Abstract: A process and apparatus for molding a plurality of articles of hardenable material such as plastic which requires each article to be maintained under heat and pressure for a cure interval. A molding press is utilized wherein there is placed a first open mold assembly having spaced die halves between supporting mold platens. At least one of the die halves has a resilient pressure pad between the die and the mold platen supporting the die half. The press is closed to maintain the mold platens in a first force applying position having a slight gap between the die halves and locking the platens in the first position. The mold assembly is removed while in its first locked position from the press and gas from the curing material is evacuated through the gap between the die halves while heating the material.

Abstract: Plastic molding apparatus including a horizontal molding press with two platens and a mold having an ejector mold half and a cover mold half that form a mold cavity, each mold half being secured to a platen with at least one platen movable horizontally relative to the other platen to and closed positions. The molding press has longitudinal rails along the top thereof parallel to the direction of relative movement of the platens. There is an elongated horizontal gantry structure supported solely by the press and movably secured to the rails with the longitudinal axis of the gantry structure being oriented normal to the rails and the gantry is movable along the rails. There are two arms, one of which depends from one end of the gantry and the other depends from the opposite end of the gantry, and these arms are movably secured to the gantry for back and forth movement along the longitudinal axis of the gantry.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding a plurality of articles of hardenable material such as plastic which requires each article to be maintained under heat and pressure for a cure interval. A molding press is utilized wherein there is placed a first open mold assembly having spaced die halves between supporting mold platens. At least one of the die halves has a resilient pressure pad between the die and the mold platen supporting the die half. The press is closed to maintain the mold platens in a first force applying position having a slight gap between the die halves and locking the platens in the first position. The mold assembly is removed while in its first locked position from the press and gas from the curing material is evacuated through the gap between the die halves while heating the material.