Plasticizing unit including a plasticizing screw rotationally and linearly movable within an injection cylinder and having a dam element

A plasticizing unit for a molding machine, the plasticizing unit comprising:

• an injection cylinder having a dispensing opening to dispense a plasticized material;
• and
• a plasticizing screw arranged in the injection cylinder, the plasticizing screw being rotationally movable and linearly movable in the injection cylinder by a drive unit configured to linearly move the plasticizing screw over an injection stroke length during an injection movement, the plasticizing screw having an axis of rotation,
• wherein a plasticizing zone is located between the plasticizing screw and the injection cylinder in the radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the plasticizing screw,
• wherein the plasticizing screw has a dam element, and the injection cylinder has a first opening in the area of the plasticizing zone and/or the dam element and has a second opening between the dam element and the dispensing opening, and
• wherein the first opening and the second opening are spaced apart a distance from each other, the distance corresponding to the injection stroke length.