'TECHNICAL FIELD
5 The ~lo~~-limiteim~blgod ime~ltsd isclosed herein generally relate to a molding apparatus, and
more particularly to an i11jectio11 mold.
BACKGROUND
10 US Patent 7,150,847 to CHAPPLEAR et al., publi5hed on December 19, 2006 di5clo5e5,
among5t other thing5, a 5taged, 5eque1ltially 5eparated i~ljectio~mlo ld for forming a contai~ler
5pout having a peripheral flange, a generally cyli~ldrical dewall, a removable panel fixed
within the dewall, and a pull ring co~l~lectetod the removable panel. The mold i11clude5 a
ba\e, and a fir5t element coupled to the ba5e i~lcludi~lag gate. A core plate movable with
15 re5pect to the ba\e, and a core element co~lfro~ltit~hleg f ir5t mold element. A 5leeve 5urrou11d5
the core element having a cha111lel to define the pull ring. The 5leeve move5 with re5pect to the
core element to permit relea5e of a molded pull ring. A 5tripper ring ~ L I ~ L IthIeI 5~le~ev e with
an edge po5itio11ed co11tiguou5 to the 5leeve outward facing 5urface, the 5tripper ring being
movable along the 5leeve.
20
US Patent 7,128,865 to MARTIN, publi5hed on October 31, 2006 di5clo5e5, among5t other
thing\, an i~ljectiom~lo lding method and apparatu5 for ejecting a molded pla5tic preform from
a mold. A fir5t lifting 5tructure a~ldlor5 tep i5 co~lfiguredt o have an inner 5urface with an area
for 5ealing and aligning with a compleme~ltary5 urface on a core, and to have an upper 5urface
25 with an area for 5ealing and aligning with a compleme~ltary 5urface on a 5eco11d lifting
5tructure, wid upper 5urface of wid fir5t lifting 5tructure being co~lfigured to lift a molded
pla5tic preform from the i~ljectio~mlo ld in a lifting direction for a fir^ period of time, the
lower portion of the molded pla5tic preform lying in a plane 5ub5ta1ltially perpe~ldicular to the
lifting directio~A~. 5eco11d lifting 5tructure a~ldlor5 tep i5 co~lfiguredt o have an inner 5urface
30 co~lfiguredt o lift an outer 5urface of the molded pla5tic preform from the i~ljectiom~lo ld in the
lifting direction for a 5eco11d period of time, the outer 5urface of the molded pla5tic preform
i~lcludi~l5gtr ucture lying in a plane 5ub5ta1ltially parallel with the lifting directio~~Si.n ce the
molded pla5tic preform i5 lifted by it5 end, the preform doe5 not have to be 5olidified at it5
interior, thu5 allowing earlier removal of the preform from the mold, reduci~lgc ycle time.
3 5
1
US Patent 6,450,797 to EALIAS, Jmeph, publi5hed on September 17, 2002 di5clo5e5,
among5t other thi1lg5, a molding apparatu5 ha5 a pair of 5lide imert5 which are laterally
movable illto and out of engagement with the other mold compo1le1lt5. The lateral movement
of the 5lide imert5 i5 provided by a 5lide mecha1li5m having a driving rack, a pair of drive
5 pi1lio115 at either end of the driving rack, two pair5 of driven rack5 and a plurality of 5lide5
co~l~lectetod the driven rack5. The driven rack5 of each pair are parallel and 5paced from one
another, ellgaging oppo5ite 5ide5 of a pi~lio~anl d thereby being driven in oppo5ite directio115
by rotation of the pinio~T~h. e molding apparatu5 i5 more compact than co~lve~ltio~dleavli ce5
having 5lide imert5, eliminate5 the u5e of 5lide retai11e1-5, eliminate5 ob5tructio115 between the
10 mold plate5 when the plate5 are 5eparated, and can cycle fa5ter than co~lve~ltio~dleavli ce5.
US Patent 4,806,301 to CONTI, publi5hed on February 2 1, 1989 di5clo5e5, among5t other
thi1lg5, a mold for forming a pla5tic cap and a method of removing a cap from 5uch a mold.
The mold i11clude5 female and male member5 which, together, form a mold cavity in which
15 the cap i5 formed. The female member i11clude5 an upper a55embly and a plurality of cam5.
The cam5 have radial protru5io115 engaging the male member to form a1111ular rece55e5 in the
cap. The cap i5 removed from the mold by moving the upper a55embly of the female member
axially and the cam5 thereof radially away from the cap, and then removing the cap it5elf from
the male member of the mold. Preferably the cap i5 5hru1lk onto the male member to develop a
20 5pace between the cap and the female member of the mold prior to moving the female
member away from the cap.
US Patent 4,676,732 to LETICA, publi5hed on June 30, 1987 di5clo5e5, among5t other thi1lg5,
a bucket-5haped co~ltai~lehra ving a rim ope~li~l5gm aller than the diameter of the 5ide wall
25 thereof i5 injected molded from thermopla5tic material u5i1lg a die 5et i~lcludi~lag m olding
core which collap5e5 to allow axial removal of the molded co~ltai~lefrro m the mold. The
moldi~lg core compri5e5 a plurality of i~ldividual, wedge-5haped outer core 5ectio115 which
collectively form a co1lti1luou5 molding 5urface and are didably mou~lted on a tapered inner
core to allow axial 5lidi1lg movement of the outer core 5ectio11 relative to the inner core. The
30 5lidi1lg movement of the outer core 5ectio115 on the inner core i5 provided by a plurality of
keylock5 which are fixedly 5ecured in corre5po1ldi1lg axial keyway5 in the inner core and
which 5lidably engage corre5po1ldi1lg axial keyway5 in the outer core 5ectio115. Coacting cam
face5 on the keylock and on the keyway of the outer core 5ectio115 e115ure that the outer core
5ectio115 move firmly and po5itively into engagement with the inner core a5 the outer core
35 5ectio115 arrive at their expa~lded molding po5itio115. Meam are a150 di5clo5ed to e115ure that
the keylock i5 firmly and po5itively 5eated in the keyway in the inner core and further
cammi~lgm eal15 are di5clo5ed to e115ure that the lower e11d5 of the outer core 5ectio115 are held
firmly agai115t the inner core during the molding ope ratio^^.
5 US Patent 4,618,121 to CONTI, publi5hed on October 21, 1986 di5clo5e5, among5t other
thing\, a mold for forming a pla5tic cap and removing a cap from 5uch a mold. The mold
compri5e5 female and male member5 which, together, form a mold cavity in which the cap i5
formed. The female member i11clude5 an upper a55embly and a plurality of cam\. The cam5
have radial protru5io115 engaging the male member to form a1111ular rece55e5 in the cap. The
10 cap i5 removed from the mold by moving the upper a55embly of the female member axially
and the cam5 thereof radially away from the cap, and then removing the cap it5elf from the
male member of the mold. Preferably the cap i5 5hru1lk onto the male member to develop a
5pace between the cap and the female member of the mold prior to moving the female
member away from the cap.
15
US Patent Applicatio~lP ublicatio~2~0 09/0104306 A1 to BEREUTER et al., publi5hed on
April 23, 2009 di5clo5e5, among5t other thi1lg5, an injection-molding tool for pla5tic5 having a
tool core, an ejector and a 5lidi1lg tool portion for forming an u~ldercut, each of which i5
di5placeable, the 5lidi1lg tool portion being di5placeable both in the pu5h-out direction of the
20 pla5tic5 molded component produced in the tool and perpe~ldicular to thi5 direction, while the
ejector and the tool core are di5placeable in the ejection direction and both the travel of the
tool core and that of the 5lidi1lg tool portion are derived from the travel of the ejector.
EP Patent Applicatio~lP ublicatio~1~ 9 05 566 A1 to CARUANA, publi5hed on April 2, 2008
25 di5clo5e5, among5t other thi1lg5, a mould for fabricating 5eali1lg cap5 made from pla5tic5
material, for bottle5, with a 5eali1lg ring co~l~lectetod each cap by meal15 of a weakening line
formed by a plurality of axial 5tem5 5paced apart by open circumfere~ltial area\, in which the
imert5 for defining, in the wid impre55io11, the open circumfere~ltial area5 of the wid
weakening line are formed by portion5 of device5 in the form of curved bodie5 having a
30 wedge-5haped cro55 5ectio11, po5itio1led within a conical cavity of the a1111ular body of the
mould within which they are retained and guided by a plurality of permanent magnet5. The
moveme1lt5 of the device5 and of the imert portion5 take place within the conical cavity, thu5
reduci~lgth e overall dime115io115o f the mould.
SUMMARY
Accordi~lg to a fir5t a5pect claimed herein, there i5 provided a molding apparatu5, compri5i1lg
a 5tripper 5leeve for u\e in a fir5t 5tack portion of a mold 5tack, wherein the 5tripper jleeve i5
5 co~lfiguredt o open, in u5e, a 5lide pair of the fir5t 5tack and to 5trip, in me, a molded from the
fir5t 5tack portion
The5e and other a5pect5 and feature5 will now become apparent to thme 5killed in the art up011
review of the followi~lgd e5criptio11o f 5pecific II~II-limitinegm bodime1lt5 in c o ~ ~ j u ~ l cwtiitho ~ ~
1 o the accompa~lyi~dlgr awing\.
The detailed descriptio~l of illustrative (II~II-limiting)e mbodime~ltsw ill be more fully
15 appreciated when take11 in co~lju~lctwioit~h ~th e accompa~lyi~dlgra wings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows a section view through a portion of a ~lo~~-limiteim~blogd iment of an i~ljectio~l
mold and of a mold stack thereof;
20 FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of part of a first stack portion of the mold stack of FIG. 1:
FIG. 3A shows the i11jectio11m old of FIG. 1 in a mold-closed co~lfiguratiofo~r~ m olding of a
molded article therein;
25 FIG. 3B shows a first stage in an ejection of the molded article from the i~ljectio~mlo ld of
FIG. 1, wherein the i~ljectiom~lo ld has been arranged illto a mold-open co~lfiguratio~~;
FIG. 3C 5how5 a 5eco1ld 5tage in the ejection of the molded article from the i~ljectiom~lo ld of
FIG. 1, wherein the fir5t 5tack portion ha5 been re-arranged to move a fir5t 5lide and a 5eco1ld
30 5lide thereof into a fir5t 5lide clearance po5itio11 and a 5eco1ld 5lide clearance po5itio11,
re5pectively, with movement of a 5tripper 5leeve toward5 a 5tripping po5itio11;
FIG. 3D shows a third stage in the ejection of the molded article from the i11jectio11 mold of
FIG. 1, wherein the first stack portion has been further re-arranged to move an outer core
relative to an inner core thereof to provide for release of part of the molded article from
therebetween.
FIG. 3E 5how5 a final 5tage in the ejection of the molded article from the i~ljectio~mlo ld of
5 FIG. 1, wherein the fir5t 5tack portion ha5 been further re-arranged to move the 5tripper 5leeve
illto it5 5tripping po5itio11 and in 50 doing 5trip the molded article from the outer core.
The drawing5 are not 1lece55arily to ~ a l ean d may be illu5trated by phantom lille5,
diagrammatic repre5e1ltatio115 and fragmentary view5. I11 certain i115ta1lce5, detail5 that are not
10 1lece55ary for an ~11lder5ta1ldi1olgf the embodime1lt5 or that render other detail5 difficult to
perceive may have been omitted.
DETAILED DESCRIPrTION OF 'THE NON-LIMIrTING EMBODIMENrT(S)
15 With reference to FIG. 1, there i5 depicted a 5ectio11 view through a portion of a II~II-limiting
embodiment of a portion of an i11jectio11 mold 100. The i11jectio11 mold 100 include5 a fir5t
mold half 102 and a 5eco1ld mold half 104 that are a\5ociated, in uje, with plate115 of an
i11jectio11 molding machine (not 5how11) for a repo5itio1li1lg thereof between a mold-clo5ed
co~lfiguratio~a5~ , 5how11, and a mold-open co~lfiguratio(~F~IG . 3B). I11 the mold-clo5ed
20 co~lfiguratioa~ m~ olding cavity 101 i5 defined in a mold 5tack 140 that i5 a55ociated with the
i11jectio11 mold 100 within which a molded article 106 (FIG. 3E), 5uch a\, for example, a
clo5ul-e of a type for capping a bottle, i5 moldable. I11 the mold-open co~lfiguratioa~ f~ir5 t 5tack
portion 1 10 and a 5eco1ld 5tack portion 130 of the mold 5tack 140, that are a55ociated with the
fir5t mold half 102 and the 5eco1ld mold half 104, re5pectively, are 5eparated to open the
25 molding cavity 101 for a 5ub5eque1lt relea5e of the molded article 106 (FIG. 3E) therefrom.
The ~lo~~-limiteim~blgod iment of the fir5t mold half 102 broadly i11clude5 a fir5t mold 5hoe
170 with which the fir5t 5tack portion 110 i5 a55ociated. More particularly, the fir5t mold 5hoe
170 provide5 for coupli~lgi,n me, the fir5t 5tack portion 1 10 to one of the plate115 (not 5how11)
30 of the i11jectio11 molding machine (not 5how11), a5 well a5 for repo5itio1li1lg member5 of the
fir5t 5tack portion 1 10 between a moldi~lgc o~lfiguratio~anl d an ejection co~lfiguratio~~.
The first stack portion 110 broadly i~lcludesa n inner core 112, an outer core 114, and a slide
pair 122 with which to define an inner portion and an e~lcapsulated portion of the molding
cavity 101. The fir5t 5tack portion 110 a150 i11clude5 a 5tripper 5leeve 116 with which to open
the 5lide pair 122 and to 5trip the molded article 106 from the outer core 1 14.
A5 may be further appreciated with further reference to FIG. 2, the inner core 112 ha5 a
5 cyli~ldrical body arou~ld which a tubular body of the outer core 114 i5 5lidably arranged to
accommodate relative movement thereof, along the mold-5troke axi5, whereby a part of the
molded article 106 i5 releaable from therebetween. The inner portion of the molding cavity
101 (FIG. 1) i11clude5 an outer 5urface at a fir5t end of the tubular body, a top face of the
cyli~ldricalb ody, and co~lfro~lti5~ulrgfa ce5 therebetween.
1 0
The 5tripper 5leeve 116 a150 ha5 a tubular body that i5 didably arranged arou~ld the outer core
1 14 to accommodate a relative movement therebetween, along the mold-5troke axi5, whereby
the 5lide pair 122 are openable (FIGS. 3B and 3C) and the molded article 106 (FIG. 3E) i5
5trippable from the outer core 1 14 (FIGS. 3D and 3E). I11 the pre5e1lt ~lo~~-limiti~lg
15 embodiment the 5tripper 5leeve 1 16 doe5 not define any portion of the molding cavity 101
(FIG. 1). That being wid, in another II~II-limitingem bodiment, not 5how11, the 5tripper 5leeve
1 16 may have an alternative 5tructure wherein it too define5 a portion of the molding cavity in
keeping with common practice in the art. Retur~li~ltog the de5criptio11 of the pre5e1lt IIOIIlimiting
embodiment, and a5 5how11 with reference to FIG. 2, it can be 5ee11 that a top a1111ular
20 face on the tubular body of the 5tripper 5leeve 11 6 define5 a molded article engager 120 with
which to engage the molded article 106 to cawe a 5tripping thereof from the outer core 114
with movement of the 5tripper 5leeve 116 from a 5tripper 5leeve molding po5itio11 (FIG, 3A)
toward5 a 5tripping po5itio11 (FIG. 3E).
25 With further reference to FIG. 3B, it call be 5ee11 that the 5tripper 5leeve 116 further define5 a
fir5t ope~li~clgam 119 A with which to engage, in me, a fir5t ope~li~clgam follower 126A that
i5 defined on a fir5t 5lide 122A of the 5lide pair 122 to cau5e lateral ope~li~lmgo vement
thereof, relative to a 5eco1ld 5lide 122B of the 5lide pair 122, from a fir5t 5lide molding
po5itio11 (FIG. 3A) toward5 a fir5t 5lide clearance po5itio11 (FIG. 3C), with an axial movement
30 of the 5tripper 5leeve 116 from the 5tripper 5leeve molding po5itio11 (FIG. 3A) toward5 the
5tripping po5itio11 (FIG. 3E). Likewi5e, the 5tripper 5leeve 1 16 a150 define5 a 5eco1ld ope~li~lg
cam 1 19B (FIG. 3B) with which to engage, in me, a 5eco1ld ope~li~clgam follower 126B (FIG.
3B) that i5 defined on the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B to cawe lateral ope~li~lmgo vement thereof,
relative to the fir5t 5lide 122A, from a 5eco1ld 5lide molding po5itio11 (FIG. 3A) toward5 a
5eco1ld 5lide clearance po5itio11 (FIG. 3C), with movement of the 5tripper 5leeve 1 16 from the
5tripper 5leeve molding po5itio11 (FIG. 3A) toward5 the 5tripping po5itio11 (FIG. 3E).
A5 be5t illu5trated in FIG. 2, the 5tripper 5leeve 116 i11clude5 a fir5t protubera~lce 11 8A that
5 project5 from a dewall of the tubular body in between the fir5t end thereof and a cyli~ldrical
guide portion 117. A fir5t tapered face on the fir5t protubera~lce 118A provide5 the fir5t
ope~li~clgam 1 19A. Likewi5e, the tubular body a150 define5 a 5eco1ld protubera~lce1 18B that
project5 from the dewall of the tubular body in between the fir5t end thereof and the
cyli~ldrical guide portion 117. The 5eco1ld tapered face on the 5eco1ld protubera~lce 118B
lo provide5 the 5eco1ld ope~li~lcgam 119B (not 5how11). The fir5t protubera~lce1 18A and the
5eco1ld protubera~lce 118B are located directly oppo5ite each other acro55 the tubular body.
That being wid, in another II~II-limitingem bodiment, not 5how11, the fir5t 5tack portion 110
may i~lclude 5ome other number or arrangement of 5lide5, or 5ome other variety of 5plit
i115ert5, each with it5 ow11 ope~li~lcgam follower, wherein the number and placement of the
15 corre5po1ldi1lgo pe~li~clagm 5 on the 5tripper 5leeve may corre5po1ld therewith. That being wid,
in another ~lo~~-limiteim~blgod iment, not 5how11, the fir5t ope~li~lcgam 119A may have an
alternative 5tructure, 5uch a5 a fru5to-co~licafl ace that extend5 arou~ldth e tubular body, that i5
able to cooperate with the ope~li~clgam follower of more than one 5lide 5uch a5 with tho5e of
the fir5t 5lide 122A and the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B.
20
A5 may have been appreciated already, the fir5t 5lide 122A and the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B of the
5lide pair 122 are co~lfiguredt o define the e1lcap5ulated portion of a molding cavity 101 (FIG.
1) in cooperati011 with the inner core 112 and the outer core 114 when arranged in the fir5t
5lide molding po5itio11 and a 5eco1ld 5lide molding po5itio11, re5pectively. Both the fir5t 5lide
25 122A and the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B are formed from a recta~lgularb ar of material thu5 defining a
bar body. Thi5 may be appreciated with reference to FIG. 2 wherein a per5pective view of the
5eco1ld 5lide 122B i5 5how11. The fir5t 5lide 122A (not 5how11) ha5 a 5tructure that mirror5 that
of the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B. A5 can be 5ee11, the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B define5 half of a pair of
cyli~ldricalp a55ageway5 127, 127' therethrough, a remaining half of each of the cyli~ldrical
30 pa55ageway5 127, 127' being defined by the fir5t 5lide 122A, not 5how11. Each of the
cyli~ldricalp a55ageway5 127, 127' define5 a 5pace through which the fir5t 5tack portion 110
and a further fir5t 5tack portion, not 5how11, are arrangeable. That i5, the 5lide pair 122 (FIG. 1)
are co~lfiguredf or u\e in an i~ljectiom~lo ld 100 having a plurality of mold 5tack5, and wherein
the 5lide pair 122 i5 5tructured to cooperate with a pair of the plurality of mold 5tack5. Of
35 cour5e, the particular number of mold 5tack5 with which the 5lide pair 122 i5 cooperable i5 not
particularly limited. Retur~li~ltog the de5criptio11 of the pre5e1lt II~II-limitingem bodiment, it
can be further 5ee11 that an upper portion 129 of each of the cyli~ldricapl a55ageway5 127, 127'
define5 the e1lcap5ulated portion of the molding cavity 101 (FIG. 1) in cooperati011 with outer
core 1 14. A150 5how11, i5 a \econd ope~li~clagm follower 126B that i5 defined a5 an outwardly
5 tapering groove that pa55e5 through a lower portion of each of the cyli~ldricalp a55ageway5
127, 127'. The fir5t ope~li~clgam follower 126A (FIG. 3B) i5 Gmilarly defined on the fir5t
5lide 122A.
The structure and operation of the components of the first mold shoe 170 will now be
10 described in greater detail.
With reference to FIG. 1, it may be appreciated that the fir5t mold 5hoe 170 broadly i11clude5 a
fir5t core retainer 154, a 5eco1ld core retainer 162, and a 5tripper retainer 168. The inner core
11 2 i5 coupled to the fir^ core retainer 154, the outer core 114 i5 coupled to the 5eco1ld core
15 retainer 162, and the 5tripper 5leeve 1 16 i5 coupled to the 5tripper retainer 168. The fir5t core
retainer 154 i11clude5 a fir5t core plate 150 with a fir5t clamp plate 152 co~l~lectetdhe reto
between which i5 clamped a flange portion of the inner core 1 12. The 5eco1ld core retainer 162
i11clude5 a 5eco1ld core plate 158 with a 5eco1ld clamp plate 160 co~l~lectethde reto between
which i5 clamped a flange portion of the outer core 1 14. The 5tripper retainer 168 i11clude5 a
20 \tripper plate 164 with a third clamp plate 166 co~l~lectethde reto between which i5 clamped a
flange portion of the 5tripper 5leeve 1 16.
The fir5t mold 5hoe 170 a150 i11clude5 an ejector box 156. The ejector box 156 i5 coupled to
the fir5t core retainer 154 with a 5pace 169 being defined therebetween within which the
25 5eco1ld core retainer 162 and the 5tripper retainer 168 are 5lidably arranged to accommodate
repo5itio1li1lg thereof, in me, along the mold-5troke axi5, and thereby repo5itio11 the outer core
1 14 and the 5tripper 5leeve 1 16, re5pectively, relative to the inner core along the mold-5troke
axi5. Without limiting the meam by which the 5eco1ld core retainer 162 and the 5tripper
retainer 168 may repo5itio1led along the mold-5troke axi5, the repo5itio1li1lg may be provided
30 by a two-5tage actuator (not 5how11) that i5 linked with the ejector of the i11jectio11 molding
machine (not 5how11). The ejector box 156 further define5 a pa55ageway within which a guide
bu5hi1lg 167 i5 arranged, the guide bu5hi1lg 167 being co~lfigured to guide moveme1lt5 of the
5tripper 5leeve 1 16 in cooperati011w ith a cyli~ldricagl uide portion 1 17 thereof.
The 5lide pair 122 i5 5lidably linked with the ejector box 156 in a typical manner. I11 particular,
the 5lide pair are 5lidably retained to the ejector box 156 by a pair of gib5 (not 5how11) that are
fa5tened to the ejector box 156 and that cooperate with a pair of guide flange5 125, 125' that
are defined on oppo5ite end5 of each of the fir5t 5lide 122A and the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B. I11
5 additio~a~ w, ear plate 155 5eparate5 the 5lide pair 122 from the ejector box 156.
Having de5cribed the co115tructio11 of the fir5t mold half 102, the de5criptio11 5hall now briefly
focu5 on the 5eco1ld mold half 104. With reference to FIG. 1, it may be appreciated that the
5eco1ld mold half 104 broadly i11clude5 a 5eco1ld mold 5hoe 180 with which the 5eco1ld 5tack
l o portion 130 i5 a5~ociatedM. ore particularly, the 5eco1ld mold 5hoe 180 provide5 for coupli~lg,
in u5e, of the 5eco1ld 5tack portion 130 to a remaining one of the plate115 (not 5how11) of the
i11jectio11 molding machine (not 5how11).
The 5eco1ld mold \hoe 180 i11clude5 a cavity plate 172 with a fir5t retaining member 174A
15 a55ociated therewith. The cavity plate 172 i5 5tructured to have the 5eco1ld 5tack portion 130
mou~lted thereto, and the fir5t retaining member 174A i5 arranged to be ellgagable with the
fir5t 5lide 122A on the fir5t mold half 102 with the fir5t mold half 102 and the 5eco1ld mold
half 104 arranged in a mold-clo5ed co~lfiguratio~a5~ ,5 how11, to retain the fir5t 5lide 122A in
the fir5t 5lide molding po5itio11. The fir5t retaining member 174A further define5 a clo5i1lg cam
20 175 with which to engage a clo5i1lg cam follower on the fir5t 5lide 122A with relative
movement of the fir5t mold half 102 and the 5eco1ld mold half 104 toward5 the mold-clo5ed
co~lfiguratio~L~ik.e wi5e, the 5eco1ld mold 5hoe 180 i11clude5 a 5eco1ld retaining member 174B
a55ociated therewith that i5 engagable, in me, with the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B on the fir5t mold
half 102 with the fir5t mold half 102 and the 5eco1ld mold half 104 arranged in the mold-
25 clo5ed co~lfiguratio~a5~ ,5 how11, to retain the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B in the 5eco1ld 5lide molding
po5itio11. The 5eco1ld retaining member 174B a150 define5 a clo5i1lg cam with which to engage
a clo5i1lg cam follower 124 on the 5eco1ld 5lide 122B with relative movement of the fir5t mold
half 102 and the 5eco1ld mold half 104 toward5 the mold-clo5ed co~lfiguratio~~.
30 Thus having described the structure of the ~lo~~-limiteim~blgo diment of the i11jectio11 mold
100, the operation thereof shall now be briefly reviewed.
As show11 with reference to FIG. 3A, a typical i11jectio11m olding cycle illvolvi~lgth e i~ljectio~l
mold 100 begins with the i~ljectio~mlo ld 100 being in the mold-closed co~lfiguratio(~i.~e.
35 closed and clamped).
Next, moldi~lg material i5 injected illto the moldi~lg cavity 101, u5i11g ki1ow11 5tructure and
5tep5, to form a molded article 106 (FIG. 3E). The molded article 106 i5 then 5olidified, at
lea5t partially, ill the moldi~lgc avity 101 with the applicatio~ol f in-mold cooli~lgu, 5i11g k11ow11
5 5tructure and 5tep5.
Next, a5 5how11 with reference to FIG. 3B, with the molded article 106 having been cooled
5ufficie11tly to with5ta11d ope~li~olgf the i~ljectio~mlo ld 100 and 5trippi11g from the fir5t 5tack
portion 1 10 without cau5i11g a defect therein (i.e. u11de5ired pla5tic deformatio~l)t,h e i~ljectio~l
lo mold 100 i5 arranged illto the mold-ope11 co~lfiguratiow~li th relative 5eparati11g movement of
the fir5t mold half 102 and the 5eco11d mold half 104.
Next, a\ 5how11 with reference to FIG. 3C, the fir5t 5tack portion 110 i5 arranged for the fir5t
5tage of ejection of the molded article 106 thereon. Thi5 5tep i11volve5 moving the 5tripper
15 5leeve 1 16 a fir5t di5ta11ce toward5 the 5trippi11g po5itio11, wherein the fir5t ope~li~clagm 1 19A
and the 5eco11d ope~li~clgam 1 19B thereon engage the fir5t ope~li~clgam follower 126A and
the 5eco11d ope~li~clgam follower 126B 011 the fir5t 5lide 122A and the 5eco11d 5lide 122B, to
move them from the fir5t and 5eco11d 5lide moldi~lgp o5itio115 (FIG. 3B) to the fir5t and 5eco11d
5lide clearance po5itio115, re5pectively.
20
Next, a\ 5how11 with reference to FIG. 3D, the fir5t 5tack portion 110 i5 arranged for a third
5tage of ejection of the molded article 106 thereon. Thi5 5tep i11volve5 moving the 5tripper
5leeve 116 a further di5ta11ce toward5 the 5trippi11g po5itio11 with the molded article engager
120 thereon being ill contact with a bottom 5urface of the molded article 106. During thi5
25 5tage, the outer core 114 i5 moved ill tandem with the 5tripper 5leeve 116, wherein the outer
core 114 i5 moved relative to the i111ler core 112 to relea5e the part (e.g. plug 5eal) of the
molded article (e.g. clo5ure) that wa5 e11cap5ulated therebetween.
La\tly, a\ 5how11 with reference to FIG. 3E, the fir5t 5tack portion 110 i5 arranged for a final
30 5tage of ejection of the molded article 106 thereon. Thi5 5tep i11volve5 moving the 5tripper
5leeve 116 a final di5ta11ce to the 5trippi11g po5itio11, with the outer core 114 held 5tatio11ary,
whereby the molded article 106 i5 5tripped from contact with the outer core 114, by virtue of
being pu5hed therefrom through ellgagemellt with the molded article engager 120 011 the
5tripper 5leeve 1 16.
3 5
It i5 noted that the foregoing ha5 outli~led 5ome of the more pertinent II~II-limiting
embodime1lt5. The5e II~II-limitinge mbodime1lt5 may be u5ed for many applicatio115. Thu5,
although the de5criptio11 i5 made for particular arra1lgeme1lt5 and method5, the intent and
concept of the5e ~lo~~-limitie~mlbgo dime1lt5 may be 5uitable and applicable to other
5 arra1lgeme1lt5 and applicatio115. It will be clear to tho5e 5killed in the art that modificatio115 to
the di5clo5ed ~lo~~-limitie~mlbgo dime1lt5 can be effected. The de5cribed II~II-limiting
embodime1lt5 ought to be co115trued to be merely illu5trative of 5ome of the more promi~le~lt
feature5 and applicatio115 thereof. Other beneficial re5ult5 can be realized by applying the5e
II~II-limitinge mbodime1lt5 in a different manner or modifying them in way5 k11ow11 to tho5e
l o familiar with the art. Thi5 i11clude5 the mixing and matching of feature5, element5 a~ldlor
fu1lctio115b etween variou5 II~II-limitingem bodime1lt5 i5 expre55ly co~ltemplatedh erein, ~11lle55
de5cribed otherwi5e, above.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A molding apparatu5, compri5ing:
a 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) for u5e in a fir^ 5tack portion (1 10) of a mold 5tack (140),
5 wherein the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) i5 co~lfigured to open, in u5e, a 5lide pair (122) of the fir^
5tack portion (1 10) and to 5trip, in u\e, a molded article (106) from the fir5t 5tack portion
(1 10).
2. The molding apparatu5 of claim 1, wherein:
1 0 the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) i11clude5 a molded article engager (1 20) with which to engage,
in me, the molded article (106) to came a 5tripping thereof from the fir5t 5tack portion (1 10)
with movement of the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) from a 5tripper 5leeve molding po5itio11 toward5 a
5tripping po5itio11.
15 3. The molding apparatu5 of claim 2, wherein:
the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) further i11clude5 a fir5t ope~li~lcga m (1 19A) with which to
engage, in u5e, a fir5t ope~li~clagm follower (126A) that i5 defined on a fir5t 5lide (122A) of the
fir5t 5tack portion (1 10) to cau5e lateral ope~li~mlgo vement thereof, relative to a 5eco1ld 5lide
(122B) of the fir5t \tack portion (1 lo), from a fir5t 5lide molding po5itio11 toward5 a fir5t jlide
20 clearance po5itio11, with an axial movement of the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) from the 5tripper 5leeve
molding po5itio11 toward5 the 5tripping po5itio11.
4. The molding apparatu5 of claim 3, wherein:
the fir5t ope~li~clgam (1 19A) i5 further co~lfiguredt o engage, in u5e, a 5eco1ld ope~li~lg
25 cam follower (126B) that i5 defined on the 5eco1ld 5lide (122B) to cau5e lateral ope~li~lg
movement thereof, relative to the fir5t 5lide (122A), from a 5eco1ld 5lide molding po5itio11
toward5 a 5eco1ld 5lide clearance po5itio11, with the axial movement of the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16)
from the 5tripper 5leeve molding po5itio11 toward5 the 5tripping po5itio11.
30 5. The molding apparatu5 of claim 4, wherein:
the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) ha5 a tubular body that define5:
the molded article engager (1 20) on a top a1111ular face at a fir5t end thereof;
a fir5t protubera~lce (1 18A) that project5 from a dewall of the tubular body in between
the fir5t end thereof and a cyli~ldricalg uide portion (1 17), and wherein a fir5t tapered face on
35 the fir5t protubera~lce( 1 18A) provide5 the fir5t ope~li~clagm (1 19A).
6. The molding apparatu5 of claim 5, wherein:
the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) further define5 a 5eco1ld ope~li~lcgam (1 19B) with which to
engage, in me, the 5eco1ld ope~li~lcgam follower (126B) that i5 defined on the 5eco1ld 5lide
5 (122B) to cau5e lateral ope~li~mlgo vement thereof, relative to the fir5t 5lide (122A), from the
5eco1ld 5lide molding po5itio11 toward5 the 5eco1ld jlide clearance po5itio11, with movement of
the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) from the 5tripper 5leeve molding po5itio11 toward5 the 5tripping
po5itio11;
wherein the tubular body define5 a 5eco1ld protubera~lce (1 18B) that project5 from the
10 dewall of the tubular body in between the fir5t end thereof and the cyli~ldricalg uide portion
(1 17), and wherein a 5eco1ld tapered face on the 5eco1ld protubera~lce (1 18B) provide5 the
5eco1ld ope~li~clagm (1 19B).
7. The molding apparatus of claim 6, wherein:
15 the first protubera~lce (1 18A) and the seco~ld protubera~lce (1 18B) are located directly
opposite each other across the tubular body.
8. The molding apparatu5 of claim 6, further compri5illg:
the fir5t 5lide (1 22A) and the 5eco1ld 5lide (1 22B) of the fir5t 5tack portion (1 10).
20
9. The molding apparatu5 of claim 8, wherein:
the fir5t 5lide (122A) and the 5eco1ld 5lide (122B) of the fir5t 5tack portion (1 10) are
co~lfigured to define an e1lcap5ulated portion of a molding cavity (101) when arranged in the
fir5t 5lide molding po5itio11 and the 5eco1ld 5lide molding po5itio11, re5pectively.
25
10. The molding apparatu5 of claim 9, further compri5illg:
an inner core (1 12) and an outer core ( 1 14) of the fir5t 5tack portion ( 1 10) with which to
define an inner portion of the molding cavity (101);
the outer core (1 14) being didably arranged arou~ld the inner core (1 12) to
30 accommodate relative movement thereof to provide for relea5e of part of the molded article
(1 06) from therebetween.
11. The molding apparatus of claim 10, wherein:
the stripper 5leeve (1 16) i5 didably arranged arou~ld the outer core (1 14) to
accommodate relative movement thereof to provide for 5tripping of the molded article (106)
from the outer core ( 1 14).
5 12. The molding apparatu5 of claim 1 1, further compri5i1lg:
a fir^ mold 5hoe (170) for coupli~lgi,n u5e, the fir5t 5tack portion (1 10) to an i11jectio11
molding machine, wherein the fir5t mold 5hoe (170) i11clude5 a fir5t core retainer (154), a
5eco1ld core retainer (l62), a 5tripper retainer (168), and an ejector box (156);
wherein the inner core (1 12) i5 coupled to the fir5t core retainer (154), the outer core
lo (1 14) i5 coupled to the 5eco1ld core retainer (l62), and the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16) i5 coupled to the
5tripper retainer ( 168);
the ejector box (156) i5 coupled to the fir5t core retainer (154) with a 5pace (169) being
defined therebetween within which the 5eco1ld core retainer (162) and the 5tripper retainer (1 68)
are didably arranged to accommodate repo5itio1li1lg thereof, and thereby repo5itio11 the outer
15 core (1 14) and the 5tripper 5leeve (1 16), re5pectively, relative to the inner core (1 12).
13. The molding apparatu5 of claim 12, wherein:
the fir5t 5lide (122A) and the 5eco1ld 5lide (122B) are 5lidably linked with the ejector
box (156).
20
14. The molding apparatu5 of claim 13, wherein:
the fir5t mold 5hoe (170) and the fir^ 5tack portion (1 10) cooperate to provide a fir5t
mold half (1 02) of an i~ljectiom~lo ld (1 00).
25 15. The molding apparatu5 of claim 14, further compri5i1lg:
a 5eco1ld mold half (104) of the i11jectio11 mold (100), wherein the 5eco1ld mold half
(104) i11clude5 a 5eco1ld 5tack portion (130) of the mold 5tack (140) and a 5eco1ld mold 5hoe
(1 80) for coupli~lgi,n u5e, the 5eco1ld 5tack portion (1 30) to the i11jectio11m olding machine.
30 16. The molding apparatu5 of claim 15, wherein:
the 5eco1ld mold 5hoe (180) i11clude5 a cavity plate (172) with a fir5t retaining member
(1 74A) a55ociated therewith;
wherein the cavity plate (172) i5 5tructured to have the 5eco1ld 5tack portion (130)
mou~lted thereto, and the fir5t retaining member (174A) i5 arranged to be engagable with the
35 fir5t 5lide (122A) on the fir5t mold half (102) with the fir5t mold half (102) and the 5eco1ld mold
half (104) arranged in a mold-clo5ed co~lfiguratio~tol retain the fir5t 5lide (122A) in the fir5t
5lide molding po5itio11.
17. The molding apparatu5 of claim 16, wherein:
5 the fir5t retaining member (174A) define5 a clo5i1lg cam (175) with which to engage a
clo5i1lg cam follower (124) on the fir5t 5lide (122A) with relative movement of the fir5t mold
half (102) and the 5eco1ld mold half (104) toward5 the mold-clo5ed co~lfiguratio~~.
18. The molding apparatu5 of claim 16, wherein:
1 0 the 5eco1ld mold 5hoe (180) i11clude5 a 5eco1ld retaining member (174B) a55ociated
therewith that i5 engagable, in we, with the 5eco1ld 5lide (122B) on the fir5t mold half (102)
with the fir5t mold half (102) and the 5eco1ld mold half (104) arranged in the mold-clo5ed
co~lfiguratioto~ ~re tain the 5eco1ld 5lide (122B) in the 5eco1ld 5lide molding po5itio11.
15 19. The molding apparatu5 of claim 18, wherein:
the 5eco1ld retaining member (174B) define5 a clo5i1lg cam with which to engage a
clo5i1lg cam follower on the 5eco1ld 5lide (122B) with relative movement of the fir5t mold half
(1 02) and the 5eco1ld mold half (1 04) toward5 the mold-clo5ed co~lfiguratio~~.
20 20. The molding apparatus of claim 1, wherein:
the molded article (106) is a closure of a type for capping a bottle.