Injection Molding Apparatus with Insulated Integrated Actuator Electronic Drive

A method of performing an injection molding cycle comprising:

• injecting a flow of injection fluid to a heated manifold that distributes the injection fluid to a flow channel through which the injection fluid is controllably delivered to a gate of a mold cavity by controllably driving an actuator,
• distributing electrical energy or power from an electrical drive to a driver of the actuator,
• adapting the driver to controllably drive a valve pin along a linear path of travel according to the distributed electrical energy,
• configuring the electrical drive as an interface that receives and controllably distributes electrical energy or power in controllably varied amounts during the course of an injection cycle to the driver,
• providing the actuator with a housing,
• housing the electrical drive within or by the housing or mounting the electrical drive on or to the housing,
• mounting the housing and the electrical drive on, to or in close proximity to the heated manifold,
• disposing a cooling device between the heated manifold and the housing, and,
• adapting the cooling device to substantially isolate or insulate at least the electrical drive from substantial communication with heat emanating or emitted from the heated manifold.

An injection molding apparatus comprising a heated manifold that receives injection fluid from an injection molding machine and distributes the injection fluid to a flow channel that delivers the injection fluid to a gate of a mold cavity, the injection molding apparatus comprising:

• an actuator having a drive axis (Y) and a driver interconnected to a valve pin and adapted to controllably drive the valve pin along a linear path of travel, the driver receiving electrical energy or power from an electrical drive,
• the electrical drive comprising an interface that receives and controllably distributes electrical energy or power in controllably varied amounts during the course of an injection cycle to the driver,
• the actuator having a housing,
• the electrical drive being housed within or by the housing or being mounted on or to the housing,
• the apparatus including a cooling device,
• the electrical drive being mounted on or to the cooling device.
• the cooling device being mounted on or to the heated manifold and adapted to substantially isolate or insulate at least the electrical drive from substantial communication with heat emanating or emitted from the heated manifold.