Apparatus having an in-the-mold gas injection pin

Claim 1

An apparatus for use in gas-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized plastic material; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing the injection of the plastic material into said cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized gas; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, for allowing the injection of the pressurized gas into said cavity; a probe located in said second opening and reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity, a second end, and a first longitudinally extending bore which terminates in a port located adjacent said first end, said first bore being used to guide the gas into said cavity; and, a piston and cylinder construction for reciprocating said probe in relation to said cavity, said construction comprising a piston and a piston rod mounted for reciprocating movement in a cylinder, said probe being secured to an end of said piston rod, a second bore extending longitudinally through said piston rod and communicating with said first bore wherein said probe is connected to said means for supplying said pressurized gas so that said gas passes through said first and second bores of said probe when in said extended position.

Claim 2

An apparatus for use in gas-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized plastic material; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing the injection of the plastic material into said cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized gas; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, for allowing the injection of the pressurized gas into said cavity; a probe located in said second opening and reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity, a second end, and a first longitudinally extending bore which terminates in a port located adjacent said first end, said first bore being used to guide the gas into said cavity; and, a piston and cylinder construction for reciprocating said probe in relation to said cavity, said construction comprising a piston and a piston rod mounted for reciprocating movement in a cylinder, said probe being secured to an end of said piston rod, a second bore extending longitudinally through said piston rod and communicating with said first bore wherein said probe is connected to said means for supplying said pressurized gas so that said gas passes through said first and second bores of said probe when in said extended position.

Claim 16

An apparatus for producing a fluid-assisted injection molded product of a viscous material, the apparatus comprising: a mold space; a means for supplying a pressurized viscous material; a first passage opening into said mold space, for introducing the viscous material into said mold space; a second passage opening into said mold space, and spaced from said first passage, for introducing a pressurized non-viscous fluid into the viscous material in said mold space so that a fluid cavity is formed in the viscous material; a probe extending into said second passage and reciprocated therein, said probe comprising: a first end including a port, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore through which the non-viscous fluid is adapted to flow, said bore communicating with said port; a means for supplying the pressurized non-viscous fluid to said mold space through said longitudinally extending bore in said probe; a means for reciprocating said probe in said second passage wherein said means for reciprocating comprises: a cylinder having an end wall, a piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, a piston rod extending from at least one side of said piston out through said end wall of said cylinder, said probe being secured to said piston rod, and a means for securing said cylinder end wall to a mold member which helps define said mold space; and, a programmable means for controlling said means for supplying said non-viscous fluid and said means for reciprocating.

Claim 17

An apparatus for producing a fluid-assisted injection molded product of a viscous material, the apparatus comprising: a mold space; a means for supplying a pressurized viscous material; a first passage opening into said mold space, for introducing the viscous material into said mold space; a second passage opening into said mold space, and spaced from said first passage, for introducing a pressurized non-viscous fluid into the viscous material in said mold space so that a fluid cavity is formed in the viscous material; a probe extending into said second passage and reciprocated therein, said probe comprising: a first end including a port, a second end, and a longitudinally extending bore through which the non-viscous fluid is adapted to flow, said bore communicating with said port; a means for supplying the pressurized non-viscous fluid to said mold space through said longitudinally extending bore in said probe; a means for reciprocating said probe in said second passage wherein said means for reciprocating comprises: a cylinder having an end wall, a piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, a piston rod extending from at least one side of said piston out through said end wall of said cylinder, said probe being secured to said piston rod, and a means for securing said cylinder end wall to a mold member which helps define said mold space; and, a programmable means for controlling said means for supplying said non-viscous fluid and said means for reciprocating.

Claim 24

An apparatus for use in gas-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized plastic material; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing the injection of the plastic material into said cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized gas; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, for allowing the injection of the pressurized gas into said cavity; a probe located in said second opening and reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity, a second end, and a first longitudinally extending bore which terminates in a port located adjacent said first end, said bore being used to channel the gas into said cavity; a means for reciprocating said probe in relation to said cavity, wherein said means for reciprocating comprises: a cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, a piston rod extending from at least one side of said piston, wherein said probe is secured to said piston rod, a second bore extending longitudinally in said piston rod and communicating with said first bore, and a fastener for securing said cylinder to one of said mold members; and, a control means for controlling the operation of said means for reciprocating and said means for supplying the gas.

Claim 25

An apparatus for use in gas-assisted injection molding of plastic material so as to form an injection molded product, the apparatus comprising: a pair of mold members defining, when closed, a sealed cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized plastic material; a first opening provided in one of said mold members for allowing the injection of the plastic material into said cavity; a means for supplying a pressurized gas; a second opening provided in one of said mold members, for allowing the injection of the pressurized gas into said cavity; a probe located in said second opening and reciprocated therein from a retracted position to an extended position, said probe comprising: a first end, adapted to selectively extend into said cavity, a second end, and a first longitudinally extending bore which terminates in a port located adjacent said first end, said bore being used to channel the gas into said cavity; a means for reciprocating said probe in relation to said cavity, wherein said means for reciprocating comprises: a cylinder, a piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, a piston rod extending from at least one side of said piston, wherein said probe is secured to said piston rod, a second bore extending longitudinally in said piston rod and communicating with said first bore, and a fastener for securing said cylinder to one of said mold members; and, a control means for controlling the operation of said means for reciprocating and said means for supplying the gas.