Patent ID: 6988883

Claim:
An injection molding apparatus comprising: a manifold, including at least one runner that receives melt from a melt source; a nozzle in fluid communication with the runner of the manifold, the nozzle including, a nozzle body having a melt passage therethrough, a nozzle tip having an outer surface and a tip melt passage therethrough, wherein the tip melt passage is in fluid communication with the melt passage of the nozzle body and, a tip surrounding piece that is removably coupled to the nozzle body and retains the nozzle tip in position with respect to the nozzle body, the tip surrounding piece including an inner surface, wherein at least a portion of the inner surface of the tip surrounding piece is at a distance from the outer surface of the nozzle tip to thereby define a chamber, and wherein the tip surrounding piece is formed of a material that has a thermal conductivity that is substantially equal to that of the nozzle tip; a heat source thermally coupled to said nozzle; and, a mold component having a mold cavity for receiving melt from said nozzle through a mold gate.