Abstract: A mold assembly including a spacer positioned or disposed between a back-up plate and a cavity block, the mold assembly, and a method of coupling the back-up plate and the cavity block of the mold assembly using a fastener including the spacer substantially as described above, in order to provide spring-loaded self-adjusting alignment between mating mold inserts.

Abstract: A lifter system and apparatus having a rotational gib for molding plastic parts, in large mold machines or small mold machines. A core blade is movably mounted with respect to a mold. A gib, such as a rotational gib, is mounted with respect to an ejector plate of the mold. A rotational mount is fixed with respect to the gib. The core blade can be moved and releasably locked at or into different positions with respect to the gib. The rotational mount can be releasably locked with respect to the gib. A detent, a bias element and a spherical surface or other contact surface can be used to hold or fix a position of the core blade with respect to the gib. A second detent, a second bias element and a second spherical surface or other contact surface can be used to hold or fix a position of the rotational mount with respect to the gib.

Abstract: A lifter system and apparatus having a rotational gib for molding plastic parts, in large mold machines or small mold machines. A core blade is movably mounted with respect to a mold. A gib, such as a rotational gib, is mounted with respect to an ejector plate of the mold. A rotational mount is fixed with respect to the gib. The core blade can be moved and releasably locked at or into different positions with respect to the gib. The rotational mount can be releasably locked with respect to the gib. A detent, a bias element and a spherical surface or other contact surface can be used to hold or fix a position of the core blade with respect to the gib. A second detent, a second bias element and a second spherical surface or other contact surface can be used to hold or fix a position of the rotational mount with respect to the gib.

Abstract: An apparatus or system and method or process for displaying tool or die data or other tool or processing information on a display window of a webpage. A method for displaying tool data from a reciprocating tool includes positioning a monitor with respect to the reciprocating tool and the monitor recording data from the reciprocating tool. The data is communicated and then stored in a remote data storage location as stored tool data. The stored tool data is processed and then displayed, for example in the window of the webpage.

Abstract: A module or unit manufactured allowing simplified installation of a lifter rod assembly of a core lifter apparatus for a mold for molding plastic parts. In some embodiments, a slide is movably mounted with respect to a retainer and/or a gib, so that the retainer attached to the lifter rod can be moved in a linear direction and a rotational direction to provide free motion and reduce wear and breakage due to uneven ejector plate movement during production cycling of the mold. In some embodiments, the slide has one or more spring-loaded devices that hold the retainer in a particular position with respect to the slide, positioned to receive the lifter rod during mold assembly. In some embodiments, the retainer accommodates connections and coiled hoses for delivering cooling fluid to an internally cooled lifter rod.

Abstract: An apparatus or system and method or process for displaying tool or die data or other tool or processing information on a display window of a webpage. A method for displaying tool data from a reciprocating tool includes positioning a monitor with respect to the reciprocating tool and the monitor recording data from the reciprocating tool. The data is communicated and then stored in a remote data storage location as stored tool data. The stored tool data is processed and then displayed, for example in the window of the webpage.

Abstract: A module or unit manufactured allowing simplified installation of a lifter rod assembly of a core lifter apparatus for a mold for molding plastic parts. In some embodiments, a slide is movably mounted with respect to a retainer and/or a gib, so that the retainer attached to the lifter rod can be moved in a linear direction and a rotational direction to provide free motion and reduce wear and breakage due to uneven ejector plate movement during production cycling of the mold. In some embodiments, the slide has one or more spring-loaded devices that hold the retainer in a particular position with respect to the slide, positioned to receive the lifter rod during mold assembly. In some embodiments, the retainer accommodates connections and coiled hoses for delivering cooling fluid to an internally cooled lifter rod.

Abstract: A monitor for maintaining a mold cycle count with an actuator sending a count signal to a processor following a mold operation. The monitor further includes a timer having an active mode and a sleep mode. The processor generates an average cycle time and an activity percentage of the mold taking into account active and sleep periods of the mold.

Abstract: A monitor for maintaining a mold cycle count with an actuator sending a count signal to a processor following a mold operation. The monitor further includes a timer having an active mode and a sleep mode. The processor generates an average cycle time and an activity percentage of the mold taking into account active and sleep periods of the mold.

Abstract: A monitor for maintaining a mold cycle count with an actuator sending a count signal to a processor following a mold operation. The monitor further includes a timer having an active mode and a sleep mode. The processor generates an average cycle time and an activity percentage of the mold taking into account active and sleep periods of the mold.

Abstract: A monitor for maintaining a mold cycle count and other mold operation data and a corresponding system that generates a first remote record of the mold cycle data and a second remote record of the mold cycle data, the second remote record comprising a lesser, different and/or non-confidential version of the first remote record. The first remote record and the second remote record may then be coordinated among an OEM manufacturer, a moldmaker and a molder.

Abstract: An alignment interlock for reciprocating tooling that includes a female lock having a central engagement area and a corresponding male lock having a profile shaped to matingly engage with the central engagement area. A plurality of particle rings are preferably formed on an engagement surface of the profile and an engagement ramp having a polished, radiused lead-in is preferably formed at a leading edge of the profile.

Abstract: A monitor for a reciprocating tool reporting the removal of the monitor from the tool, for determination of a reason for removal, such as routine maintenance cleaning, unauthorized use of the mold to produce parts, and the like. The reason for removal can be reported to any party, including but not limited to an owner of the mold, an OEM manufacturer, a moldmaker and/or a molder.

Abstract: An apparatus or system and method or process for displaying tool or die data or other tool or processing information on a display window of a webpage. A method for displaying tool data from a reciprocating tool includes positioning a monitor with respect to the reciprocating tool and the monitor recording data from the reciprocating tool. The data is communicated and then stored in a remote data storage location as stored tool data. The stored tool data is processed and then displayed, for example in the window of the webpage.

Abstract: An alignment interlock for reciprocating tooling that includes a female lock having a central engagement area and a corresponding male lock having a profile shaped to matingly engage with the central engagement area. A plurality of particle rings are preferably formed on an engagement surface of the profile and an engagement ramp having a polished, radiused lead-in is preferably formed at a leading edge of the profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a part that has an undercut, particularly in an injection molding system. A flange is moveably mounted with respect to a moveable part of an injection mold. A head is moveably mounted with respect to the moveable part. A joint, such as a ball-and-socket joint, is used to connect the head with respect to the flange. The head has a shoulder that contacts a stop which is longitudinally fixed with respect to the moveable part, when the mold is in a closed position. A bias element can be used to normally urge the head in a lateral direction with respect to the moveable part.

Abstract: A customizable mold system for creating a custom mold by selecting from a plurality of pre-engineered mold bases and plates. Where the plurality of pre-engineered mold bases and plates provide various options for the custom mold including: a number of cavities; a size of the cavities; a type of coring method; and a type of gating method, for a selected global standard (US, DIN, JIS).

Abstract: A monitor for maintaining a mold cycle count and other mold operation data and a corresponding system that generates a first remote record of the mold cycle data and a second remote record of the mold cycle data, the second remote record comprising a lesser, different and/or non-confidential version of the first remote record. The first remote record and the second remote record may then be coordinated among an OEM manufacturer, a moldmaker and a molder.

Abstract: An injection molding tool having a first section moveable with respect to a second section. In a first position, the first section contacts the second section along a parting line and forms a cavity. An expandable cavity part is moveably mounted with respect to the second section. In a closed condition, the expandable cavity part is in a retracted or molding position. The expandable cavity part can be moved away from the molding position or the closed condition to a release position or an expanded condition with allows access to molded part or other article. A core pin is either moveably mounted with respect to the expandable cavity part or is in a fixed position with respect to the expandable cavity part.

Abstract: A friction puller for an injection mold is disclosed. The friction puller has a bolt with a head portion and a threaded portion. The friction puller has first and second first substantially hemispherical wedges having a first and second passages running through them for the bolt and allow lateral float about the bolt. The friction puller also has a deformable jacket having a third passage running through is for the bolt and first and second substantially hemispherical cups for receiving the first and second substantially hemispherical wedges. The first hemispherical wedge can have a vent relief notch disposed in a top surface of the first hemispherical wedge. The deformable jacket can have a jacket vent notch disposed in a top surface of the deformable jacket. The bolt head and the jacket can have alignment indicator marks thereon. The bolt threads can have a variable pitch diameter.