Safety connector for hot runner, having latch destructively interlocking valve stem with actuation plate

An injection molding apparatus, comprising:

• an actuator;
• a valve pin plate connected to and translatable by the actuator;
• a plurality of valve pins, each valve pin associated with a mold gate of a mold cavity;
• and
• a plurality of breakable mechanical connections, each breakable mechanical connection securing a respective valve pin to the valve pin plate such that the valve pin plate simultaneously moves the valve pins between a closed position in which the valve pins are seated in their respective mold gates and an open position in which the valve pins are unseated from their respective mold gates;
• wherein each breakable mechanical connection is capable of being independently broken to detach the respective valve pin from the valve pin plate thereby preventing the valve pin plate from moving the respective valve pin.

A method of operating an injection molding apparatus, comprising:

• providing a plurality of breakable mechanical connections connecting valve pins to a valve pin plate, wherein each valve pin is associated with a respective mold gate;
• actuating the valve pin plate to move the valve pins between open positions where a melt stream of moldable material flows through the associated mold gates and closed positions where the melt stream is prevented from flowing through the associated mold gates;
• breaking one of the breakable mechanical connections to disconnect one of the valve pins from the valve pin plate;
• and
• continuing to actuate the valve pin plate to move the valve pins that remain connected to the valve pin plate.

A molding system, comprising:

• a plate actuator;
• an actuation plate connected to and translatable by the plate actuator;
• a plurality of valve stems, each valve stem associated with a mold gate of a mold cavity;
• and
• a plurality of breakable mechanical connections, each breakable mechanical connection coupling a respective valve stem to the actuation plate such that the actuation plate simultaneously moves the valve stems between a closed position in which the valve stems are seated in their respective mold gates and an open position in which the valve stems are unseated from their respective mold gates;
• wherein each breakable mechanical connection is capable of being independently broken to uncouple the respective valve stem from the actuation plate thereby preventing the valve actuation plate from moving the respective valve stem.

A method of operating a molding system, comprising:

• providing a plurality of breakable mechanical connections coupling valve stems to an actuation plate, wherein each valve stem is associated with a respective mold gate;
• actuating the actuation plate to move the valve stems between open positions where molding material flows through the associated mold gates and closed positions where molding material is prevented from flowing through the associated mold gates;
• breaking one of the breakable mechanical connections to uncouple one of the valve stems from the actuation plate;
• and
• continuing to actuate the actuation plate to move the valve stems that remain coupled to the actuation plate.