Patent ID: 7611349

Claim:
A nozzle for an injection molding apparatus, comprising: a nozzle body having a nozzle melt channel; a nozzle tip directly connected to the nozzle body, including, a first melt channel in fluid communication with the nozzle melt channel, the first melt channel having a first melt channel longitudinal axis, and a plurality of second melt channels in fluid communication with the first melt channel, wherein each second melt channel has a second melt channel longitudinal axis that is at an angle with respect to the first melt channel longitudinal axis; a downstream portion having an outer surface extending proximate to and below the outlets of the second melt channels; a sealing device that is directly connected to the nozzle body, wherein the sealing device directly contacts a mold plate, the sealing device having a downstream portion having an inner surface proximate to and below the outlets of the second melt channel; and an annular melt channel formed between the outer surface of the downstream portion of the nozzle tip and the inner surface of the downstream portion of the sealing device, wherein the annular melt channel has a first portion in fluid communication with outlets of the nozzle tip second melt channels, the first portion of the annular melt channel having a first inner diameter defined by the outer surface along a first length of the downstream portion of the nozzle tip and a second portion downstream of and in fluid communication with the first portion of the annular melt channel, the second portion of the annular melt channel having a second inner diameter defined by the outer surface along a second length of the downstream portion of the nozzle tip, wherein the second inner diameter is larger than the first inner diameter.