Reduced Size Runner for An Injection Mold System

Abstract

A runner system for a multi-cavity injection molding system, the runner system having runners of reduced size.

1 . A runner system for an injection molding machine, the runner system comprising a plurality of runner branches including a plurality of final runner branches, with each of the final runner branches connecting into one of one or more mold cavities of the injection molding machine, wherein:
 at least one mold cavity, of the one or more mold cavities, is configured to mold a part, which has a particular gate thickness, which is a wall thickness of the part; and   at least one final runner branch, of the final runner branches connecting into the at least one mold cavity, has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness.   
     
     
         2 . The runner system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular nominal wall thickness; and   the at least one final runner branch has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular nominal wall thickness.   
     
     
         3 . The runner system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a length to thickness ratio that is greater than 100. 
     
     
         4 . The runner system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a particular average thickness that is less than about 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The runner system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular average wall thickness; and   the at least one final runner branch has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular average wall thickness.   
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The runner system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The runner system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular nominal wall thickness; and   each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular nominal wall thickness.   
     
     
         9 . The runner system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a length to thickness ratio that is greater than 100. 
     
     
         10 . The runner system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a particular average thickness that is less than about 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         11 . The runner system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the at least one mold cavity is configured to mold the part, which has a substantially constant thickness and a particular average wall thickness; and   each of the final runner branches has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular average wall thickness.   
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The runner system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mold cavity is included in a plurality of mold cavities for the injection molding machine;   at least one of the final runner branches connects into each of the mold cavities;   each of the mold cavities is configured to mold a part, which has a particular gate thickness, which is a wall thickness of the part; and   for each of the mold cavities, the at least one final runner branch that connects into that mold cavity has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity.   
     
     
         14 . The runner system of  claim 13 , wherein each of the mold cavities is configured to mold the part, which has a length to thickness ratio that is greater than 100. 
     
     
         15 . The runner system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the mold cavities is configured to mold the part, which has an average thickness that is less than about 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . The runner system of  claim 13 , wherein for each of the mold cavities, each of the final runner branches that connects into that mold cavity has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The runner system of  claim 17 , wherein for all mold cavities for the injection molding machine, each final runner branch that connects into one of those mold cavities has a hydraulic diameter that is 0.5-1.5 times the particular gate thickness for that mold cavity. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled)