US 6,838,034 B2 · Multi-part sequential valve gating

Abstract

The present invention (FIGS. 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 9 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18) provides an injection molding method and apparatus. A hot manifold is provided having a plurality of independently controlled valve gates. A controller is operably connected to each of the valve gates enabling independent opening and closing thereof. A mold has at least two cavities, a larger cavity and a relatively smaller cavity. The larger cavity has at least two inlets each communicating with the valve gates of the hot manifold. The smaller cavity has at least one inlet communicating with respective valve gate of the hot manifold. The larger cavity is filled with a first plasticized material by sequentially opening and closing the valve gates communicating with the large cavity. The larger cavity is packed out. Simultaneously with the packing out step, the smaller cavity is filled and packed out with a second plasticized material by opening and closing the at least one respective valve gate. A large and a small part may be molded in the same time as required for molding solely the large part.

Claims23

Dependent claims

An injection molding method, comprising the steps of:

providing a hot manifold having a plurality of independently controlled valve gates;
providing a controller operably connected to each of said valve gates enabling independent opening and closing of each of said valve gates;
providing a mold having at least two cavities, a larger cavity being larger than a smaller cavity, said larger cavity having at least two inlets each communicating with said valve gates of said hot manifold and said smaller cavity having at least one inlet communicating with respective valve gate of said hot manifold;
filling said larger cavity with a first plasticized material by sequentially opening and closing said valve gates communicating with said larger cavity;
packing out said larger cavity,
simultaneously with said packing out step, filling and packing out said smaller cavity with a second plasticized material by opening and closing said at least one respective valve gate.

3 more elements

An apparatus for simultaneously molding at least two components, comprising:

a hot manifold having a plurality of valve gates;
a controller operably connected to each of said valve gates enabling independent opening and closing of each of said valve gates;
a mold having at least two cavities, a larger cavity being larger than a smaller cavity, said larger cavity having at least two inlets each communicating with said valve gates of said hot manifold and said smaller cavity having at least one inlet communicating with a respective valve gate of said hot manifold;
a first injection unit providing a source of a first plasticized material under pressure to said hot manifold;
a first monitor coupled to the central control system and positioned to monitor screw position of said injection unit and responsively generate for said controller a signal proportional to said screw position;
said controller operable to fill said larger cavity by sequentially opening and closing said valve gates communicating with said larger cavity;
to pack out said larger cavity by opening said valve gates communicating with said larger cavity;
and simultaneously with said packing out step, to fill and pack out said smaller cavity by opening and closing said at least one respective valve gate.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-part sequential valve gating

Life of this patent

Multi-part sequential valve gating

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23