INJECTION MOLDING APPARATUS WITH ACTIVE VALVE PIN DISENGAGEMENT

摘要

A hot runner injection molding apparatus (10) includes hot runner nozzles (20), a movable frame (30) that can be displaced between at least two positions relative to a plurality of mold cavities (24), each cavity having a mold gate (27). Valve pins (32) associated with the hot runner nozzles (20) are individually coupled to the movable frame (30) by a decouplable connector (36, 60). Disengagement devices (40) associated with the valve pins are activated to decouple any associated valve pin (32) from the movable frame (30). A control system (52) is used to activate the disengagement devices (40). In some instances a blocking element (42) is also activated to lock any valve pin at the mold gate or close to the mold gate. Control system (52) is further used to operate the blocking element (42). Disengagement devices (40) and the blocking elements (42) can be the same or different.

主权项

1. A hot runner injection molding apparatus (10) comprising:
an injection manifold (12) having an inlet melt channel (14) and a plurality of output melt channels (18); a plurality of hot runner nozzles (20) associated with the manifold output melt channels (18); a movable frame (30) positioned proximate the manifold (12) that can be displaced between at least two positions relative to a plurality of mold cavities (24), each cavity having a mold gate (27); a plurality of valve pins (32) associated with the hot runner nozzles (20), wherein each valve pin (32) is couplable to the movable frame (30) by a decouplable connector (36, 60), wherein, when coupled to the movable frame (30) the valve pins (32) are displaceable by the movable frame (30) between at least two positions relative to the mold gates (27) to control the amount of a molten material injected into each mold cavity (24) through the manifold and the hot runner nozzles (20); a plurality of disengagement devices (40) associated with the valve pins, wherein each disengaging device (40) is operable to decouple an associated one of the valve pins (32) from the movable frame (30); and a control system (52) that is operable to control the operation of the disengagement devices (40).