Injection molding nozzle screwed into a mounting base

Abstract

Multiple nozzle injection molding apparatus wherein each heated nozzle is screwed into a socket in a mounting base secured in place adjacent a melt distribution manifold. Each heated nozzle extends through an opening in the manifold plate and has a nut-like engageable portion extending forwardly of the cavity plate. This allows each of the heated nozzles to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement without removing the cavity plate.

1. In an injection molding apparatus having a heated melt distribution manifold ( 16 ) and a plurality of nozzles ( 10 ) mounted in a mold ( 12 ), each nozzle ( 10 ) having a threaded rear end ( 46 ) and a melt bore ( 102 ) extending therethrough to convey melt to a gate ( 18 ) leading to a cavity ( 20 ), the melt distribution manifold ( 16 ) having a front face ( 56 ) and a melt passage ( 14 ) extending therethrough, the melt passage ( 14 ) having a plurality of branches ( 96 ) extending outwardly from a common inlet portion ( 94 ) to an outlet ( 98 ) on the front face ( 56 ) of the melt distribution manifold ( 16 ) aligned with the melt bore ( 102 ) extending through one of the nozzles ( 10 ), the improvement comprising:
 each nozzle ( 10 ) extending from a mounting base ( 50 ) having a rear end ( 54 ) secured against the front face of the melt distribution manifold ( 16 ), each mounting base ( 50 ) having a frontwardly open threaded seat ( 48 ) and a melt bore ( 100 ) extending rearwardly therethrough from the threaded seat ( 48 ) to the rear end ( 54 ), the rear end ( 46 ) of each nozzle ( 10 ) being screwed into the threaded seat ( 48 ) of one of the mounting bases ( 50 ) with the melt bore ( 100 ) through the mounting base ( 50 ) extending from one of the outlets ( 98 ) of the melt passage ( 14 ) to the aligned melt bore ( 102 ) extending through said nozzle ( 10 ).  
 
     
     
       2. An injection molding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each mounting base ( 50 ) is secured to the melt distribution manifold ( 16 ). 
     
     
       3. An injection molding apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the mold ( 12 ) comprises at least a manifold plate ( 24 ) with a front surface ( 84 ) and a cavity plate ( 26 ) with a rear surface ( 86 ), the front surface ( 84 ) of the manifold plate ( 24 ) abuts against the rear surface ( 86 ) of the cavity plate ( 26 ), each nozzle ( 10 ) extends forwardly through an opening ( 60 ) through the manifold plate ( 24 ), and each mounting base ( 50 ) has a circular flange portion ( 64 ) extending forwardly into a circular seat ( 66 ) extending around said opening ( 60 ) through the manifold plate ( 24 ). 
     
     
       4. An injection molding apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each nozzle ( 10 ) has a portion ( 76 ) engageable by a tool. 
     
     
       5. An injection molding apparatus as claimed in  claim 4  wherein a channel is provided in at least one of the front surfaces ( 84 ) of the manifold plate ( 24 ) and the rear surface ( 86 ) of the cavity plate ( 26 ) in which to run wires ( 78 ) to each nozzle ( 10 ). 
     
     
       6. An injection molding apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein each nozzle ( 10 ) has a heating element ( 80 ). 
     
     
       7. An injection molding apparatus comprising a heated mold manifold ( 16 ) including a melt channel portion ( 92 ), a mounting base ( 50 ) securely attached solely to said manifold ( 16 ) by a fastener ( 52 ) partially located in said manifold ( 16 ) having a threaded portion ( 48 ) and a melt channel portion ( 100 ) in alignment with melt channel portion ( 92 ) of the manifold, and an injection nozzle ( 10 ) having a threaded end portion ( 46 ) and a melt channel ( 48 ), whereby said injection nozzle ( 10 ) is connected to said mounting base ( 50 ) via its threaded portion ( 46 ) so that melt channel ( 48 ) is in alignment with melt channel portion ( 100 ) of said mounting base ( 50 ) and with the melt channel portion ( 92 ) of the manifold ( 16 ) during the thermal expansion of said manifold ( 16 ) due to heating. 
     
     
       8. An injection molding apparatus according to  claim 7  where said mounting base ( 50 ) further includes flange portion ( 64 ) which is received in a circular seat ( 66 ). 
     
     
       9. An injection molding apparatus comprising a mold manifold ( 16 ) including a melt channel portion ( 92 ), an injection nozzle ( 10 ) having a threaded end portion ( 46 ) and a melt channel ( 48 )  (   102   ), a mounting base ( 50 ) located entirely between said manifold ( 16 ) and said injection nozzle ( 10 ), said mounting base having a threaded portion ( 48 ) and a melt channel portion ( 100 ) in alignment with melt channel portion ( 92 ) of the manifold, whereby said injection nozzle ( 10 ) is connected to said mounting base ( 50 ) via its  the threaded portion ( 46 ) of the injection nozzle so that melt channel ( 48 )  (   102   ) is in alignment with melt channel portion ( 100 ) of said mounting base ( 50 ) and with the melt channel portion ( 92 ) of the manifold ( 16 ) during the thermal expansion of said manifold ( 16 ) due to heating and whereby said mounting base ( 50 ) is securely and solely attached to said manifold ( 16 ) via a fastener ( 52 ) partially located in said manifold ( 16 ). 
     
     
       10. An injection molding apparatus according to  claim 9  where said mounting base ( 50 ) further includes flange portion ( 64 ) which is received in a circular seat ( 66 ). 
     
     
       11. An injection molding apparatus comprising a heated mold manifold ( 16 ) including a melt channel portion ( 92 ), a mounting base ( 50 ) having a threaded portion ( 48 ) and a melt channel portion ( 100 ) in alignment with melt channel portion ( 92 ) of the manifold, and an injection nozzle ( 10 ) having a threaded end portion ( 46 ) and a melt channel ( 48 )  (   102   ), said injection nozzle ( 10 ) being connected to said mounting base ( 50 ) via the threaded portion ( 46 ) of the injection nozzle, whereby said mounting base ( 50 ) is securely and solely attached to said manifold ( 16 ) by a fastener ( 52 ) partially located in said manifold ( 16 ). 
     
     
       12. An injection molding apparatus according to  claim 11  where the mounting base ( 50 ) is entirely located between said manifold ( 16 ) and said nozzle ( 10 ). 
     
     
       13. An injection molding apparatus according to  claim 11  where said mounting base ( 50 ) further includes flange portion ( 64 ) which is received in a circular seat ( 66 ). 
     
     
       14. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
   a melt distribution manifold including a melt passage;        a mounting base having a threaded connecting portion; and        an injection nozzle having a threaded connecting portion and a melt channel,        wherein said injection nozzle is coupled to said mounting base via the respective connecting portions of said mounting base and said injection nozzle, and said mounting base is secured against said manifold.     
     
     
       15. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the melt channel of said injection nozzle is aligned with the melt passage of said melt distribution manifold. 
     
     
       16. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein said mounting base is secured against a front face of said melt distribution manifold using a fastener. 
     
     
       17. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said fasteners are screws partially located in said melt distribution manifold. 
     
     
       18. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said melt passage of said melt distribution manifold includes a plurality of branches extending outwardly from a common inlet portion to a plurality of outlets on a front face of the melt distribution manifold; and
   wherein said injection nozzle and said mounting base are located at the outlet of one of said plurality of branches and an injection nozzle and mounting base are located at the outlet of each of the remaining plurality of branches, each nozzle having a threaded rear end and a melt bore extending therethrough to convey melt to a gate leading to a cavity, the melt bore of each nozzle aligned with the respective melt passage of each of said plurality of branches.     
     
     
       19. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising a mold, wherein the mold comprises a manifold plate with a front surface and a cavity plate with a rear surface, the front surface of the manifold plate abutting against the rear surface of the cavity plate, wherein said nozzle extends forwardly through an opening through the manifold plate, and said mounting base includes a circular flange portion extending forwardly into a circular seat extending around said opening through the manifold plate. 
     
     
       20. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a channel provided in at least one of the front surface of the manifold plate and the rear surface of the cavity plate in which to run wires to the injection nozzle. 
     
     
       21. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the injection nozzle has a portion engageable by a tool. 
     
     
       22. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
   a mold including at least a manifold plate with a front surface and a rear surface and a cavity plate with a rear surface, the front surface of the manifold plate abutting against the rear surface of the cavity plate;        a melt distribution manifold including a melt passage mounted in said mold, the melt distribution manifold including a front surface facing the rear surface of said manifold plate;        a heated injection nozzle having a threaded end portion and a melt channel mounted in said mold, wherein said injection nozzle is coupled to said melt distribution manifold; and        a channel provided in at least one of the front surface of the manifold plate and the rear surface of the cavity plate in which to run wires to the injection nozzle.     
     
     
       23. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the melt channel of said injection nozzle is aligned with the melt passage of said melt distribution manifold. 
     
     
       24. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a mounting base including a threaded seat, wherein said injection nozzle is coupled to said melt distribution manifold through said mounting base. 
     
     
       25. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said mounting base is secured against a front face of said melt distribution manifold using a fastener. 
     
     
       26. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein said fasteners are screws partially located in said melt distribution manifold. 
     
     
       27. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein separation of the cavity plate from the manifold plate exposes a front portion of said injection nozzle and permits removal of said injection nozzle from said mold. 
     
     
       28. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the front portion of the injection nozzle is engageable by a tool. 
     
     
       29. An injection molding apparatus comprising:
   a mold including at least a manifold plate with a front surface and a cavity plate with a rear surface and a front plate, the front surface of the manifold plate abutting against the rear surface of the cavity plate;        a melt distribution manifold including a melt passage mounted in said mold;        an injection nozzle having a threaded end portion and a melt channel mounted in said mold, wherein said injection nozzle is coupled to said melt distribution manifold;        a bolt entering from said front surface of said cavity plate for mounting said cavity plate to said manifold plate, wherein removal of said bolt separates the cavity plate from the manifold plate and exposes a front portion of said injection nozzle and permits removal of said injection nozzle from said mold.     
     
     
       30. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a channel provided in at least one of the front surface of the manifold plate and the rear surface of the cavity plate in which to run wires to the injection nozzle. 
     
     
       31. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the melt channel of said injection nozzle is aligned with the melt passage of said melt distribution manifold. 
     
     
       32. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising a mounting base including a threaded seat, wherein said injection nozzle is coupled to said melt distribution manifold through said mounting base. 
     
     
       33. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein said mounting base is secured against a front face of said melt distribution manifold using a fastener. 
     
     
       34. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein said fasteners are screws partially located in said melt distribution manifold. 
     
     
       35. The injection molding apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein the front portion of the injection nozzle is engageable by a tool. 
     
     
       36. An injection molding system comprising:
   a manifold having a melt channel;        a nozzle having a threaded rear end removably connected to the manifold and having a heater;        a plate surrounding the nozzle, the plate having a front surface facing opposite the manifold; and        a bolt entering from the front surface of the plate for mounting the plate around the nozzle, wherein removal of the bolt and plate provides access to the nozzle and nozzle heater in order to remove and attach the nozzle and nozzle heater with respect to the molding system.