Patent ID: 7198400

Claim:
A static mixer for use in a melt flow channel of an injection molding system, said static mixer comprising: a mixer body ( 500 ); a first flow face ( 504 ) configured at an end of said mixer body ( 500 ); a second flow face ( 505 ) configured at an opposite end of said mixer body ( 500 ) from said first flow face ( 504 ); an outer surface ( 501 ) configured around the mixer body ( 500 ) between the ends thereof; a plurality of first passageways ( 512 ) configured in said mixer body ( 500 ); a plurality of second passageways ( 514 ) configured in said mixer body ( 500 ); said plurality of first and second passageways ( 512 , 514 ) configured to extend along substantially straight longitudinal axes; said plurality of first and second passageways ( 512 , 514 ) being arranged into a first and a second array, respectively, said arrays being intermeshed and interconnected to configure a plurality of mixing portals ( 516 ) between said first and second passageways ( 512 , 514 ); said first and second arrays of passageways ( 512 , 514 ) including: a first subset of passageways ( 546 , 549 ) each passageway of which extend between the flow faces ( 504 , 505 ) with a corresponding plurality of fluid portals ( 518 , 520 ) being configured along each flow face ( 504 , 505 ); a second subset of passageways ( 547 , 550 ) each passageway of which extend about half way through the mixer body ( 500 ) from the first flow face ( 504 ), without opening to the outer surface ( 501 ) of the mixer body ( 500 ), with a corresponding plurality of fluid portals ( 518 , 520 ) being configured along the first flow face ( 504 ); a third subset of passageways ( 548 , 551 ) each passageway of which extend about half way through the mixer body ( 500 ) from the second flow face ( 505 ), without opening to the outer surface ( 501 ) of the mixer body ( 500 ), with a corresponding plurality of fluid portals ( 518 , 520 ) being configured along the second flow face ( 505 ); an end of each passageway of said second and third subset ( 547 , 550 ), ( 548 , 551 ) being enclosed within said mixer body ( 500 ) and having a mixing portal ( 516 ) defined therebetween; whereby said plurality of intermeshed and interconnected first and second passageways ( 512 , 514 ) provide a convoluted flow path between said flow faces ( 504 , 505 ).