Abstract: A core lifter having a lifter bar assembly formed of an elongate lifter bar with a replaceable lifter bar extension coupling carrying a coupling ball pivotably, rotatably, and translationally coupled to a lifter base fixed to an ejector plate of a plastic injection molding apparatus, the bar extension coupling removably coupled to the bar by a coupling joint configured to automatically self-align the bar relative to the base and mold in which the bar extends in a direction generally orthogonal to a lengthwise extent of the bar. Bar extension coupling is formed of an extension link having one end carrying the ball and an opposite end slidably coupled to an end of the bar by coupling joint. A preferred extension link is of breakaway sacrificial construction and slidably attached to the bar via a coupling joint that is a floating dovetail joint.

Abstract: A core lifter having lifter bar with an elongate blade which carries a coupling head received in an elongate lifter bar coupling receiver formed in the base configured to permit pivotable, swiveling and/or translational misalignment or tolerance compensation during core lifter assembly, installation, and operation in a plastic formable material molding apparatus, including during mold cycling advantageously preventing core lifter binding and extending core lifter life. A preferred lifter has a lifter bar formed of a blade to which a lifter bar coupling ball is attached that is received in an elongate longitudinally extending channel having a transverse cross section complementary to the ball defining a bearing race in which the ball is received enabling slidable pivoting, swiveling and slidable movement of the ball and blade relative thereto including while the ball and blade are slidably moving along the race in a longitudinal or lengthwise direction relative to the base.

Abstract: A core lifter having lifter bar with an elongate blade which carries a coupling head received in an elongate lifter bar coupling receiver formed in the base configured to permit pivotable, swiveling and/or translational misalignment or tolerance compensation during core lifter assembly, installation, and operation in a plastic formable material molding apparatus, including during mold cycling advantageously preventing core lifter binding and extending core lifter life. A preferred lifter has a lifter bar formed of a blade to which a lifter bar coupling ball is attached that is received in an elongate longitudinally extending channel having a transverse cross section complementary to the ball defining a bearing race in which the ball is received enabling slidable pivoting, swiveling and slidable movement of the ball and blade relative thereto including while the ball and blade are slidably moving along the race in a longitudinal or lengthwise direction relative to the base.

Abstract: A self-lubricating alignment mold or bar lock assembly which has male and female lock halves with slidably contacting engagement surfaces formed with lubricant-retaining recesses deep enough to hold lubricant that re-lubricates the engagement surfaces during slidable contact therebetween shallow enough to be self-cleaning by shedding debris that ordinarily would cause abrasive wear. The recesses are uniformly spaced and arranged into an array of uniformly spaced rows and columns of recesses that define a lubricant-film retaining region of the engagement surface. Recesses form at least 40% of the total area of the engagement surface and overlap adjacent recesses in adjacent rows and columns providing uniform re-lubrication and lubricant distribution. Each recess has a depth no greater than 25 microns deep enough to hold lubricant but shallow enough to shed debris into an adjacent deeper debris well. Each debris well serves as a gravity feed lubricant reservoir that returns lubricant to recesses.

Abstract: A core lifter having lifter bar with an elongate blade which carries a coupling head received in an elongate lifter bar coupling receiver formed in the base configured to permit pivotable, swiveling and/or translational misalignment or tolerance compensation during core lifter assembly, installation, and operation in a plastic formable material molding apparatus, including during mold cycling advantageously preventing core lifter binding and extending core lifter life. A preferred lifter has a lifter bar formed of a blade to which a lifter bar coupling ball is attached that is received in an elongate longitudinally extending channel having a transverse cross section complementary to the ball defining a bearing race in which the ball is received enabling slidable pivoting, swiveling and slidable movement of the ball and blade relative thereto including while the ball and blade are slidably moving along the race in a longitudinal or lengthwise direction relative to the base.

Abstract: A protective data holding vault that includes a module with onboard memory that can be configured as a drive, e.g. flash drive, attached to a machine or apparatus and which securely and protectively holds data associated with the machine or apparatus and a unique identifier thereof. The vault includes a casing with a receptacle in which the module is received and a cover that is sealingly attachable to the casing to cover the receptacle and protect the module in the receptacle. The vault is mounted in a pocket on the machine or apparatus, or a component therefor or thereof, and is linkable to a processor equipped device, such as via a USB link, enabling data stored on the vault to be retrieved and stored offboard providing secure data backup. In one system implementation, data synchronization can be performed to a remotely located storage device with bidirectional data transfer contemplated.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: A protective data holding vault that includes a module with onboard memory that can be configured as a drive, e.g. flash drive, attached to a machine or apparatus and which securely and protectively holds data associated with the machine or apparatus and a unique identifier thereof. The vault includes a casing with a receptacle in which the module is received and a cover that is sealingly attachable to the casing to cover the receptacle and protect the module in the receptacle. The vault is mounted in a pocket on the machine or apparatus, or a component therefor or thereof, and is linkable to a processor equipped device, such as via a USB link, enabling data stored on the vault to be retrieved and stored offboard providing secure data backup. In one system implementation, data synchronization can be performed to a remotely located storage device with bidirectional data transfer contemplated.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: A mold lock for a mold that includes a plurality of interlocking arrangements that are configured to provide at least a plurality of interlocks during mold closing. A male interlocking arrangement includes a head with a nose that has a recessed or offset portion that facilitates primary interlocking during mold closing. The nose can be configured with one or more spaced apart bosses that make contact with arms of a female interlocking arrangement at an initial point of contact that then facilitate mold alignment when a second point of contact is achieved.

Abstract: A seating element has an archable element with a first side to face an occupant of a seat when the seating element is installed in a seat and a second side opposite of the first side. A pneumatic arching element is arranged at the second side of the archable element.

Abstract: A mold lock for a mold that includes a plurality of interlocking arrangements that are configured to provide at least a plurality of interlocks during mold closing. A male interlocking arrangement includes a head with a nose that has a recessed or offset portion that facilitates primary interlocking during mold closing. The nose can be configured with one or more spaced apart bosses that make contact with arms of a female interlocking arrangement at an initial point of contact that then facilitate mold alignment when a second point of contact is achieved.

Abstract: An insert for a mold comprising a plug, having an insert face, and a receiver defined by a sidewall with one of the plug and the receiver having a groove that receives a guide that extends from the other of the plug and the receiver so as to facilitate rotation of the plug while opposing withdrawal of the plug. In one preferred embodiment, the groove has an inclined entranceway, that facilitates plug insertion and removal, and a transverse portion and extends circumferentially no more than about one and one-quarter rotation about the plug. In another embodiment, the guide is resiliently urged outwardly from the plug to ride in a groove in the sidewall and the sidewall has an access port for prying free the plug from the receiver. A detent assembly comprised of notches on the plug and a detent carried by the receiver permit the plug to be selectively indexed. The insert can be mounted to or carried by an ejector pin having a head constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of the pin during mold operation.

Abstract: A mold interlocking device that includes a first portion attached to a mold half that has a head with a channel and an insert therein that is received in a pocket of a receptacle of a second portion that is attached to another mold half. In one embodiment, the head comprises sidewalls each with channels that receive a replaceable insert therein. Preferred inserts include rollers, plates, plates with lubricating plugs, and plates comprised of layers. In one embodiment, each sidewall of the head has a tapered section disposed between a mounting base and a straight section and each pocket is defined by a complementarily contoured sidewall. In another embodiment, each head sidewall further includes a second tapered section adjacent the free end of the head.

Abstract: A mold vent and method. The vent has expanding passages. A preferred vent comprises an insert that has a plurality of passages. One insert comprises a grate formed of a plurality of portions that interleave fingers forming vent passages therebetween that preferably are vent slots. Supports can be disposed between fingers. The grate preferably is discharge-machined from a blank cut from stock made material that preferably is non-porous and smooth. The grate can be mounted in a pocket in the mold cavity or carried by a movable pin. The grate can be used in a system that includes valving, a source of fluid, and, if needed, a source of vacuum to help facilitate venting by drawing atmosphere out of the cavity during molding. The grate can also be used to introduce fluid into the mold that can be foaming moldable material or a heat transfer medium.

Abstract: In a flow meter, especially for liquid cooling media in injection molds, comprising a housing with an inlet and outlet conduit and inside the housing a piston that is slidable against the force of an axially acting spring by the pressure of the fluid flowing through the housing in such a way that the displacement of the piston takes place in dependence upon the flow rate and is indicated through a window, provision is made, to attain a high measuring accuracy with a simple construction, for a helical spring (22) that is guided in extension of the inlet conduit (2) in an axial direction to be disposed in such a way that the entering fluid is transported around the centrically disposed helical spring (22).

Abstract: A mold interlocking device that includes a first portion attached to a mold half that has a head with a channel and an insert therein that is received in a pocket of a receptacle of a second portion that is attached to another mold half. In one embodiment, the head comprises sidewalls each with channels that receive a replaceable insert therein. Preferred inserts include rollers, plates, plates with lubricating plugs, and plates comprised of layers. In one embodiment, each sidewall of the head has a tapered section disposed between a mounting base and a straight section and each pocket is defined by a complementarily contoured sidewall. In another embodiment, each head sidewall further includes a second tapered section adjacent the free end of the head.

Abstract: A mold interlocking device that includes a first portion attached to a mold half that has a head with a channel and an insert therein that is received in a pocket of a receptacle of a second portion that is attached to another mold half. In one embodiment, the head comprises sidewalls each with channels that receive a replaceable insert therein. Preferred inserts include rollers, plates, plates with lubricating plugs, and plates comprised of layers. In one embodiment, each sidewall of the head has a tapered section disposed between a mounting base and a straight section and each pocket is defined by a complementarily contoured sidewall. In another embodiment, each head sidewall further includes a second tapered section adjacent the free end of the head.

Abstract: A mold vent and method. The vent has expanding passages. A preferred vent comprises an insert that has a plurality of passages. One insert comprises a grate formed of a plurality of portions that interleave fingers forming vent passages therebetween that preferably are vent slots. Supports can be disposed between fingers. The grate preferably is discharge-machined from a blank cut from stock made material that preferably is non-porous and smooth. The grate can be mounted in a pocket in the mold cavity or carried by a movable pin. The grate can be used in a system that includes valving, a source of fluid, and, if needed, a source of vacuum to help facilitate venting by drawing atmosphere out of the cavity during molding. The grate can also be used to introduce fluid into the mold that can be foaming moldable material or a heat transfer medium.