Injection molding machine with second injection unit

An injection molding machine comprising:

• a) a machine base extending lengthwise along a generally horizontal machine axis, the base having a platen support portion extending along a first axial portion of the base, and an injection unit support portion extending along a second axial portion of the base;
• b) a platen supported by the platen support portion for carrying a mold half apparatus, the platen including a platen front face having a front face central portion for abutting the mold half apparatus and a front face marginal portion laterally offset from the front face central portion;
• c) a first injection unit supported by the injection unit support portion, the first injection unit including a first barrel and a first barrel nozzle at the front end of the first barrel for discharging a first melt into a first mold inlet of the mold half apparatus;
• and
• d) a second injection unit supported by the injection unit support portion, the second injection unit including a second barrel, a second barrel nozzle at the front end of the second barrel for discharging a second melt, and a nozzle extension mounted to the front face marginal portion of the platen for conducting the second melt from the second barrel nozzle to a second mold inlet of the mold half apparatus.

A method of operating an injection molding machine, the method comprising:

• a) discharging a first melt in an axial direction into a first mold inlet of a first mold half apparatus, the first mold half apparatus mounted to a front face central portion of a platen;
• b) discharging a second melt in an axial direction into a nozzle extension, the nozzle extension mounted to a front face marginal portion of the platen, the front face marginal portion laterally offset from the front face central portion;
• and
• c) discharging the second melt from the nozzle extension in a lateral direction into a second mold inlet of the first mold half apparatus.