Hot runner system

A method of simultaneously molding a plurality of parts from two or more mold cavities, the method comprising injecting an injection fluid into the two or more mold cavities in a hot runner system comprised of:

• an injection molding manifold having an inlet opening for receipt of the injection fluid,
• a plurality of nozzles communicating with one or more flow channels in the manifold, each nozzle having a valve pin for controlling the flow of melt from the nozzles to one or more mold cavities,
• a support plate or a support frame that supports the plurality of valve pins or adjusters for the valve pins, said support plate or support frame being movable along a first direction in order to simultaneously move the valve pins or adjusters relative to the one or more mold cavities,
• an actuator for displacing the support plate or support frame and for generating a valve pin closing force along a first direction toward the one or more mold cavities said actuator comprising a torque generating structure having an electrical component, a rotary mechanism drivable by the electrical component and a thrust arm directly coupled to the rotary mechanism and movable along a second direction,
• a sliding mechanism arranged external of the actuator coupled to the thrust arm of the actuator, wherein the sliding mechanism is movable along the second direction and interconnected to a stationary plate or a stationary frame, wherein the sliding mechanism comprises rigid components in order to transmit the closing force along the second direction,
• an engaging or connecting mechanism directly interconnected to the sliding mechanism and comprising at least two separate engaging or connecting structures,
• a plurality of rotary mechanisms each comprising at least one rotary element supported on the stationary plate or stationary frame, wherein the rotary elements are interconnected to at least two engaging or connecting structures to convert the linear movement of the sliding mechanism into a plurality of simultaneous rotary movements in order to direct the closing force along the first direction,
• a reciprocating mechanism fixed to the support plate or support frame, wherein the reciprocating mechanism is directly coupled to the rotary elements in order to effect movement of the support plate or support frame along the first direction such that a force for simultaneous movement of the valve pins or adjusters along the first direction by way of the support plate or the support frame can be generated by the actuator and transmitted by the rigid components of the sliding mechanism via a translational movement coupled with rotation to distribute the closing force to the plurality of rotary elements which have rotational axes generally coaxial with an axis of the valve pins or adjusters.