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/or second first substantially hemispherical wedges having a first and/or 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.

Abstract: A locking device for a mold including more than one movable plate. A spring-biased wedge block includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall that is beveled with respect to the first side wall. A latch bar includes an inclined latch end for engaging with the second side wall of the wedge block. A cam bar includes a cam end for engaging with the first side wall of the wedge block. At least one of the wedge block, the latch bar or the cam bar is formed of a 4340 steel alloy, and at least one of the latch end, the cam end, or the wedge block second side wall is nitrided or nitride coated.

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 locking device for a mold including more than one movable plate. A spring-biased wedge block includes a first side wall and an opposing second side wall that is beveled with respect to the first side wall. A latch bar includes an inclined latch end for engaging with the second side wall of the wedge block. A cam bar includes a cam end for engaging with the first side wall of the wedge block. At least one of the wedge block, the latch bar or the cam bar is formed of a 4340 steel alloy, and at least one of the latch end, the cam end, or the wedge block second side wall is nitrided or nitride coated.

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: 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/or second first substantially hemispherical wedges having a first and/or 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.

Abstract: The present invention includes an improved ejector sleeve (5) having thinner side-walls than prior sleeves. The sleeves generally include a ring (31) for mounting the sleeve, a central bore (42) for receiving a core pin (1), a tube portion extending from the ring to a tube end portion. The side-walls defining the tube end portion have a thickness of less than forty thousandths, and preferably thirty thousandths of an inch. Preferably, the coated ejector sleeve is provided in which a thin, lubricous coating of nickel, chromium or alloys of chromium or nickel is applied to at least a portion of the sleeve. The coating is applied in thickness of less than 0.0001 inch which improves the wear characteristics of the pins and sleeves as well as allowing the coated pins and sleeves to be stocked and used as nominal thickness parts.

Abstract: An ejector is coated with a thin, hard, low friction, lubricous coating for use in a mold to eject molded articles from the mold without the use of liquid lubricants. The preferred ejector has a thin, low friction, coefficient coating with a thickness on the order of 0.00004 inch to 0.0001 inch. This coating provides long lasting, dry lubrication for low friction reciprocation of the ejector within a bore in the mold. The thin lubricous coating allows the ejector to be inventoried and sold in nominal sizes and cut down to the desired size by the mold builder to suit a specific application, and the cut ends are then deburred by the mold builder and finish ground to size, with the lubricous coating remaining intact at the cut end of the ejector. The coating is so thin that the nominal size of the ejector is essentially unchanged. The very thin coating does not chip or flake at the cut end, as would result in cavities into which the plastic could flow and form flashing on the plastic part being molded.

Abstract: The present invention includes an improved ejector sleeve (5) having thinner side-walls than prior sleeves. The sleeves generally include a ring (31) for mounting the sleeve, a central bore (42) for receiving a core pin (1), a tube portion extending from the ring to a tube end portion. The side-walls defining the tube end portion have a thickness of less than forty thousandths, and preferably thirty thousandths of an inch. Preferably, the coated ejector sleeve is provided in which a thin, lubricous coating of nickel, chromium or alloys of chromium or nickel is applied to at least a portion of the sleeve. The coating is applied in thickness of less than 0.0001 inch which improves the wear characteristics of the pins and sleeves as well as allowing the coated pins and sleeves to be stocked and used as nominal thickness parts.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, an improved stack mold timing and alignment system is provided which includes a gear wheel enclosed within a gear housing, rack spacers which extend between the center section and the two B-halves of the mold. The rack spacers are mounted to the center section and B-halves in a manner which allows a pivoting and floating mount such that the mold has improved tolerance for misalignment. This allows the gear and rack to avoid many misalignment situations which would cause excessive wear and damage to more rigidly mounted gear and rack systems.

Abstract: An ejector is coated with a thin, hard, low friction, lubricous coating for use in a mold to eject molded articles from the mold without the use of liquid lubricants. The preferred ejector has a thin, low friction, coefficient coating with a thickness on the order of 0.00004 inch to 0.0001 inch. This coating provides long lasting, dry lubrication for low friction reciprocation of the ejector within a bore in the mold. The thin lubricous coating allows the ejector to be inventoried and sold in nominal sizes and cut down to the desired size by the mold builder to suit a specific application, and the cut ends are then deburred by the mold builder and finish ground to size, with the lubricous coating remaining intact at the cut end of the ejector. The coating is so thin that the nominal size of the ejector is essentially unchanged. The very thin coating does not chip or flake at the cut end, as would result in cavities into which the plastic could flow and form flashing on the plastic part being molded.

Abstract: There is provided a new and improved method for connecting electrical components in a mold with a molding press. The method includes the steps of connecting electrical leads to coded electrical connectors secured to the mold; connecting electrical connectors to detachable electrical cables; and extending and detachably connecting electrical cables to coded connectors of a junction panel or box. The electrical connectors at the mold may be color-coded and/or shape-coded as to pins or keys on the connectors; and likewise, the cables and the electrical connectors at the junction box may also be similarly color-coded and/or shape-coded.

Abstract: A side-action mechanism is provided for forming recesses or apertures in injection molded plastic parts and which includes a slide carrier and a driver actuator therefor which are part of a modular side-action cam unit that can be attached entirely into one mold half, e.g., the core half, so as to avoid having to machine and customize the other mold half or cavity half as with prior side-action devices. In addition, the modular side-action cam unit provides a driving surface that is preferably flat which engages the bottom flat of the cavity half to obviate the alignment problems which can occur in the prior angled cam pin side-action mechanisms. The present modular cam unit is a small unit and does not take as long to install into the mold as the prior side-action cam mechanisms which required installing parts in both the cavity and core halves of the mold.

Abstract: There is provided a new and improved system for connecting electrical components in a mold with a molding press. The electrical components having electrical leads are connected to coded electrical connectors secured to the mold; and these electrical connectors are connected to detachable electrical cables which extend to and are detachably connected to coded connectors of a junction panel or box. The electrical connectors at the mold are color-coded as well as shape-coded as to pins or keys on the connectors; and likewise, the cables and the electrical connectors at the junction box are also similarly color-coded and shape-coded.

Abstract: A guiding mechanism and method are provided for properly aligning molds or portions thereof, such as ejector plates, as they are cycled. The guiding mechanism is an improvement over conventional bushings which require that the mold in which the bushings are mounted to be removed from the press and disassembled and thereafter, the press fitted bushings are pressed out. Herein, the bushings are provided with a replaceable insert or portion that is easily disconnected from the remainder of the bushing such as by unthreading a threaded insert from a threaded bushing body without removing the mold half from the press. A first replaceable insert can be mounted in the bushing body which is sized to receive the leader pin to guide the leader pins therein and align the mold halves as they are moved to the closed position.

Abstract: An ejector is coated with a thin, hard, low friction, lubricous coating for use in a mold to eject molded articles from the mold without the use of liquid lubricants. The preferred ejector has a thin, low friction, coefficient coating with a thickness on the order of 0.00004 inch to 0.0001 inch. This coating provides long lasting, dry lubrication for low friction reciprocation of the ejector within a bore in the mold. The thin lubricous coating allows the ejector to be inventoried and sold in nominal sizes and cut down to the desired size by the mold builder to suit a specific application, and the cut ends are then deburred by the mold builder and finish ground to size, with the lubricous coating remaining intact at the cut end of the ejector. The coating is so thin that the nominal size of the ejector is essentially unchanged. The very thin coating does not chip or flake at the cut end, as would result in cavities into which the plastic could flow and form flashing on the plastic part being molded.

Abstract: An injection plastic mold is provided with its own on-board monitor or counter, which is actuated with each opening and closing cycle of the mold to maintain a count of the operating cycles performed. This count is maintained with the mold, whether the mold is on the press or a storage rack. The counter or monitor is relatively inexpensive and unobtrusive and is capable of withstanding harsh temperatures and shock that are encountered in an injection molding environment. The counter or stroke monitor may be either a mechanical counter or an electrical counter which is incorporated into a mold half to remain with the mold when it is stored away from a molding machine, when operated during an initial set-up operation, and when operated during a production run. Whether an on-board mechanical counter or an on-board electrical counter, the counter is hermetically sealed against the intrusion of damaging liquids or chemicals and is mounted in a protective housing to protect against shock, etc.