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.

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.

An injection molding apparatus and method for adjusting the axial position of a valve pin in an injection molding system, the apparatus comprising: a top clamp plate, a heated manifold receiving and distributing an injection fluid to an exit of a fluid delivery channel to a cavity of the mold, an actuator comprising a housing having a chamber enclosing a drive member for driving a valve pin along an axial path of travel, the actuator housing slidably mounted and adapted for controlled upstream and downstream movement of the drive member along a path complementary to the axial path of travel of the valve pin, a mounting plate and an axial position adjustment screw screwably mounted within the mounting plate upstream of the housing of the actuator for controllably moving the valve pin to selectable starting or ending injection cycle axial positions.

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.

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.

An improved life hydraulic valve actuator for a mold used in an injection molding machine. The actuator includes a housing for insertion into a hot runner assembly having a movable valve gate pin. A bore in the housing for receives an actuation piston which is connected to the gate pin. A hydraulic chamber in the assembly lifts the piston upward and downward for actuation of the pin in a valve gate. The actuation piston includes a centrally located circumferential double lip seal. The wall of the bore includes a pair of circumferential seals for engaging the outer circumference of the piston. The seals are positioned axially on either side of said centrally located double lip seal of the piston for sealing and guiding the piston. The circumferential bore seals include a Teflon ring which protects the bore in the event of seal failure and a second seal made of a Viton material. The seals in combination increase the longevity of the actuator over three fold than a similar actuation valve.

An injection molding apparatus comprising a clamp plate, a heated manifold, an actuator, a mold and a cooling device, wherein the cooling device comprises: a heat transmitter comprising a distal arm or member and a proximal base or member, the distal arm or member or member being mounted by a spring loadable interconnection or engagement to or with the proximal base or member, the clamp plate, the mold, the manifold, the actuator and the heat transmitter being assemblable together in an arrangement wherein the spring loadable interconnection is loaded urging the distal end surface of the distal arm or member into compressed engagement with the clamp plate.

A melt delivery body is disclosed for an injection molding apparatus. The melt delivery body includes a manifold, housed in a manifold plate, having a melt network with an inlet for receiving melt from a machine nozzle and an outlet substantially axially aligned with the inlet. The melt delivery body further including an in-line valve gated nozzle having a nozzle melt channel, a valve pin in the nozzle melt channel, and a valve pin actuator coupled to the valve pin and positioned substantially axially aligned with the in-line valve gated nozzle and between the manifold and the in-line valve gated nozzle for controlling the movement of the valve pin within the nozzle melt channel. The melt delivery body further including a biasing member for biasing the in-line valve gated nozzle towards the manifold.

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.

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.