Patent ID: 6613262
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: B22D,B29C

Abstract:
A mold assembly for molding products between a pair of mold parts comprising:a support base; a fixed platen support positioned at a first end of said support base, said fixed platen support including at least one fixed platen which supports one of the mold parts; and at least one movable mold module which is movably supported along said support base toward and away from said fixed platen support, said movable mold module comprising: a movable platen carriage which supports a movable platen which supports the other of the mold parts, said movable platen carriage being movable along said support base toward and away from said fixed platen support, said movable platen being movable with said movable platen carriage between an engaged position, where the mold parts are engaged together for molding, and a separated position, where the mold parts and said platens are separated; and at least one tie rod assembly movably mounted at said movable platen carriage, said at least one tie rod assembly being movable with respect to said movable platen and said fixed platen, said tie rod assembly being initially removed from proximity of the mold parts when the mold parts and said platens are separated, said tie rod assembly being movable along said movable platen carriage to extend from said movable platen carriage for engaging said fixed platen support to maintain the engagement of the mold parts during molding, wherein said at least one tie rod assembly comprises a tie rod extending from a piston within an hydraulic cylinder, said cylinder being movable along said movable platen carriage.