 252, 2202), interconnected to a distal end (DE) of one or more elongated cables (237, 237, 248, 249, 2206) in an arrangement such that the one or more elongated cables are controllably rotatably drivable (R, R2, R3) via controlled driven rotation (R) of the rotor around the rotor axis, wherein the one or more elongated cables (237, 237, 248, 249) have a cable axis (CA) and are flexibly bendable along at least a portion of their axis (CA) into a curved or curvilinear configuration (CF), a rotary to linear motion converter (228, 230, 300, 700, 800, 1200, 1201, 2208) interconnected to the rotor and an upstream end of the valve pin (216, 218, 301, 501, 708, 808, 1222).

Actuator for a hot runner injection molding apparatus, comprising at least one nozzle for side gating with at least one valve gate comprising a valve pin for closing a communication opening in a mold cavity, a valve pin actuating means coupled with the at least one valve pin, which is moveable back and forth along a first axis (A), whereby the at least one valve pin is moveable along a second axis (B), which is arranged at an angle () to the first axis (A), and an actuator for driving the valve pin actuating means. The available speed of moving the valve pins and the possibility of multiple locations of positioning the valve pins relative to the mold gates ensures a a reduction of the injection pressure in the mold cavity and thus a reduction of mold core shifting, the possibility to fill at the same time mold cavities of different sizes and allows for defect free molded parts.