Abstract: A surgical fixation system including a base plate, a plurality of anchors, and a plurality of locking elements. The base plate has a pair of fixation apertures configured to receive at least a portion of the anchors therethrough. The fixation apertures are provided by example as elongated slots. The fixation apertures are located within the base plate such that upon proper placement of the base plate within a surgical target site, one of the fixation apertures is positioned over a first bone segment (e.g. a first vertebral body), and the other fixation aperture is positioned over a second bone segment (e.g. a second vertebral body).

Abstract: Platen-mounted, post-mold cooling apparatus and method includes structure and/or steps for handling molded parts in an injection molding machine having a fixed platen, a moving platen, a core half, and a cavity half. A take off device coupled to the fixed platen is configured to remove molded parts from either the core half or the cavity half. A cooling device coupled to the moving platen is configured to cool the molded parts carried by the take off device. Preferably, the take off device extracts the just molded parts from the mold's core half and then moves linearly outboard of the mold halves. The subsequent movement of the moving platen to close the mold in the next molding cycle causes the cooling device's pins to engage the molded parts in the take off device part carriers. When the moving platen opens again, the molded parts are extracted from the part carriers by the cooling device pins. When the moving platen is fully open, the cooling device is rotated to eject the cooled parts from the machine.

Abstract: Platen-mounted, post-mold cooling apparatus and method includes structure and/or steps for handling molded parts in an injection molding machine having a fixed platen, a moving platen, a core half, and a cavity half. A take off device coupled to the fixed platen is configured to remove molded parts from either the core half or the cavity half. A cooling device coupled to the moving platen is configured to cool the molded parts carried by the take off device. Preferably, the take off device extracts the just molded parts from the mold's core half and then moves linearly outboard of the mold halves. The subsequent movement of the moving platen to close the mold in the next molding cycle causes the cooling device's pins to engage the molded parts in the take off device part carriers. When the moving platen opens again, the molded parts are extracted from the part carriers by the cooling device pins. When the moving platen is fully open, the cooling device is rotated to eject the cooled parts from the machine.

Abstract: Platen-mounted, post-mold cooling apparatus and method includes structure and/or steps for handling molded parts in an injection molding machine having a fixed platen, a moving platen, a core half, and a cavity half. A take off device coupled to the fixed platen is configured to remove molded parts from either the core half or the cavity half. A cooling device coupled to the moving platen is configured to cool the molded parts carried by the take off device. Preferably, the take off device extracts the just molded parts from the mold's core half and then moves linearly outboard of the mold halves. The subsequent movement of the moving platen to close the mold in the next molding cycle causes the cooling device's pins to engage the molded parts in the take off device part carriers. When the moving platen opens again, the molded parts are extracted from the part carriers by the cooling device pins. When the moving platen is fully open, the cooling device is rotated to eject the cooled parts from the machine.

Abstract: Platen-mounted, post-mold cooling apparatus and method includes structure and/or steps for handling molded parts in an injection molding machine having a fixed platen, a moving platen, a core half, and a cavity half. A take off device coupled to the fixed platen is configured to remove molded parts from either the core half or the cavity half. A cooling device coupled to the moving platen is configured to cool the molded parts carried by the take off device. Preferably, the take off device extracts the just molded parts from the mold's core half and then moves linearly outboard of the mold halves. The subsequent movement of the moving platen to close the mold in the next molding cycle causes the cooling device's pins to engage the molded parts in the take off device part carriers. When the moving platen opens again, the molded parts are extracted from the part carriers by the cooling device pins. When the moving platen is fully open, the cooling device is rotated to eject the cooled parts from the machine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an injection molding machine having a novel key/slot arrangement for facilitating installation and removal of a central mold portion. The novel key/slot arrangement includes non-uniform width key elements on frame members which support the central mold portion and non-uniform width slots in side portions of the central mold portion for engaging the key elements. The machine further includes a novel rack/gear drive arrangement for insuring a proper positioning of the mold elements at all times.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an injection molding machine having a novel key/slot arrangement for facilitating installation and removal of a central mold portion. The novel key/slot arrangement includes non-uniform width key elements on frame members which support the central mold portion and non-uniform width slots in side portions of the central mold portion for engaging the key elements. The machine further includes a novel rack/gear drive arrangement for insuring a proper positioning of the mold elements at all times.