Sequential injection to multiple mold cavities

Method of performing an injection cycle in an injection molding machine (500) comprised of a distribution manifold (800), the method comprising:

• routing an injection fluid (18) via a common distribution channel (160) to:
• one or more first downstream channels (166, 166a, 166b) and associated first gates (34, 34a, 34b) that deliver the injection fluid (18) to a first cavity (300a) of a mold system (302, 303) and,
• routing the injection fluid (18) to one or more second downstream channels (168, 168a, 168b) and associated second gates (32, 32a, 32b) that deliver the injection fluid to a second cavity (300b) of the mold system (302, 303),
• clamping the mold system (302, 303) together under a selected clamp force with a clamp device (700),
• enabling and disabling flow of the injection fluid (18) from the distribution channel (160) to the first gates (34, 34a, 34b) via a first upstream valve (118) and enabling and disabling flow of the injection fluid from the distribution channel (160) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b) via a second upstream valve (108),
• instructing the first upstream valve (118) to open or enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more first gates (34, 34a, 34b) at a first selected time, and, instructing the second upstream valve (108) to open or enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b) at a second selected time that is delayed, subsequent or sequential in time relative to the first selected time during the course of an injection cycle,
• wherein one or more of first and second downstream valves (150a, 150b) comprise an actuator (50, 50b) interconnected to a valve pin (1041, 1041a) having a control surface (755, 1155) having a selected configuration adapted to cooperate with a selected complementary surface (765, 1254) of a downstream channel (166, 168) such that the rate of flow of injection fluid (18) is controllable continuously over the course of an injection cycle by controlling axial positioning of the control surface (755, 1155) of the valve pin relative to the selected complementary surface (765, 1254) of a downstream channel (166, 168).

An injection molding apparatus (10a) comprising an injection molding machine (500) that injects a selected fluid (18) to a distribution manifold (800) that routes the injection fluid (18) to:

• one or more first downstream channels (166, 166a, 166b) and associated first gates (34, 34a, 34b) that deliver the injection fluid (18) to a first cavity (300a) of a mold system (302, 303) and,
• one or more second downstream channels (168, 168a, 168b) and associated second gates (32, 32a, 32b) that deliver the injection fluid to a second cavity (300b) of the mold system (302, 303),
• the mold system (302, 303) being clamped together under a selected clamp force by a clamp device (700),
• a first upstream valve (118) that enables and disables flow of the injection fluid from the distribution channel (160) to the first gates (34, 34a, 34b) and a second upstream valve (108) that enables and disables flow of the injection fluid from the distribution channel (160) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b),
• wherein one or more of first and second downstream valves (150a, 150b) comprise an actuator (50, 50b) interconnected to a valve pin (1041, 1041a) having a control surface (755, 1155) having a selected configuration adapted to cooperate with a selected complementary surface (765, 1254) of a downstream channel (166, 168) such that the rate of flow of injection fluid (18) is controllable continuously over the course of an injection cycle by controlling axial positioning of the control surface (755, 1155) of the valve pin relative to the selected complementary surface (765, 1254) of a downstream channel (166, 168),
• the apparatus (10a) being adapted to enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more first gates (34, 34a, 34b) at a first selected time and to further enable flow of the injection fluid (18) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b) at a second selected time that is delayed, subsequent or sequential in time relative to the first selected time during the course of an injection cycle.

A method of performing an injection cycle in an injection molding machine (500) comprised of a distribution manifold (800), the method comprising:

• routing an injection fluid (18) via a common distribution channel (160) to:
• one or more first downstream channels (166, 166a, 166b) and associated first gates (34, 34a, 34b) via one or more first downstream valves (150a) that deliver the injection fluid (18) to a first cavity (300a) of a mold system (302, 303) and,
• routing the injection fluid (18) to one or more second downstream channels (168, 168a, 168b) and associated second gates (32, 32a, 32b) via one or more second downstream valves (150b) that deliver the injection fluid to a second cavity (300b) of the mold system (302, 303),
• clamping the mold system (302, 303) together under a selected clamp force with a clamp device (700),
• enabling and disabling flow of the injection fluid (18) from the distribution channel (160) to the first gates (34, 34a, 34b) at a first selected time,
• and enabling and disabling flow of the injection fluid from the distribution channel (160) to the one or more second gates (32, 32a, 32b) at a second selected time that is delayed, subsequent or sequential in time relative to the first selected time during the course of an injection cycle,
• wherein one or more of first and second downstream valves (150a, 150b) comprise an actuator (50, 50b) interconnected to a valve pin (1041, 1041a) having a control surface (755, 1155) having a selected configuration adapted to cooperate with a selected complementary surface (765, 1254) of a downstream channel (166, 168) such that the rate of flow of injection fluid (18) is controllable continuously over the course of an injection cycle by controlling axial positioning of the control surface (755, 1155) of the valve pin relative to the selected complementary surface (765, 1254) of a downstream channel (166, 168).