Patent ID: 9522495
Filing Date: 2016-12-20
CPC Classification: B29C,B29K

Claim Text:
1. A method of molding multiple-component articles, comprising: providing a mold assembly including first and second mold halves mounted for movement in reciprocal directions along an axis of reciprocation between an open position and a closed position, and mold cores in a mold core assembly carried by the first mold half, each mold core carrying a collar mounted for movement in reciprocal directions between a retracted position and an extended position, and each mold core mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation; rotating the mold cores to a first position; moving the first and second mold halves along the axis of reciprocation from the open position to the closed position, the mold cores cooperating with the second mold half to define a first molding configuration; injecting a first material into the mold assembly; cooling the first material forming partially-complete articles; moving the first and second mold halves along the axis of reciprocation from the closed position to the open position a first time; rotating the mold cores to a second position; moving the first and second mold halves along the axis of reciprocation from the open position to the closed position, the mold cores cooperating with the second mold half to define a second molding configuration; injecting a second material into the mold assembly; cooling the second material forming complete articles; moving the first and second mold halves along the axis of reciprocation from the closed position to the open position a second time; and releasing the complete articles from the mold assembly; wherein the axes of rotation of the mold cores in the mold core assembly is different from axes of rotation of mold cores in other mold core assemblies, and in the second position of the mold cores and in the open position of the first and second mold halves the collars are free to move in reciprocal direction along the axis of reciprocation of the first and second mold halves.