Patent ID: 9186823
Filing Date: 2015-11-17
Classification: B29C,B29K,B29L

Abstract:
1. A mold unit comprising: a female mold and a male mold, which are closely engageable with each other in a selective manner to define a cavity having a desired shape, and are disengageable from each other, wherein the female and male molds are supported so as to be axially movable relative to each other along a direction of a common axis, and so as to be rotatable relative to each other about the common axis; at least one guide pin configured to move integrally with one of the female and male molds; a guide surface configured to move integrally with the other of the female and male molds, along which guide surface the at least one guide pin is disposed so as to move in contact; and an elastic member configured to bias the male mold in a direction away from the female mold, wherein: the at least one guide pin, the guide surface and the elastic member are configured to co-operate to enable the female and male molds to have a closest axial-position relative to each other that varies such that, at a first rotational position of the male mold relative to the female mold, a biasing force of the elastic member must be overcome in order to move the male mold axially towards the female mold and the closest axial-position of the male mold relative to the female mold is a first distance, and at a second rotational position of the male mold relative to the female mold, the elastic member does not resist axial movement of the male mold toward the female mold and allows the male mold to be brought into close engagement with the female mold and the closest axial-position of the male mold relative to the female mold is a second distance that is less than the first distance.