Abstract: A substantial barrier to flow of liquid in a circumferentially-extending liquid conduit groove of a mold insert is provided by forming recesses or undercuts by undercutting the sidewalls of the liquid conduit groove, inserting a plate-like liquid dam within the liquid conduit groove, and clamping the dam in the liquid conduit groove by the use of a pair of locking screws or pins that extend through bores in the dam into engagement with inwardly-facing surfaces of the undercuts. The relationship between the inwardly-facing undercut surfaces and the locking members is preferably such that there is a progressively increasing interfering engagement of the locking members with the undercut surfaces resulting in increasing clamping pressures applied to the dam assemblies.

Abstract: A substantial barrier to flow of liquid in a circumferentially-extending liquid conduit groove of a mold insert is provided by forming recesses or undercuts by undercutting the sidewalls of the liquid conduit groove, inserting a plate-like liquid dam within the liquid conduit groove, and clamping the dam in the liquid conduit groove by the use of a pair of locking screws or pins that extend through bores in the dam into engagement with inwardly-facing surfaces of the undercuts. The relationship between the inwardly-facing undercut surfaces and the locking members is preferably such that there is a progressively increasing interfering engagement of the locking members with the undercut surfaces resulting in increasing clamping pressures applied to the dam assemblies.

Abstract: A mold insert for an injection molding machine has a circumferential liquid conduit groove and a plurality of liquid-receiving bores extending inwardly from the groove. Baffles are removably inserted into the liquid-receiving bores and have heads located in locking engagement with the sidewalls, including the undercut portions thereof, to retain the baffles in their respective liquid-receiving bores. Each baffle has a blade that fits snugly within a liquid-receiving bore to separate the liquid-receiving bore into a liquid inlet passageway and a liquid outlet passageway. Fins project outwardly from opposite faces of the blade to create turbulence in liquid flowing into and out of the liquid-receiving bore, which enhances cooling (or heating) of the mold insert. The baffle is also useful with other solid components having a liquid conduit for cooling purposes and a transverse liquid-receiving bore intersecting the liquid conduit.

Abstract: A mold base kit including plural plates having alignment bores for receiving guide dowels for accurately aligning the plates with respect to one another as a mold frame is assembled from the kit. Each guide dowel includes a hollow, cylindrical sleeve sized to fit snugly in the alignment bores of adjacent, abutting plates and also includes an abutment member extending radially outwardly of the guide dowel sleeve intermediate its ends which prevents the guide dowel from moving a substantial distance along an alignment bore. The abutment member may be formed by a circular piece of spring wire which extends through an arc of more than 180.degree. around the outside of the dowel sleeve, and preferably approximately 270.degree. around the sleeve. Because the retainer clip extends less than completely around the sleeve, its ends can readily be spread apart for assembly of the retainer clip onto the sleeve.

Abstract: A mold insert for an injection molding machine has a circumferential liquid conduit groove and a plurality of liquid-receiving bores extending inwardly from the groove. Baffles are removably inserted into the liquid-receiving bores and have heads located in locking engagement with the sidewalls, including the undercut portions thereof, to retain the baffles in their respective liquid-receiving bores. Each baffle has a blade that fits snugly within a liquid-receiving bore to separate the liquid-receiving bore into a liquid inlet passageway and a liquid outlet passageway. Fins project outwardly from opposite faces of the blade to create turbulence in liquid flowing into and out of the liquid-receiving bore, which enhances cooling (or heating) of the mold insert. The baffle is also useful with other solid components having a liquid conduit for cooling purposes and a transverse liquid-receiving bore intersecting the liquid conduit.

Abstract: A method for assembling a substantial barrier to the flow of liquid in a circumferentially-extending liquid conduit groove of a mold insert includes forming recesses or undercuts by undercutting the sidewalls of the liquid conduit groove, inserting a plate-like liquid dam within the liquid conduit groove, and clamping the dam in the liquid conduit groove by the use of a pair of locking screws or pins that extend through bores in the dam into engagement with inwardly-facing surfaces of the undercuts. The relationship between the inwardly-facing undercut surfaces and the locking members is preferably such that there is a progressively increasing interfering engagement of the locking members with the undercut surfaces resulting in increasing clamping pressures applied to the dam assemblies.

Abstract: A master frame supports interchangeable mold inserts, each of which is provided with its own electrical heater and associated wiring. A recess is provided in the master frame to allow for lateral movement of the wiring, heater and mold inserts as a unit during installation and replacement. A closure member in the form of a thermocouple retainer is provided to support a temperature-controlling thermocouple inwardly of a hole within each mold insert as well as to close the recess during a molding operation.

Abstract: A cavity insert for the ejection side and a core insert for the injection side of a mold are each shaped as a generally cylindrical, stepped body provided with circumferentially extending locking grooves and a liquid cooling or heating channel. Insert retainers and lifters having rotatable elements with locking tongues engaging the locking grooves clamp the inserts in the main mold frame. The main mold frame is provided with liquid conduits opening to opposite ends of the liquid channels so that the need for machining liquid conduits and channels for different inserts is avoided. Ejector tooling may be connected to the core insert for insertion and removal with it. The rotatable elements also have shoulders engageable with the inserts and may be axially moved to lift the inserts partly out of the mold frame to enable rapid changeover from one insert to another. Sliding wedges are used to releasably secure the ejector tooling to the master mold ejector plates.

Abstract: A cavity insert for the injection side and a core insert for the ejection side of a mold are each shaped as a generally cylindrical, stepped body provided with circumferentially extending locking grooves and a liquid cooling or heating channel. Insert retainers and lifters having rotatable elements with locking tongues engaging the locking grooves clamp the inserts in the main mold frame. The main mold frame is provided with liquid conduits opening to opposite ends of the liquid channels so that the need for machining liquid conduits and channels for different inserts is avoided. Ejector tooling may be connected to the core insert for insertion and removal with it. The rotatable elements also have shoulders engageable with the inserts and may be axially moved to lift the inserts partly out of the mold frame to enable rapid changeover from one insert to another. Sliding wedges are used to releasably secure the ejector tooling to the master mold ejector plates.