Mold insert with conduits for cooling injection molded item

A mold insert comprising:

• a housing defining a mold surface and an opposing support surface, the housing further defining at least one sidewall connecting the mold surface and the support surface;
• a mold core positioned on the mold surface;
• a gas inlet port defined by the at least one sidewall;
• one or more gas outlet ports formed in and through the mold surface of the housing and arranged around the mold core, each gas outlet port being configured to direct a gas flow at an angle relative to the mold surface toward a centerline of the mold core;
• and
• a gas conduit system extending within the housing below the mold surface and configured to transport gas from the gas inlet port to the one or more gas outlet ports,
• wherein the gas conduit system comprises a circumferential conduit portion extending around the mold core and a plurality of sub-conduits branching from the circumferential conduit portion, each sub-conduit fluidly connecting the circumferential conduit portion with a respective one of the gas outlet ports.

A mold insert comprising:

• a housing defining a mold surface;
• a mold core positioned on the mold surface and configured to receive molding material from an injection channel defined by the housing;
• and
• a gas delivery system comprising a gas inlet, a gas distribution manifold disposed within the housing, and one or more gas outlets defined at the mold surface, the gas distribution manifold being fluidly connected to the gas inlet and configured to distribute gas from the gas inlet to the one or more gas outlets,
• wherein:
• the gas distribution manifold extends within the housing in a path that is laterally offset from and extending at least partially around the injection channel such that gas is delivered to multiple regions of the mold surface adjacent the mold core after separation of a corresponding mold cavity, and
• the gas distribution manifold comprises a circumferential conduit portion extending around the mold core and a plurality of sub-conduits branching from the circumferential conduit portion, each sub-conduit fluidly connecting the circumferential conduit portion with a respective one of the gas outlets.