Spring Cushioned Valve Pin
A resiliently compressible spring or cushion in an injection molding system that has: (a) an upstream surface that engages against a complementary surface of a component of the system that transmits force between the cushion or spring and one or the other of a mount and a drive device interconnected to a valve pin , (b) a downstream surface that engages against a complementary surface of a component of the system that transmits force between the cushion or spring and a valve pin. wherein the cushion or spring resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted in response to engagement of a distal tip end of the valve pin with a gate surface.
1 . A resiliently compressible cushion or spring ( 500 ) that cushions axial force (UF, DF) exerted by an actuator ( 42 ) or a valve pin ( 50 ) in an injection molding apparatus ( 11 ) comprised of an injection molding machine ( 1000 ) that injects a flow of injection fluid (IF) to a heated manifold ( 60 ) that distributes the injection fluid (IF) to a distribution channel ( 62 ), wherein the actuator ( 42 ) includes a drive device ( 40 ) interconnected to the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement such that the valve pin ( 50 ) is reciprocally drivable by the drive device ( 40 ) along a linear path of travel (AA) through a flow channel ( 105 ) between upstream gate open positions and downstream gate closed positions, the flow channel ( 105 ) receiving injection fluid (IF) and terminating in a gate ( 100 ) having a gate surface ( 107 ) communicating with a cavity ( 902 ) of a mold ( 900 ),
wherein the resiliently compressible cushion or spring ( 500 ) disposed between the valve pin ( 50 ) and one or the other of:
(a) a mount ( 200 ) fixedly interconnectable to the actuator ( 42 ) in an arrangement wherein the valve pin ( 50 ) is disposed along the linear path of travel (AA) for driven movement downstream into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted by the drive device ( 40 ), or
(b) the drive device ( 40 ) in an arrangement wherein the valve pin ( 50 ) is disposed along the linear path of travel (AA) for driven movement downstream into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted by the drive device ( 40 ),
wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted in response to engagement of the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) with the gate surface ( 107 ).
2 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) includes:
(a) an upstream surface ( 500 us ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 300 bs , 52 ds ) that transmits force between the cushion or spring ( 500 ) and one or the other or both of the mount ( 200 ) and the drive device ( 40 ),
(b) a downstream surface ( 500 ds ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 20 us , 51 us ) that transmits force between the cushion or spring ( 500 ) and the valve pin ( 50 ).
3 . Apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is disposed between the valve pin ( 50 ) and the mount ( 200 ),
the mount ( 200 ) is fixedly mounted to the heated manifold ( 60 ),
the actuator ( 42 ) and drive device ( 40 ) are mounted between the mount ( 200 ) and the heated manifold ( 60 ) and
the actuator ( 42 ), the drive device ( 40 ) and the interconnected valve pin ( 50 ) are selectively adjustable together to one or more axial positions.
4 . Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the mount ( 200 ) includes an adjustment screw ( 300 ) fixedly interconnectable to and disconnectable from the actuator ( 42 ), the adjustment screw being adapted to be selectively screwable clockwise and counterclockwise ( 315 , 317 ) such that the actuator ( 42 ), the drive device ( 40 ) and the interconnected valve pin ( 50 ) are selectively adjustable to the one or more axial positions.
5 . Apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the actuator ( 42 ) comprises a housing ( 20 ) and the the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is disposed between the housing ( 20 ) and the mount ( 200 ) for resilient compression and relaxation.
6 . Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the drive device ( 40 ) comprises a piston fluid sealably housed within a chamber formed by the housing ( 20 ).
7 . Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is disposed between the housing ( 20 ) and the adjustment screw ( 300 ) for resilient compression and relaxation.
8 . Apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the mount ( 200 ) is fixedly mounted to the heated manifold ( 60 ) via rails ( 250 ), the actuator ( 42 ) being mounted on the rails ( 250 ) and adapted to be axially slidable (AA) along the rails.
9 . Apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) includes an upstream surface ( 500 us ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 300 bs , 52 ds ) of an intermediate body ( 300 , 52 ) that is fixedly interconnected to or interengaged with one or the other of the mount ( 200 ) and the drive device ( 40 ),
10 . Apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) includes a downstream surface ( 500 bs ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 20 us , 51 us ) of an intermediate body ( 20 , 51 ) that is interconnected to or interengaged with the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement that transmits upstream force (UF) from the valve pin ( 50 ) to the downstream surface ( 500 bs ).
11 . Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the mount ( 200 ) includes an adjustment screw ( 300 ) fixedly interconnectable to and disconnectable from the actuator ( 42 ), the adjustment screw being selectively screwable clockwise and counterclockwise ( 315 , 317 ) such that the actuator ( 42 ), the drive device ( 40 ) and the interconnected valve pin ( 50 ) are selectively slidable upstream and downstream along the rails ( 250 ) to one or more axial positions.
12 . Apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted against or transmitted to a downstream surface ( 500 bs ) of the cushon or spring ( 500 ) in response to engagement of the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted on or transmitted to the valve pin ( 50 ) or tip end ( 52 ) by the drive device ( 40 ).
13 . Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive device ( 40 ) is interconnected at a downstream end to a pin coupler ( 80 ) and the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is fixedly interconnectable to an upstream end ( 50 h ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) together with the upstream end ( 50 h ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) is readily radially insertable into and readily radially removable from a complementary receiving recess ( 83 ) of the pin coupler ( 80 ), the pin coupler ( 80 ) recess ( 83 ) being adapted to receive and retain the cushion or spring ( 500 ) together with the interconnected upstream end ( 50 h ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is disposed between the upstream end of the valve pin ( 50 ) and the drive device ( 40 ) and such that the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is resiliently compressible within the pin coupling ( 80 ) on transmission of an upstream force (UF) from the valve pin ( 50 ) to a downstream surface ( 500 bs ) of the cushion or spring ( 500 ).
14 . A method of cushioning force (DF) between the gate surface ( 107 ) and the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin of the device of any of the foregoing claims comprising operating a device according to any of the foregoing claims to drive the tip end ( 52 ) into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ).
15 . A method of cushioning force (DF) exerted on a gate surface ( 107 ) by the tip end ( 52 ) of a valve pin ( 50 ) in an injection molding apparatus ( 11 ) comprised of an injection molding machine ( 1000 ) that injects a flow of injection fluid (IF) to a heated manifold ( 60 ) that distributes the injection fluid (IF) to a distribution channel ( 62 ), wherein the actuator ( 42 ) includes a drive device ( 40 ) interconnected to the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement such that the valve pin ( 50 ) is reciprocally drivable by the drive device ( 40 ) along a linear path of travel (AA) through a flow channel ( 105 ) between upstream gate open positions and downstream gate closed positions, the flow channel ( 105 ) receiving injection fluid (IF) and terminating in a gate ( 100 ) having a gate surface ( 107 ) communicating with a cavity ( 902 ) of a mold ( 900 ),
wherein the method comprises disposing a resiliently compressible cushion or spring ( 500 ) between the valve pin ( 50 ) and one or the other of:
(a) a mount ( 200 ) that is fixedly interconnected to the actuator ( 42 ) in an arrangement that disposes the valve pin ( 50 ) along the linear path of travel (AA) for driven movement downstream into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted by the drive device ( 40 ),
(b) the drive device ( 40 ) that is adapted to drive the valve pin ( 50 ) along the linear path of travel (AA) downstream into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted by the drive device ( 40 ),
wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted in response to engagement of the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) with the gate surface ( 107 ).
16 . A resiliently compressible spring or cushion ( 500 ) that cushions axial force (UF, DF) exerted by an actuator ( 42 ) or a valve pin ( 50 ) in an injection molding apparatus ( 11 ) comprised of an injection molding machine ( 1000 ) that injects a flow of injection fluid (IF) to a heated manifold ( 60 ) that distributes the injection fluid (IF) to a distribution channel ( 62 ), wherein the actuator ( 42 ) includes a drive device ( 40 ) interconnected to the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement such that the valve pin ( 50 ) is reciprocally drivable by the drive device ( 40 ) along a linear path of travel (AA) through a flow channel ( 105 ) between upstream gate open positions and downstream gate closed positions, the flow channel ( 105 ) receiving injection fluid (IF) and terminating in a gate ( 100 ) having a gate surface ( 107 ) communicating with a cavity ( 902 ) of a mold ( 900 ),
wherein the resiliently compressible cushion or spring ( 500 ) includes:
(a) an upstream surface ( 500 us ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 300 bs , 52 ds ) that transmits force between the cushion or spring ( 500 ) and one or the other of the mount ( 200 ) and the drive device ( 40 ),
(b) a downstream surface ( 500 ds ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 20 us , 51 us ) that transmits force between the cushion or spring ( 500 ) and the valve pin ( 50 ).
wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted in response to engagement of a distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) with the gate surface ( 107 ).
17 . Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) includes an upstream surface ( 500 us ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 300 bs , 52 ds ) of an intermediate body ( 300 , 52 ) that is fixedly interconnected to or interengaged with one or the other of the mount ( 200 ) and the drive device ( 40 ), and,
wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) includes a downstream surface ( 500 bs ) that engages against a complementary surface ( 20 us , 51 us ) of an intermediate body ( 20 , 51 ) that is interconnected to or interengaged with the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement that transmits upstream force (UF) from the valve pin ( 50 ) to the downstream surface ( 500 bs ).
18 . A method of cushioning force (DF) between the gate surface ( 107 ) and the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin of the device of claim 15 comprising operating a device according to claim 15 to drive the tip end ( 52 ) into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ).
19 . An injection molding apparatus ( 11 ) comprised of an injection molding machine ( 1000 ) that injects a flow of injection fluid (IF) to a heated manifold ( 60 ) that distributes the injection fluid (IF) to a distribution channel ( 62 ), wherein the actuator ( 42 ) includes a drive device ( 40 ) interconnected to the valve pin ( 50 ) in an arrangement such that the valve pin ( 50 ) is reciprocally drivable by the drive device ( 40 ) along a linear path of travel (AA) through a flow channel ( 105 ) between upstream gate open positions and downstream gate closed positions, the flow channel ( 105 ) receiving injection fluid (IF) and terminating in a gate ( 100 ) having a gate surface ( 107 ) communicating with a cavity ( 902 ) of a mold ( 900 ),
the apparatus further comprising a resiliently compressible cushion or spring ( 500 ) disposed between the valve pin ( 50 ) and one or the other of:
(a) a mount ( 200 ) fixedly interconnected to the actuator ( 42 ) in an arrangement wherein the valve pin ( 50 ) is disposed along the linear path of travel (AA) for driven movement downstream into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted by the drive device ( 40 ), or
(b) the drive device ( 40 ) in an arrangement wherein the valve pin ( 50 ) is disposed along the linear path of travel (AA) for driven movement downstream into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ) under a downstream force (DF) exerted by the drive device ( 40 ),
wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) resiliently compresses under an upstream force (UF) exerted in response to engagement of the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin ( 50 ) with the gate surface ( 107 ).
20 . A method of cushioning force (DF) between the gate surface ( 107 ) and the distal tip end ( 52 ) of the valve pin of the device of claim 18 comprising operating a device according to claim 18 to drive the tip end ( 52 ) into engagement with the gate surface ( 107 ).
21 . An apparatus ( 11 , 11 a ) or a cushion or spring ( 500 ) according to any of the foregoing claims wherein the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is adapted to be loaded or compressed with a selected amount or degree of compression force (PUF).
22 . An apparatus or cushion or spring ( 500 ) according to claim 21 further comprising a bushing 307 that is axially adjustable to engage the cushion or spring ( 500 ) and exert the selected amount or degree of compression force (PUF) against a selected engagement surface ( 500 bs , 500 us ) of the cushion or spring ( 500 ) such that the cushion or spring ( 500 ) is compressed by exertion of the selected amount or degree of compression force (PUF).