Flow regulating assembly for a plastic injection machine

A flow regulating assembly for restricting plastic material from flowing directly into an accumulator cavity of a plastic injection machine and instead directing said plastic material towards the wall of said accumulator cavity thereby providing a scouring effect and reducing build-up of said plastic material on said wall of said accumulator cavity, said regulating assembly comprising:

• (a) means for delivering said plastic material to said accumulator cavity, said plastic material delivery means having a central chamber therein for the flow of said plastic material therethrough;
• (b) a valve member located between said plastic material delivery means and said accumulator cavity, said valve member which blocks said plastic material from flowing directly from said plastic material delivery means into said accumulator cavity;
• (c) a central opening in said valve member for receiving said plastic material therein, said central opening located proximate to and in corresponding alignment with said central chamber of said plastic material delivery means;
• (d) at least two branch passageways extended from said central opening to external openings in an outer edge of said valve member, said outer edge of said valve member which is concentric with and proximate to said wall of said accumulator cavity, said branch passageways allowing for the flow of said plastic material from said central opening to said outer edge of said valve member;
• and
• (e) said at least two branch passageways leading to a circumferential groove in said outer edge of said valve member, said circumferential groove directing the flow of said plastic material circumferentially between said outer edge of said valve member and said wall of said accumulator cavity.