Patent ID: 6945768

Claim:
A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus, comprising: a nozzle body, said nozzle body defining a nozzle body melt passage, wherein the nozzle body has an upstream end that is configured for positioning against an injection manifold, and a downstream end that is configured for positioning proximate a gate into a mold cavity in a mold component; a heater that is thermally connected to said nozzle body for heating melt in said nozzle body melt passage; a tip, wherein said tip is removably connected to the nozzle body, wherein the tip defines a tip melt passage, wherein the tip melt passage is downstream from the nozzle body melt passage; and a tip retainer, wherein the tip retainer is removably connected to the nozzle body, wherein the tip retainer retains the tip in position, wherein the tip retainer has a first gap seal surface thereon, wherein the tip retainer is configured for the first gap seal surface to be separated by a gap with respect to a second gap seal surface on the mold component, wherein said gap is sized to inhibit the flow of melt between said first gap seal surface and said second gap seal surface.