# US 7,410,354 B2 · Valve gated nozzle having a valve pin with a sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,410,354 B2 - Document ID: US7410354B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/615,620 - Filed: 2006-12-22 - Published: 2007-05-10 - Granted: 2008-08-12 - Earliest claimed: 2001-10-12 - Assignees: Mold-Masters (2007) Limited - Inventors: George Olaru - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7410354B2 ## CPC - B29C 45/1603: {Multi-way nozzles specially adapted therefor} - B29C 45/2737: {Heating or cooling means therefor (B29C45/7331 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/2806: {consisting of needle valve systems (B29C45/2896 takes precedence)} - B29C 45/77: of velocity or pressure of moulding material - B29C 45/78: of temperature - B29C 2045/2722: {Nozzles or runner channels provided with a pressure sensor} - B29C 2045/274: {Thermocouples or heat sensors} - B29C 2945/7604: Temperature - B29C 2945/76274: runners, nozzles - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) ## Abstract An injection molding apparatus includes a manifold for delivering a melt stream of moldable material to a nozzle melt channel of a nozzle. A valve pin extends through the nozzle melt channel and is axially movable to selectively open a gate to allow communication with a mold cavity. A sensor is coupled to a forward end of the valve pin. The sensor may be a pressure sensor and/or temperature sensor in direct contact with the melt stream to provide pressure and/or temperature information to a controller. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold including a first manifold melt channel for delivering a first melt material and a second manifold melt channel for delivering a second melt material; an injection molding nozzle having a first melt channel for receiving the first melt material from the first manifold melt channel and having a second melt channel for receiving the second melt material from the second manifold melt channel; a valve pin having a valve pin body with a segment that slidably extends through the first melt channel of the nozzle, the valve pin being axially movable for controlling the flow of the first and second melt materials; a processing sensor coupled to and positioned at least partially within the segment of the valve pin body that extends within the first melt channel; and a mold cavity in fluid communication with the nozzle via a respective mold gate, wherein the valve pin has a downstream end portion for selectively opening and closing the mold gate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein at a first axial position of the valve pin the processing sensor measures a pressure of the first melt material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The injection molding apparatus of claim 2, wherein at a second axial position of the valve pin the processing sensor measures a pressure of the second melt material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the end portion of the valve pin is seated within the mold gate in the closed position the processing sensor measures a pressure of the melt material in the mold cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing sensor is a thermocouple. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The injection molding apparatus of claim 5, wherein the thermocouple is positioned within the end portion of the valve pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The injection molding apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: at least one thermocouple coupled to the nozzle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein said processing sensor is a pressure sensor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a controller for communicating with the processing sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing sensor has a melt contacting surface that is flush with an end surface of the valve pin. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing sensor has a melt contacting surface that is downstream of an end surface of the valve pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing sensor includes a pressure sensor and a temperature sensor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the manifold is comprised of a first manifold including the first manifold melt channel and a second manifold including the second manifold melt channel. ### Claim 14 An injection molding apparatus comprising: an injection molding nozzle having a first melt channel for receiving a first melt material from a first melt source and having a second melt channel for receiving a second melt material from a second melt source; a valve pin having a body segment that slidably extends within the first melt channel of the nozzle, the body segment including a downstream end portion of the valve pin being axially movable for controlling the flow of the first and second melt materials; a pressure sensor coupled to and disposed at least partially within the body segment of the valve pin; and a mold cavity in fluid communication with the nozzle via a respective mold gate, wherein the valve pin end portion is selectively positionable for opening and closing the mold gate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, wherein at a first axial position of the valve pin within the first melt channel the pressure sensor measures a pressure of the first melt material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The injection molding apparatus of claim 15, wherein at a second axial position of the valve pin within the first melt channel the pressure sensor measures a pressure of the second melt material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, wherein when the end portion of the valve pin is seated within the mold gate in the closed position the pressure sensor measures a pressure of the melt material in the mold cavity. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: at least one thermocouple coupled to the valve pin and axially movable therewith. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The injection molding apparatus of claim 18, further comprising: at least one thermocouple coupled to the nozzle. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: at least one thermocouple coupled to the nozzle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: a controller for communicating with the pressure sensor. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second melt channel is annular and is radially displaced from the first melt channel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor is at least partially embedded within the end portion of the valve pin. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pressure sensor is embedded within the end portion of the valve pin such that a melt contacting surface of the pressure senor is flush with a downstream end surface of the valve pin. ### Claim 25 (depends on 8) The injection molding apparatus of claim 8, wherein the pressure sensor is positioned within the end portion of the valve pin.