Patent ID: 6416312
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: B29C,B29L,Y10S

Abstract:
A compression molding apparatus, comprising:a first mold portion and a second mold portion, said first and second mold portions having molding surfaces which at least partly define a molding cavity, and said first and second mold portions relatively longitudinally reciprocable along a first direction toward each other to compression mold an article, and away from each other to allow removal of the article and to receive a melted plastic pellet for compression molding; one of said first and second mold portions including a wall portion which at least partially defines one of the molding surfaces, said wall portion laterally reciprocable along a second direction to close a portion of said molding cavity, and to open said portion of said molding cavity to increase a lateral clearance within said molding cavity; and a cam mechanism operatively connected to said first and second mold portions and to said wall portion to laterally move said wall portion along said second direction when said first and second mold portions are reciprocated along said first direction, said cam mechanism including a cam drive means for driving movement of said wall portion, whereby relative reciprocable movement of said first and second mold portions drives the movement of said wall portion, said cam mechanism is configured to move said laterally reciprocal wall portion to close said portion of said molding cavity before said first and second mold portion complete compression of said melted plastic pellet, and said cam mechanism is configured such that after said portion of said molding cavity is closed, said first and second mold portions continue to travel together to complete the compression molded article.