Injection-Molding Apparatuses Containing Integrally Formed Thermocouples

摘要

Thermocouples and their associated thermocouple junctions can be integrated via freeform fabrication into various parts of injection-molding apparatuses, including the nozzles. Unitary monolithic integration of thermocouples allows thermocouple junctions to be located highly proximate to the locations where temperature monitoring is desired, particularly, near the tips of injection-molding nozzles, which has conventionally been difficult or impossible to achieve. An injection-molding nozzle with one or more integrated thermocouples, a hot-runner manifold with injection-molding nozzles, having integrated thermocouples, monolithically integrated with the manifold as a single part using a freeform fabrication process, and a separately formed injection-molding nozzle having at least one integrated thermocouple and a robust electrical connection are presented according to various aspects of the invention.

主权项

1. An injection-molding apparatus, comprising:
a body manufactured using one or more freeform fabrication processes so as to make said body unitary monolithic, said body including:
at least one melt channel; anda thermocouple having a thermocouple junction formed unitary-monolithically with said body.