Multi-ply molding hot-runner mold

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-ply molding hot-runner mold including a plurality of nozzle bodies (10) for injecting a plurality of different resin materials to form a multi-ply product. The hot-runner mold comprise's a plurality of hot-runner blocks (30,40) each having a runner (32,42) for conducting each resin material into the corresponding nozzle body (10). The hot-runner blocks (30,40) are stacked one above another through a thermal insulation layer (50) therebetween. Each of the hot-runner blocks (30,40) includes temperature control means for maintaining the hot-runner block at its own inherent molding temperature. Connecting blocks (52) for conducting the resin material from the lower block (40) to the upper block (30) are provided between each adjacent hot-runner blocks. Between each adjacent hot-runner blocks, there are provided only holding members for holding the blocks together and the connecting blocks except thermal insulation layers therebetween.

Description: The present invention relates to a multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to the precharacterizing features of claim 1. Such a multi-ply molding hot-runner mold is known from the EP-A-0 291 640. This known mold comprises two hot-runner blocks being separated by a thermal insulation layer. The temperature of the insulation layer is influenced by the different temperatures of the hot-runner blocks. Therefore, an accurate temperature control of the material flow is impeded. Exemplifying a stretch-blow molded bottle, it is required to have barrier properties against oxygen and carbon dioxide, a heat resistance and others. To meet these requirements, the preform of the bottle to be blow molded may be injection molded into a three-layered structure which includes inner and outer layers of structural resin material such as polyethylene terephthalate and an intermediate layer interposed therebetween and made of another resin material which satisfies the aforementioned requirements. Many hot-runner molds used for injection molding such a multi-ply product are known as from Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 63-37222, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-107525, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-221024, Japanese Patent Laid Open No. Sho 63-239022 and so on. When a product having a multi-ply cross section is to be injection molded from a combination of different resin materials, one encounters a difficulty that these resin materials have their inherent conditions of molding temperatures, respectively. Particularly, the polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter called "PET" simply) has its condition of molding temperature higher about 50 degrees C than that of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter called "EV-OH" simply) which is effective as barrier material. At temperatures higher than the molding temperature of EV-OH, it will easily be degraded or pyrolytically decomposed to damage various properties thereof. This will very impede the molding process. It is thus required to control runners for conducting the respective different resin materials to the corresponding injection ports within the respective inherent conditions of molding temperature. Where a single hot-runner mold includes two hot-runners for conducting two different resin materials as described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. Sho 63-37222, it is impossible to control the respective hot-runners at the respective molding temperatures which are different in temperature from each other over about 50 degrees C. On the other hand, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. Sho 63-107525 and 63-239022 disclose a hot-runner mold which comprises different pieces for the respective different resin materials and spacer blocks interposed and stacked between the mold pieces through the entire interface areas thereof. Although the material of the spacer blocks is not understood from these Japanese Patent Laid-Opens, it is reasonable to believe that these spacer blocks are made of metal since they must form any runner between the upper and lower blocks. In view of the thermal properties thus, such a structure will not have any difference from the hot-runner mold comprising two runners for the different resin materials formed therein. Therefore, even if the hot-runner mold pieces are independently controlled in temperature, a heat exchange will be carried out between the spacer blocks due to the inter-solid heat transfer. It is thus impossible that the molding temperatures inherent in the respective resin materials are accurately controlled in the respective spacer blocks. It is believed that two hot-runner mold pieces are formed because the grooving can be easily performed in the respective pieces for forming the runners. However, the prior art does not disclose any mold structure which can be easily be controlled with respect to molding temperatures inherent in different resin materials which are to be injection molded into a preform having a multi-ply cross section. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to the precharacterizing features, in which the temperatures of the resin materials even when passed through the layer between the respective hot runner blocks can be accurately controlled. This object is solved by a multi-ply molding hot-runner mold of the related art with the characterizing features of claim 1. To this end, it is provided a multi-ply molding hot-runner mold comprising a nozzle body including a plurality of passages for resin materials, said nozzle body being adapted to merge the flows of resin materials near the exit port thereof; a plurality of hot-runner blocks stacked one above another through thermal insulation layers, each of said hot-runner blocks including a hot runner formed therein for conducting a resin material from a sprue into the corresponding resin passage in said nozzle body; a connection block partially disposed between each adjacent hot-runner blocks, said connection block including a runner formed therein for conducting the resin material from the lower hot-runner block to the upper hot-runner block; and a plurality of temperature control means each capable of independently controlling the temperature of each of said hot-runner blocks so as to adapt the hot-runner block for the molding temperature inherent in the respective one of said resin materials. In accordance with the present invention, each of the hot-runner blocks has a single runner for conducting a resin material from a sprue to the corresponding resin passage in the nozzle body. Such hot-runner blocks are so arranged that each of them will be used for the respective one of different resin material to be molded. Each of the hot-runner blocks can be independently controlled to adapt itself for the molding temperature inherent in the corresponding resin material. Further, the hot-runner blocks are stacked one above another through thermal insulation layers except the region in which the connection blocks are located. Therefore, the temperature control for one hot-runner block will not very influence that for the other hot-runner blocks. This means that a resin material passed through or stayed in a hot-runner block can be maintained at its own inherent molding temperature independently by the exclusive temperature control means. Since the temperature of each of the blocks can be accurately controlled in accordance with the present invention, the mold can be easily set at appropriate molding temperatures even if the resin materials being used are to be replaced by other different resin materials. After the resin materials have been controlled with respect to their inherent molding temperatures, they will be introduced into the respective passages in the nozzle body and merged together near the exit port of the nozzle body immediately before the merged resin materials are injected into a cavity mold. The thermal insulation layer between the adjacent hot-runner blocks may be provided only by forming an air gap therebetween. The thermal insulation layer may be also formed by any other suitable insulating material. The nozzle body may include a plurality of concentrically arranged passages, the outermost resin passage communicating with the runner in the uppermost block. The central or innermost resin passage may be connected with the runner in the lowermost block. In such a case, it is preferred to provide temperature control means for adjusting the temperature of the nozzle body into a level approximate to the temperature of the uppermost block. As a result, a resin material flowing in the outermost resin passage of the nozzle body can be adjusted to its own inherent molding temperature by the temperature control means. A resin material flowing in an inner resin passage may be thermally insulated from the upppermost block by a resin material flowing in an outer resin passage. It is also preferred that the nozzle body includes a recess communicating with the exit port, the recess being formed on the side of the nozzle body which is engaged by an injection cavity mold. The resin material is cooled and solidified in this recess to form a thermal insulating layer of resin material between the nozzle body and the cavity mold. It is further preferred that the nozzle body includes a ring-shaped slit formed therein at a position encircling the exit port of the nozzle body, the slit communicating with the aforementioned recess. The resin material is also cooled and solidified in such a ring-shaped slit to form a thermal insulating layer around the exit port of the nozzle body. If the connecting block includes temperature control means for adjusting its temperature to a level approximate to the temperature of the lower block, the resin material conducted through the lower block may be controlled in temperature up to a position nearer the nozzle body. If the top end of the connection block is embedded in a hole of the upper block with its temperature control means being located in the top end side of the connection block, the temperature of the resin material conducted through the lower block may be controlled more accurately. If an air gap is formed between the sidewall of the top end of the connection block and the inner wall of the hole of the upper block, the thermal affection from the upper block to the connection block may be reduced. If a plurality of nozzle bodies are provided in the uppermost hot-runner block and connection blocks equal in number to the nozzle bodies are provided between each adjacent hot-runner blocks, there may be realized a hot-runner mold which can be used with an injection cavity mold that can simultaneously injection mold a plurality of products. In such a case, a runner is formed in each of the stacked hot-runner blocks such that a resin material can be conducted from a single sprue through that runner into the respective passages corresponding to the plurality of nozzle bodies. If such runners in the respective blocks are formed and arranged in a tournament-table configuration such that the length of each of the runners from a single sprue to a plurality of nozzle bodies will be equal to that of the other runners, all the temperature control means may be set under such a condition that provides the same temperature control effect to all the passages connected with the respective nozzle bodies. The invention will be further described in connection with embodiments shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section of one embodiment of a pressure-balance type hot-runner mold constructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of the hot-runner mold shown in Fig. 1, illustrating a portion of the mold near the exit port thereof, Figs. 3 and 4 are schematic views of a hot-runner mold having a circular cross-section in vertical and horizontal cross-sections, illustrating another embodiment of the present invention which is applied to the hot-runner mold, and Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-section of a hot-runner mold having a valved triple nozzle to which still another embodiment of the present invention is applied. The present invention will now be described in detail in connection with one embodiment thereof which is applied to a hot-runner mold used for injection molding a three-ply product from two different resin materials. Referring to Fig. 1, the hot-runner mold is adapted to injection mold a preform which is a primary molding used for forming a final bottle-shaped product. The hot-runner mold mainly comprises nozzle bodies 10, first and second hot-runner blocks 30, 40 for receiving the respective one of two different resin materials, an air gap 50 for thermal insulation formed between the first and second blocks 30 and 40, and connection blocks 52 for forming resin passages between the first and second blocks 30 and 40. Each of the nozzle bodies 10 is of a cylindrical configuration, with the top end thereof including an exit port 12. The cylindrical nozzle body 10 includes a central bore 14 formed axially therethrough and communicating with the exit port 12. The central bore 14 receives a cylindrical hollow torpedo 16 which is centrally disposed spaced away from the inner wall of the bore 14 to form a first, annular resin passage 20 therebetween. The torpedo 16 includes a central bore or second resin passage 22 formed therein. Thus, these first and second resin passages 20 and 22 will define a concentric double-passage means. As can be best seen from Fig. 2, the exit port 12 of each nozzle body 10 is opened into a circular recess 24 formed in the nozzle body 10 at the top end thereof. The recess 24 further communicates with a vertically extending ring-shaped slit 26 formed in the top end of the nozzle body 10 to encircle the exit port 12 thereof. The recess 24 receives any sealing means such as a metallic O-ring 27 for preventing any leakage of the resin material. Each of the first and second hot-runner blocks 30 and 40 is of a rectangular cross-section and includes a first or second runner 32 or 42 formed therein. Each of the first and second runners 32 or 42 serves to connect a sprue (not shown) in the respective one of the blocks 30 and 40 with the first or second resin passage 20 or 22 in each nozzle body 10. The illustrated hot-runner mold can be used in simultaneously injection molding a plurality of products, for example, four moldings. Each of the runners 32 and 42 is formed such that all the flow passages extending from the sprue (not shown) opened at the side of the corresponding hot-runner block 30 or 40 to the respective resin passages 20 and 22 will have an equal length. Such an arrangement of passage is known as be of a balance type wherein all the runners are arranged and connected in a tournament-table configuration. The first and second hot-runner blocks 30 and 40 are vertically stacked one above another through the air gap or thermal insulation layer 50. To this end, the respective hot-runner blocks 30 and 40 are partially engaged and held by a hot-runner pressure receiving plate 62 which is in turn fixedly mounted on a hot-runner holding plate 60. The air gap 50 is formed between the blocks 30 and 40 at a region other than the pressure receiving plate 62 and the connection blocks 52. The holding plate 60 and the second hot-runner block 40 include a key grooves 60a and 40a formed therein, respectively. When these key grooves 60a and 40a receive a key 66, the second hot-runner block 40 can be positioned relative to the holding plate 60 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing. A thermal insulation layer (or air gap) 68 is formed between the holding plate 60 and the second hot-runner block 40 at the region other than the key-groove connection. The first and second hot-runner blocks 30 and 40 are vertically spaced away from each other through the air gap 50. Each of the connection blocks 52 includes a third runner 54 formed therein for conducting a resin material from the second or lower hot-runner block 40 into the second resin passage 22 in the corresponding nozzle body 10. The connection block 52 is firmly held between the first and second blocks 30 and 40 by embedding the top and bottom ends thereof in the respective blocks 30 and 40. Particularly, the top end of the connection block 52 extends to a position approximate to the lower end of the corresponding nozzle body 10 in the interior of the first hot-runner block 30. An air gap for thermal insulation is formed between the sidewall of the embedded end of the connection block and the inner wall of the hole 30a in the first hot-runner block 30. Alternatively, such an air gap can be replaced by any other suitable thermal insulation material. Temperature control means will now be described for each of the resin materials. Each of the first and second hot-runner blocks 30 and 40 may include first or second internal cartridge type heaters 34 or 44 which is disposed at a position approximate to the first or second runner 32 or 42. A resin material passed through or stayed in the runner 32 or 42 may be maintained at its own inherent molding temperature by the corresponding internal heaters 34 or 44. The temperature of each of the first and second heaters 34 and 44 may be independently controlled as by the use of a feedback signal from a thermocouple for measuring the temperature of the first and second hot-runner blocks 30 and 40. Each of the nozzle bodies 10 includes a band heater 28 wound around the outer wall thereof for heating the resin material flowing in the first or outer resin passage 20 of the nozzle body 10. Each of the connection blocks 52 also includes a third internal heater 56 provided therein along the third runner 54. These internal heaters for heating the blocks 30, 40 and 54 may be replaced by any other suitable heating means such as a combination of heat pipes with the internal heaters. In such a case, the heat pipes may be arranged along the respective runners 32, 42 and 54. A heater may be disposed parallel to the corresponding heat pipe or at the end of the heat pipe. Operation will now be described with respect to the aforementioned arrangement. Prior to the description of the actual operation, it will be better to describe the molding temperatures of resin materials which are usable in the present invention: PET 275 degrees C; Polyacrylate 280 degrees C; Polyamide 270-300 degrees C; Polypropylene 200-300 degrees C; Polycarbonate 260-300 degrees C; EV-OH 190-230 degrees C; and PAN about 200 degrees C. However, the above molding temperatures depend on the material supplied by different manufacturers and the grade of the material used. It is now assumed that the outer and inner layers in an injection molded product are made of PET resin while the intermediate layer therebetween is made of EV-OH resin. PET resin is conducted into the first runner 32 of the first hot-runner block 30 through the sprue thereof (not shown). The resin material is then conducted from the first runner 32 to the first resin passage 20 of each of the nozzle body 10. On the other hand, EV-OH resin is conducted from the sprue (not shown) of the second hot-runner block 40 through the second and third runners 42 and 54 into the second resin passage 22 of each of the nozzle body 10. As shown in the above table, the molding temperature of the PET resin is 275 degrees C while the molding temperature of the EV-OH resin is 230 degrees C. A difference between the molding temperatures of these resins will be as high as 85 degrees C. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the molding temperature of the PET resin can be maintained by the first heaters 34 in the first hot-runner block 30 while the molding temperature of the EV-OH resin can be maintained by the second heaters 44 in the second hot-runner block 40. Since the hot-runner blocks 30 and 40 are spaced away from each other through the air gap 50, no inter-solid heat transfer will be created between them only with a heat exchange due to convection. This enables the thermal affection from one hot-runner block to the other to be very reduced, resulting in accurate maintenance of the molding temperatures inherent in the respective resin materials to be injection molded. Particularly, since the amount of resin material stayed in each of the first and second runners 32 and 42 is equal to a plurality of shots, the resin material and particularly EV-OH resin may be prevented from being pyrolytically decomposed and degraded by the thermal affection from the other hot-runner block if its own molding temperature is maintained for a sufficient time period before injected. After passed through the second runner 42, the EV-OH resin is conducted into the second resin passages 22 of the nozzle bodies 10 through the third runners 54 of the respective connection blocks 52. In this connection, the third heater 56 of each of the connection blocks 52 is controlled to provide a temperature approximate to that of the second heaters 44 in the second hot-runner block 40. Therefore, the EV-OH resin will also be maintained at its own inherent molding temperature in each of the connection blocks 52. Since the top end of each connection block 52 is embedded in the first hot-runner block 30 adjacent the corresponding nozzle body 10 and the resin material flowing in this connection block is controlled in temperature by the third heater 56 immediately before it is conducted into the corresponding nozzle body 10, the pyrolytical decomposition of the EV-OH resin can be minimized. Since there is an air gap or thermal insulation between the connection block 52 and the first hot-runner block 30, the thermal affection of the connection block 52 from the first hot-runner block 30 can be reduced effectively. The PET and EV-OH resins conducted into the first and second resin passages 20 and 22 in each of the nozzle bodies 10 are merged together at a position adjacent the exit port 12 and then injected into the interior of a cavity mold 64, as shown in Fig. 2. At this time, the band heater 28 around the outer wall of the nozzle body 10 is control led to a temperature approximate to the temperature of the first heaters 34 in the first hot-runner block 30 such that the PET resin flowing in the first resin passage 20 of the nozzle body 10 is maintained at its own inherent molding temperature. Thus, the moldability of the PET resin can be improved. At the same time, the resin material flowing in the second or inner resin passage 22 can be protected from the thermal affection of the band heater 28 of the nozzle body 10 by the PET resin encircling the torpedo 16. Therefore, the pyrolytical decomposition of the EV-OH resin due to the molding temperature of the PET resin material can be minimized before they are merged together near the exit port 12 of the nozzle body 10. Thermal insulation between each nozzle body 10 and the cavity mold 64 will be described below. While the nozzle body 10 is maintained at the molding temperature inherent in the PET resin, the temperature of the cavity mold 64 is ranged between about 10 degrees C and about 30 degrees C. Thus, there is a substantial difference in temperature between the nozzle body 10 and the cavity mold 64. In the prior art, thermal insulation was provided between the nozzle body 10 and the cavity mold 64. Such thermal insulation tends to be degraded by heat. Thus, the prior art frequently required to replace the thermal insulation with a new one. If such a replacement is not carried out, the top of the nozzle body 10 is cooled to decrease the temperature of the nozzle portion near the exit port 12, resulting in solidification and clogging of the resin material therein. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the resin materials after merged together will flow into the recess 24 formed in the top face of each of the nozzle bodies 10. Thereafter, the resin materials are cooled and solidified by the cavity mold 64 having a relatively low temperature. Since the resin materials solidified and accumulated in the recess 24 has a relatively low heat transfer property, it can effectively thermally insulate between the cavity mold 64 and the nozzle body 10 to prevent the mold portion near the exit port 12 from being cooled to an undesirable temperature. In addition, the illustrated embodiment provides a ring-shaped slit 26 encircling the exit port 12 of the nozzle body 10. The resin material also flows into this slit 26 wherein the resin material is cooled and solidified to form a thermal insulation which can effectively thermally insulate the mold portion near the exit port 12. In such a manner the illustrated embodiment can provide an effective thermal insulation near the exit ports 12 of the nozzle bodies 10 to prevent the clogging of the resin materials, without replacement of any structural member. Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, there is shown another embodiment of the present invention, in which first and second hot-runner blocks 70 and 72 are similar to those of the first embodiment in that they are vertically arranged one above another through an air gap or thermal insulation 50, but of a circular cross-section. Each of the hot-runner blocks 70 and 72 is not of the pressure-balance type, but includes resin passages having different lengths from the respective one of sprues 70a or 72a to the exit ports 12 of the respective nozzle bodies 10. Such an arrangement is known as a so-called "comb-type". The second embodiment is distinguished from the first embodiment in that the temperatures of the first and second hot-runner blocks 70 and 72 are controlled by an external heater means such as external band heaters 74 and 76. These external band heaters 74 and 76 are similar to those of the first embodiment in that they are controlled for the molding temperatures inherent in the respective resin materials passed through or stayed in runners 70b and 72b of the blocks 70 and 72. In addition, the air gap 50 serves as a thermal insulation for preventing any thermal affection between the adjacent hot-runner blocks and for permitting an accurate and independent adjustment of temperature for the hot-runner blocks. In order to improve the temperature adjustment, the band heaters 74 and 76 may be combined with heat pipes which are embedded in the blocks 70 and 72. Each connection block 80 connecting the resin passages of the blocks 70 and 72 with each other is similarly controlled in temperature by a band heater 82. The connection block 80 also includes an internal cartridge type heater 84 formed therein at the end which is embedded in the fist hot-runner block 70. Although such an internal heater 84 is not essential in the present invention, it serves as an effective heater means for maintaining the resin material conducted through the second hot-runner block 72 at its own inherent molding temperature immediately before the resin material flows into the second resin passage 22 of the nozzle body 10. Fig. 5 shows a still another embodiment of the present invention which is applied to a three-ply molding hot-runner mold having a triple-nozzle type nozzle body 90. Such a nozzle body 90 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 63-107525 and comprises first second and third concentrically arranged resin passages 94, 96 and 98 which communicate with a common exit port 92. A valve member 100 for opening and closing the second resin passage 96 is provided to move forwardly and rearwardly under a differential pressure between the resin materials in the second and third resin passages 96 and 98. A resin material used to form the intermediate layer, such as EV-OH resin, is conducted into the second resin passage 96 while PET resin for forming the outer and inner layers is conducted into the first and third resin passages 94 and 98. A first hot-runner block 104 having a runner 102 communicating with the second resin passage 96 is disposed above a second hot-runner block 108 having a runner 106 for conducting the resin material into the first and third resin passages 94 and 98 through the air gap or thermal insulation 50 located therebetween. A connection block 110 is disposed between the upper and lower blocks 104 and 108 to divide the runner 106 of the second hot-runner block 108 into two runner branches 112 and 114 which connect with the first and second resin passages 94 and 98, respectively. Each of these sections includes an independent temperature control means which is similar to that of the first embodiment. Thus, the third embodiment can similarly control the molding temperatures inherent in the two different resin materials used for forming the outer, intermediate and inner layers of the three-ply product to secure their good moldabilities. In the third embodiment, particularly, the resin material, which is used to form the intermediate layer with less shot and tends to be pyrolytically decomposed, can be conducted into the nozzle body 90 through the first or upper hot-runner block 104, resulting in the decreased length of the runner from the sprue to the nozzle body 90. The resin material may be exposed to raised temperatures for a period of time which is smaller than that of the resin material conducted through the lower block to form the intermediate layer. This leads to reduction of the thermal degradation of the resin material. The first and second embodiments may be modified to supply the resin material for the intermediate layer from the first or upper hot runners 30 and 74. Although the present invention has been described with respect to some preferred embodiments, it is not limited to such arrangements and can be modified into various possible configurations without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Although the thermal insulation between the adjacent hot-runner blocks is most preferred to be an air gap in view of manufacturing cost, the air gap may be replaced by any other suitable thermal insulation such as ceramic material. The connection block may be formed integrally with the lower hot-runner block which is similarly control led up to a temperature approximate to that of the connection block. Furthermore, the present invention may be similarly applied to any other multi-ply molding hot-runner mold for injection molding a product having four or more layers in cross-section if the hot-runner mold is divided into blocks for different resin materials, which are stacked one above another through thermal insulation layers and independently controlled in temperature by the respective temperature control means.

Claims: A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold comprising: a nozzle body (10) including a plurality of passages (20, 22; 94, 96, 98) for resin materials, said nozzle body (10) being adapted to merge the flows of resin materials near the exit port (12; 92) thereof; a plurality of hot-runner blocks (30, 40; 70, 72); 104, 108) stacked one above another through thermal insulation layers (50), each of said hot-runner blocks (30, 40; 70, 72; 104, 108) including a hot runner (32, 42; 70b, 72b; 102, 106) formed therein for conducting a resin material from a sprue (70a, 72a) into the corresponding resin passage (20, 22; 94, 96, 98) in said nozzle body (10); a plurality of temperature control means (34, 44; 74, 76) each capable of independently controlling the temperature of each of said hot-runner blocks (30, 40; 70, 72; 104, 108) so as to adapt the hot-runner block (30, 40; 70, 72; 104, 108) for the molding temperature inherent in the respective one of said resin materials, characterized in that, a connection block (52; 80; 110) is provided which is partially disposed between each adjacent hot-runner block (30, 40; 70, 72; 104, 108), said connection block (52; 80; 110) including a runner (54; 112) formed therein, for conducting the resin material from the lower hot-runner block (40; 72; 108) to the upper hot-runner block (30; 70; 104), special temperature control means (56; 84) for said connection block (52; 80; 110) is provided, and said connection block (52; 80; 110), extends into said upper hot-runner block (30; 70; 104) so that the top portion of said connection block (52; 80; 110) is embedded in said upper hot-runner block (30; 70; 104). A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to claim 1 characterized in that, the termal insulation between the adjacent hot-runner blocks is an air gap (50). A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, said nozzle body (10) includes a plurality of concentrically arranged resin passages (20; 22) formed therein and wherein the outermost resin passage in that concentrically arranged resin passages is connected with the runner (32; 70b) of the uppermost block (30; 70), the central resin passage (22) being connected with the runner (42; 72b) of the lowermost block (40, 72), and temperature control means (28) for adjusting the temperature of said nozzle body (10) up to a level approximate the temperature of the uppermost block (30; 70). A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, said nozzle body (10) includes a recess (24) formed therein at the surface of said nozzle body (10) engaged by the cavity mold, said recess (24) communicating with the exit port (12; 92) of the nozzle body (10) and wherein said resin material is cooled and solidified in said recess (24) to form a thermal insulation layer between said nozzle body (10) and said injection cavity mold. A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to claim 4, characterised in that, said nozzle body (10) further includes a ring-shaped slit (26) formed therein to communicate with said recess (24) and to encircle the exit port (12; 92) of said nozzle body (10) and wherein the resin material is cooled and solidified in said ring-shaped slit (26) to form a thermal insulation layer there between A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that, a gap for thermal insulation is formed between the sidewall of the embedded portion of said connection block (52; 80; 110) and the inner wall of the hole (30a) of said upper block (30; 70). A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that, the uppermost hot-runner block (30; 70) includes a plurality of nozzle bodies (10) and wherein said connection blocks (52; 80; 110) equal in number to said nozzle bodies (10) are provided between the adjacent hot-runner blocks. A multi-ply molding hot-runner mold according to claim 7, characterised in that said runner (22, 54) formed in each of said hot-runner blocks (30, 40) extends from one of said sprues to the corresponding resin passage in each of the nozzle bodies (10) and is formed in a tournament-table configuration so as to have the same length as those of the other runners (22, 54).

Inventors: FUKAI HIDEHIKO, FUKUNISHI YOSHIHIRO, MIYAZAWA YOSHIKI, FUKAI, HIDEHIKO, FUKUNISHI, YOSHIHIRO, MIYAZAWA, YOSHIKI
Applicants: NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO LTD, NISSEI ASB MACHINE CO., LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B29C45
IPC codes: B29C45