Patent ID: 7955071
Filing Date: 2011-06-07
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. A nozzle assembly for selectably conveying material in a flowable condition to a cavity of a mold assembly, the nozzle assembly comprising: a) a nozzle body comprising a material inlet and a nozzle passage through the nozzle body in fluid communication with the nozzle inlet; b) a nozzle tip removably connected to the nozzle body, the nozzle tip comprising a nozzle tip passage through the nozzle tip and ending at a tip outlet, the nozzle tip passage in fluid communication with the nozzle passage when the nozzle tip is connected with the nozzle body and the nozzle tip outlet being in fluid communication with a mold cavity when the nozzle assembly is installed in a mold assembly; c) a valve pin member extending through the nozzle passage and nozzle tip passage and comprising a tip end portion adapted to form a seal with a valve seat so as to prevent the passage of material into the mold cavity, the valve pin member being translatable in the nozzle body so that the tip end selectably forms a seal with the valve seat; and d) a guide member partially received within the nozzle tip and partially received within the nozzle body, the guide member having an opening therethrough effective to guide the valve pin member within the nozzle body and guide member passages in fluid communication with the nozzle passage and the nozzle tip passage when the nozzle tip is connected with the nozzle body, the exterior of the guide member comprising at least one alignment surface so that with the tip installed in the nozzle body an alignment surface of the guide member is in contact with an interior aligning surface of the nozzle tip and so that an alignment surface of the guide member is in contact with an interior aligning surface of the nozzle body whereby the guide member is aligned relative to the nozzle body and the nozzle tip is aligned relative to the guide member whereby the nozzle tip is aligned relative to the nozzle body.