Abstract: A preform for use in making a video recorded disc in a body of plastic material having substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The peripheral surface includes a first portion intermediate the top and bottom surfaces and of a peripheral size greater than that of the top and bottom surfaces. Second and third portions extend from the first portion to the top and bottom surface, respectively. Each of the second and third portions has a peripheral dimension which decreases from that of the first portion to that of the top or bottom surface so that the surface of each of the second and third portions is angled away from the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. When the preform is engaged by the molds for making a disc the angled surfaces of the second and third portions serve to minimize if not eliminate the trapping of air and gasses along the surface of the record being formed which cause defects in the record surface.

Abstract: A preform for use in making a video recorded disc in a body of plastic material having substantially flat top and bottom surfaces and a peripheral surface extending between the top and bottom surfaces. The peripheral surface includes a first portion intermediate the top and bottom surfaces and of a peripheral size greater than that of the top and bottom surfaces. Second and third portions extend from the first portion to the top and bottom surface, respectively. Each of the second and third portions has a peripheral dimension which decreases from that of the first portion to that of the top or bottom surface so that the surface of each of the second and third portions is angled away from the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. When the preform is engaged by the molds for making a disc the angled surfaces of the second and third portions serve to minimize if not eliminate the trapping of air and gasses along the surface of the record being formed which cause defects in the record surface.

Abstract: A molding apparatus for molding a recorded disc includes a pair of mold plates adapted to form a mold cavity therein and a center hole forming pin slidably mounted in one of the mold plates. The center hole forming pin is larger in diameter than the hole to be formed and has a projection on its end which is of a diameter equal to the hole to be formed and a length about one-half the length of the hole to be formed. The other mold plate includes a projection extending therefrom of a diameter equal to the diameter of the hole to be formed and a length one-half the length of the hole. In the molding of the disc the projection on the center hole forming pin engages the projection on the other mold plate to form a hole in which a flash is spaced from the edges of the hole.

Abstract: A mold for molding an information record having a relatively large diameter hole therethrough includes upper and lower mold members movable toward and away from each other. The upper mold member has a hole-forming pin extending therethrough and slidable therein. The pin has a recess in its end surface which faces the lower mold member. The recess has in a surface thereof at least one re-entrant which forms a lip. In molding a record, a plastic preform is placed between the mold members. The heated mold members are closed against the preform causing the plastic material to flow outwardly and fill the cavity between the mold members. The hole-forming pin is pushed through the plastic material with some of the plastic material filling the recess to form the hole in the record. When the mold members are separated the plastic material in the recess in the pin is retained in the recess by the lip.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding recorded discs includes a pair of mold plates having opposed surfaces on which stampers can be mounted. A separate center hold down member fits into an opening in each mold plate to secure the inner edge of the stamper to the mold plate. At least one of the center hold down members has indicia forming means on its surface, either as raised projections or indentations in the surface, to form a desired indicia in the surface of the disc as it is being molded.

Abstract: Heated material is injected into an annular cavity, defined by a pair of mold-halves, through a sprue passage, defined by a sprue bushing and an end portion of a punch. The annular cavity and the sprue passage form, respectively, the centrally apertured part and a sprue. After partial cooling of the heated material, the punch is locked in place while the annular cavity is displaced relative to the sprue passage so that the sprue is severed from the part along the peripheral surface of the punch end portion. The mold halves are separated to open the annular cavity while the sprue is resting on the punch end portion, and while the part is held by the punch end peripheral surface. After the mold halves are separated, a sprue ejector member and a part ejector member are actuated to eject, respectively, the sprue and the part from the punch end portion.