Patent ID: 7559762

Claim:
An injection molding apparatus, comprising: a manifold defining a manifold melt channel, the manifold being configured to receive melt from a melt source; a nozzle coupled to the manifold, wherein the nozzle defines a nozzle melt channel that is in fluid communication with the manifold melt channel; and a self-regulating valve partially positioned within the manifold melt channel upstream of the nozzle, the self-regulating valve including, a valve disk having a support extension, a valve disk bore extending through the valve disk, and a flow aperture that extends through a sidewall of the support extension to communicate with the valve disk bore, wherein the flow aperture is in fluid communication with the manifold melt channel, and a control rod that includes a control rod body, an opening that extends through the control rod body, and a tip pressure surface, wherein the control rod slidably extends within the valve disk bore such that the control rod opening is in fluid communication with the valve disk flow aperture and wherein the control rod is longitudinally slidable between a first position wherein the control rod opening is positioned to provide a continuous fluid passageway through the self-regulating valve and a second position wherein the control rod opening is positioned within the valve disk bore such that the self-regulating valve is closed.