Valve pin locking mechanism
AssigneeMold-Masters Limited
InventorGino Colonico
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A locking mechanism for locking a valve pin of a nozzle of an injection molding apparatus in an extended position includes a generally oblong detent coupled to a pin. The pin extends through an aperture located at a first end of the detent to secure the detent to an inner wall of a recess, which is located adjacent the piston-receiving cavity of the valve pin. The detent is pivotable about the pin to rotate a second end of the detent into abutment with a return surface of the piston to restrict movement of the valve pin.
Claims17
An injection molding method comprising the steps of:
- injecting a molten material through a plurality of valve gated nozzles;
- moving a valve pin through each of said plurality of nozzles between a retracted position and an extended position;
- and
- locking at least one valve pin in said extended position by setting a locking mechanism into a single engaged position, wherein the locking mechanism acts on the valve pin to thereby close a mold gate, while at least another valve pin is in said retracted position.
An injection molding apparatus comprising:
- a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure and delivering said melt stream to a nozzle having a nozzle channel, said nozzle channel communicating with an outlet of said manifold channel to receive said melt stream;
- a mold cavity receiving said melt stream from said nozzle, said nozzle channel communicating with said mold cavity through a mold gate;
- a valve pin extending at least partially through said nozzle channel, said valve pin being movable by a piston between a retracted position and an extended position, said mold gate being closed when said valve pin is in said extended position;
- and
- a locking mechanism adapted to be placed in one of only two settings, a first setting being in a disengaged position wherein the locking mechanism does not act on the valve pin, and a second setting being in an engaged position wherein the locking mechanism locks said valve pin in said extended position.
An injection molding apparatus having a mold gate, comprising:
- a manifold having a manifold channel;
- a nozzle coupled to the manifold and having a nozzle channel in fluid communication with the manifold channel;
- a valve pin extending through the nozzle channel;
- an actuating mechanism coupled to the valve pin and adapted to move the valve pin between a retracted position, wherein the mold gate is open, and an extended position, wherein the mold gate is closed by the valve pin;
- a locking mechanism adapted to lock the valve pin in the extended position;
- a control panel coupled to the locking mechanism and adapted to actuate the locking mechanism by setting the locking mechanism in one of only two settings, wherein a first setting is in a disengaged position wherein the locking mechanism does not act on the valve pin, and a second setting is in an engaged position wherein the locking mechanism locks the valve pin in the extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.