Valve to valve melt transfer device

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a first melt transfer nozzle having a first melt transfer channel for delivering a melt stream of moldable material through a first melt transfer gate;
• a second melt transfer nozzle having a second melt transfer channel for selectively receiving said melt stream from said first melt transfer channel through a second melt transfer gate;
• a first valve pin extending through said first melt transfer channel and being movable into said second melt transfer channel, said first valve pin having an outer diameter sized to restrict melt flow between said first melt transfer channel and said second melt transfer channel, and having at least one groove portion and at least one guiding portion, wherein said guiding portion of said first valve pin aligns said first valve pin within said first melt gate and said second melt gate;
• and
• a second valve pin extending through and movable within said second melt transfer channel.

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a first melt transfer nozzle having a first melt transfer channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material, said first melt transfer nozzle having a first melt transfer gate that is selectively closable by a first valve pin;
• a second melt transfer nozzle having a second melt transfer channel for receiving said melt stream of moldable material from said first melt transfer channel, said second melt transfer nozzle having a second melt transfer gate that is selectively closable by a second valve pin, said second valve pin being slidable through said second melt transfer channel in response to movement of said first valve pin;
• and
• a groove provided in said first valve pin, said first valve pin being movable relative to said first melt transfer nozzle and said second melt transfer nozzle to selectively locate said groove across a portion of said first melt transfer channel and a portion of said second melt transfer channel simultaneously, such that said groove forms a melt transfer channel therebetween to allow said melt stream of moldable material to flow through said first and second melt transfer gates from said first melt transfer channel to said second melt transfer channel.

A method of injection molding comprising:

• providing a first melt transfer nozzle having a first valve pin;
• providing a second melt transfer nozzle having a second valve pin;
• providing a groove on one of said first valve pin or said second valve pin;
• and
• moving said first valve pin and said second valve pin to bring said groove into communication with said first melt transfer nozzle and said second melt transfer nozzle simultaneously to allow a molten material to flow between said first melt transfer nozzle and said second melt transfer nozzle along said groove.

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a stationary platen;
• a movable platen;
• a first melt transfer nozzle coupled to said stationary platen, said first melt transfer nozzle having a first melt transfer channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure;
• a second melt transfer nozzle coupled to said movable platen, said second melt transfer nozzle having a second melt transfer channel for selectively receiving the melt stream from said first melt transfer channel;
• a manifold coupled to said movable platen, said manifold having a manifold channel for receiving the melt stream from said second melt transfer channel and delivering the melt stream to a nozzle channel of a nozzle;
• a mold cavity provided between said stationary platen and said movable platen, said mold cavity receiving the melt stream from said nozzle, said nozzle channel communicating with said mold cavity through a mold gate;
• and
• a first valve pin extending through said first melt transfer channel, said valve pin having an outer diameter sized to restrict melt flow between said first melt transfer channel and said second melt transfer channel, whereby said valve pin has at least one groove and at least one guiding portion,
• wherein said first valve pin is movable relative to said first and second melt transfer nozzles to selectively locate said groove and said guiding portion across a portion of said first melt transfer channel and a portion of said second melt transfer channel simultaneously to allow the melt stream to flow between said first melt transfer channel and said second melt transfer channel.