An injection molding nozzle system for delivering molten material from a manifold to a nozzle is disclosed. The manifold and nozzle are disposed within pocket of a manifold plate. The nozzle is secured to a melt-transfer bushing disposed within the manifold via a collar. The collar is secured to the bushing such that it is centered about the axis of the outlet of the bushing. A support ring supports the nozzle within the pocket such that the nozzle is centered about the axis of the pocket. In a cold state, the outlet of the bushing and the inlet of the nozzle are misaligned. In operation, thermal expansion of the components bring the outlet of the bushing and the nozzle into alignment. The melt-transfer bushing and the connection of the nozzle to the manifold, via the releasable connection between the collar and the bushing facilitates manufacture and assembly of the system.

An injection molding apparatus comprising: an injection molding machine, a heated manifold, a nozzle, the downstream end of the nozzle comprising an inner tubular member having a central flow channel and an outer circumferential surface and an outer tubular member having an inner tubular surface, the outer tubular member forming a seal surrounding the gate, the inner and outer tubular members being adapted to form a sealed circumferential gap, the inner tubular member including one or apertures extending radially through the inner tubular member to route flow radially from the fluid flow channel into the circumferential gap.

Disclosed is a guide bushing for the guiding and sealing of a closing needle of a needle valve nozzle of an injection moulding apparatus, the guide bushing having a main part and a fastening element, wherein the main part has a through-opening for the closing needle, wherein the through-opening comprises at least one guiding portion, which encloses the closing needle with slight movement play, wherein the through-opening comprises at least two expansion portions, whose diameter in each case is larger than that of the at least one guiding portion. The guide bushing moreover comprises a fastening element, which is securable to the main part, wherein a seal element is arranged between the fastening element and the main part, bearing against the entire circumference of a closing needle inserted into the through-opening.

A hot runner injection molding apparatus includes a hot runner nozzle and a first heater coupled to the nozzle body of the nozzle. A separate mold gate insert surrounds a nozzle tip area of the nozzle. The mold gate insert is heated by a second heater that is separate and independent from the nozzle body heater. The temperature generated by the first and second heaters is measured by a first thermocouple and a second thermocouple, respectively. A controller is used to adjust at any time the temperature of the first and second heaters independently. The second heater is used to either i) melt, and thus enable a faster removal of, a colder molten material accumulated around the nozzle tip during a color change procedure or ii) to reduce or increase the temperature of the nozzle tip differently from one nozzle to the next.

An injection molding device and related method includes a mold plate with at least one pocket having at least one discharge opening to discharge melted plastic from the pocket into at least one mold cavity interconnected to the pocket and a nozzle including a housing, which during operation is interconnected to the pocket. Per discharge opening a needle is arranged displaceable in an axial direction in the housing between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the needle closes the thereto related discharge opening and is thereby preventing melted plastic from flowing from the pocket into the at least one mold cavity. In the open position, the needle releases the discharge opening such that melted plastic flows from the pocket into the at least one mold cavity. Furthermore, a melt channel is discharging into the pocket to supply melted plastic into the pocket.

An injection molding device and related method includes a mold plate with at least one pocket having at least one discharge opening to discharge melted plastic from the pocket into at least one mold cavity interconnected to the pocket and a nozzle including a housing, which during operation is interconnected to the pocket. Per discharge opening a needle is arranged displaceable in an axial direction in the housing between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the needle closes the thereto related discharge opening and is thereby preventing melted plastic from flowing from the pocket into the at least one mold cavity. In the open position, the needle releases the discharge opening such that melted plastic flows from the pocket into the at least one mold cavity. Furthermore, a melt channel is discharging into the pocket to supply melted plastic into the pocket.

Disclosed is a side-gate nozzle having a nozzle body, a nozzle tip and a transfer member. The nozzle body includes a heater, a longitudinally extending nozzle channel, and a bore extending from an exterior side wall of the nozzle body to the nozzle channel. The nozzle tip includes a tip member, a tip channel extending therethrough and a sealing member surrounding the tip member and in which the tip member is received. The transfer member seats against a step in the bore in the nozzle body and includes a bearing surface against which the nozzle tip is slidably seated and a transfer channel extending therethrough in fluid communication between the nozzle channel and the tip channel. In operation thermal expansion of the transfer member along its length applies a sealing force against the nozzle tip.

An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold, a nozzle, A distal tip of the nozzle being comprised of a highly heat conductive insert and an insulation cap that is substantially less heat conductive than the insert, the downstream end portion of the insulation cap being disposed between the gate and the downstream end portion of the highly heat conductive insert forming a fluid seal around the gate, a valve pin, wherein when the valve pin is in a gate closed position, an axially interior surface of a fluid exit aperture of the insulation cap surrounds a gap enabling circumferential surface of the valve pin forming a spatial gap immediately upstream of the gate between the interior surface of the fluid exit aperture of the insulation cap and the gap enabling circumferential surface of the valve pin.

Disclosed is a guide bushing for the guiding and sealing of a closing needle of a needle valve nozzle of an injection moulding apparatus, the guide bushing having a main part and a fastening element, wherein the main part has a through-opening for the closing needle, wherein the through-opening comprises at least one guiding portion, which encloses the closing needle with slight movement play, wherein the through-opening comprises at least two expansion portions, whose diameter in each case is larger than that of the at least one guiding portion. The guide bushing moreover comprises a fastening element, which is securable to the main part, wherein a seal element is arranged between the fastening element and the main part, bearing against the entire circumference of a closing needle inserted into the through-opening.

An injection molding device and related method includes a mold plate with at least one pocket having at least one discharge opening to discharge melted plastic from the pocket into at least one mold cavity interconnected to the pocket and a nozzle including a housing, which during operation is interconnected to the pocket. Per discharge opening a needle is arranged displaceable in an axial direction in the housing between a closed position and an open position. In the closed position the needle closes the thereto related discharge opening and is thereby preventing melted plastic from flowing from the pocket into the at least one mold cavity. In the open position, the needle releases the discharge opening such that melted plastic flows from the pocket into the at least one mold cavity. Furthermore, a melt channel is discharging into the pocket to supply melted plastic into the pocket.