Abstract: A guidance system for a slide assembly for a mold for a plastic and/or silicone processing machine is presented. The processing machine comprises at least two mold halves with at least one slide assembly mounted to at least one mold half. The slide assembly is movable parallel to the plane of the parting line of the two mold halves and generally perpendicular to the direction of the plane of separation of the two mold halves after a part has been formed. The slide assembly comprises a carrier for holding cavity forming parts, gibs that secure the carrier to the mold half, and a series of rollers arranged to engage with the carrier such that the rollers roll with the movement of the carrier parallel to the parting line of the two mold halves. The rollers do not bear any of the compression force used to press the two mold halves together.

Abstract: What is presented is a mold support structure in a single dual injection molding machine for plastic part formation having at least two injection units. The mold support structure comprises at least one pair of platens located on opposite sides. Each pair of platens is separated by a plurality of reinforcement structures that provide support in the direction in which clamp and injection pressure is applied to the pair of platens during plastic part formation.

Abstract: What is presented is a method of forming a closure with a sealing gasket in an injection molding machine that has a center rotating cube. The center rotating cube comprises a plurality of mold back halves each comprising cores and a thread unscrewing mechanism. Each core is shaped to form a closure that has a thread and an anti-rotation feature. The method comprises the steps of forming a closure with a through hole, rotating the core to create a gap between the formed closure and the core, and injecting a compressible material through the through hole and into the gap to form a sealing gasket.

Abstract: A vial comprises a vial top and a lid. The lid comprises a top and a bottom. A circular securing feature is attached to the bottom and has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the lid, thus forming a lip around the circumference of the bottom. The securing feature comprises a snap bead that extends outwards therefrom. An internal undercut in the vial mates with the snap bead when the lid is in the closed position. The vial top comprises a ledge. The underside of the lip secures to the ledge when the lid is in the closed position. An anti-pry wall is located on the ledge, having a diameter larger than the lid and surrounding the lid when the lid is in the closed position. The height of the anti-pry wall is taller than the underside of the lip when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: What is presented is a system for blind securing injection mold components to an injection molding machine. The system comprises a shuttle plate that has at least one locking mechanism mounted to it. Each locking mechanism has a larger installation area and a smaller lock area. Each injection mold component has a notch that has a corresponding geometry to the lock area such that the said injection mold component is configured to be inserted into the installation area and the shuttle plate is configured to move to seat the notch into the lock area and secure the injection mold component to the shuttle plate.

Abstract: A guidance system for a slide assembly for a mold for a plastic and/or silicone processing machine is presented. The processing machine comprises at least two mold halves with at least one slide assembly mounted to at least one mold half. The slide assembly is movable parallel to the plane of the parting line of the two mold halves and generally perpendicular to the direction of the plane of separation of the two mold halves after a part has been formed. The slide assembly comprises a carrier for holding cavity forming parts, gibs that secure the carrier to the mold half, and a series of rollers arranged to engage with the carrier such that the rollers roll with the movement of the carrier parallel to the parting line of the two mold halves. The rollers do not bear any of the compression force used to press the two mold halves together.

Abstract: What is presented is a method of forming a closure with a sealing gasket in an injection molding machine that has a center rotating cube. The center rotating cube comprises a plurality of mold back halves each comprising cores and a thread unscrewing mechanism. Each core is shaped to form a closure that has a thread and an anti-rotation feature. The method comprises the steps of forming a closure with a through hole, rotating the core to create a gap between the formed closure and the core, and injecting a compressible material through the through hole and into the gap to form a sealing gasket.

Abstract: What is presented is a system for blind securing injection mold components to an injection molding machine. The system comprises a shuttle plate that has at least one locking mechanism mounted to it. Each locking mechanism has a larger installation area and a smaller lock area. Each injection mold component has a notch that has a corresponding geometry to the lock area such that the said injection mold component is configured to be inserted into the installation area and the shuttle plate is configured to move to seat the notch into the lock area and secure the injection mold component to the shuttle plate.

Abstract: A vial comprises a vial top and a lid. The lid comprises a top and a bottom. A circular securing feature is attached to the bottom and has a diameter that is less than the diameter of the lid, thus forming a lip around the circumference of the bottom. The securing feature comprises a snap bead that extends outwards therefrom. An internal undercut in the vial mates with the snap bead when the lid is in the closed position. The vial top comprises a ledge. The underside of the lip secures to the ledge when the lid is in the closed position. An anti-pry wall is located on the ledge, having a diameter larger than the lid and surrounding the lid when the lid is in the closed position. The height of the anti-pry wall is taller than the underside of the lip when the lid is in the closed position.

Abstract: What is presented is a mold support structure in a single dual injection molding machine for plastic part formation having at least two injection units. The mold support structure comprises at least one pair of platens located on opposite sides. Each pair of platens is separated by a plurality of reinforcement structures that provide support in the direction in which clamp and injection pressure is applied to the pair of platens during plastic part formation.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for cooling a mold in a compression molding assembly, thereby enabling increased cycling speed and efficiency. Embodiments include a coolant flow path that transports a fluid coolant into and out of a cooling ring around the molding assembly's core. The coolant flow path may divide into several channels within the cooling ring. The coolant flow path may also include a series of stages with varying volumes or cross sectional areas designed to regulate the flow of coolant.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for cooling a mold in a compression molding assembly, thereby enabling increased cycling speed and efficiency. Embodiments include a coolant flow path that transports a fluid coolant into and out of a cooling ring around the molding assembly's core. The coolant flow path may divide into several channels within the cooling ring. The coolant flow path may also include a series of stages with varying volumes or cross sectional areas designed to regulate the flow of coolant.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for cooling a mold in a compression or injection molding assembly, thereby enabling increased cycling speed and efficiency. Embodiments include a coolant flow path that transports a fluid coolant into and out of a cooling ring around the molding assembly's core. The coolant flow path may divide into several channels within the cooling ring. The coolant flow path may also include a series of stages with varying volumes or cross sectional areas designed to regulate the flow of coolant.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for cooling a mold in a compression or injection molding assembly, thereby enabling increased cycling speed and efficiency. Embodiments include a coolant flow path that transports a fluid coolant into and out of a cooling ring around the molding assembly's core. The coolant flow path may divide into several channels within the cooling ring. The coolant flow path may also include a series of stages with varying volumes or cross sectional areas designed to regulate the flow of coolant.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide methods and apparatus for cooling a mold in a compression molding assembly, thereby enabling increased cycling speed and efficiency. Embodiments include a coolant flow path that transports a fluid coolant into and out of a cooling ring around the molding assembly's core. The coolant flow path may divide into several channels within the cooling ring. The coolant flow path may also include a series of stages with varying volumes or cross sectional areas designed to regulate the flow of coolant.