Method of producing resin-molded product

A movable mold is movable toward and away from a fixed mold so as to close and open the mold. The fixed mold includes an intermediate plate facing a movable-side mold plate. This intermediate plate has a retainer-molding recess which cooperates with the movable-side mold plate to form a retainer-molding cavity, and a core pin, which cooperates with a housing-molding recess to form a housing-molding cavity, is mounted on the intermediate plate. A retainer, molded in the molding cavity, is moved downward by an ejector pin into a position where the retainer is disposed coaxial with a housing. Then, the two molds are again closed together, so that the housing and the retainer are connected together, and then this assembled product is taken out.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to a method of and a mold for producing a connector, 
and more particularly to a method of producing a connector of the type 
having a retainer attached to a connector housing from a front side 
thereof or a rear side thereof. 
There are known connectors called "front retainer type" and connectors 
called "rear retainer type" (see FIGS. 6 and 7). Reference is first made 
briefly to the front type connector shown in FIG. 6. Cavities 31 for 
respectively receiving metal terminals 30 are formed in a connector 
housing 3, and a lance 32 for engagement with the metal terminal 30 is 
formed in the cavity 31. The lance 32 is of the cantilever type, and 
therefore is elastically deformable. When the metal terminal 30 is 
inserted into the cavity, the lance 32 is first elastically deformed or 
flexed to be received in a flexure space formed in a lower surface of the 
cavity, and when the metal terminal 30 is further inserted into a 
predetermined position, the lance 32 is restored to engage the metal 
terminal 30 (primary retained condition). 
A retainer 4 for preventing withdrawal of the metal terminals 30 is 
attached to a front portion of the connector housing 3. Holder piece 
portions 34 project from the retainer 4, and can be inserted respectively 
into the flexure spaces for the respective lances 32. When the retainer 4 
is attached to the housing 3, each holder piece portion 34 is brought into 
facing relation to the underside of the associated lance 32, thereby 
limiting the flexing of the lance 32, so that the metal terminal 30 is 
positively prevented from withdrawal (secondary retained condition). 
Although not shown in detail, the retainer 4 can be held in two positions, 
that is, a provisionally-retained position (where the depth of insertion 
of the retainer 4 into the housing 3 is small) and a completely-retained 
position (where the depth of insertion is large). In the 
provisionally-retained position of the retainer, the flexing of the lances 
32 is allowed, thereby enabling the insertion of the metal terminals 30. 
In the completely-retained position of the retainer, the flexing of the 
lances 32 is limited as described above, thereby preventing the metal 
terminals 30 from being withdrawn. 
On the other hand, in the rear retainer-type connector shown in FIG. 7, 
cavities 40 are formed in a connector housing, and metal terminals 42 can 
be inserted into these cavities, respectively. A rear retainer can be 
moved relative to the connector housing between a provisionally-retained 
position and a completely-retained position as in the front type 
connector. In the provisionally-retained position of the rear retainer, a 
terminal retaining pawl 44, formed in each cavity, is primarily engaged 
with a jaw 43 of the associated metal terminal 42. When the rear retainer 
is moved into the completely-retained position, edge portions 41 of the 
rear retainer engage rear ends of the metal terminals 42, respectively, in 
a secondary manner, thereby holding the metal terminals 42 against 
withdrawal. 
In the production of either of the above connectors, the housing 3 and the 
retainer 4 have been molded separately from each other, using separate 
molding machines, and these molded parts have been brought into an 
assembling site where the parts have been assembled together to form the 
connector. This assembling operation has been carried out either by an 
automatic machine equipped with a part feeder or by a manual operation. 
In the above conventional techniques, however, the molding of the housing 3 
and retainer 4 and the assembling operation of connecting them together 
have been effected separately, and the finished product has been obtained 
through the molding step, the conveyance step and the assembling step. 
Moreover, when the parts have been assembled by the operator, an 
examination step has been further required. Thus, many steps have been 
required for obtaining the finished product, and this has increased the 
manufacturing cost. Furthermore, it is necessary to take care of the mold 
for the housing 3 and the mold for the retainer 4, and therefore its 
management cost has been added. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the 
prior art, and an object of the invention is to provide a method of 
producing a connector at low costs. 
To achieve the above object, the invention provides a method and a mold 
metal of producing a resin-molded product assembled by at least two resin 
components, in that a plurality of resin component be fit with each other 
are molded by a pair of metal molds which are movable to be close to and 
away from each other in an axial direction, the resin components are moved 
to face with each other, one of the resin components is moved to be close 
to the other resin component to assemble the resin components together in 
a predetermined condition. 
In the invention, when the two molds are closed together, the plurality of 
molding cavities are formed between the two molds. The molten resin is 
filled in these cavities to mold the resin components. After the resin is 
solidified, the molds are opened away from each other, so that the molded 
resin components to be assembled together are retained on the two molds, 
respectively. Then, the molded resin components are moved in the mold by 
the moving mechanism, so that they are faced each other in the common 
axis. Then, at least one of the resin components is moved by the 
assembling mechanism toward the other resin component, so that the two 
resin components are assembled together in the predetermined condition. 
According to the invention, the sequential steps, that is, the molding of 
the plurality of resin components and the assembling operation for these 
molded resin components, are carried out in the mold, and therefore the 
resin-molded product can be obtained at low costs because of the shortened 
process. And besides, in the open condition of the mold, the resin 
components can be assembled together by slightly operating the assembling 
mechanism, and therefore the time required for this operation is shorter 
as compared with the case where resin components are assembled together 
utilizing a mold-closing operation, and also the required energy is 
smaller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
First Embodiment 
A first preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described 
with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. Although this embodiment is directed to a 
front retainer-type connector as described above, the invention can be 
applied to a rear retainer-type connector. A mold for performing the 
method of this invention is incorporated in an injection molding system, 
and important portions thereof are generally as described below, but FIGS. 
1 to 5 are simplified for explanation purposes, and the mold does not 
strictly correspond to the connector shown in FIG. 6. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold, and a fixed mold, and 
the movable mold S comprises a movable-side mold plate 2 secured to a 
movable-side die plate 1. A housing-molding recess 5 for forming a housing 
3 of the connector is formed in a molding surface of the movable-side mold 
plate 2, and a relief hole 6 for receiving an intermediate core 7 is 
formed in this molding surface, and is disposed below the housing-molding 
recess 5, the axes of the recess 5 and the relief hole 6 being disposed on 
a common vertical plane (in the drawings). The movable die plate 1 is 
connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is movable a predetermined 
stroke in right and left directions (in the drawings). 
The fixed mold M comprises a fixed-side mold plate 10 mounted on a 
fixed-side die plate 8 through a mounting plate 9, and the intermediate 
core 7 mounted on an intermediate plate 11. 
The fixed-side mold plate 10 is mounted on that side or surface of the 
mounting plate 9 facing the movable mold. A retainer-molding recess 13 is 
formed in that surface of the fixed-side mold plate 10 facing the movable 
mold, and is disposed coaxially with the housing-molding recess 5 in the 
horizontal direction (in the drawings). 
The intermediate plate 11 is mounted on the fixed-side die plate 8, and is 
disposed between the fixed-side mold plate 10 and the movable-side mold 
plate 2. A spring 12 is provided between the mounting plate 9 and the 
intermediate plate 11, and urges the intermediate plate 11 away from the 
mounting plate 9. A relief window 14 is formed through that portion of the 
intermediate plate 11 disposed in registry with the fixed-side mold plate 
10, and this relief window 14 is disposed coaxially with the 
housing-molding recess 5 and the retainer-molding recess 13. The 
intermediate plate 11 is movable in the left and right directions (in the 
drawings), with the fixed-side mold plate 10 closely fitted in the relief 
window 14, and is therefore movable into intimate contact with the 
mounting plate 9. 
The intermediate core 7 is provided on that surface of the intermediate 
plate 11 facing the movable mold. The intermediate core 7 is normally 
located in registry with the relief window 14, and its distal and proximal 
portions are opposed to the movable-side mold plate 2 and the fixed-side 
mold plate 10, respectively. A core-side molding portion 7A is formed in 
that surface of the intermediate core 7 facing the mold plate 2, and 
cooperates with the molding recess 5 in the mold plate 2 to form a molding 
cavity for molding the housing 3 when the two molds S and M are closed 
together. A core-side molding portion 7B is formed in that surface of the 
intermediate core facing the mold plate 10, and cooperates with the 
molding recess 13 in the mold plate 10 to form a molding cavity for 
molding the retainer 4 when the two molds S and M are closed together. The 
intermediate core 7 is normally disposed in registry with the relief 
window 14 as described above. The intermediate core 7 is connected to a 
reciprocating slide mechanism so that it can be moved downward (in the 
drawings) into registry with the relief hole 6 in the movable mold before 
the housing 3 and the retainer 4 are connected together, and when the 
housing and the retainer are connected together, the intermediate core 7 
is inserted into the relief hole 6 so that it will not interfere with the 
movable mold. 
When the molded retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 are retained 
respectively in the molding recesses 5 and 13 after the mold is opened, 
those surfaces of the molded retainer and the molded housing to be 
connected together are exposed in opposed relation to each other. Gates 
(not shown) are open respectively to the two molding recesses, and a 
molten resin is filled in these molding recesses through the respective 
gates. 
The molding of the housing 3 and the retainer 4 using the mold of the above 
construction, as well as the assembling procedure, will now be described. 
In the mold-open condition shown in FIG. 1, when the movable mold is moved 
toward the fixed mold, the movable-side mold plate 2 first abuts against 
the intermediate plate 11, so that the core-side molding portion 7A of the 
intermediate core 7 is inserted into the housing-molding recess 5, thereby 
forming the housing-molding cavity therebetween. When the movable mold S 
further advances, the intermediate plate 11 is retracted while compressing 
the spring 12. Then, when the intermediate plate 11 comes into intimate 
contact with the mounting plate 9, the fixed-side mold plate 10 enters the 
relief window 14, so that the core-side molding portion 7B of the 
intermediate core 7 and the retainer-molding recess 13 cooperate with each 
other to form the retainer-molding cavity therebetween. 
After the mold is thus closed, the molten resin is filled in the 
housing-molding cavity, formed between the intermediate core 7 and the 
mold plate 2, and the retainer-molding cavity formed between the 
intermediate core 7 and the mold plate 10 (see FIG. 2). Then, when the 
resin is solidified upon lapse of a predetermined period of time, the 
movable mold is moved back to open the mold. As a result, the intermediate 
core 7 is withdrawn from the housing-molding recess 5, and since the 
intermediate plate 11 is spaced apart from the mounting plate 9 under the 
influence of the spring 12, the fixed-side mold plate 2 is withdrawn from 
the relief window 14. At this time, the housing 3 is retained in the 
housing-molding recess 5, and the retainer 4 is retained in the 
retainer-molding recess 13. 
Then, the intermediate core 7 is moved by the reciprocating slide mechanism 
(not shown) into registry with the relief hole 6 in the movable mold (that 
is, moved from the position indicated in phantom to the position indicated 
by solid lines in FIG. 3). As a result, the relief window 14 is open in 
the right and left directions, and the molded housing 3 and the retainer 4 
are disposed in opposed, coaxial relation to each other. 
Then, the movable mold S is again moved left (in the drawings) to move the 
intermediate plate 11 back into intimate contact with the mounting plate 
9. During this time, the intermediate core 7 is inserted into the relief 
hole 6 in the movable mold. At the same time, the fixed-side mold plate 10 
again enters the relief window 14 in the intermediate plate 11, and is 
brought into intimate contact with the movable-side mold plate 2. As a 
result, the retainer 4 is connected to the front side portion of the 
housing 3 in a provisionally-retained condition. 
Then, when the movable mold is again spaced apart after the above 
operation, the connector, having the housing 4 and the retainer 4 
connected together, remains in the housing-molding recess 5, and this 
connector is ejected from the mold by an ejector pin (not shown) operated 
in accordance with the mold-opening operation (or independently thereof). 
FIG. 5 shows a condition during the mold-opening operation, and thereafter 
the fixed side is returned to the initial position (shown in FIG. 1) to be 
ready for a subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housing 3 
and the retainer 4 and the assembling step of connecting them together can 
be carried out at the same time, and therefore the conveyance and the 
assembling operation as required in the conventional method are not 
necessary, and the lead time for the finished product is shortened by the 
shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. And besides, 
since different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing 3 and the 
retainer 4, can be molded in one mold, this is advantageous from the 
viewpoint of management of the mold. 
Second Embodiment 
A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 8 to 15. First, a connector to be molded will be 
briefly described with reference to FIG. 8. Although the connector to be 
described here is a so-called front retainer-type connector, the invention 
can be applied to a rear retainer-type connector. 
The connector comprises a connector housing 170 and a retainer 171 both of 
which are integrally molded of a synthetic resin. The housing 170 includes 
a rear portion (right-hand portion in FIG. 8) defining a base portion 172 
for receiving metal terminals (not shown), and a front portion (left-hand 
portion) defining a hood portion 173 of a larger size into which distal 
end portions of the metal terminals are projected in juxtaposed relation, 
the hood portion 173 being open in a direction of attachment of the 
retainer 171. 
Terminal receiving chambers 174 are formed in the base portion 172, and 
extend along the axis of the housing 170, and the metal terminal can be 
inserted into the associated terminal receiving chamber 174 from the rear 
side. An elastic piece portion 175, which is elastically deformable 
upwardly (in the drawings), is formed in the terminal receiving chamber 
174 in a cantilever manner. Upon insertion of the metal terminal, the 
elastic piece portion 175 is brought into a retraction space 176 provided 
on the upper side (in the drawings) thereof. A retaining projection 177 is 
formed in opposed relation to the retraction space 176, and when the metal 
terminal is inserted into a predetermined-depth position, the retaining 
projection 177 engages the metal terminal. A completely-retaining edge 178 
is formed inwardly of the retaining projection 177, and when the retainer 
171 is completely retained, the completely retaining edge 178 engages a 
connection arm 179 of the retainer 171. 
An insertion hole 181 for receiving a holder piece portion 180 (described 
later) of the retainer 171 is formed in the base portion 172, and extends 
to a predetermined depth along the axis of the housing 170. A retaining 
step 182 is formed on an inner surface of the insertion hole 181 adjacent 
to a front end thereof, and when the retainer 171 is in a 
provisionally-retained condition, this retaining step 182 engages a 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183 of the holder piece portion 180. The 
depth of the insertion hole 181 is sufficiently large to allow the holder 
piece portion 180 to be inserted thereinto beyond the retaining step 182 
until the retainer 171 is completely retained. 
The retainer 171 has a square shape as a whole so that it can be fitted 
into the hood portion 173, and a base plate 184, which can abut against 
the front end of the base portion 172, is formed in the retainer 171. The 
following three projected portions are formed on the base plate 184. The 
holder piece portion 180, which is the longest among the three, is formed 
on an upper portion of the base plate 184, and extends in the direction of 
insertion of the retainer into the hood portion 173. The holder piece 
portion 180 can be inserted into the insertion hole 181, and in the 
provisionally-retained position of the retainer 171, the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183, formed on the holder piece portion 180 
intermediate the opposite ends thereof, engages the 
provisionally-retaining step 182 formed on the inner surface of the 
insertion hole 181. The limitation piece portion 185, which is the 
shortest, extends from a central portion of the base plate 184 along the 
axis. In the completely-retained position of the retainer 171, this 
limitation piece portion 185 is inserted into the retraction space 176, 
and in the provisionally-retained position of the retainer 171, the 
limitation piece portion 185 is spaced away from the retraction space 176. 
Therefore, in this provisionally-retained position, each metal terminal 
can be inserted into the associated terminal receiving chamber 174, but 
when the retainer 171 is moved into the completely-retained position, the 
limitation piece portion 185 is inserted into the retraction space 176, 
thereby limiting the flexing of the elastic piece portion 175. The 
elastically-deformable connection arm 179 extends from a lower portion (in 
the drawings) of the base plate 184 along the axis, and a hook 186 is 
formed at its distal end. In the completely-retained position of the 
retainer 171, the hook 186 elastically engages the completely-retaining 
edge 178. 
The construction of a mold for producing the connector of the above 
construction will now be described. In this embodiment, the mold is 
incorporated in an injection molding system. In the drawings, important 
portions are shown merely broadly, and details thereof are omitted for the 
sake of simplicity of the description. Therefore, details of the above 
construction of the connector are not shown, and for example the number 
and shape of core pins (described later) are merely broadly shown in the 
drawings. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold and a fixed mold. The 
fixed mold 101, shown at a left side in the drawings, includes a 
fixed-side mounting plate 103, and a fixed-side mold plate 105 (at a right 
side in the drawings) is mounted on the plate 103 through a spacer block 
104. An intermediate plate 132 is mounted on the fixed-side mold plate 
105. 
The intermediate plate 132 is movable along the axis into and out of 
intimate contact with the fixed-side mold plate 105, and guide posts 106 
for guiding this movement are provided respectively at end portions of the 
spacer block 104, and extend through the fixed-side mold plate 105, and 
can slidably extend through the intermediate plate 132. A spring 121 is 
provided between the fixed-side mold plate 105 and the intermediate plate 
132, and urges the intermediate plate 132 away from the fixed-side mold 
plate 105. 
A fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108 for mainly forming an outer frame 
portion of the retainer 171 is formed in that surface of the fixed-side 
mold plate 105 facing the intermediate plate 132. A core pin 109 for 
molding part (part of the provisionally-retaining pawl 183, part of the 
hook 186 of the connection arm 179, and so on) of the internal structure 
of the retainer 171 is mounted on the fixed-side mold plate 105 in 
parallel relation to the axis, and a distal end portion of this core pin 
109 extends through the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108, and can 
project into a core-side retainer-molding recess 135 in the intermediate 
plate 132 when the mold is in the condition shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. 
An ejector plate 110 is provided between the fixed-side mold plate 105 and 
the fixed-side mounting plate 103. This ejector plate 110 is connected to 
a drive mechanism (not shown), and is reciprocally movable between the 
fixed-side mounting plate 103 and the fixed-side mold plate 105. Push pins 
111, which serve to mold the retainer 171 and also to push the retainer, 
are mounted on the ejector plate 110. The push pins 111 slidably extend 
through the fixed-side mold plate 105, and their distal end portions are 
held against the intermediate plate 132 when the mold is closed, and 
normally form part of the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108. Namely, 
these push pins can form part of the outer portion of the retainer 171, 
and also can engage the molded retainer 171 to push out when the ejector 
plate 110 is moved as shown in FIG. 13. 
A relief hole 136 is formed through the intermediate plate 132 in opposed 
relation to the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108, and an 
intermediate core 133 is provided in this relief hole 136. The core-side 
retainer-molding recess 135 is formed in that surface of the intermediate 
core 133 facing the fixed-side mold plate 105, and cooperates with the 
fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108 to form a molding cavity for 
molding the retainer 171 when the intermediate core 133 and the fixed-side 
mold plate 105 are held in intimate contact with each other. That surface 
of the intermediate core 133 facing a movable-side mold plate 113 
cooperates with a housing-molding recess 115 (described later) to form a 
molding cavity for molding the housing 170 when the intermediate core 133 
and the movable-side mold plate 113 are held in intimate contact with each 
other. 
The intermediate core 133 is connected to a slide mechanism (not shown), 
and is movable or displaceable between the following two positions in the 
relief hole 136. The intermediate core 133 is movable between the molding 
position (FIGS. 9 to 11) where the intermediate core 133 is coaxial with 
the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108 and the retracted position 
(FIGS. 12 to 15) where the intermediate core 133 is spaced perpendicularly 
from the axis of the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108. 
The movable-side mold 102 is arranged coaxially with the fixed-side mold 
101, and includes a movable-side mounting plate 112 as in the fixed mold 
101. Movable-side mold plates 113 and 140, separated from each other in a 
forward-backward direction, are supported on the left side (in the 
drawings) of the mounting plate 112 through a spacer block 137. A spring 
134 is provided between the two movable-side mold plates 113 and 140, and 
urges the front movable-side mold plate 113 away from the mold plate 140. 
The movable mold 102 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
movable a predetermined stroke in right and left directions (in the 
drawings). 
Guide bushings 114 for respectively receiving the two guide posts 106 in 
the mold-closed condition are embedded respectively in end portions of the 
front movable-side mold plate 113, and extend parallel to the axis. 
Although not shown in the drawings, guide pins and guide bushings for 
guiding the movement of the two movable-side mold plates 113 and 140 are 
provided between the two mold plates 113 and 140. The housing-molding 
recess 115 is formed in that surface of the front movable-side mold plate 
113 facing the intermediate core 133. This housing-molding recess 115 is 
coaxial with the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108, and is also 
coaxial with the intermediate core 133 located in the molding position. 
Gates (not shown) are open to the housing-molding recess 115 and the 
fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108, and a molten resin is filled in 
these molding recesses through the respective gates. 
In the movable mold 102, a pin plate 129 is provided between the rear 
movable-side mold plate 140 and the movable-side mounting plate 112. This 
pin plate 129 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and movable 
forward and backward in a direction parallel to the axis. 
A sub-core pin 119 for molding the housing 170 is mounted on the rear 
movable-side mold plate 140 in parallel relation to the axis, and a distal 
end portion of this sub-core pin 119 is slidably incorporated in the front 
movable-side mold plate 113. When molding the housing 170, the sub-core 
pin 119 projects into the housing-molding recess 115 so as to mold the 
retaining step 182 and so on, but when the mold is opened before the 
retainer 171 and the housing 170 are connected together, so that the front 
and rear movable-side mold plates 113 and 140 are spaced apart from each 
other as shown in FIG. 11, the sub-core pin 119 is withdrawn from the 
housing-molding recess 115 and hence from the molded housing 170. 
An ejector pin 120 for ejecting the connector having the housing 170 and 
the retainer 171 connected together is mounted on the pin plate 129, and 
extends parallel to the axis. A distal end of the ejector pin 120 is 
normally disposed substantially flush with an inner surface of the 
housing-molding recess 115. However, when the pin plate 129 advances 
independently of the movable mold 102 after the retainer 171 and the 
housing 170 are connected together, the ejector pin 120 is inserted into 
the housing-molding recess 115 to eject the connector therefrom. 
The process of molding the housing 170 and the retainer 171 using the mold 
of this embodiment, as well as the assembling step of connecting them 
together, will now be described. 
In the mold-closed condition of FIG. 9 in which the front movable-side mold 
plate 113 is held in intimate contact with the fixed-side mold plate 105, 
the housing-molding recess 115 is closed by the intermediate core 133 to 
form a sealed space, and also a main core pin 107 and the sub-core pin 119 
are inserted in the housing-molding recess 115, thereby forming a cavity 
for molding the housing 170. 
At the other side of the intermediate core 133, the core-side 
retainer-molding recess 135 and the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 108 
jointly form a sealed space, and the core pin 109 is inserted in this 
sealed space, thereby forming a cavity for molding the retainer 171. 
In this mold-closed condition, the molten resin is filled in the 
housing-molding cavity and the retainer-molding cavity through the gates 
(not shown) (see FIG. 10). Then, when the resin is solidified upon lapse 
of a predetermined period of time, the movable mold 102 is moved back to 
open the mold. As a result, the retainer 171 is retained in the fixed-side 
retainer-molding recess 108 while the housing 170 is retained in the 
housing-molding recess 115 in the movable mold in such a manner that the 
retainer 171 and the housing 170 are spaced apart from each other, as 
shown in FIG. 11. When the mold is thus opened, the intermediate core 133 
is spaced apart from the fixed-side mold plate 105 under the influence of 
the spring 121, so that the molded retainer 171 is withdrawn from the 
core-side retainer-molding recess 135 in the intermediate core 133. At the 
same time, the front movable-side mold plate 113 is spaced apart from the 
rear movable-side mold plate 140 under the influence of the spring 134, so 
that the sub-core pin 119 is withdrawn from the molded housing 170. 
Then, the slide mechanism (not shown) is driven to move the intermediate 
core 133 into the retracted position (see FIG. 12). As a result, the 
obstructing member (the intermediate core 133) is not interposed between 
the molded retainer 171 and the molded housing 170, so that the two molded 
parts is opposed coaxially with each other. Then, when the ejector plate 
110 is moved forward by the drive mechanism (not shown), the retainer 171 
is pushed by the push pins 111 engaged at their distal ends with the 
retainer 171, and is withdrawn from the fixed-side retainer-molding recess 
108. Then, the retainer 171 is fitted into the hood portion 173 of the 
housing 170. When the retainer 171 is thus pushed forward, the core pin 
109 is also withdrawn from the molded retainer 171, and the sub-core pin 
119 has already been withdrawn from the molded housing 170, and therefore 
when the retainer 171 is to be connected to the housing 170, the 
engagement of the provisionally-retaining pawl 183 with the retaining step 
183 will not be affected at all. Thus, the retainer 171 is connected to 
the housing 170 in the provisionally-retained condition. When the above 
assembling operation is completed, the ejector plate 110 is returned to 
the initial position (see FIG. 13). 
Then, when the pin plate 129 is advanced by the drive mechanism (not 
shown), the ejector pin 120 ejects the connector from the housing-molding 
recess 115 to be discharged from the mold. When the connector is thus 
taken out, the pin plate 129 and the intermediate core 133 are returned to 
their respective initial positions, so that the mold is ready for a 
subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housing 170 
and the retainer 171 and the assembling step of connecting them together 
can be carried out at the same time, and therefore independent conveyance 
and assembling steps as required in the conventional method are not 
needed, and therefore the lead time for the finished product is shortened 
by the shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. 
In this embodiment, the housing 170 and the retainer 171 can be connected 
together merely by operating the push pins 111, and the connector can be 
discharged merely by operating the ejector pin 120. It may be proposed to 
effect such assembling and discharge operations utilizing the overall 
moldclosing operation. In this case, however, those portions to be moved 
are large, and also the required energy is large. On the other hand, in 
this embodiment, those portions to be moved are kept to a minimum, and the 
construction is simple, and the energy required for the operation is 
small. 
Different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing 170 and the 
retainer 171, can be formed in one mold, and this is advantageous from the 
viewpoint of management of the mold. In this embodiment, the molding core 
pins 119 and 109 are recess because of its own weight (An ejector pin for 
this purpose may be provided), and is discharged from the mold. 
In the second embodiment, although the arrangement in which the housing and 
the retainer of the connector are connected together has been shown and 
described, the present invention can be applied to other various 
resin-molded products, and the number of the molded products is not 
limited to two, but the invention can be applied to an arrangement in 
which more than two parts are to be connected together. 
In the second embodiment, although only the movable mold is displaced or 
moved in the axial direction, both of the two molds may be movable. 
In the second embodiment, although the intermediate core 33 is moved alone, 
the intermediate core 133 may be fixed while the whole of the intermediate 
plate 132 is moved. 
Furthermore, according to the invention, when forming of the connector 
housing and the retainer, different resins in material or color may be 
filled in the connector forming mold and the retainer forming mold, so 
that the connector housing and the retainer can be made different in 
material or color. 
Third Embodiment 
A third preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described 
with reference to FIGS. 16 to 20. Although this embodiment is directed to 
a front retainer-type connector as described above, the invention can be 
applied to a rear retainer-type connector. A mold for performing the 
method of this invention is incorporated in an injection molding system, 
and important portions thereof are generally as described below, but FIGS. 
16 to 20 are simplified for explanation purposes, and the mold does not 
strictly correspond to the connector shown in FIG. 6. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold, and a fixed mold, and 
the movable mold S comprises a movable-side mold plate 202 secured to a 
die plate 201. A housing-molding recess 205 for forming a housing 3 of the 
connector is formed in a molding surface of the movable-side mold plate 
202, and a retainer-molding reception portion 206A is formed in this 
molding surface in vertically-spaced relation (in the drawings) to the 
housing-molding recess 205. 
The fixed mold M comprises a receiving plate 208 which is normally disposed 
coaxially with the movable mold S, and is fixedly mounted on a mounting 
plate 207, and a fixed-side mold plate 209 provided forwardly of the 
receiving plate 208. 
A spring 210 is provided between the fixed-side mold plate 209 and the 
receiving plate 208, and urges the fixed-side mold plate 209 away from the 
receiving plate 208. Although not shown, stopper means is provided between 
the fixed-side mold plate 209 and the receiving plate 208 so as to prevent 
the distance between the two from exceeding a predetermined value. A 
proximal portion of a retainer-molding core pin 211 is mounted in the 
receiving plate 208, and a distal end portion of this retainer-molding 
core pin 211 is slidably inserted into a withdrawn respectively from the 
housing 170 and the retainer 171 before the assembling operation is 
effected, and therefore there is achieved an advantage that the two can be 
connected together smoothly. 
Various modifications can be made in the present invention, and the 
following modifications fall within the scope of the invention: 
In the first embodiment, although the intermediate core 7 is moved to close 
and open the relief window 14, there may be used an arrangement in which 
the intermediate core 7 is spaced from the relief window 14, and the whole 
of the intermediate plate 11 is moved between a position where the 
intermediate core 7 is in registry with the two mold plates and a position 
where the intermediate core is in registry with the relief window 14. 
In the first embodiment, the assembling operation of connecting the molded 
retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 together is effected in accordance 
with the mold re-closing operation, However, instead of this, the 
following arrangement may be used. For example, a knockout pin (not shown) 
is provided in the movable-side mold plate 2. After the molding is 
completed as shown in FIG. 3, the knockout pin is driven to push the 
molded housing 3 toward the retainer 4, thereby connecting the retainer 
and the housing together. The thus-assembled connector is disengaged from 
the housing-molding pin insertion hole 211A formed horizontally (in the 
drawings) in the fixed-side mold plate 209. This pin insertion hole 211A 
is continuous with a retainer-molding recess 206B formed in the fixed-side 
mold plate 209 in coaxial relation to the retainer-molding reception 
portion 206A. The distal end of the retainer-molding core pin 211 is 
normally (i.e., in a mold-open condition shown in FIG. 16) is spaced 
rearwardly from the retainer-molding recess 206B, but in a mold-closed 
condition (FIG. 17), this distal end lies flush with an inner surface of 
the retainer-molding recess 206B, and therefore forms, together with the 
retainer-molding recess 206B and the retainer-molding reception portion 
206A, a retainer-molding cavity. 
A proximal portion of a housing-molding core pin 212 is mounted in the 
receiving plate 208 in parallel relation to the retainer-molding core pin 
211, and is disposed in vertical registry with the retainer-molding core 
211. A distal end portion of the housing-molding core pin 212 is slidably 
extended through a through hole 212A formed horizontally (in the drawings) 
through the fixed-side mold plate 209, and this core pin 212 is normally 
disposed coaxially with the housing-molding recess 205 in the movable-side 
mold plate 202. When the mold is closed, the distal end portion of the 
core pin 212 is inserted into the housing-molding recess 205 to cooperate 
therewith to form a molding cavity for molding the housing 3. 
When the molded retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 are retained 
respectively in the molding recesses 206B and 205 after the mold is 
opened, those surfaces of the molded retainer and the molded housing which 
are to be connected together are exposed and opposed to each other. Gates 
(not shown) are open respectively to the two molding recesses 205 and 206, 
and a molten resin is filled in these molding recesses through the 
respective gates. The movable mold S of the above construction is 
connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is reciprocally movable 
right and left between a mold-open position where the fixed-side mold 
plate 209 and the movable-side mold plate 202 are held in intimate contact 
with each other and a mold-open position (FIG. 16) where the two mold 
plates 202 and 209 are spaced a predetermined distance from each other. 
The movable mold S is also connected to a drive mechanism independent of 
the above drive mechanism (or may be connected to this common drive 
source), and is movable upward and downward (in the drawings) in the above 
mold-opened position. Therefore, the movable mold S is reciprocally 
movable between a molding position where the retainer 4 and the housing 3 
can be molded and an assembling position where the molded retainer 4 and 
the molded housing 3 are aligned with each other. 
The molding of the housing 3 and the retainer 4 using the molding mold of 
the above construction, as well as the assembling procedure, will now be 
described. 
When the whole of the movable mold S is moved from the mold-open position 
(FIG. 16) is moved toward the fixed mold, the movable-side mold plate 202 
first abuts against the fixed-side mold plate 209. As a result, the distal 
end portion of the housing-molding core pin 212 is inserted into the 
housing-molding recess 205. Then, when the movable mold S further 
advances, the fixed-side mold plate 209 is brought into contact with the 
receiving plate 208 while compressing the spring 210, so that the two 
molds are closed together. At this time, the retainer-molding core pin 211 
and the housing-molding core pin 212 are disposed in their respective 
normal positions, and therefore the cavity for molding the retainer 4 is 
formed by the retainer-molding reception portion 206A and the 
retainer-molding recess 206B whereas the cavity for molding the housing 3 
is formed by the housing-molding recess 205. Then, the molten resin is 
filled in the two molding cavities. 
Then, when the resin is solidified upon lapse of a predetermined period of 
time, the movable mold is moved back into the mold-open position, so that 
the fixed-side mold plate 209 is spaced apart from the receiving plate 208 
under the influence of the spring 210. At this time, the retainer 4 is 
retained in the retainer-molding recess 206B, and the core pin 211 is 
retracted from the retainer 4. Although the retainer 4 and the housing are 
shown as being spaced from each other in the upward-downward direction (in 
the drawings), the two are held on a common vertical plane. 
Then, the movable mold S is moved upward by the drive mechanism (not shown) 
as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 18. Namely, the movable-side mold plate 
202 is displaced upwardly with respect to the fixed-side mold plate 209 
into the assembling position where the housing 3 is aligned with the 
retainer 4. In this assembling position, the movable mold S is again 
advanced left (in the drawings) to hold the two mold plates 202 and 209 in 
intimate contact with each other. The housing-molding core pin 212 has 
already been located at the position where it will not interfere with the 
movable-side mold plate 202, and therefore when the two mold plates 202 
and 209 are brought into intimate contact with each other, the 
housing-molding core pin 212 will not interfere with the movable-side mold 
plate 202. In the drawings, although the housing-molding core pin 212 is 
disposed exteriorly of the movable-side mold plate 202, the movable-side 
mold plate 202 may have a relief hole for receiving the core pin 212. 
When the two mold plates 202 and 209 are thus held in intimate contact with 
each other, the retainer 4 is connected to the front side portion of the 
housing 3 in a provisionally-retained condition. Although not shown, the 
molded retainer 4 is retained at its proximal portion in the 
retainer-molding recess 206B, and therefore even when the retainer is 
pressed by the housing 3 during the connection of the retainer to the 
housing 3, the retainer will not be moved back during this assembling 
operation. The connection between the housing 3 and the retainer 4 is 
effected with the fixed-side mold plate 209 kept spaced from the receiving 
plate 208, and the spring 10 has a sufficient spring force to resist this 
pressure. 
When the assembling operation is thus completed, the movable mold S is 
again moved back to the mold-open position, and the connector, having the 
housing 3 and the retainer 4 connected together, remains in the 
housing-molding recess 205, and the connector is ejected by an ejector pin 
(not shown) to be discharged from the mold. Then, the movable mold S is 
moved downward to the initial position (the molding position; the 
mold-open position), so that the two molds are ready for a subsequent 
molding operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housing 3 
and the retainer 4 and the assembling step of connecting them together can 
be carried out at the same time, and therefore the conveyance and the 
assembling operation as required in the conventional method are not 
necessary, and the lead time for the finished product is shortened by the 
shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. And besides, 
since different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing 3 and the 
retainer 4, can be molded in one mold, this is advantageous from the 
viewpoint of management of the mold. 
Fourth Embodiment 
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
respect to FIGS. 21-26. First, a connector to be molded has been described 
with reference to FIG. 8. As same with the second embodiment, although the 
connector to be described here is a so-called front retainer-type 
connector, the invention can be applied to a rear retainer-type connector. 
The construction of a mold for producing the connector of the above 
construction will now be described. In this embodiment, the mold is 
incorporated in an injection molding system. In the drawings, important 
portions are shown merely broadly, and details thereof are omitted for the 
sake of simplicity of the description. Therefore, details of the above 
construction of the connector are not shown, and for example the number 
and shape of core pins (described later) are merely broadly shown in the 
drawings. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold and a fixed mold. The 
fixed mold 2101, shown at a left side in the drawings, includes a 
fixed-side mounting plate 2103, and a fixed-side mold plate 2105 (at a 
right side in the drawings) is mounted on the plate 2103 through a spacer 
block 2104. Two guide bushings 3114 for respectively receiving guide posts 
2106 when the mold is closed are embedded in opposite end portions of the 
fixed-side mold plate 2105, respectively, and extend parallel to the axis 
of the mold. A main core pin 2107 for mainly molding part (part of the 
retraction space 176, the retaining projection 177 and so on) of the 
internal structure of the housing 170 is mounted on a fixed-side backing 
plate 2140, and extends through the fixed-side mold plate 2105, and is 
directed toward the movable mold 2102. 
A retainer-molding recess 2108 for mainly molding the outer frame portion 
of the retainer 171 is formed on that surface of the fixed-side mold plate 
2105 facing the movable mold, and is spaced slightly from the main core 
pin 2107. A core pin 2109 for molding part (part of the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183, part of the hook 186 of the connection 
arm 179, and so on) of the internal structure of the retainer 171 is 
mounted on the fixed-side backing plate 2140, and extends in parallel 
relation to the main core pin 2107. A distal end portion of the core pin 
2109 can project into the retainer-molding recess 2108, and can further 
project outwardly from the fixed mold 2101. 
A fixed-side ejecting plate 2110 is provided between the fixed-side mold 
plate 2105 and the fixed-side mounting plate 2103. This fixed-side 
ejecting plate 2110 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
reciprocally movable between the fixed-side mounting plate 2103 and the 
fixed-side backing plate 2140. A pair of push pins 2111 are mounted on the 
fixed-side ejecting plate 2110, and these push pins 2111 serve to mold the 
retainer 171 and also serve to eject the molded retainer. The push pins 
2111 slidably extend through the fixed-side backing plate 2140 and the 
fixed-side mold plate 2105, with the core pin 2109 disposed therebetween. 
The distal ends of the push pins 2111 normally form part of the 
retainer-molding recess 2108, and more specifically can form part of the 
outer portion of the retainer 171, and when the fixed-side ejecting plate 
2110 is moved as shown in FIG. 24, these distal ends, engaged with the 
molded retainer 171, eject it. 
The fixed mold 2101 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
movable in an upward-downward direction (in the drawings) perpendicular to 
the axis in the mold-open condition. Thus, the fixed mold 2101 is 
reciprocally movable between a molding position where the retainer 171 and 
the housing 170 can be molded and an assembling position (spaced 
vertically from the molding position) where the molded retainer 171 is 
aligned with the molded housing 170. 
The movable mold 2102 is normally disposed coaxially with the fixed mold 
2101, and includes a movable-side mounting plate 2112 as in the fixed 
mold. Movable-side mold plates 2113 and 2141, separated from each other in 
a forward-backward direction, are provided on the left side of a 
movable-side backing plate 2142. A spring 2118 is provided between the two 
movable-side mold plates 2113 and 2141, and urges the front movable-side 
mold plate 2113 forwardly. 
The movable mold 2102 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
movable in right and left directions (in the drawings) between a 
mold-closed position where the fixed-side mold plate 2105 and the front 
movable-side mold plate 2113 are held in intimate contact with each other 
and a mold-open position where the two mold plates are spaced a 
predetermined distance from each other. 
The two guide posts 2106 are mounted on the movable-side backing plate 
2142, and extend through the two movable-side mold plates 2113 and 2141 in 
parallel relation to the axis. The distal end portions of the two guide 
posts 2106 can be inserted into the guide bushings 2114, respectively. A 
housing-molding recess 2115 and a retainer-molding recess 2116 are formed 
in that surface of the front movable-side mold plate 2113 facing the fixed 
mold, and the molding recess 2115 is normally in registry with the main 
core pin 2107, and the molding recess 2116 is normally in registry with 
the core pin 2109 and the two push pins 2111 for molding the retainer 171. 
Gates (not shown) are open respectively to the two molding recesses 2115 
and 2116, and a molten resin is filled in these recesses through the 
respective gates. 
In the movable mold 2102, a pin plate 2117 for ejecting the molded product 
is provided between the movable-side backing plate 2142 and the 
movable-side mounting plate 2112. This pin plate 2117 is connected to a 
drive mechanism (not shown), and is movable forward and backward in the 
axial direction. 
A sub-core pin 2119 for molding the housing 170 is mounted on the rear 
movable-side mold plate 2141, and extends parallel to the axis. The 
sub-core pin 2119 is projected into the housing-molding recess 2115 during 
the molding of the housing 170 (that is, when the front and rear 
movable-side mold plates 2113 and 2141 are held in intimate contact with 
each other) so as to mold the retaining step 182 and so on. However, when 
the two movable-side mold plates 2113 and 2141 are moved apart from each 
other (that is, after the molding), the sub-core pin 2119 is withdrawn 
from the housing-molding recess 2115, and hence is withdrawn from the 
molded housing 170. 
An ejector pin 2120 for ejecting the connector having the housing 170 and 
the retainer 171 connected together is mounted on the pin plate 2117, and 
extends parallel to the axis. A distal end of the ejector pin 2120 is 
normally disposed flush with an inner surface of the housing-molding 
recess 2115. However, when the front pin plate 2117 advances after the 
housing 170 and the retainer 171 are connected together, the distal end of 
the ejector pin 2120 is projected into the housing-molding recess 2115 to 
eject the assembled connector. 
The step of molding the housing 170 and the retainer 171 using the above 
mold of the fourth embodiment, as well as the assembling step of 
connecting them together, will now be described. 
In the mold-closed condition (FIG. 21) in which the front movable-side mold 
plate 2113 and the fixed-side mold plate 2105 are held in intimate contact 
with each other, the housing-molding recess 2115 is closed to provide a 
sealed space or cavity, and also a sealed space, defined by the two 
retainer-molding recesses 2108 and 2116 formed respectively in the fixed 
mold and the movable mold, serves as a cavity for molding the retainer 
171. In this condition, the molten resin is filled in the two sealed 
cavities through the respective gates (not shown). Since the main core pin 
2107 and the sub-core pin 2119 are projected into the housing-molding 
recess 2115, the outer shape of the housing and its internal structure 
(the retraction space 176, the retaining projection 177 and so on) are 
formed. The cavity for molding the retainer 171 is defined by the two 
molding recesses 2108 and 2116 mated with each other, and the core pin 
2109 is projected into this molding cavity, and therefore the outer shape 
of the retainer 171 and its internal structure (the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183, the connection arm 179 and so on) are 
formed. 
The molten resin is thus filled, and when the resin is solidified upon 
lapse of a predetermined time period, the movable mold 2102 is moved back 
to open the mold as shown in FIG. 22. When the mold is thus opened, the 
housing 170 is retained in the housing-molding recess 2115 while the 
retainer 171 is retained in the retainer-molding recess 2108 in the fixed 
mold. During this mold-opening operation, the two movable-side mold plates 
2113 and 2141 are moved apart from each other under the influence of the 
spring 2118, so that the sub-core pin 2119 is withdrawn from the molded 
housing 170 as described above. The sub-core pin 2119 serves to mold the 
retaining step 182 and so on as described above, and if the sub-core pin 
2119 is not withdrawn from the housing 170 before the retainer 171 and the 
housing 170 are connected together at the later assembling step, the 
assembling operation is adversely affected. Therefore, this withdrawing 
operation is necessary. 
Then, the fixed-side mold 2101 is moved upward (in the drawings) by the 
drive mechanism (not shown). Namely, the fixed-side mold plate 2105 is 
displaced with respect to the front movable-side mold plate 2113 into the 
assembling position, so that the retainer 171 is disposed coaxially with 
the housing 170, as shown in FIG. 23. 
Then, the fixed-side ejecting plate 2110 is moved forward, so that the 
molded retainer 171 is pushed out of the retainer-molding recess 2108 
(formed in the fixed mold) by the push pins 2111, and is moved toward the 
housing 170. At this time, the core pin 2109 is withdrawn from the 
retainer 171. The core pin 2109 serves to form the provisionally-retaining 
pawl 183 and so on, and if the core pin 2109 is not withdrawn from the 
retainer 171 before the retainer 171 is connected to the housing 170, the 
assembling operation is adversely affected. Before the retainer 171 is 
fitted into the housing 170 by the push pins 2111, the core pins 2109 and 
2119 are thus withdrawn, and therefore the engagement of the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183 with the retaining step 182 is not 
affected at all. Thus, the retainer 171 and the housing 170 are connected 
together. 
Then, when the fixed-side ejecting plate 2110 is returned to the initial 
position, the connector, having the housing 170 and the retainer 171 
connected together, remains in the movable mold as shown in FIG. 25. Then, 
when the pin plate 2117 is moved forward, the ejector pin 2120 pushes the 
housing 170, so that the connector in the assembled condition 
(provisionally-retained condition) is forced out of the housing-molding 
recess 2115 to be discharged from the mold. After the connector is thus 
taken out, the pin plate 2117 is returned to the initial position, and the 
movable mold 2102 is returned to the initial position. The two molds 2101 
and 2102 are returned to their respective initial positions, and are ready 
for a subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housing 170 
and the retainer 171 and the assembling step of connecting them together 
can be carried out at the same time, and therefore separate conveyance and 
assembling steps as required in the conventional method are not necessary, 
and the lead time for the finished product is shortened because of the 
shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. 
And besides, in this embodiment, the housing 170 and the retainer 171 can 
be connected together merely by operating the push pins. It may be 
proposed to effect such assembling operation utilizing the mold-closing 
operation. However, in this case those portions to be moved are large, and 
also the required energy is large. On the other hand, in this embodiment, 
those portions to be moved are kept to a minimum, and the construction is 
simple, and the energy required for the operation is small. 
Since different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing 170 and the 
retainer 171, can be molded in one mold, this is advantageous from the 
viewpoint of management of the mold. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the 
molding core pins 2109 and 2119 are withdrawn respectively from the 
retainer 171 and the housing 170 before the assembling operation is 
effected, and therefore this achieves an advantage that the two can be 
smoothly connected together. 
Fifth Embodiment 
FIGS. 27 to 32 show a fifth embodiment of a mold of the invention. A 
connector to be molded here is the same as the connector described in the 
second and fourth embodiments. Referring first to a fixed mold 2101, a 
fixed-side mold plate 2105 is movable into and out of intimate contact 
with an end-drawing plate 2104. A spring 2121 is provided between the two 
plates 2104 and 2105, and urges the fixed-side mold plate 2105 away from 
the end-drawing plate 104 in a right direction (in the drawings). Stopper 
means (not shown) is provided for preventing the distance between the two 
from exceeding a predetermined value. In order to enable the fixed-side 
mold plate 2105 to be smoothly moved toward and away from the end-drawing 
plate 2104, guide posts 106 extend from a fixed-side mounting plate 2103, 
and pass through the end-drawing plate 2104, and slidably extend through 
the fixed-side mold plate 2105, and can be inserted respectively into 
guide bushings 2114 provided in a movable-side mold plate 2113. 
A main core pin 2107 extends from the fixed-side mounting plate 2103, and 
its distal end portion is slidably inserted into an insertion hole 2122 
which is formed through the fixed-side mold plate 2105, and extends 
parallel to the axis. When the fixed-side mold plate 2105 is held in 
intimate contact with the end-drawing plate 2104 (that is, in a 
mold-closed condition shown in FIG. 27), that portion of the main core pin 
2107 directly relevant to the molding of a housing 170 is exposed through 
the insertion hole 2122, and is projected into a housing-molding recess 
2115 in the movable mold. When the two plates 2104 and 2105 are spaced 
apart from each other, this portion of the main core pin 2107 is retracted 
from the housing-molding recess 2115, and is completely received in the 
insertion hole 2122. 
A core pin 109 for molding a retainer 171 extends from the fixed-side 
mounting plate 2103, and is inserted into a slide hole 2123 which is 
formed through the fixed-side mold plate 2105, and extends parallel to the 
axis. In the mold-closed condition in which the fixed-side mold plate 2105 
is held in intimate contact with the end-drawing plate 2104, a distal end 
of the core pin 2109 relevant to the molding of the retainer 171 is 
exposed from the slide hole 2123, and is projected into a retainer-molding 
recess 2116 in the movable mold. When the two plates 2104 and 2105 are 
spaced apart from each other, the distal end of the core pin 2109 is 
retracted from the retainer-molding recess 2116, and is completely 
received in the slide hole 2123. 
A fixed-side ejector pin 2124 is mounted on the fixed-side mounting plate 
2103, and disposed between the main core pin 2107 and the core pin 2109. 
This ejector pin 2124 is slidably inserted into the fixed-side mold plate 
2105. When the two molds 2101 and 2102 are closed together, the fixed-side 
ejector pin 2124 is inserted into a relief hole 2125 formed in the 
movable-side mold plate 2113. When the fixed-side mold plate 2105 is 
spaced apart from the end-drawing plate 2104, the distal end of the 
ejector pin 2124 is disposed substantially flush with the surface of the 
fixed-side mold plate 2105. When the fixed-side mold plate 2105 is 
slightly retracted by a movable-side return pin 2127 as shown in FIG. 32, 
the ejector pin 2124 projects from the fixed-side mold plate 2105 to 
contact the housing of the assembled connector, thereby ejecting the 
connector from the mold. 
With respect to the movable mold 2102, this fifth embodiment is different 
in that the retainer 171 is not ejected to be connected to the housing 
170, but the housing 170 is ejected to be connected to the retainer. More 
specifically, two pin plates 2129 and 2130 are coaxially provided between 
the movable-side mold plate 2113 and a movable-side mounting plate 2112 
through a spacer member 2128. An ejector pin 2131 is mounted on the first 
pin plate 2129 in parallel relation to the axis, and is connected to a 
drive mechanism (not shown) so as to move forward and backward along the 
axis. A distal end of the ejector pin 2131 is normally disposed 
substantially flush with a surface of the housing-molding recess 2115. 
When the first pin plate 2129 advances a predetermined stroke together 
with the second pin plate 130, the ejector pin 2131 ejects the molded 
housing 170 from the housing-molding recess 2115 to connect the same to 
the retainer 171 in a provisionally-retained condition, as shown in FIG. 
31. A sub-core pin 2119 relevant to the molding of the housing is embedded 
in the movable-side mold plate 2113, and its distal end portion is 
projected into the housing-molding recess 2115. 
The second pin plate 2130 is also connected to a drive mechanism (which may 
also serve as the drive mechanism for the first pin plate 2129 or a 
separate drive mechanism), and is movable forward and backward along the 
axis. The return pin 2127 is mounted on the second pin plate 2130 in 
parallel relation to the axis, and the distal end of the return pin 2127 
is normally disposed substantially flush with the surface of the 
movable-side mold plate 2113. When the second pin plate 2130 advances 
together with the first pin plate 2129 as shown in FIG. 31, the return pin 
2127 contacts the fixed-side mold plate 2105. Then, when the return pin 
2127 is further advanced a predetermined stroke, the return pin 2127 
retracts the fixed-side mold plate 2105 against the bias of the spring 
2121, so that the connector, having the parts connected together in the 
provisionally-retained condition, is ejected by the fixed-side ejector pin 
2124. 
The mold of the third embodiment is of the above construction, and in the 
mold-closed condition shown in FIG. 27, a molten resin is filled in the 
molding cavities formed between the two mold plates 2105 and 2113, thereby 
molding the housing 170 and the retainer 171. Then, when the molten resin 
is solidified, the movable mold 2102 is moved back. In accordance with 
this backward movement of the movable mold 2102, the fixed-side mold plate 
2105 is spaced apart from the end-drawing plate 2104 under the influence 
of the spring 2121, and as a result the main core pin 2107 is withdrawn 
from the molded housing 170 while the core pin 2109 is withdrawn from the 
retainer 171 (see FIG. 28). When the movable mold 2102 further moves back, 
there is achieved the mold-open condition in which the movable-side mold 
plate 2113 and the fixed-side mold plate 105 are spaced apart from each 
other, as shown in FIG. 29. 
Then, the fixed-side mold 2101 is moved upward (in the drawings) by the 
drive mechanism (not shown) to displace the fixed-side mold plate 2105 
with respect to the movable-side mold plate 2113, that is, into an 
assembling position where the retainer 171 is disposed coaxially with the 
housing 170 (see FIG. 30). 
When the fixed mold is thus moved into the above assembling position, the 
first and second pin plates 2129 and 2130 are moved forward as shown in 
FIG. 31. As a result, the ejector pin 2131 forces the housing 170 out of 
the housing-molding recess 2115, and fits the housing 170 on the retainer 
171 held on the fixed mold. The sub-core pin 2119 is withdrawn from the 
housing 170 simultaneously when the housing 170 is ejected from the 
housing-molding recess 2115, and therefore the sub-core pin 2119 will not 
affect the connection of the housing to the retainer 171 (e.g. the 
engagement between the provisionally-retaining pawl 183 and the retaining 
step 182), and the housing and the retainer are connected together in the 
provisionally-retained condition. At this time, the distal end of the 
return pin 2127 is held in slight contact with the surface of the 
fixed-side mold plate 2105, and the front end of the housing 170 is held 
in contact with the distal end of the fixed-side ejector pin 2124. 
Then, when only the second pin plate 2130 is moved forward as shown in FIG. 
32, the movable-side return pin 2127 retracts the fixed-side mold plate 
2105 against the bias of the spring 2121. As a result, the fixed-side 
ejector pin 2124 ejects the housing 170, so that the connector, having the 
housing 170 and the retainer 171 connected together, is forced out of the 
retainer-molding recess 2108 in the fixed mold, and is discharged from the 
mold. Thus, the connector is taken out, and then the first and second pin 
plates 2129 and 2130 are returned to their respective initial positions, 
and the whole of the fixed mold 2101 is returned to the initial position, 
so that the mold is ready for a subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in the fifth embodiment as in the fourth embodiment, 
the production and assembling of the connector can be easily carried out 
at low costs. 
The other construction of this embodiment is similar to that of the fourth 
embodiment, and similar effects are achieved. 
Various modifications can be made in the present invention, and the 
following modifications fall within the scope of the invention: 
In the third embodiment, although only the movable mold S is moved in the 
upward-downward direction and the right-left direction, both molds may be 
movable. 
In the third embodiment, the assembling operation of connecting the molded 
retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 together is effected in accordance 
with the mold re-closing operation. However, instead of this, the 
following arrangement may be used: 
For example, a knockout pin (not shown) is provided in the movable-side 
mold plate 202. When the molding is completed as shown in FIG. 18, the 
knockout pin is driven to push the molded housing 3 toward the retainer 4, 
thereby connecting the retainer and the housing together. The thus 
assembled connector is disengaged from the housing-molding recess because 
of its own weight (An ejector pin for this purpose may be provided), and 
is discharged from the mold. 
In the fourth and fifth embodiments, although the arrangement in which the 
housing and the retainer of the connector are connected together has been 
shown and described, the present invention can be applied to other various 
resin-molded products, and the number of the molded products is not 
limited to two, but the invention can be applied to an arrangement in 
which more than two parts are to be connected together. 
In the fourth and fifth embodiments, although only the fixed mold is 
displaced or moved, the movable mold may be moved, or both molds may be 
moved. 
Furthermore, according to the invention, when forming of the connector 
housing and the retainer, different resins in material or color may be 
filled in the connector forming mold and the retainer forming mold, so 
that the connector housing and the retainer can be made different in 
material or color. 
Sixth Embodiment 
A sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described 
with reference to FIGS. 33 to 39. Although this embodiment is directed to 
a front retainer-type connector as described above with reference to FIG. 
6, the invention can be applied to a rear retainer-type connector. A mold 
for performing the method of this invention is incorporated in an 
injection molding system, and important portions thereof are generally as 
described below, but the drawings are simplified for explanation purposes, 
and the mold does not strictly correspond to the connector shown in FIG. 
6. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold, and a fixed mold, and 
the movable mold S comprises a movable-side mold plate 302 secured to a 
movable-side die plate 301. A housing-molding recess 305 for forming a 
housing 3 of the connector is formed in a molding surface of the 
movable-side mold plate 302, and a retainer-molding reception portion 306 
for forming a retainer 4 is formed in that portion of this molding surface 
disposed just above the recess 305 (see the drawings). A relief hole 307 
is open to that portion of the molding surface disposed just below the 
housing-molding recess 305. The movable mold S is connected to a drive 
mechanism (not shown), and is movable a predetermined stroke in right and 
left directions (in the drawings). 
The fixed mold R comprises a press block 310 mounted on a fixed-side die 
plate R1 through a mounting plate 309, and an intermediate plate 311 
disposed forwardly of the movable-side mold plate 302 in opposed relation 
thereto. 
A spring SP is provided between the intermediate plate 311 and the mounting 
plate 309, and urges the intermediate plate 311 in a direction away from 
the mounting plate 309. Stopper means (not shown) is provided between the 
two plates so as to prevent the distance between the intermediate plate 
311 and the mounting plate 309 from exceeding a predetermined value. A 
retainer-molding recess 312 is formed in that side or surface of the 
intermediate plate 311 facing the movable-side mold plate 302. This 
retainer-molding recess 312 is provided at a position in registry with the 
retainer-molding reception portion 306, and when the mold is closed, a 
mold cavity for the retainer 4 is formed by a space defined by the recess 
312, the retainer-molding reception portion 306 and a shutter portion 313 
(described later). 
A slide pin 314, constituting a moving mechanism in the present invention, 
is incorporated in the intermediate plate 311 for sliding movement in an 
upward-downward direction (in the drawings). A distal end of the slide pin 
314 is normally disposed flush with an inner surface of the 
retainer-molding recess 312, and when the molding is completed, this 
distal end can eject and move the molded retainer 4 into an insertion hole 
315 (described later). This movement of the retainer 4 is guided, for 
example, by concave-convex fitting (Although not shown in the drawings, 
for example, projections are formed on the outer surface of the retainer 4 
while recesses for respectively fitting on these projections are formed in 
the inner surface of the retainer-molding recess 312), and therefore the 
retainer 4 can be moved while maintaining its posture obtained when it is 
molded. 
The insertion hole 315 is formed through that portion of the intermediate 
plate 311 disposed in registry with the housing-molding recess 305, and 
extends in the right-left direction (in the drawings). A core pin 316 is 
mounted on that surface of the intermediate plate 311 (facing the 
housing-molding recess 305) to which the insertion hole 315 is open. This 
core pin 316 is disposed coaxially with the housing-molding recess 315, 
and has an extension portion 316A at its outer peripheral edge. When the 
mold is closed, the core pin 316 enters the housing-molding recess 305, 
and forms a mold cavity for molding the housing 3 which mold cavity 
extends from a region, disposed slightly inwardly of an open end of the 
recess 305, to the inner or closed end of the recess 305. The core pin 316 
is connected to a slide mechanism (not shown), and is reciprocally movable 
along the surface of the intermediate plate 311 in the upward-downward 
direction (in the drawings) between a position where the core pin 316 is 
coaxial with the housing-molding recess 305 and a position where the core 
pin 316 is coaxial with the relief hole 307. 
When the molded retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 are retained 
respectively in the molding recesses 312 and 305 after the mold is opened, 
those surfaces of the molded retainer 4 and housing 3 which are to be 
connected together are exposed in respective directions toward each other. 
Gates (not shown) are open respectively to the two molding recesses 305 
and 312, and a molten resin is filled in these molding recesses 305 and 
312 through the respective gates. 
The press block 310, mounted on the mounting plate 309, can be inserted 
into the insertion hole 315, and a forwardly-projecting extension portion 
is formed on the press block 310 in flush relation to the upper surface 
(in the drawings) thereof. When the mold is closed, this extension portion 
abuts against the front surface of the movable-side mold plate 302, and 
thus serves as the shutter portion 313 to close the retainer-molding 
recess 312. A press surface 317 of a stepped configuration is formed on 
that portion of the press block 310 disposed below the shutter portion 313 
(in the drawings). When the mold is closed, this press surface 317 forms a 
space 1OA which is slightly larger in height than the retainer 4, and is 
slightly smaller in thickness than the retainer 4 (see FIG. 35). With this 
construction, the molded retainer 4, moved into the insertion hole 315 
after the molding, can be pressed or pushed forwardly from the rear side 
to be connected to the molded housing 3 disposed in the housing-molding 
recess 305 in slightly-retracted relation to the open end of this recess 
305. 
The molding of the housing 3 and retainer 4 using the mold of the above 
construction, as well as the assembling procedure, will now be described. 
In the mold-open condition of FIG. 33, when the movable mold S is moved 
toward the fixed mold R, the movable-side mold plate 302 first abuts 
against the intermediate plate 311. When the movable mold S further 
advances, the intermediate plate 311 is retracted while compressing the 
spring SP, and is brought into intimate contact with the mounting plate 
309. During this time, the core pin 316 is inserted into the 
housing-molding recess 305 to form the housing-molding cavity therein. 
Also, the retainer-molding recess 312 is mated with the retainer-molding 
reception portion 306, and the press block 310 is inserted into the 
insertion hole 315, so that the shutter portion 313 abuts against the 
movable-side mold plate 302 to close the retainer-molding recess 312. As a 
result, the cavity for molding the retainer 4 is formed by the 
retainer-molding recess 312, the retainer-molding reception portion 306 
and the shutter portion 313. In this condition, the molten resin is filled 
in the two molding recesses (see FIGS. 34 and 35). 
Then, when the resin is solidified upon lapse of a predetermined period of 
time, the movable mold S is moved back to open the mold. When the press 
block 310 is withdrawn from the insertion hole 315, and is returned to its 
initial position, the retainer 4 remains in the retainer-molding recess 
312 in the fixed-side mold plate, and the housing 3 remains in the 
housing-molding recess 305 in the movable-side mold plate 302 (see FIG. 
36). Thereafter, the core pin 316 is moved downward (in the drawings) into 
the position where the core 316 is coaxial with the relief hole 307 in the 
horizontal direction. 
Then, the slide pin 314 is moved downward (in the drawings) to push the 
molded retained 4 out of the retainer-molding recess 312. At this time, 
because of the above-mentioned concave-convex fitting between the retainer 
4 and the inner surface of the insertion hole 315, the movement of the 
retainer 4 into the insertion hole 315 is guided without changing the 
posture of the retainer 4 obtained when it is molded. As a result, the 
retainer 4 is opposed to the housing 3 on the common axis in the 
horizontal direction (in the drawings). 
Then, after the slide pin 314 is returned to its initial position, the 
movable mold S is moved forward to again close the mold while compressing 
the spring SP. As a result, the press block is again inserted into the 
insertion hole 315, so that its press surface 317 pushes the rear surface 
of the retainer 4. As a result, the retainer 4 is fitted in the housing 3 
from the front side of this housing, and is thus connected to the housing 
in a provisionally-retained condition. During this time, the core pin 316 
is inserted into the relief hole 307, and therefore will not interfere 
with the movable mold S. 
The assembling operation is thus completed, and then when the movable mold 
S is again moved back, the connector, constituted by the housing 3 and the 
retained 4 connected together, remains in the movable mold S, and this 
connector is ejected from the mold by a discharge mechanism (not shown), 
such as an ejector pin operatively associated with the mold-opening 
mechanism for the movable mold, so that the two molds are again ready for 
a subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housing 3 
and the retainer 4 and the assembling step of connecting them together can 
be carried out at the same time, and therefore the conveyance and the 
assembling operation as required in the conventional method are not 
necessary, and the lead time for the finished product is shortened by the 
shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. And besides, 
since different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing 3 and the 
retainer 4, can be molded in one mold, this is advantageous from the 
viewpoint of management of the mold. 
Seventh Embodiment 
A seventh embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 40 to 45. First, a connector to be molded has been 
described with reference to FIG. 8. As same with the previous embodiments, 
although the connector to be described here is a so-called front 
retainer-type connector, the invention can be applied to a rear 
retainer-type connector. 
The construction of a mold for producing the connector of the above 
construction will now be described. In this embodiment, the mold is 
incorporated in an injection molding system. In the drawings, important 
portions are shown merely broadly, and details thereof are omitted for the 
sake of simplicity of the description. Therefore, details of the above 
construction of the connector are not shown, and for example the number 
and shape of core pins (described later) are merely broadly shown in the 
drawings. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold and a fixed mold. The 
fixed mold 3101, shown at a left side in the drawings, includes a 
fixed-side mounting plate 3103, and a fixed-side mold plate 3105 (at a 
right side in the drawings) is mounted on the plate 3103 through an 
end-drawing plate 3104. Guide posts 3106 are provided at an end portion of 
the end-drawing plate 3104, and serve to guide the opening and closing 
movements of the two molds. A spring 3121 is provided between the 
end-drawing plate 3104 and the fixed-side mold plate 3105, and urges the 
fixed-side mold plate 3105 away from the end-drawing plate 3104. A main 
core pin 3107 for molding part (part of the retraction space 176 and the 
retaining projection 177, and so on) of the internal structure of the 
housing 170 is fixedly mounted on the end-drawing plate 3104 in parallel 
relation to the axis, and slidably extends through the fixed-side mold 
plate 3105. Core pin 3109 for molding part (part of the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183, part of the hook 186 of the connection 
arm 179, and so on) of the internal structure of the retainer 171 is 
mounted on the end-drawing plate 3104 in parallel relation to the axis, 
and is spaced a predetermined distance from the main core pin 3107. 
A guide rail 3117 in the form of a channel-shaped groove is formed in that 
surface of the fixed-side mold plate 3105 facing the movable mold. This 
guide rail 3117 extends from the upper end (in the drawings) of the 
fixed-side mold plate 3105 to the distal end of the main core pin 3107 in 
a direction perpendicular to the axis. Openings are formed in the bottom 
of this guide rail 3117, and the distal end portions of the core pin 3109 
and the main core pin 3107 can pass respectively through these openings in 
a closely-fitted manner. When the fixed-side mold plate 3105 and the 
end-drawing plate 3104 are held in intimate contact with each other as 
shown in FIG. 40, the core pin 3109 and the main core pin 3107 extend 
through the guide rail 3117 into the movable mold. When the end-drawing 
plate 3104 and the fixed-side mold plate 3105 are spaced from each other 
as shown in FIGS. 41 to 44, the distal end of the core pin 3109 is spaced 
a predetermined distance from the guide rail 3117 while the distal end of 
the main core pin 3107 is disposed substantially flush with the guide rail 
3117. 
When the mold is closed, the guide rail 3117 forms, together with a 
movable-side mold plate 3113, a retainer-molding cavity R, as shown in 
FIG. 40, and at this time the core pin 3109 is inserted into this 
retainer-molding cavity R as described above. A push pin 3118 is closely 
fitted in the guide rail 3117 for movement therealong, and a distal end of 
this push pin 3118 is normally exposed to the retainer-molding cavity R. 
The push pin 3118 is connected to a slide mechanism (not shown), and is 
movable in the upward-downward direction (in the drawings), and the distal 
end surface of this push pin 3118 defines part of the retainer-molding 
cavity R when the mold is closed for effecting the molding operation. The 
push pin 3118 also serves as a moving mechanism which pushes and moves the 
molded retainer 3117 to be located in front of the main core pin 3107 
after the molding is finished. Further, when the housing 170 and the 
retainer 171 are connected together as shown in FIG. 44, the distal end of 
the push pin 3118 is engaged with the housing 170. 
The movable mold 3102 is arranged coaxially with the fixed mold 3101, and 
includes a movable-side mounting plate 3112 as in the fixed mold. The 
movable-side mold plate 3113 is supported on the left side (in the 
drawings) of the mounting plate 3112 through spacer blocks 3137. The 
movable mold 3102 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
movable a predetermined stroke in left and right directions (in the 
drawings). 
Guide bushes 3114 for respectively receiving the two guide posts 3106 when 
closing the mold are embedded in an end portion of the movable-side mold 
plate 3113, and extend parallel to the axis. A recess 3108 for forming the 
retainer-molding cavity R is formed in that side or surface of the 
movable-side mold plate 3113 facing the fixed-side mold plate 3105, and is 
disposed in opposed relation to the core pin 3109. A recess 3115 for 
forming a housing-molding cavity H is also formed in that portion of this 
surface of the movable-side mold plate 3113 disposed below the recess 
3108, and is disposed in opposed relation to the main core pin 3107. A 
projection 3120 is formed on that surface of the movable-side mold plate 
3113 facing the fixed-side mold plate, and when the mold is closed, this 
projection 3120 is extended into the guide rail 3117 to form the 
retainer-molding cavity R. A sub-core pin 3119 for molding the housing 170 
is embedded in the movable-side mold plate 3113 at the backside of the 
recess 3115, and extends parallel to the axis, the sub-core pin 3119 being 
projected into the recess 3115. Although not shown, gates are open 
respectively to the two recesses (i.e., the retainer-molding recess and 
the housing-molding recess) 3108 and 3115, and a molten resin is filled in 
the two recesses through the respective gates. 
Two pin plates 3129 and 3130 are provided between the movable-side mold 
plate 3113 and the movable-side mounting plate 3112 through a block 3128. 
The first pin plate 3129 and the second pin plate 3130 are connected to 
drive means (not shown) (which may be a common drive source or different 
drive sources), and are movable along the axis independently of each 
other. An ejector pin 3124 for ejecting the molded housing 170 to be 
connected to the retainer 171 is mounted on the first pin plate 3129 in 
parallel relation to the axis, and slidably extends through the second pin 
plate 3130 and the movable-side mold plate 3113. A return pin 3127 is 
mounted on the second pin plate 3130 in parallel relation to the axis, and 
slidably extends through the movable-side mold plate 3113. 
The distal end of the return pin 3127 is normally disposed substantially 
flush with the surface of the movable-side mold plate 3113, and as the 
second pin plate 3130 advances, the return pin 3127 moves the fixed-side 
mold plate 105 back against the bias of the spring 3121. 
The process of molding the housing 170 and the retainer 171 using the above 
mold of this embodiment, as well as the assembling process, will now be 
described. 
First, the two molds 3101 and 3102 are closed together to bring the two 
mold plates 3105 and 3113 into intimate contact with each other. At this 
time, the distal end of the push pin 3118 is exposed to the 
retainer-molding cavity R. The housing-molding cavity H and the 
retainer-molding cavity R are formed between the two mold plates 3105 and 
3113 held in contact with each other. At this time, the core pin 3109 is 
inserted into the retainer-molding cavity R, and the main core pin 3107 
and the sub-core pin 3119 are inserted into the housing-molding cavity H. 
In this mold-closed condition, the molten resin is filled in the 
housing-molding cavity H and the retainer-molding cavity R through the 
gates (not shown). When the resin is solidified upon lapse of a 
predetermined time period, the movable mold 3102 is moved back into a 
condition shown in FIG. 41. More specifically, as the movable mold 3102 is 
moved back, the fixed-side mold plate 3105 moves away from the end-drawing 
plate 3104 under the influence of the spring 3121, and as a result the 
core pin 3109 is withdrawn from the molded retainer 171, and the main core 
pin 3107 is withdrawn from the molded housing 170. 
Then, when the movable mold 3102 is further moved back, so that the two 
mold plates 3105 and 3113 are spaced apart from each other, the molded 
retainer 171 is held or retained on the fixed side (the guide rail 3117) 
while the molded housing 170 is held on the movable side (the 
housing-molding recess 3115) as shown in FIG. 42. 
In this mold-open condition, the slide mechanism (not shown) is driven to 
move the push pin 3118 downward (in the drawings) along the guide rail 
3117. As a result, the push pin 3118 pushes the retainer 171 along the 
guide rail 3117, so that the retainer 171 is located in front of the main 
core pin 3107 as shown in FIG. 43. In this condition, the retainer 171 is 
held at its rear side against the main core pin 3107, and hence is 
supported by this main core pin. 
Thus, the retainer 171 and the housing 170 are disposed in opposed relation 
to each other on a common axis, and in this condition the first and second 
pin plates 3129 and 3130 are moved forward by the drive mechanism (not 
shown). As a result, the ejector pin 3124 ejects the housing 170 from the 
housing molding-recess 3115, so that the retainer 171 is fitted into the 
hood portion 173, thus connecting the housing and the retainer together. 
The return pin 3127 is merely held against the fixed-side mold plate 3105, 
but does not effect a pushing action. Although FIG. 44 shows that the 
housing 170 is completely ejected from the recess 3115 when the housing 
170 and the retainer 171 are connected together, it is preferred that the 
housing 170 is connected to the retainer 171 in such a manner that the 
housing 170 is slightly fitted in the open end portion of the recess 3115. 
Then, when the second pin plate 3130 advances, the return pin 3127 moves 
the fixed-side mold plate 3105 back against the bias of the spring 3121. 
Therefore, the assembled connector is ejected by the main core pin 3107 
from the back side, and is discharged from the mold. Thus, the connector 
in the provisionally-retained condition is taken out form the mold. 
As described above, the step of molding the housing 170 and the retainer 
171 and the assembling step of connecting them together can be carried out 
at the same time, and therefore independent conveyance and assembling 
steps as required in the conventional method are not needed, and therefore 
the lead time for the finished product is shortened by the shortened 
process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. 
In this embodiment, the housing 170 and the retainer 171 can be connected 
together merely by operating the ejector pin 124, and the assembled 
connector can be discharged merely by operating the return pin 127. It may 
be proposed to effect such assembling and discharge operations utilizing 
the overall mold-closing operation. In this case, however, those portions 
to be moved are large, and also the required energy is large. On the other 
hand, in this embodiment, those portions to be moved are kept to a 
minimum, and the construction is simple, and the energy required for the 
operation is small. 
Different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing and the retainer, 
can be formed in one mold, and this is advantageous from the viewpoint of 
management of the mold. In this embodiment, the core pins are withdrawn 
from the housing 170 and the retainer 171 before the assembling operation 
is effected, and therefore there is achieved an advantage that the two can 
be connected together smoothly. 
Various modifications can be made in the present invention, and the 
following modifications fall within the scope of the invention: 
In the sixth embodiment, the assembling operation of connecting the molded 
retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 together is effected in accordance 
with the mold re-closing operation, and therefore the mold closing 
mechanism also serves as the assembling mechanism. However, instead of 
this, the following assembling mechanism may be used. 
For example, the core pin 316 is provided at the position where the press 
block 310 is provided, and when the mold is closed, the core pin 316 is 
passed through the insertion hole 315 to form the housing-molding cavity 
in the housing-molding recess 305. 
A knockout pin (not shown) is provided on the movable-side mold plate 302. 
When the pushing of the retainer 4 by the slide pin 314 as shown in FIG. 
37 is completed, so that the retainer 4 is opposed to the housing 3, the 
knockout pin is driven to push the molded housing 3 toward the retainer 4, 
thereby connecting the retainer and the housing together. The thus 
assembled connector is disengaged from the housing-molding recess because 
of its own weight (An ejector pin for this purpose may be provided), and 
is discharged from the mold. 
In the seventh embodiment, although the arrangement in which the connector 
housing and the retainer are connected together has been shown and 
described, the present invention can be applied to other various 
resin-molded products, and the number of the molded products is not 
limited to two, but the invention can be applied to an arrangement in 
which more than two parts are to be connected together. 
In the seventh embodiment, although only the movable mold is displaced or 
moved in the axial direction, both of the two molds may be movable. 
Furthermore, according to the invention, when forming of the connector 
housing and the retainer, different resins in material or color may be 
filled in the connector forming mold and the retainer forming mold, so 
that the connector housing and the retainer can be made different in 
material or color. 
Eighth Embodiment 
An eighth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 46 to 53. Although this embodiment is directed to a 
front retainer-type connector as described above, the invention can be 
applied to a rear retainer-type connector. A mold for performing the 
method of this invention is incorporated in an injection molding system, 
and important portions thereof are generally as described below, but FIGS. 
46 to 53 are simplified for explanation purposes, and the mold does not 
strictly correspond to the connector shown in FIG. 6. FIGS. 46 to 51 are 
cross-sectional views generally taken along the line P--P of FIG. 52 and 
the line Q--Q of FIG. 53. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a fixed mold S and a movable mold R, 
and the movable mold R comprises a movable-side mold plate 402 mounted on 
a base plate 401 for rotation about an axis X. That surface of the 
movable-side mold plate 402 facing the fixed mold S serves as a molding 
surface 402A, and housing-molding recesses 411 and retainer-molding 
reception portions 412 are formed in this molding surface 402A. In this 
embodiment, the two housing-molding recesses 411 and the two 
retainer-molding reception portions 412 are formed, as shown in FIG. 53. A 
line on which the pair of recesses 411 are disposed is perpendicular to a 
line on which the pair of reception portions 412, and the pair of recesses 
411 and the pair of reception portions 412 are disposed on a circle having 
its center lying on the axis X of rotation of the movable-side mold plate 
402. The movable-side mold plate 402 is connected to a drive mechanism 
(not shown) having an indexing device, and is angularly movable 
reciprocally 90.degree. about the rotation axis (It may be angularly 
movable in one direction by 90 degrees at a time). 
The fixed mold S is arranged coaxially with the movable mold R, and 
comprises a receiving plate 406 fixedly mounted on a mounting plate 405, 
and a fixed-side mold plate 407 mounted forwardly of the receiving plate 
406. That surface of the fixed-side mold plate 407 facing the movable-side 
mold plate 402 serves as a molding surface 407A. Retainer-molding recesses 
407B are formed in the molding surface 407A, and are normally opposed 
respectively to the two retainer-molding reception portions 412 in coaxial 
relation thereto. A spring SP is provided between the receiving plate 406 
and the fixed-side mold plate 407, and urges the fixed-side mold plate 407 
away from the receiving plate 406. Suitable stopper means (not shown) is 
provided between the receiving plate 406 and the fixed-side mold plate 407 
to prevent the distance between the two from exceeding a predetermined 
value. 
A pair of retainer-molding core pins 409 are mounted at their proximal end 
portions in the receiving plate 406, and are aligned respectively with the 
retainer-molding recesses 407B in the fixed-side mold plate 407. The 
proximal end portions of the two retainer-molding core pins 409 are thus 
incorporated in the receiving plate 406, and their distal end portions are 
slidably inserted respectively into insertion holes 409A formed 
horizontally (in the drawings) through the fixed-side mold plate 407, the 
insertion holes 409A communicating with the retainer-molding recesses 
407B, respectively. In a mold-open condition shown in FIG. 46, the distal 
end of each retainer-molding core pin 409 is retracted from the associated 
retainer-molding recess 407B, and when the receiving plate 406 and the 
fixed-side mold plate 407 are held in intimate contact with each other, 
the distal end of the core pin 409 is exposed to the retainer-molding 
recess 407B. When the two mold plates 402 and 407 are closed together, a 
retainer-molding cavity is formed between the retainer-molding recess 407B 
and the retainer-molding reception portion 412. 
A pair of housing-molding core pins 410 are also mounted on the receiving 
plate 406. The two housing-molding core pins 410 are arranged respectively 
in registry with the housing-molding recesses 411 in the movable-side mold 
plate 402, and a plane on which the pair of core pins 410 are disposed is 
perpendicular to a plane on which the retainer-molding core pins 409 are 
disposed. The two core pins 410 are disposed on a circle having its center 
on the axis of the fixed mold S, that is, on the axis (rotation axis X) of 
the movable mold R. The two housing-molding core pins 10 are also 
incorporated at their proximal end portions in the receiving plate 406, 
and their distal end portions are slidably inserted respectively into 
insertion holes 410A formed horizontally (in the drawings) through the 
fixed-side mold plate 407. The two housing-molding core pins 410 are 
normally disposed coaxially respectively with the housing-molding recesses 
411 in the movable-side mold plate 402 in the horizontal direction, and 
their distal ends are disposed flush with or slightly retracted from the 
molding surface 407A. However, when the mold is closed as shown in FIG. 
47, each housing-molding core pin 410 projects into the associated 
housing-molding recess 411 to form a housing-molding cavity therebetween. 
When the molded retainers 4 and the molded housings 3 are retained 
respectively in the molding recesses 407B and 411 after the mold is 
opened, those surfaces of the associated molded housing 3 and retainer 4 
which are to be connected together exposed in respective directions toward 
each other. Gates (not shown) are open respectively to the molding 
recesses 407B and 411, and a molten resin is filled in these recesses 
through the respective gates. 
The movable mold R is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
reciprocally movable in right and left directions (in the drawings), and 
therefore the movable mold is movable between a position where the 
movable-side mold plate 402 is held in intimate contact with the 
fixed-side mold plate 407, a position where the fixed-side mold plate 407, 
held against the movable-side mold plate 402, is held in intimate contact 
with the receiving plate 406, and a position where the movable-side mold 
plate 402 is spaced apart from the fixed-side mold plate 407. 
The molding of the housings 3 and the retainers 4 using the mold of the 
above construction, as well as the assembling procedure, will now be 
described. 
In the mold-open condition shown in FIG. 46, when the movable mold R is 
moved toward the fixed mold S, the movable-side mold plate 402 first abuts 
against the fixed-side mold plate 407. When the movable mold R further 
advances, the fixed-side mold plate 407 comes into intimate contact with 
the receiving plate 406 while compressing the spring. As a result, the two 
retainer-molding core pins 409 advance along the respective insertion 
holes 409A, and reach he retainer-molding recesses 407B, respectively, so 
that each core pin 409, the associated retainer-molding recess 407b and 
the associated retainer-molding reception portion 412 jointly form the 
retainer-molding cavity. Also, the two housing-molding core pins 410 are 
projected respectively into the housing-molding recesses 411, so that the 
housing-molding cavity is formed between each core pin 410 and the 
associated molding recess 411. In this condition, the molten resin is 
filled in each of the molding recesses. 
Then, when the resin is solidified upon lapse of a predetermined time 
period, the movable mold R is moved back to open the mold. As a result, 
the housings 3 remain in the housing-molding recesses 411, respectively, 
and the retainers 4 remain in the retainer-molding recesses 407B, 
respectively. When the mold is opened, the fixed-side mold plate 407 is 
moved away from the receiving plate 406, so that the core pins 409 and 410 
are returned to their respective initial positions. 
Thus, the molding process is effected, and the mold is opened, and 
thereafter movable-side mold plate 402 is rotated 900 about the rotation 
axis X (the axis of the movable mold) by the rotation drive mechanism (not 
shown). As a result, the two housings 3 are brought into opposed, coaxial 
relation to the two retainers 4, respectively, in the horizontal direction 
(in the drawings). Then, the movable mold R is again advanced to bring the 
movable-side mold plate 402 into contact with the fixed-side mold plate 
407 (The mold plate 402 may be brought to a position near to the mold 
plate 407), so that the retainers 4 are connected to the front end 
portions of the housings 3, respectively, in a provisionally-retained 
condition. The base portion of each retainer 4 is supported by the inner 
surface of the retainer-molding recess 407B, and therefore the retainer 4 
will not be moved back during the fitting of the retainer 4 into the 
housing 3. 
The assembling operation is thus completed, and when the fixed mold S is 
again retracted, the connectors each having the housing 3 and the retainer 
4 connected together remain in the housing-molding recesses 411, 
respectively, and each of the connectors is ejected by an ejector pin (not 
shown) to be discharged from the mold. Then, the movable-side mold plate 
402 is rotated 90.degree. in a reverse direction into the initial 
position, so that the two molds S and R are ready for a subsequent molding 
operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housings 3 
and the retainers 4 and the assembling step of connecting them together 
can be carried out at the same time, and therefore the conveyance and the 
assembling operation as required in the conventional method are not 
necessary, and the lead time for the finished product is shortened because 
of the shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. And 
besides, since different kinds of molded products, that is, the housings 3 
and the retainers 4, can be molded in one mold, this is advantageous from 
the viewpoint of management of the mold. 
Ninth Embodiment 
FIGS. 54 to 61 show a ninth embodiment of the invention. In this 
embodiment, a mold comprises a movable mold M and a fixed mold N. The 
movable mold M comprises a movable mold plate 416 mounted on a die plate 
415. A housing-molding recess 417 for molding a housing is formed in a 
molding surface of the movable mold plate 416. The movable mold M is 
connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and the whole of the movable 
mold M is reciprocally movable in right an left directions (in the 
drawings). 
The fixed mold N comprises a fixed mold plate 419 fixedly mounted on a 
mounting plate 418, and an intermediate plate 420 which is connected to 
the mounting plate 418, and is arranged between the fixed mold plate 419 
and the movable mold plate 416. A retainer-molding reception portion 421 
for molding a retainer 4 is formed in a molding surface of the fixed mold 
plate 419. The retainer-molding reception portion 421 is disposed at the 
same level as that of the housing-molding recess 417, but is not aligned 
with the housing-molding recess 417 in the horizontal direction (in the 
drawings). 
As shown in FIG. 60, the intermediate plate 420 is surrounded by an outer 
frame 424, and is rotatably supported at its upper and lower ends on the 
outer frame 424 by pin shafts 425. In this embodiment, the intermediate 
plate 420 is connected to a rotation mechanism (not shown), and can be 
angularly moved 180.degree. at a time. A retainer-molding recess 426 is 
formed in that surface of the intermediate plate 420 which faces the fixed 
mold plate 419 in the normal condition (shown in FIG. 54), and when the 
mold is closed (see FIG. 55), the retainer-molding recess 426 cooperates 
with the retainer-molding reception portion 421 to form a molding cavity 
for molding the retainer 4. A housing-molding core pin 423 is mounted on 
that surface of the intermediate plate 420 which faces the movable mold 
plate 416 in the normal condition, and the core pin 423 and the 
retainer-molding recess 426 are disposed symmetrically with respect to the 
axis of rotation of the intermediate plate 420 (that is, the axes of the 
pin shafts 425). When the mold is closed, a mold cavity for molding the 
housing 3 is formed between the core pin 423 and the housing-molding 
recess 417. 
A spring SP extends between the fixed mold plate 419 and the outer frame 
424, and urges the outer frame 424 away from the fixed mold plate 419. 
Stopper means (not shown) is provided between the fixed mold plate 419 and 
the outer frame 424 to prevent the distance between the two from exceeding 
a predetermined value. 
The mold of the ninth embodiment is of the above construction, and is used 
in the following manner. The whole of the movable mold M is moved toward 
the fixed mold N by the drive mechanism (not shown). As a result, the 
movable mold plate 416 first abuts against the intermediate plate 420 and 
the outer frame 424, and then when the movable mold further advances, the 
intermediate plate 420 and the outer frame 424 come into intimate contact 
with the fixed mold plate 419 while compressing the spring SP. Thus, the 
two molds M and N are closed together, and at this time the 
housing-molding core pin 423 is inserted in the housing-molding recess 
417, so that the cavity for molding the housing 3 is formed therebetween. 
Also, the retainer-molding recess 426 is brought into registry with the 
retainer-molding reception portion 421, so that the cavity for molding the 
retainer 4 is formed therebetween. In this condition, a molten resin is 
filled in the two cavities. 
Then, when the resin is solidified upon lapse of a predetermined time 
period, the movable mold M is moved back to open the mold. As a result, 
the housing 3 remains in the movable mold plate 416, and the retainer 4 
remains in the retainer-molding recess 426 in the intermediate plate 420 
(see FIG. 56). 
Then, the intermediate plate 420 is rotated 180.degree. about the pin 
shafts 425 by the rotation mechanism (not shown). As a result, the 
intermediate plate 420 is inverted, and the retainer 4 is aligned with the 
housing 3 in the horizontal direction (in the drawings). Then, the movable 
mold M is again advanced to be brought into intimate contact with the 
intermediate plate 420 without compressing the spring SP. As a result, the 
retainer 4 is connected to the front end portion of the housing 3 in a 
provisionally-retained condition. 
The assembling operation is thus completed, and when the movable mold M is 
again moved back, the connector having the housing 3 and the retainer 4 
connected together remains in the housing-molding recess 417, and this 
connector is ejected by an ejector pin (not shown) to be discharged from 
the mold. Then, the housing-molding core pin 423 is returned to the 
initial position, and the intermediate plate 420 is again inverted, so 
that the two molds are returned to their initial condition, and therefore 
are ready for a subsequent molding operation. 
This ninth embodiment achieves similar effects as obtained in the eighth 
embodiment, and can be applied to a rear retainer-type connector. 
Tenth Embodiment 
A tenth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 62 to 67. First, a connector to be molded has been 
described with reference to FIG. 8. As same with the previous embodiments, 
although the connector to be described here is a so-called front 
retainer-type connector, the invention can be applied to a rear 
retainer-type connector. 
The construction of a mold for producing the connector of the above 
construction will now be described. In this embodiment, the mold is 
incorporated in an injection molding system. In the drawings, important 
portions are shown merely broadly, and details thereof are omitted for the 
sake of simplicity of the description. Therefore, details of the above 
construction of the connector are not shown, and for example the number 
and shape of core pins (described later) are merely broadly shown in the 
drawings. 
The mold of this embodiment comprises a movable mold and a fixed mold. The 
fixed mold 4101, shown at a left side in the drawings, includes a 
fixed-side mounting plate 4103, and a fixed-side mold plate 4105 (at a 
right side in the drawings) is mounted on the plate 4103 through a spacer 
block 4104. Two guide bushings 4114 are embedded in opposite end portions 
of the fixed-side mold plate 4105, respectively, and extend parallel to 
the axis of the mold. A main core pin 4107 for mainly molding part (part 
of the retraction space 176, the retaining projection 177 and so on) of 
the internal structure of the housing 170 is mounted in the fixed-side 
mold plate 4105, and is directed toward the movable mold 4102 in parallel 
relation to the axis. 
A retainer-molding recess 4108 for mainly molding the outer frame portion 
of the retainer 171 is formed on that surface of the fixed-side mold plate 
4105 facing the movable mold, and is spaced slightly from the main core 
pin 4107. A core pin 4109 for molding part (part of the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183, part of the hook 186 of the connection 
arm 179, and so on) of the internal structure of the retainer 171 is 
mounted in the fixed-side mold plate 4105, and extends in parallel 
relation to the main core pin 4107. A distal end portion of the core pin 
4109 can project into the retainer-molding recess 4108, and can further 
project outwardly from the fixed mold 4101. 
A fixed-side ejecting plate 4110 is provided between the fixed-side mold 
plate 4105 and the fixed-side mounting plate 4103. This fixed-side 
ejecting plate 4110 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
reciprocally movable between the fixed-side mounting plate 4103 and a 
fixed-side backing plate 4140. A pair of push pins 4111 are mounted on the 
fixed-side ejecting plate 4110, and these push pins 4111 serve to mold the 
retainer 171 and also serve to eject the molded retainer. The push pins 
4111 slidably extend through the fixed-side backing plate 4140 and the 
fixed-side mold plate 4105, with the core pin 4109 disposed therebetween. 
The distal ends of the push pins 4111 normally form part of the 
retainer-molding recess 4108, and more specifically can form part of the 
outer portion of the retainer 171, and when the fixed-side ejecting plate 
4110 is moved as shown in FIG. 65, these distal ends, engaged with the 
molded retainer 171, eject it. 
The movable mold 4102 is normally disposed coaxially with the fixed mold 
4101, and is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown) so that the whole 
of the movable mold can be reciprocally moved in right and left directions 
(in the drawings) between a mold-closed position where the movable mold is 
held against the fixed mold 4101 and a mold-open position where the two 
mold are spaced apart from each other. The movable mold 4102 is supported 
for rotation a predetermined angle about its axis (axis R of rotation). 
More specifically, the movable mold 4102 is rotatable between a molding 
position where the housing 170 and the retainer 171 can be molded and an 
assembling position (angularly spaced 180.degree. from this molding 
position) where the housing 170 and the retainer 171 are disposed in 
opposed, coaxial relation to each other, as will more fully be described 
later. 
The movable mold 4102 includes a movable-side mounting plate 4112 as in the 
fixed mold. A movable-side backing plate 4142 is mounted on the 
movable-side mounting plate 4112 through spacer blocks 4150. Movable-side 
mold plates 4113 and 4141, separated from each other in a forward-backward 
direction, are supported on the front side of the movable-side backing 
plate 4142. A spring 4118 is provided between the two movable-side mold 
plates 4113 and 4141, and urges the front movable-side mold plate 4113 
forwardly. 
Two guide pins 4106 are mounted respectively on opposite end portions of 
the movable-side backing plate 4142, and extend through the two 
movable-side mold plates 4113 and 4141, and are projected toward the fixed 
mold in the axial direction. When the mold is closed and opened, the guide 
pins 4106 are inserted into the guide bushings 4114, respectively, thereby 
guiding the mold-opening and closing movements. A housing-molding recess 
4115 and a retainer-molding recess 4116 are formed in that surface of the 
front movable-side mold plate 4113 facing the fixed mold, and the molding 
recess 4115 is normally in registry with the main core pin 4107, and the 
molding recess 4116 is normally in registry with the core pin 4109 and the 
two push pins 4111 for molding the retainer 171. Gates (not shown) are 
open respectively to the two molding recesses 4115 and 4116, and a molten 
resin is filled in these recesses through the respective gates. 
In this embodiment, a cavity for molding the retainer 171 and a cavity for 
molding the housing 170, which cavities are formed when the two molds 4101 
and 4102 are closed together, are disposed respectively on circles having 
their centers disposed on the rotation axis R (the axis of the mold), and 
are spaced equidistant from the rotation axis R, and are angularly spaced 
180.degree. from each other. 
In the movable mold 4102, a pin plate 4117 is provided between the 
movable-side backing plate 4142 and the movable-side mounting plate 4112. 
This pin plate 4117 is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown), and is 
movable forward and backward in the axial direction. An ejector pin 4120 
for ejecting the connector having the housing 170 and the retainer 171 
connected together is mounted on the pin plate 4117, and extends parallel 
to the axis. A distal end of the ejector pin 4120 is normally disposed 
flush with an inner surface of the housing-molding recess 4115. However, 
when the front pin plate 4117 advances after the housing 170 and the 
retainer 171 are connected together, the distal end of the ejector pin 
4120 is projected into the housing-molding recess 4115 to eject the 
assembled connector. 
A sub-core pin 4119 for molding the housing 170 is mounted on the rear 
movable-side mold plate 4141, and extends parallel to the axis. The 
sub-core pin 4119 is projected into the housing-molding recess 4115 during 
a predetermined operation (shown in FIGS. 62 to 64) from the molding of 
the housing 170 so as to mold the retaining step 182. However, when the 
two movable-side mold plates 4113 and 4141 are moved apart from each other 
as shown in FIG. 63, the sub-core pin 4119 is withdrawn from the 
housing-molding recess 4115, and hence is withdrawn from the molded 
housing 170. 
The step of molding the housing 170 and the retainer 171 using the above 
mold of the tenth embodiment, as well as the assembling step of connecting 
them together, will now be described. 
In the mold-closed condition (FIG. 62) in which the front movable-side mold 
plate 4113 and the fixed-side mold plate 4105 are held in intimate contact 
with each other, the housing-molding recess 4115 is closed to provide a 
sealed space or cavity, and also a sealed space, defined by the two 
retainer-molding recesses 4108 and 4116 formed respectively in the fixed 
mold and the movable mold, serves as a cavity for molding the retainer 
171. In this condition, the molten resin is filled in the two sealed 
cavities through the respective gates (not shown). Since the main core pin 
4119 and the sub-core pin 4119 are projected into the housing-molding 
recess 4115, the outer shape of the housing and its internal structure 
(the retraction space 176, the retaining projection 177 and so on) are 
formed. The cavity for molding the retainer 171 is defined by the two 
molding recesses 4108 and 4116 mated with each other, and the core pin 
4109 is projected into this molding cavity, and therefore the outer shape 
of the retainer 171 and its internal structure (the 
provisionally-retaining pawl 183, the connection arm 179 and so on) are 
formed. 
The molten resin is thus filled, and when the resin is solidified upon 
lapse of a predetermined time period, the movable mold 4102 is moved back 
to open the mold as shown in FIG. 63. When the mold is thus opened, the 
housing 170 is retained in the housing-molding recess 4115 while the 
retainer 171 is retained in the retainer-molding recess 4108 in the fixed 
mold. During this mold-opening operation, the two movable-side mold plates 
4113 and 4141 are moved apart from each other under the influence of the 
spring 4118, so that the sub-core pin 4119 is withdrawn from the housing 
170 as described above. The sub-core pin 4119 serves to mold the retaining 
step 182 and so on as described above, and if the sub-core pin 4119 is not 
withdrawn from the housing 170 before the retainer 171 and the housing 170 
are connected together at the later assembling step, the assembling 
operation is adversely affected. Therefore, this withdrawing operation is 
necessary. 
Then, the whole of the movable mold 4102 is rotated 180.degree. about the 
rotation axis R from the molding position to the assembling position as 
shown in FIG. 63. As described above, the housing 170 and the retainer 171 
are held respectively on circles having their centers disposed on the 
rotation axis R, and are angularly spaced 180.degree. from each other, and 
therefore when the movable mold 4102 is thus rotated, the molded housing 
170 is brought into opposed, coaxial relation to the molded retainer 171. 
Then, in the fixed mold 4101, the fixed-side ejecting plate 4110 is moved 
forward (see FIG. 65), so that the molded retainer 171 is pushed out of 
the retainer-molding recess 4108 (formed in the fixed mold) by the push 
pins 4111, and is moved toward the housing 170. At this time, the core pin 
4109 is withdrawn from the retainer 171. The core pin 4109 serves to form 
the provisionally-retaining pawl 183 and so on, and if the core pin 4109 
is not withdrawn from the retainer 171 before the retainer 171 is 
connected to the housing 170, the assembling operation is adversely 
affected. Before the retainer 171 is fitted into the housing 170 by the 
push pins 4111, the core pins 4109 and 4119 are thus withdrawn, and 
therefore the engagement of the provisionally-retaining pawl 183 with the 
retaining step 182 is not affected at all. Thus, the retainer 171 and the 
housing 170 are connected together. 
Then, when the fixed-side ejecting plate 4110 is returned to the initial 
position, the connector, having the housing 170 and the retainer 171 
connected together, remains in the movable mold as shown in FIG. 66. Then, 
when the pin plate 4117 is moved forward, the ejector pin 4120 pushes the 
housing 170, so that the connector in the assembled condition 
(provisionally-retained condition) is forced out of the housing-molding 
recess 4115 to be discharged from the mold. After the connector is thus 
taken out, the pin plate 4117 is returned to the initial position, and the 
movable mold 4102 is rotated in a direction reserve to the above-mentioned 
direction, and hence is returned to the initial position. The two molds 
4101 and 4102 are returned to their respective initial positions, and are 
ready for a subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in this embodiment, the step of molding the housing 170 
and the retainer 171 and the assembling step of connecting them together 
can be carried out at the same time, and therefore separate conveyance and 
assembling steps as required in the conventional method are not necessary, 
and the lead time for the finished product is shortened because of the 
shortened process, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. 
And besides, in this embodiment, the housing 170 and the retainer 171 can 
be connected together merely by operating the push pins. It may be 
proposed to effect such assembling operation utilizing the mold-closing 
operation. However, in this case those portions to be moved are large, and 
also the required energy is large. On the other hand, in this embodiment, 
those portions to be moved are kept to a minimum, and the construction is 
simple, and the energy required for the operation is small. 
Since different kinds of molded products, that is, the housing 170 and the 
retainer 171, can be molded in one mold, this is advantageous from the 
viewpoint of management of the mold. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the 
molding core pins 4109 and 4119 are withdrawn respectively from the 
retainer 171 and the housing 170 before the assembling operation is 
effected, and therefore this achieves an advantage that the two can be 
smoothly connected together. 
Eleventh Embodiment 
FIGS. 68 to 74 show an eleventh embodiment of a mold of the invention. 
Referring first to a fixed mold 4101, a fixed-side mold plate 4105 is 
movable into and out of intimate contact with an end-drawing plate 4104. A 
spring 4121 is provided between the two plates 4104 and 4105, and urges 
the fixed-side mold plate 4105 away from the end-drawing plate 4104 in a 
right direction (in the drawings). Stopper means (not shown) is provided 
for preventing the distance between the two from exceeding a predetermined 
value. In order to enable the fixed-side mold plate 4105 to be smoothly 
moved toward and away from the end-drawing plate 4104, guide posts 4106 
extend from a fixed-side mounting plate 4103, and pass through the 
end-drawing plate 4104, and slidably extend through the fixed-side mold 
plate 4105, and can be inserted respectively into guide bushings 4114 
provided in a movable-side. mold plate 4113. 
A main core pin 4107 extends from the fixed-side mounting plate 4103, and 
its distal end portion is inserted into an insertion hole 4122 which is 
formed through the fixed-side mold plate 4105, and extends parallel to the 
axis. When the fixed-side mold plate 4105 is held in intimate contact with 
the end-drawing plate 4104 (that is, in a mold-closed condition shown in 
FIG. 68), that portion of the main core pin 4107 directly relevant to the 
molding of a housing 170 is exposed through the insertion hole 4122, and 
is projected into a housing-molding recess 4115 in the movable mold. When 
the two plates 4104 and 4105 are spaced apart from each other, this 
portion of the main core pin 4107 is retracted from the housing-molding 
recess 4115, and is completely received in the insertion hole 4122. 
A core pin 4109 for molding a retainer 171 extends from the fixed-side 
mounting plate 4103, and is inserted into a slide hole 4123 which is 
formed through the fixed-side mold plate 4105, and extends parallel to the 
axis. In the mold-closed condition in which the fixed-side mold plate 4105 
is held in intimate contact with the end-drawing plate 4104, a distal end 
of the core pin 4109 relevant to the molding of the retainer 171 is 
exposed from the slide hole 4123, and is projected into a retainer-molding 
recess 4116 in the movable mold. When the two plates 4104 and 4105 are 
spaced apart from each other, the distal end of the core pin 4109 is 
retracted from the retainer-molding recess 4116, and is completely 
received in the slide hole 4123. 
A fixed-side ejector pin 4124 is mounted on the fixed-side mounting plate 
4103, and disposed between the main core pin 4107 and the core pin 4109. 
This ejector pin 4124 is slidably inserted into the fixed-side mold plate 
4105. When the fixed mold 4101 and the movable mold 4102 are closed 
together, the fixed-side ejector pin 4124 is inserted into a relief hole 
4125 formed through the movable-side mold plate 4113. In the mold-open 
condition, the distal end of the ejector pin 4124 is disposed 
substantially flush with the surface of the fixed-side mold plate 4105. 
When the fixed-side mold plate 4105 is slightly retracted by a return pin 
4127 as shown in FIG. 73, the ejector pin 4124 projects from the 
fixed-side mold plate 4105 to contact the housing of the assembled 
connector, thereby ejecting the connector from the mold. 
With respect to the movable mold 4102, this fourth embodiment is different 
in that the retainer 171 is not ejected to be connected to the housing 
170, but the housing 170 is ejected to be connected to the retainer. More 
specifically, first and second pin plates are coaxially provided between 
the movable-side mold plate 4113 and a movable-side mounting plate 4112 
through a spacer member 4128. 
An ejector pin 4131 is mounted on the first pin plate 4129 in parallel 
relation to the axis, and is connected to a drive mechanism (not shown) so 
as to move forward and backward along the axis. A distal end of the 
ejector pin 4131 is normally disposed substantially flush with a surface 
of the housing-molding recess 4115. When the first pin plate 4129 advances 
a predetermined stroke together with the second pin plate 4130, the 
ejector pin 4131 ejects the molded housing 170 from the housing-molding 
recess 4115 to connect the same to the retainer 171 in a 
provisionally-retained condition, as shown in FIG. 72. 
The second pin plate 4130 is also connected to a drive mechanism (not 
shown) (which may also serve as the drive mechanism for the first pin 
plate 4129 or a separate drive mechanism), and is movable forward and 
backward along the axis. The return pin 4127 is mounted on the second pin 
plate 4130 in parallel relation to the axis, and the distal end of the 
return pin 4127 is normally disposed substantially flush with the surface 
of the movable-side mold plate 4113. When the second pin plate 4130 
advances together with the first pin plate 4129 as shown in FIG. 72, the 
return pin 4127 contacts the fixed-side mold plate 4105. Then, when the 
return pin 4127 is further advanced a predetermined stroke, the return pin 
4127 retracts the fixed-side mold plate 4105 against the bias of the 
spring 4121, so that the connector, having the parts connected together in 
the provisionally-retained condition, is ejected by the fixed-side ejector 
pin 124. 
As in the tenth embodiment, the whole of the movable mold can be rotated 
about the rotation axis R between a molding position and an assembling 
position, and a retainer-molding cavity and a housing-molding cavity, 
which are formed between the two molds in the mold-closed condition, are 
disposed respectively on circles having their centers disposed on the 
rotation axis R, and are angularly spaced 180.degree. from each other. 
A sub-core pin 4119 relevant to the molding of the housing 170 is embedded 
in the movable-side mold plate 4113. 
The mold of the eleventh embodiment is of the above construction, and in 
the mold-closed condition shown in FIG. 68, a molten resin is filled in 
the molding cavities formed between the two mold plates 4105 and 4113, 
thereby molding the housing 170 and the retainer 171. Then, when the 
molten resin is solidified, the movable mold 4102 is moved back. In 
accordance with this backward movement of the movable mold 4102, the 
fixed-side mold plate 4105 is spaced apart from the end-drawing plate 4104 
under the influence of the spring 4121, and as a result the main core pin 
4107 is withdrawn from the molded housing 170 while the core pin 4109 is 
withdrawn from the retainer 171 (see FIG. 69). When the movable mold 102 
further moves back, there is achieved the mold-open condition in which the 
movable-side mold plate 4113 and the fixed-side mold plate 4105 are spaced 
apart from each other, as shown in FIG. 70. 
Then, the whole of the movable mold 4102 is rotated 180.degree. about the 
rotation axis R from the molding position to the assembling position. As a 
result, the molded housing 170 is brought into opposed, coaxial relation 
to the molded retainer 171 (see FIG. 71). 
When the movable mold is thus rotated into the assembling position, the 
first and second pin plates 4129 and 4130 are moved forward as shown in 
FIG. 72. As a result, the ejector pin 4131 forces the housing 170 out of 
the housing-molding recess 4115, and fits the housing 170 on the retainer 
171 held on the fixed mold. The sub-core pin 4119 is withdrawn from the 
housing 170 simultaneously when the housing 170 is ejected from the 
housing-molding recess 4115, and therefore the sub-core pin 4119 will not 
affect the connection of the housing to the retainer 171 (e.g. the 
engagement between the provisionally-retaining pawl 183 and the retaining 
step 182), and the housing and the retainer are connected together in the 
provisionally-retained condition. At this time, the distal end of the 
return pin 4127 is held in slight contact with the surface of the 
fixed-side mold plate 4105, and the front end of the housing 4170 is held 
in contact with the distal end of the fixed-side ejector pin 4124. 
Then, when only the second pin plate 4130 is moved forward as shown in FIG. 
73, the return pin 4127 retracts the fixed-side mold plate 4105 against 
the bias of the spring 4121. As a result, the fixed-side ejector pin 4124 
ejects the housing 170, so that the connector, having the housing 170 and 
the retainer 171 connected together, is forced out of the retainer-molding 
recess 4108 in the fixed mold, and is discharged from the mold. Thus, the 
connector is taken out, and then the first and second pin plates 4129 and 
4130 are returned to their respective initial positions, and the whole of 
the movable mold is returned to the initial position, so that the mold is 
ready for a subsequent molding operation. 
As described above, in the eleventh embodiment as in the tenth embodiment, 
the production and assembling of the connector can be easily carried out 
at low costs. 
The other construction of this embodiment is similar to that of the tenth 
embodiment, and similar effects are achieved. 
Various modifications can be made in the present invention, and the 
following modifications fall within the scope of the invention: 
In the eighth and ninth embodiments, the assembling operation of connecting 
the molded retainer 4 and the molded housing 3 together is effected in 
accordance with the mold re-closing operation. However, instead of this, 
the following arrangement may be used: 
For example, a knockout pin (not shown) is provided on the movable-side 
mold plate 402. When the molding is completed as shown in FIG. 49 or FIG. 
57, the knockout pin is driven to push the molded housing 3 toward the 
retainer 4, thereby connecting the retainer and the housing together. The 
thus assembled connector is disengaged from the housing-molding recess 
because of its own weight (An ejector pin for this purpose may be 
provided), and is discharged from the mold. 
In the tenth and eleventh embodiments, although the arrangement in which 
the housing and the retainer of the connector are connected together has 
been shown and described, the present invention can be applied to other 
various resin-molded products, and the number of the molded products is 
not limited to two, but the invention can be applied to an arrangement in 
which more than two parts are to be connected together. 
In the tenth and eleventh embodiments, although only the movable mold is 
displaced or moved in the axial direction, both of the two molds may be 
movable. 
In the tenth and eleventh embodiments, although the whole of the movable 
mold is rotated, only that portion of the movable mold facing the fixed 
mold can be rotated, or both of the movable mold and the fixed mold may be 
rotated. 
In the tenth and eleventh embodiments, although one connector is molded and 
assembled, the mold may be of the type capable of handling a plurality of 
connectors at the same time, and in this case the angle of rotation of the 
mold is determined in accordance with the arrangement of the plurality of 
pairs of molding cavities having their centers disposed on the common 
axis. 
Furthermore, according to the invention, when forming of the connector 
housing and the retainer, different resins in material or color may be 
filled in the connector forming mold and the retainer forming mold, so 
that the connector housing and the retainer can be made different in 
material or color.