Side gate nozzle assembly

1. A side gate nozzle assembly, comprising:

a nozzle body having an outer side wall defining a melt channel extending lengthwise in the direction of fluid flow through the nozzle body, said side wall having at least one feed orifice therein for passing melt from the melt channel; and

at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly, fed by the feed orifice, and retained in a cavity member but not fixed to the nozzle body.

2. The side gate nozzle assembly according to claim 1 , wherein:

the nozzle body and the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly are slidably engaged to each other.

3. A side gate nozzle assembly, comprising:

a nozzle body having an outer side wall having at least one feed orifice therein for passing melt from the nozzle body; and

at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly wherein the outer side wall of the nozzle body and the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly are slidably engaged to each other at the feed orifice.

4. A side gate nozzle assembly, comprising:

a nozzle body;

at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly including at least one spring for biasing the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly into a slidable engagement with and towards an outer side wall of the nozzle body to receive melt from an orifice in the outer side wall.

5. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer side wall comprises a flat surface surrounding said feed orifice and wherein the side gate nozzle tip assembly has an end configured to slidably engage the flat surface.

6. The side gate nozzle assembly of claims 1 , wherein the side gate nozzle tip assembly comprises a tip melt channel in fluid communication with the melt channel through the feed orifice and wherein the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly forms a seal with the side wall around the feed orifice.

7. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 6 , wherein the tip melt channel is perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow through the nozzle body.

8. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the side gate nozzle tip assembly comprises at least one compliant member for urging the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly against the side wall.

9. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one compliant member comprises a plurality of compliant members.

10. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one compliant member comprises a Belleville spring.

11. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the outer side wall comprises a flat surface surrounding the orifice and wherein the side gate nozzle tip assembly has an end configured to engage the flat surface.

12. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the side gate nozzle tip assembly comprises a tip melt channel in fluid communication with the orifice and wherein the at least one side gate nozzle tip assembly forms a seal with the side wall around said orifice.

13. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the tip melt channel is perpendicular to an axis of the nozzle body.

14. The side gate nozzle assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one spring comprises a plurality of springs.

15. A side gate nozzle assembly, comprising:

a nozzle body;

a retainer for engaging with a cavity member;

a side gate nozzle tip assembly slidably engaging with an outer side wall of the nozzle body to receive melt from an orifice in the outer side wall; and

a compliant member disposed between the retainer and the side gate nozzle tip assembly for biasing the side gate nozzle tip assembly towards the outer side wall of the nozzle body.