An adaptable nozzle tip

Abstract

A nozzle for use in a hotrunner apparatus, the nozzle comprising: a body defining a nozzle channel comprising a downstream end, the nozzle channel for conveying a molten material; a tip; a sleeve; and a retainer, all coupled to the downstream end; the tip slideably received and axially slideable in the sleeve, the tip defining a tip channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, the tip channel comprising an opening near a downstream end of the tip for dispensing the molten material from the nozzle, the sleeve slideably received in the retainer, and the retainer coupling the tip and the sleeve to the body.

Description

An Adaptable Nozzle TipFIELD

[0001] The invention relates generally to a nozzle tip for injection molding nozzles, and in particular, to an adaptable nozzle tip for injection molding nozzles.BACKGROUND

[0002] In some injection molding apparatuses, a nozzle may use hot tip gating to close the gate. Hot tip gating is a method of opening and closing a gate by controlling the temperature of the gate. Valve pin gating closes the gate by using a valve pin to block the gate. Nozzles using hot tip gating lacks valve pins. Hot tip gating closes the gate by solidifying the molten material at the gate to form a plug to close the gate. The solidifying of the molten material at the gate can be effected by lowering the temperature of the gate. For hot tip gating, axially locating the downstream end of the tip relative to the gate can be desirable.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0003] An aspect of the present application provides a nozzle for use in a hotrunner apparatus, the nozzle comprising: a body defining a nozzle channel comprising a downstream end, the nozzle channel for conveying a molten material; a tip; a sleeve; and a retainer, all coupled to the downstream end; the tip slideably received and axially slideable in the sleeve, the tip defining a tip channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, the tip channel comprising an opening near a downstream end of the tip for dispensing the molten material from the nozzle, the sleeve slideably received in the retainer, and the retainer coupling the tip and the sleeve to the body.

[0004] The nozzle can be hot tip gated lacking a valve pin to regulate the molten material dispensed from the nozzle.

[0005] The tip can comprise a flange comprising a surface facing upstream away from the retainer, the nozzle channel comprising a shoulder partially defining an enlarged bore housing the flange, the surface and the shoulder defining a gap therebetween.

[0006] The tip can comprise an another surface distal from the surface for engaging an upstream end of the sleeve.

[0007] The flange can be slideably received and axially slideable in the nozzle channel.

[0008] The flange can comprise the another surface.

[0009] The retainer can comprise an upstream portion in sliding fit with and surrounding the flange.

[0010] The sleeve can comprise a downstream end axially extendable beyond a downstream end of the retainer, the downstream end of the sleeve for seating against a surface of a gate structure to form a face seal therebetween.

[0011] The sleeve can comprise a downstream end axially extendable beyond a downstream end of the retainer, the downstream end of the sleeve for seating against a surface of a gate structure to form a face seal therebetween.

[0012] Another aspect of the present application provides a hotrunner apparatus comprising: a nozzle comprising: a body defining a nozzle channel comprising a downstream end, the nozzle channel for conveying a molten material; a tip; a sleeve; and a retainer, all coupled to the downstream end; the tip slideably received and axially slideable in the sleeve, the tip defining a tip channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, the tip channel comprising an opening near a downstream end of the tip for dispensing the molten material from the nozzle, the sleeve slideably received in the retainer, and the retainer coupling the tip and the sleeve to the body; and a manifold defining a manifold channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings are not to scale.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a sectioned view of a hotrunner system according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a sectioned view of a nozzle of FIG. 1; and

[0016] FIG. 3 is a sectioned view of a portion of a nozzle according to another embodiment of the present application.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Specific embodiments of the present application are now described with reference to the figures. The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the concepts and uses of the concepts. Furthermore, there is no intention to be restricted by any expressed or implied theory in the present application. In the description, “downstream” is used with reference to the direction of the molten material flow from an injector to a mold, and also with reference to the order of components, or features thereof, through which the molten material flows from the injector to the mold, whereas “upstream” is used with reference to the opposite direction. Depending on context, upstream and downstream can be used as relative or absolute terms.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a hotrunner apparatus for injecting a molten material (e.g., plastic) (not shown) is generally indicated by 10. Hotrunner apparatus 10 comprises a manifold 15, at least one nozzle 20, and at least one plate 25. Manifold 15 comprises a network of channels 30 to fluidly couple nozzle 20 to a molten material source (not shown).

[0019] Referring to FIG. 2, nozzle 20 comprises a body 35, and a nozzle tip assembly 40. Nozzle body 35 defines a nozzle channel 45 comprising a downstream end 50, nozzle channel 45 is for conveying a molten material to a mold cavity 55 via a gate 60 (see FIG. 1). Nozzle 20 is hot tip gated, nozzle 20 lacks a valve pin to regulate the flow of the molten material dispensed into mold cavity 55. Molten material is prevented from entering mold cavity 55 via solidifying of the molten material at gate 60 thereby creating a plug (not shown) at gate 60. The plug may be created by lowering the temperature of gate 60. A plugged gate 60 may be reopened by forcing the plug into cavity 55 via the subsequent injection of molten material into mold cavity 55 to mold the subsequent article.

[0020] Nozzle tip assembly 40 comprises a tip 65; a sleeve 70; and a retainer 75, all coupled to downstream end 50. Tip 65 is slideably received and axially slideable in sleeve 70. Tip 65 defines a tip channel 80 which is in fluid communication with nozzle channel 45. Tip channel 80 comprises at least one opening 85 near a downstream end 90 of tip 65 for dispensing a molten material from nozzle 20. Sleeve 70 is slideably received in retainer 75. Retainer 75 couples tip 65 and sleeve 70 to body 35. (In the illustrated embodiments, retainer 75 is threadably coupled to body 35 via a threaded engagement 92, see FIG. 3.)

[0021] Tip 65 may comprise a flange 95 comprising a surface 100 facing upstream away from retainer 75. Tip 65 may comprise an upstream portion 97 extending upstream from flange 95 and received in channel 45 in a sliding fit (see FIG. 2). Tip 65 is in a sliding fit with sleeve 70. Nozzle channel 45 comprising a shoulder 105 partially defining an enlarged bore 110 housing flange 95. Surface 100 and shoulder 105 defines a gap 115 therebetween. In some embodiments, tip 65 comprise a surface 120 that is distal from surface 100 for engaging an upstream end 125 of sleeve 70 (see FIG. 3). Sleeve 70 may comprise a flange 127 at upstream end 125 (see FIG. 3). In some embodiments, flange 95 is slideably received and axially slideable in nozzle channel 45 (see FIG. 2). In some embodiments, tip 65 comprises a surface 128 distal from surface 100 for engaging upstream end 125 of sleeve 70 (see FIG. 2). In some embodiments, retainer 75 comprises an upstream portion 130 that is in sliding fit with and surrounding flange 95 (see FIG. 3). Upstream portion 130 may maintain a face seal 132 with shoulder 105. Retainer 75 may form a face seal 133 with downstream end 50 of body 35.

[0022] Referring to FIG. 2, sleeve 70 comprises a downstream end 135 that is axially extendable beyond a downstream end 140 of the retainer. Downstream end 135 of the sleeve may seat against a surface 145 of a gate structure 150 to form a face seal 155 between surface 145 and downstream end 135. (Gate structure 150 may be a gate insert or other suitable structures.) In the illustrated embodiments, retainer 75 may maintain a circumferential engagement 157 with gate structure 150.

[0023] In operation, since tip 65 is configured to be slideable in body 35 and sleeve 70 is slideably in retainer 75, molten material injected through tip assembly 40 may urge tip 65 downstream towards gate 60 and flange 95 of tip 65 may engage upstream end 125 of sleeve 70 urging sleeve 70 downstream towards gate 60 forming face seal 155.

[0024] While various embodiments according to the present application have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of illustration and example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons of relevant ordinary skill in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the scope of the present application. It will also be understood that each feature of each embodiment discussed herein, may be used in combination with the features of any other embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:1.A nozzle for use in a hotrunner apparatus, the nozzle comprising: a body defining a nozzle channel comprising a downstream end, the nozzle channel for conveying a molten material; a tip; a sleeve; and a retainer, all coupled to the downstream end; the tip slideably received and axially slideable in the sleeve, the tip defining a tip channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, the tip channel comprising an opening near a downstream end of the tip for dispensing the molten material from the nozzle, the sleeve slideably received in the retainer, and the retainer coupling the tip and the sleeve to the body.

2. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein the nozzle is hot tip gated lacking a valve pin to regulate the molten material dispensed from the nozzle.

3. The nozzle of claim 2 wherein the tip comprises a flange comprising a surface facing upstream away from the retainer, the nozzle channel comprising a shoulder partially defining an enlarged bore housing the flange, the surface and the shoulder defining a gap therebetween.

4. The nozzle of claim 3 wherein the tip comprises an another surface distal from the surface for engaging an upstream end of the sleeve.

5. The nozzle of claim 4 wherein the flange is slideably received and axially slideable in the nozzle channel.

6. The nozzle of claim 5 wherein the flange comprises the another surface.

7. The nozzle of claim 4 wherein the retainer comprises an upstream portion in sliding fit with and surrounding the flange.

8. The nozzle of claim 7, wherein the sleeve comprises a downstream end axially extendable beyond a downstream end of the retainer, the downstream end of the sleeve for seating against a surface of a gate structure to form a face seal therebetween.

9. The nozzle of claim 6, wherein the sleeve comprising a downstream end axially extendable beyond a downstream end of the retainer, the downstream end of the sleeve for seating against a surface of a gate structure to form a face seal therebetween.

10. A hotrunner apparatus comprising: a nozzle comprising: a body defining a nozzle channel comprising a downstream end, the nozzle channel for conveying a molten material; a tip; a sleeve; and a retainer, all coupled to the downstream end; the tip slideably received and axially slideable in the sleeve, the tip defining a tip channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel, the tip channel comprising an opening near a downstream end of the tip for dispensing the molten material from the nozzle, the sleeve slideably received in the retainer, and the retainer coupling the tip and the sleeve to the body; and a manifold defining a manifold channel in fluid communication with the nozzle channel.

11. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 10, wherein the nozzle is hot tip gated lacking a valve pin to regulate the molten material dispensed from the nozzle.

12. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tip comprises an another surface distal from the surface for engaging an upstream end of the sleeve.

13. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flange is slideably received andaxially slideable in the channel.

14. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 12, wherein the flange comprises the another surface.

15. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 11, wherein the retainer comprises an upstream portion in sliding fit with and surrounding the flange.

16. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 14, wherein the sleeve comprising a downstream end axially extendable beyond a downstream end of the retainer, the downstream end of the sleeve for seating against a surface of a gate structure to form a face seal therebetween.

17. The hotrunner apparatus of claim 13, wherein the sleeve comprising a downstream end axially extendable beyond a downstream end of the retainer, the downstream end of the sleeve for seating against a surface of a gate structure to form a face seal therebetween.

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