Patent ID: 7201335

Claim:
A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus comprising: a nozzle body defining a body melt channel, the body melt channel being in fluid communication with a melt source; a nozzle tip comprised of: a first portion, a second portion downstream of the first portion, a tip melt channel, defined by the first and second portions of the nozzle tip, in fluid communication with the body melt channel, and extending to an opening defined in an end of the nozzle tip, the tip melt channel having a first section defined in the first portion of the nozzle tip, and a second section defined in the second portion of the nozzle tip, and a tapered outer engagement surface; and an alignment member surrounding the nozzle tip and removably coupled to the nozzle body, the alignment member defining an aperture having a tapered inner engagement surface, wherein the inner engagement surface of the alignment member is engaged with the outer engagement surface on the nozzle tip to align the first section of the tip melt channel with respect to the body melt channel, the alignment member further including a sealing flange having a cylindrical abutment face, wherein the abutment face abuts a cylindrical mold surface of a mold plate to seal against melt leakage proximate of a mold gate.