Abstract: A cavity plate assembly (400) for a preform mold (100), which includes a cavity plate (410) having an array of seats (412) and a corresponding array of cavity inserts (440) mounted to a front face (CVF) of the cavity plate (410) and in communication with a respective seat (412). Each cavity insert (440) includes a body (441) with a mounting face (441a) and a spigot (443) projecting from the mounting face (441a) and received in a respective seat (412) of the cavity plate (410) such that the mounting (441a) face abuts the front face (CVF) of the cavity plate (410). Each cavity insert (440) also includes a molding surface (448) along its length, at least two thirds of which extends beyond the cavity plate (410).

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension.

Abstract: There is provided a structure for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. The structure comprises a positioner configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part on the mold mounting face. The structure further comprises controller executable instructions executable in a controller with which to resolve an alignment parameter of the mold using a feedback signal from a sensor. Further provided is a method of operating an injection molding machine which method comprises the steps of positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face using a positioner and appreciating an alignment parameter of the mold with reference to a feedback signal from a sensor.

Abstract: An injection mold (100) including a core plate assembly (200), a cavity plate assembly (400) and a stripper plate assembly (300) arranged between the core and cavity plate assemblies (200, 400). The mold (100) includes a plurality of mold stacks (MS) with a molding configuration, in which the mold stacks (MS) are closed to define molding cavities. A gap (G) is provided between the core plate (210) and the stripper plate (310) when the mold (100) is in the molding configuration, such that a clamping load (CL) applied to urge the core plate (210) toward the cavity plate (410) is directed substantially entirely through the mold stacks (MS).

Abstract: A mold stack comprises: a split mold insert split into parts, each having a mating face with an inner face region, an offset, and an outer face region, the insert further having a male projecting portion with a shutoff face and an outer surface, at least a part of the inner face region terminating at the shutoff face, the offset terminating at the outer surface; and an adjacent mold stack component having an associated a female receptacle, the insert having a cleaning configuration wherein: the shutoff face acts as a molding surface; the male projecting portion cooperates with the female receptacle to define a melt barrier; the complementary inner face regions are spaced apart to form an extension of the mold cavity terminating, at least in part, at the shutoff face; and the complementary offsets cooperate to prevent melt from passing therebetween and to guide melt towards the melt barrier.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

Abstract: An injection mold (100) including a core plate assembly (200), a cavity plate assembly (400) and a stripper plate assembly (300) arranged between the core and cavity plate assemblies (200, 400). The mold (100) includes a plurality of mold stacks (MS) with a molding configuration, in which the mold stacks (MS) are closed to define molding cavities. A gap (G) is provided between the core plate (210) and the stripper plate (310) when the mold (100) is in the molding configuration, such that a clamping load (CL) applied to urge the core plate (210) toward the cavity plate (410) is directed substantially entirely through the mold stacks (MS).

Abstract: A cavity plate assembly (400) for a preform mold (100), which includes a cavity plate (410) having an array of seats (412) and a corresponding array of cavity inserts (440) mounted to a front face (CVF) of the cavity plate (410) and in communication with a respective seat (412). Each cavity insert (440) includes a body (441) with a mounting face (441a) and a spigot (443) projecting from the mounting face (441a) and received in a respective seat (412) of the cavity plate (410) such that the mounting (441a) face abuts the front face (CVF) of the cavity plate (410). Each cavity insert (440) also includes a molding surface (448) along its length, at least two thirds of which extends beyond the cavity plate (410).

Abstract: There is provided a structure for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. The structure comprises a positioner configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part on the mold mounting face. The structure further comprises controller executable instructions executable in a controller with which to resolve an alignment parameter of the mold using a feedback signal from a sensor. Further provided is a method of operating an injection molding machine which method comprises the steps of positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face using a positioner and appreciating an alignment parameter of the mold with reference to a feedback signal from a sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are structure and steps for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. In particular, the structure and steps may include a positioner that is configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part across the mold mounting face.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

Abstract: A mold stack comprises: a split mold insert split into parts, each having a mating face with an inner face region, an offset, and an outer face region, the insert further having a male projecting portion with a shutoff face and an outer surface, at least a part of the inner face region terminating at the shutoff face, the offset terminating at the outer surface; and an adjacent mold stack component having an associated a female receptacle, the insert having a cleaning configuration wherein: the shutoff face acts as a molding surface; the male projecting portion cooperates with the female receptacle to define a melt barrier; the complementary inner face regions are spaced apart to form an extension of the mold cavity terminating, at least in part, at the shutoff face; and the complementary offsets cooperate to prevent melt from passing therebetween and to guide melt towards the melt barrier.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are structure and steps for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. In particular, the structure and steps may include a positioner that is configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part across the mold mounting face.

Abstract: In an aspect, a mold stack may comprise two adjacent components, one at least partially defining a vent adjustable between a molding configuration and a cleaning configuration. A junction of the components may be adjustable between a molding configuration, wherein mating faces contact one another to define a parting line, and a cleaning configuration, wherein mating faces are separated to create a molding cavity extension therebetween and an auxiliary melt barrier prevents uncontrolled flashing from the extension. In another aspect, a mold shut height adjustment mechanism may include a mold component movable along an operational axis of the mold, a stop member, movable along the axis relative to the mold component, having first and second stops for providing first and second gaps on the front and back sides, respectively, of the mold component when the stop member is deployed, and a spacer for use in selectively deploying the stop member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, amongst other things, are structure and steps for positioning a first mold part of a mold on a mold mounting face in an injection molding machine. In particular, the structure and steps may include a positioner that is configured to connect the first mold part to part of the injection molding machine, wherein the positioner is adjustable to position the first mold part across the mold mounting face.

Abstract: There is provided a member of a mold stack (100, 800), the member comprising: a member body (102, 802) defining a member molding surface for defining, in use, a portion of a molding cavity for molding a molded article, a member cooling circuit (120, 820) having a plurality of member cooling channels (128, 829), the plurality of member cooling channels (128, 829) being coupled in parallel to a source of cooling fluid, the member cooling circuit (120, 820) being fully encapsulated within the member body (102, 802).