초록 ▼

A mold gate insert includes a mold gate insert body, which is comprised of a material having a high thermal conductivity, and a thermal insulation element, which is nested in the mold gate insert body. The thermal insulation element is provided to abut a nozzle seal and align the nozzle with a mold

A mold gate insert includes a mold gate insert body, which is comprised of a material having a high thermal conductivity, and a thermal insulation element, which is nested in the mold gate insert body. The thermal insulation element is provided to abut a nozzle seal and align the nozzle with a mold gate. The amount of heat transferred from the nozzle to the mold gate insert is reduced by the thermal insulation element.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure; a nozzle having a nozzle tip and a nozzle channel, the nozzle channel is in communication with the manifold channel for receiving t

What is claimed is: 1. An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure; a nozzle having a nozzle tip and a nozzle channel, the nozzle channel is in communication with the manifold channel for receiving the melt stream from the manifold channel, wherein the nozzle is positioned within a nozzle bore of a mold plate such that an insulation air space surrounds the nozzle; a seal coupled to the nozzle, the seal having an outer surface; and a mold gate insert surrounding the nozzle tip, the mold gate insert including a mold gate to allow melt to flow from the nozzle channel into a mold cavity, a flange extending from an inner surface of the mold gate insert, a surface of the flange being in abutment with the outer surface of the seal, and a groove provided in the mold gate insert, the groove being located adjacent the flange, wherein the groove provides a thermally insulative barrier between the nozzle tip and a remainder of the mold gate insert by decreasing the amount of heat that is transferred through the flange of the mold gate insert. 2. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the nozzle tip and the seal are integral with the nozzle. 3. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein an insulating material is located in the groove. 4. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulating material is selected from the group consisting of: high performance polyimide, ceramic, PEEK and titanium. 5. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove is continuous and concentric with an axis of the mold gate. 6. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises a series of segments that are spaced in a circular path. 7. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove comprises a series of segments that are spaced in a path which zig zags. 8. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove has a generally rectangular profile. 9. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove is offset from an axis of the mold gate. 10. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the groove is radially spaced from the seal. 11. The injection molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mold gate insert includes an insulation chamber surrounding the nozzle tip that extends into the groove. 12. The injection molding apparatus of claim 11, wherein the insulation chamber of the mold gate insert continues from the insulative air space surrounding the nozzle. 13. An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure; a nozzle having a nozzle tip and a nozzle channel, the nozzle channel being in communication with the manifold channel for receiving the melt stream from the manifold channel; a seal coupled to the nozzle, the seal having an outer surface, at least a portion of the outer surface of said seal contacting an inner surface of said nozzle; and a mold gate insert surrounding the nozzle tip, the mold gate insert including a mold gate provided in the mold gate insert to allow melt to flow from the nozzle channel into a mold cavity, an inner surface for abutting at least a portion of the outer surface of the seal, and a pocket provided in the mold gate insert, wherein the pocket provides a thermally insulative barrier between the nozzle tip and a remainder of the mold gate insert by decreasing the amount of heat that is transferred through the seal. 14. The injection molding apparatus of claim 13, wherein an insulating material is located in the pocket. 15. The injection molding apparatus of claim 14, wherein the insulating material is selected from the group consisting of: high performance polyimide, ceramic, PEEK and titanium. 16. The mold gate insert of claim 14, wherein the insulating material is comprised of a different material than the melt stream. 17. The injection molding apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pocket is substantially closed by the seal. 18. The injection molding apparatus of claim 13, wherein the pocket is radially spaced from the seal. 19. An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold having a manifold channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material under pressure; an injection nozzle having a nozzle body and a nozzle tip, the nozzle tip being surrounded by a nozzle seal, the nozzle seal including an outer surface with at least a portion of the outer surface contacting an inner surface of the nozzle body, the injection nozzle having a nozzle channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material from the manifold channel; a mold gate insert having a thermal insulation element nested in a mold gate insert body, wherein the mold gate insert has a nozzle seal alignment surface for abutting the outer surface of the nozzle seal and the thermal insulation element is located between the mold gate insert body and the nozzle seal to provide insulation between the mold gate insert body and the nozzle seal; and a mold gate provided in the mold gate insert to allow melt to flow from the nozzle channel into a mold cavity. 20. The injection molding apparatus of claim 19, wherein the thermal insulation element is a sleeve and an inner surface of the sleeve is the nozzle alignment surface. 21. The injection molding apparatus of claim 19, wherein a material of the thermal insulation element is selected from the group consisting of: high performance polyimide, ceramic, PEEK and titanium. 22. The injection molding apparatus of claim 19, wherein the thermal insulation element is a groove and the groove is radially spaced from the nozzle seal. 23. The injection molding apparatus of claim 19, wherein the thermal insulation element is a groove and an inner surface of the groove is the nozzle alignment surface.