Abstract: A molding machine for producing footwear soles includes a frame carrying a pair of extruders for thermoplastic material at one end; a pair of bottom molds mounted on hot runner systems on the other end of the frame; a pair of vertically movable top molds mounted above and cooperating with the bottom molds to define mold cavities for receiving the thermoplastic material from the hot runner systems; a swing out system for swinging each top mold from a horizontal molding position to an unloading position; gripper jaws for gripping the soles and removing them from the top molds; and swing arm assemblies carrying the gripper jaws for carrying the soles away from the molds to conveyor or packaging locations.

Abstract: Method for making a sole for an article of footwear including an outer sole with a lightweight filler therein, an inner sole above the outer sole and a foxing strip integral with the inner sole and surrounding the periphery of the outer sole. The sole is produced using a dummy last with a recess for receiving the filler, a clamping last, mold sides and a bottom mold piston. The outer sole is molded first using the dummy last and filler, a first portion of the mold sides and the mold piston to define a first mold cavity. Then, the inner sole is molded using the clamping last, a lasted upper or the like, a second portion of the mold sides, and the outer sole on the mold piston to define a second mold cavity. By providing suitable recesses in the dummy last and in the first portion of the mold sides, one or more projections which extend through the foxing strip are molded in the first mold cavity.