Injection molding apparatus with active valve pin disengagement

A hot runner injection molding apparatus comprising:

• an injection manifold having an inlet melt channel and a plurality of output melt channels;
• a plurality of hot runner nozzles associated with the manifold output melt channels;
• a movable frame positioned proximate the manifold that can be displaced between at least two positions relative to a plurality of mold cavities, each cavity having a mold gate;
• a plurality of valve pins associated with the hot runner nozzles, wherein each valve pin is couplable to the movable frame by a decouplable connector, wherein, when coupled to the movable frame the valve pins are displaceable by the movable frame between at least two positions relative to the mold gates to control the amount of a molten material injected into each mold cavity through the manifold and the hot runner nozzles;
• a plurality of disengagement devices associated with the valve pins, wherein each disengaging device is operable via an air piston to decouple an associated one of the valve pins from the movable frame and
• a control system that is operable to control the operation of the disengagement devices.

A hot runner injection molding apparatus comprising:

• an injection manifold having an inlet melt channel and a plurality of output melt channels;
• a plurality of hot runner nozzles associated with the manifold output melt channels;
• a movable frame positioned proximate the manifold that can be displaced between at least two positions relative to a plurality of mold cavities, each cavity having a mold gate;
• a plurality of valve pins associated with the hot runner nozzles, wherein each valve pin is couplable to the movable frame by a decouplable connector, wherein, when coupled to the movable frame the valve pins are displaceable by the movable frame between at least two positions relative to the mold gates to control the amount of a molten material injected into each mold cavity through the manifold and the hot runner nozzles;
• a plurality of disengagement devices associated with the valve pins, wherein each disengaging device is operable to decouple an associated one of the valve pins from the movable frame by a pushing the valve pin towards the mold gate, and
• a control system that is operable to control the operation of the disengagement devices.