Injection molding multiple nozzle valve gating system

Claim 1

In a multi-cavity hot runner injection molding system having a plurality of heated nozzles fixed to a common manifold with a hot runner passage which extends to convey pressurized melt from a molding machine through the manifold and nozzles to a plurality of gates in a cooled cavity plate, the melt passage branching in the manifold from a common inlet to a plurality of outlets, each nozzle having an outer surface and being received in a well with an inner surface in a cavity plate with a space between the outer surface of the nozzle and the inner surface of the well, each nozzle having a rear end fixed to the manifold and a forward end portion with a conical surface leading to a tip which is in alignment with the respective gate, leading to a cavity the improvement wherein: (a) each nozzle has a melt bore which extends from an inlet at the rear end to at least one outlet on the conical surface of the forward end portion to form part of the hot runner passage, the inlet at the rear end being in alignment with one of the outlets from the manifold, (b) the manifold and the nozzles are mounted for reciprocal motion according to a predetermined cycle between a closed position in which the tip of each nozzle is seated in a respective gate and a retracted open position, (c) actuating means are provided to drive the manifold and the nozzles from the open position to the closed position, and (d) each nozzle has a circumferential sealing and locating flange which extends outwardly to bridge the space between the outer surface of the nozzle and the inner surface of the well to form a melt receiving space around the forward end portion of the nozzle.