Injection molding system and method for cleaning fluid supply unit

Abstract

An injection molding system is provided. A mixing unit is configured to mix a flowable polymeric material with a blowing agent to form a mixture. A fluid supply unit is configured to provide the blowing agent to the mixing unit. The fluid supply unit includes an injection outlet coupled to the mixing unit, a compressor configured to generate the blowing agent, an injection valve disposed between the injection outlet and the compressor and configured to receive the blowing agent from the compressor through a first passage, and a cleaning mechanism configured to clean the injection valve. The cleaning mechanism includes a control valve coupled to the compressor through a second passage and coupled to the injection valve through a third passage connected to the first passage, and an actuating device configured to actuate the control valve. The blowing agent is flowable to the injection valve through the control valve.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.