Valve-gated injection molding system with side-mounted actuator

A valve-gated injection molding system comprising:

• a nozzle body having an inlet, an outlet, and a melt channel extending from said inlet to said outlet, the melt channel having an end portion located adjacent to said outlet, the nozzle body having an offset body portion located between said inlet and said end portion and being laterally offset relative to a first axis;
• an actuator external to and positioned laterally to one side of said offset body portion relative to said first axis, the actuator having a housing and an axial translation member located and slidable in the housing, wherein said axial translation member is connected to a slidable member, said housing comprising a wall having an inner cylindrical surface defined about a second axis parallel to said first axis, said slidable member having an outer surface which mates with said inner cylindrical surface and being slidable co-axially with said second axis;
• and
• a valve pin extending along said first axis, the valve pin being connected to the axial translation member and having a tip portion positioned in said end portion and movable under the influence of the axial translation member between a first position in which the tip portion does not stop the flow of melt through the melt channel in said end portion and a second position in which the tip portion stops the flow of melt though said end portion,
• wherein said housing is closed and further comprises a first guide mounted to the housing about an opening therethrough, said first guide being configured, positioned and dimensioned to receive and guide said axial translation member out of said housing along said first axis.

A valve-gated injection molding system comprising:

• a nozzle body having an inlet, a plurality of outlets, and a melt channel extending from said inlet to said plurality of outlets, the melt channel having a plurality of end portions, each end portion located adjacent to a corresponding one of said outlets, the nozzle body having an offset body portion located between said inlet and said end portions;
• a plurality of actuators external to and positioned laterally from said offset body portion, each of said actuators having a housing and a piston completely enclosed within the housing and slidable in the housing along an axis of the piston;
• and
• a plurality of valve pins, each of said plurality of valve pins associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of actuators and pistons, wherein each of said plurality of actuators extends along said axis of the piston corresponding to said valve pin, each valve pin being connected to the corresponding piston and having a tip portion positioned in said corresponding end portion and movable under the influence of the corresponding piston between a first position in which the tip portion does not stop the flow of melt through the melt channel in said end portion and a second position in which the tip portion stops the flow of melt though said end portion.