Patent ID: 6183239
Filing Date: 2001-02-06
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
An injection molding apparatus comprising a valve gate nozzle for heating and controlling the flow of a melt stream through a valve gate to a mold cavity, said nozzle having a nozzle body, a valve pin axially movable within said body between valve gate closing and opening positions, an actuator for moving said valve pin between said opening and closing positions during each molding cycle of operation, said actuator including a pinion fixed to said valve pin, a rack disposed for lateral movement transverse to said pinion, said rack being engageable with said pinion for rotating said pinion to simultaneously axially advance and retract said pinion and valve pin relative to said rack in response to reciprocating lateral movement of said rack, and a drive for laterally reciprocating said rack during each molding cycle of operation.