Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, there are provided an auxiliary carriage combined with an auxiliary carriage actuator and a multi-stack molding machine incorporating same. For example, an auxiliary carriage for use in a multi-level molding machine is disclosed. The auxiliary carriage comprises a support structure configured to accept, in use, an auxiliary mold assembly; an auxiliary carriage actuator configured to be operatively coupled, in use, to the support structure, to a main carriage of the multi-level molding machine and to one of a fixed platen and a movable platen to actuate, in use, the auxiliary carriage in unison with the main carriage.

Abstract: A method of loading a moldset having a core plate and a cavity plate into an injection molding machine. The method comprises the steps of latching a cavity plate to a core plate using a removable latch, guiding the core plate into an open mold along a face in the mold while maintaining separation between the face and the core plate and maintaining the cavity plate spaced from hot runner nozzles in a hot runner in the mold, closing the mold to engage the cavity plate with the hot runner nozzles, securing the cavity plate to the hot runner, removing the latch between the cavity plate and the core plate, and opening the mold. The face may be a face of a movable platen or a back surface of a hot runner.

Abstract: The present invention is a multiple-level stack mold for balancing the injection of molten plastic from an injection molding machine to a plurality of cavities, at least one cavity on each level of the multiple-level stack mold, for producing plastic parts facing in the same direction. Cavity plates are assembled in the multiple-level stack mold all facing in a first direction, and either core plates or plates having inserts thereon are assembled in the multiple-level stack mold all facing in a second direction. The clamping mechanism simultaneously moves the cavity plates and the core plates into engagement. Molten plastic is then evenly and simultaneously injected and distributed through a plurality of channels and passages, such that the flow of molten plastic is balanced throughout the system. Thereafter, the cavity plates and the core plates are simultaneously separated, thereby allowing removal of the resulting plastic parts, which are all facing in the same direction.

Abstract: A guiding system for guiding a moldset onto a molding machine. The guiding system includes guide grooves on each side of a core plate of the moldset and guide slots on a face of the machine. A slightly raised surface is provided in a top portion of the guide slots and a wedge shaped portion is provided at a base of the guide slots. The moldset is inserted into the machine by guiding the grooves into the guide slots. The slightly raised portion initially moves the core plate away from the face and the wedge shaped portion forces the core plate into firm contact with the face when the moldset is substantially loaded into the machine. The face may be a face of a movable platen or a face of a hot runner.

Abstract: An automatic docking system for an injection molding machine having a mold. The docking system includes a moldset with a core plate, a guide on each side of the core plate and moldset guides on a face of the mold. The moldset guides cooperate with the core plate guides to load the moldset into the machine. A water manifold is mounted in the mold and a plurality of water connections extend from the manifold toward a moldset to be mounted in the machine. An air channel is provided in each moldset guide. A core plate separation block is attached to a top end of each core plate guide. Air channels extend through the core plate and the core plate separation blocks. Each separation block includes an air opening for engaging an air opening on a moldset guide when the moldset is loaded into the machine.

Abstract: A three level stack mold machine comprising a machine frame, a fixed platen mounted on the frame, guide rails mounted on the frame, a movable platen mounted on the guide rails and two carriages mounted on the guide rails between the fixed platen and the movable platen. A hot runner plate is mounted on the fixed platen and water manifolds are mounted on each carriage assembly. Each manifold has water connectors extending upwardly therefrom. A hot runner plate is mounted on each manifold and connected to a first group of the water connectors. A core plate is mounted on the movable platen and connected to water connectors extending upwardly from a water manifold attached to the movable platen. Core plates are mounted on the hot runner plates on the carriage assemblies. The core plates have water connectors on a bottom surface thereof connected to a second group of the water connectors. Cavity plates are mounted on the hot runner plates and connected to hot runner nozzles extending out of the hot runner plates.

Abstract: A linkage assembly for a multiple level stack mold molding machine having a fixed platen, a movable platen, a plurality of carriage assemblies. The linkage assembly includes an arm on each carriage assembly pivotally connected to a central pivot point on one of the carriage assemblies. An arm also extends between the fixed platen and an end of one of the arms on a carriage assembly. Another arm extends between the movable platen and an end of another of the arms on another of the carriage assemblies. A pair of arms extend between each adjacent carriage assembly, each one of the pair of arms extends from an end of an arm of one carriage assembly to a central pivot point on an adjacent carriage assembly. Each arm of the pair of arms is shaped to extend around a periphery portion of a mold opening to enable full access to the core and cavity plates.

Abstract: An automatic docking system for an injection molding machine having a mold. The docking system includes a moldset with a core plate, a guide on each side of the core plate and moldset guides on a face of the mold. The moldset guides cooperate with the core plate guides to load the moldset into the machine. A water manifold is mounted in the mold and a plurality of water connections extend from the manifold toward a moldset to be mounted in the machine. An air channel is provided in each moldset guide. A core plate separation block is attached to a top end of each core plate guide. Air channels extend through the core plate and the core plate separation blocks. Each separation block includes an air opening for engaging an air opening on a moldset guide when the moldset is loaded into the machine.

Abstract: A linkage assembly for a multiple level stack mold molding machine having a fixed platen, a movable platen, a plurality of carriage assemblies. The linkage assembly includes an arm on each carriage assembly pivotally connected to a central pivot point on one of the carriage assemblies. An arm also extends between the fixed platen and an end of one of the arms on a carriage assembly. Another arm extends between the movable platen and an end of another of the arms on another of the carriage assemblies. A pair of arms extend between each adjacent carriage assembly, each one of the pair of arms extends from an end of an arm of one carriage assembly to a central pivot point on an adjacent carriage assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a multiple-level stack mold for balancing the injection of molten plastic from an injection molding machine to a plurality of cavities, at least one cavity on each level of the multiple-level stack mold, for producing plastic parts facing in the same direction. Cavity plates are assembled in the multiple-level stack mold all facing in a first direction, and either core plates or plates having inserts thereon are assembled in the multiple-level stack mold all facing in a second direction. The clamping mechanism simultaneously moves the cavity plates and the core plates into engagement. Molten plastic is then evenly and simultaneously injected and distributed through a plurality of channels and passages, such that the flow of molten plastic is balanced throughout the system. Thereafter, the cavity plates and the core plates are simultaneously separated, thereby allowing removal of the resulting plastic parts, which are all facing in the same direction.

Abstract: A method of loading a moldset having a core plate and a cavity plate into an injection molding machine. The method comprises the steps of latching a cavity plate to a core plate using a removable latch, guiding the core plate into an open mold along a face in the mold while maintaining separation between the face and the core plate and maintaining the cavity plate spaced from hot runner nozzles in a hot runner in the mold, closing the mold to engage the cavity plate with the hot runner nozzles, securing the cavity plate to the hot runner, removing the latch between the cavity plate and the core plate, and opening the mold. The face may be a face of a movable platen or a back surface of a hot runner.

Abstract: A three level stack mold machine comprising a machine frame, a fixed platen mounted on the frame, guide rails mounted on the frame, a movable platen mounted on the guide rails and two carriages mounted on the guide rails between the fixed platen and the movable platen. A hot runner plate is mounted on the fixed platen and water manifolds are mounted on each carriage assembly. Each manifold has water connectors extending upwardly therefrom. A hot runner plate is mounted on each manifold and connected to a first group of the water connectors. A core plate is mounted on the movable platen and connected to water connectors extending upwardly from a water manifold attached to the movable platen. Core plates are mounted on the hot runner plates on the carriage assemblies. The core plates have water connectors on a bottom surface thereof connected to a second group of the water connectors. Cavity plates are mounted on the hot runner plates and connected to hot runner nozzles extending out of the hot runner plates.

Abstract: A guiding system for guiding a moldset onto a molding machine. The guiding system includes guide grooves on each side of a core plate of the moldset and guide slots on a face of the machine. A slightly raised surface is provided in a top portion of the guide slots and a wedge shaped portion is provided at a base of the guide slots. The moldset is inserted into the machine by guiding the grooves into the guide slots. The slightly raised portion initially moves the core plate away from the face and the wedge shaped portion forces the core plate into firm contact with the face when the moldset is substantially loaded into the machine. The face may be a face of a movable platen or a face of a hot runner.

Abstract: A mold element retaining and releasing mechanism includes a spigot to be connected to a mold or to a machine platen and retained in place by a retaining mechanism operable to engage and release the spigot. The retaining mechanism is moved between a first configuration, wherein it engages the spigot and a second configuration wherein it releases the spigot by an actuator which, in a preferred embodiment, is a pneumatically operable piston.

Abstract: A dynamic mold seal for a mold having two relatively movable mold halves is provided. The dynamic mold seal is formed by a sealing ring mounted or secured to a first one of the mold halves. The sealing ring includes a rigid ring portion and a sealing portion including a flexible sealing member for preventing leakage of the pressurized molten material from the mold and thereby preventing the creation of flash about the molded article. The flexible sealing member is preferably formed by a reduced cross section portion of the sealing portion.

Abstract: A dynamic mold seal for a mold having two relatively movable mold halves is provided. The dynamic mold seal is formed by a sealing ring mounted or secured to a first one of the mold halves. The sealing ring includes a rigid ring portion and a sealing portion including a flexible sealing member for preventing leakage of the pressurized molten material from the mold and thereby preventing the creation of flash about the molded article. The flexible sealing member is preferably formed by a reduced cross section portion of the sealing portion.

Abstract: An injection molding machine having a plurality of axially arranged mold stations including structure for supporting sets of mold plates and a mechanism for opening, closing and overstroking mold plates.

Abstract: A stack mold apparatus for forming plastic articles is described. The apparatus includes an insulated runner system for delivering molten plastic material to the mold spaces for forming the parts. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for ejecting the solidified material of the runner when it becomes necessary to change the plastic material being used. In a first embodiment, the ejector mechanism has a pair of movable plates that form part of the central mold portion of the stack mold. In a second embodiment, the ejector mechanism has a movable plate, forming half of the central mold portion, having sucker pins and ejector bars incorporated therein.

Abstract: Injection molding machines for making plastic articles having a stack mold arrangement frequently suffer from the problem of unbalanced forces. Various novel techniques for counteracting and/or avoiding the production of these forces are disclosed. These techniques include the use of latches to lock an injection nozzle to a sprue bar, the use of shutters to lock the sprue bar to a stationary platen, the use of a force compensator in a moving stack mold half, and the use of an injection nozzle axially offset from the sprue bar.

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.