Nozzle having a nozzle body with heated and unheated nozzle body segments

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a manifold having a manifold channel;
• a nozzle having a nozzle body including an upstream nozzle body segment having an upstream melt channel, an intermediate nozzle body segment having an intermediate melt channel, and a downstream nozzle body segment having a downstream melt channel, said intermediate nozzle body segment disposed between said upstream nozzle body segment and said downstream nozzle body segment such that said upstream melt channel, intermediate melt channel and downstream melt channel collectively define a nozzle channel in fluid communication with said manifold channel
• means for connecting said intermediate nozzle body segment with said downstream nozzle body segment, wherein said upstream and downstream nozzle body segments are heated and said intermediate nozzle body segment is substantially devoid of a nozzle heater;
• and
• a plurality of copper rods disposed longitudinally through said second nozzle body segment for conducting heat from said upstream and downstream nozzle body segments along the length of said intermediate nozzle body segment.

A nozzle for use in an injection molding apparatus having a manifold and a mold gate, said nozzle comprising:

• a nozzle body including
• a first nozzle body segment disposed adjacent said manifold having a first melt channel,
• a second nozzle body segment having a second melt channel, and
• a third nozzle body segment disposed adjacent said mold gate and having a third melt channel, said second nozzle body segment being disposed between said first nozzle body segment and said third nozzle body segment such that said first, second and third melt channels collectively define a nozzle melt channel;
• and
• means for connecting said second nozzle body segment and said third nozzle body segment such that said second nozzle body segment is not slidable relative to said third nozzle body segment, wherein said first and third nozzle body segments are heated and said second nozzle body segment is substantially devoid of a nozzle heater.

An injection molding apparatus having a mold gate, said apparatus comprising:

• a manifold having a manifold channel;
• and
• a nozzle having a nozzle body including a first nozzle body segment adjacent said manifold and having a first melt channel, a second nozzle body segment having a second melt channel, and a third nozzle body segment adjacent said mold gate and having a third melt channel, said second nozzle body segment disposed between said first nozzle body segment and said third nozzle body segment such that said first, second and third melt channels collectively define a nozzle melt channel,
• wherein said first and third nozzle body segments are heated and said second nozzle body segment does not have a heater in contact with it, and wherein said second nozzle body segment is connected to said third nozzle body segment and said first nozzle body segment such that a portion of said second nozzle body segment directly contacts said third nozzle body segment and said first nozzle body segment.

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a manifold having a manifold channel;
• and
• a nozzle having a nozzle body including an upstream nozzle body segment having an upstream melt channel, an intermediate nozzle body segment having an intermediate melt channel, and a downstream nozzle body segment having a downstream melt channel, said intermediate nozzle body segment disposed between said upstream nozzle body segment and said downstream nozzle body segment such that said upstream melt channel, said intermediate melt channel and said downstream melt channel collectively define a nozzle channel,
• wherein said first and third nozzle body segments are heated and said intermediate nozzle body segment is heated substantially passively, wherein said intermediate nozzle body segment is connected to said downstream nozzle body segment, and wherein an entire upper half of said downstream nozzle body segment is spaced from a mold plate.

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a manifold having a manifold channel;
• a nozzle having a nozzle body including an upstream nozzle body segment having an upstream melt channel, an intermediate nozzle body segment having an intermediate melt channel, and a downstream nozzle body segment having a downstream melt channel, said intermediate nozzle body segment disposed between said upstream nozzle body segment and said downstream nozzle body segment such that said upstream melt channel, intermediate melt channel and downstream melt channel collectively define a nozzle channel in fluid communication with said manifold channel
• means for connecting said intermediate nozzle body segment with said downstream nozzle body segment, wherein said upstream and downstream nozzle body segments are heated and said intermediate nozzle body segment is substantially devoid of a nozzle heater;
• a heater sleeve disposed around an exterior surface of said nozzle, said heater sleeve in contact with said upstream nozzle body segment and said downstream nozzle body segment and having a cut-out formed therein along substantially the length of said intermediate nozzle body segment;
• and
• a nozzle heater in contact with said heater sleeve.

An injection molding apparatus having a plurality of mold gates, said apparatus comprising:

• a manifold;
• and
• a plurality of nozzles disposed between said manifold and said mold gates, wherein at least one of the plurality of nozzles has a nozzle body including a first nozzle body segment adjacent said manifold, a second nozzle body segment, and a third nozzle body segment adjacent one of said mold gates, said second nozzle body segment disposed between said first nozzle body segment and said third nozzle body segment, and wherein at least two of said nozzles are of different lengths,
• wherein said first and third nozzle body segments of said at least one nozzle are heated and said second nozzle body segment does not have a heater in contact with it.

An injection molding apparatus comprising:

• a manifold having a manifold channel;
• a nozzle having a nozzle body including an upstream nozzle body segment having an upstream melt channel, an intermediate nozzle body segment having an intermediate melt channel, and a downstream nozzle body segment having a downstream melt channel, said intermediate nozzle body segment disposed between said upstream nozzle body segment and said downstream nozzle body segment such that said upstream melt channel, intermediate melt channel and downstream melt channel collectively define a nozzle channel in fluid communication with said manifold channel;
• and
• means for connecting said intermediate nozzle body segment with said downstream nozzle body segment, wherein said upstream and downstream nozzle body segments are heated and said intermediate nozzle body segment is substantially devoid of a nozzle heater, and wherein said intermediate nozzle body segment has a mass or volume that is at least ten percent of the overall nozzle body mass or volume.