Patent ID: 7220117

Claim:
A nozzle for controlling flow of melt through conduits of a mold assembly, the nozzle comprising a nozzle body having a nozzle passage therethrough joining a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet, a valve pin guide interposed between the nozzle inlet and nozzle outlet and having a valve pin guide bore therein and at least one guide passage in communication with the portions of the nozzle passage separated by the valve pin guide and melt is conveyed solely through the guide passages between the nozzle inlet and the nozzle outlet, a valve pin movably supported within a bore of the valve pin guide, the valve pin movable between an open position permitting melt to flow through the nozzle and a closed position preventing melt from flowing through the nozzle, a contact arm transverse to and passing through an opening in the valve pin guide and engaging the end of the valve pin therein, opposed ends of the contact arm extending beyond the nozzle passage, and a biasing means, the biasing means applying a force to the contact arm in the direction of the closed position, the nozzle being mounted so that the contact arm is displaced to the valve pin open position by forces applied to the contact arm as a result of closure of the mold assembly.