Injection molding apparatus having a nozzle tip and a tip surrounding piece of equal thermal conductivity
View Patent ↗An injection molding apparatus is provided. The injection molding apparatus includes a manifold having at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source, a heat source for heating the melt, a nozzle in fluid communication with the manifold, and a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from the nozzle. The nozzle includes a nozzle body having a melt passage therethrough, a nozzle tip having a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the melt passage of the nozzle body, and a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body. The tip surrounding piece retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body. The tip surrounding piece is preferably formed of a material that has a thermal conductivity that is equivalent to that of the nozzle tip.
1. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
a manifold, including at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source;
a nozzle in fluid communication with the runner of the manifold, the nozzle including,
a nozzle body having a melt passage therethrough,
a nozzle tip having an outer surface and a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the melt passage of the nozzle body and,
a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body and retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body, the tip surrounding piece including an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the tip surrounding piece is at a distance from the outer surface of the nozzle tip to thereby define a chamber, and wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of a material that has a thermal conductivity that is substantially equal to that of the nozzle tip;
a heat source thermally coupled to said nozzle; and,
a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from said nozzle through a mold gate.
2. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle tip includes a retaining surface and the tip surrounding piece includes a support surface, said support surface of the tip surrounding piece abutting the retaining surface of the nozzle tip to thereby retain the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body.
3. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 2 , wherein the retaining surface of the nozzle tip is a shoulder and the support surface of the tip surrounding piece takes the form of a jam surface.
4. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 2 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is threadably engaged with the nozzle body.
5. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the tip melt passage has a longitudinal axis and an exit that is concentric with the axis.
6. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the tip melt passage has a longitudinal axis and an exit that is off-center from the axis.
7. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 6 , wherein the nozzle tip is formed of H13.
8. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 7 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of H13.
9. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 1 , wherein the nozzle tip is formed of H13.
10. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 9 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of H13.
11. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
a manifold, including at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source;
a heat source for heating the melt;
a nozzle in fluid communication with the manifold, the nozzle including,
a nozzle body including a melt passage therethrough,
a nozzle tip, including a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the melt passage of the nozzle body, and
a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body and retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body, wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of a material that has a thermal conductivity that is equivalent to that of the nozzle tip; and,
a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from said nozzle.
12. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 11 , wherein the nozzle tip includes a retaining surface and the tip surrounding piece includes a support surface, the support surface of the tip surrounding piece abutting the retaining surface of the nozzle tip to thereby retain the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body.
13. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 12 , wherein the retaining surface of the nozzle tip is a shoulder and the support surface of the tip surrounding piece is a jam surface.
14. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 11 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is threadably engaged with the nozzle body.
15. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 11 , wherein the tip surrounding piece includes an inner surface, the nozzle tip includes an outer surface, and wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the tip surrounding piece is at a distance from the outer surface of the nozzle tip, to thereby define a chamber.
16. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 11 , wherein the nozzle tip is formed of H13.
17. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 15 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of H13.
18. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
a manifold including at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source; and,
a nozzle fluidly connecting the runner to a gate of a mold cavity, the nozzle including:
a nozzle body, defining a body melt passage, wherein the body melt passage is in fluid communication with the runner,
a nozzle tip, defining a tip melt passage, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the body melt passage, and,
a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body and retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body, wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of a material that has a thermal conductivity that is equivalent to that of the nozzle tip.
19. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 18 , further comprising: a heater thermally coupled to the nozzle.
20. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 18 , further comprising: a mold plate, wherein the tip surrounding piece touches the mold plate to thereby form a seal.
21. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 18 , wherein the tip surrounding piece includes an inner surface, the nozzle tip includes an outer surface, and a portion of the inner surface of the tip surrounding piece is at a distance from the outer surface of the nozzle tip to thereby define a chamber.
22. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 18 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is threadably engaged with the nozzle body.
23. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 18 , wherein the nozzle tip includes a shoulder which abuts with the tip surrounding piece to thereby retain the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body.
24. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
a manifold, including at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source;
a nozzle in fluid communication with the runner of the manifold, the nozzle including,
a nozzle body including a body melt passage therethrough,
a nozzle tip, including a tip melt passage therethrough, the nozzle tip being formed of a metallic material, and wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the body melt passage, and
a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body and retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body, the tip surrounding piece being formed of said metallic material;
a heat source thermally coupled to said nozzle; and,
a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from said nozzle through a mold gate.
25. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 24 , wherein the metallic material is thermally conductive and wear resistant.
26. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 24 , wherein the metallic material is Beryllium-Copper.
27. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 24 , wherein the metallic material is tool steel.
28. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 24 , wherein the metallic material is H13.
29. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 24 , wherein the metallic material is Tungsten Carbide.
30. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 24 , wherein the tip surrounding piece is threadably engaged with the nozzle body.
31. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 30 , wherein the nozzle tip includes a shoulder which abuts with the tip surrounding piece to thereby retain the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body.
32. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 31 , wherein the tip surrounding piece includes an inner surface, the nozzle tip includes and outer surface, and a portion of the inner surface of the tip surrounding piece is at a distance from the outer surface of the nozzle tip to thereby define a chamber.
33. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
a manifold, including at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source;
a nozzle in fluid communication with at least the runner of the manifold, the nozzle including,
a nozzle body including a melt passage therethrough,
a nozzle tip formed of a first material, including an outer surface and a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the melt passage of the nozzle body, and
a tip surrounding piece formed of a second material, the tip surrounding piece being removably coupled to the nozzle body and retaining the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body, the tip surrounding piece including an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the tip surrounding piece is at a distance from the outer surface of the nozzle tip to thereby define a chamber, and wherein the thermal conductivity of said first material is equivalent to the thermal conductivity of said second material;
a heat source thermally coupled to said nozzle; and,
a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from said nozzle through a mold gate.
34. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 33 , wherein said first material is selected from the group consisting of: Beryllium-Copper, Tungsten Carbide, tool steel, and H13.
35. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 34 , wherein the first material and the second material are the same.
36. The injection molding apparatus defined in claim 33 , wherein an outer surface of the tip surrounding piece is in contact with a surface of the mold component to thereby define a seal.