US 12,304,124 B2
Shear-inducing injection molding system
John P. Coulter, Schnecksville (PA)
Assigned to Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA (US)
Appl. No. 18/007,777
Filed by LEHIGH UNIVERSITY, Bethlehem, PA (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 20, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/055819
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 2, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/087114, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 28, 2022.
Application 18/007,777 is a continuation of application No. 17/342,621, filed on Jun. 9, 2021, granted, now 11,472,080, issued on Oct. 18, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/093,908, filed on Oct. 20, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0234269 A1, Jul. 27, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B29C 45/28 (2006.01)
CPC B29C 45/2806 (2013.01) 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A polymer injection molding system comprising:
a manifold comprising a plurality of internal flow conduits configured for conveying polymer in a fluidic state;
an injection nozzle fluidly coupled to the flow conduits, the injection nozzle configured to interface with a mold cavity and changeable between open and closed positions;
the injection nozzle comprising a tubular valve body defining a pin axis, a central axial passage extending along the pin axis and configured to dispense polymer into the mold cavity, and an elongated valve pin movably disposed in the central axial passage;
wherein the valve pin is rotatably movable and configured to induce shear on the polymer;
wherein the valve pin is controlled to rotate at a speed selected to prevent a viscosity of the polymer from exceeding a predetermined maximum viscosity limit associated with the onset of solidification of the polymer.