Stem connector for melt-distribution assembly of molding system

An apparatus, comprising:

• a melt-distribution assembly for installation in a molding system;
• and
• the melt-distribution assembly, including:
• a distribution manifold;
• and
• a cylinder having an interior, and the cylinder mounted to a manifold exterior of the distribution manifold, and the melt-distribution assembly including a mold gate;
• and
• a movable piston slidably receivable in the interior of the cylinder, and the movable piston is movable within the interior of the cylinder in response to an application of an activation force acting on the movable piston, and the movable piston defining a stem receiver;
• and
• a valve stem having a first end portion slidably inserted into the stem receiver of the movable piston, and the valve stem extending from the movable piston once the first end portion of the valve stem is inserted into the stem receiver, and
• the valve stem having a second end portion that is slidably insertable, at least in part, into the mold gate of the melt-distribution assembly, and the second end portion of the valve stem sized to close the mold gate once the valve stem is slidably inserted, at least in part into the mold gate, and the second end portion of the valve stem sized to open the mold gate once the valve stem is slidably removed from the mold gate;
• and
• a stem connector being mounted to an interior of the movable piston, and the stem connector for connecting the movable piston and the first end portion of the valve stem received in the stem receiver of the movable piston;
• and
• the stem connector maintaining connection between the movable piston and the first end portion of the valve stem while the valve stem is moved to selectively open or close the mold gate in response to the movable piston selectively receiving the activation force;
• and
• the stem connector urging the movable piston to tilt at a tilt angle while the movable piston is moved along the interior of the cylinder, and in which the tilt angle is formed between a central piston axis extending through the movable piston and a central stem axis extending through the valve stem.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a molding system, including:
• an injection assembly for preparing and providing a flowable molding material;
• and
• a clamp assembly spaced apart from the injection assembly;
• and
• the clamp assembly including a first platen;
• and
• the clamp assembly including a second platen, in which the first platen and the second platen are movable relative to each other;
• and
• a melt-distribution assembly securely mounted to the first platen of the clamp assembly of the molding system;
• and
• the melt-distribution assembly, including a distribution manifold providing:
• a sprue for fluidly receiving the flowable molding material from the injection assembly;
• and
• a melt-distribution channel fluidly extending from the sprue;
• and
• a mold assembly providing a mold gate for fluidly communicating with the melt-distribution channel, and the mold assembly also providing a mold cavity for receiving the flowable molding material from the mold gate via the melt-distribution channel of the melt-distribution assembly;
• and
• the mold assembly having a first mold section securely mounted to the melt-distribution assembly;
• and
• the mold assembly also having a second mold section securely mounted to the second platen of the clamp assembly;
• and
• the first mold section and the second mold section are movable relative to each other in response to relative movement between the first platen and the second platen;
• and
• the melt-distribution assembly also including:
• a cylinder having an interior, and the cylinder mounted to a manifold exterior of the distribution manifold;
• and
• a movable piston slidably receivable in the interior of the cylinder, and the movable piston is movable within the interior of the cylinder in response to an application of an activation force acting on the movable piston, and the movable piston defining a stem receiver;
• and
• a valve stem having a first end portion slidably inserted into the stem receiver of the movable piston, and the valve stem extending from the movable piston once the first end portion of the valve stem is inserted into the stem receiver, and
• the valve stem having a second end portion being slidably insertable, at least in part, into the mold gate of the melt-distribution assembly, and the second end portion of the valve stem sized to close the mold gate once the valve stem is slidably inserted, at least in part, into the mold gate, and the second end portion of the valve stem sized to open the mold gate once the valve stem is slidably removed from the mold gate;
• and
• a stem connector mounted to an interior of the movable piston, and the stem connector for connecting the movable piston and the first end portion of the valve stem received in the stem receiver of the movable piston;
• and
• the stem connector maintaining connection between the movable piston and the first end portion of the valve stem while the valve stem is moved to selectively open or close the mold gate in response to the movable piston selectively receiving the activation force;
• and
• the stem connector urging the movable piston to tilt at a tilt angle while the movable piston is moved along the interior of the cylinder, and in which the tilt angle is formed between a central piston axis extending through the movable piston and a central stem axis extending through the valve stem.