Methods and systems for co-extruding multiple polymeric material flow streams into a mold having a plurality of cavities to produce a plurality of multi-layer polymeric articles each having a consistent coverage of an interior core layer are disclosed herein. In an example method, a flow rate of a first skin material into a cavity is individually controlled for each cavity before initiation of co-injection of a second core material into the cavity, which may address inconsistent interior core layer coverage for articles from different cavities.

A molding method for the production of articles molded by injecting plastic material into a mold cavity by a plurality of injectors electrically sequentially actuated under an electronic control according to a cycle providing for a step for filling the mold cavity, followed by a step for packing the plastic material in the mold cavity. Each injector, regardless of both its position with respect to the mold cavity and its opening speed, is controlled in at least one of the following control modes: i) partially closing the injector from a maximum open condition to a less opened condition in the filling step, ii) setting the injector in a partially open condition and then opening the injector to a more opened condition, in the packing step.

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 of plastic materials by an apparatus comprising at least one injector including a valve pin displaceable in a controlled manner between a closed position and an open position by an electric rotary actuator. At least one step is provided of detecting the value of the torque developed by the electric rotary actuator when the valve pin is in the path from the closed position to the open position, and the torque value detected is used to pilot the molding process.

An injection molding apparatus (10) comprising a signal converter (1500) interconnected to a machine controller (MC) of an injection molding machine (IMM) that generates standardized signals (VPS), the signal converter (1500) receiving and converting the standardized signals (VS) to a command signal (MOPCS, PDCVS) that is compatible with a signal receptor or interface of an electrically powered actuator (940e, 941e, 942e) or a signal receptor, interface or driver of a proportional directional control valve (V, V1, V2) that drives a fluid driven actuator (940p, 941p, 942p) to respectively operate the electrically powered actuator (940e, 941e, 942e) or the proportional directional control valve (V, V1, V2) to move in a direction that operates to either begin an injection cycle and to end an injection cycle.

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 of plastic materials by an apparatus comprising at least one injector including a valve pin displaceable in a controlled manner between a closed position and an open position by an electric rotary actuator. At least one step is provided of detecting the value of the torque developed by the electric rotary actuator when the valve pin is in the path from the closed position to the open position, and the torque value detected is used to pilot the molding process.

The present disclosure is directed to an injection nozzle for an injection molding device comprising a drive train for at least one closure element arranged movable in a nozzle head in a first direction. The drive train comprises a cam mechanism with a cam head comprising a wedge and at least one side plate. The wedge and the side plate are together arranged moveable in a second direction. Per closure element the wedge comprises at least one first drive surface which interacts with a second drive surface arranged at the closure element at least during closing of the closure element. The at least one side plate comprises a third drive surface which interacts with a fourth drive surface arranged at the closure element at least during opening of the closure element.

The present disclosure is directed to an injection nozzle with a nozzle head including at least one discharge opening for injecting molding material into a mold cavity of a thereto interconnected injection mold and forming therein a molded body. At least one positively controlled closure element movably supported in the nozzle head for closing a communication opening in the connected injection mold. An actuator cylinder comprises a first piston which is interconnected to the closure element. The first piston is arranged movable between a first position, in which the closure element is fully closed, and a second position in which the closure element is fully open. A second piston is interconnected to the closure element, and is arranged movable between a third position in which the second piston is not interconnected to the closure element and a fourth position in which the closure element is limited in an intermediate position.

An apparatus for controlling the rate of flow of fluid mold material comprising: a manifold, a valve pin having a pin axis, a pin connector and a stem, the valve pin being drivable into and out of open and closed positions relative to the gate, an electric actuator comprising an electric motor comprised of a motor housing that houses a drive shaft having a drive gear and a drive axis, a transmission comprised of a transmission gear having a gear axis, the drive gear, the transmission gear and the valve pin being drivably interconnected and arranged such that the drive axis and the gear axis are non-coaxially mounted or disposed relative to each other and the valve pin is drivable linearly along the pin axis, wherein one or the other of the motor housing or the transmission housing are removably attached to a top clamping or mounting plate that is mounted upstream of the manifold and fixedly interconnected to a mold.