Manifold device for an injection molding nozzle, injection molding nozzle with manifold device and injection molding tool with injection molding nozzle and manifold device

Abstract

A manifold device for an injection-molding nozzle for an injection-molding tool has a main manifold channel for an injection-molding compound, which main manifold channel extends from an inlet opening into the manifold device as far as at least two transfer openings, and at least two manifold channels for the injection-molding compound, which manifold channels each extend from a transfer opening to an outlet opening and are each fluidically connected by a transfer opening to the main manifold channel. Also disclosed are an injection-molding nozzle with such a manifold device and an injection-molding tool with such an injection-molding nozzle.

Claims

1. A manifold device for an injection-molding nozzle for an injection-molding tool comprising: a main manifold channel for an injection-molding compound, which the main manifold channel extends from an inlet opening into the manifold device as far as at least two transfer openings, and with at least two manifold channels which each extend from a transfer opening to an outlet opening and are each fluidically connected by the transfer opening to the main manifold channel, characterized in that the at least two transfer openings open into the main manifold channel at at least two different heights in the longitudinal direction of the main manifold channel, wherein the at least two transfer openings open into the main manifold channel on two planes which are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the main manifold channel, and wherein the outlet openings are located, 1) in the longitudinal direction of the main manifold channel, between the two planes of the at least two transfer openings; 2) in a third plane that is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main manifold channel; or 3) in a third plane that is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main manifold channel and between the two planes of the at least two transfer openings.

2. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least two transfer openings adjacent in circumferential direction open into the main manifold channel at different heights.

3. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the at least two transfer openings do not overlap on the inner circumference of the main manifold channel.

4. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the number of the at least two transfer openings that each open into the main manifold channel on a respective plane is equal.

5. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the planes in which the at least two transfer openings open into the main manifold channel are arranged parallel to each other.

6. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the planes are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the main manifold channel.

7. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the manifold device is configured to taper conically toward the inlet opening counter to the longitudinal direction.

8. The manifold device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the manifold device has, in the longitudinal direction, an outer cross section that remains constant at least in part.

9. An injection-molding nozzle for an injection-molding tool comprising: a nozzle body and with at least two mouthpieces which are each fluidically connected, via an outlet opening, to a mold cavity of the injection-molding tool formed in a mold insert, wherein a flow channel for an injection-molding compound to be processed is formed in the nozzle body, and with a manifold device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow channel opens into the main manifold channel of the manifold device and the manifold channels each open into a mouthpiece of the at least two mouthpieces.

10. The injection-molding nozzle as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the at least two mouthpieces are arranged in a receiving device formed separately from the nozzle body, and in that the manifold device forms a holding element that secures the at least two mouthpieces releasably in the separate receiving device.

11. The injection-molding nozzle as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the manifold device is arranged longitudinally displaceably in the receiving device.

12. An injection-molding tool comprising an injection-molding nozzle as claimed in claim 9.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become clear from the wording of the claims and also from the following description of illustrative embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of an injection-molding nozzle from the prior art;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective external view of the manifold device according to the disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a partially transparent view of the manifold device according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a partially transparent sectional view of the manifold device according to the disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a partially transparent side view of the manifold device according to the disclosure, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a partially transparent sectional view of the manifold device according to the disclosure that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The injection-molding nozzle 10 shown in FIG. 1 is intended for insertion into an injection-molding tool. The latter serves for producing molded parts from a free-flowing compound, for example from a polymer melt or the like. The injection-molding tool usually has a platen and, parallel to the latter, a manifold plate in which a system of flow channels is formed. These flow channels open into injection-molding nozzles 10, which are configured for example as hot runner nozzles.

(9) The injection-molding nozzle 10 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a nozzle body 20 in the form of a material tube which, at its upper end, is provided with a flange-like attachment head 22 which is sealed off from the manifold plate (not shown) with the aid of a sealing ring 23. The material tube 20 sits releasably in a shaft 16. The shaft 16 and the attachment head 22 of the material tube 20 are in turn held by a housing 12. A flow channel 21 for a polymer melt is introduced centrally into the material tube 20 and extends in the axial direction A. The flow channel 21, preferably configured as a bore, has a material feed opening 24 in the attachment head 22, and the polymer melt arriving from the manifold plate is fed to the flow channel via said material feed opening 24.

(10) It will be noted that the nozzle shown in FIG. 1 is a conventional hot runner nozzle. A manifold device 40, described in detail below, is inserted into the lower end of the material tube 20 and protrudes with a neck portion 41 longitudinally displaceably into the flow channel 21 of the material tube 20. The manifold device 40 serves to distribute the polymer melt and to secure mouthpieces 30 which are inserted in a star shape in a receiving device 50 formed separately from the nozzle body or the material tube 20. The manifold device 40 moreover has a base portion 42 which is insertable into the receiving device 50.

(11) The receiving device 50 has a recess which is open at the bottom and into which the mouthpieces 30 and the manifold device 40 are inserted. While the neck portion 41 is arranged longitudinally displaceably in the flow channel 21 of the material tube 20, the base portion 42 is enclosed by the receiving device 50. Radial bores 51, in which mouthpieces 30 are arranged, are formed in this receiving device 50. The mouthpieces 30 are oriented transversely with respect to the axis A of the injection-molding nozzle 10 and are fluidically connected through the manifold device 40 to the flow channel 21 of the injection-molding nozzle 10.

(12) A manifold device 40 for the injection-molding nozzle 10 shown in FIG. 1 is described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.

(13) As can be seen in FIGS. 2 to 6, the basic set-up corresponds to the manifold device 40 shown in FIG. 1. In particular, the shape of the manifold device 40 and the arrangement of the inlet openings 61 and outlet openings 65 are the same. Therefore, in this manifold device 40 too, the outlet openings 65 are located at one height in the longitudinal direction L.

(14) The manifold device 40 differs from the above-described manifold device 40 according to FIG. 1 in that the transfer openings 63 are arranged at different heights in the longitudinal direction L.

(15) In an inner region of the base portion 42 in which a main manifold channel 62 lies, four manifold channels 64 are located on the circumference of the main manifold channel 62, at a height in the longitudinal direction L, the transfer openings 63 of said four manifold channels 64 lying in one plane 66a.

(16) In the longitudinal direction L, four further manifold channels 64 are located on the circumference of the main manifold channel, at a different height, the transfer openings 63 of said further manifold channels 64 lying in a plane 66b.

(17) The transfer openings 63 constitute a fluidic connection between the main manifold channel 62 and the respective manifold channel 64. The outlet openings 65 in the side faces 45 of the base portion 42 constitute a fluidic connection to mouthpieces 30 and to a receiving device 50 of the injection-molding nozzle 10.

(18) As can be seen from FIG. 6, the manifold channels 64 extend in a star shape from the main manifold channel 62, into which they open with the transfer openings 63. The manifold channels 64 then extend onward to the outlet openings 65, which are formed in the side faces 45 of the base portion 42.

(19) As can be seen in particular in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transfer openings are arranged at two different heights, i.e. on two planes 66a, 66b arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. The transfer openings 63 are arranged alternating in the circumferential direction U in one plane 66a of the two planes 66a, 66b and in the other plane 66b, such that transfer openings 63 that are adjacent in the circumferential direction U are not arranged at one height with respect to the longitudinal direction L.

(20) The manifold device 40 thus has a greater wall thickness between adjacent manifold channels 64, particularly in the inner region of the base portion 42, such that the manifold device 40 is more stable and, for example, is able to withstand higher pressures.

(21) The planes 66a, 66b are parallel to each other, such that the transfer openings 63 are arranged at precisely two heights with respect to the longitudinal direction L. Alternatively, however, the planes 66a, 66b can also be inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction L, in particular with different angles to the longitudinal direction L.

(22) Furthermore, the plane in which the outlet openings 65 are located is parallel to the planes 66a, 66b, such that the outlet openings 65 are at the same distances from the respective planes 66a, 66b in the longitudinal direction L. The distances of the outlet openings 65 from the first plane 66a may differ from the distances of the outlet openings 65 from the second plane 66b.

(23) Furthermore, the manifold channels 64 whose transfer openings 63 are arranged in the first plane 66a and the second plane 66b, respectively, may be inclined at different angles with respect to the longitudinal direction L and to the planes 66a, 66b (see FIGS. 3 to 5 in particular).

(24) As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2, the side faces 45 are inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction L, such that the manifold device 40 is configured tapering conically counter to the longitudinal direction L.

(25) In a departure from this arrangement, the side faces 45 can also extend in the longitudinal direction L, such that the manifold device 40 has a constant cross section at least in part in the longitudinal direction L.

(26) The invention is not limited to one of the above-described embodiments and instead is modifiable in many ways. For example, a manifold device 40 with the above-described set-up, in which the transfer openings 63 open into the main manifold channel 62 in at least two planes 66a, 66b, can also be used for other injection-molding nozzles or injection-molding tools, e.g. for a cold runner nozzle. Moreover, it is possible to provide more than two planes 66a, 66b for the transfer openings 63, wherein it is not necessarily the case that four transfer openings 63 lie in each plane 66a, 66b of the transfer openings 63, and instead any desired number of transfer openings 63 can be provided in each plane 66a, 66b.

(27) In a further embodiment, the outlet openings 65 do not all have to lie on one plane. The outlet openings 65 can be positioned in any desired manner on the side faces 45 of the base portion 42. In particular, they also do not have to be uniformly distributed.

(28) Furthermore, the transfer openings 63 can also be arranged at more than two heights with respect to the longitudinal direction L. It is advantageous if two transfer openings 63 adjacent in the circumferential direction U do not lie at one height, such that the openings 63 do not overlap and a sufficient wall thickness is present between the manifold channels 64.

(29) Moreover, the outlet openings 65 can have receivers in which the mouthpieces 30 of the injection-molding nozzle can be fixed.

(30) It will be noted that a manifold device 40 for an injection-molding nozzle 10 for an injection-molding tool has a main manifold channel 62 for an injection-molding compound, which main manifold channel 62 extends from an inlet opening 61 into the manifold device 40 as far as at least two transfer openings 63, and at least two manifold channels 64 for the injection-molding compound, which manifold channels 64 each extend from a transfer opening 63 to an outlet opening 65 and are each fluidically connected by a transfer opening 63 to the main manifold channel 62. In order to increase the stability of the manifold device and to improve the flow conditions inside the manifold device, the transfer openings 63 open into the main manifold channel 62 at least two different heights in the longitudinal direction L of the main manifold channel 62.

(31) An injection-molding nozzle 10 for an injection-molding tool has a nozzle body 20 and at least two mouthpieces 30 which are each fluidically connected, via at least one outlet opening, to a mold cavity of the injection-molding tool formed in a mold insert, wherein a flow channel for an injection-molding compound to be processed is formed in the nozzle body, and an above-described manifold device, wherein the flow channel opens into the main manifold channel of the manifold device and the manifold channels each open into a mouthpiece 30.

(32) All of the features and advantages that are disclosed by the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural design details, spatial arrangements and method steps, may be essential to the invention both on their own and in a wide variety of combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(33) 10 injection-molding nozzles

(34) 12 housing

(35) 16 shaft

(36) 20 nozzle body

(37) 21 flow channel

(38) 23 sealing ring

(39) 24 material feed opening

(40) 30 mouthpiece

(41) 40 manifold device

(42) 41 neck portion

(43) 42 base portion

(44) 50 receiving device

(45) 51 radial bores

(46) 61 inlet opening

(47) 62 main manifold channel

(48) 63 transfer opening

(49) 65 outlet opening

(50) 66a first plane

(51) 66b second plane

(52) L longitudinal direction

(53) U circumferential direction