Unitary monolithically formed injection-molding apparatuses
AssigneeHusky Injection Molding Systems Ltd.
InventorEdward Joseph Jenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A unitary monolithically formed hot-runner apparatus having at least a manifold containment structure, a hot-runner manifold, at least one nozzle, and one or more spacers. In some embodiments, the manifold containment structure, hot-runner manifold, nozzle(s), and spacer(s) may be multi-material apparatuses of unitary monolithic construction. In other embodiments, a thermal expansion accommodation portion is provided for each nozzle to accommodate thermal growth. Each spacer may be formed of a material having a lower thermal conductivity than the materials of the hot-runner manifold and manifold containment structure and may be made to include a discontinuity to allow for thermal expansion.
Claims32
An injection-molding apparatus, comprising:
- a unitary monolithic body manufactured using a freeform fabrication process, said monolithic body including:
- a manifold having at least one melt channel;
- and
- an insulation cavity formed within the monolithic body between an inner portion of said monolithic body and an outer portion of said manifold.
A method of manufacturing a monolithically constructed injection-molding apparatus, the method comprising:
- freeform fabricating a manifold containment structure;
- freeform fabricating a manifold portion within the manifold containment structure so that, when the injection-molding apparatus is complete, the manifold portion is located within a cavity formed within the manifold containment structure;
- and
- freeform fabricating at least one spacer extending between the manifold containment structure and the manifold within the cavity in a manner that the at least one spacer is monolithically continuous with each of the manifold containment structure and the manifold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.