Cooling plate assembly for an injection molding machine

A cooling plate assembly for an injection molding machine, the assembly comprising:

• a) a cooling plate having a plate front surface;
• b) an air channel extending within a thickness of the cooling plate generally parallel to the plate front surface;
• c) a plate bore extending into the cooling plate from the plate front surface, the plate bore extending lengthwise along a plate bore axis between a plate bore first end open to the plate front surface and a plate bore second end in fluid communication with the air channel, the plate bore for providing fluid communication between the air channel and a cavity of a cooling tube mountable to the cooling plate, the cavity for receiving at least a portion of a molded article;
• and
• d) a valve within the plate bore for regulating air flow between the air channel and the cavity, the valve movable between a first position in which a first air flow passage extending within the plate bore is open for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel to draw the molded article into the cavity, and a second position in which the first air flow passage is obstructed to reduce air flow between the cavity and the air channel, and in which a second air flow passage extending within the plate bore is open for conducting air from the air channel to the cavity to assist election of the molded article from the cavity,
• wherein the valve comprises a valve seat and a closure member movable relative to the valve seat, and wherein when the valve is in the first position, the closure member is spaced apart from the valve seat and an air flow gap is provided between the valve seat and a sealing surface of the closure member, the first air flow passage comprising the air flow gap, and when the valve is in the second position, the sealing surface is in engagement with the valve seat and the air flow gap is closed,
• wherein the first air flow passage comprises a valve port directed toward the cavity, the valve seat circumscribing at least a portion of the valve port and wherein when the valve is in the first position, the valve port is unblocked, and when the valve is in the second position, the closure member blocks the valve port,
• wherein the second air flow passage comprises a bypass port directed toward the cavity, and wherein when the valve is in the second position, the bypass port is unblocked, and
• and wherein the valve comprises a valve housing having a hollow interior defining a valve chamber, the closure member movably retained within the valve chamber, and wherein the valve housing has a front wall axially bounding the valve chamber and a first front port in the front wall, the valve port comprising the first front port.

A cooling plate assembly for an injection molding machine, the assembly comprising:

• a) a cooling plate having a plate front surface;
• b) an air channel extending within a thickness of the cooling plate generally parallel to the plate front surface;
• c) a cooling tube mounted to the cooling plate, the cooling tube having a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a molded article;
• d) an assembly bore extending through the cooling tube and into the cooling plate from the plate front surface, the assembly bore extending lengthwise along an assembly bore axis between an assembly bore first end open to the cavity and an assembly bore second end in fluid communication with the air channel, the assembly bore for providing fluid communication between the air channel and the cavity;
• and
• e) a valve within the assembly bore for regulating air flow between the air channel and the cavity, the valve movable between a first position in which a first air flow passage extending within the assembly bore is open for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel to draw the molded article into the cavity, and a second position in which the first air flow passage is obstructed to reduce air flow between the cavity and the air channel, and in which a second air flow passage extending within the assembly bore is open from the assembly bore second end to the assembly bore first end for conducting air from the air channel to the cavity to assist ejection of the molded article from the cavity.

A cooling plate assembly for an injection molding machine, the assembly comprising:

• a) a cooling plate having a plate front surface;
• b) an air channel extending within a thickness of the cooling plate generally parallel to the plate front surface;
• c) a cooling tube mounted to the cooling plate, the cooling tube having a cavity for receiving at least a portion of a molded article;
• d) an assembly bore extending through the cooling tube and into the cooling plate from the plate front surface, the assembly bore extending lengthwise along an assembly bore axis between an assembly bore first end open to the cavity and an assembly bore second end in fluid communication with the air channel;
• e) an ejector member slidably mounted within the assembly bore, the ejector member movable relative to the cavity between an ejector retracted position for accommodating receipt of the portion of the molded article in the cavity and an ejector advanced position for assisting ejection of the molded article from the cavity;
• and
• f) a closure member within the assembly bore, the closure member movable relative to a valve seat, the valve seat fixed to the ejector member, the closure member movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein when in the open position the closure member is spaced apart from the valve seat and an air flow gap is provided between the closure member and the valve seat for conducting air from the cavity to the air channel to draw the molded article into the cavity, and when in the closed position the closure member is in engagement with the valve seat and the air flow gap is closed for reducing air flow between the air channel and the cavity relative to the open position.