Abstract: A method for manufacturing a molded article having an insert incorporated therein comprises the steps of providing a first mold half having a mold core portion and a second mold half having a mold cavity portion, providing a carrier plate having a holder for an insert and a device for receiving the molded article located on the same face, positioning the carrier plate with the insert thereon between the first and second mold halves when the first and second mold halves are in an open position so that the insert is aligned with the mold core portion, transferring the insert to a position adjacent the mold core portion, withdrawing the carrier plate from between the first and second mold halves, moving the first and second mold halves together so that the mold cavity portion substantially surrounds at least a portion of the insert and defines a mold cavity space with the mold core portion, and injecting molten material into the mold cavity space so as to form the molded article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a molding apparatus having a first mold half with a core portion and a second mold half with a cavity portion wherein the core portion moves relative to the cavity portion between mold open and mold closed positions. The molding apparatus further includes a carrier plate for receiving molded articles and holding inserts to be incorporated into the molded article. The present invention also relates to transferring the inserts to the mold cores prior to molding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved take-off plate device for removing molded articles from a molding machine and delivering them to a transfer or receiving station. The device of the present invention includes a plate, one or more tubes mounted to the plate for receiving molded articles, and one or more ejector bars for engaging portions of the molded articles to remove or eject them from the tubes. Each of the tubes is provided with a cooling passageway for effecting cooling of the molded articles as they are moved between the molding machine and the receiving station. A bottom plug, which is in contact with the cooling passageway, is provided in each tube to more efficiently cool an end portion of the molded article in the tube. Preferably, the bottom plug has an end surface which matches the shape of the molded article end portion.

Abstract: An injection molding apparatus and process for forming a plurality of first parts and a plurality of complementary second parts during a single molding cycle has a system for removing parts molded during each cycle and for assembling the parts into finished articles. The system includes a plurality of rotatable suction cups for removing the parts and for aligning them with and inserting them into a series of loading ports in a central mold member so as to mate respective ones of the first parts with respective ones of the second parts. The central mold member further has internal chute assemblies for conveying assembled articles away from the mold. A novel system for driving the rotatable suction cups uses a rotatable member mounted to various mold halves and a camming arrangement whereby relative movement of the mold halves during the mold closing and opening motions causes rotation of the suction cups.