Nozzle for an Injection Molding Apparatus

Abstract

A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus is provided. The injection molding apparatus has a mold component that defines a mold cavity and a gate into the mold cavity. The nozzle includes a nozzle body, a heater, a tip, a tip retainer, and a nozzle seal piece. The nozzle body defines a nozzle body melt passage therethrough that is adapted to receive melt from a melt source. The heater is thermally connected to the nozzle body for heating melt in the nozzle body. The tip defines a tip melt passage therethrough that is downstream from the nozzle body melt passage, and that is adapted to be upstream from the gate. The tip retainer is removably connected with respect to the nozzle body. The nozzle seal piece is connected with respect to the nozzle body. The material of nozzle seal piece has a thermal conductivity that is less than at least one of the thermal conductivity of the material of the tip and the thermal conductivity of the material of the tip retainer.

1 . A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus, the injection molding apparatus having a mold component defining a mold gate and a mold cavity communicating with the mold gate, the nozzle comprising:
 a nozzle body, the nozzle body defining a nozzle body melt passage therethrough, wherein the nozzle body melt passage is downstream from and in fluid communication with a melt source, and the nozzle body melt passage is upstream from and in fluid communication with the mold gate into the mold cavity;   a tip defining a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is downstream from and in fluid communication with the nozzle body melt passage, and the tip melt passage is adapted to be upstream from and in fluid communication with the mold gate;   a tip retainer that is connected to the nozzle body;   wherein the tip is made from a material which is more wear resistant then the tip retainer; and   a nozzle seal piece located between the mold component and the tip retainer, wherein the material of the nozzle seal piece has a thermal conductivity that is less than the thermal conductivity of the material of the tip retainer.