Abstract: Discloses is: (i) a molding-system lock, (ii) a molding system having a molding-system lock, and/or (iii) a method of a molding-system lock, amongst other things.

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: A platen (50) for a molding machine includes an intermediate support structure (20) between two planar walls (16, 18) having ribs (40) arranged at a non-normal angle ? to a first wall (18). The ribs (40) couple forces from the first wall (18) to the second wall (16) in such a way that bending of the second wall (16) is resisted. This adds to the rigidity of the second wall (16) and hence the platen (50), adding to flatness of the arrangement. Gussets (42) may be provided extending between the ribs (40) and the intermediate support structure (20). This has the effect of surrounding and supporting an injection bore (14) and further adding to the coupling of forces to the edge portions of the second wall (16) to resist forces acting to bend the wall.

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: 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 mold carrier (61) contains a fluid distribution system, such as a hot runner system (60), having a nozzle (76) with a substantially flat face (80, 82). The hot runner system includes melt channels (66-70) that require alignment with a complementary melt channel (96) within an interface adaptor, such as a sprue bushing (92), that permits coupling of the hot runner system to a mold (62, 64). The sprue bushing (92) also has a flat sealing surface that is arranged to abut, in use, against the substantially flat face (80, 82) of the nozzle (76) to provide an interface. Under appropriate positive biasing (88), the flat faces of the nozzle (76) and sprue bushing (92) produce a substantially flat interface that maintains sealing contact in the face of potential radial misalignment between the various melt channels. The interface is recessed within a boundary defined by a mold locating ring (100), thereby protecting the nozzle from damage during loading of a mold into the mold carrier (61).

Abstract: A platen (50) for a molding machine includes an intermediate support structure (20) between two planar walls (16, 18) having ribs (40) arranged at a non-normal angle &bgr; to a first wall (18). The ribs (40) couple forces from the first wall (18) to the second wall (16) in such a way that bending of the second wall (16) is resisted. This adds to the rigidity of the second wall (16) and hence the platen (50), adding to flatness of the arrangement. Gussets (42) may be provided extending between the ribs (40) and the intermediate support structure (20). This has the effect of surrounding and supporting an injection bore (14) and further adding to the coupling of forces to the edge portions of the second wall (16) to resist forces acting to bend the wall.

Abstract: A injection unit (10) of an injection system, including a shooting pot (12) having a shooting pot head (13) at one end, defining a melt chamber (14) therein; a melt inlet channel (16) for laterally bringing melt into the melt chamber (14); a plunger (26) arranged in the melt chamber (14), the plunger (26) being linearly moveable from a retracted position into an extended position, so as to force melt accumulated in the melt chamber (14) through a melt outlet channel (20) arranged in said shooting pot head (13) into an injection mold; an annular melt passage (28) provided between the melt chamber (14) and the plunger (26), for allowing the melt to flow from the melt inlet channel (16) to an outlet end (18) of the melt chamber (14); and a melt distribution channel (30) for distributing the melt from the melt inlet channel (16) to the annular melt passage (28).

Abstract: A first machine mount is provided having an first load bearing member and a second load bearing member. A force dissipater is provided that dissipates a horizontal axial force by a vertical force. A second machine mount is provided having a first load bearing member, an intermediate load bearing member, and a second load bearing member. A first force dissipater and second force dissipater is provided that dissipates a horizontal planer force by a vertical force.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a movable platen specifically adapted to uniformly distribute a clamp force to the mold half surfaces thereby reducing localized deflections and unwanted flash on the molded article.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention broadly relates to molding systems, and more particularly to a flexible shoe assembly for use in a molding system. The clamp unit of a molding system includes a moving platen and a stationary platen supported by a frame. Tie bars interconnect the moving platen with the stationary platen. The tie bars are secured to the stationary platen and pass through respective openings in the moving platen. Each tie bar is supported and guided within their respective openings by a flexible shoe assembly and wear pad. The flexible shoe assembly has a force redirector for directing force away from a peripheral edge of the wear pad towards a central force area. The flexible shoe assembly also includes a load distributor to distribute the load across the wear pad surface. The flexible shoe assembly includes an upper support that is flexible about a lower support to keep the wear pad in operational contact with the tie bar.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention broadly relates to molding systems, and more particularly to a flexible shoe assembly for use in a molding system. The clamp unit of a molding system includes a moving platen and a stationary platen supported by a frame. Tie bars interconnect the moving platen with the stationary platen. The tie bars are secured to the stationary platen and pass through respective openings in the moving platen. Each tie bar is supported and guided within their respective openings by a flexible shoe assembly and wear pad. The flexible shoe assembly has a force redirector for directing force away from a peripheral edge of the wear pad towards a central force area. The flexible shoe assembly also includes a load distributor to distribute the load across the wear pad surface. The flexible shoe assembly includes an upper support that is flexible about a lower support to keep the wear pad in operational contact with the tie bar.

Abstract: The technical field of the invention broadly relates to molding systems, and more particularly to a flexible shoe assembly for use in a molding system. The clamp unit of a molding system includes a moving platen and a stationary platen supported by a frame. Tie bars interconnect the moving platen with the stationary platen. The tie bars are secured to the stationary platen and pass through respective openings in the moving platen. Each tie bar is supported and guided within their respective openings by a flexible shoe assembly and wear pad. The flexible shoe assembly has a force redirector for directing force away from a peripheral edge of the wear pad towards a central force area. The flexible shoe assembly also includes a load distributor to distribute the load across the wear pad surface. The flexible shoe assembly includes an upper support that is flexible about a lower support to keep the wear pad in operational contact with the tie bar.

Abstract: A mechanism for applying a clamping force to a columnar member, such as a tiebar, is described. The clamping mechanism includes a compressible member surrounding the columnar member for gripping the columnar member and transmitting a clamping force thereto, which compressible member is slidable along the columnar member. The mechanism further includes a clamping piston for applying a clamping force, which clamping piston has a bore with an engaging surface for receiving and frictionally engaging the compressible member. The frictional engagement between the compressible member and the engaging surface prevents any relative sliding movement between the compressible member and the clamping piston.

Abstract: A mold is provided having a mold cavity in the final shape of an article and a hollow article is placed in the mold adjacent the mold cavity. The hollow article is preformed into an intermediate shape by closing the mold around the hollow article, and then formed into the final shape by introducing fluid pressure into the preformed hollow article to conform the preformed hollow article into the shape of the mold cavity.

Abstract: A mold stroke force is applied to the movable platen to move same between the mold open and mold closed position and from the mold closed to the mold open position. A mold break force is applied to the movable platen in the mold closed position to break open the mold. The mold stroke cylinder for applying a mold stroke force acts inside the mold stroke cylinder for applying a mold break force.

Abstract: An securing/clamping assembly for clamping platens of an injection molding machine includes a mechanism for guiding the platens and a body member having a structure which is movable as a single unit. The body member is adapted to be attached with at least one of the platens and includes a mechanism for securing the mechanism for guiding and for conveying a clamping force to the platens for clamping the platens during injection molding. The mechanism for securing includes an engagement mechanism for placing the mechanism for securing into and out of locking engagement with the mechanism for guiding, such that when the engagement a mechanism is out of locking engagement with the mechanism for guiding, the body member and the mechanism for guiding are relatively movable.

Abstract: An securing/clamping assembly for clamping platens of an injection molding machine includes a mechanism for guiding the platens and a body member having a structure which is movable as a single unit. The body member is adapted to be attached with at least one of the platens and includes a mechanism for securing the mechanism for guiding and for conveying a clamping force to the platens for clamping the platens during injection molding. The mechanism for securing includes an engagement mechanism for placing the mechanism for securing into and out of locking engagement with the mechanism for guiding, such that when the engagement a mechanism is out of locking engagement with the mechanism for guiding, the body member and the mechanism for guiding are relatively movable.

Abstract: An injection molding machine includes a movable platen specifically adapted to uniformly distribute a clamp force to the mold half surfaces thereby reducing localized deflections and unwanted flash on the molded article.