Openable and closeable nozzle for the plasticizing cylinder of an injection molding machine

In a plasticizing unit for an injection molding machine;

• said plasticizing unit including
• a carrier block;
• a plasticizing cylinder through which plasticized material is driven;
• said plasticizing cylinder having a front end and a rear end;
• securing means for attaching said plasticizing cylinder, at said rear end thereof to said carrier block;
• an injection nozzle having a nozzle body including a front end and a rear end;
• said rear end of said nozzle body being connected to said front end of said plasticizing cylinder;
• said nozzle body having a discharge outlet at the front end of said nozzle body;
• a valve needle cooperating with said discharge outlet and having a closed position shutting off the discharge outlet and an open position allowing discharge of material from said plasticizing cylinder through said discharge outlet;
• at least one force-transmitting linkage means comprising joints at opposite ends and being connected to said valve needle;
• and
• power means for displacing said at least one force-transmitting linkage means and said valve needle into a selected one of said open and closed positions;
• the improvement wherein said nozzle body has
• (a) a throughgoing, linear, unobstructed nozzle channel extending within the nozzle body from the rear end of said nozzle body to said discharge outlet and being in an axial alignment with said plasticizing cylinder;
• (b) a guide channel extending within said nozzle body to said discharge outlet at an acute angle to said nozzle channel;
• said valve needle being slidably received in said guide channel;
• (c) said at least one force-transmitting linkage means being guided and being connected to said power means;
• (d) coupling means for connecting said at least one force-transmitting linkage means to said power means and for disconnecting said at least one force-transmitting linkage means from said power means;
• (e) said power means mounted on said carrier block, comprising an axis of symmetry;
• said axis of symmetry of said power means being arranged at an angle to said valve needle;
• and
• (f) said securing means mounted on said carrier block having a locking position for locking said plasticizing cylinder to said carrier block and a releasing position for allowing separation of said plasticizing cylinder from said carrier block.