Injection molding machine with purge shield

An injection molding machine comprising:

• a fixed platen to which a mold is fixedly mounted;
• an injection unit having a nozzle from which a molten resin is injected into the mold;
• and
• a purge shield mounted to the fixed platen for preventing the molten resin from scattering as the molten resin is purged from the nozzle,
• wherein the purge shield includes a front plate attached to the fixed platen, a top plate extending horizontally from an upper edge of the front plate toward the injection unit, and left and right side plates extending vertically downward from left and right side edges, respectively, of the top plate,
• wherein the top plate includes a fixed plate section fixedly connected to the front plate and a movable plate section pivotally connected by a first hinge to the fixed plate section for undergoing pivotal movement in a vertical direction about the first hinge,
• wherein one of the left side plate and the right side plate is pivotally connected by a second hinge to the movable plate section for undergoing pivotal movement in the vertical direction about the second hinge, the one side plate constituting a lifting plate,
• wherein the front plate has a vertical guide groove formed therein and a pin slidably fitted in the guide groove, the pin being connected to a lower end portion of the lifting plate, and
• wherein the first hinge possesses a frictional resistance force set to allow the lifting plate to remain stationary at an arbitrary height.