Injection molding apparatus having a nozzle tip component for taking a nozzle out-of-service

1. An injection molding apparatus, comprising:

a valve pin actuator;

a plurality of nozzles defining nozzle melt channels for delivering a melt stream of moldable material to respective mold gates; and

a plurality of valve pins releasably coupled to and movable by the valve pin actuator, each valve pin extending through one of the nozzle melt channels for opening and closing a respective mold gate,

wherein at least one nozzle includes a nozzle tip component installed for gripping a tip portion of the associated valve pin and holding the valve pin in an out-of-service position in which the valve pin decouples from the valve pin actuator for taking the at least one nozzle out-of-service.

2. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle tip component includes a locking liner having an interior surface that circumferentially surrounds and grips the tip portion of the valve pin.

3. The injection molding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the locking liner is formed from an elastic material that is deformable around the valve pin.

4. The injection molding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the locking liner has a frusto-conical configuration with a slit extending at least a portion of a length of the locking liner.

5. The injection molding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the locking liner has an exterior surface including one or more threads.

6. The injection molding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the locking liner has a tapered exterior surface.

7. The injection molding apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the nozzle tip component includes a retainer that is operable to be tightened around the locking liner.

8. The injection molding apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the locking liner has a longitudinal channel in an outer surface thereof and the retainer is operable to be tightened around the locking liner to deform the longitudinal channel.

9. The injection molding apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the retainer has a tapered interior surface for mating against a tapered exterior surface of the locking liner and wherein the retainer and the locking liner are longitudinally movable relative to each other for tightening the retainer around the locking liner.

10. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle tip component includes a fastener that secures the nozzle tip component to the valve pin.

11. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle tip component is a c-clip that is attachable around the tip portion of the valve pin.

12. A device for taking an injection molding nozzle having a valve pin out-of-service comprising:

a nozzle tip component installable on the nozzle, the nozzle tip component having a gripping portion for contacting and gripping a tip portion of the valve pin to hold the valve pin in an out-of-service position such that the valve pin is immobilized.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the gripping portion is an interior surface of a locking liner that surrounds the tip portion of the valve pin.

14. The device of claim 13 further comprising:

a retainer for installing the locking liner to the nozzle wherein the retainer is operable to be tightened around the locking liner.

15. The device of claim 14 , wherein the retainer has a tapered interior surface for mating against a tapered exterior surface of the locking liner and wherein the retainer and the locking liner are longitudinally movable relative to each other for tightening the retainer around the locking liner.

16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the nozzle tip component includes a fastener that secures the nozzle tip component to the valve pin.

17. The device of claim 12 , wherein the nozzle tip component is a c-clip that is attachable around the tip portion of the valve pin.