Melt distribution device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604397-B2
Application number	US-201314416284-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2013
Priority date	Sep 13, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A melt distribution device ( 100 ) including a heat-receiving part ( 102 ) and a heater ( 104 ). The heater ( 104 ) is coupled to the heat-receiving part ( 102 ) so to maintain thermal communication between the heater ( 104 ) and the heat-receiving part ( 102 ). The heater ( 104 ) is also coupled to the heat-receiving part ( 102 ) so to isolate, at least partially, the heater ( 104 ) from receiving stress and strain transmission from the heat-receiving part ( 102 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ), comprising:
a heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ) defining a melt flow channel adapted to receive melt flow therethrough, the heat-receiving part having an outer surface; and
a heater ( 104 , 304 );
the heater ( 104 , 304 ) being coupled to the outer surface of the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ) so to (i) maintain thermal communication between the heater ( 104 , 304 ) and the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ); and (ii) define a gap therebetween to isolate, at least partially, the heater ( 104 , 304 ) from receiving stress and strain transmission from the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ).

2. The melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the heater ( 104 , 304 ) is affixed to the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ).

3. The melt distribute on device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ) is:
a nozzle, a manifold, or combinations thereof.

4. The melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 1 , wherein:
the heater ( 104 , 304 ) and the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ) are substantially cylindrical, and
the heater ( 104 , 304 ) is disposed around the heat-receiving part ( 102 , 202 ).

5. The melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the heater ( 104 , 304 ) includes:
a film heater ( 108 , 308 ); and
a sleeve ( 110 , 310 ); the film heater ( 108 , 308 ) being disposed on the sleeve ( 110 , 310 ).

6. The melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 5 , wherein:
the film heater ( 108 , 308 ) has ceramic dielectric layers and resistive trace.

7. The melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the film heater ( 108 , 308 ) is:
a thermally sprayed heater, a thin film heater, a thick film heater, or any combinations thereof.

8. The melt distribution device ( 100 , 200 , 300 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the sleeve ( 110 , 310 ) has:
a distal surface ( 110 b , 310 b ) and a proximal surface ( 110 a , 310 a ), relative to the heat-receiving part ( 102 ), the film heater ( 108 ) being deposited in a layer on the distal surface ( 110 b , 310 b ) of the sleeve ( 110 , 310 ).

9. The melt distribution device ( 100 ) according to claim 8 , wherein:
a portion of the proximal surface of the sleeve ( 110 ) is welded in one location ( 120 ) to an outer surface the heat-receiving part ( 102 ), the one location ( 120 ) being a line that extends along the outer surface of the heat-receiving part ( 102 ) and is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis (X), such that the gap ( 112 ) is defined by the proximal surface ( 110 a ) of the sleeve ( 110 ) and the outer surface of the heat-receiving part ( 102 ), and the gap ( 112 ) is responsible, at least in part, for isolating the heater ( 104 ) from stress and strain transmission received from the heat-receiving part ( 102 ).

10. The melt distribution device ( 100 ) according to any one of claim 1 or claim 9 , wherein:
the gap ( 112 ) is filled with air.

11. The melt distribution device ( 200 ) according to claim 8 , wherein:
a portion of the proximal surface ( 110 a ) of the sleeve ( 110 ) is welded in at least a first location ( 220 a ) and a second location ( 220 b ) to an outer surface the heat-receiving part ( 202 ), the first location ( 220 a ) and the second location ( 220 b ) each extending at least partially around a circumference thereof, such that the gap ( 212 ) is defined by the proximal surface ( 110 a ) of the sleeve ( 110 ) and the outer surface of the heat-receiving part ( 202 ), and the gap ( 212 ) is responsible, at least in part, for isolating the heater ( 104 ) from stress and strain transmission received from the heat-receiving part ( 102 ).

12. The melt distribution device ( 200 ) according to claim 11 , wherein:
the gap ( 212 ) is filed with air.

13. The melt distribution device ( 100 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the melt distribution device ( 100 ) further comprises:
a nozzle tip ( 214 );
the first location ( 220 a ) being disposed proximal to the nozzle tip ( 214 ) and the second location ( 220 b ) being disposed distal to the nozzle tip ( 214 ).

14. A melt distribution device, comprising:
a heat-receiving part; and
a heater comprising a film heater and a sleeve, the film heater being disposed on the sleeve;
the heater and the heat-receiving part are substantially cylindrical, the heater is disposed around the heat-receiving part, the heater being coupled to the heat-receiving part so to (i) maintain thermal communication between the heater and the heat-receiving part; and (ii) isolate, at least partially, the heater from receiving stress and strain transmission from the heat-receiving part,
wherein the sleeve has a distal surface and a proximal surface, relative to the heat-receiving part, the film heater being deposited in a layer on the distal surface of the sleeve, and,
wherein the heater further includes:
two ends, the two ends defining a gap therebetween, the gap running along the heater, whereby the gap is responsible, at least in part, for isolating the heater from stress and strain transmission received from the heat-receiving part.

Assignees

• Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Blais Paul R
• Plumpton James Osborne
• Esser Brian

Classifications

• B29C45/74 Primary

  of the injection unit · CPC title

• H05B2203/013

  Heaters using resistive films or coatings · CPC title

• H05B3/265 Primary

  the insulating base being an inorganic material, e.g. ceramic (H05B3/262 takes precedence) · CPC title