# US 2014/0154352 A1 · Reduced Size Runner for an Injection Mold System > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154352 A1 - Document ID: US20140154352A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/177,464 - Filed: 2014-02-11 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-21 - Assignees: The Procter & Gamble Company - Applicants: The Procter & Gamble Company - Inventors: Gene Michael ALTONEN; Vincent Sean BREIDENBACH; Kimberly Nichole McCONNELL; Danny David LUMPKIN; Chow-chi HUANG; Charles John BERG, JR. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154352A1 ## CPC - B29C 45/2725: {Manifolds} - B29C 45/2701: {Details not specific to hot or cold runner channels (B29C45/2725 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/2704: {Controlling the filling rates or the filling times of two or more mould cavities by controlling the cross section or the length of the runners or the gates} - B29C 45/2708: {Gates (B29C45/2703 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/77: of velocity or pressure of moulding material - B29C 2045/0086: {Runner trees, i.e. several articles connected by a runner} - B29C 2045/2722: {Nozzles or runner channels provided with a pressure sensor} - B29C 2945/76006: Pressure - B29C 2945/7621: nozzle - B29C 2945/76287: Moulding material - B29C 2945/76936: The operating conditions are corrected in the next phase or cycle - B29L 2031/3044: {Bumpers} - B29L 2031/712: {Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages (closures therefor B29L2031/56; ink or toner cartridges B29L2031/7678; squeeze tubes B29L2023/20; suitcases B29L2031/7418)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract A runner system for a multi-cavity injection molding system, the runner system having runners of reduced size. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A runner system for an injection molding machine, the runner system comprising a plurality of runner branches including a plurality of final runner branches, with each of the final runner branches connecting into one of one or more mold cavities of the injection molding machine, wherein: at least one mold cavity, of the one or more mold cavities, is configured to mold a part, which has a particular gate thickness; and at least one final runner branch, of the final runner branches connecting into the at least one mold cavity, has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular nominal wall thickness; and the at least one final runner branch has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular nominal wall thickness. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a length to thickness ratio that is greater than 100. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The runner system of claim 3, wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a particular average thickness that is less than about 10 millimeters. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein: the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular average wall thickness; and the at least one final runner branch has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular average wall thickness. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-0.9 times the particular gate thickness. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The runner system of claim 7, wherein: the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular nominal wall thickness; and each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular nominal wall thickness. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The runner system of claim 7, wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a length to thickness ratio that is greater than 100. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The runner system of claim 9, wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a particular average thickness that is less than about 10 millimeters. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The runner system of claim 9, wherein: the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular average wall thickness; and each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular average wall thickness. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The runner system of claim 7, wherein each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-0.9 times the particular gate thickness. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein: the mold cavity is included in a plurality of mold cavities for the injection molding machine; at least one of the final runner branches connects into each of the mold cavities; each of the mold cavities is configured to mold a part, which has a particular gate thickness; and for each of the mold cavities, the at least one final runner branch that connects into that mold cavity has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The runner system of claim 13, wherein each of the mold cavities is configured to mold the part, which has a length to thickness ratio that is greater than 100. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The runner system of claim 14, wherein each of the mold cavities is configured to mold the part, which has an average thickness that is less than about 10 millimeters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The runner system of claim 13, wherein for each of the mold cavities, the at least one final runner branch that connects into that mold cavity has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-0.9 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The runner system of claim 13, wherein for each of the mold cavities, each of the final runner branches that connects into that mold cavity has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The runner system of claim 17, wherein for each of the mold cavities, each of the final runner branches that connects into that mold cavity has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-0.9 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The runner system of claim 1, wherein for all mold cavities for the injection molding machine, each final runner branch that connects into one of those mold cavities has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The runner system of claim 19, wherein for all of the mold cavities for the injection molding machine, each final runner branch that connects into one of those mold cavities has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-0.9 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity.