Abstract: A device for aligning a first and a second shell mold comprises a first gripper for holding the first shell mold, a second gripper for holding the second shell mold, and a centering station. Both grippers can be displaced relative to one another and relative to the centering station along a predetermined axis and can rotate individually as well as synchronously about the axis. The centering station comprises a supporting body, which supports spring elements arranged along a circle, said axis running through the center of the circle. For centering, the shell mold is moved into the centering station by the gripper and then removed from the gripper so that the shell mold is held solely by the spring elements. The radial forces of the spring elements uniformly acting upon the shell mold from all sides cause the shell mold to be displaced into the center of gravity of the forces. Afterwards, the shell mold is gripped once again by the gripper and moved out from the centering station.

Abstract: An injection molding machine having a side-injection sub-assembly and a method for providing access to a hot passage distributor system therein. The injection molding machine includes a side-injection sub-assembly having an injection mold part and the hot passage distributor system. The hot passage distributor system is sandwiched between the injection mold part and a head plate by two or more bolt members, which attach the injection mold part to the head plate and are accessible from a side of the injection mold part. The injection molding machine further includes an ejection mold part for releasably mating to the injection mold part and defining a mold cavity.

Abstract: A rubber injection molding apparatus and method for simultaneously molding a plurality of work parts (40) in separate molds (30) using a single, vertically oriented press machine (22). A clamping mechanism (52) is responsive to the vertical, reciprocating motion of the press ram (26) for converting the generally vertical motion of the press ram (26) into a horizontal clamping force to squeeze and hold the molds while rubber is injected into their cavities (38). The molds (30) each have two mold halves (32, 34) joining one another along a parting line interface (36) with the mold cavity (38) in between. The mold halves (32, 34) are received in universal carriers (62), which in turn are suspended between and slideable along spaced-apart first (58) and second (60) rails. A large number of mold cavities (38) can be filled simultaneously using a vertically oriented press machine (22).

Abstract: A movable platen (4) capable of advance and retraction with respect to a fixed plate is provided with a tie bar connecting device (12) for meshing a split nut (18) with the multiple groove portion (16) of a tie bar (10), and a mold clamping cylinder (20) operable with the split nut (18) serving as a reaction force point. The mold clamping cylinder (20) comprises a primary piston (22) contacting the split nut (18) and a secondary piston (24) movable relative to the primary piston (22). It is arranged that the movable platen (4) is stopped just before the position at which the movable mold contacts the fixed mold, and in this state the split nut (18) is reliably meshed with the multiple groove portion (16). Thereafter, the secondary piston (24) and primary piston (22) are moved integrally with respect to the movable platen (4) so as to effect mold contacting and mold clamping. After molding, the secondary piston (24) and the primary piston (22) are relatively moved to effect mold release.