Patent ID: 8297836
Filing Date: 2012-10-30
Classification: B29C

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for measuring the temperature of a nozzle having fluid material injected from an injection molding machine through a flow channel in a heated manifold that is coupled to a nozzle that is coupled to the cavity of a mold, the apparatus comprising: a heating device comprising a controllably heatable thermally conductive heating element; the nozzle comprising a tube of thermally conductive material having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a central flow bore having an axis extending from an upstream end to a downstream end of the flow bore, the flow bore being coupled to the flow channel of the manifold and the cavity of the mold; the heating element of the heating device being mounted on or around the outer surface of the tube of the nozzle such that heat is transferable between the heating element and the outer surface of the thermally conductive nozzle, the heating element extending along the axis of the flow bore of the nozzle to an end point of the heating element; a temperature monitor comprising a temperature sensor mounted on or around the nozzle at a selected position along the axis of the bore of the nozzle; a thermal insulator disposed along the axis of the nozzle separating the end point of the heating element and the temperature sensor; the heating element and the temperature sensor are both disposed within an elongated tube comprising a thin-walled sheath, an interior bore and having a length, the thin-walled sheath being comprised of a thermally conductive material, the elongated tube being mounted on or around the nozzle, the heating element and wires connected to the temperature sensor extending through the interior bore and separately terminating at first and second distal positions along the length of the elongated tube such that the end point of the heating element and the temperature sensor are separated axially along the axis of the bore of the nozzle by a distance of at least about 0.125 inches.